LinkedIn Groups Valuable or a Waste of Time

LinkedIn Groups Valuable or a Waste of Time Ive been an advocate of LinkedIn Groups for a while, especially since they took away Answers. This week I saw a message on Facebook that surprised me.  Michael Stelzner is one of the smartest entrepreneurs Ive met, very savvy with social media, very likable, creative, and hes been successful with his business ventures.  This message, from him, surprised me: 42,000 members in a LinkedIn Group thats pretty sizable. I think the only reason to shut it down is that its not bringing value to his business.  Im guessing this is because: As a Group Admin, when he sends out announcements, no one is acting on his call to action.  Note: Announcements are so powerful, if you own a Group and are not sending out Announcements, you are missing the main value of owning a LinkedIn Group. There is too much spam.  This is a problem on many LinkedIn Groups, and something that people have complained about since the beginning. In his comments to that Facebook post he adds: Actually we have staff dedicated to moderating our LinkedIn group and this is not a knock on LI, just the groups. In fact we have one of the cleanest groups out there as far as spam, but we have to remove 100s of comments a week that are self serving. On a semi-related note, LinkedIn has taken steps to reduce spam, kind of, but the implementation of the Site Wide Account Management (SWAM) is one of the most ridiculous things Ive ever seen.  It allows one Group admin to say you are a spammer, and then you cannot post on any group.  To give one Group Manager that much power is nothing short of stupid. Anyway, the idea that someone like Michael pulled the plug on a Group that big makes me question who is getting value out of their Groups.  Is it too hard to manage (taking too many resources)?  Is there no return value? If you think this is overkill, and you have a Group and want to get more value out of it, check out this article: Introducing The Moderator’s Field Guide for LinkedIn Groups LinkedIn Groups Valuable or a Waste of Time Ive been an advocate of LinkedIn Groups for a while, especially since they took away Answers. This week I saw a message on Facebook that surprised me.  Michael Stelzner is one of the smartest entrepreneurs Ive met, very savvy with social media, very likable, creative, and hes been successful with his business ventures.  This message, from him, surprised me: 42,000 members in a LinkedIn Group thats pretty sizable. I think the only reason to shut it down is that its not bringing value to his business.  Im guessing this is because: As a Group Admin, when he sends out announcements, no one is acting on his call to action.  Note: Announcements are so powerful, if you own a Group and are not sending out Announcements, you are missing the main value of owning a LinkedIn Group. There is too much spam.  This is a problem on many LinkedIn Groups, and something that people have complained about since the beginning. In his comments to that Facebook post he adds: Actually we have staff dedicated to moderating our LinkedIn group and this is not a knock on LI, just the groups. In fact we have one of the cleanest groups out there as far as spam, but we have to remove 100s of comments a week that are self serving. On a semi-related note, LinkedIn has taken steps to reduce spam, kind of, but the implementation of the Site Wide Account Management (SWAM) is one of the most ridiculous things Ive ever seen.  It allows one Group admin to say you are a spammer, and then you cannot post on any group.  To give one Group Manager that much power is nothing short of stupid. Anyway, the idea that someone like Michael pulled the plug on a Group that big makes me question who is getting value out of their Groups.  Is it too hard to manage (taking too many resources)?  Is there no return value? If you think this is overkill, and you have a Group and want to get more value out of it, check out this article: Introducing The Moderator’s Field Guide for LinkedIn Groups

