Awesome, Empowering Thought from Leah Harris

Awesome, Empowering Thought from Leah Harris I saw this article on my local news website a while back.  It tells a little about a keynote speaker, Leah Harris, at a conference of professionals that was sponsored by the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. The article is short and interesting.  But this one paragraph JUMPED out at me: After years of considering her life in terms of her diagnoses of borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and suicide attempts, Harris said she realized there was tremendous power in redefining herself as someone who had dreams and ambitions. I absolutely loved this.  She has titles that easily categorize and group and define her: borderline, OCD, suicidal (or, having been suicidal).  But her empowerment came when she realized there was tremendous power in redefining herself as someone who had dreams and ambitions. I love, love, love this! In 2008 I wrote a blog post titled I Lost More Than My Job 2 Years Ago, where I talk about losing my identity, which I had encapsulated in my little professional job title, printed on my business card. Losing a job title makes you a nobody, kind of.  At least, if youve been using a title to define yourself for many years, like Leah talks about, losing that title, or switching it to unemployed, can be very debilitating. I tell people that I eventually lost hope, but one day I got my hope back.  It was when I came up with the idea for JibberJobber.  It was when I found dreams and ambitions! When you lose sight of who you are because you listen to titles and stereotypes that try and define who you are (thats profound, reread that), step back and REDEFINE YOURSELF as someone who has DREAMS and AMBITIONS! This is so empowering!  Please share this with someone who needs to hear it! Awesome, Empowering Thought from Leah Harris I saw this article on my local news website a while back.  It tells a little about a keynote speaker, Leah Harris, at a conference of professionals that was sponsored by the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. The article is short and interesting.  But this one paragraph JUMPED out at me: After years of considering her life in terms of her diagnoses of borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and suicide attempts, Harris said she realized there was tremendous power in redefining herself as someone who had dreams and ambitions. I absolutely loved this.  She has titles that easily categorize and group and define her: borderline, OCD, suicidal (or, having been suicidal).  But her empowerment came when she realized there was tremendous power in redefining herself as someone who had dreams and ambitions. I love, love, love this! In 2008 I wrote a blog post titled I Lost More Than My Job 2 Years Ago, where I talk about losing my identity, which I had encapsulated in my little professional job title, printed on my business card. Losing a job title makes you a nobody, kind of.  At least, if youve been using a title to define yourself for many years, like Leah talks about, losing that title, or switching it to unemployed, can be very debilitating. I tell people that I eventually lost hope, but one day I got my hope back.  It was when I came up with the idea for JibberJobber.  It was when I found dreams and ambitions! When you lose sight of who you are because you listen to titles and stereotypes that try and define who you are (thats profound, reread that), step back and REDEFINE YOURSELF as someone who has DREAMS and AMBITIONS! This is so empowering!  Please share this with someone who needs to hear it! Awesome, Empowering Thought from Leah Harris I saw this article on my local news website a while back.  It tells a little about a keynote speaker, Leah Harris, at a conference of professionals that was sponsored by the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. The article is short and interesting.  But this one paragraph JUMPED out at me: After years of considering her life in terms of her diagnoses of borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and suicide attempts, Harris said she realized there was tremendous power in redefining herself as someone who had dreams and ambitions. I absolutely loved this.  She has titles that easily categorize and group and define her: borderline, OCD, suicidal (or, having been suicidal).  But her empowerment came when she realized there was tremendous power in redefining herself as someone who had dreams and ambitions. I love, love, love this! In 2008 I wrote a blog post titled I Lost More Than My Job 2 Years Ago, where I talk about losing my identity, which I had encapsulated in my little professional job title, printed on my business card. Losing a job title makes you a nobody, kind of.  At least, if youve been using a title to define yourself for many years, like Leah talks about, losing that title, or switching it to unemployed, can be very debilitating. I tell people that I eventually lost hope, but one day I got my hope back.  It was when I came up with the idea for JibberJobber.  It was when I found dreams and ambitions! When you lose sight of who you are because you listen to titles and stereotypes that try and define who you are (thats profound, reread that), step back and REDEFINE YOURSELF as someone who has DREAMS and AMBITIONS! This is so empowering!  Please share this with someone who needs to hear it!

