Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom The Next Generation of Employee Monitoring

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom The Next Generation of Employee Monitoring Last summer, I wrote about a Rackspace/University of London study that assessedproductivity levelsin 120 employees outfitted with wearable monitoring technology. The participants were equipped with one of the three devices â€" the GENEActiv high-velocity accelerometer wristband, which measures movement and activity; the NeuroSky Mindwave portable biosensor EEG, which monitors brain activity; and the LUMOback posture and activity coach, which issues a pulse to remind its wearer to sit up straight. Participant productivity jumped 8.5 percent and job satisfaction climbed 3.5 percent as a result of the monitoring. Employee monitoring is increasing in popularity, and the reason goes beyond productivity gains and wider availability ofInternet of things-related technology. Compliance with regulations such as the Affordable Care Act now involves understanding exactly how many hours full-time and part-time employees are working so that organizations can accuratelyclassifythem and determine benefit eligibility. In a recent article inHarper’s Magazine, Esther Kaplan investigated the $30 billion telematics industry. Telematics is essentially hardware and software that facilitates real-time employee monitoring. Shipping conglomerateUPS, for example, uses handheld delivery information acquisition devices (DIADs) to track delivery times, speed, stop times, and seat-belt use. When a UPS driver pulls into a delivery location, scans a package, and has the customer sign for it, the DIAD records the time, location and wait and sends the data to the driver’s supervisor. Although this DIAD system was introduced to UPS employees as a safety measure, the devices have saved the company millions in productivity and efficiency gains. For the rest of this post, head over to the SilkRoad blog.

The Importance of Self-Assessment - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Importance of Self-Assessment - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates I am often asked to help professionals develop and maintain their personal brand. I often think that the best answer is “Follow your bliss” and the rest will follow. And that is largely true. However, the workplace has become so competitive that personal branding is critical. So, when asked, I like to begin at the beginning. Many business schools offer courses focused on Self-Assessment and Career Development. These can be most useful. The premise of these courses, from alumni research, is that those who most loved what they did succeeded the most, regardless of what it was that they did. Define who you are It turns out that self-awareness is your responsibility. Don’t wait for the boss, the teacher, or your friends to tell you who and what you are. All of these important people in your life may be well meaning. But you need to define who you are. People ask me how to go about this process of self-awareness and self-examination. Lets put this in the context of self-discovery and talk about identifying the framework an individual might use in their personal and professional life to measure success. I’ve used all kinds of tools over the years and all are good.. Anything that encourages growth is welcome. Here’s a simple exercise that is the very tip of the iceberg in terms of “becoming aware of self”. EXERCISE: Right where you are â€" sitting in a chair, reading on the beach, lying on the bed, start by becoming aware of: 1. Your surroundings (what are the weather conditions, sounds, light?) 2. Your physical responses (is your heart beating faster?) 3. Your psychological responses (is your thought process fast or slow?) Pay attention to these things every day. Tune in to yourself and your surroundings. This is the beginning. Journaling questions Next, consider journaling as a way to document your journey of self discovery. I supplement this with self assessment, personal brand statement development, etc. Journaling questions would include the following: When have you felt most alive? When have you felt most freedom of creative expression? What is your ideal situation? What has had the most profound impact on your life? Why? What has   it changed in you? What was your fondest childhood experience?   Describe it in detail. Who do you admire most?   Why? People who commit to this process become more radiant and authentic human beings. They attract to themselves what is best for them as defined by them. I wish you best success in branding yourself. Author: Beverly Macy is the Managing Partner of YM Partners and teaches a social media class at the UCLA Extension.   She also co-hosts Gravity Summit events.

