A Guide to Mentoring for Career Success

A Guide to Mentoring for Career Success The benefits of mentoring throughout various career stages has been the basis of many great debates. With the transition to a coaching leadership style, many individuals believe that this removes the need for promoting the benefits of mentor programs or seeking out a career mentor. The reality is however that successful people still have mentors. The misconception however is that a mentor relationship has to be a formal agreement with predetermined outcomes that are measureable. It is true, a formal mentor relationship will define outcomes however, the nature of a mentor relationship, means that there is a degree of flexibility required. Initially determined outcomes most likely will change during the course of the relationship. There are some key things that individuals need to be aware of about mentoring to allow them to realise the benefits for themselves. What is a mentor? A mentor is generally an individual that has experience and knowledge that is of value to another professional. They will generally understand the industry or role of the individual that they are mentoring or have experience in an area that the mentee is keen to develop understanding and awareness of. What is important here is that a mentor needs to be someone that is willing to share the good, the bad and the ugly. They are happy to talk about their failures, their successes and their challenges in a light that does not create misconceptions or unrealistic expectations from the mentee. Who can be a mentor? The reality is everyone will have the opportunity of being a mentor if they want throughout their career. It is important to consider that many people perceive that a mentor should be older than the mentee; this is a complete misconception. A mentor relationship is about what the mentor can bring from their own career or experience to another individual with age being irrelevant. In a lot of mentor relationships that are cross-generational, the level of experience and differing perspectives heighten the outcome and success for both the mentor and the mentee. How do I choose a mentor? The level of connection between the mentor and mentee is extremely important to the success of the relationship. This means that you have to be able to build trust, respect and appreciation for the knowledge and contribution that both the mentee and mentor bring to the relationship. For this reason, when choosing a mentor, you need to look beyond qualifications, age and gender and to what it is you wish to gain from the overall experience. Be open to mentoring from someone quite different to yourself or someone similar. What is the most important thing however when choosing a mentor is that you are able to develop a level of rapport that will drive open and honest communication and mutual respect. When is the right time to get a mentor? The right time to get a mentor for most people is when they are looking at enhancing their career beyond what they can achieve through formal education and training. This is the reason why many successful people start their career with a mentor and as they develop they transition their mentor relationship to continue to support their growth and development. The first mentor you have in your career may have a substantial influence on your career direction, success and commitment; but they will not always be your mentor. A good mentor will identify when it is time for their mentee to find a new mentor that will provide something new and continue to challenge the mentee. For this reason, you should not be looking at when is the right time to get a mentor but rather what is the reason for not having a mentor? (I doubt you will find many!) The value of a mentor for all professionals is well known, which is the reason that most successful people have had, have now or are a mentor themselves. To decide for yourself if a mentor will benefit you, look beyond where are you are at in your career to where you want to be and look to others that are already there. Ask yourself, what can you learn from their experience and failures? The reality is that this level of knowledge and experience will never be found in a text book. Image: Shutterstock

Good Resume Writing Tips - Tips to Help You Write a Good Resume

Good Resume Writing Tips - Tips to Help You Write a Good ResumeGood resume writing is very important if you want to get a job. If you are about to go in for a job interview, it is very important that you get all the things in your resume right and if you are not confident enough in this area then you must get help from professionals. One of the best ways to achieve this is to take help from someone who has experience in this field.There are many things that you can do in order to get a good resume. For example, you can choose a simple and clean job that can be easily scanned for employment purposes. It is not important that your resume looks perfect, as long as you know how to write a good resume and you use the proper methods and strategies. So, here are some tips that can help you in writing a good resume:Use the correct formats. First of all, you need to have a well-organized resume. You should not only be able to write a good resume but you should also make sure that you know how to organize the content. You need to be able to handle your work papers, checklists, headings, and bullets. Always keep it organized so that you can easily be able to read the contents.Do not include too much of information in your resume, but you should always include information in a chronological order. Once you have finished writing your resume, do not make any changes. In case you want to add any new information that you have written, you should make sure that you check whether the person or company knows what you have written. Therefore, it is recommended that you only add the necessary information.You should not forget to send the information on a separate email and the information that you have included in your resume should be kept in one place. For example, if you have mentioned your past career and you want to include it in your resume, then you should send it to the person who is responsible for sending out your resume. The other thing that you need to remember is that you should not use the same information more than once in your resume.In this job writing process, you should try to include all the important things on your resume. Also, you should not waste the opportunity to highlight the things that you have done well. If you want to write a good resume then there are a lot of things that you need to be aware of. Here are some tips that can help you get a good resume.The first step that you need to take when you want to write a good resume is to put all the important things that you have done. It is very important that you must have a clear understanding of the main points of your previous work and then you should highlight them. Keep all the areas that you have worked on in mind and try to find out the reasons why these issues were resolved and how they helped you.As soon as you finish writing your resume, you should see to it that you have made any necessary changes in it. You should always make sure that you are not wasting your time and mon ey by sending a resume that is not appealing to the employers.

Short-Stay Business Trips Try a Vacation Rental

Short-Stay Business Trips Try a Vacation Rental As a career girl, you might experience getting assigned on business trips. As a career girl, you might experience getting assigned on business trips. This is a great indication that youre getting a very important key to success in your career TRUST. When a company sends you on your first  business trip, they entrust you with both the funds and the name of the company. Being able to both handle your finances while representing your company in the best manner can give you a great advantage in your career. Most business trips will put you in a hotel. However, what about considering a vacation rental if youre staying for more than two nights? A short stay business trip can be a bit stressful and expensive. Finding a temporary home can help ease the corporate ambiance, help you find retreat after a long day of work, and also give you brownie points for being able to secure affordable accommodations. Here are things to remember when booking vacation villas.   When looking for a site to book the rental from, make sure that you check in one that has a good number of options. If the rental owners trust a site, its a good indicator that you can too.  If youre looking to impress your boss by booking your accommodations in a vacation rental, just click here to  find a lot to choose from. No reviews, no booking. Or at least, book at your own risk. Reviews give you a better idea of what to expect from a rental, and is based on real peoples unbiased feedback. Read through them one by one and I suggest looking at the best and the worst of the lot so you can have an idea of anything bad said about the place. Speak  to the homeowner and introduce yourself. Since you are borrowing someones home, giving them the peace of mind that you are a courteous guest can help later when you are asking for help or requests. Get a contract in place. This will help in case of unforeseen trouble. Payments should be done after or during contract is reviewed, and should be done in through a secure payment portal online. Wiring money any other way or through mail cash is not secure and may most likely be a scam. Planning your first business trip might tempt you into maxing your per diem, but think twice. This can be the precedent to a great trusting relationship with your company, and can be a great step to your success. Recommended Reading:  [amazon template=productasin=B007DMX0NC]

How Watching Downhill Skiing Can Help your Job Search

How Watching Downhill Skiing Can Help your Job Search You might never win an Olympic gold medal, but you might be able to steal a move from these remarkable competitors as you watch the winter games.   Here’s what the best athletes in the world know about success.   Apply these principles to your job search and see what a difference they make.  Visualize success.   Top athletes spend time creating a vision of  success.   They see themselves crossing the finish line, breaking records, and standing on the medals stand. They practice racing the course or making the jump over and over in their minds, hundreds of times before they ever board a plane for Vancouver.     According to Wikipedia, Soviet sports psychologists made a serious study of athletes training for world competition.   Those that spent 75% of their time training physically and 25% of their time in intense visualization practice performed better than any of the control groups.   They actually created muscle memory for the movements they needed without performing the movements.   What could visualizing a successful interview and a job offer do for you? They practice and work hard every day. Not when they’re up for it; not when they feel good about it.   Every day.   They begin with the end in mind (Winter Games 2010) and work out a detailed plan for training every day.   They know what it takes to peak at exactly the right moment â€" to be on top of their game on the big day.   What could you do today to get your next job? They worry only about things they can control.   A world-class  athlete trains as hard as possible and works on his or her personal best.   They have coaches who help them stay focused on what they need to accomplish, and they don’t worry about things they can’t control: the weather, the competition, the media, or anything else that isn’t part of their game plan. This intense focus on what matters gives them the confidence to perform  no matter what’s happening around them.   I heard Nikki Stone, the 1998 gold medalist in aerial skiing, comment that she use to pretend that the Olympics was “just another day of training.”   She finally  came to the conclusion  that she had it backwards.   “I realized that to succeed, I had to pretend that every day was the Olympics.” There’s no room in her  life for a bad practice or slack training day.  If you met your potential employer in chance encounter today, would you be ready?   Would you know what to say and do? Here’s hoping you’re at your best on game day.

How Pro Bono Resume Writing For Women Can Save You Hundreds of Dollars

How Pro Bono Resume Writing For Women Can Save You Hundreds of DollarsWhen you have a pro Bono resume writing for women, what you are putting on the paper is really important. It is best to get the word out that you are in need of help with your resume and how you can get it. This is because the more employers hear about you and your skills the better chances you have of getting the job you want.Most people just never consider doing pro Bono resume writing for women because they think it's not worth the time or money. In fact, the opposite is true. Writing one can be as easy as going to a good pro Bono website and starting at the basics. The good thing about these is that it can be free to use and you can write a very short list of skills on there.The first thing that you will want to consider is if the skills you possess are something most people don't have. If so, then you will have an advantage. There are many professionals who can do pro Bono resume writing for women. You just ha ve to find them and see if they can give you some help with your resume.They will need to know the kind of skill you need. For example, if you are an individual who needs some counseling, they might say they cannot help you but later say they would be happy to. Or if you are a stay at home mom who has never done anything like this before, they might be more than willing to help you. Make sure you ask them if they can and offer a few samples of your work so they can see what you are talking about.Also, make sure you go over the time frame. Many times pro Bono organizations have flexible deadlines which will allow you to get your job search done for your resume. Plus, you will have to come up with a few samples for them.The next thing to consider is what things you want included on your resume. There are a few things most people feel should be taken care of. This includes social security number, current address, and contact information. However, many people might feel their education, experience, skills, and talents are enough.If you do not get enough or the skills they are looking for do not fit into their criteria, you can just ignore their request. On the other hand, if they still need your help, you will have to convince them otherwise or ask for a higher price. In either case, the process is easy and not difficult. All you have to do is give them your work sample, submit it, and wait.Remember that being a pro Bono resume writer can save you hundreds of dollars and hours of stress every year. You can either sign up to get your resume written by someone who already does this, or you can create your own resume using several skills you already have. No matter what you decide, the most important thing to remember is that being a pro Bono resume writer for women can give you the chance to have a great job.

Tips For Writing the Perfect Resume

Tips For Writing the Perfect ResumeIf you are in the market for new jobs, you may be looking for tips for writing the perfect resume. You will also want to find out what is really needed to get the job you want. Here are some tips for writing the perfect resume:First, know that the cover letter is almost as important as the resume. The cover letter should be based on your interest in the job and not just an advertisement for the company. It should be professional looking and very convincing. To make sure that your cover letter does not come across as spam, try to put together a sample resume and cover letter.Once you have your resume ready, you can write a cover letter. Be prepared to come up with something very personal about you that will resonate with the company. It is a good idea to include a story about how you came to the position and why you would be a good fit for the company. When you submit your resume, they will be able to see a glimpse of your personality and how you mig ht mesh with their culture. At the end of the day, this is what is going to decide whether or not you get the job or not.Finally, never give away too much information in your resume. Too much of it can be annoying and may even cause them to reject your application. However, make sure that you highlight everything that they do want to see. This includes your leadership ability, your qualifications, your work history, and anything else that they can use to make their decision easier. Since you are working hard for a job, give them something that they can't easily forget.If you are applying for a job as a secretary, you will want to focus on work history, education, and experience that will get you noticed. Make sure that you include any other types of jobs you have held that can make you a more desirable employee. You may also want to consider what kinds of experiences you have had that would be a plus to the company.If you need to mention something about your employment with a compan y, such as advertisements in the newspaper or anything else that gets mentioned in the local paper, this is good to include as well. Don't be afraid to get fancy and to write a good story that shows the company and yourself in a better light. They are also more likely to read what you have to say if you use phrases that are natural.Keep in mind that there are no rules that say you must include specific experience when you are writing a resume. Use the information that you have and focus on things that really matter. You will also want to take the time to choose a resume template that is simple and easily understandable.A great tip for writing the perfect resume is to remember that it is not just about getting the first interview. You want to go in knowing what you are fighting for and how you can help the company. This is the most important step in the process, so make sure that you follow it.

Your Job Search Marketing Toolkit - Cover Letters - CareerAlley

Your Job Search Marketing Toolkit - Cover Letters - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Cover letters are a bit of a lost art and, Im sure youre wondering why you need one. So as a start . . . Why You Need a Cover Letter: Lets you provide your personal response to the specifics of the job opportunity and why you are a good fit. Offers the opportunity to give a short list of your strengths (specific to the opportunity). The hiring manager will know you took the time to read the job description and compare it to your experience and abilities. Lets you tell the hiring manager why they should hire you. Allows you to offer up the next steps (a call, an interview, etc.). Sets you apart from the rest. While not as important as your resume, your cover letter is typically the first thing a recruiter or company HR representative sees. While it should provide the items listed above, if it is poorly written it is unlikely that the hiring manager will even look at your resume (so it is important to get this right). Cover letters generally date back to the days of snail mail but cover letters have made the transition to the Internet as the content of your email sent when forwarding your resume (or possibly an additional document uploaded to a company career site.. The primary purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself and to let the reader know why and how you are qualified for a specific position or why your skill set would be of interest. You will (and should) have several versions of your cover letter. Typically, cover letters fall into several categories (examples follow later in the post): Specific This type of cover letter is generally used to respond to an advertisement, an individual or a company that interests you. General This type of cover letter is typically used to introduce yourself to recruiters, 3rd party contacts (introduced through others) or individuals at companies where you are not applying for a specific job but have interest in the company. Cover Letter Sections: Introductory Paragraph: Start with the name of the hiring manager (if you can get it) Otherwise a Dear Sir or Madam will do Opening Section of Cover Letter: Let the hiring manager know why you are applying for the job Include a high level description of your related experience Body of Letter: Examples of achievements (consistent with job opportunity) Show that youve researched the company and position Closing Paragraph: Summarize why you are a great fit for the role Indicate that you will follow-up in the next two weeks But you also wont stop at two cover letters. Depending on your background and interests, you may have several versions of the Specific and General cover letters to address a specific functional role. But enough from me, lets see what resources and examples are out there on the Web. Two Types of Cover Letters Specific and General Examples This link provides examples of the two basic types of cover letters. This is worth a quick look, but take a look at some of the remaining links below before running off and writing your cover letters. Cover Letter Examples This article is provided by Resume-Resource.com and gives another view of what a cover letter is and how to use it. There are examples following the article and they are very specific based on industry or functional role. The article does mention that cover letters are situation specific and, while you will have several versions, once you have your final cover letters you should only have to tweak them prior to sending with your resume. Sample Cover Letters Another good resource for cover letters, this site provides a brief overview followed by a fairly long list of cover letter examples based on functional jobs. Once you click on a specific job function, the linked page includes several cover letter examples. At the bottom of the main page there are additional links for Tips and How to. How to Write a Cover Letter This article, provided by wikiHow.com, provides guidance related to the specific sections of the cover letter and how to write them (formatting, the body, etc.). The article gives additional links through out and reviews cover letters specifics. Cover Letter Samples for Resumes No how to link would be complete if there was not at least one reference to advice from About.com. This is an in-depth article and additional links are provided at the top of the article. There are also a wealth of links at the bottom of the page. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ Job Search job title, keywords, company, location jobs by

Your Work E-mail Isnt Private -

Your Work E-mail Isnt Private - Photo by turtlemomforbacons photos Your cat isnt the only one reading your e-mail.   As everyone scurries around preparing for a recession and focuses on trying to secure a new job, new networking contacts and a stable paycheck for the future, it is a good time for  a reminder about privacy issues with your work computer, e-mail use and online time.   In a word they arent private. Hopefully, this does not come as a surprise to anyone.   NBCs Today Show reported today that 50% of businesses routinely scan their employees e-mail.   Around 19% of companies hire someone whose job it is to review e-mail coming from the office. In theory, businesses are hoping to protect trade secrets and learn about potential harassment situations by scanning e-mails.   In reality, anything that you send from your work computer becomes fair game for review and potential disciplinary action, including termination. So, be sure to review your companys policy regarding work computer use.   Recognize that anything you send or receive on your works network is fair game for big brother to review.   If you are engaged in an active job search and have been spending a lot of time on job boards or sending resumes and applications, it could bite you when you least expect it.   It is best to do your job seeking activities on your own personal computer using your personal e-mail address.   You dont want to invite a pink slip that may not have been earmarked for you as a result of your own actions. Keppie Careers will write your resume and help you with your job search: