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31

Workplace Performance / MULTI-GENERATIONAL TALENT MANAGEMENT – Overcoming the Generational Gap

« on: February 10, 2021, 12:16:15 PM »

MULTI-GENERATIONAL TALENT MANAGEMENT – Overcoming the Generational Gap

by Michael A Potter, MAP International, Carrington, Manchester, United Kingdom, Website: www.map-int.com

Source: Skill Jobs Blog

Western countries, including UK, USA and Canada, have already focused research efforts on studying multi-generational diversity in organisations. They have categorised generations using a widely accepted practitioner classification based on birth years related to significant events in history in the western context. The categories so defined are: Veterans, born between 1925 and 1945; Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964; Gen X, born between 1965 and 1977; Gen Y born between 1978 and 1999; and Gen Z, born 2000 and after.

The Generational Gap

The entrance of generation Y and Z into the labour market has and will create a change not only in the age of the labour force, but also in values and preferences when it comes to career and working life. The millennial generations, Generation Y and Z, are able to integrate technology into every aspect of their work whereas older generations in general are not as familiar with technology which could lead to a generation gap. The lack of emerging technologies in the workplace and varying perspectives of different generations have led to a rift between employers and employees and managers are finding it hard to engage millennial generations who are mostly entry level employees leading to a high employee turnover in many organisations. Organisations need to learn how to actively engage the millennials while ensuring that the needs of the older generations are not neglected in the process.

Attracting and Retaining Generation Y and Z

According to the recent study conducted by PWC (2011) millennial generations want more work life balance options such as flexi-time. There is a strong emphasis on balanced work ethics; millennials have good educations thus they are demanding for more flexible work patterns. This leads to recruitment challenges of matching more home-oriented candidates with more firm-oriented work roles. Companies that consider the needs of this generation will be able to attract competent management and good employees and be able to retain them.

Millennial generations also want to work with companies that are well positioned globally, thus companies that concentrate on branding and corporate recognition through peer networks instead of traditional advertising, will be attractive to this age group.

To millennial generations, e-mail is a slow and inefficient tool that is used for communication at work. To attract generation Y and Z, organisations must learn how to adapt new ways to communicate and attract candidates. If organisations are not going social, they will not get the best talents. Building a community around your brand and its values will help to engage these new talents. Organisations should use YouTube, use humour, and go viral with their recruitment efforts.

To attract and retain Gen Y and Z management is ‌expected to communicate with employees in a more relaxed environment through social media. ‌Communication must be interactive and two-way. Companies that hope to be attractive employers may need to change their management and communication structures. Other management ‌structures, such as the virtual office may flow more easily with new organisations rather than those already established. Social media is becoming a major part of the way candidates receive information, thus organisations need to take this seriously to be noticed by the new generations.

Corporate Social Responsibility will continue to be a major issue, with a lot more emphasis on CSR, and the eco-awareness that began in the late 1990’s. These generations are looking for a micro-level approach to a green workplace where they can actively contribute within the company. They desire an organised sense of belonging and inclusion – reflected in areas such as personalised workstations. One of the keys to being attractive to the millennial generations is to be a lifelong learner. The days of thinking “school is for learning and work is for working” are gone. Organisations can set their company apart from the competition by being at the top of hiring young talent before everyone else figures it out.

Nokia’s Case

With nearly 8 million fans on Facebook, 291,000 followers  ......... read more ....https://blog.skill.jobs/multi-generational-talent-management-overcoming-the-generational-gap/

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32

Coronavirus - করোনা ভাইরাস / Be Positive and Be Proactive | A Letter to Students

« on: February 09, 2021, 11:30:48 AM »

Be Positive and Be Proactive | A Letter to Students

Beloved students,

COVID-19 has turned the time challenging for all. We all are in a different situation. We request you just not to be panicked, distressed, anxious or depressed. Talk to people and your parents as well as mentors to remain positive. Handle the situation like a leader. Here are some guidelines you can follow to remain busy with positive things now that will keep you ahead afterwards among all as well as make sure the best use of your valuable time.

1. Develop video resume

Use your time to develop your video resume. A good video resume is a great way of representing you and enhancing your employability skills. You can make different versions (in length and content) of the resume to use for different purposes.

2. Sketch your career mapping

Do career mapping thoughtfully so that you can clearly distinguish yourself and and keep you ahead of the line. Please know well, after Corona the job market will be very tough i.e very challenging, where your skills and competence must be checked well before employment.

3. Try to know a few company’s procedures to get a job etc.

It is a good time to research companies you are passionate to work with. Go through their websites, stakeholders, reviews, annual reports.  Find out challenges they faced so that you can contribute there.

4. Browse internet

Pls visit the internet and see the whole world now and move to Online platform. Everyone will realize that after Corona the entire education system will be transformed into another format where there is no way to move with many existing skill, without transformation or improvement

5. Explore your passion and inner skills

It is a high time to rethink about yourself. Look back and pick where you have passion. Use your lockdown time to explore your inner skill in a positive way.

6. Make good use of social media

.........To read more, please click the following link:
https://blog.skill.jobs/be-positive-and-be-proactive-a-letter-to-students/

33

Various Resource for Career Development / Life Lessons from The Lion King

« on: February 08, 2021, 06:19:41 PM »

Life Lessons from The Lion King

The Lion King is one of the most beloved Disney movies ever, owing to its heartwarming story, magnificent score and universal message. The following is a guest contribution by Jeremy Ginsburg: Three years ago, my ideal Saturday night would have consisted of tons of cheap liquor, terrible music, talking about nothing with a bunch of strangers. Now, an attractive Saturday night includes a good movie and a good cuddler. Last weekend, I re-watched The Lion King with my girlfriend. It brought back so many childhood memories, but also sparked so many new insights. Some people may only see this as a symbol of Africa, some see it as a cute cartoon of wild animals’ lives, and others refer to it as a lesson about power. But I learned a lot from watching The Lion King as an adult. Here are the life lessons one can draw from The Lion King.

What Adults Can Learn from The Lion King

1. The Circle of Life.
From a young age, Simba is taught that death is a part of life. His dad tells him straight up: “Death happens. It’s okay, it’s a part of life“. It is such a great lesson, too.  Unfortunately, when I was a kid, no one reminded me of this. In fact, I still find people struggle to bring up the topic of death. Most people don’t understand that the more you repress it, the scarier it will become. When I watched The Lion King again, I realized that the circle of life doesn’t apply to just animals, but to people as well.

2. Some people in this world are just evil.
Let’s be honest, Scar is just a plain out idiot. He is selfish, greedy, and unfaithful. My seventh grade English teacher told me that he wouldn’t allow his children to see The Lion King because he didn’t want to explain to his kids why someone would kill his own brother.  While I agree partially with that logic, I don’t think sheltering your kids so that they think that the world is filled with rainbows and sunshine without hatred or evil is correct either. There are many wonderful humans in the world that we live in. There are also a ton of dangerous people. It’s important that we remember this, so we don’t take things personally.

3. It’s okay to marry your best friend.
The older I get, the more I realize that a good companion isn’t just somebody you are attracted to or someone you like to go on dates with. It’s someone that you can get along with, someone that can be your best friend, just like Simba and Nala when they’re at their young age.

When I was young, every girl I hung out with and got along with had cooties. Well, now that I’m older, they still have cooties. But, once I learned to get over them, I realized that cooties are a good thing.

I used to think that any girl who shared my interests was too much of a “bro”. The older I got, the more I realized that girls that are “bros” make great companions. Those are the type of girls that you want to date, the ones that you share the same interests with and you can hang out with.

4. Music brings happiness.
The song from The Lion King is just flat out amazing. Unlike other Disney musicals, this one only has a few songs. They all happen to be wonderful and memorable tunes. These songs are catchy, creative, and do a great job adding to the story plot. One of the songs does even more than that…

5. “Hakuna-matata” IS a Wonderful Phrase!
I’m not saying you should go out to the jungle and start eating bugs. But seriously, what are some better phrases that are out there to embody this? I don’t know any other phrase that talks about how to make the best out of your current situation. People often say: “Oh such is life!” “Ah, it’s whatever” or “Se Lavie” but Hakuna matata just makes everything seem not so problematic.

Maybe this phrase exists in a language that I don’t speak, but it’s something I myself need to remind myself more. It reminds me of a Mark Twain quote,

“I’ve had many worries in my life. Most of which have never happened.”
Mark Twain

If Simba can eat bugs and live a worry-free life, so can you.

6. Stick with your childhood dream.
When Simba is a child, he can’t wait to get that crown and rule his own kingdom. Then life happens. He runs away, he makes new friends and starts a new life. The older he gets, his dream as a child moves further and further back in his memory. Then when Nala comes, it becomes harder and harder to go and pick those memories back and retrieve them. I think this is very relatable to people as well.

Personally, when I was in senior year in college, I set up a one-on-one appointment with my career counselor and I told her that I had this dream of having my own travel TV show but I’d written it off. I told her I knew it was going to be hard and that I couldn’t make money right away, and that I would have to work my way up for 20 years or even more. My counselor was great. For the next 30 minutes, she sat there and convinced me that I shouldn’t have given up so easily and I should try.

Not everyone has access to a career counselor. Not everyone has people around them encouraging them and telling them that they should go and follow their dreams. Instead, we’re told from a young age to pursue something more realistic. We’re told that we need to get a good job and a steady income rather than going after what truly matters to us. What’s the point of having a dream if you’re never going to take action?

Simba forgets this for the majority of his life. But, fortunately, Nala and Rafiki (the crazy monkey) give him a little wake-up call.

Have you been hiding from your dreams? Do you need a wake-up call?

7. You must forgive yourself.
Simba lives his entire life feeling sorry for himself and blames himself for the death of his father. First of all, it wasn’t his fault. Second of all, it doesn’t solve any problem or make anything better by feeling sorry for yourself. Had he forgiven himself, he would have had more confidence and more clarity of what to do in life.

I think people often let a past mistake hold them back, too. Did you screw up a relationship or cause somebody to get hurt or fired from work? What’s in the past, is in the past. As Pumba would say, “you gotta put your past in your behind”.

8. Avoid Hyenas.
Last time I checked there weren’t any hyenas living in urban areas. I don’t literally mean hyenas, I mean the negative people in your life. You know, such as the liars, debbie downers, and the ones that steal. Instead, stick with your own kinds. Think about the people who bring you up, challenge you and make you better. Those are the people you need to surround yourself with.

In this internet age, we are able to connect with any sort of person around the world. Be selective with who you hang around with. You are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. Don’t let any of those five people bring you down.