Teacher Resume Examples - Get Sample Resumes For Teachers

Teacher Resume Examples - Get Sample Resumes For TeachersA teacher resume is an essential part of the teacher search because it reveals how a person has performed and what they have taught at that school. There are many places online where teachers can find sample teacher resumes and guidance on how to write a successful one. It is important to take the time to make a quality resume that will help you get an interview.The main purpose of a resume is to present yourself in the best light possible. A good teacher resume will give the potential employer a better picture of the teaching individual than just their experience. This is because the teacher profile is a way for the potential employer to learn about the skills, experience, training, and education that are being presented.One of the best places for teacher resume examples is by going online. By doing a search using the term 'teacher resume examples' you will be given many samples of the styles that you will need to take into co nsideration when you are creating your own. These styles will include bullet points, organized lists, and to-the-point format as well as proofreading techniques.Many of the best teacher resumes are created by someone who did not know much about teaching. To avoid the pitfalls of teaching, these teachers will pick up on the little things that they have learned about teaching and put it in their resume. These are the things that a potential employer will see on a resume that can be very helpful.The best place to find this type of teacher resume examples is by following a plan that is a little different than what you might do in person. The best place for this is by using the Internet. By doing this you will find many teacher resume examples that will have been crafted by people who are not interested in teaching and have no experience in it.The most important thing to keep in mind when looking for a teacher resume examplesis to make sure that your resume is formatted correctly. By for matting your resume correctly you will make it easier for the potential employer to read and make it easier for them to understand what is being presented. An improper resume will make it harder for you to get a good job.Knowing what kind of career a person has had helps the employer to learn about that person's life. As a result, the person will be more likely to complete the curriculum and the goals that are laid out for them to fulfill. The last thing you want to do is to waste your potential for a good job by getting an instructor job.Finding teacher resume examples can be a challenge, but if you are willing to put the time into it you can get some great results. The process will take some time, but when you do get results you will know that you have done the right thing for yourself. In addition, you will have a lot of great memories to share with your family and friends. That is all you really need to know when it comes to teaching.

Dont ditch the company party

Dont ditch the company party For all of you who are plotting to ditch your companys holiday party, forget it: You have to go. And for all of you who are really excited about the holiday party, you can also forget it: The open bar is off-limits to you. Before I launch into a diatribe against people who ditch company parties, let me just say that I am not a fan of the company holiday party. For one thing, not everyone has a December holiday in his or her life, so the concept is culturally alienating. For another thing, in most cases, holiday party means Christmas party with a token menorah hanging from the rafters: More cultural alienation. But my biggest complaint is that company parties are almost never on company time; they are unpaid overtime for employees. That said, when I have attended holiday parties at which the only holiday is Christmas, I have pretended to have a good time. And you will have to do this, too, because the people who are promoted in corporate America are the people who fit in. Console yourself with the idea that if you are successful in corporate life, you can run your own company and abolish all holiday shenanigans from your offices. People who blow off company parties look like snobs. Everyone has something better to do that night. But the people who actually DO something better are dissing the people who show up. You will get more done at the office if people like you, and attending one or two office parties is a small price to pay for co-workers who do favors for you when your projects are behind schedule. Luckily, you do not need to be the first there and the last to leave. Show up, make sure people who know you see that youre there. And slip out as soon as you can without being rude. Some times you have to attend clients holiday parties. The number one thing to remember when participating in holiday parties either at a clients or your own office is that it is a chance to enhance your image. So since you dont wear short skirts to client meetings, dont show up to a clients Christmas party as Santas hottest elf. Leverage annoying conventions like grab bags to remind people that you are clever and thoughtful. Buy a good gift but follow the rules: Paying $15 for a $10 grab-bag gift is cheating and dishonest, and stupid gag gifts are just that stupid. And even though everyone knows not to get rip-roaring drunk at an office party, people do it all the time. Remember in junior high school when the drug awareness counselor told you to be ready to just say no? with a prepared speech when friends tried to push you wayward? You probably didnt use the speech then, but you can use it now. No matter how boring and intolerable the party is, the open bar is not your last opportunity in this lifetime for free mixed drinks. Surely you have a friend who is getting married or getting dumped. Save the ten Cosmopolitans for that event. The only way to manage your image effectively is to do it sober. You should also buy your boss a gift. Not because she is starving or has a hankering for a fruit basket, but because a gift is an excuse to write a card. Take the time to thank your boss for what shes doing to help you. Be genuine and specific so you wont seem like a brown nose. Maybe your boss has actually done very little for you, but I would bet money he thinks hes been very helpful. So you can thank him for trying, even if he has failed. After all, isnt being generous and understanding what the holidays are for?

7 Ways to Stay Productive Focused at Work

7 Ways to Stay Productive Focused at Work Being productive at work is often all about staying focused. The days can feel long, the workload seems endless and when that happens, your motivation can dwindle. So what can you do? Although it might feel like youre not always in control, there are actually a number of things you can do to retain focus and stay productive. 1. Feed Your Body Sugary pastries for breakfast, greasy fast food for lunch and vending machine fare for a late afternoon boost may taste good, but its all bad fuel. Stick with whole grains, lean proteins and fresh fruit and vegetables for your workplace meals. Whole foods help to keep metabolism even. An even metabolism creates an energized, focused mind and body. 2. Practice Self Care If an inbox with hundreds of e-mails, a phone ringing off the hook, back to back meetings and urgent deadlines are all a typical day, its essential to practice self care. Like you do with other daily activities, schedule some short breaks to ensure you take them. Breaks are a terrific way to hydrate, stretch the body and recharge the brain. A well-rested mind is a focused mind. 3. Just Do It! Sticking to a comfort zone can lock us in to the status quo and prevent professional growth. A challenge or new project helps with focus. Play around with a new idea. Commit to learning a new skill. Think outside the proverbial box. An injection of excitement can make staying focused at work a breeze. 4. Become an Idea Pioneer Go looking for new ideas, new opinions, new sources of information and new methods. Be cutting edge. Be the person being talked about at the water cooler instead of the one doing the talking. Create your own excitement even if you are standing alone for a while. New ideas are contagious. Eventually curiosity will bite your co-workers. A new idea can refocus and refresh. 5. Be Generous and Gracious At times, business can seem cut throat. To minimize this possibility, become a partner with your co-workers even if you are in competition. Its so much easier to focus on a goal when boundaries and respect are present in an office. Invite your peers to share in your adventure and ask to be included in theirs. Sharing and collaboration sharpen focus. New methods and insight bolster productivity. 6. Smile, Dont Frown Its oh-so-easy to complain. But how productive is it? Not very. While we all need to air frustrations from time to time, dont make it a habit. Acknowledging a bad feeling is one thing, while allowing it to fester and grow is another. Negative energy and thinking brings focus and productivity to a screeching halt. Keep things even and keep moving forward. Complaints and bitterness do nothing to ignite change. 7. Seek Solutions Productivity is largely based on the ability to handle all kinds of situations. Its nearly impossible to complete a long to-do list when there are 10 unfinished tasks lurking around. Become a solution seeker. Utilize avenues and channels that were never a consideration before. An expanded and growing network creates a web of almost limitless productivity. Accomplishments feed the good part of focus. Staying productive and focused is within your control, if you have the desire and are willing to invoke the self-discipline. Be creative and try new strategies. And remember, learning what works for you is often a trial and error process. Good luck! Author Bio: Johnny Fireman writes about self-improvement, business efficiency and saving money at www.grouphealthinsurance.org.

How to Make a Resume That Will Impress a Prospective Employer

How to Make a Resume That Will Impress a Prospective EmployerIt is true that when you are in a tough job market like today, it will take more than one page to impress a prospective employer. A 2 page resume may be appropriate for the job of an entry level position. But if you are looking for a higher level position, then a one page resume is what you need.The number of resumes you get on a job goes up with the number of applicants for the same job. A two page resume may not be enough for the job. You need to know how to make a two page resume appealing for the employer.The first thing you should do is to delete the things on your resume that you don't use anymore. Don't put them back on the resume. Make sure you don't put it on the resume even if you really want to put it back on. The reasons behind this is that you might put it on the resume and the employer may want to look into it. In this case, you won't get the position.The next step is to get a cover letter. Since a cover lette r is needed before your resume, it should be written with your resume in mind. As much as possible, try to make it as interesting as your resume so that the employer will appreciate your talent even more.Lastly, read and reread your resume again until you have cleaned it up. The goal is to make it as appealing as possible. A poorly written resume may just disqualify you. You can try to rewrite it so that it is readable and interesting.Complete your resume by including a covering letter. Make sure it is short and clear. Then, consider adding your educational information to itif you have any.Now you know how to make a resume that will impress a prospective employer. It is time for you to make it into a reality.Just remember that the whole purpose of your resume is to make you stand out from other candidates for the job of your choice. So make it as perfect as possible. It's the only way to be a head of the pack.

