The Ultimate Job Search Spreadsheet

The Ultimate Job Search Spreadsheet I used a spreadsheet in my job search.  It simply wasnt enough.  Thats one big reason I started JibberJobber, which is the best alternative to a job search spreadsheet youll find. Ive seen job search spreadsheets in the last nine years, some are very colorful, some are cool with filters you can download some for free, or pay someone a few bucks for the one they made. But the job search spreadsheet didnt solve some important issues I had, as a job search: The job search spreadsheet doesnt ping me when I need to follow-up with someone.  A web-based system, like JibberJobber, should. The job search spreadsheet requires a lot of data entry.  When I talked to a recruiter about a job at a company, I had to leave notes about our call on the recruiter, job and company records.  That was a lot of duplicate data entry.  JibberJobber allows you to create one Log Entry, and associate it with multiple records. The job search spreadsheet does not interface with my email.  Job seekers find it easier to send an email than pick up the phone. If Im sending emails, I dont want to have to turn around and copy and paste to my spreadsheet.  You can guess that JibberJobber does this nicely. The job search spreadsheet doesnt make it easy for multiple (lots of) follow-up. Most spreadsheets have a first contact date, and a follow-up date but what if you communicate with someone 3 times? Or, 30 times?  Thats why we have Log Entries in JibberJobber to have umpteen+ relevant records of communication. Sure you could do this in Excel, but who wants 30 extra columns of data? The job search spreadsheet is a band-aid.  When I was using mine, and tweaking it, I realized that it was getting messy, and if I had to come back to it in two to five years, I wasnt sure if I would understand any of it. I wanted something that would provide value to me years later which is what JibberJobber can do. Ive had many users who come back for a second, third, or fourth job search, and pick up right where they left off.  But with cooler features, since we are continually enhancing it Is there an ultimate job search spreadsheet?  If you are looking for a band-aid with limited functionality and not much room for growth, about anything will do.  It will work great for the first week or two, but as you network more, and apply to more companies, youll probably get more frustrated. Why not forgo the frustration? Just sign up on JibberJobber.  The free side allows you to pretty much everything.  The premium side, which is $9.95 a month (or get 50% off if you buy a year for $60) is pretty amazing (heres what you get on the premium side yes, everything else is really on the free side). Then, if you really want spreadsheets, just export your data in a multitude of ways to a spreadsheet :p The Ultimate Job Search Spreadsheet I used a spreadsheet in my job search.  It simply wasnt enough.  Thats one big reason I started JibberJobber, which is the best alternative to a job search spreadsheet youll find. Ive seen job search spreadsheets in the last nine years, some are very colorful, some are cool with filters you can download some for free, or pay someone a few bucks for the one they made. But the job search spreadsheet didnt solve some important issues I had, as a job search: The job search spreadsheet doesnt ping me when I need to follow-up with someone.  A web-based system, like JibberJobber, should. The job search spreadsheet requires a lot of data entry.  When I talked to a recruiter about a job at a company, I had to leave notes about our call on the recruiter, job and company records.  That was a lot of duplicate data entry.  JibberJobber allows you to create one Log Entry, and associate it with multiple records. The job search spreadsheet does not interface with my email.  Job seekers find it easier to send an email than pick up the phone. If Im sending emails, I dont want to have to turn around and copy and paste to my spreadsheet.  You can guess that JibberJobber does this nicely. The job search spreadsheet doesnt make it easy for multiple (lots of) follow-up. Most spreadsheets have a first contact date, and a follow-up date but what if you communicate with someone 3 times? Or, 30 times?  Thats why we have Log Entries in JibberJobber to have umpteen+ relevant records of communication. Sure you could do this in Excel, but who wants 30 extra columns of data? The job search spreadsheet is a band-aid.  When I was using mine, and tweaking it, I realized that it was getting messy, and if I had to come back to it in two to five years, I wasnt sure if I would understand any of it. I wanted something that would provide value to me years later which is what JibberJobber can do. Ive had many users who come back for a second, third, or fourth job search, and pick up right where they left off.  But with cooler features, since we are continually enhancing it Is there an ultimate job search spreadsheet?  If you are looking for a band-aid with limited functionality and not much room for growth, about anything will do.  It will work great for the first week or two, but as you network more, and apply to more companies, youll probably get more frustrated. Why not forgo the frustration? Just sign up on JibberJobber.  The free side allows you to pretty much everything.  The premium side, which is $9.95 a month (or get 50% off if you buy a year for $60) is pretty amazing (heres what you get on the premium side yes, everything else is really on the free side). Then, if you really want spreadsheets, just export your data in a multitude of ways to a spreadsheet :p

