Saturday, May 30, 2020

8 Ways to Stay Safe on Social Media

8 Ways to Stay Safe on Social Media There may not be a burglar on every block looking to break into your home, but that still doesnt mean you shouldnt keep locks on the doors and windows. Its always better to be safe than sorry, and that old adage holds especially true when dealing with online business. For people who venture into realms like social media to brand and sell, theres always a risk that a hackers out there trying to get your information. Sometimes being hacked might only result in a troll saying stupid things through your network â€" like what happens to many celebrities whose sites are hacked. Worse on the scale, of course, is the fact that hackers can steal your personal information and even get into your finances. Even if its not a hacker and just a program designed to mess things up, it can still mess things up! Always take these steps to create a safe social media environment: 1) Pay attention to what youre posting: This tip covers your safety, but it also covers your reputation thats something that must stay safe, too. So, bottom line, always pay attention to what youre posting. Make sure that youre not giving out any essential information, even if its in a private message to someone you think you can trust. And before you post any material, give it an hour or so, re-read it, and see if its still something you think is worth posting. 2) Use the privacy settings: Whether Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or some other social networking site, there are probably all manner of privacy settings you could use to lessen your risk of being hacked. Browse around the site and become familiar with them you want to ensure some pretty strict settings in order to stay safe! 3) Keep the really personal stuff personal: Far too often people choose passwords that are simply personal things to them, and then they end up giving away that personal information incrementally. If you have seen “Now You See Me,” then you already know that the personal stuff needs to stay personal. Now, its okay to be friendly and personable, but not overly personal. People finding out your real phone number, your address, etc, can use this information nefariously. 4) Know your friends: Just because a person is a fan or follower doesnt mean theyre your friend. Yes, it sounds cruel, and you should definitely treat them as friends to an extent. But when its all said and done, youre not attending their weddings or sending airfare support for a Vegas vacation. So before you start treating anyone like a friend, find out a little more about them. RELATED:  Why Your Facebook  Friends  Matter to Employers 5) Hey, dont click that! While its true that engagement in social media cannot be a one-way street, you still have to be a willing hypocrite to an extent. What does this mean? Well, you want people to click and follow-through on the links you post, but you shouldnt be quick to do the same. You can trust you, but can you trust that the link youre clicking from a supposed “friend” doesnt contain malware or some sort of spying program? 6) Tidy up your machine: Staying safe in social media means staying safe online in general. This is where a good anti-virus program comes in handy. Regular sweeps, perhaps daily, will help to keep you a lot safer. And you should also try to keep your business machine aimed at business. For those extracurricular activities you may be a bit embarrassed about, well, just use a different machine. 7) Different e-mails and passwords: Your main email should be separate from your social media account email. For instance, when you sign up for Facebook, go ahead and create a new email to do it. It takes about three minutes, its 100% free, and you can easily keep track of one extra email. If someone gets into one of your accounts, they wont have access to more than one of your networks! Also, for passwords, as briefly mentioned above, dont use something obvious. Mix things up and create complex passwords, making sure to change them every few months. 8) Use a reputable e-commerce outlet: Oh, the money. Yes. This needs protected more than anything! If youve followed along so far, then now you have to make sure that the actual sites youre using are holding up their end. Dont use some obscure e-wallet or CC system because you can save a few bucks. Make sure youre using reputable companies for your e-wallet and cart needs. Staying safe online takes some diligence and intelligence on your part, but its all essentially common-sense stuff that you just need to pay attention to. If you can be cognizant of the atmosphere and always willing to put in a little extra effort, you can greatly reduce the risks associated with online business and social media. Author: Simon Campbell is a writer for  Qwaya. He loves to write different topics about social media and participates in some communities and forums.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Frank Luntz and His Personal Resume Writing Tips

