Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Dont Let the Air Sandwich Kill Your Business

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Don't Let the Air Sandwich Kill Your Business Nilofer Merchant has launched more than 100 products that netted $18 billion. In her 25 year career, she has gone from being an administrative assistant, to division leader, to CEO of Rubicon, to board member of a NASDAQ-traded company â€" gathering monikers such as the “Jane Bond of Innovation” along the way for her ability to guide organizations through seemingly impossible odds. I interviewed Nilofer about her recent book,The New How: Creating Business Solutions through Collaborative Strategyand her concept of the “Air Sandwich.” Here are some of the highlights of our discussion. Can you briefly tell us about the Air Sandwich? Why does this happen and what can we do about it? Chances are, you’re already familiar with the concept of the Air Sandwich, if not the term itself. An Air Sandwich is what happens when a leader in an organization issues orders from 80,000 feet and lobs them to the folks at 20,000 feet, creating a large, empty void. That gap between the top and the bottom is an Air Sandwich, and just like two pieces of bread without the meat or fixings, this sandwich is missing all the stuff that matters: namely,feedback, debates, trade-off discussions. As long as we’re eating Air Sandwiches in our organizations, we lack the shared understanding necessary to achieve the kind of results our organizations need. If a leader is accustomed to formulating strategy solo, or with the help of a few higher-ups, how can s/he get employees at all levels involved? The fastest way to get all levels to play is to invite them. As in, send an email to as broad of a group as possible and say “we’re working on X, anyone interested in working on X is invited.” And then let them work together to figure out the problem that needs to be solved, and the options for solving it. It’s not a group hug scenario (not every vote is equal), but it is an opportunity to come to a shared understanding. How can leaders make the leap from a great idea to a great strategy? Thebest strategic ideameans nothing in isolation. If the strategy conflicts with how a group of people already believe, behave, or make decisions, it will fail. Conversely, a robust team that believes in an idea fully can turn a so-so strategy into a marketplace winner. The HOW matters in how we get performance, and that’s why it’s necessary toinvite people from all levelsto take a seat at the table. For the rest of Nilofers interview, check out Intuits Fast Track blog.

The Advantages of Using a Monster Com Resume Writing Service For Hire

The Advantages of Using a Monster Com Resume Writing Service For HireUsing a Monster Com resume writing service for hire is the best choice when you have a very important decision to make. You might need a little help with that decision. In this article, we will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of using a professional resume writer and service for your employment search.The advantages of using a Monster Com resume writing service for hire include a great number of job positions available. When you use this professional resume writing service, you will have access to thousands of openings throughout the country. Monster offers hundreds of free samples on the Internet that you can use. These samples include keyword research, resume templates, layout, etc.The next important step is finding the right person to write your resume. When you choose a Monster Com resume writing service for hire, you can be sure that the company you choose will be fully dedicated to finding the right applicant. Because of the number of different resumes that are on their website, it may take up to several weeks to get your resume. You can always find out from the hiring manager on whether or not they have someone ready to do the job.After you've found a resume writing service, you should start writing the document. If you are familiar with a particular field, you can write the individual's resume in that specific style. Remember, when you send in your resume, you want to make sure that it is easy to read and understand. The resume you send in should be short, to the point, and to the point.Writing an appropriate cover letter is also very important. Some of the companies that offer resume writing services also offer letters to fill in where applicable. You should know that your potential employer is going to be reading through a lot of letters when trying to determine if you're the best person for the job.Before sending your resume, be sure to check the applicant tracking system and view the status of each resume that you submit. If there are any spelling or grammatical errors on your resume, make sure you contact the company immediately. This is not only a big red flag, but it could put you out of the running for a position.If you use a resume writing service for hire, you will find out the following information: Are the employees or the candidate happy with the finished product? Did the customer service representative to ask you any questions during the entire process? Can you send them a thank you card?Monster Com resume writing service and hiring companies offer much more than just a resume. They offer business letters, letters of recommendation, cover letters, and many other forms of additional paper work. The way they handle this paperwork will also have a great deal to do with your ability to get a job in the first place.

Brand Yourself for the Job You Want in Three Years - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Brand Yourself for the Job You Want in Three Years - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Personal branding is a pretty hot topic right now. With such an unstable job market, a lot of people are starting to think about the image theyre projecting to the world. Job seekers especially are doing everything they can to make their personal brand as impressive as possible. Since youre reading this blog, youre probably on the right track. Youre getting your branding in place, and will hopefully have plenty of time to develop your brand so its there when you need it. But when youre forming your personal branding strategy, are you focusing on branding yourself for the job you want right now? Or are you looking further ahead? Theres a well-known saying that employees should dress for the job they want, not the one they have. It implies that by dressing like employees in higher positions, youll send a subtle signal to your boss that you should be promoted as well. This applies to personal branding as well. You should form your personal branding for the job you want in three years, not the job you have right now. Why three years? When your goal is three years in the future, you have time to actually plan a strategy to get where you want to go. You dont need to throw your personal brand together in hopes youll luck out and project exactly the kind of image your potential employer needs. (Because most of the time, you wont get lucky.) You can objectively ask yourself what you want to achieve, and figure out what it will take to get there. When you brand yourself for three years in the future, it makes life a lot easier. You can admit at the beginning that you have a lot to learn, and write about what youre doing to gain knowledge. It gives you plenty of time to develop your style, and hide those awful first posts on your blog. By working hard, you can even become a leading voice in your field. Since you have a long-term goal, you dont have to kill yourself trying to build your brand immediately. Instead, you can steadily chip away at it, with each small step getting you closer to your goal. This will lower the risk of burning out and abandoning the effort entirely. Plus, you have time to develop genuine relationships with the movers and shakers in your field. If you dont need their help immediately, you can relax and just concentrate on connecting with them. This gives you a chance to provide value by commenting on their blog, alerting them to good articles they should read, and supporting their projects. Then, when youre looking for a new opportunity, theyll be happy to help. Increase the chance that your dream job will come to you With a longer-time frame, it also increases the chances that your dream job will come to you. An employer could read something youve written, and realize youre the perfect person for their company. A connection could hear about an opportunity, and tell the hiring manager youre the perfect person for the job. Or someone could come across you on the Internet, and hire you for a speaking or consulting gig. If any of those happen, youre in a much better bargaining position than if your resume is just part of a pile. That doesnt mean it will necessarily take three years to achieve your goal. You could do it in two years, or less than one. Your personal branding efforts will work for you from the moment you start them. When you plan further ahead though, its much easier to figure out what you need to do to get there and actually make it happen!

Different is Good Learn About Interracial Dating

Different is Good Learn About Interracial Dating People often say that relationships between people of different races dont work. But thats not entirely true. There are lots of people who are in such relationships, and they are quite contented with themselves. Its disappointing how in these modern times couples of different races still face discrimination and judgement. But, being different is good. Its not a crime and you do have the right to love and share your affection with anyone you want irrespective of their racial background. Despite the challenges that you might face, here are some things you need to learn: 1. Ensure Your Relationship Has a Rock Solid Foundation. The key to a successful relationship, particularly couples of different races is a rock solid foundation. As a couple, you need to be strong and share a tight bond. You shouldnt create a room from the opinions of friends or family member, though they wish you no harm. If you are both in it together, share each other’s thought, then you will be able to overcome any obstacle that you might face in the near future. 2. Be Comfortable When Talking About Each Others Race Be free when talking about races, like a normal couple would do. But dont ask questions in an offensive way. Be sensitive to your partners feelings. Also, avoiding the subject often leads to more misunderstandings. Its best if youd be honest and try to learn about the culture of your partner. 3. Dont Make Assumptions About Your Partner Regarding His/Her Race Every race is often associated with some stereotypes. However, most of these stereotypes are mostly false. Its always best to discuss his/her opinion on some perspectives associated with their race. Interracial dating is not about what you knew about their race, but having a strong feeling and bond between one individual, making you inseparable. 4. Make Friends With Couples Who Are Also In an Interracial Relationships Knowing that there are other couples like us is quite motivating. You and your partner will take pride in knowing that you are not alone. Therefore, make a habit of knowing others who have the same situation as you. Find people who get you and your partner. Plus, you will be able to get advice from guys who have a relationship similar to yours. 5. Its Always Okay to Remain Connected to Your Culture Just because you are in an interracial relationship that doesnt mean you need to let go of your beloved culture. You can still listen to songs and watch movies related to your culture. However, as the relationship grows, you will find yourself slowly being attracted to your partners culture without noticing it. 6. Its Not Limited to Blacks and Whites When you talk about interracial relationships, most people often think that its about black men dating white women or vice versa. But thats not the case. In the “interracial world, you can date a partner from any race of the globe.When it comes to interracial relationships, you and your partners opinion matters the most. Only you can make or break the relationship. Dont make race a big deal. After all, it doesnt where you came from, as long as you share the same aspect in life and know how  to support each other, you’ll get through struggles and happiness.

A Resume Writing Formula That Will Get You Hired

A Resume Writing Formula That Will Get You HiredThere are a number of resume writing formulas that will get you to the top of the pile in the hiring manager's eyes. These formulas are the most successful methods of persuading job applicants that your resume is better than those you have been rejected by. Most of these formulas consist of several basic components.First, you should never go with the first resume that you receive for a job. The process of creating a resume can be a time consuming process, and it can often be difficult to come up with the right one at the last minute. The best way to get this done is to save all the resumes that you receive and compare them to ensure that they meet the company's qualifications.Second, if you are looking for a professional resume writer, be sure to hire someone who specializes in the writing of resumes. They will be able to assess your resume using criteria that will help them understand exactly what the company needs. There are other fac tors as well, such as their sense of humor, but hiring someone who has experience in the field will make the difference between a bad hire and a successful one.Third, using a unique resume format will really sell your resume to the hiring manager. This requires that you use different sections of the document that describe the specific skills that you possess. The common practice is to use an 'Organization' section at the top that contains information on the duties you have held that give them insight into your abilities.Fourth, you should always be sure to ask for samples of previous resumes that you can see. While hiring managers do not want to see a generic resume, they will quickly realize that a good resume will require a higher level of effort. This is also a good way to check to see how well your resume can stand on its own merit.Fifth, the next step is to use the sample resume as a guide for your own. Use the examples that are listed to determine whether or not they would be suitable for your purposes. Once you have determined which format you would like, check to see if it meets the company's qualifications.Lastly, a good resume writer will provide you with the documentation you need to complete the job. This is in the form of a cover letter, portfolio, reference letters, and portfolio feedback forms. Make sure that all of these documents are accurate and include the necessary information that the company is looking for.The resume writing formula is to follow the writing pattern used by top companies. Do not rush into making a decision. Instead, work with a qualified writer and they will be able to create a resume that will land you the job that you have been searching for.

4 healthy snack ideas whilst studying - Debut university

4 healthy snack ideas whilst studying - Debut university This post was written by an external contributor. Chloe Smith aims to inspire you with four healthy snack ideas whilst youre at university.   Ill let you in on a little secret: snacking at university is a big deal. During lectures, during breaks and ESPECIALLY during those long library sessions. But sometimes what we crave is not always healthiest (if you’re anything like me, anyway). Eating healthy is great for both your body and mind, which ultimately may help you in your studies.  So skip out on the pizza slices and sweets, because here are a selection healthy snack ideas to satisfy your stomach while at university. Graze boxes Graze is a monthly subscription box service that sends you a box containing four different snacks which gives you the option to switch things up and try a few different tasty treats without having to eat the same ones every seminar. They can also tailor their boxes to dietary requirements (so vegan/gluten-free, or if you have any allergies) which puts it above trawling through supermarkets to look at the ingredient lists on items. If you prefer a smaller, compact snack, then this is the one for you. Hummus and pitta bread If youre looking for a more filling snack, or a quick lunch when you dont have time to sit down in the cafeteria, you can’t go wrong with some hummus and pitta bread.  Better yet, both of these things are both affordable and long-lasting, so you can keep reusing this snack throughout the week. You could try some  reduced-fat hummus  to make sure that it fills the healthy snack quota, or you can spice it up with some  jalapeno pepper hummus instead. Just make sure to watch your portion size with this one to ensure that it doesn’t hinder your dieting goals. Wholemeal pitta is also a healthier choice! Dark chocolate Now have this one on moderation, of course. Ideally youll want dark chocolate with 70% cocoa, as this doesnt have too much sugar or other unhealthy ingredients. Apparently a few squares a day has its own benefits including improving brain functions, so snacking on a little dark chocolate could help your studies! Again, remember your portion sizes, as chocolate is still chocolate after all! Apparently about half an ounce to an ounce per day shouldn’t hurt because  dark chocolate is much healthier than milk chocolate and eating that amount daily shouldn’t hinder your dieting efforts. Popcorn When trying to keep to a diet, popcorn is one of the best snack options available. Why? Well air-popped popcorn is very low in calories, and it’s also gluten-free, so this is a snack that can be enjoyed by those of us that have this dietary requirement. Popcorn is also a great snack because of its lack of calories, provided you stay away from the microwavable varieties   as these contain lots of fat, sugar and apparently even a few harmful chemicals. Stick to the healthy brands, or  you can always make your own recipes if youre feeling adventurous! One other quick tip it might be a good idea to bring enough to share, otherwise you might have to be pretty stealthy with your snacks! If you do end up having to share though, no need to worry about the extra costs because here are some nifty ways to save money on food and drink at university, so you can snack away until your heart’s content. Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