Top Resume and Cover Letter Writing Services

Top Resume and Cover Letter Writing ServicesIf you're applying for a job online or in person, it's important to know that many companies use top resume and cover letter writing services to help you stand out from the crowd. This is important, because your resume and cover letter are what convince your potential employer that you should be considered for the job. If you submit a generic or poorly written one, they may still hire you, but it will be based on other factors and not because of your resume and cover letter.Resume and cover letter writing services can help you improve your resume by making it clear, concise, and up-to-date. By using a professional service, you can expect a better resume. The more professional the service is, the more likely it is to impress potential employers and get them to call you in for an interview. Although it's possible to write your own resume, it's probably easier and more effective to use a professional service.It's also possible to send in a res ume without hiring a service. Many people choose to do this instead, and sometimes it works out okay. In fact, sometimes it doesn't even hurt to send in a generic resume. In fact, if you send in a poorly written resume and it gets you an interview, the company might find another applicant to fill the job, thus leaving you unemployed.The problem with this strategy is that it may not put you in the running for the job at all. The company just hired another candidate who has a better resume, and you are not in the running. By trying to get by with a poorly written resume, you're defeating yourself. Your resume and cover letter must be perfectly formatted and optimized to get you through the hiring process.Another way to improve your resume is to keep it concise. Most people who are hired for jobs are very succinct in their resume. Your potential employer wants to hire the best person for the job, and is going to have to read your resume several times. By keeping it concise, you'll be a ble to keep your potential employer from having to scroll up and down a page just to get to the information you need them to see.It's a good idea to keep your resume and cover letter short and simple. When someone reads your resume, they want to be able to read it quickly and get to the important points. They don't want to have to stop and read every word. It takes them longer to make a decision when they read a resume, so it's important to keep it concise.You should also avoid sending in a resume and cover letter that doesn't stand out from the rest. Most of the companies that hire online only look at resumes that clearly state the position you're applying for. This makes it easy for them to determine whether you are fit for the job. Your cover letter should do the same.A well-written cover letter will make your job application stand out and show your expertise. It will also impress your potential employer enough to warrant an interview. Top resume and cover letter writing services can help you make the right impression with your resume and cover letter and help you get the job you've always wanted.

Top 5 Interview Questions to Ask Software Developers

Top 5 Interview Questions to Ask Software Developers As a Technical Recruiter, my bread-and-butter roles were Software Development positions. I came into the Recruitment world with a background dominated by ‘soft skills’ and a BA in English Literature and as a result, I had a very steep learning curve with a huge amount of technical information to understand quickly, so that I wouldn’t sound like too much of an idiot when speaking to candidates! Luckily I am a bit of a geek at heart and enjoyed learning about all this cool new technology. I started asking the following questions as a way of homing in on the strongest candidates by giving me a more holistic view of how they approach their work. 1. What projects are you working on at home? Why to ask this: Great Developers are passionate about what they do. Talking about their professional work is fine, but that’s what they get paid to do whether they enjoy it or not. The best Developers, in my experience, always have their own side-projects. They needn’t be big or overly ambitious, and are an excellent way to hone their craft, try out new techniques and learn new skills. Side projects demonstrate enthusiasm and desire to learn, and if a Developer doesn’t have any, I want to know why. 2. What beta toys are you playing with? Why to ask this: This relates to the first question â€" technology constantly evolves with new products and versions released frequently. If you wait to learn a technology once it becomes mainstream, you are waiting too long and will eventually get left behind. For example, iOS 6 was released this September, but there was a Developer preview available from June. iOS Developers should have been playing with iOS 6’s preview to learn its new features and see how it affects their development. At the very least, if a Developer isn’t using the most up-to-date tools at work, he should be playing with them at home, or risk getting left behind. Playing with beta tools and latest technologies again shows that vital desire to learn, as knowledge becomes defunct rapidly in the tech world. At the same time, a tech recruiter should be aware of these trends and new techs in order to ask about them. 3. What source control do you use? Why to ask this: Source control is software that manages code during its build; logging what changes are made (and by whom) and saving previous versions so if a Developer breaks something badly, they roll back to a stable version. Source control isn’t essential to get a project done, but it’s universally agreed that anyone working in a team, jumping in and out of one another’s code, will benefit from using source control. Source control is even the subject of the first of 12 questions on the Joel Test; a well-known and oft-used test to determine a development team’s quality by asking yes/no questions on 12 development best practices â€" ideally a team should do at least 11 out of the 12 (see link for full list). Good use of source control shows the ability to work as a member of a team efficiently, and demonstrates an organised approach to coding. 4. How do you approach your documentation? Why to ask this: Documentation is essentially the Technical Guide to a project, explaining how to use it, providing technical specifications, guides to algorithms and APIs etc. Good documentation is key to successful projects; ask any developer and they will list hundreds of examples of spaghetti code they can’t make heads or tails of, with no documentation to explain what the heck is going on. Developers construct vast technical architecture in their heads and write hundreds of lines of code daily. They might remember what they wrote yesterday, but last month, or last year, and thousands of lines of code ago? Unlikely. Documentation isn’t fun or sexy, and is often ignored in favour of other more pressing concerns. However, when the excrement hits the rotating air circulation device, good documentation can save the day. A good Developer will create thorough documentation for his projects, and this shows a quality-focused approach to their work. 5. Give me an example of a project that completely failed? Why to ask this: I got this one from a client who gave notoriously tough interviews â€" all his questions concerned project failures and screw-ups. He reasoned that all your successes are listed on your CV, so you get a far better view of a person from what they leave off! This isn’t a variant of the “what is one of your weaknesses” questions, where you give an answer that is actually a veiled positive. Keep probing until you get a real disaster. How they responded will give you a far better idea of what they are like in the workplace, and what their key weaknesses are â€" which you can then help prep them on for an interview. Asking these questions helps identify passionate, driven and quality-focused developers who will be a boon to any client, although this is list is far from exhaustive. What questions do you ask to find the best talent, and how do they help? Related: How to Recruit Technology Talent in 5 Easy Steps.