Frank Luntz and His Personal Resume Writing TipsIf you're wondering what this 'Frank Luntz' is all about, well it's an on-line information product that provides tips for getting an interview. It was created by a professor of public relations at the University of Iowa, whose name is Frank Luntz.When writing your personal resume, you may be wondering how to determine the basics and then move forward with your application. Your resume should be an interactive work of art that states your academic achievements, job skills, personal attributes, and other accomplishments. And you must have it professionally written and grammatically correct.Frank Luntz offers free tips for helping you create a personal resume that meets a strict deadline. He teaches you to make clear and concise career statements. He will also tell you how to gather information that can help you in the creation of your personal resume.One of the most important tips that Mr. Luntz teaches you is to avoid unnecessary blanks, check boxes, and fillers. I love the fact that he makes you aware that it's not enough to just have your name on the front. You have to have a complete picture of your qualifications and achievements. His list of steps for creating a resume, if you want, can serve as a guide.It doesn't matter whether you're employed or a student, if you've completed a program, you'll find something useful in Mr. Luntz's tips. In fact, he will help you get your diploma from any college. His tips are especially helpful for students.With his help, you can easily create a personal resume that will catch the eye of a hiring manager and a potential employer. All you need to do is follow the instructions and read the tips. It's easy, yet professional, even though you can get it all done in an afternoon.Frank Luntz's methods allow you to write your resume in as little as ten minutes. Just sit down and complete the required information at your own pace. It really works, because the information that is avail able online will take you anywhere from one to five hours.But if you're doing this for a career change, it'll take you even less time. Frank Luntz's system only takes a couple of hours. If you're getting fired soon, you'll love the power of his tips for writing your personal resume.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

How to Fix a Relationship Rut

How to Fix a Relationship Rut Relationship rut? Time to bring the sparks back. Sometimes relationships feel like it is coming to a halt. Things get boring and the days feel like it is the same day in and out. If you and your boyfriend are starting to seem like you are tired of each other, remember this: its not you. It is not him either. It is just your circumstances, and you need to just make an effort to make the situation better. Give each other a chance to miss each other Go on a break. Go on  a vacation away from each other with your according families and friends. Try to  stay off the phone and keep communication to a minimum, this way you really get some time to yourself. Sometimes spending way too much time with the same person or doing the same thing causes us to think of greener pastures, when the side youre on is just as nice if not better. Let him miss you, and let yourself miss him as well.  One break every other month will give you the me-time that you need. Plan a Romantic Escape When you realize that you are having problems, you are on the way to fixing it. You both are able to make plans to make things work out better. You can plan a romantic and intimate evening with your other half, and make both of you  feel like the good old days. My husband found an amazing place called Executive Fantasy Hotels after doing some research online.  You can also try to plan a weekend away and go to a place that inspires great memories from the time that you were both very much in love. Go after a goal together One reason why a lot of couples get bored of their relationship is because they unconsciously fall into the monotony of everyday life. What you can do to counter it is sit down together and take on a project using each others skills. Nothing unites people better than a mutual goal, and finding the right project can make a world of difference. Whether it is a home makeover, or a part time side-hustle, getting together to work towards success can either make or break you, so putting in that effort will really help the two of you consciously re-couple. Boredom comes to every couple. Just remember, the two of you came together for a reason, and that is all you have to remember to stay together. Putting sparks back into your relationship is an easy task after understanding that the problem that the love will always be there between you and your man.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