Losing a Job is Never Easy Just Ask Ann Curry

Losing a Job is Never Easy Just Ask Ann Curry It pained me to watch Ann Currys goodbye on The Today Show today. Job loss isnt easy for anyone; having to make the formal announcement on national television was obviously very difficult for her. She showed all the classic   emotions of job lossshock, grief, fear, denial, and perhaps a tinge of anger.   Obviously Ann is in a much better place than many of us. She is being reassigned, she will still command a nice salary, and her new role will surely include some amazing perks. But job loss is still   a hard nut to swallow because many people equate their jobs with a large piece of their identity. Without a job, many feel lost.In my work I have met many of my clients just minutes after the news of their termination is delivered. Delivering news of a termination is never easy, but there are guidelines employers can follow to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible. Here are a few.Provide training for supervisors on how to respond to employee reactions, emotions, and behavio rs during this difficult time.Create scripts and follow-up support tools to help supervisors become comfortable in their notification role.Be clear on why people are selected for a layoff and explain the business circumstances surrounding the layoff.Avoid delivering the news on a Monday morning after a 90 minute killer commute.Giving notification on a Friday at 5pm or before a holiday is poor timing; it gives the person extra time to stew unproductively.Terminating an employee during the workweek helps them immediately notify unemployment and begin contacting their network.No employee should ever be notified of a layoff via email or social media. Respect employees enough to tell them face to face.Following a downsizing, company executives should be visible and available to listen and answer questions.Tell the employee how much you appreciate the work they have done and recognize their contributions.Some employees will cry or feel faint following the news. Have tissues and bottled wa ter in the room.Pre-arrange for transportation. Have a car service available for someone who is exceptionally distraught upon hearing the news.Plan for the person to clear out their desk while their co-workers are not around, but give them the opportunity to say goodbye.Have a plan for where the meeting will be held and how the meeting will end. Logistics can become awkward if not planned ahead.Give employees time to compose themselves before having to face co-workers.Give employees a good reference if they deserve one. Giving a positive reference may be one of the best things you can do.It was hard to watch Ann Curry say goodbye because it felt like she lost a piece of herself and maybe even a bit of her dignity. Many who have lost of job can relate to this. What is your layoff story and were you treated with respect and dignity?

116 Marc Havercroft - HR Transformation - Jane Jackson Career

116 Marc Havercroft - HR Transformation - Jane Jackson Career As Vice President, HCM Cloud Strategy Transformation, Marc Havercroft brings more than 20 years’ experience within the future workforce strategy and transformation helping clients adapt their HR strategy to meet the opportunity of the new digital world and the future workforce.His expertise includes advisory strategy and workforce design for organisations going through major change as well as new entrants into the Asia/ ANZ region from both green fields to MA structures.From Talent acquisition to talent management, Marc provides clients with high-level visibility on current global trends and is able to turn this into meaningful workforce strategies that deliver.Marc has worked across industries from financial services, telco, energy, media , digital social, to the public sector with Mercer, IBM, HBOS, Singtel Optus and now SAP.He is a Fellow of AHRI (Australian Human Resources Institute) CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) and is based out of Sydney, Austral ia where he lives with his wife and 2 children.We had a fascinating conversation about “The Art of the Possible”, whether robots will take our jobs and how Artificial Intelligence is enhancing the way we work by automating much of the ‘busywork’ in our working lives.  And how AI will provide us with more opportunity to connect with people and provide more personalize value to our customers. His advice to Human Resources professionals:Instead of being an HR person in Business, be a Business Person in HRWhere to find Marc:For on-going career management and career transition support join The Careers Academy Online