Team Productivity Lagging 3 Signs to Watch For

Team Productivity Lagging 3 Signs to Watch For If you are a team leader you know that team productivity is rarely constant.  We all have our times of being super productive.  And we all go through times when we just cant seem to get the creative  juices and driving energy flowing.  Many times, its just the normal ebb and flow of our own inner spark.  But sometimes things are happening with a team member that can be a big problem for both them and the team. Unless youre a slave-driving manager, you are likely to notice more than just the results your team produces.   Your company should have regular review sessions to stay aware of how each employee is doing.  While you cant get too personal, its okay to ask how life in general is going and how the job is working for them.  That might uncover things for which the employee can benefit from having HR or even professional counseling.  If your company doesnt have a regular drug testing policy, it might want to consider adding one.  Drug and marijuana testing is great for examining employees on a periodic basis and will help to be sure theyre not engaging in illegal or prohibited behavior. Beyond that, as a team leader or manager you should be alert for signs that indicate its not just a normal productivity fluctuation, but that something more serious is in play.  Here are three common signs to watch for. Signs That A Drop In Team Productivity Need More Attention Changes in demeanor.  We all have normal variations in how we show up.  But noticeable changes is demeanor can be a signal that professional help may be helpful or necessary.  While some people are naturally more subdued than others, variations outside the norm are frequently indicative of outside factors. Changes in physical appearance.  Everyone is entitled to look and dress how they choose.  Of course, that has to fit company policy.  But relatively sudden weight gain or loss, or the style or quality of dress, are usually not just an accident. Increased absences.  Again, we all have our norm for the amount of PTO and sick days we take advantage of.  But again its changes in the norm that are a sign that theres something affecting attendance. As a team leader or employer, its not your job to interfere in peoples personal lives.  But being aware of telltale signs not only serves the team and business, it can serve to help the employee back on the right track by appropriate counseling or professional help.  And that makes it a true win-win.

How Job Seekers Use Social Media and Mobile in 2014 [INFOGRAPHIC]

How Job Seekers Use Social Media and Mobile in 2014 [INFOGRAPHIC] Our friends at Jobvite recently conducted a nationwide online omnibus survey of 1,303 U.S.  job seekers who are currently in employment. Here are some of the main takeaways (scroll down for the infographic). Social job seekers 86% of job seekers have an account on at least one of the six online social networks included with this study;  Facebook, Linkedin, Google+, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest.  Social job seekers are younger, more highly educated and more likely to be employed full-time. Facebook 76% of social job seekers found their current position through Facebook.  Three most popular activities on Facebook: 27% contact shared a job opportunity 25% contact provided an employee’s perspective on a company 22% shared a job opportunity with a contact LinkedIn LinkedIn is where they do most of their job-seeking activity: 40% contact referred me for a job 34% contact shared a job opportunity 32% made a new professional connection 32% contact provided an employee’s perspective on a company Twitter Twitter is the most popular place to ask others for help and advice: Next three most popular activities on Twitter: 29% shared a job opportunity with a contact 28% contact provided an employee’s perspective on a company 28% contact shared a job opportunity Privacy 46% of job seekers have modified their privacy settings.  Job seekers are as likely to delete their account completely as they are to remove specific content from their profiles. And recruiters are looking: 93% of recruiters are likely to look at a candidate’s social profile. 42% have reconsidered a candidate based on content viewed in a social profile, leading to both positive and negative re-assessments RELATED:  How Employers Use Social Media To Screen Applicants [INFOGRAPHIC] The college educated are also 4x as likely to update their LinkedIn with professional info than those who are high-school educated or less, and almost 2x as likely to do so on a mobile device. Most popular social networks While job seekers flock to Facebook, recruiters prefer Linkedin when searching for candidates.  Most popular social networks for Job seekers: Facebook 83% Twitter 40% Google+ 37% LinkedIn 36% Recruiters: LinkedIn 94% Facebook 65% Twitter 55% Google + 18% While 94% of recruiters are active on Linkedin, only 36% of job seekers are. The mobile job seeker Frequent job-changers are more likely than average to have searched for jobs or had contact with a potential employer on their mobile device: 64% of adults who change jobs every 1-5 years vs. 43% overall. 43% of job seekers have used their mobile device to engage in job-seeking activity 27% of job seekers expect to be able to apply for a job from their mobile device. 37% of millennial job seekers expect career websites to be optimised for mobile. Percentage of job seekers rating the following “important” in their job search: 55% ability to see job openings or listings without having to register 27% ability to apply for jobs from a mobile device 23% website optimised for mobile devices 11% ability to use Linkedin profile or online resume to apply for a job Mobile and social Mobile job seekers are more likely to turn to Facebook than Linkedin in their job search.  Percentage of job seekers who have done the following on a mobile device: Updated their profile with professional information: 15% Facebook 11% Twitter 6% Linkedin Searched for a job: 12% Facebook 7% Linkedin 6% Twitter RELATED: How Do Recruiters Use Social Media? [STUDY]

Classy Career Girls First Year of Blogging

Classy Career Girls First Year of Blogging One day  a year ago, I started a blog.    I  created a 30 before 30 bucket list.   I embarrased my moms, dad and brother.   I went on  too many  work trips, I juggled work and school, tried to find time to work out, went on a  vacation, learned to manage my time and email better.   I started the networking challenge  and began knocking down my barriers to networking.   I asked people for informational interviews, smiled at strangers  and daydreamed.    I  learned to organize my life and work and became tired of workplace gossip and that darn glass ceiling. I went to executive speaker seminars at school by the former President of Jack  and former Head of NASA.   I completed a half marathon with my mom, I wrote about how to throw a great dinner party but never  threw one, maybe next year.    I attended career seminars on resume writing, interview preparation, nailing presentations, salary negotiations  and linkedin.   I read Our Iceberg is Melting, Never Eat Alone  and 1,001 Ways to Thank Your Employees. I went to my high school reunion  and learned  how to  unwind  after a busy week.   I tried not to  spend too much time at the mall buying new  business outfits, work totes and shoes. Its been a busy year here at Classy Career Girl!   Thank you  for reading and commenting.   I have thoroughly enjoyed learning with you this  year and I am excited for what  the future  holds!  Have a fabulous weekend everyone! Photo by photosteve101

18 Business Books You Can Read on Your Lunch Break CareerMetis.com

18 Business Books You Can Read on Your Lunch Break â€" CareerMetis.com If you’re like the average American, then you only read fourbooks a year. If you’re someone not so average, such as Bill Gates, you’re reading 50 or more.You’ve probably heard about the eccentric habits of exceptional entrepreneurs like Bill Gates, but not many people talk about how they manage to find the time to fit in their hobbies.The fact is, we all read everyday: From texts and emails to social media posts and articles, we consume a lot of material. The problem is we don’t monitor closely enough what and how much we read. Yes, we may be feeding our mind knowledge around the clock, but we aren’t being selective about the contents.evalThat means many of us are missing out on the slew of benefits that come along with reading business books. For instance, not only does reading keep your mind sharp â€" it also allows you to decompress. In addition to the educational values associated with reading, it also can reduce stress by up to 68%.The problem, then, is not that we d on’t have the time to read, we just aren’t selective enough as to how we use our time and what we choose to read.In all likelihood, your schedule probably won’t let up anytime soon, which is why it’s up to you find the time to read. You can do this by taking advantage of the gaps throughout your day. If you commute by train, put away your phone and read a book, or if your job demands too much attention throughout the day, wake up early to fit in the time.However, most of us probably have a traditional work schedule between nine and five o’clock. In that case, there’s no reason you can’t fit in reading during your lunch break. So, what exactly should you read?The smartest and richest people in the world aren’t reading fiction â€" they’re reading books that are relevant to self-improvement or their industry.Specifically, business booksthat delve into topics like how to fund a startup, or how to challenge yourself to be more creative. Still, it doesn’t help that the re are literally thousands of books published every month.So, what exactly should you read on your lunch break?evalTo make the decision a little less overwhelming, Funderacompiled the top 18 business books that have helped the world’s most successful individuals advance their careers and business:The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice (Todd Henry)Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future (Peter Thiel)Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die (Chip Heath Dan Heath)The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses (Eric Ries)The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win (Jeff Haden)Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big (Bo Burlingham)Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace) (Chade- Meng Tan)Data-Driven Marketing: The 15 Metrics Everyone in Marketing Should Know (Mark Jeffery)Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine (Peter Thiel)Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill)Keys to the Vault: Lessons From the Pros on Raising Money and Igniting Your Business (Keith J. Cunningham)Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant (W. Chan Kim)Infographic Credit â€" Fundera.com