How to Ask about Culture

How to Ask about Culture In a recent post, I wrote about how corporate culture may be the most important factor in your success on the job. If your personality is a great fit for the way the team or company thinks, it’s likely that youll be able to succeed and enjoy your work. Personality assessments like the Culture Index can help you and your manager understand why things are working (or not) and may be able to help you communicate better and become more effective. Even without a formal tool, you can learn about company culture during the interview, and up your chances of getting a job you’ll look forward to every day. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'z58WnMbmQGFBMRs02_V34w',sig:'sV39dAWF5occ2Nseop5lQEQryJK7vgEMVQyAVs9nBuI=',w:'478px',h:'358px',items:'179707041',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); First, we’ll assume that you actually understand yourself and how you make decisions, manage people and communicate on the job. You’ll need to both understand and embrace your strong personality traits for this concept to work. If you’re willing to bend yourself into whatever shape it takes to get the job, you’re not ready for the idea of interviewing the company to see if it’s a good fit for you. There are some general questions that are great for understanding corporate culture. One is: “Tell me about a typical day on the job in this position.” Listen carefully for clues about things like the level of detail required in the job, the number of social interactions you can expect in a day, or how the company views accuracy and deadlines. For instance, I know that I am a big picture person; great with ideas, but not interested in implementing detailed plans. If I would have to spend my day poring over contracts to look for compliance issues, I’d be miserable. I’d need to know in advance how much of my time would be spent on those kinds of duties. Ask follow up questions to verify your assumptions: “It sounds like a fast-paced, hectic job. You must have a group of high-energy people who thrive on pressure.” “It sounds like I’d be working on several projects with several different managers. How often do teams get together to measure progress and work out issues?” The answers will help you determine if your energy and communication style will be assets or liabilities. Another important cultural issue is supervision and management style. Here are some questions that will help determine fit: Tell me about your management style. How and how often do you prefer to communicate with staff? How autonomous do you want your team to be? What kinds of things would you want to be informed about, and what would you want me to handle on my own? Look for signs that your future boss is a micromanager or extremely risk averse and how she prefers to communicate. Figure out how that fits in with the way you work. Behavior based interviewing is a style of interview that sets up scenarios and asks you to respond with how you’d act. It’s a tool you can use to your advantage as well. Here’s a great example: “If I had a situation where I can either ship a partial order on time or ship the full order late, how would you want me to handle it? Here’s another? “I’m used to small, flexible team environments, and ABC company is larger and more structured. If another manager were to ask me to help out with some administrative work, would you want me to clear it with you first?” Asking what kinds of people are successful in the role nets the most revealing responses. When answering, a manager will often list the qualities of their dream candidate. “We need someone who is great with people and puts the customer first.” “We need flexible team players who don’t mind covering for each other when things get crazy.” “We need people who can catch every mistake on a client contract before it’s signed.” If that’s not you, it’s better to know before you accept the offer.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Reno Nevada - Learn How to Write a Resume in Reno Nevada

Reno Nevada - Learn How to Write a Resume in Reno NevadaYou may be wondering why it is so important to learn how to write a resume in Reno Nevada. What is so great about this place that you want to help you? Is it just the food, casinos, gorgeous scenery or what? Maybe the fact that this city offers so many career opportunities makes it the perfect place for you to live and work.The number of job openings in Reno Nevada is growing at a very fast rate because so many people from all over the country and around the world are moving here. The job market is something that will never cease to be a good thing, especially if you are someone who loves to work, lives, and feels comfortable in a large, exciting, and open job market.Those who have been looking for new jobs for some time now and can afford to look elsewhere now can also benefit from being able to sit back and relax in Reno Nevada, because the state has become so welcoming to newcomers. The economy has made Reno Nevada an ideal p lace to live, work, and to raise a family.A good portion of Reno Nevada is located right on the Nevada State Fairgrounds, which also acts as the site for the state fair. The fair is also the home of the famous Reno Air Races, a number of shows that feature Cirque du Soleil, and a number of other fun events for kids, adults, and children of all ages. If you are someone who loves animals, then you will enjoy the variety of petting zoos, shopping in the Petting Zoo area, and the spectacular Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.In addition to all of the great things to do in Reno, there is a mall where you can shop for dresses for your daughter's dress up game or take her to her child's soccer game. When your child is finished with her activity, she can watch a movie in the movie theater or just grab a bite to eat in the restaurant.Living in Reno Nevada also allows you to get to know the residents, which can be a very exciting thing to do. You will get to know the important peop le in the community such as teachers, firemen, police officers, judges, and politicians. If you decide to move to Reno Nevada, you can look forward to meeting and getting to know many of these people, which is a great way to begin making friends and strengthening your bonds with other people who share the same interests as you.There are many reasons why it is important to learn how to write a resume in Reno Nevada. As mentioned earlier, this is a very friendly and welcoming community, which can lead to lots of exciting activities and things to do that can keep you busy and help you in your search for a new job.Whether you want to move to Reno Nevada for a job, a career change, or simply want to stay for a while, you can find plenty of reasons why it is important to learn how to write a resume in Reno Nevada. You might just find yourself enjoying the place once you get there.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