Avoid Ruining Your Personal Image - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Avoid Ruining Your Personal Image - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When you feel disappointed, you feel let down because your expectations failed to be met. Little children at times express their reactions to disappointment by crying; adults deal with disappointment more maturelyâ€"through logic. Regardless of your age, though, disappointment evokes strong emotions. Those in job transition have a heightened sense of awareness of such emotional response and make every effort to protect themselves from disappointment, yet at times they’re the ones causing disappointment to others and themselvesâ€"often unknowingly. Job seekers certainly do not do that by design, but awareness of the possibility of being the cause provides an opportunity to avoid or correct a potentially critically fatal situation. For example, as one who uses social media extensively, I have to admit that I’m attracted to people who have a really good picture on their profileâ€"not necessarily because of their looks but because I can identify with those who I can see understand the value of projecting their best. Next I poke around the Internet and sometimes find a video or other, more recent, pictures of the person. And that’s when the disappointment might come in: when it’s apparent that the picture on the profile is years old. That causes me to feel let down. Another instance that people in transition should consider is their submission of an archaic résumé to accompany a job application. This is the equivalent of being invited to an important event and showing up in soiled clothing in disrepair, which of course is simply unacceptable. Recruiters tell me that occasionally, in contacting job seekers by phone, they get the impression that the person at the other end of the call is totally unprepared to discuss employment issues. The job seeker wants and needs a job but has failed to prepare for such a phone call. The result? The recruiter feels disappointed, and the job seeker has lost an opportunity. What a shame! I remember a time I went to a job search networking event. Admittedly, it was a warm-weather day, but I’ll never forget the inappropriate apparel of several of those attendees who wanted to project themselves as high-level executives, high-powered lawyers, and the like. The shorts, worn-out T-shirts, and flip-flops (!) some of them were wearing were certainly incongruent with the image I would have expected from such people. Building a personal image is difficult and takes time. Ruining it is easy and instant. How often do job candidates come out of an interview and blame themselves for not having answered the interviewer’s questions well? Both parties know it and feel equally disappointed. The candidate could have prepared better, but by then it’s too late. The irreversible damage has been done. So, the next time, especially when you’re in transition, try to think with the other person’s mind, and ask yourself whether you’re making the right impression or the wrong one.

12 Resume Phrases That Need to Go

12 Resume Phrases That Need to Go Resumes can seem like a constantly-changing beast. Sometimes, you go several years without writing a resume. When you need one again, you need to dust your resume off and freshen it up, again!  Youll likely  find the conventions for what’s acceptable format-wise has changed. (By the way, it’s always worth taking the  time to update your resume even when you aren’t looking for a job  but I digress). It’s hard to keep up. Buzzwords roll in, become stale and then meaningless. However, the fundamentals of a great resume haven’t changed in years: they  need to tell a story. They need to be full of accomplishments; quantifiable ones. What they shouldn’t be is boring, boilerplate or full of outdated terminology. With resumes often receiving only about 6 seconds of scrutiny by recruiters and managers, you can’t afford to have useless jargon in there. You definitely cant afford terminology that sends the opposite message to what you’re going for. Weve put together  a list (from a 30-year recruitment expert) of terms that still show up all the time on resumes that simply need to go. I mean the terms that should be wipe-your-hands, never-see-them-again gone, but still manage to worm their way onto live resumes coming into my recruitment practice every day. Phrases that are meaningless These words have become meaningless by their repetition. The words that recruiters and hiring managers just glance past that are taking up your precious resume real estate. “Highly motivated” Everyone is “highly motivated” on a resume, yet anyone who’s held down a job knows that not everyone is highly motivated. Something doesn’t add up â€" and it’s the fact that this buzzword doesn’t actually describe anything. “Dynamic self-starter” See above. “Ability to accomplish objectives” Show your objectives and accomplishments rather than describing your ability to complete them. “Thought leader” A list of publications, speaking engagements, board memberships or other extra-curriculars speaks louder than this buzzword. “Timely fashion” This phrase just sounds old-timely. “Results-driven” Again, show the results and let them speak for themselves. “Effective communicator” Your resume itself is a document attesting to your communications skills, so using this word is like ending an essay with the phrase “this is a very good essay.” Phrases that send the opposite message to what you’re trying to convey “Responsible for” or “Duties include” This is the death-knell of resume effectiveness. When one of our candidates sends across a resume with this kind of language, we almost always help them extensively revise. The reason? You want to send the message that you’re able to handle a multitude of responsibilities, but this kind of phrasing makes it sound like you’re filling a seat rather than contributing in a meaningful way. “Visionary” You want to seem as though you take a creative, personal approach to your job, which is great, but this actually ends up sounding a bit arrogant. No one can credibly call themselves a visionary. “Seasoned professional” You’re trying to send the message that you’ve been around the block and dealt with a variety of situations, but it tends to make you sound a bit outdated. It also makes you sound like a Sunday roast. “Able to meet deadlines” You want to send a message that you have great time management skills and can work under pressure, but this phrasing actually sends the message that you’re sort of happy with the status quo. You’re “able” to meet deadlines, rather than going above and beyond. Bonus: Other outdated resume practices Using an email with an old-school domain like AOL or Hotmail. This is a surprising one to a lot of people, but it sends the message that you’re not up to date with technology. Saying “references available upon request.” This can be assumed. Including your date of birth and/or marital status. Including a list of skills, or a profile summary at the beginning of a resume. These are recently out the door, but they’re out of date nevertheless. We totally get that resumes are hard, and you have to fill them with something. They’re even harder without being able to use the common terminology that we often see. But trust us that working without these kinds of words is a worthy exercise. And stay tuned for our next article where we’ll dive into how to use action words, metrics and accomplishments to show your excellence as a candidate, rather than relying on buzzwords. About the author: Bronwen Hann is President and Senior Partner of Argentus.com, a boutique recruitment firm that specializes in recruitment for Supply Chain Management and its related functions including Procurement, Logistics, Operations and Planning.