The Best Ways To Keep Your Business Secure

The Best Ways To Keep Your Business Secure If you own or manage a business the last thing you want is a death or injury in the workplace. This can lead to lawsuits, fines and even being closed down, so keeping your business a safe place to work in is really important. Here are a few tips to help you keep your workplace a safe environment for employees. Protective equipment No matter what business you are in there is always protective equipment needed. If you work in a kitchen it’s oven gloves, a building site requires a hard hat and gloves and if it’s a lab then safety goggles. No matter where you are there is always a requirement to have safety equipment on hand for anything that may happen. As said above protective eyewear is needed for anything that will have the chance to go in your eyes, like dust, liquids, and sparks. If you work in an environment that has the potential dangers of things falling then hard hats are required and so on, so any possible danger needs to have the equipment to protect from this. As well as having the equipment to wear you also need equipment to help once a disaster has struck, so this would be fire extinguishers, fire blankets, shovels for snow and salt to de-ice any parking spaces and roads that lead to your business. All these things help to protect and prevent accident even after the incident may have already happened. Protection Systems Protection systems mean anything you can put in place that will help decrease or prevent an incident from occurring. So if you work on tall buildings as a builder having harnesses and fall protection systems for roofs in place can stop any danger of someone falling from the roof of the buildings you work on. Having fire alarms and any other warning devices in place would also be a great protection system, basically, anything that premediates danger occurring and has prevention in place to help stop any accidents happening. Safety procedures Having safety procedures in place is a great way to make sure all staff is accounted for and safe in the case of an emergency. Making sure the staff knows exactly where to go and stay if an alarm sounds or something happens means there is less panic and it is all kept more organized. It is also crucial to make sure you have appointed safety marshals who will take control of the situation, like doing a head count and name check and calling any emergency services that may be needed. Having a copy of the safety procedure and everything on the wall and labeled correctly is key to make sure there is no confusion during an emergency and everyone goes where they need to go. Having the responsibility of keeping people safe isn’t easy but in business it is crucial to look after your staff and keep them safe. Just make sure you have these things implemented and you will decrease your chances of an accident and increase your chances of dealing with one efficiently if it may arise.

Writing References on Resume

Writing References on ResumeWhenever you want to write references on resume, you must be careful and sincere. This is because there are many people who can pose as someone else in order to take their money. There are many tricks involved cheating a person of their hard earned money.Firstly, when you are writing the references, do not write anything that can be manipulated by an employer. If you write something in a very detailed manner, such as an entire dissertation, then you might be able to use the words to speak how you really feel about your employer. It is better not to make statements such as 'no one should work with me' because this might get you fired. Do not even mention anything about another employee and a similar situation.Remember to always write your own references. When you are writing them, write down everything that is related to your employers. You might think that what you write will look fake. But it is okay to express things that you want to say about your emplo yer. In addition, you can also add whatever you want to when you are writing references on resume.References on resume will make your employers appreciate your effort. People will admire you for being able to put up references on resume. You can expect a lot of support from your employer's once they see how well you handle yourself and your work. You will be supported by your employer so that he or she will ask you questions about your previous work experience. This is the best way to help your employer from finding something wrong with you.There are many instances when references are used to get rid of an employee. There are many people who hire a reference writer to help them with writing references on resume. It is important to make sure that references on resume are done by legitimate individuals. Before hiring a reference writer, you must do a background check. You must avoid anyone who comes across as a freelancer or someone who has been doing illegal activities.After knowing the legalities, you should talk to the references of your company and ask them to use only professional references for your resume. This is because references cannot be used if they did not mention the facts that were stated in the written document. You should also make sure that you will only use references that are not related to the old job position. If you have hired someone for a reference check, make sure that the person is not connected to the same position. If you are still unsure, you can contact the references directly.References can be written in any language. It is important to be careful while choosing a writer. Be careful to choose a writer who speaks fluent English. If he or she does not, then you might get fake references on resume.References on resume can be written in a way that makes the employers understand and believe you. Remember that it is not good to just lie about what you have done and what you have achieved. There are ways to be smart and straight in maki ng references on resume.