3 Essential Skills for a Great Career and Life

3 Essential Skills for a Great Career and Life When someone senior asks you to “jump”, are you the kind of person who says, “how high?” or do you start negotiating? Depending on the situation, either response could be just what the doctor ordered… or a terrible mistake. When you’re overeager and say “yes” to everything, you could end up taking on too much and taking on the wrong things. That could lead you to burnout, putting out mediocre work, and even relegating yourself to support roles rather than leadership roles. On the other hand, when you negotiate on every point you’ll probably have a better lifestyle, but you could be labeled as “difficult”. And that can mean missing out on some great assignments and closing off career possibilities. The question is: what can you do to protect your time and energy in a way that helps you advance in your career and have a great life too? Based on my own 24-year career and my work with senior executives, here are three essential skills for succeeding in your career and having a great life too. Which would most help you? Set Boundaries The first skill is to set boundaries. Think of these as your own set of rules or guidelines for how much time and energy you spend on your projects or activities. For me, it’s about how long I spend working because I have a tendency to work on something for much longer than necessary. You can further break this down into specific metrics like how many days a week you travel, not missing two family dinners in a row, or never working on the weekend. The way I learned to set boundaries was through my department head. He was so worried about the number of hours I put in that he called me into his office one evening to say, “If you keep working like this, you’ll end up burning out and probably divorced. I want you to take your kids to school one morning a week and be home in time for dinner twice a week. Believe it or not, the firm will still operate without you.” It took someone senior giving me permission (or rather, commanding me) to set boundaries before I finally gave myself permission. But since none of us can rely on having a wonderful boss impose those kinds of boundaries on us, it’s important to be able to give yourself permission to set boundaries. Give yourself permission to set boundaries in your career and life. What boundaries are you setting for yourself? Say No You’re going to be asked to take on many projects and tasks in your career. Some of them will be amazing opportunities, while others less so. But as an achiever, you may find it hard to say “no”. I certainly fall into that category. The list of things that I should’ve said “no” to is long. For example, being the one to write up our task force recommendations (which never got acted on), taking on a friend’s teenage son for a summer internship (think babysitting…), and traveling all the way to Rome for one meeting as a favor to a colleague. Were they big mistakes? Not really, and there was always a rationale for saying “yes” to each one. But taken together, they added up to a significant distraction from the truly important things that I could have been working on. Since then, I’ve learned a new acronym: SIWYSNT, which stands for Success Is What You Say No To. With the help of my team, I now have a decision-making filter for figuring out whether an activity is worth taking on. It includes things like whether it’s core to my mission, builds my brand, develops a new skill, builds my network, and is it going to spark joy. I’ve also adapted this for my coaching clients with good results. Success is what you say no to. How about for you? What are the things you need to say “no” to in order to be more successful? Manage Up Another key career skill is to know how to manage up, as in proactively manage your relationship with your boss as well as shape their perception of your work. Do you know how to push back when someone senior makes an unreasonable request? Are you skilled at influencing outcomes? Could you anticipate needs so you can do the task on your own time rather than having to fit in with the timing dictated by others? One of my team members had the latter skill down to a science. Brian would come by my desk in the morning (after I had my caffeine!) and ask me about client meetings coming up over the next week so he could get started on doing the prep work. This gave me a chance to plan ahead and Brian added value by making suggestions on what material we could use. This one simple act helped Brian manage his time, helped me be more prepared for important meetings, and enhanced Brian’s reputation with me. It was a win-win. Conclusion To have a truly great career and life, it’s essential to know how to set boundaries, say “no” and manage up. And as you become more senior and successful, these skills will only become more useful. After all, there will be more demands on your time, those senior to you will be more powerful, and the stakes will be higher. Learning these essential skills also provides an added benefit in that they apply to your life away from work too. For example, you could set boundaries for the household tasks each family member takes responsibility for, or how much time you spend with the in-laws. Saying “no” can easily apply to friend and family-related requests. And managing up by anticipating needs has worked well for me with my husband (and yes, it’s usually wise to treat your partner like a boss or client). What about you? Which of these strategies would make the biggest difference for your career and life? Leave a comment and let me know.

Friday, May 8, 2020

How to get good recommendations on LinkedIn - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to get good recommendations on LinkedIn Unless you’ve been living under the rock in the last few years, if you are a working professional, you most likely have your profile on Linked In. LinkedIn is the world’s biggest social networking website for professionals which currently has in excess of 500 million members in more than 200 countries and territories. People use LinkedIn to make connections with potential hires, discuss and find out more about the present state of their profession, sector and industry, impart knowledge and information to others and seek out opportunities for freelance/portfolio work and employment. Although many of us are on LinkedIn, few of us truly know how to make the most of it, especially for job search. There’s so much more to seeking work on LinkedIn than browsing the job listings. My colleague Nisa Chitakasem of Position Ignition has written  â€œ125 Linked In Job Search Tips”  which will help you to tap into LinkedIn as the vital job search resource it is. In this post, I will share some tips on how to get good recommendations on Linked In. The Recommendations feature allows people whove worked together in an organisation or on a project to endorse one another. Each recommendation only has to be 2 or 3 lines: sometimes Ms. Jobseeker is a very competent accountant and very easy to work with. She went out of her way to assist me is enough to help a potential employer or client build up their picture of you. 1. Ask for recommendations by going to your profile page, clicking on the Get Recommended link and filling in the form it takes you to. Again, dont be shy-if the features there, you might as well use it!  2. Only request recommendations from people who know you well and who you’ve worked with recently. Vague recommendations from people who barely remember where they know you from are not going to make any lasting impressions on employers browsing your profile. 3. Think about what you would like recommendations for and what skills or areas of strengths and interest you would like them to highlight. Think about how your recommendations should fit in with your whole profile. 4. Think about who you want recommendations from in particular. People who are recognised as experts in their fields or who have good reputations within their firms are good people to get recommendations from and to be associated closely with. It shows that you are respected by top professionals and serious people. 5. Similarly to the number of connections you have, getting recommendations isn’t about the number you have but the quality of them. It’s about what they say, by whom and how good they are as a supporting piece about you as a professional. 6. Think of recommendations as an online equivalent of references. When you send in your CV/resume you often get asked for references. This is people who an employer may ring up to ask about you or ask to write about your performance as an employee. Online LinkedIn recommendations are a way for a future employer to get a feel for what you are like and how others who know you and who have worked with you, view you. 7. Whenever you get a good recommendation, announce it in a status update so your other connections know to go and read it. 8. Give as well as get. By giving others recommendations, especially unprompted, you get into their good books and they might return the favour. You’ll also become more memorable to them, which could help you later down the line if they think of something that could help you find a job. 9. One way to get recommendations whilst you’re fresh in someone’s mind is to ask them for one as soon as you’ve finished working with them. That way, they’ll write one whilst they still remember your good work and you’ll build up a collection of detailed and accurate recommendations to aid you in future job searches.   10. When asking for a recommendation it can be helpful to tell the person you are requesting it from, the reason why you would like it and what you are trying to do. Spending a bit of time explaining what types of role you are looking to get into and what you are trying to achieve, may help them to be more focused in their recommendation making it relevant to your particular needs and goals. 11. Remember to thank your connections for any recommendations that they give you. You may need them again in the future to update their recommendation or to be out there in the market helping you find your next role so show your gratitude in them taking the time and thought to write a recommendation for you. You can get a complimentary copy of 125 LinkedIn Job Search Tips ebook here.