Why Great People Make Great Companies

Why Great People Make Great Companies This week on the Employer Branding Podcast, were with a Chicago-based tech company that has been through the peaks and troughs of business and now competing for the best talent with the likes of Google, Amazon and Facebook. James Ellis  is the  Global Head of Employment Brand  at  Groupon. He is responsible for the global employer brand and its activation across all digital channels. Have a listen to the interview below, keep reading for a summary and be sure to subscribe to the  Employer Branding Podcast. Listen on  Apple Podcasts,  Stitcher Radio,  Google Play  or  SoundCloud. In this episode youll learn about: The company culture at Groupon, and how they went from a tiny startup to a unicorn in the blink of an eye. Why Groupons talent challenges go hand-in-hand with the talent challenges of Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon. How James leads Groupons employer brand strategy. Why the customer-focused value is the most important aspect of Groupons employer value proposition. How Groupon activates its employer brand with real content. Why theres no such thing as a companys best source of hire. What employer branding success  stories James is most proud of at Groupon. What James Elliss best 3 tips for employer brand managers are. Whats up next for employer branding and why its not about clever or sexy tactics. Connect with James on  Twitter   check out his podcast  The Talent Cast.

How to Develop in Your Career by Working with a Mentor

How to Develop in Your Career by Working with a Mentor A good mentor should be supportive but also prepared to challenge your thinking and perspective. Ideally, your mentor can suspend judgment and encourage you to reflect on a range of options. Rapport is essential in establishing a relationship that is open and honest so you will experience maximum benefit from the mentoring. It should work something like this: A  partnership; Offers ongoing support and development; Places  focus on learning and development; To explore work-related issues and solutions to problems. When it works well a mentoring relationship is invaluable as an effective learning and development tool. What does a mentor look like? Find someone with a commitment to developing others, with a mindset that encourages those being mentored to take responsibility for themselves and to realize their potential. This is not about words of wisdom, or sage advice based dropped from above. A mentor is someone with the experience to help you formulate questions and assess the pros and cons of a variety of approaches and solutions. The idea is that mentoring helps you to learn and grow with a view to becoming a more independent and experienced manager rather than being reliant on your mentor. So you see that good questioning skills and the ability to envisage alternatives and explore innovative solutions is more important than a directive approach. Challenge to improve Your mentor is someone whose integrity you trust so that their input, whether positive or negative, is credible and effective; Your mentor raises issues you may not want to discuss but gives you room to explore and focus; Your mentor works with you so you grow and develop as an employee and a manager; Your mentor makes you feel secure enough to take risks, to conquer your doubts and fears and to reach for your aspirations with both hands; A mentor challenges you to set stretch goals for yourself doesn’t let you settle for the status quo or put up with second-best and helps you to reach for goals you might not have set on your own. Essentially a mentor is not there to tell you what to do but to help you work out for yourself what is right for you and what will help you achieve your goals and fulfill your potential. Mentoring is supposed to be collaborative, with both parties having input on topics for discussion. Making mentoring work Take your time in finding the right mentor, it’s a personal relationship and you need real, hands-on feedback from a professional who has a genuine interest in you and your career. It’s probably  better to choose someone other than your line manager, but do avoid too much of a hierarchy gap or experience gap in the relationship. When you approach someone you trust and respect to ask them to mentor you it is to be hoped that they will see it as an honor and a pleasure to work with you, but it has to be voluntary and you have to nurture the process and establish a level of mutual respect. You may need to work with a specific person for a while, but mentoring is not necessarily a long-term option and you may find that some other mentor will help you with different aspects of your career. Try not to think in terms of promotion but of developing as a person and a professional.

5 Benefits of Having an Alumni Network

5 Benefits of Having an Alumni Network This post is for anyone who thinks attending college was a waste of time and money.Sure, you now have student loans that will take years to pay off. In the short-term, it seems like a scary idea of being in debt before starting your career.As your career progresses, you will eventually need to network for a new job. After reaching out to a couple of college friends, you start to see how that alumni network gained from your expensive education was the smartest investment you had ever made.We explain several benefits of an alumni network below.5. Lifelong Group of FriendsOn graduation day, it is impossible for you to see why your alumni network is so important. You cannot see beyond career and life choices you have not made, yet.You have high hopes. You want to attack the world and start your career! You also want some time away from those college friends you saw every day.However, after a few years, you start to realize those friends from college are quite important. You both went thr ough a special journey together. Your experiences had created an unspoken bond.Both you, your friends, and anyone who went to the same college, suddenly become these people you would help without question. You connect with them on LinkedIn and share a couple of messages. Somehow, you both understand each other. All you did was attend the same college.4. A Massive Network And/Or Strong Tight-Knit NetworkDid you go to Penn State University? You have a massive network on LinkedIn!Did you go to an obscure college like Wagner College like me? You have a small tight-knit network and that is equally great.We use Penn State as an example for a reason. The majority of people who reach out to Find My Profession attended Penn State. At the same time, we find many decision-makers at companies attended Penn State, too.For schools like Wagner College, the network is smaller and equally strong. Being part of a small, exclusive network makes alumni feel a stronger obligation. On several occasions, alumni connections at Wagner College assisted me with networking and finding jobs. All those college majors I went to class with now had their networks, and I had mine.3. Financial BenefitsAlumni benefits from universities may involve discounts on car, home, and health insurance. Some alumni associations offer disability or long-term care insurance.If you don’t have benefits from your employer or you’re starting a business of your own, being part of an alumni association may offer benefits to help you.2. Banking ServicesUniversity credit unions provide you with a number of advantages over your standard bank, including fewer fees and lower mortgage rates.As an alumnus, these are still available to you. Schools often offer competitive interest rates on university branded cards, too.Show your school spirit and secure some financial flexibility, if necessary.1. Career AssistanceThese benefits are useful at any point in your career. You may be making a career change or trying to get a promotion. Perhaps, you are looking to hire for your own company.You can look through your university career center. Alumni are typically offered exclusive job postings, resume reviews, webinars, networking events, and a variety of online videos and resources free of charge.Services like career counseling or alumni-only career fairs are also available and a great help for finding new jobs.Finally, if you want to change your field of interest or learn some new skills, you can take advantage of continuing education classes or certificate programs. Alumni are usually offered deeply discounted rates.

An Unlikely Vacation - How Web Design Led me to Wolverhampton

An Unlikely Vacation - How Web Design Led me to Wolverhampton What does web design have to do with traveling? It is a funny story really. How I found Wolverhampton was an interesting story in and of itself.   I was browsing web design companies, and a web design company based out of Wolverhampton came up in my search.   The pictures and videos they shared on the various sites they had created for the local sites they host drew me to Wolverhampton, and I must say- if you are looking for web design, check out web design in Wolverhampton. I love to travel, its in my blood.   You see however, I am not a typical traveler.   All inclusive pre-planned mixed tour-guide trips are not my idea of a vacation.   No, what I like to experience is the roots of my destination.   This is what brought me to one of the most charming cities in the UK, Wolverhampton. Wolverhampton is full of culture, architecture, art, and the most warm-hearted people you will ever meet. I started browsing sites for things to explore while I was there.   Of course the normal sites like Trip Advisor are always included in my search, which gave me great reviews of the local art scene.   However, I wanted more.   This led me to the local City Council Website, they had many cross-links with lists of local bed and breakfasts, pubs, art galleries, and museums. I also found Wolverhampton Arts Culture. The highlight of their website is the Wolverhampton Art Gallery. The gallery hosts a vast array of collections; Decorative Art, Family History, Fine Art, Local History, and World Collections just to name a few.   While I am a huge art enthusiast I must say I am very excited to also visit the Gallery Cafe, which is on the top floor of the gallery and features a full cafe style menu. Another site I found is National Trust, this is the site for Wightwick Mannor and Gardens.   Another restored homes and garden from the Victorian era, this location also has shops, and art gallery, and a restaurant.   It is perfect for an all day excursion. As you can see, when I plan a vacation I put aside the typical pre-planned cookie cutter ideals.   I search for my perfect piece of the pie.   I find what locations I want to visit.   Finding local websites is key to booking your perfect vacations.   Looking up city websites, and finding local attractions that appeal to you will help you custom build your perfect vacation and leave the cookie cutter tour guided vacations in the past!

Finding The Best Resume Experience Examples Online

Finding The Best Resume Experience Examples OnlineResume experience examples can show you how to present a particular job or position in a way that will get you noticed. One of the ways to get the notice of an employer is by creating an effective resume. Writing a good resume will keep you from the rest of the applicants and give you a chance to get a job interview.This is not as easy as it sounds and that is why there are many resources available on the internet that offer the best example on how to write a resume. They can even create your resume for you. In fact, these resources provide resources to help you write a great resume, which is the most important part of your job application. Once you have written your resume, you should go out and seek the appropriate job you are looking for.Once you have a job you can start using your resume to interview to get the best for you. You can search the internet and find resources that show you how to use these samples to get the most atten tion and result from your application. You will learn about resume experience examples by searching and choosing a job you are applying for.One way to avoid asking other candidates for resume experience examples is to submit your own resume without the help of examples. This is also a good way to build your own portfolio. This will help you to meet other people who might be able to help you with future job offers. With experience you will know the value of their time.You want to get the attention of the potential employer and this will help you with your personal and professional life. One of the ways to do this is to make sure that you have the kind of resume that will grab their attention. After all, they are the ones that will be hiring the employee. Resume experience examples can give you the knowledge needed to put together a quality resume.It is also important to use resume experience examples when you apply for a job in a different country. This is because there will be thing s that they will ask of you that they will not ask of an American. For example, they might expect you to speak some other language besides English. That will require you to learn a new language.It is a good idea to be bilingual in a language that they will expect you to be. Another skill you need to have is to use several methods of communication such as writing, reading, and listening. This will allow you to provide all necessary information to a potential employer.There are many places online where you can find resume experience examples and practice what you learn. As with everything else in life, the more you know the better chance you have of getting hired. Using them will help you find a job quickly become an employee of the company you are looking for.