Calgary Resume Writer Awarded Industry Recognition!

Calgary Resume Writer Awarded Industry Recognition! This month Career Professionals of Canada announced the winners of their annual Awards of Excellence competition and I am pleased to be the recipient of two of their awards:  Best Technical Resume and Best Creative Resume. For a complete list of this years winners I invite you to visit the CPC website: http://www.careerprocanada.ca/2012 Calgary Resume Writer Awarded Industry Recognition! This month Career Professionals of Canada announced the winners of their annual Awards of Excellence competition and I am pleased to be the recipient of two of their awards:  Best Technical Resume and Best Creative Resume. For a complete list of this years winners I invite you to visit the CPC website: http://www.careerprocanada.ca/2012

How to Write a Resume When Your Experience is From a Long Time Ago

How to Write a Resume When Your Experience is From a Long Time AgoWriting a resume when your experience is from a very long time ago, can be a bit challenging. While it can be hard to change an experience you've had in the past, it is also possible to use a newer, fresher perspective of your past to make your resume more current and up to date.Because most of the people who apply for jobs are not applying for their first job, it is important that they spend time making sure their resumes are up to date. One way that employers search for people is by looking at what job applicants are applying for. If you have made changes to your previous job and have not updated your resume, then you are still likely to be overlooked for a job you were hoping to get.It is also important that you take into consideration how current you want your job applications to be. Some companies are looking for applicants who have changed their career a little bit and the first resume that a job applicant has cr eated is going to be the first thing that an employer sees. While it can be tough to change something you have done in the past, it can also be tough to make the first impression.In order to make your resume more current, the best option is to create one that will make the employer realize that you have now changed careers and that you have a fresh perspective on the job that you are applying for. Another benefit of creating a new resume is that it will show that you have a good attitude and are very interested in trying something new. Another aspect of creating a fresh resume is that it will show that you have good communication skills. By showing these characteristics in your resume, you will be seen as someone who has a potential for success in the future.To write a resume when your experience is from a long time ago, youwill want to consider each section of your resume and look for opportunities to make it current. These two sections can be separated or combined. In many cases, it is easier to combine the two sections than it is to separate them.For example, if you have applied for a position but have only recently started a new job, it is easier to create a resume that combines your old and new experiences into one. Then, as time goes on, you can add in any other elements of your life that may have changed since you last submitted your resume. This means that if you worked as a business analyst for five years but only recently started working as a medical secretary, you can still show that you are constantly looking for a career change and you still have a great employment history.When you want to make your job applications more current, consider changing your curriculum vitae. This way, you can provide the employer with a picture of yourself that was not present in your previous resume and that will give them an idea of who you really are, not just someone who is trying to re-create someone else's life.There are many ways that you can rewrite your resume , as long as you are able to write a more current version of it. Consider using this method if you feel that your previous resume is not up to date. If you have already been looking for a job and still have not received one, then this is a great way to show the hiring manager that you are more serious about working for them than in the past.