7 Things You Should Know Before Applying For Law School

7 Things You Should Know Before Applying For Law School Applying for Law School is incredibly tough. Now more than ever, Law programmes are fine tuning their selection process, so that only the strongest candidates are successful. With this in mind, we have put our legal heads together, to provide you with a list of ten things that you should know and do, before applying to Law School.Tip 1: Understand what comes afterUniversity law programmes like to sell the fact that there are fantastic opportunities for graduates following the completion of their course, but the reality is much tougher than this. Law firms are seriously clamping down on the number of contracts, internships and trainees that they take in. Having a law degree certainly not does guarantee great opportunities after, nor high earnings.Tip 2: The amount of reading involvedIf you aren’t someone who likes to read then you might have trouble completing a Law degree. There really is so much reading involved. You’ll need to be prepared for long days and nights spent in the l ibrary. The horror stories and rumours that you hear really are true. What, you didn’t think it would be easy did you?Tip 3: Everyone wants some adviceOh, you went to Law School? So you wouldn’t mind going through my upcoming divorce case for me? These are words that almost every Law graduate hears at least once upon completion, so you better get ready for it. Once you’ve finished your course, everyone will assume that you are an expert.Tip 4: The cost of books is astronomical!Law courses are notorious for the prices of their textbooks. These prices can seem outlandish when compared with the price of books from other courses, but take heart UK students; the price of essential course books here is far cheaper than it is in countries like Australia. This means your bank balance won’t suffer nearly as much when applying for Law School.Tip 5: You might start to question your choiceThis is extremely common for law students. The courses are hard work, and therefore its normal prac tice for motivation levels to drop considerably as time goes on. A law degree is the ultimate test of your commitment and dedication to the subject. Mountains of reading, examinations and research all amount to a programme which is designed to separate the elite from those who aren’t. If you are finding it hard, don’t despair, just remember what drove you in applying for law school in the first place.Tip 6: There’s a serious jump from A Level to UniversityThe top universities only accept top Law students for a reason, and that is because there is a huge increase in difficulty from A Level to University. It’s common practice for even the best A Level students to find themselves at a learning disadvantage when it comes to applying for Law School and sitting the course. Many only achieve grades of 70% or lower; despite getting grades of 95% at A-Level. The course and learning style takes some serious getting used to, so be prepared.Tip 7: Buy our LNAT guides before applying for Law School!The Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) is the test used by top universities for admissions purposes. Candidates for these courses will undergo a gruelling assessment process. Here at How2Become, we have prepared a series of guides that are designed to assist and prepare you for this process. If you are looking to join Law School, How To Pass The Law National Admissions Test is the best place to start! This entry was posted in Education, Career Advice. Bookmark the permalink. Jordan Cooke Is It Too Easy To Join The Armed Forces?French GCSE Revision â€" ‘the Internet’ â€" Key Vocab

Men on Paternity Leave

Men on Paternity Leave When the U.S, government passed laws in 2006 enacting the new parent-rights portions of the Work and Families Act, they extended pay and leave for new parents, including men on paternity leave. Working dads have been eligible for up to two weeks of paid leave since 2003, but the new measures extend these benefits. Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance and Statutory Adoption Pay have been extended from 39 weeks to 52, with working fathers entitled to take an extra 26 weeks off of work to care for their child, if the mom has returned to work and has not used all of her eligible maternity leave. These employer-supplied benefits are of course only available if your employer is a regular tax and benefits-paying entity. Those who are independent contractors or employed on a part-time basis may not be eligible for these benefits. Eligibility is also determined by requirements such as the father must be the biological father of the baby or married to the mother, and expected to share in responsibilities related to rearing the child. Timing is also important for eligibility, and the father is expected to work for the same employer from the time of conception until the time of birth, with leave scheduled starting only when the baby is due, and arrives. Taking time off early might negate your eligibility, so be sure to carefully look over the rules and guidelines. You need to notify your employer of your intentions to take leave by the 15th week before the estimated due date. You can take the leave any time after the birth; it does not have to immediately follow the day the baby is born. Men on paternity leave is becoming a more common phenomenon than ever before, with the paternity leave being extended to include unpaid time off, after the eligible time period for benefits expires. With the previous disparity in wages that was so clearly sex-defined being narrowed, more women than ever are bringing home as much or more money than their partners. This can potentially free up the formerly “conventional” situation where the mom stays home and raises the kids while dad works outside the home, to a more non-traditional family set-up, where dad stays home and mom goes to work. It has raised a whole new crop of social issues as well, related to conventional gender roles in our society, and how best to raise a child with the new option of dad staying home. Since more and more people are finding it financially and socially viable to have the father be the primary care-giver and mom be the bread winner, whole social networks are now available to dads who need peers with similar experiences, and moms who have to deal with the stress of being away from their children. Conventional family settings have of course always been that mom stays and dad works, and the new dynamic inherent with choosing a different path brings a new set of challenges to both parents and children.