Summary Sunday Be Productive at Any Age

Summary Sunday Be Productive at Any Age Why do you procrastinate? Dont we all want to feel like we are being more productive? Maybe you constantly feel  overwhelmed or maybe you regularly fight procrastination. This summary round up has tips, pointers and advice for every age group. As a reminder, I share round up of my favorite and popular tweets on Sunday. Why do you procrastinate? Marissa Brassfield, @efficient,  an effectiveness coach for teams and solopreneurs, made this statement: If  I’m procrastinating, I usually don’t have the resources, knowledge, or skill proficiency to do it well. Really think about this. Are you procrastinating because you dont have the resources, knowledge or skill? Job seekers are prone to procrastination, I feel, because there are so many things they dont know how to do or havent done before! If youve never had to call someone and ask for a meeting, you dont know what to say. And if you dont know what to say, you dont make the phone call! If you are looking for suggestions on overcoming procrastination, check this one out, Just Do It: How To (Finally) Stop Procrastinating. Now on to the main feature! Become More Productive The Daily Muse collected 45 productivity tips, from the obvious checklists to managing meetings and email. There are tips about mastering time management and dealing with distractions too! I hope youll have a look. 45 Productivity Tips For Extremely Busy People The Daily Muse Do You Know A Senior In College (Or are you one?) These are some obvious tips on what a senior should begin doing RIGHT NOW! Please share! The Top 10 Things Every College Senior Need to Do Right Now US News World Report Busted Boomer If you are 50+ years old, here are some job search tips that were specifically written for you by Kerry Hannon (@KerryHannon).  Hannon specializes in providing job search tips for the older job seeker. The 11 Biggest Mistakes Older Job Hunters Make Forbes Keep Up With Job Search News Do you want to keep up with what Im sharing on Twitter, even if you dont have an account?! Never fear. You can get job search tweets sent to your mailbox by subscribing for free here. Or you can subscribe to get my blog posts delivered to your inbox. Just add your email. No spam- ever! I promise. Never miss a post! Sign up now!

Post-Job Interview Follow-Up From Deplorable to Dynamite (Part 1 of 2)

Post-Job Interview Follow-Up From Deplorable to Dynamite (Part 1 of 2) Post-Job Interview Follow-Up: From Deplorable to Dynamite (Part 1 of 2) From a veteran hiring manager’s perspective, I’ve found that the weakest part of most job search processes is the deplorable state of follow-up. You can go from the perfect candidate to the bottom of the list before you even know it! It’s so much more than thank you notes! (By the way, why aren’t you sending yours?) Thank you notes and follow-up communications are NOT optional; they are required. Great follow-up can put you ahead of other candidates: It shows persistence; you’re demonstrating a skill that may be needed in the job itself. You can expand, reinforce, or clarify something discussed in the interview. It prevents the hiring manager or recruiter from forgetting about you. Your follow-up reinforces that you want the job. Good manners are always valued. And the downsides of NOT following up are: Some hiring managers will dismiss out of hand an applicant who does not send a post-interview thank you note, saying it indicates poor follow-through and a lack of interest in the position. Other candidates will follow up, so you lose an opportunity to compete for that job. Here’s what world-class follow-up looks like: Send a note within 24 hours while its still fresh in your mindâ€"and the companys. Address a note to each individual person you met with. Spell everyones name correctly, including the companys. When you are ready to send your thank your note, follow this simple outline: First â€" always â€" thank them for the opportunity to meet and for taking time out of their day to do so. Next, note why you think you are the right candidate for the role. No more than 3 reasons. Bullet points are optimal here. This is an opportunity to elaborate on why you are a great fit, in writing, beyond your initial cover letter and interview. Close with these 3 points:1. Express your interest;2. Commit to following up with them again within a specified time frame; and3. Thank them, again, for their time and consideration. Send a second follow-up note no more than 5 working days after the first one, following this structure: Begin with a pleasantry, followed by a sentence explaining where you left off during your last communication. “You had indicated to me that youd be making your final decision during the week of (date), and I just wanted to follow up to see where you are in that decision.” Include something of value in your follow-up instead of being perceived as nagging. Perhaps you just completed some training, closed a big deal, or finished a major project. If you are volunteering or taking outside courses while unemployed, talk about that. Close with the next follow-up you will initiate. Dont ask them to call you back. Instead, let them know that “I’ll follow up again within a few days, but in case you need to reach me, here is the best contact number: XXX-XXX-XXXX.” Watch for Post-Job Interview Follow-Up: From Deplorable to Dynamite (Part 2 of 2), where I share some additional tricks and ways to deal with common mistakes and excuses as they relate to Job Interview follow-up. I want to help you stand out and win that job! Feel free to comment below with any additional challenges you face! Let me give you a hand; I’m ready to help! Dana