#103 - Industry Expert Series - Ben Walker on the Transcription Services Industry - CareerMetis.com

#103 - Industry Expert Series - Ben Walker on the Transcription Services Industry The Career Insider Podcast Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSSForEpisode 103of The CareerMetis Podcast, we will be hearing from Ben Walker, CEO of Transcription Outsourcing, LLC.This interview is part of the “Industry Expert Series“.evalGuest Introduction â€" Ben WalkerevalBen Walker is the Founder and CEO of Transcription Outsourcing.Ben started off in the mortgage industry and didn’t enjoy it.After doing some research he realized that the medical industry was about to grow exponentially because of the aging baby boomer population.Unable to get a job within medical devices and services, he entered into medical transcription.After another shift in the market, Ben broke free from the company he was part owner of in outer to start Transcription Outsourcing and offer services to more industries.Episode Summary1. Ben kicks off the interview by telling us a little bit about himself and how he got involved with transcription services. He start ed off in the mortgage industry and didn’t enjoy it.2.Transcription services are crucial, and a lot of people overlook the importance of them because it happens behind the scenes.eval3.Ben describes how detectives, doctors and so many others use transcription to draw up your charts, or record statements and interviews. He explains why accuracy is the most important element of what his business does.4.Ben expands on what a transcriptionist does in their day to day in order to support the industry experts they serve. He uses an example of a surgeon who needs to stop operating and transfer their patient to a specialist, and what happens when he picks up the phone and delivers his account of what happens. From there a transcriptionist types it up in an official document that can be used by those who need to access it.5.Attention to detail, and understanding context are massively important skills to have in order to be a transcriptionist. What’s being said in the financial industry d iffers greatly from what’s being said within the legal or medical industries.6.Ben also explains where perfectionism gets into the equation for success in transcription.eval7.Ben describes how someone would get their start in transcribing, and how the industry has changed from having physical locations to a primarily online service.8.Ben shares how to obtain certification and where anyone can go to start their transcription career. He also notes that a lot transcriptionists work remotely from home.9.Ben also brings us up to speed on how Transcription Outsourcing goes about selecting their personnel.10.Ben talks about the industry in general, and how the demands of clientele are changing and growing rapidly, as well as which sectors are shrinking and shifting.11.He also shares his take on AI “If they’re not going to follow directions from the beginning, they’re probably not going to follow them once they do start to work for us.”.“You can’t predict what comes out of a p erson’s mouth”.Links ResourcesTo learn more about Ben Walker, you can visit hiscompany website.You can also connected with Ben viaLinkedInandTwitter.evalIntro Music provided courtesy of Accelerated Ideas (www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€" Siren KickbackEnding Music provided courtesy of Accelerated Ideas (www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€" No Need to Rush

