My Campus Chronicles
Our college blog dedicated to helping students prepare for life outside of college.
How does your biography differ from your resume?
Your biography tells people who you are. In other words, it is character and values driven. It informs people about featured highlights from your vast experience without digging up ancient history. It is audience driven and motivates them to want to know more about you from their perspective. Because it is highly focused, it keeps people on track with your offering. It is the perfect communications tool for electronic media and social networks.
A well-crafted biography is far more interesting to read than almost any resume we have ever muddled through. And, unlike the traditional resume that exclusively signals that you are looking for work, the biography has many more applications. Free agents use bios; people who enjoy meaningful professional relationships use bios; biographies are almost always the most significant attachment to sales proposals and, of course, speakers use bios as introductory tools.
Some basic rules for designing your biography include:
- Write with the targeted audience in mind - you are not writing to yourself!
- 3 to 4 well-crafted paragraphs are more than sufficient for most biographies.
- Avoid cookie-cutter words and phrases and try to write using words the reader can see in their mind's eye.
- Be prepared for a great deal of re-writing but don't edit your own work.
- Remember that different audiences (readers or listeners) require different biographies.
Want to know more about biographies? The Internet is your source.
For more insight from Carleen MacKay, visit her website at www.agelessinamerica.com.
Work-related stress is part of having a job, and during tougher economic conditions, that stress may be magnified. Not only is the workplace itself stressful, but colleagues (including yourself), could be dealing with personal stress as well.
So how can you handle the stress without losing your mind? Here are a couple of tips:
Take time off - Getting away from the office and having a little "me time" is the best way to beat the stress blues. Some workers are concerned about taking time off during a tough economy, but taking a day or two for a long weekend may help relieve stress.
Make lists and check them twice - Keeping organized and staying on top of your tasks can help keep stress at bay. Feeling organized can help compartmentalize your responsibilities, relieving anxiety about what's on your plate at work.
Confide in someone - "Venting" frustrations can be a great stress reliever. Most people do not want to be seen as a complainer, but confiding in a close friend or relative can unburden your mental state of mind and is healthier than keeping it to yourself.
Decompress or indulge a hobby - All employees could use a little down time. When times are tough and stress becomes overwhelming, remember to take time to unwind. Work in the garden, read a book, meditate or just take a hot soak in the bath to help you decompress from a hard day at the office.
Work-related stress can happen during economic ups and downs. Letting the stress get to you can result in losing your focus, your temper, and in most extreme cases, your job. It's important to learn how to manage your stress levels so you can maintain a harmonious work and personal life.
Technological advancements seem to be at an all time high. New tools, new Web sites, new lingo. It can make your head spin, especially if you didn't grow up in the technology age.
As one news report from NPR explains, new technology is creating a divide between the multiple generations in the workplace, especially between Gen Y and Baby Boomers, leaving Gen X to bridge the gap.
Because most upper management in a company are from the Boomer generation, it may take longer for them to understand the value of social networking and hi-tech gadgets that can keep you connected 24/7.
On the other hand, younger generations seem to be programmed to stay connected whether they are in the workplace or not.
The older generation believes this casual connecting at the work contributes to decreased workplace etiquette. The younger generation believes that their senior colleagues just don't understand.
Bottom line is that technology and social networking are not going away. So it's important for companies to create some barriers to maintain a balance, such as creating social media policies and guidelines, developing technology training so that all employees can keep up.
Q: Dear Seymour, I am currently working as a temporary employee at my company. My coworker (who was also working temporary) was just offered her position permanently. How can I turn my temp job into a permanent one?
- Submitted by Robin Kastaneda, Tyler, Texas
A: Dear Robin,
Turning a temporary assignment into a permanent post is often the goal of workers who choose to sign on with temporary staffing companies. In fact, in a recent study by American Staffing Association (ASA), 75% of staffing employees see temporary and contract work as a path to a permanent job. Here's some advice on how to achieve a permanent position right alongside your coworker.
Confirm the opening. Ask your staffing employer or the HR contact at the organization where you are assigned if the position offers the possibility of permanent work. If it doesn't, you can still keep your eyes and ears open for other full-time job openings within your department or elsewhere within the organization.
Make your intentions known. It's important to share your intentions of securing full-time work with the company. Do your best to communicate your goal to coworkers and supervisors.
Exceed expectations in your temporary tasks. Remember, not only is a temp-to-perm assignment an opportunity for you to "try out" the position, your employer is likely sizing you up for the role as well. The single best way to make sure you are considered a candidate for permanent employment is to exceed your boss' expectations in your current assignment. In today's competitive labor market, becoming a star employee may even result in the organization creating a position for you if one is not currently available.
Take advantage of your inside contacts. If you've done a good job at building your credibility and proving your worth to colleagues and superiors, they can help serve as references and stepping stones to a permanent position within the organization.
Don't get complacent. Even though you're considered an "insider," it is still important to approach the interview and hiring process seriously. Make sure you convey why you're a good fit for the position, and the benefits of hiring you, such as your existing knowledge of the company.
Entering your temporary assignment with these tips in mind will go a long way towards achieving the permanent position you desire. Good luck!
Seymour
"A recent American Staffing Association study found that nearly half (43%) of workers surveyed had turned their temporary job into a permanent one. There's no question that taking a temporary job can lead to full-time work, but you must make your intentions known! Don't be shy about sharing your goals of a permanent position with your coworkers and supervisors."
I was at dinner with friends this weekend when one of my friends, who works in art education, was discussing how she handles some of her volunteers. I told her how good she would have been as an HR professional and she agreed, then lamented a bit about if she knew then what she knows now.
This conversation had me thinking about how many people continue to work jobs that they may enjoy, but could be much better in other positions that they have discovered along the way.
So here's some advice - it's never too late to consider a career switch. Some employees probably never indulge their hidden or newly-found talents in the workplace because they may need different degrees or levels of training. But you can try to make a switch without it being too painful or too involved with new degrees and certifications.
First of all, check out if your company or organization offers internal internships that would allow you to job shadow colleagues in the department or position of your choice. This will provide a "real life" preview of how the job function operates, and what the responsibilities entail.
You can also speak with managers and human resources to see if there is room for you in another department. If you are willing to take a pay cut, you might be able to take an entry-level position that would give you some training, and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement to take course work that will help set your new career in motion.
In some cases, companies may pay for a new degree or certification if you give an employer a commitment to work for them for a set amount of years after you receive your degree.
So don't be afraid to discover a new career, even if it's not what you intended to do. It just might set course for you to do what you love, and love what you do.
Times are tough, and finding a new job can be challenging, especially for new grads. Some new entrants into the workforce have to take jobs outside of their intended career path, just to get by. But as one article explains, it could be the best thing you ever do.
Some jobs may not be worth the time to apply for or provide you with the experience that might be beneficial to help your career down the line. But if you take a chance, you might find a job that you never even realized you wanted, in a city or state you never thought about living and working in.
As the article illustrates, some workers have accepted jobs outside on their intended career path and moved to completely different cities in other states, and the job has not only been a success, but it has proven to provide them with valuable experience.
The moral to this post? If you are in a position to switch career paths or even move to another part of the country, don't be afraid to take a chance and try a new job in a new place. You may discover your undiscovered talent.
This year, many workers are choosing not to go on vacation because of the economy. But the stress and pressure of worrying about personal financial situations and job loss, can be a lot to handle.
Even if you don't want to spend money going out of town, it is very important that you take your vacation time to relax and get away from the office.
Take the time off to do those things around the house, or around town, that you wouldn't normally have time to do while you are at work. Visit a local museum or art gallery, or go to the movies in the middle of the day.
Use the time off to try a new hobby or rearrange the furniture in your house. Think about planting a garden, or learning how to cook a new meal.
The point is, in spite of economic conditions, don't neglect your vacation time. Be sure to take advantage of the time that you have coming to you. It is important to take time away from the office and relax...just also make sure to turn off the cell phone and laptop while you take your time off.
Listen up, managers. According to one article, this year companies are cutting back on deploying employee satisfaction surveys to save money and because the poor economic environment have left companies fearful of what their employees might say about them.
If your company is not issuing satisfaction surveys, beware. In many cases these are the only outlets for employees' voices to be heard and the loss of them could be a cause for depleted morale.
You can help your team express their opinions and frustrations, without the use of a survey. If your company has suspended surveys or other opinion gathering methods, allow your team to vent frustrations or provide suggestions for improvement in staff meetings. That way, everyone on the team can be involved feel as though they have a hand in making change.
If you prefer a more intimate approach, create an employee suggestion box where workers can provide feedback and opinions anonymously and without the fear of backlash from coworkers and colleagues.
Without an official survey, workers may feel isolated from top management. So encourage your team to make regular one-on-one appointments that would allow them to speak directly with you as their manager. This will ensure that they are in a position to privately communicate any concerns or ask questions about the company, its performance and their own job status.
Employee satisfaction surveys can help shed light on how a company is performing in the eyes of workers, but it also serves as an outlet for workers to express their concerns and provide feedback in the hopes of effecting changes within a company. Without them, workers could feel that their opinions do not matter and quite possibly contribute to morale issues and eventually problems with retention.
There are many articles and reports stating that this year is going to be a tough one for new grads. But fear not Class of 2009, there may be glimmers of hope in the job market.
Check out this article and see some of the jobs, and big name companies, that are looking for a few good men and women to hire. So don't think that degree is going to go to waste just yet.
