Career Tips- Be in the information loop at work

Information and knowledge contribute significantly to career growth

In today's corporate world, it is information and knowledge that helps one to not only perform well but also contribute in a highly effective manner to the growth of ones company .

Most of us try to remain focused on the overall scenario and update ourselves regarding market issues. Without the right info, we end up working in a vacuum.There may be times when we are not fully aware of market needs and opportunities.

It is a well-known fact that we cannot really succeed if we are out of the information loop at the workplace. Few indications that we might be out of the loop  include the fact that most of the time, we hear about things just as they happen. We do not get any advance information . There may be even be times when we hear about organizational matters from external sources.

It is essential that we take the required steps to be and stay in the loop before it gets to late .

Here are few tips to consider

Have an internal network; build and maintain it through regular interaction

Try to maintain good relationship with your superiors and try to spend time with them often

Keep your eyes and ears open this is all the more important when you notice new visitors and activities in the organization

Share what you know as doing so will motivate others to share what they know with you

Stay in touch with people in the same industry ; there may be times when they know more about your company than you do

Read all information about your company that is being published

Differentiate genuine information from rumor. Make sure you reconfirm things and not spread rumors.

Career Tips

Try to maintain good relationship with your superiors
Share what you know so others are motivated to share to
Keep yourself updated with information about your company

Social media and your prospective job- Career Tips

Social media and your prospective job

Use the power of social media to keep your career moving on and up

Post – recession, the working world has become an unpredictable place of constant change and shift. One of the most significant trends is the increasing role that social media now plays in hiring. If used wisely, social media can be a powerful tool that can lead you to your next job.

Ninety percent of employers use social media platforms to check on prospective candidates and to scout for potential hires. Linked in is the most popular social channel for hiring. But a whopping 70 percent of candidates get rejected based on negative content in their social media profiles. It pays to remember that when you post your online status. Likewise, exercise judgement before posting photos.

It works both ways too. What’s wonderfully democratic about social media is that you can also use it to research the next company you’re thinking of moving to. Check out their pages on Face book. How informative, open and positive is the chatter on those pages? How engaged do their employees seem to be? Their page can provide vital clues on what it’s like to work there.

Use Twitter and Face book to reach out and connect with people in your profession. Updates about industry networking events are regularly posted online and attending them not only connects you to other professionals, but can also be a valuable source of information on opportunities and movements within you field.

Build and manage your online reputation using social media. Share updates on your career-related activities. If you attended a major conference, met industry experts, won a pitch, delivered a speech or received an award, talk about it online. But use moderation and common sense – no one wants to be bombarded with constant updates from a show – off!

Career Tips

Social media can be a positive tool in your job search

Use it to stay connected with others in your industry

Manage your online reputation through status updates

What’s your offcial job title?- Carer Tips

What’s your official job title?

It’s your professional ID and a badge if authority

The awareness of one’s job title will help your evaluate employment opportunities and career progress. Career transition experts explain why it’s sometimes necessary to change your official job title when applying for a new job:

Be sure your job title describes your role

The official title of a lady responsible for managing the company’s overseas operations and saving them millions of dollars in potential legal costs was ‘’Sales Support”. On her resume, the career transition expert changed it to ‘’General Manager’’, as this was more accurate title for her role.

If you managed, you’re manager

If you’re looking to set up to management role, it’s important to stress and experience you already have in managing, recruiting, training or motivating others. If you did this outside of work, as a volunteer or in community activities, it’s still relevant experience. But only use the title’’manager’’ if it accurately describes what you have done.

Too niche or too broad?

A general job title such as ‘’Marketing Manger’’ does not make it clear what types of activities you were involved in. If you’re looking to move to larger company or more specialized your role, focus on your experience in specific areas such as market research, social media, database or CRM. On the other hand, if you’re joining a small company or start-up, you’ll need to do the opposite.

An upgrade in job title may or may not bring an automatic increase in compensation, or in the potential for future increases.

An inappropriate job title does not only undermine your standing,both inside and out side your company but also hinders your pursuit for future growth and career opportunities.

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A job title should accurately describe what you have done.

An upgrade in job title may or may not bring a pay rise

Ensure HR records reflect the change in your title

Specific goals ensure a successful career

Specific goals ensure a successful career- Career Tips

Steps towards finding and staying in a profession you actually like

If you don’t have five yearly plan yet, then your first career goal should be to make one. Defining your career goals will help you take necessary steps towards finding and staying in a profession you’ll actually like and succeed in.

Career goals must be specific. It’s not enough to say ‘I want to be successful since success can mean different things to different people.

 Do you want to be the CEO of a company or just earn big so you can go on a big holiday very year?

Set long-term goals and short-term objectives. Long-term goals can take anything from 3 to 5 years. The short-term ones complement your vision, are more immediate and can take just a few months to achieve. Break your bigger goals down into smaller units to help you achieve them and take steps everyday, no matter how small, towards them. Make sure that the goals you set are measurable and realistic – some things that you can proudly acknowledge that you have achieved.

Be positive when setting goals, focus on what you want instead of what you want to avoid. Set goals according to what you want to do, not what you feel you “should” or “need” to do. This will ensure that you are truly motivated towards achieving them. You could even make a list of the benefits of achieving each goal.

Be flexible and modify your goals as you progress in your career. Things can change in an instant and you may want to rethink your goals or adjust your timeframe as new information becomes available. Be positive but realistic, and self-reliant.

Career Tips

Set long-term goals and short-term objectives

Make sure the goals you set are measurable and realistic

Be flexible and modify goals as you progress in your career.

Rallying your team towards success

Make sure you involve the entire team when facing off with a crisis

In the face of sheer uncertainty and cut-throat competition,when business slows down and there’s fear of the worst, here’s fear of the worst, here’s what successful entrepreneurs and CEOs do.

Lift up the morale of the staff;”reprogram” the team consciousness is motivated and instilled with a level of confidence and a survival spirit, nothing is impossible for the team to achieve. Trying a fight off a crisis is incomplete without involving the entire team. 

A crisis can be viewed as an opportunity for everyone to express their leadership skills, and sometimes you’ll be amazed to see even junior employees pulling through with the rest of the team, with strength and determination.

The second level is to turn back to a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity and threat) analysis of the company and refer to the threats and turn them into opportunities.

The third level is to change the patterns of marketing, customer service,payment terms and switch to more creative ways involving the team. Some of these creative ways include brainstorming- the opportunity to cross – fertilize ideas and suggestions from everyone and choosing what best suits the situation. The ‘’restaurant game’’ helps you assess your business as if it were a restaurant, that is you focus on the product,service,price, location, how it is being promoted and the customer experience. The’’six thinking hats’’ method entails looking at the facts the matter from different perspectives and trying to build a logical argument and provide marketing solutions to marketing problems. ‘’Traffic lights’’ is based on the three colors of the traffic signals signifying ‘’stop, proceed with caution and go’’. Stop operations or activities that are ineffective; work on improving some items and then proceed; move forward with activities that guarantee a positive outcome.

Handy Hints

Reprogram the collective consciousness towards winning

Use a SWOT analysis of the company and address threats

Change the patterns of marketing using various methods.