9. Kids are way too entitled.
As I write this, I am 24. I probably have no business talking about kids, but here it goes:

I feel like every kid I meet that is under the age of five feels like they are Simba. They act as if they were born into this legacy and that one day they will get to become a king. They think they can get away with everything.

I was probably the same way. If I was hungry, I demanded food. If I wanted something, I got it. I know it’s not easy saying no to your child, but thinking that they are invincible and don’t have to follow any rules isn’t good either. Again, having kids of my own is one of my biggest fears, so I admit ignorance, so I’ll leave it at that.

10. Running away doesn’t solve your problems.
Suppress it, hide it, or lie to everyone else, but it’s not going to do anything positive for you. Simba spends most of his life living in fear. He’s scared. He didn’t forgive himself and he was scared to go back and challenge Scar. Once he did, he admits what he had done, challenges Scar face-to-face and ends up victorious.

Some people spend their entire life running away, trying to escape their problems and fears. When in reality, if you face the problem you have today, you’ll realize that it’s not as scary as you think, and then the rest of your life can be that much better.

I’m a victim of this myself. I spent five years of my life talking about things I wanted to do. My bucket list grew longer and longer, but I never took action. I was too busy partying, drinking, and coming up with more excuses not to do things I was passionate about.

In 2013, I booked a one-way ticket to Israel. I assumed that once I was there, I would be able to follow my dreams and make things happen.

I was wrong. The opposite occurred. Instead, I grew lonely, confused, and eventually depressed. I got fired from my job and was forced to come back home.

When I got back, I stopped hiding my fears and insecurities and started doing something about it. I stopped drinking alcohol and I started writing. I stopped isolating myself and started reading. I started eating healthy. I dealt with my issues face-to-face and took one step at a time.

In conclusion, I love Disney movies. And I feel so lucky that I was born in the time when all the Disney movies were at their peak. But there’s more to learn from them then we realize.

So next time you are wondering what to do on a Saturday night when it’s raining, just think to yourself, “Hakuna-matata!” What are your favorite life lessons from the Lion King? We’re excited to hear from you in the comment section below.


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Career Guidance / What's Lion King got to do with Career Planning & Mentoring?

« on: February 08, 2021, 05:52:27 PM »

What's Lion King got to do with Career Planning & Mentoring?

Source: Soumen Chatterjee

The Lion King went on to become one of most loved and the best animated movie of our times. We love it for its animation, music and the story, but is there more to it?

Well, I think so. We can take a few cues about Career Mentoring from the movie.

Throughout the movie, we see Simba had Mufasa as his Mentor. I am hand-picking three snippets from the movie and correlating them here with examples and anecdotes.

Snippet #1: In his early childhood, Simba learnt tangible skills from Mufasa like how to pounce. I call it ‘learning the ropes’.

 A Mentor can tell you the tricks of the trade, early on in your career. A Mentor can tell you what skills you should pick up and form a solid foundation for your career. You can plan to acquire and hone these skills, and have them ready when you need them the most.

Snippet #2: Simba also gets a philosophical byte from his Mentor Mufasa, when he ventures into the forbidden elephant graveyard. After he is rescued by Mufasa, he is told ‘being brave doesn’t mean you have to go looking for trouble’. I call it ‘getting exposed’ when you are not yet ready for the challenges.

One of the organizations I worked for was going through a wave of tremendous growth. It expanded into new lines of businesses, new territories and constantly needed new people to manage these businesses and territories. So it got into a process of building Inventory Leadership. There were people who got promotions back-to-back, year-on-year and because they didn’t have the requisite skills for the next level of responsibility, they ‘got exposed’.  With Mentoring & Career Planning in place, a great Mentor would have shared insights and saved a lot of people from these utter failures.

Snippet #3: Simba who  is all grown-up and has gone away from the Pride Lands, is taken to the pond by the mandrill Rafiki where he sees a reflection of Mufasa. Mufasa reminds Simba, “Remember who you are”. This is perhaps the most profound Mentoring take-away from the movie.

A Mentor is someone who will remind you of your strengths, your passion and your true place in the Sun. Along with you, he can put in place a Career Plan which can guide you on your career journey and can be especially helpful when you have deviated in the course of your career. You can also refer to the Career Plan when deciding on what assessments to take, which training programs to undergo and what skills to acquire, when thinking of your next career move. The Career Plan can also be reviewed and dynamically change as new career opportunities emerge and the business landscape changes.

I may have stretched my argument a tad too far but it looked seemed right when I looked at it from a Mentoring perspective. Happy to hear your thoughts on the same.

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35

Guidance for Job Market / 7 Ways Job Searching Will Be Different in 2021 and How You Can Adapt

« on: February 08, 2021, 04:41:07 PM »

7 Ways Job Searching Will Be Different in 2021 and How You Can Adapt

by Jaclyn Westlake

Everyone is tired of hearing the words “unprecedented” and “2020” together. So I’m going to say that this last year was…extremely unordinary. And it’s probably safe to say that many of us are eager to put 2020 in the rearview mirror.

The coronavirus pandemic took a toll on every aspect of our lives—including, and in some cases especially, the way we work and what our job searches look like. And while we’re starting to see glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel, there are still a lot of variables that could affect the economy (namely the vaccine timeline, a potential COVID relief bill, and a new presidential administration). So it looks like the early months of 2021 are going to be a little uncertain. And we’ll probably be feeling the ripple effects of 2020 for a while.

If you’re one of the many people who’s currently looking for a new job or planning to start a job search soon, here’s what you need to know about finding a job in 2021.

1. Historical Hiring Trends Probably Won’t Apply
2. Key Industries Will Be Booming
3. Temporary, Freelance, and Contract Work Will Be on the Rise
4. Remote Work Is Here to Stay
5. Companies Will Expand Their Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
6. Recruiting Will Continue to Become More Automated
7. There Will Be More Competition Overall


1. Historical Hiring Trends Probably Won’t Apply
In years past, we’ve typically seen hiring surges at the start of a new year and again in the fall, while the summer and holiday seasons have tended to be slower. But this may not be the case in 2021.

“We probably won’t be able to depend on past hiring patterns across the board,” says Charlette Beasley, Workplace Analyst at Fit Small Business, a digital resource for small business owners. “Some industries that haven’t been affected as much by the pandemic may still experience similar hiring trends as they have in previous years, but we should anticipate a downward trend at the start of the year for industries that struggled to adapt to [COVID-related] restrictions.”

On the bright side, Beasley expects hiring to pick up again in the second or third quarter of the year on the heels of a widely available vaccine and lifted restrictions on travel, dining, and socializing.

How to Adapt
Keep an eye on trends. In a slower hiring market, the more you know about who is (and isn’t) hiring, the better. To stay on top of what’s happening, check out news and industry sites that monitor business and hiring trends (sign up for their newsletters if they have them), follow companies you’re interested in on LinkedIn, and pay attention to the types of job postings you’re seeing on job boards (and the types of companies posting them). If you aren’t sure where to start, reach out to people in your network who also work in the space you’re targeting to ask them how they stay on top of industry trends.
Adjust your job search accordingly. “You may need to consider applying for positions you wouldn’t have considered in the past,” Beasley says. This could mean branching out into a new industry, taking on some freelance work, finding creative ways to update your skill set, or trying out different job search strategies.

Stay in touch with your network. “Job seekers sometimes think that when hiring slows down, they can too. But that’s actually the perfect time to reach out to your network to tell them how grateful you are for their advice, provide a seasonal update, or let them know where you are in your job search,” says Neepa Parikh, Career Services Manager at Springboard, an online learning platform for students looking to transition into software engineering, data science, machine learning, and UI/UX.  “It’s important to keep your contacts warm so that you can hopefully leverage their support when hiring picks up again.” (Full disclosure: I’m a career coach at Springboard.)

2. Key Industries Will Be Booming
“Hiring trends are likely going to vary depending on industry and company size,” Parikh says. “Bigger companies that have enough cash flow and booming industries like tech and healthcare may see hiring surges at the beginning of the year, while smaller businesses or those in impacted industries like service and hospitality may hold off hiring until summer.”

That means that 2021 may be the year to step out of your industry comfort zone or take the leap into a career pivot—especially if you want to increase your chances of landing a job more quickly or if you were already considering a career change.

Here are some key industries to watch, according to experts:

Tech: 2020 was a big year for tech companies, largely because they don’t rely on physical storefronts for business and can often operate almost entirely online, as most of their employees can work from home. And “the technology industry will continue dominating the market" in 2021, says Cristina de la Cruz, Regional Vice President of Robert Half Technology, a Bay Area–based human resources consulting firm.

Healthcare and health tech: “The healthcare and tech industries will continue to expand as the pandemic continues to make society more health-conscious and reliant on technology,” Beasley says. Look for hiring across a wide variety of healthcare-focused organizations, including frontline providers and virtual medical care. We should also start gaining back some of the preventive care jobs that were lost in 2020.

Fintech: “Even before the pandemic, the financial services industry was trending toward online banking. COVID accelerated the transition away from a brick-and-mortar presence, so we’ll likely see more jobs in the online banking and fintech sectors,” Parikh says.

E-commerce: You know all of that online shopping we’ve been doing? It’s had an impact. “We’re going to see an increased focus on e-commerce and consumer goods, as there’s been a rise in people buying products rather than services,” Parikh says. Companies that were already online or were able to navigate the transition to selling almost exclusively through the web will likely continue adding headcount to meet demand into 2021.

Customer service: “There’s going to be a lot of demand around anything involving customer service," says Todd Bavol, CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions, an agile recruiting and staffing firm. This should translate into increased demand for customer service representatives across a variety of industries, but most notably software (as companies continue to rely on virtual business and remote work) and retail (as consumers continue to do the majority of shopping online).

Renewable energy: This industry has been trending upward for a while as we’ve become increasingly aware of the climate crisis. And it looks like climate change will be a top priority for the new presidential administration, so it’s likely that we’ll see growth in the green energy space.

While these are some of the larger industries to watch, this isn’t an exhaustive list. De la Cruz also pointed out that a variety of leading industries across the finance, accounting, and legal spaces will continue hiring in 2021.

How to Adapt
Determine whether you need to pivot. If your industry is expected to continue to grow in 2021, you’ll want to focus on making yourself the strongest candidate possible. This could mean taking on a project to keep your skills sharp, increasing your networking efforts, or reevaluating your resume. But if most (or all) of your experience is in an industry that’s been hard-hit by the pandemic, like hospitality or travel, you might want to consider looking for a job in a new space where many of your skills would translate, like e-commerce or virtual customer support.

Identify your transferable skills. “Take stock of the skills you have from your previous industry and determine which skills will be most relevant and transferable,” Parikh says, and think about how you might build or enhance them. She also suggests partnering with a career coach for help crafting a compelling message about your transferable skills.

Do your research. When making a career pivot, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the role or industry you’re looking to move into. “Look at...job postings and think about how your skills relate,” Bavol says. “Go on LinkedIn and look at the profiles of people who have the job you want. Look at their work history and how they describe their roles. Every industry has its own terminology, so make sure you’re using that terminology on your resume.”

Continue to expand your network. Talking to people in the industry you’re targeting can help you understand the trends and identify which skills will be most important to potential employers. And remember, there are lots of different ways to network. “Use any and all opportunities right now to attend virtual conferences, join networking organizations, and be part of discussions that are of interest to you,” de la Cruz says.

Show your enthusiasm. “Show that you’re humble and hungry,” Parikh says. “In many cases, hiring managers would rather hire applicants who are eager to enter their field, who’ve done their research, and talked to people about the industry, so long as they have basic skills and can be trained. Demonstrating a genuine passion for your career will take you far.” That means you should have a top-notch elevator pitch ready to go and be prepared to talk about your reasons for making a switch during an interview .

3. Temporary, Freelance, and Contract Work Will Be on the Rise

“During an uncertain economy, firms often rely more on temporary or project professionals,” de la Cruz says. “They may feel cautious about hiring, but at the same time they don’t want to be understaffed and have work that must get done.” That means you’ll probably see more job postings that fall under the temporary, temp-to-hire, contract, or freelance categories. And while the freedom and variety that comes with temp work may be intriguing to some, the more uncertain nature of it can also cause understandable anxiety.

Temporary work has its pros and cons. On the one hand, it can be discouraging if the only jobs you’re able to find don’t guarantee work past a specific date or, worse, don’t offer health insurance (an especially crucial benefit these days). But on the other hand, there’s a chance that a contract role could turn into something more permanent in the future. Plus, freelancing can be a great way to strengthen your skill set, build your resume, or break into a new industry.

How to Adapt
Embrace the perks of temp work. If you’ve been having a tough time finding a job, temporary work can be a workable short-term solution. It can be a great way to bridge a gap on your resume or build new skills. “For those who are struggling to get their foot in the door in a new job or industry, temp work is one of the best ways to build a resume," says Bavol, who notes that he started his career as a temporary employee. “I learned so much and got exposure to a lot of different industries.”

But be realistic about what will work for you. Some job seekers may be able to embrace temp work as a long-term solution, while others may look at it as a short-term experiment or use it as a way to supplement their income until something more stable materializes. Whatever your circumstances, take stock of your finances to determine what could work for you.

Communicate your intentions. Companies are adopting temporary working arrangements because the future is a bit uncertain at the moment. But that will change. “Companies complement regular staff with highly skilled consultants or freelance professionals who offer specialized abilities and expertise. These positions oftentimes become staff positions,” de la Cruz points out. So if your goal is to join the team, be sure to let your temporary employer know.

4. Remote Work Is Here to Stay
The pandemic has altered the way many employers think about remote work, and it’s unlikely that the number of people who work in an office will ever return to pre-2020 levels. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be returning to our cubicles at all.

Most likely, some companies will embrace remote work in their next chapters, others will want workers back on-site, and still others will look to hybrid and flexible models. In the meantime, many organizations will also continue to conduct their hiring processes remotely, regardless of what type of stance they adopt on remote work in the long run.

How to Adapt
Broaden your job search. “The remote work trend has opened up so many possibilities for people all over the country,” Parikh says. This means that not only can you apply to the usual jobs in your area, but you can also apply for jobs that might be based across the country.

Keep your video interviewing skills sharp. With so many companies continuing to embrace remote work, it stands to reason that interviews will continue to be largely remote, too. Even those that will eventually expect employees to come into the office might be hiring remotely until a vaccine is more widespread and it’s safer to resume in-person interviews. So be ready to answer common interview questions and follow these video interview tips.

Show off your WFH chops. There are some specific traits (like strong organization and communication skills) that make certain employees better remote workers than others. So it wouldn’t hurt to be ready to answer questions specific to working from home during your video interviews, whether you’re interviewing for a position that’s permanently remote or remote for the time being.
Reflect on how you want to work. The remote work trend is great news for those who love working from home, but others have missed going into an office and long to work alongside their teammates in person. Whatever it is you’ve discovered you prefer, you’ll want to be strategic about where you’re applying, what questions you’re asking about the company’s current setup and long-term plans, and how you communicate your desired post-COVID working arrangements.

5. Companies Will Expand Their Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
One major bright spot in the 2021 job market will be the trend toward diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Beasley, who authored a report on hiring trends that will affect women and minorities in 2021, anticipates an upward trend in DEI-focused recruiting and hiring practices at every level of an organization.

How to Adapt
If you identify as a member of a marginalized community: The good news is there will be more opportunities in the job market for women, people of color, and folks from other underrepresented groups, including an uptick in internships and entry-level jobs aimed at recruiting job seekers from marginalized groups into industries like tech or finance, Beasley says. But you’ll still need a stellar job search and networking strategy, too. “You need to proactively position yourself. Joining groups for women or minorities will give you access to diversity-friendly organizations and will be much more effective than simply submitting your resume to a job site,” she says. It’s also important to remember that not all companies will be as committed as they’d like the public to think they are, so don’t forget to do your homework. Check out these tips for evaluating a prospective employer’s commitment to DEI (plus red flags to watch for).

No matter who you are: Employers are looking not only to build diverse teams, but also to onboard employees who are aligned with their goals. Being prepared to answer interview questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion will show that you’re just as committed to DEI as your future employer is. You should also do some research and ask thoughtful questions about a company’s programs or the make-up of their staff during your interview in order to determine whether they align with your values.

6. Recruiting Will Continue to Become More Automated
Hiring teams are increasingly turning to automated systems to help them manage the influx of applications. That means more applicant tracking systems and chatbots to answer application FAQs, ask basic screening questions, or even schedule interviews.

Job seekers can also expect to see more automation in the interview process. “Companies are increasingly using pre-recorded interviews to screen candidates,” Bavol says. “Some are even developing AI to review those interviews, listening for keywords and watching facial expressions. That level of technology is the infancy stage but it’s coming.”

Some of these new technologies also scan cover letters and even chat conversations for relevant keywords and use them to determine whether or not a candidate might be a fit for the job they’ve applied to. Which means tailoring your job search materials for the jobs you’re targeting will be more important than ever.

How to Adapt
Tailor your resume. The whole point of a resume is to get a recruiter or hiring manager interested enough that they take the next step and schedule an initial phone screen with you. And the easiest way to do that is to use your resume to spell out why you’re a great fit for the role you’ve applied to. That’s why it’s so crucial to tailor your resume for a specific job and make sure it’s also ATS-friendly.
Use automation to your advantage. When you run into a pre-recorded interview scenario, chances are, the AI is going to ask common initial interview questions like, “Tell me about yourself,” “How did you hear about this opportunity?” or “Why would you be a good fit for this position?” So you can prep for these kinds of questions in advance in addition to making sure you’re prepared for the digital interview format.

Don’t forget to add a human touch. “Always supplement applications with follow-up,” Parikh says. She recommends reaching out to the hiring manager or people who work at the company you’ve applied to whenever possible.

7. There Will Be More Competition Overall
With unemployment and remote work on the rise, the once shallow applicant pool has now deepened. This means more people are now applying for any given job posting. That can make it harder for you to stand out from the crowd. It can also mean that you could be in for a longer job search.

How to Adapt
Polish your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. Actually, don’t just polish them. Make sure they shine like the top of the Chrysler building. In a competitive job market, investing time in perfecting your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile will be more important than ever. You should also make sure your social media accounts are job-search friendly and update your portfolio or personal website (if you have them—if you don’t, consider making one!). For more tips, click the following link: https://blog.skill.jobs/job-interview-tricks-and-tips-we-must-remember/
Be strategic. “Don’t send your resume out everywhere,” Bavol says. “Laser in on the right job postings for you and then fine-tune your resume for that specific posting.” It’s better to submit a few thoughtfully tailored, high-quality applications than to apply for every job in sight.

Think about creative ways to stand out. Can you learn a new skill? Self-publish an article? Create an impressive or unique personal website? “If you’re looking to enhance your skills or build up your resume, consider taking on freelance work or a pro-bono project if you can afford to. Employers appreciate candidates who go the extra mile to stay sharp and keep up with the industry,” Parikh says.

Embrace upskilling. “We’re in an upskill world," Bavol says. "Ensure that you’re staying a step ahead of the trends and that your skills don’t become obsolete as things continue to change.” There are a plethora of sites that offer free or affordable online classes for job seekers looking to brush up or add new skills to their resumes.

Be patient and flexible. “Job seekers should go into the 2021 job market with an open mind,” Beasley says. “They need to be flexible and ensure their resume and ‘candidate brand’ reflect that.” This might mean you need to have multiple versions of your base resume (one for each role or industry you’re targeting) or that you take a temporary job or a freelance gig to hold you over until you find the right opportunity.

Practice self-care. Under the best of circumstances, looking for a new job can be incredibly taxing. Remember to set aside time to take care of yourself. Take time away from your search to enjoy simple things like going for a walk, baking something yummy, or catching up with a friend or family member whose calls always fill you with energy.

The past year was a year unlike any other and 2021 will probably continue to be a bit of a roller-coaster. But there is reason for hope. “We’re seeing great optimism in hiring overall,” de la Cruz says. “It’s been a rough year, but there are so many bright spots in the market and a lot to look forward to in the new year.

To up-skill your self and creating your employment opportunities, visit and get registered www.skill.jobs
https://www.facebook.com/skilljobs.bd/
https://blog.skill.jobs/
https://training.skill.jobs

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36

Job Satisfaction & Skills / 15 Kinds of Jobs That Are In Demand—and Growing—Heading Into 2021

« on: February 08, 2021, 04:34:47 PM »

15 Kinds of Jobs That Are In Demand—and Growing—Heading Into 2021

If you’re career planning or job searching in 2021—whether you want to get ahead in your own field, make a career change, or prepare for graduation and the “real world”—you already know there are a lot of unknowns.

But here’s what we do know right now: There’s plenty of opportunity in these 15 job areas, according to LinkedIn’s analysis. See the list below, plus links to search for relevant open roles on Skill.jobs

1. Business Development and Sales
Organizations always need employees who can bring in revenue; develop new relationships with clients, customers, and other partners; and find and pursue opportunities to grow the business in different directions. But these folks are crucial as companies try to survive and thrive during difficult times. (Growth: 45%)

Search for open jobs on www.skill.jobs:

Sales jobs
Business development jobs
Sales consultant jobs
Sales operations jobs
Read More: Careers in Sales

2. Workplace Diversity
It remains to be seen whether the racial justice and other diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments companies made in the wake of police violence and protests in the spring and summer of 2020 will yield long-term changes in the workplace. But with 90% growth in open roles related to workplace diversity, there’s an opportunity for folks to try to do this important work.

Search for open diversity jobs on The Muse

3. Digital Marketing
Digital marketers were already in demand pre-pandemic, and hiring for these professionals accelerated in 2020, according to LinkedIn’s analysis. So if you have or can develop digital marketing skills—from data analysis to copywriting—you’re in luck. (Growth: 33%)

Search for open jobs on www.Skill.jobs:

Digital marketing jobs
Social media jobs
Marketing representative job
Search engine optimization (SEO) jobs

4. Digital Content
Writers may not be used to the notion that there’s plenty of demand for their work, but at a time when live performances, social gatherings, and a slew of other activities are extremely limited, jobs for writers and other content creators—from bloggers to podcasters—are on the rise. (Growth: 49%)

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

Content jobs
Writer jobs
Blog jobs

5. Education
Just as the workplace changed dramatically and unexpectedly in 2020, so too did education. As schools, edtech startups, and other organizations adapt, there’s a rise in the number of available jobs in the education space. (Growth: 20%)

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

Teacher jobs
Teaching assistant jobs
Tutor jobs
Curriculum developer jobs
Read More: 15 Common Questions Asked in a Teacher Interview (and How to Answer Them With Ease)

6. Professional and Personal Coaching
If you’re a coach who helps businesses or individuals, your services are much needed during a tumultuous time. (Growth: 51%)

Search for open coach jobs on Www.skill.jobs

7. Mental Health
One of the many devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic has been the mental health toll, with more than 40% of Americans suffering from anxiety, depression, increased substance use, suicidal thoughts, or other issues related to the stresses of this time. It’s not too surprising, then, that mental health professionals are in high demand. (Growth: 24%)

Search for open mental health jobs on Www.skill.jobs

8. Engineering
Software engineering roles were already growing at a much faster rate than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and LinkedIn’s analysis found especially strong growth in hiring for specialized engineers—such as web developers, full-stack engineers, and front-end developers—in 2020. (Growth: 25%)

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

Web developer jobs
Full-stack engineer jobs
Front end developer jobs
Software engineer jobs
Read More: Careers in Software Engineering

9. User Experience
Professionals responsible for the way we interact with websites, apps, and other products fall into this category, which saw 20% growth in hiring.

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

User experience designer jobs or UX designer jobs
User experience researcher jobs or UX researcher jobs
User interface (UI) designer jobs
Product design jobs
Read More: Why UX Research Might Be the Perfect Career for You—and How to Get Started

10. Data Science
Data science is another field that was growing even before the pandemic, given the ubiquity of data at companies across industries and of all sizes and the need to understand and leverage it to drive performance. According to LinkedIn’s analysis, which found a 46% growth in data science roles, that trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

Data scientist jobs
Data science jobs
Data analyst jobs
Read More: Careers in Data and Analytics

11. Artificial Intelligence
Closely related to data science professionals are folks who work on artificial intelligence, such as machine learning researchers and engineers. In a software-focused world where companies are developing and honing complex algorithms—from speech recognition to recommendation algorithms—these roles are in high demand. (Growth: 32%)

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

Machine learning engineer jobs
Machine learning researcher jobs
Artificial intelligence (AI) jobs

12. Loans and Mortgaging
Hiring for professionals who work on loans and mortgaging grew 59%, perhaps not surprising at a time when home sales are booming, interest rates are low, and the government rolled out its Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses.

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

Loan officer jobs
Mortgage loan officer jobs
Escrow jobs
Underwriter Jobs

13. Frontline E-Commerce
This category shouldn’t surprise you if you’ve taken to ordering everything from groceries to clothes to furniture online, or if you’ve read about the many impacts of the pandemic on supply chains across the country and around the world. (Growth: 73%)

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

Driver jobs
Supply chain jobs

14. Nursing
As we navigate a global public health crisis, nurses and nursing assistants working across different settings are in high demand, with 30% growth in hiring, according to LinkedIn’s analysis.

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

Registered nurse jobs
Certified nursing assistant jobs
Nurse practitioner jobs
Intensive care nurse jobs
Read More: 8 Questions You Might Get Asked in a Nursing Interview (and How to Answer Them)

15. Healthcare Support
Similarly, professionals who support doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers—including pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, and home health aides—are sorely needed as we navigate the continuing effects of the coronavirus pandemic. (Growth: 34%)

Search for open jobs on Www.skill.jobs:

Healthcare jobs
Pharmacy technician jobs
Dental assistant jobs
Home health aide jobs

For more details about Job News and Career Guidance, please visit:

www.skill.jobs
https://forum.skill.jobs/
https://blog.skill.jobs/
https://www.facebook.com/skilljobs.bd/


Source: STAV ZIV

37

Workplace Performance / 30 Days to Improving Your Selling Skills

« on: February 04, 2021, 05:04:22 PM »

30 Days to Improving Your Selling Skills

BY: MARK HUNTER|PUBLISHED ON: FEB 3, 2021

10 ways to improve your selling skills in just 30 days. These are practical things you can start doing right now. As a side note: I put new blog posts and videos out like this all the time, so leave a comment here or on my channel if this helped you, and go ahead and subscribe to both! Let’s walk through the list.

1. Discipline

You have to be disciplined in how you use your time and what you spend your effort on. You cannot allow yourself to be caught up in the shiny objects. You have to be disciplined to know exactly what you are going to achieve, and then be actively achieving it.

Do not waste your effort; if salespeople would simply be more disciplined in how to use their time, it is amazing how much more successful they would be.


2. Consistency

This means consistency with your prospects. You cannot sit there and call some prospects once, then not call them back for six months or even a year. You have to have a consistent sales process that you are using more than anything.

More than anything, I always hear people say, “Well, I don’t have a good plan.”

 Me: “Well, what’s your plan?”

 Them: “I don’t have a plan.”

 Well, that’s your problem! I almost say this:

It does not matter what your plan is, just be consistent with it.

Just be consistent. When you are consistent with your prospecting, it is astonishing how much more disciplined you are – you see how these two things really fit together?
 

3. Learn From Your Existing Customers

I want you to learn from your existing customers. You see, your existing customers are full of a lot of knowledge.

I want you to learn from them and be reaching out to them, even if your sales process is one where – after you sell a customer – you don’t have any more engagement. I want you to reach back out because you are going to learn from them. They are going to help tell you, show you and guide you.
 

4. Less is More

It’s not about having 10,000 prospects.

It’s not about having 1,000 prospects.

It’s really about having fewer prospects that I can spend more time on. Less is more in everything I do. I don’t need 10,000 scripts. I don’t need 10,000 emails sent out. I need four or five because less becomes more. What happens when you adopt this mindset is you become more efficient and more effective in how you use your time.


5. Tight Customer List

Here’s the thing: You do not have time to chase every opportunity out there.

If the opportunity, lead or prospect that you see does not line up with what you believe is going to be potentially profitable to you, then do not. Go. After. It.

Stay tight; I see too many salespeople just start flashing lights when they get into trouble, turning to whatever they can to try to get attention or try to fight. No, stay tight. I would much rather you have 20 prospects you are reaching out to though a consistent process with a very tight message than to be sitting there trying to chase 100, 200, 300 prospects you only reach every couple of months.

Nope, that does not work. Keep a tight customer list.
 

6. Be Accountable

Be accountable and show up. You have to be accountable to yourself and I want you to be accountable to somebody else. This means, very simply, you need an accountability partner who is going to help hold you accountable for your goals. This means you are sharing with them what your goals are and vice versa.

You know what’s interesting about this? As you coach them, it’s going to help you.

A rising tide lifts all boats.

I want you to be accountable now, both to yourself and to your customers. When they say something, you have got to follow up with them. You have to remain engaged with them. Again, I see too many times where salespeople have an opportunity and never call. Them. Back. They never re-engage. I see more salespeople losing business because they failed to follow up on a lead fast enough.
 

7. Simplify

Do not make it overly complicated. We can screw up a two-car funeral pretty good.

What I want you to do is simplify your message – simplify what it is that you sell because…

If it isn’t simple in your mind, how is it going to be simple to your prospects? It’s not.

Too many salespeople get desperate and want to go out and sell every tool in the toolbox. You can’t. I am going to lead with one specific tool, and I am going to zero in on it.

When you simplify, it’s surprising how much faster you’re able to move. Speed comes into play here. Now, of the 10 things I’m discussing with you today, your speed is not one of them. But what I have found is when you make it a point to do the 10 things I am walking through, you will find yourself operating much more efficiently.


8. Grow Your Mind

You can never allow yourself to stop growing. This means you have to be saying, “How and what am I learning about my industry?”

“How and what am I learning about my customers?”

What are you doing? You have to be continuously growing. You have to take 15 minutes a day – it might be digging into a book or maybe an article pertaining to your industry. No matter what, you have to be continuously and intentionally growing your mind.

What happens? Not only do you gain more knowledge, but you also gain a tremendous amount more confidence. And, when you’re more confident, it’s amazing how much better you listen.


9. Attitude

Nothing fuels your energy more than your attitude.

If you have a bad attitude, you won’t have the energy. If you have a bad attitude, it’s noticeable how it comes across in your phone calls, your emails, on and on. When you have a bad attitude, you don’t listen as much. Your attitude drives a lot more than you would think.


10. Don’t Stop

Do not stop. I see too many salespeople get a little bit into the process and think, “Well, we’re not getting the traction,” and they step away.

Everyone has heard the stories of salespeople giving up too early, and that is exactly what happens. If you want to be successful, don’t stop.

If you go through and do the previous nine things that I have been talking and lastly, do not stop, I guarantee you will be more successful with your selling in 30 days or less.

Hey, I also want you to pick up the book, A Mind for Sales.

I’ve written several other books, High Profit Prospecting and High Profit Selling. I want you to learn from them because I want you to be as successful as possible. Make sure you hit subscribe for my blog and do the same for my YouTube channel. I put a new video out at least twice a week.

To upscale your skills and creating employment opportunities, visit www.skill.jobs
www.skill.jobs
https://blog.skill.jobs/
https://test.skill.jobs/home

38

Various Resource for Career Development / How to Create a Linkedin Profile Recruiters Love in 11 Easy Steps

« on: February 04, 2021, 04:54:54 PM »

How to Create a Linkedin Profile Recruiters Love in 11 Easy Steps

If you’re serious about your career and you haven’t already got an awesome Linkedin profile then its time to take some action. Here I’ll show you how to create a Linkedin profile that recruiters love!

If you are looking for a new job and you haven’t got a fantastic Linkedin profile you are reducing your chances of getting asked for interviews, getting the job you want and achieving the best salary package possible.

Don’t underestimate the power of Linkedin and how you can create a Linkedin profile to show you are no 1 in your field. You have an opportunity to demonstrate how “KICK ASS” you are to the world. That’s where I sing about my experience and get good jobs and that’s where you could too.

Here 11 easy steps to create a Linkedin profile recruiters

First of all, here’s why YOU need to be on LinkedIn:

1. Linkedin is the worlds most significant recruitment database – it’s like joining the largest ever recruitment agency.

2. Recruiters can search and headhunt you – let the opportunities come to you!

3. People you meet in business will look you up – tell them how brilliant you are.

4. 73% of recruiters have hired through social media, and 79% was through Linkedin.

5. Line managers will vet you on Linkedin before interviewing you – the interview has already started before you even get your foot in the door.

And recruiters spend most of their day on Linkedin, so you need to be there too.

I was a number 1 recruiter for five years, so I know how recruiters and hiring managers think. This helps ME get the best jobs and achieve a good salary when I look for new contract Global Learning Manager roles. I share my job seeking advice with friends and colleagues, and I want to share it with you too.

How to get the job you want and earn more
In that post I share the inside track on how recruitment consultants and hiring managers use LinkedIn to decide if you are the perfect candidate and how much you are worth. Having a fantastic Linkedin profile is one of the things you need to become the perfect candidate and get hired on a good salary.

Linkedin is also a fabulous networking tool and an amazing place to keep in touch with colleagues and the people you meet in business.

When you create a Linkedin profile, the desired outcome is you want the recruiter and hiring manager to say “WOW she’s perfect!”

How to create a Linkedin profile

All-time favorite tips:

How to create a Linkedin profile recruiters love in 11 easy steps:
1) Linkedin profile picture
Get a professional headshot. I know they can be expensive but you are investing in yourself, and you are worth it!!! Recruiters and hiring managers want to know that you can do the job, that’s a given, but they also care that you give a hoot about the way you present yourself.

I say this a million times on these blog pages, and it’s sooooo true, first impressions count for a heck of a lot in your job search.

Why wouldn’t you want to give yourself the best-ever opportunity to get your dream job at the best possible salary?

Career girls it’s time to get serious and show off your best self!

If you can’t get a professional headshot then take one yourself and use these guidelines:

1. Take it indoors with good lighting
2. Go for a “you can trust me with all of your important work, and I am friendly too” look
3. Head and shoulders only
4. Wear something appropriate
5. Look at the camera
6. Smile
7. Make sure it’s an accurate representation of you

2 ) LinkedIn banner
Your banner sits just above your profile photo and is the first thing that visitors see when they visit you on Linkedin.

Linkedin Banners are a brilliant way to get you noticed by recruiters. Having an amazing Linkedin Banner will help you to stand out from the competition by creating a visual impact when someone visits your Linkedin profile.

They are also a brilliant way to advertise what you do and add some of your personal branding touches to your profile.

Here’s Gary Vaynerchuk’s Linkedin Banner showing off his company.


If you present or do workshops you could have a picture of you presenting or in a work environment.

If you work as a secretary or administrator you could choose a lovely free photos of a laptop and flowers on Pexels or Pixabay and add your contact details, remember a professional email address. Or create a simple banner with your contact details.

You can create eye catching banners for Linkedin on Canva, and I’ve written a post to teach you how here:

5 Easy steps to create a Linkedin banner to get you noticed!
3) Create custom URL
Create custom URL is a brilliant way to build your professional personal brand! Most people don’t know this exists, but you can use this to help recruiters find you. In your profile – look in the top right-hand corner and click “Edit public profile & URL” then top right again and click “Edit URL”. Change those numbers to “yourname” and maybe like I have to “joclark-lifecoach” as people know who I am and they know me for working in the training industry.

Linkedin custom URL


Again, see Gary Vaynerchuk’s here. It looks much more professional than those random numbers doesn’t it? 2 minutes effort for maximum impact. It’s soooo worth it, right? This is a double whammy as it can also help you to be found on google too.

4) Best Linkedin headlines
Recruiters will search for a role name like “Training Project Manager” so the best Linkedin headlines need to be searchable. Be specific about what you do. Get straight to the point as recruiters don’t have time to guess if you right for the role, you need to tell them you are. Make the recruiters job easy for them.

5) You need an attractive LinkedIn summary
An attractive Linkedin summary needs to say that you are exactly what the recruiter is looking for so tell them why you are the best “insert your role here”. Tell them how much experience you have and what you have achieved in previous roles and quantify in numbers where possible. Sing about your accomplishments as recruiters and hiring managers want to know that you are a girl that goes for it!!!

This is also a fabulous place to express your personal brand and if you are new to personal branding then check out my posts:

6 steps to identify your personal brand and why you need one
How to promote your personal brand to boost your earning potential
Remember to get your keywords in your Linkedin summary. What will recruiters be searching for to find you? Repeat the keywords a couple of times through your summary.

6) Hashtags
Hashtags are a thing on Linkedin now so add some relevant hashtags to create a Linkedin profile that wins every time. 3 or 4 hashtags that are keywords focused around the work you do or the industry you are in will work well.

7) Experience
Write 3 or 4 lines for each role summarising what you did and achieved. Use keywords, industry buzzwords and action words to describe what you did. Recruiters will match this to their job spec just like they would a resume so make sure the language you use will be similar to what they will see in their job spec.

If you’re not sure what to write then go to the job sites and print off six job adverts that you would like to apply for and see what common language they use as a guide.

Skills and Endorsements
Add 6 of the skills that you want to be known for and ask some of your friends and colleagues to recommend you for these skills. Top tip – if you don’t want to ask people directly then endorse the skills of some of your friends and colleagues and they should endorse your skills back.

9) Recommendations
This is where you can give your profile the “wow” factor. Recommendations are like references. These add a wealth of credibility to your profile.

Effectively the recruiter and hiring manager can hear from your previous managers and colleagues about all of the amazing work you do as soon as they read your Linkedin profile.

Go and ask your former managers to recommend you!

Get the tissues ready…I’m serious… watch this video to see how powerful recommendations from the people you work with can help you get your next dream job!

10) Contact details
Remember to add your contact details, email and phone number so that recruiters can contact you as soon as they find you. Professional email address only – this is your only chance to “WOW” the recruiter and hiring manager.

11) Add a resume to Linkedin

Did you know you can add a resume to Linkedin?

Yes you can as it’s easy to upload docs to your Linkedin summary. If you are adding your resume make sure it’s a killer one – see other blog posts below…

When you upload your resume then add this statement at the front of your Linkedin summary “See my resume linked at the bottom of this profile summary”

That’s how to create a Linkedin profile recruiters love in 11 easy steps.




To upscale your skills and creating employment opportunities, visit www.skill.jobs
www.skill.jobs
https://blog.skill.jobs/
https://test.skill.jobs/home

39

Business, Sales, Marketing, Management & Customer Service / 7 Tips to Improve Your Core Web Vitals Scores & Page Experience Signals

« on: February 03, 2021, 12:22:29 PM »

7 Tips to Improve Your Core Web Vitals Scores & Page Experience Signals

Is your site ready for the big Google algorithm update in 2021? Here are seven user page experience aspects to focus on and how to optimize them.

by  Rachel Costello

In 2021, Google will be updating its algorithm to incorporate page experience as a ranking signal.

The aim of this change is to factor in the user experience of pages being returned in the SERPs, rather than the traditional and more objective signals such as PageRank and on-page targeting that have been used historically.

With this upcoming update approaching, it is critical to understand the different facets of page experience and how to optimize your site for each one of them.

Luckily, Google has announced the different elements that will feed into determining the overall experience of a page. These are:

Core Web Vitals: A combination of three key performance metrics – Largest Contentful Paint, First Input Delay and Cumulative Layout Shift – that measure the visual loading, interactivity, and visual stability of a page as it loads for users.

Mobile-Friendliness: Looks at how easy websites are to use and navigate on mobile devices, including the readability of content and whether links and on-page elements are clickable and accessible.

Safe Browsing: Assesses whether a site has issues such as malware, phishing and hacked content, to ensure that users can browse safely.

HTTPS: Focuses on whether the connection of a website is secure and if the site is being served over HTTPS as recommended, or not.

Non-Intrusive Interstitials: Ensures that crucial on-page content is not obstructed for users as they are browsing.



To help you make sure your site is ready for this change, I’ve put together some tips for optimizing your site for the key areas of page experience.

These cover areas such as faster and smoother visual loading, improved mobile usability, and enhanced website security.

1. Preload Key Resources to Speed up Visual Load Times
One of the first indicators for a user that a page is loading is the appearance of above-the-fold content.

This is where Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and the first Core Web Vitals metric comes in to measure how quickly the main on-page element loads.

To identify what a page’s LCP element is, simply inspect the page in Chrome DevTools and it will be shown in the waterfall chart in the Performance tab.

Once you know what the LCP element is, an easy way of seeing the visual progress of how quickly it loads is to use the Performance tab in Chrome DevTools.

Make sure Screenshots is selected and start profiling the page while it loads.

Once your profile is complete, hovering over the load chart at the top will show you a screenshot of the page as it loaded over time.

This will help you to visualize how quickly the different page elements load.

To help speed up the loading of the LCP element and above-the-fold content, consider using methods like preloading to tell the browser to fetch these resources first as a priority.



2. Optimize Main Thread Activity by Minimizing Long Tasks
There are many different issues behind the scenes that can cause a user to have to wait for the browser to respond to them tapping or clicking on a page.This is what is measured by the second Core Web Vitals metric, First Input Delay (FID).

While this experience can be frustrating for users, there are things we can do to resolve this issue and reduce waiting times between human interactions and browser responses.

Long tasks are a common contributor to this issue.

Essentially, these are pieces of JavaScript code that block the main thread for a long period of time and causes the page to freeze and become unresponsive.

Long tasks in Chrome DevTools can be found at the top of the waterfall chart under the Main tab, and are highlighted with a red triangle.



If you click on a long task and go into the Bottom-Up tab, this breaks down the different activities that occurred within the task, such as compiling and parsing scripts.

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4. Make Sure Key Page Templates Are Mobile-Friendly
After mobile traffic overtook desktop traffic in 2016, it became crucial to ensure that websites were optimized for the mobile devices that an increasing number of users were browsing with.

The layout and usability of a website on a mobile device can make or break the user’s experience.

For example, users should be able to see important content in a clear and accessible way, without having to zoom in.

There are two main ways to assess the usability of your website on mobile devices. The first is to monitor the Mobile Usability report in Google Search Console.

This report will flag issues such as content not fitting the screen and text being too small, as well as showing you a list of affected URLs for each issue.

The second method is to run key page templates through Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.

This is a good way of spot-checking individual pages.

5. Audit Your Site for Security Issues
Alongside load performance and mobile usability, website security will also play a part in the determination of page experience.
Google is keen to make sure that the websites presented in the SERPs are safe for users to browse, without the risk of security issues.

The main security issues to be aware of are malware, unwanted software, phishing, and deceptive content.

An easy way to check whether or not your website has issues that could put your users at risk, take a look at the Security issues report in Google Search Console.

This report can be found under the Security & Manual Actions heading.

6. Make Sure Forms & Embedded Resources Are Served Over HTTPS
Incorporating HTTPS as a page experience signal is another way in which Google is trying to ensure the safety of users as they are browsing.
Serving content that requires user interaction and input over a non-secure HTTP connection poses a risk to users and makes them and their data more vulnerable.

This is particularly important to remember for forms where users are inputting any personal information, such as checkouts where payment information is being shared.

One way to check for these issues is to use the Security report in Screaming Frog.

To allow your users can browse safely, make sure your site has an up-to-date SSL certificate, and migrate any of your URLs and on-page resources to HTTPS.

7. Ensure Interstitials Don’t Obstruct Crucial Content
If a website has intrusive interstitials that take up a lot of space on a page and make it difficult for users to get to important on-page content, then this can create negative and frustrating experiences for users.

By manually reviewing your pages on different devices or again, using the Chrome DevTools screenshots feature, you can visualize how interstitials could be impacting your users.

To avoid disrupting your users’ browsing experiences.

Consider redesigning pop-ups and interstitials so that they don’t obstruct important on-page content, and also so that users don’t have to physically close them to be able to continue their journey on your site.

Conclusion
By following these tips and incorporating page experience optimization into your SEO strategy, you can help to improve your site’s page experience signals.

This will have positive effects in both the short term and long term.

Not only will enhancing page experience help to future-proof your website’s performance by putting it in the best position possible to capitalize on the upcoming algorithm update, but it will also ensure positive experiences for users on your website now.

Page experience optimization isn’t about meeting certain criteria for search engines.

It’s about providing the best possible experiences for real users.

And that’s an end goal that we can all buy into.

Within this report, you can see the number of instances of forms being served on HTTPS URLs, as well as mixed content issues where a mixture of page resources are being served over HTTP and HTTPS.


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40

Business, Sales, Marketing, Management & Customer Service / TART A NEW SEO CHAPTER OF 2021

« on: February 03, 2021, 11:44:03 AM »

START A NEW SEO CHAPTER OF 2021
with tool-packed SEO Software that won't break your bank

Google: All Core Web Vitals Must Be Met For Ranking Boost
by Matt Southern
Google says the minimum threshold for all Core Web Vitals must be met in order to benefit from the associated ranking signal.

Looking for quality bloggers and influence rs to elevate your SEO?

All three Core Web Vitals benchmarks must be met in order to qualify for the ranking signal boost rolling out this May, says Google’s John Mueller.

This topic came up right at the start of the latest Google Search Central SEO office-hours on January 29.

A question is asked regarding how much it matters if one of the Core Web Vitals is below Google’s requirements when the other two are met.And does it matter if Google’s testing tools shows one of the Web Vitals in the yellow rather than in the green?
We come to learn through Mueller’s response that these things will be of significant importance when the Core Web Vitals update launches this May.

Core Web Vitals are Google’s new standards for evaluating whether a page provides a good user experience.

The metrics consist of:

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures the speed at which a page’s main content is loaded. This should occur within 2.5 seconds of landing on a page.
First Input Delay (FID): Measures the speed at which users are able to interact with a page after landing on it. This should occur within 100 milliseconds.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures how often users experience unexpected layout shifts. Pages should maintain a CLS of less than 0.1.

Google offers 6 different ways of measuring Core Web Vitals. As we learn from Mueller, all minimum requirements need to be met to benefit from the upcoming algorithm update.

Google’s John Mueller on Core Web Vitals
When it comes to testing your site to see how well it meets the Core Web Vitals benchmarks it’s important for all 3 metrics to be met, Mueller says.

My understanding is we see if it’s in the green and then that counts as it’s OK or not. So if it’s in yellow then that wouldn’t be in the green, but I don’t know what the final approach there will be.

There are a number of factors that come together and I think the general idea is if we can recognize that a page matches all of these criteria then we would like to use that appropriately in search ranking.

I don’t know what the approach would be where there are some things that are OK and some things that are not perfectly OK, like how that would balance out.”

Mueller tip-toes around the subject as he’s careful not to reveal anything that hasn’t been communicated through Google’s official channels.


When asked if there will be more information available before the algorithm update rolls out in May, Mueller says, “I suspect so.”

He briefly touches on the idea being tossed around that Google will introduce a badge in search results for pages that pass Google’s Core Web Vitals.

If that were to roll out, which is not 100% decided yet, then it would need to signify the page meets or exceeds all three metrics.

“The general guideline is we would also like to use this criteria to show a badge in search results, which I think there have been some experiments happening around that.

And for that we really need to know that all of the factors are compliant. So if it’s not on HTTPS then essentially even if the rest is OK then that wouldn’t be enough.”

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41

Winning Interview Techniques / 49 Ways To Stand Out During The Interview Process

« on: February 02, 2021, 07:38:55 PM »

49 Ways To Stand Out During The Interview Process

Working your way through the job interview process is tough enough as it is. If you're lucky enough to advance to real face time, the struggle to stand out becomes an imminent threat.

The notion of disconnecting from the crowd seems entirely foreign, especially for recent grads. Being able to conform is practically a survival tactic in public school, and the tendency to blend in isn't easily corrected.


The  truth is you only learn these interviewing skills through practice (sometimes years of it). Don’t expect — or pressure yourself — to master them all in one day.

Consider this list less of a study guide and more of a checklist, and aim for progress in your interview processes — not perfection.

Before you apply
1. Set up an online portfolio, if applicable.
2. Pursue industry-related certifications.
3. Check that your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date.
 
In your application
1. Tailor your application to the job.
2. Address the hiring manager in your cover letter.
3. Include portfolio and social links in your resume.
4. Keep your resume neat and clean.
5. Send your resume as a PDF.
6. Mention you have references available upon request.
 
Before a phone interview
1. Choose a quiet location to take the call.
2. Print out any reference material and lay them out in front of you.
 
During a phone interview
1. Answer with, “Hello, this is [Name].”
2. Have a professional voicemail message, just in case.
3. Use a friendly and upbeat tone of voice.
4. Allow a pause before taking your turn to speak.
5. Thank your interviewer for their time.
6. Say goodbye in a professional way.

After a phone interview
1. Send a follow-up thank you email.
2. Emphasize your interest in the job.
3. Keep it brief.
4. Have a professional email signature.
 
Before an in-person interview
1. Prepare copies of your resume and cover letter.
2. And print them on high quality paper.
3. Dress according to office culture.
4. But make sure you’re comfortable.
5. Keep hair and makeup simple.
 



During an in-person interview
01. Arrive at least 10 minutes early.
02. Be kind to everyone you encounter.
03. Turn off or silence your devices.
04. Stand up when your interview walks in.
05. And shake hands.
06. Use your research to break the ice.
07. Keep a friendly but professional distance.
08. Practice social etiquette.
09. Keep business cards handy.
10. Ask thought-provoking questions.
11. Maintain eye contact.
12. Keep a strong and confident posture.
13. Don’t forget to smile.
14. Don’t be afraid to brag.
15. Tie your experience and skills to the job specs.
16. Make your narrative clear.
17. Ask for feedback.
18. Listen carefully.
19. Thank your interviewer for their time.
20. Wish them a good day.

After an in-person interview
1. Send a handwritten thank-you note
2. And personalize it to each conversation.
3. Reiterate your fit during follow-up.
4. Be patient.

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42

Cover Letter / HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER?

« on: February 02, 2021, 07:25:12 PM »

HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER?

Source: prepary

Out of all of the things that people struggle with in the job search, I think the cover letter takes the cake.

It’s ironic because the cover letter isn’t even the most important part of the application (it may actually be the least important part of the application!)

Yet it’s the thing that holds people up, makes people wait weeks before applying to one simple job, and ultimately gives people a ton of stress.

So if you’re nodding your head yes right now, this post will share exactly how to write a cover letter — what to do, what not to do, and then a simple template you can follow.

I’ve been on the receiving end of thousands of these and trust me, you’re probably over-complicating it.


WHAT NOT TO DO IN YOUR COVER LETTER
Ok first off, here are some things to definitely avoid:

Don’t repeat your entire resume – Your reader (the recruiter in most cases) already has that information and going through it all over again in a cover letter is just a less organized way for them to learn the same exact thing

Don’t make it too long – Just as people skim resumes in a few seconds, it’s the same thing for cover letters. If they have to work too hard to find your point, you can assume they’re not going to find it. I would say 3/4 of a page is a good rule of thumb but obviously use your discretion based on the role, industry, and your level of experience. In general, though, less is more.

Don’t be a robot – People want to work with people (and get to know them in the application process), not robots. Give them a sense of who you actually are and your genuine communication style. An overly formal tone often comes across as robotic and to be honest, very uninteresting to read.

Don’t send the same one for all your apps – In case this isn’t obvious, generic cover letters have a very minimal impact. If you’re trying to write a great cover letter, it must be customized.
 
WHAT NEEDS TO BE IN EVERY COVER LETTER
Now before I tell you what you should write in a cover letter, let’s zoom out for a second.

When recruiters and hiring managers are screening applications for a job, they only care about a few things.

Mainly, they are trying to figure out if:

You’d be amazing at doing the job – More specifically that you have the skills necessary to do the job and that you’ve accomplished things in your past roles that they’d like for you to also accomplish at their company.
You are excited to work at their company – Passionate employees are viewed as more loyal, more engaged, and the perception is that they do better work. Whether or not that’s true, people are often screening for that genuine enthusiasm.
 
SO HERE’S HOW TO WRITE YOUR COVER LETTER
Explain why you are uniquely qualified to do the job you’re applying for – This means you need to read the entire job description CAREFULLY and make a solid case for exactly why you are the best person to do that job.

Share RELEVANT accomplishments and examples – Your resume shows the full picture of everything you did in all your jobs but the cover letter should be a curated slice of that pie. In it, you should be saying, “look, I’ve done a lot of stuff, but here’s the stuff that you’re going to care the most about based on the role you’re hiring for.”

Convince them you actually care about what they’re doing – Like we just talked about, companies want to know you actually have a specific interest in working for them, not just applying to a million jobs to see who happens to get back to you. But don’t just scratch the surface and say something generic — really think about WHY you want to work at that company.

My general formula for cover letters is a quick intro paragraph, a paragraph or two on your most relevant experience (tying it directly to their job), a paragraph on why you want to work for their company, and then a 1-2 line closing.

That’s it!



HERE’S A COVER LETTER TEMPLATE TO FOLLOW
Dear [company name] team,

I am reaching out to express interest in the [job title] role which I found out about from [where you found out]. I am a [describe yourself] and I am currently looking for new opportunities in the [describe industry or type of work].

After reading through the job description, I know you are looking for someone who can [summarize key themes from the job description] and I feel like my past experiences and skills would make me a great fit for the role. In my role as a [title] at [company] I [add in relevant experience and elaborate on details and results]. In addition, I have experience with [x, y, and z]. [Elaborate more on those projects and accomplishments here].

I am excited to apply for a role like this one at [company] because of [why you want to work at the company]. [elaborate on what you know about the company and why it makes you want to work there in 1-2 more lines].

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

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43

Career Grooming / 5 Key Challenges Facing Financial Services HR and Recruitment

« on: February 01, 2021, 06:25:16 PM »

5 Key Challenges Facing Financial Services HR and Recruitment

by WBR Insights

The world of financial services is right on the cusp of the next wave of disruption. As the need for digitization takes hold across the sector, every financial organization is plowing resources into digital transformation projects as they work hard to update legacy systems and improve operating effectiveness and customer experience. As such, not only will financial organizations need significantly more and more technology expertise on the payroll over the coming years, they will also need leaders who can manage change effectively.

This can be said of nearly every industry, of course, which in itself sends unique challenges in the direction of the financial services sector as the competition for top tech talent heats up. Indeed, attracting and retaining the best people - essential for successfully competing and innovating in this increasingly digital environment - is further complicated by the fact that financial organizations are no longer just fighting for skilled people with traditional sector rivals, but also against technology firms and startups. Combine this with US unemployment levels being at near historical lows and financial institutions are facing a situation where a lack of good candidates is making it increasingly hard to hire the innovative and well-trained talent they need to complete their digital transformation, combat security issues, deal with increased regulations, and conduct effective big data management.

Let's take a look at five of the key challenges facing financial service HR and recruitment right now.

1. The Skills Gap
The skills gap in the finance industry is continuously widening. In 2016, a PwC survey found that 70% of financial services CEOs saw the availability of key skills as a threat to growth. This, in large part, was - and still is - being driven by the increasing capabilities of digital technology and the emergence of new roles in finance, such as data scientist, and artificial intelligence (AI) and software engineers. Unfortunately, however, there just aren't enough developers or data scientists out there who are well-versed in finance, and vice versa.

And the problem persists. More recently, the 2016 Financial Services and IT Study by Peak 10 (now Flexential) found that though more than three-quarters (76%) of financial institutions had created new IT roles in recent years, half were finding it either "difficult" or "very difficult" to fill them.

Some commentators have suggested that repairing the reputation of the financial sector could help decrease the skills gap and bring in more qualified talent. Many organizations - particularly in banking - have lost popularity since the economic downturn, putting off newly-qualified graduates from pursuing a career in finance.

2. Shortage of Mid-Career Candidates
And it's not just a lack of fresh-faced millennial grads that's a problem - there's a shortage of mid-career candidates as well.

The financial crisis of 2008 and the low economic years that followed caused many people to leave the financial services industry, meaning there are fewer mid- and upper-level professionals in the financial services job market today. However, these candidates are now in high demand as the economy has since improved, boosting confidence and growth in the industry.

It may be possible for financial services recruiters to attract talented professionals who have gained experience in payroll, accounts receivable, and accounts payable in other sectors if they strategize correctly.

3. Retaining Millennial Talent
Retaining employees is of vital importance in an industry where, according to a PwC report, only 10% of millennials plan to work for the long-term. It costs an organization an average of $4,129 to hire a replacement should it fail to retain an employee, according to research from the Society for Human Resource Management - and that doesn't include the cost of severance and training a new employee. To put this into perspective, this means that 90% of your millennial workforce might not be sticking around for long, meaning your cost-per-hire figures could soon be stacking up.

Financial services organizations need to be employing a variety of employee retention strategies to hang on to their best employees. Professional development opportunities should be provided to both create more knowledgeable employees and increase an employee's investment in their financial services career.

4. Creating an Attractive Company Culture
According to the new Workplace Culture report from LinkedIn, 86% of millennials would take a pay cut in order to work at a company whose values they feel are in tune with their own. By comparison, only 9% of baby boomers would do the same.

Of all age groups considered in the survey, 70% of professionals in the US would not work at a leading company if it meant they had to tolerate a bad workplace culture.

"It's important for people to be able to bring their full selves to work," Nina McQueen, LinkedIn Vice President of Benefits and Employee Experience, told CNBC Make It. "As people's work and personal lives become more intertwined than ever before, there has been an increased expectation that the companies we work for have our shared values."

The report also notes that 51% professionals are today proudest to work at companies that promote work-life balance and flexibility, and that one of the top reasons workers say they would stay at their company for the next five years is benefits, such as having access to paid time off, parental leave, and health insurance.

5. Jobseekers Have More Choices and More Power
As top tech talent and qualified financial services professionals become increasingly hard to find, jobseekers in this market have the pick of the litter. Though financial services jobs often offer market-leading pay, as LinkedIn's Workplace Culture report highlights, this may not be enough to attract and retain the scarce talent that's available.

In addition, the situation puts talent in a position of power, and financial services organizations can expect lengthy salary and benefits negotiations to ensue in the battle for the best candidates.

To remain competitive, starting salaries and bonus opportunities need to be extremely attractive, but beyond monetary benefits, value needs to be added to the job offer by creating and highlighting a great company culture. Providing things like employee wellness programs, team building events, and professional development workshops can all make your organization stand out from the rest.

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44

Business, Sales, Marketing, Management & Customer Service / 21 Smart Google SEO Tips for 2021

« on: January 27, 2021, 11:41:36 AM »

21 Smart Google SEO Tips for 2021

By: Cyrus Shepard | Moz Blog

Welcome to another edition of Whiteboard Friday. I'm Cyrus Shepard. Today, so glad that you can join us. We are talking about 21 smart Google SEO tips for 2021. We're getting ready for a new year, a new year of SEO strategies. These are 21 practical tips that you can implement that should, hopefully, move the needle on your organic traffic.

These are some of the best tips that I've collected over the past year. Many of them that I'm going to use myself in my own SEO strategies.

Now we have four categories: increasing clicks, content/on-page SEO tips, technical SEO, and a little bit of link building. There are 21 of these. These are going to go fast. We're trying to do 10 to 12 minutes, so we don't get to spend a lot of time on each one. But don't fret. We're going to link to appropriate resources in the transcript below so that we can keep along and explore a little bit more. All right. Ready to dive in?

Increasing clicks
Let's start with clicks, specifically earning more clicks from Google without actually ranking higher, because that's one of the great things about SEO. You don't actually have to rank higher to get more traffic if you can get more clicks from the rankings that you already have. So let's talk about some specific strategies for getting more clicks without increasing rankings.

1. Favicon optimization
First, favicon optimization.

Now I'm surprised more people haven't talked about this in 2020. Google displays favicons in mobile search results, and they can influence your click-through rate if they're high contrast, if they're visible or not visible. Having a good favicon can make a few percentage points difference, very minor, but it does make a difference if you can get it right. Aaron Wall, SEO Book, wrote one of the very few posts about that.



2. Breadcrumb optimization
While we're optimizing our favicons, let's take a look at breadcrumb optimization. Google displays breadcrumbs in both desktop and mobile search results. They can be keyword-rich breadcrumbs, which can influence your click-through rate. Now Google gets their breadcrumbs from a lot of places. That can be your URL, your schema markup, your actual breadcrumbs on the page.

What you want to do is make sure Google is displaying the breadcrumbs that you want them to display, using those keywords that you choose. The best way to do that, make sure that you have breadcrumbs actually on your page with links, that you're using schema markup. Ideally, it would match your URL structure, but that isn't always necessary. So a great breadcrumb optimization audit.

3. Meta descriptions
Let's optimize those meta descriptions. This is so old-school SEO. But a recent study shows that 30% of websites don't even use meta descriptions. Now that's understandable because another study shows that 70% of the time, Google will rewrite the meta description, usually because it's not using the keywords that the user is searching for. But if we write a well-crafted meta description, it can compel users to click, and that means using keyword-rich descriptions that people are actually searching for, so when Google does use your meta description, it's encouraging those clicks and acting as marketing copy for your website.

4. Numbers in titles
Along with meta descriptions, titles. Just shared a study recently showing that dates added to titles increased rankings for a particular brand. Numbers are generally one thing that I always test in title tags that usually produce pretty consistent results. Specifically, dates in title tags are often a winner, January 2021.

Don't be spammy about it. Don't include it if it doesn't make sense and don't fake it. But if you can include a number, it will often increase your click-through rate for any given query.

5. <Title> boilerplate
How about doing a boilerplate audit for your title tag? Tip number five. What's boilerplate? Boilerplate are the parts of your title tag that repeat every single time.

For example, here at Moz, we put "Moz," our brand name at the end of every title tag. We used to put "Whiteboard Friday" at the end of every Whiteboard Friday until we tested it and found out that we actually got more clicks and higher rankings when we removed it. So boilerplate, you want your titles to be unique, provide unique value. So I would encourage you to experiment with your boilerplate and see if removing it actually increases your rankings.

Sometimes it's not going to. Sometimes you need that boilerplate. But do the test to find out.




6. FAQ and how-to schema
Tip number six: schema, specifically FAQ and how-to schema. Google gave us a huge gift when they introduced these in search results. FAQ schema gives you a lot of SERP real estate. You can't always win it, and you can't always win the how-to schema, but when you do, that can definitely increase or influence people to click on your result, expand those FAQ schemas out.

It's not appropriate for every page. You want to make sure that you actually have those FAQs on your pages. But it is one way, in appropriate situations, that you can increase clicks without increasing your actual Google ranking. All right.



Content/on-page SEO
Let's move on to some content and on-page tips.

7. Relaunch top content
All right, number seven. This is the year I want you to look into relaunching your top content.

Content can go stale after a few years. So we launch content. You have a blog, you launch it, and you share it on social media. Most people forget about it after that. So go back, look at your top content over the last two to five years or even 10 years, if you want to go back that far, and see what you can relaunch by updating it, keeping it on the same URL. In some cases, you can see gains of 500% to 1,000% just by relaunching some of your old content with some updates.

So do a relaunch audit in 2021.

8. Increase internal linking
Number eight: increasing internal linking. Now a lot of top SEO agencies, when they need to quickly increase rankings for clients, there are generally two things that they know are the easiest levers to pull. First, title tags and meta descriptions, what's getting more clicks, but second is increasing the internal linking.

You know that you can increase internal links on your site, and there are probably some opportunities there that you just haven't explored. So let's talk about a couple easy ways to do that without having too much work.

9. Update old content with new links
Number nine is updating your old content with new links. This is a step that we see people skip time and time again. When you publish a new blog post, publish a new piece of content, make sure you're going back and updating your old content with those new links.

So you're looking at the top keyword that you want to rank for, and going in Google Search Console or checking tools like Keyword Explorer to see what other pages on your site rank for that keyword, and then adding links to the new content to those pages. I find when I do this, time and time again, it lowers the bounce rate. So you're not only updating your old page with fresh content and fresh links and adding relevance. You're adding links to your new content. So make sure, when you publish new content, you're updating your old content with those new links.

10. Remove unnecessary links
Number 10, remove unnecessary links from your content. Now this is a form of PageRank sculpting. PageRank sculpting is a dirty word in SEO, but actually it works to a certain extent. It's not nofollow link page sculpting.

It is removing unnecessary links. Do you really need a link to your team page on every page of your website? Do you need a link to your contact form on every page of your website? In many cases, you don't. Sometimes you do. But if you remove the unnecessary links, you can pass more link equity through the links that actually count, and those links are a major Google ranking signal.

11. Mobile link parity audit
Number 11, need you to do a mobile link parity audit. What is that? What is a mobile link parity audit? That is ensuring that the links on your mobile site are the same as the links on your desktop site. Why is that important? Well, the last couple of years Google has moved to a mobile first index, meaning what they see on your mobile site, that's your website.

That's what counts. So a lot of sites, they have a desktop site, and then they reduce it to their mobile site and they're missing links. They get rid of header navigation, footer links, and things like that. A recent study showed that the average desktop page has 61 links and the average mobile page has 54 links. That means on the web as a whole there are seven fewer links on mobile pages than desktop pages, meaning a lot of link equity is being lost.



So do a study on your own website. Make sure you have mobile link parity between your desktop and your mobile site so you're not losing that equity.

12. Invest in long-form content
Number 12: need you to invest in long-form content. Now I am not saying that content length is a ranking factor. It is not. Short-form content can rank perfectly well. The reason I want you to invest in long-form content is because consistently, time and time again, when we study this, long-form content earns more links and shares.

It also generally tends to rank higher in Google search results. Nothing against short-form content. Love short-form content. But long-form content generally gives you more bang for your buck in terms of SEO ranking potential.

13. Use more headers
When you're doing that long-form content, make sure you do number 13: use more headers. I'm talking about H2 and H3 tags.

Break up your content with good, keyword-rich header tags. Why? Well, we have research from A.J. Ghergich that shows that the more header tags you have, generally you rank for more featured snippets. Sites with 12-13, which seems like a lot of header tags, rank for the most featured snippets of anything that they looked at in their most recent study.

So make sure you're breaking up your content with header tags. It adds a little contextual relevance. It's a great way to add some ranking potential to your content.

14. Leverage topic clusters
Number 14, leverage topic clusters. Don't just launch one piece of content. Make sure you write about multiple pieces of content around the same subject and link those together. When you do that and you link them intelligently, you can increase engagement because people are reading the different articles.

You can add the right contextual inner links. I have a great case study that I want to show you in the transcript below, where someone did this and produced amazing results. So look into topic clusters for 2021.

15. Bring content out of tabs
Finally, bring your content out of tabs. If you have content that is in accordions or drop-downs or you have to click to reveal the content, study after study after study shows that content that's brought out of tabs and brought into the main body, so people don't have to click to see, generally performs better than content that's hidden in tabs.

Now to be clear, I don't believe that Google discriminates content in tabs. They seem to be able to index and rank it just fine. But I think people generally engage with content when it's out of tabs, and maybe some of those signals help those pages to rank a little better.

Technical SEO
All right. Just a very few technical SEO tips. We're going fast.

16. Core Web Vitals
Number 16: this is the year to invest in Core Web Vitals. These are some of the page experience signals that Google is bringing to the forefront in 2021. It's going to be an actual ranking factor very soon. We're talking about cumulative shift layout, hard word to say. Generally, we're talking about site speed and delivering great page experience. Now some of these things are very technical, and Google has some tools, like Lighthouse, to try to help you to figure them out.

One tip I like to share, if you are on WordPress, I highly recommend using Cloudflare, in particular their APO for WordPress. It's a great way to speed up your WordPress website and help you score better for some of these Core Web Vitals. It's very low cost, it's easy to implement, and it's a great way to speed up your WordPress website.

17. Limit sitemaps to 10,000
Number 17: sitemaps. Sitemaps, you're allowed to have 50,000 URLs per sitemap. This is always a question in every SEO quiz. How many URLs per sitemap are you allowed? Instead, if you have a large site and you have indexing issues, tip number 17, limit your sitemaps to 10,000 URLs. You don't have to use all 50,000.

We have some evidence that using smaller sitemaps, compressing those into a limited URL set can actually improve your crawlability of those. It's kind of like Google might prioritize those in some way. The data seems to support it. You also get a little bit better data out of Google Search Console. You can see what's being indexed and what's not.

18. Leverage dynamic sitemaps
Also, leverage dynamic sitemaps. Our friend Oliver Mason shows — that I'll link to in the transcript below — that a dynamic sitemap is a sitemap that changes based upon what you want Google to crawl. So if you have a large corpus of URLs that you want Google to crawl, put the high priority ones in their own special sitemap.

Maybe you limit it to one thousand URLs. As Google crawls and discovers those, remove them and put in additional high priority URLs that you want Google to discover. Keep the sitemap small and tight, and let Google know that those are the ones that you want them to pay attention to.

Link building
Let's quickly talk about link building tips for 2021, because everybody loves link building.

No, kidding. Everybody hates link building. Link building is so hard. There are some professionals and there are some great people in the industry who do love it, who are great at it. Personally, I'm not that great at link building, but I still am able to build a lot of links.

19. Passive link acquisition
One way that I'm able to do that is number 19: passive link acquisition. What passive link acquisition means is creating content that passively earns links as people discover it in the SERPs.

It means I don't have to outreach to people. It means that when they find it, when journalists find it, when bloggers find it, they naturally want to link to it. You do that by creating the types of content that journalists and bloggers and web creators are looking for. These are generally data, guides, definitions, how to, such as this video. When you create that kind of content, it generally earns a lot of links as people find it. Passive link building is one of the most sustainable ways to earn links over time.

20. Page-level link intersect
Number 20, page-level link intersect. When you do have to do outreach, you want to do outreach to the pages most likely to link to you. Now we've known for a long time one of the top SEO tips for link building is find websites that link to your competitors but not to you.

I like to make that a little more specific and find web pages that link to at least two of my competitors but not to me. That means that they are generally a resource page, if they're linking to multiple competitors but not to me, and more likely to link to me if I ask them. We have a great tool here at Moz, Link Explorer, that does page-level link intersect. I think it's the best tool for this specific task in the SEO industry, not because I'm biased, because I actually use it.



21. Be the last click
Tip number 21 for 2021, be the last click. What do I mean by that? I mean satisfy your users. Once you earn the first click, you want to get that first click that people click, but you also want to be the last click. That means they found what they are looking for. User satisfaction is ranking signal number one. Your goal with all of this is to satisfy the user, to give them what they search for.

That's the magic of SEO. They're searching for something, and you're delivering it to them at the exact moment they search for it. When you can be the last click, you're almost guaranteed to rise in rankings and get the traffic that you deserve.

All right, those are 21 tips. That's your roadmap for 2021. Hope you enjoyed it. Please share this video and share your tips for 2021 in the comments below.


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45

CV writing Skills / What Transforms a Resume from Average to Stellar?

« on: January 26, 2021, 10:46:04 AM »

What Transforms a Resume from Average to Stellar?

As a Career Coach, I guide people through professional transitions to help them build more satisfying lives. Most of my conversations with prospective clients start with a request for a new resume. They call me because they are frustrated, their job search is stalled and they can’t win interviews. We discuss their goals, what they have tried so far and I explain how a few key changes can improve their results. Many times the problem is not simply a weak resume – they may also lack a focused goal or are using outdated job search strategies (for example, not active on LinkedIn).

The resume development process itself is the foundation for a successful job search


Through our remote coaching sessions, I help my clients clarify their goals so they target the right jobs, identify the work environment in which they thrive and articulate their unique skills, strengths and values. We then use this information to turn their resume into a forward-facing marketing document that positions them strategically for their next role.

I have found that most people have not ever asked themselves “What do I bring to the table?”. That is where my career coaching training comes in. Using a series of probing questions I have developed over my years in practice, I capture the essence of who they are as a person and what they find the most rewarding. I need to discover their expertise, experience and quantified achievements to convey the unique value they offer an employer in a compelling manner. After creating their career narrative, I help them evaluate their marketability.


In today’s competitive job market, your resume, LinkedIn profile and executive bio work together to solidify your professional brand and are most effective when used in conjunction with a strategic job search plan.

Writing a resume is like painting a room – you must do the prep work to achieve the best results. Typically, I spend 2-3 hours collecting information before I even begin composing a resume. I need to get to know you well and do industry research to identify the skillset that employers require before I can describe how you can fulfill their needs. I see the original information I am provided as the (boring!) bare bones of the resume. The nuggets that come out of our work together are what will transform your resume from average to stellar.

As you can see, you are not hiring me to just type up your resume with some powerful phrases and a modern layout so that it gets through the Applicant Tracking Systems. You are engaging my services so that I can apply my extensive training and years of experience to ensure your success. (Plus, I love this stuff! Yes, I am a proud “resume nerd”.)  A strong resume is one of the many byproducts of our work together, but the resume development process itself is the most important. I see our work together as a truly collaborative partnership and I will work tirelessly to help you achieve success.

If you are ready to move from where you are to where you want to be, let’s schedule a free consultation.

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