Fixing the Jobless Problem

Fixing the Jobless Problem Recently, I ran into two separate women who both declared My husband has been out of work for over two years. If you have a spouse, friend, child or anyone you know who is in a similar situation, get them help now! Each day that goes by becomes a huge dark cloud over them. Not just for their own mental outlook, but also as viewed by potential employers. This problem is epidemic, it is horrific and it is 100% preventable. There are thousands of career coaches writing and speaking on how to do job search better.   But my fear is that those who need it most, arent getting the information.   Wait, they may hear tidbits of the information, but they dont know what to do with it or, more likely, they dismiss what they hear as not applicable to their situation.   They reject advice because it didnt work for them last time they tried it.   The excuses go on and on. Angry, bitter, depressed.   These people who have been out of work for over two years have deep emotional scars. How to Fix This? Yes, I have ideas and I know they wont be easy, but weve got to do something. No one should be out of work who really wants to work. 1. Get them together in the same room When you are alone and depressed, the farthest thing from your mind is to meet up with others, especially other losers like yourself.   I dont care.   Weve got to get the unemployed out of their homes.   This feeds the isolation and depression. Rally them together as a group. 2. Give them a purpose They lack a feeling of purpose, so lets provide it.   Every non-profit is crying for help. Volunteers are needed in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and thousands of other places.   Lets put these opportunities right in front of the unemployed.   Have them pick their poison. Get them involved and interacting with others and give them a purpose. 3.   Teach them how to be like Gumby Our world is changing and it isnt going to go back to the way it used to be.   The sooner we can stop craving stability, the better off well all be.   Jobs will come and go- frequently. Lets prepare them for this by teaching coping skills, financial skills and to be resilient. 4.   Take Healthcare out of the hands of the employer Affordable healthcare has to be made available to individuals.   It just has to.   Please, lets create organizations that allow anyone to buy into to affordable healthcare coverage.   We already see Chambers of Commerce doing it.   Why cant the Department of Labor create a non-profit arm which would allow those who need to buy in to the lower costs of group coverage? 5.   Teach entrepreneurship The long term solution to the instability might lie in entrepreneurial ventures.   Solopreneurs could potentially replace the unemployed, if they were given the tools to do it right.   There are enough problems to be solved in our country.   We just need people willing to take calculated risks and begin providing solutions by building small businesses.   No, I am not suggesting government loans or stimulus money.   I am suggesting that businesses can be started without a lot of overhead and that starting a business should be made as easy as possible by eliminating some of the barriers that currently exist.   Lets teach people how to do this now. 6.   Employers, INVEST in potential employees I get it.   It costs money to train and invest in new employees.   I hear employers crying that they cant find qualified candidates, but I have a hunch they arent really looking.   It is a great excuse and one they are not taking any responsibility to fix.   Fix it and stop complaining already.   There is great talent out there and they just need a bit of training. WE can do this There are great programs going on around the country. But lets not rely on the government to fix this dilemma.   Each one of us can do something to fix this.

Tips When Writing a Resume

Tips When Writing a ResumeFor those of you out there who are contemplating over writing a resume, here are some important tips when writing a resume that will help you achieve your goal. This can help you bring that resume to life and really put your best foot forward. Here are some helpful tips when writing a resume:o Organize it - List the special skills you have developed. Most employers look for people who have these abilities. In your resume, you can make sure that your talents are properly organized by listing them in the order of importance. Include only those skills that you have developed during your career thus far.o You may not need to mention anything about your accomplishments during the last two years. If you have something new to offer, you should indicate this. This is because most employers want to see newer and better things that you can provide them with, so do not include outdated information. Present yourself as a fresher and a potential candidate for the job.o K now your strengths and weaknesses. This will make it easier for you to list down your strengths and your weaknesses. One way to do this is to research on your own about what your strengths and weaknesses are. A helpful tip would be to consider what you know and what you do not know.o Your accomplishments may vary from one person to another. Even though this may seem impossible, you should not be afraid to put a description of your achievements on your resume. This will make it easier for others to identify you. Another way to write about your achievements is to create a list of your achievements in the past. This is more creative and unique than having your accomplishments listed by years, but it still can serve as an impressive summary.o When you are writing a resume, it is wise to remember that you are not writing to impress others. You are writing to impress the hiring company. Make sure that you present yourself as a professional. Present yourself as someone who is serious and c onfident. You should also come across as someone who has made a serious commitment to your career.o A final important tips when writing a resume that you should remember when you are writing for yourself is to always consider the hiring company's perspective. It is natural for you to have an inherent view about the person or company that you are writing for. It is always good to consider that the perspective of the company that you are writing for is equally important to you as well.Writing a resume is something that you will always have to do. It is definitely a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it. In order to get a great resume and stand out among the rest, you must pay attention to these few important tips when writing a resume.