Changing Careers Look Before You Leap

Changing Careers Look Before You Leap This months Career Collective post offers advice for career changers. You can find additional suggestions from my esteemed colleagues at the end of this post.I frequently talk to people who want to change careers. They often tell me one of these four things:I hate my job.I dont think my job is a good fit.I want to do something more meaningful.My friends tell me I would make a great (fill in the blank)But when I hear these statements, Im not always convinced that the person expressing these doubts really wants to change careers. Instead, I often believe that there is something else going on at work or in the persons personal life that is causing the unrest or thoughts of quitting and its important to explore these factors before jumping into a career change.Career change can be challenging on many fronts. Landing a job in a new career generally takes more time than landing one in a linear career path. You will need a robust network of contacts and many, many advocates to get your foot in the door. A career change  may require significant education costs and there is no guarantee that acquiring that education will lead to a new job. The most logical career changes are those that have a recognizable intersection between the old and new careers such as a sales person going into marketing or an operations professional switching to human resources.In over 75% of the cases where I coach clients considering a career change, after in-depth discussion, introspection, and assessment it is frequently determined that the client doesnt hate what they do; they hate the person they work for. Study after study shows that people dont leave companies; they leave bad bosses. So before you embark on a full-blown career change, ask yourself the following questions.What tasks that are part of my job do I enjoy doing?What tasks that are part of my job do I hate doing?Am I good at what I do? Have others commented on my strengths?What types of tasks do I want to do that are not part of my current job? Is  there an opportunity to do these tasks in the future as part of my job?What types of situations in my current job stress me out?How much does my relationship with my boss affect my feelings towards my job?Do my feelings about the company culture affect my feelings about my job?Can I remember a time when I did similar work and enjoyed what I was doing?Are there growth opportunities for me or is my industry/job function contracting?Am I willing to put in the time and effort necessary to change careers?Have I considered the financial ramifications of changing careers?Am I willing to take a step (or two) backwards to achieve my new career goals?What would my perfect job look like and is this a realistic expectation?What are my priorities? How important are money, time off, meaningful work, or the goals of the organization to me?Answering these questions may help you gain clarity around your reasons for embarking on a career change. Your answers may help you sort ou t what you can and cannot live with. Armed with this information you may decide that a retooling of your current career is more prudent than a total career change. Or your responses may validate that a career change is in fact the right path to take.People change careers every day but its always advisable to make sure you are changing careers for the right strategic long-term reasons and not making a decision based solely on your emotions. Look before you leap and find others to support you in your journey.Are You Ready for a Career Change? @Debra WheatmanChanging Careers? Ask yourself these questions. @erinkennedycprwChanging Careers: Not for the Fainthearted, @GayleHowardCareer Change Isnt An Exact Science, @careersherpaThe 10-Step Plan to Career Change, @KatCareerGalWhen it’s Time to Recycle Your Career, @WalterAkanaBest Career Change Advice: Target Plan, @JobHuntOrgHow social media can help you change careers, @keppie_careersExpat Careers: You Are Not Your Job Title, @expatco achmeganChanging The Direction Of Your Career, @EliteResumes @MartinBucklandCareer Changer: Can You Quell Bottom-line Ache? @ValueIntoWordsTop 3 + 1 Tips for Making a Successful Career Change, @KCCareerCoach

Criminal Justice Careers Not Your Fathers Police Beat - CareerAlley

Criminal Justice Careers Not Your Fathers Police Beat - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. If youre attending one of the countrys criminal justice colleges, you may be wondering exactly what youre going to do with your degree once its in your hands. The field is wide open today; you are no longer re-stricted to becoming a police office. Here are five career paths that you can choose once youve earned your criminal justice degree: 1.Lawyer If you have an interest in the law and how it works for victims and criminals alike, becoming a lawyer may be the best choice for you. As a lawyer, you will be asked to represent clients as they navigate their way through the various legal processes. There are many areas of law on which to concentrate, and your criminal justice degree will give you a solid foundation as you move onto law school. 2.Probation Officer Because our nation simply does not have the room to house every criminal, probation officers are in high demand. As a probation officer, youll be responsible for keeping track of offenders, make sure they are following the terms of their probation, and providing pre-sentencing reports that recommend sentences for the accused if they are convicted. The job is full of myriad of pa-perwork and to enjoy being a probation officer, you should be an organized person with an eye for detail. 3.Correctional Officer Correctional officers work in our countrys city and county jails, as well as state- and privately-run prisons. As a correctional officer, you will be responsible for the care, custody and control of male and female inmates, and possi-bly even juveniles. The field of corrections can be dangerous, and you must be able to keep your wits about you at all times. The job can be exciting at times and monotonous at others, but can also be a very rewarding one. Not only will you be responsible for inmates, but you will be responsible for the safety of yourself and your fellow officers. 4.Crime Scene Examiner Crime scenes are ripe with clues just waiting to be found, and as a crime scene examiner, it will be your job to find them. You may investigate scenes of traffic accidents, minor crimes or even murders. It will be your job to not only find and collect evidence, but to protect the scene from contamination. If you have an inquisitive mind, enjoy puzzles and have an interest in science, becoming a crime scene examiner, your criminal justice degree is the ticket to enter this exciting career field. 5.Fish and Game Warden Fish and game wardens are responsible for patrolling fishing and hunting grounds, ensuring the sportsmen are following the letter of the law. These professionals are the first step in making sure that local wildlife is sustained. As a warden, you will have the authority to cite, detain and arrest individuals who are violating the laws of fishing and hunting. You may also be responsible for investigating commercial fishing companies, perform rescue operations and inspect crop damage. If you are struggling with the thought of being stuck in an office for the next 30 years of your life, becoming a fish and game warden will keep you outdoors and in action. As you prepare for your job search, its important to understand the vast number of options that you have. A criminal justice degree doesnt mean you have to walk the same beat as your police officer father. Begin exploring your options today and you can have the career of your dreams in just a few short years. Author Karen Boyarsky is an avid blogger. You can follow her on Twitter @Boyarsky_kareni. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook