Monday, March 16, 2020
The 3 Types of Cubicles
The 3 Types of CubiclesIve worked in a menagerie of cube environments. The closely packed closet-sized bullpen, the waist-high pens, the shoulder-height screens, the office with an actual DOOR, the glorified conference room with an open plan. and at different times, I have made all of the choices discussed by Ceren Cubukcu over at PersonalBrandingBlog.So whats going on in your cube? Is it the image you want to project to your office?The Blank and Bare CubicleMaybe it is a haven of Zen-centered calm, maybe youre just on the quiet side, but also maybe youre a serial killer. Or as Ceren puts it much more nicely, a bare space may be sending the message that youre new, not planning to stay long, or halfway out the door already (impending departure is the only reason I have ever had a clean desk, ever).Ifyoure easily distracted, or prefer to keep your personal life separateI get it But perhapstheres a picture or two you could hang up just to give your eyes somewhere to rest and reassure yo ur neighbor that youre not a flight risk.The Fun CubicleThis was ALWAYS me. At once point, at my first job, I had an entire wall of Mets paraphernalia, a zen jupe garden, a candy bowl that I had painted, a ninja turtle, two modern art calendars, a slinky, a couple of beanie babies, and pictures of my family, my cat, and the Manhattan skyline (which could be seen from any conference room window). At the time I thought it showed coworkers that I was fun and friendly and encouraged people to stop by and chat. Also it kept my easily distracted brain moving forward, somewhat counter-intuitively, by giving me things to fidget with.But in retrospect it also made me look immature and unfocused (plus, after a few months, the candy bowls presence was seriously compromised by the coffee breath of the office rambler). So by all means, make your desk a reflection of who you arebut a gentle, tasteful reflection.The sticky note Notes CubicleThis is the high-powered cube of a person with a plan. Or an action-packed schedule. Or a workaholism issue. To avoid a cube that looks like the shed of a conspiracy theorist, consider breaking up your organizational tools with more personal photos or restrict the planning to a whiteboard or bulletin board. There are also some great apps that may help you translate your paper clutter to digital clutterand integrate it into your calendar too
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
5 Things Successful People Do at Work Each Week Before the End of Tuesday
5 Things Successful People Do at Work Each Week Before the End of Tuesday Ever wonder how successful people kick off the beginning of their weeks? Mondays are inevitably full of clearing out the inbox in which theyre likely already drowning digging themselves out of last weeks leftovers in order to get going on the week ahead. And thats why Tuesdays are a truer start to the week.What you do on Tuesday will affect the rest of your week, for better or worse. Heres what objectively successful people do on Tuesdays in order to make sure that theyre impacting their week ahead for the better.1. They meditate before work.A wealth of research suggests that meditation has innumerable health benefits, like relieving stress that can manifest both mentally and physically. Besides relieving the stresses that may arise after Monday (read a flooded inbox and countless calendar invites for meetings to talk about more meetings), meditation can also help you to get organized. Thats because, through m editation, you can explore your thoughts in a constructive, intentional way. And, of course, getting organized before diving into a new weeks worth of work is hugely important.2. They eat a healthy, energizing breakfast.Successful people understand that breakfast is an important meal and eating a healthy, energizing breakfast can be the difference between crossing one thing off the to-do list or crossing several things off the to-do list. In other words, successful people are oftentimes (not always) morning people who, at the very least, make the time to sit down and eat a fueling meal.3. They make any necessary revisions to their already prioritized to-do list.Successful people are those who make to-do lists on Friday for the week ahead. That said, when they get to the arbeitszimmer on Monday morning (to that flooded inbox and influx of calendar invites), they need to be ready and adaptable to change. Chances are that theyre going to have to shift their schedule around, at least a bit. Making a to-do list, of course, helps you put your week ahead in perspective and manage your time more wisely but Tuesdays are likely when youll have to sit down and revisit (and potentially reorganize) your priorities for the week.4. They hole themselves up to put their heads down and get to it.Because Mondays usually involve a lot of catching up, Tuesdays should involve a lot of productive hours. Successful people know how to turn off from the bro mayhem for at least a few hours in order to spend time alone actually getting their work done. This may mean locking themselves up in their offices and actually shutting their doors, or it may just mean keeping Tuesdays closed off to meetings so they can put their heads down for a few hours of solid work.5. They tackle the weeks biggest priority.Successful people are adept at prioritizing their tasks, and they know that getting the biggest one out of the way early makes the rest of the week a whole lot easier. They also understand that bigger responsibilities may require more time, so they get started tackling those tasks first in case the work needs to carry over throughout the week. Theyre not necessarily working harder than others in the office rather, theyre working smarter.--AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about womens empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram her_report,Twitterherreportand Facebook.
Friday, March 6, 2020
Top Best Resume and Cover Letter Writing Companies Choices
Top Best Resume and titel Letter Writing Companies Choices What About Best Resume and Cover Letter Writing Companies? The titel letter offers you the occasion to highlight the positive attributes that make you a best employee. Your cover letter can give a deeper insight in your job history. You CANNOT use the exact same exact exact same cover letter to apply for every single job. A top cover letter writing company will have the ability to be sure the security of the personal information which you supply them with. Obviously, the best method to discover such assistance is if you take a look into the top rated professional resume writing services reviews. Neither does this draw any offers. When you compare resume writing services, your very best option isnt only a company which can supply you with a job-winning resume. Compare resume writing services and you will see that a number of the very best offer career coaching services. You can rely on the very best essay help on line. In the newest news regarding resume. Our website is just one of the most appropriate for essay help. The actual individuals highly praise our essay help site. A regular cover letter should include your name, email and telephone number at the peak of the webpage. Naturally, you would like to earn a good one. Resume or CV is really the most important tool at the very first stage of being hired. The clients whose personal details are prepared by the experts are found to be quite beneficial. Writing quality essays is the principal use of our services. The writer is likely to make contact and start to work with you immediately Therefore, you will know all that is necessary. Life, Death, and Best Resume and Cover Letter Writing Companies If you are searching for top essay writing companies, try out the mentioned above. Cover letter samples are an excellent place to begin before writing your own letter. The writer will work with you until youve got a last draft you ar e pleased with. Basically, writing skills really make a difference in the way you run into. Hearsay, Deception and Best Resume and Cover Letter Writing Companies You notice an outstanding ad and you believe youre ideal for that position. Our work is targeted on providing result-oriented resumes which not only attract hiring managers attention, but in plus-rechnen make you receive the desirable position. Cover letters are a fantastic way to demonstrate that you fully grasp the surroundings and culture of the business and industry and demonstrate that youve got what they are seeking. Your cover letter ought to be well written, and must be targeted to the position for which youre applying.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Free Resume Templates Online - a Short Overview
Free Resume Templates Online - a Short Overview Our resume builder isnt going to bother you with any type of annoying watermarks. Much like the resume, Novoresume CV builders can be utilized to boost your skills further. Submit the same resume for every single job. Landing a new job can be difficult, especially if youve got the wrong resume. Based on the business or position youre applying for, it may ask you to bring some personality. Its very crucial to know the type of resumes preferred by the establishment that you wish to work for. Whichever resume format you select, make certain to include examples of accomplishments that benefited your prior employers. When youve got no or very little expertise in your preferred job profile you will need to convince the prospective employer by presenting your key abilities and qualifications. You must effectively showcase your credentials to the possible employer and convince him that youre capable to manage the responsibilities. A s soon as it isnt likely to land you the job in the veranstaltung the interview went poorly, it can function as a tie-breaker or set you over the top in the event the hiring manager likes a number of candidates. Professionally, our resumes are often the very first impression a prospective employer gets of us. Not simply the resume, it has the excellent functionalities for a CV in addition to the ideal cover letter builder too. Creating a resume with the assistance of a template can help you become mindful of the resume areas that you have to fill. Utilizing a resume template is now an acceptable and smart practice for several factors. It is very helpful in creating your professional profile. Format your resume based on the items which you will include. Pick a specific position which you would love to submit an application for so youll be easily guided by what things to put in your resume. You also receive the choice to select a template from the bunch of beautiful resume temp lets out there. If youre using mobile phone, you may also utilize menu drawer from browser. Three different Types of Resumes Choosing the best resume format is very important as there are many facets to take into consideration. Your CV is going to be saved safely on the website and generating it is completely free of charge. When you register an account you are able to create several CVs at a moment. 1 Resume is a totally free one page web template that includes a smooth jQuery slide between sections of the webpage. The Argument About Free Resume Templates Online Read More Our totally free online resume maker can help you get the very first meeting with the prospective employer. Resumizer free resume creator allows you to preview your resume at any location in the creation procedure. ConnectCV is another exact efficient online resume building tool at no cost. You might believe that there are already dozens of free resume building services offered in the internet world. Mos t resume format sie sagen es file available for free download so make certain not to waste cash with the concept of getting a better choice. Every one of them boasts a clean appearance, yellow accents, and Roboto font, which will provide a modern appearance to your documents. Share your work as soon as youre completely satisfied with your design and work, you can share it to the world via your social networking accounts, personal site, or a number of different channels you might utilize. The tool supplies a detailed guide to resume building which offers you total control over it and you are able to manage it in whatever way you want.
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Identifying AI Use Cases for the Finance Function
Identifying AI Use Cases for the Finance FunctionIdentifying AI Use Cases for the Finance FunctionAccounting and finance departments have been automating processes such as invoicing, data collection, financial report generation, and documentation storage and befolgung for some time. Now, many organizations are turning their attention to the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution - and trying to identify appropriate AI use cases for the finance function.As finance organizations undergo digital transformation, they often consider implementing AI. Research from found that about one-quarter (24%) of accounting and finance functions in the United States are already using the technology. Twenty-nine percent expect to use AI within the next three years. Only 26% of respondents said they dont expect to use AI in the next five years.View the infographic of the survey results here.Companies can gain a huge competitive advantage when they can use advanced tools like AI to improve their effici ency and performance. The challenge is figuring out where to start. Here are four tips for finance managers looking to incorporate AI into their processes and identify AI use cases the make the most sense for their business1. Know whats availableNarrowing down opportunities for AI use cases begins with understanding the fundamentals of the technology and recognizing its potential to revolutionize the workplace. AI involves intelligent systems that use data to make decisions, devise strategies and flag problems. Currently, AI tends to focus on one particular task, such as identifying fraudulent financial transactions. But the technologys scope and abilities will broaden over time.Current AI capabilities that may benefit your business includeAutomatically generating documents, including contractsProviding authentic online chat experiencesPerforming real-time analytics and then producing written reportsManaging compliance controls and fraud preventionMining data to find opportunities f or new businessRead about accounting automation trends, including robotic process automation (RPA) and natural language processing (NLP) in this post.2. Target AI to repetitive manual processesIf you havent performed a full process audit in recent years, nows the time to do it again. Many of the tasks that were too complex for a PC alone to handle a few years ago, such as document interpretation or the writing of financial content, are now possible with AI and machine learning. Your team members may be glad to let go of these responsibilities so they can focus on more interesting and value-adding activities, including innovation.You may find there are some key processes you would prefer to keep in human hands, at least for now - and you would not be alone. Research for Robert Halfs latest Benchmarking Accounting and Finance Functions report shows that many organizations arent ready to automate processes that require strategic judgment, such as financial decision making.In the futur e, youll be able to apply advanced AI to more and more functions - and expand your list of AI use cases. And as AI increasingly helps to augment human thinking, it can be used in other areas of the business, such as human resources (HR) and talent management.START HIRING NOW3. Prioritize change managementIf your employees dont buy into the AI use cases you propose, the introduction of the technology into the business will be disruptive and likely, unproductive. So, its imperative to communicate to your team the key benefits of implementing AI technology - and any other change related to your digital transformation efforts. Otherwise, you risk eroding staff morale and underutilizing an important technology investment for your firm.The change management process should include talking through the implementation timeline with your staff. When will the accounting and finance AI upgrades take place? How disruptive will the change likely be? What are potential new opportunities for emplo yees and the business, as a result? What skills will the team need to learn? How will they receive that training? How will success be meakoranversd?Listen to and address your employees concerns, while emphasizing that youre all in this together - and that the journey will be worthwhile.4. Bring in outside helpThe thing about new technology is the fact that it is new. Most members of your finance team will be largely unfamiliar with AI. So, for tasks such as system implementation, data migration and staff training, it makes good business sense - from both a financial and HR perspective - to rely on external resources with specialized expertise.A recent Management Resources survey found that nearly seven in 10 CFOs (69%) work with such resources, often in combination with internal staff, for major, onetime business initiatives. Technology upgrades and implementations are examples of those kinds of efforts.Be sure to consult the internal technology experts in your organization, as w ell. Collaborating with your CIO, for example, can help to enable a progressive and cohesive AI strategy that includes viable AI use cases for the accounting and finance function.It really is no longer a question of whether your department should adopt AI and other emerging technologies that can help to increase efficiency and productivity. Robert Halfs new report, Jobs and AI Anxiety, notes that RPA, machine learning and other technologies are already transforming workplaces.So, consider taking steps now to help ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition to advanced technologies like AI. That includes supporting your team with an effective change management process that will help them to navigate digital disruption and embrace new ways of working.
Monday, December 23, 2019
15 Companies Hiring Like Crazy in November
15 Companies Hiring Like Crazy in November15 Companies Hiring Like Crazy in November Ah, November. The trees have turned beautiful shades of red, brown, orange and golden, plus theres a winter chill in the air. Fireplaces are being lit, families are snuggling up and job seekers are applying to the millions of open jobs in the U.S. Wait. Huh? No we have not misspoken and its not a typo there are approximately 6 million open jobs in the U.S. and about 50,000 of those were added in October.So many open jobs can feel overwhelming, but much like this months biggest holiday, you should be thankful. There are companies hiring now with great work-life balance, impressive perks, enviable benefits and jobs that will truly deliver. Here are 15 companies that are thankfully hiring like crazy in November.Autodesk Where Hiring San Francisco, CA Denver, CO Boston, MA Novi, MI & more. What Roles Inventor Software Development Engineer, Contract Renewal Inside Sales Representati ve, Senior Forecast & Readiness Planning Manager, Product Sales Specialist, Principal Backend Engineer & more. What Employees Say Great work/life balance and flexibility when needed. Opportunity to voice concerns or ideas and management listens and helps to determine ways to bring the ideas to life. People are genuinely nice and always willing to help or point in the right direction. - Current EmployeeBrown-Forman Corporation Where Hiring Louisville, KY Los Angeles, CA Lynchburg, TN Chicago, IL Berlin, Germany Paris, France & more. What Roles Business Insights Analyst, Maintenance Mechanic, Roundsperson, Retail Sales Supervisor, Public Relations & Partnership Manager, Sales Assistant, Assistant Sales Manager, Manager of Brand Advocacy & more. What Employees Say BF has a great culture. You hear that from everyone that works here, and Ill admit, it creeped me out for the first few months because you keep thinking, Is everyone this nice and compassionate? The answer is a resou nding YES I feel more connected to the community and love all of the volunteer opportunities we are presented here. Participating in the PRIDE festival and having such a large presence is something I would have never dreamed that an employer would promote. Its a great feeling to be supported no matter who you are and where you came from. - Current Associate ScientistAdobe Where Hiring San Francisco, CA Lehi, UT San Jose, CA New York, NY McLean, VA & more. What Roles Computer Scientist, Senior Web Applications Engineer, Test Lead Engineer, Director of Solutions Consulting, Head of Global Employee Insights, Digital Media Manager, Enterprise Infrastructure Architect & more. What Employees Say Its a Billion Dollar Start Up fast pace, highly-intelligent people, makes strategic decisions fairly quickly for such a large company. Culture is fantastic you love coming to work because of the great people - Current Senior Director of Demand GenOnTrac Where Hiring Denver, CO Fontana, C A Vancouver, WA Benicia, CA Sparks, NV Phoenix, AZ Kent, WA & more. What Roles PM Package Handler, Administrative Assistant Messenger of Billing & Collections, Seasonal AM Package Handler, Dispatcher, Manager of Data and Document Control, Full Time Package Handler & more. What Employees Say Great management team, and corporate culture. - Former Administrative AssistantPHMG Where Hiring Chicago, IL Austin, TX London, England & more. What Roles Inside Media Sales Executive, Corporate Sales Recruiter, Business Development Manager, Key Account Manager, Audio Brand Consultant, Graduate Sales Executives & more. What Employees Say Great company with super benefits PHMG is one of the best direct sales companies in the world. I earned a trip to the corporate HQ in Manchester and London as well as numerous perks, gym membership, etc. The product sells itself and there is a world-class sales culture. We do things as a team, we work and play hard. Constant training and improvement. M y best month so far was $11k gross. - Current Senior Media Development ExecutiveArrow Exterminators Where Hiring Bloomingdale, GA Maryville, TN Woodstock, GA Knoxville, TN Canton, GA Charlotte, NC Kennesaw, GA & more. What Roles Pest Control Technician, Customer Care Coordinator, Pest Control Inside Sales, Recruit Military Pest Control, Lawn Care Technician, Carpenter, Outside Sales Professional & more. What Employees Say Arrow offers a culture rich environment that has a conducive atmosphere for growth, advancement, and competitive wages. - Current Service Center ManagerSt. Jude Childrens Research Hospital Where Hiring Memphis, TN What Roles Senior Research Technologist, Electron Microscopy Technician, HVAC Refrigeration Mechanic, PCS Policy/Magnet Specialist, Pediatric Oncology Nurse, Patient Care Associate & more. What Employees Say I love working at St. Jude, It is the best job I have ever had. The employees are some of the most caring people you will ever meet. Gr eat benefits and a great CEO. And they show how much they appreciate their employees. Its a great feeling to know that you are helping patients and their families. Wonderful feeling. - Current EmployeeSanford Health Where Hiring Sioux Falls, SD Fargo, ND Mayville, ND Thief River Falls, MN Saint Cloud, MN & more. What Roles Profile Coach, Cook, Room Service Assistant, Nursing Assistant Ambulatory, RN Inpatient, Radiology Technologist, Certified Nursing Assistant, Receptionist, Behavior Health Technician & more. What Employees Say Sanford has excellent benefits, especially the insurance. The amount of PTO that accrues is also a plus. After working for Sanford for 5 years, employees receive 3 weeks of PTO and counting. Sanford Health has a lot of room for career growth and promotion. The company culture is positive and empowering. - Current Senior Drug Testing CoordinatorGlassdoor Where Hiring Mill Valley, CA San Francisco, CA Chicago, IL & more. What Roles Account Manager, VP of B2B Marketing, Senior Associate of Strategy and Insights, Director of Global Customer Success, Director of User Experience Research, Product Manager, Lead Front End Engineer & more. What Employees Say I truly love this company. There is a great culture and I love everyone from the CEO, to my VP, to the people who site next to me everyday at the office. The company treats us so well as employees that sometimes I feel guilty lol. On the other hand, it makes me really appreciate my job and motivates me to bust my but to do a great job in return. Great culture, great benefits, great work/life balance and work from home vorkaufsrecht (within reason), and a great team of people. Its amazing to me looking back on how far this company has come in the 3 short years Ive worked here. - Current ManagerOxford Properties Group Where Hiring Boston, MA Washington, DC Toronto Calgary & more. What Roles Refrigeration Technician, Housekeeping, Security Professional, On Call Security Guar d, Asset Management and Finance Associate, Cleaner, Shift Building Operator, Exterior Maintenance & more. What Employees Say Work hard for increase sales and decrease food cost, total control about administration and operational into restaurant. - Former General ManagerSikich Where Hiring Naperville, IL Marlborough, MA Brookfield, WI Atlanta, GA Glendale, CA & more. What Roles Audit Manager, Staff Accountant, Senior Dynamics NAV Consultant, Senior NOC Engineer, CRM Application Consultant, Client Account Manager, Implementation Consultant, SMB Sales Executive & more. What Employees Say Sikich is a great company. Great culture, great people. They really care about their employees. - Current EmployeeMasonicare Where Hiring Danielson, CT Newtown, CT Wallingford, CT Mystic, CT & more. What Roles Telemonitoring Device Installer, Dishwasher, Companion Homemaker, LiveIn Caregiver, RN Unit Manager, Food Service Worker, Recreation Therapist, Dining Services Associate & more. Wh at Employees Say Great company to work for Masonicare treats their employees equally and with respect. Great teamwork and flexibility. Would definitely recommend the facility to others. - Current CNAShawmut Design and Construction Where Hiring North Haven, CT Boston, AM Los Angeles, CA New York, NY West Springfield, MA Miami, FL & more. What Roles Senior Estimator, Marketing Specialist, Project Manager, Project Superintendent, MEP Manager, Financial Project Administrator, Administrative Assistant & more. What Employees Say Great people and excellent management in order to create a fluent environment for all worker. Great location, great gym and structure. - Former EmployeeWest Monroe Partners Where Hiring Chicago, IL Seattle, WA New York, NY & more. What Roles Security Architect, Healthcare Manager, Talent Brand Manager, Director of Customer Experience, Talent HR Business Partner, Senior Manager of Energy and Utilities, sekretariat Administrator, Manager of Workforce Op timization & more. What Employees Say Strong management and direction, good career advancement, very capable employees, quickly growing company. - Current EmployeeFlight Network Where Hiring Toronto What Roles Project Manager, Director of Engineering, Senior Perl Developer, Technical Lead of Trip Builder & more. What Employees Say Challenging fast paced environment. The flight industry is very interesting and I learned a lot here new technology, marketing, product. Free breakfast, catered weekly lunches, all day snacks were definitely perks while working there. Fun work events. Great employees, everyone pitching in to make things better. Respected the CTO, he was very knowledgeable, encouraging and supportive. - Former Product Support EmployeeHomeServe USA Where Hiring Norwalk, CT Hammonton, NJ Canonsburg, PA Chattanooga, TN & more. What Roles Manager of Data Administration, Data Architect, Account Coordinator, Hyperion Planning Administrator, Financial Analyst, Produc tion Artist, Plumbing Technician & more. What Employees Say This is a great place to work. Not just because we provide an excellent service to our customers but because you can see the benefits of the services we provide. I continue to promote the company with friends, family and anyone else I come in contact with who has a home emergency. - Current Business Operations EmployeePwC Where Hiring Chicago, IL Minneapolis, MN San Jose, CA San Francisco, CA New York, NY Philadelphia, PA & more. What Roles Asset Management Senior, Financial Services Tax Director, Tax M&A Manager, Tax Director, IPS Oracle EMS Manager, Integration Architect, EHR Technical Writer, Seasonal Associate & more. What Employees Say PwC has great flexibility (and competitive parental leave) that allows for great work life balance and offers multiple opportunities for professional and educational growth. - Former Employee
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Gap Year and Your Career Take Some Time and Get Ahead
Gap Year and Your Career Take Some Time and Get AheadGap Year and Your Career Take Some Time and Get AheadOne month shy of graduation, I welches reflecting on the end of my academic life, and the beginning of my actual career, and I came to a serious realization I had no idea what I really wanted to do. I had invested four years into a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Business Administration at the University of Southern California, and in spite of all the knowledge I had gained, I hadnt had the foresight to truly plan out my next steps. I welches always so busy enjoying every second of the best four years of my life that I hadnt taken the time to think about what I wanted to do for the next forty. This was a bit of a problem. What to do?Thats when I made a decision, on a whim, which I now consider one of the best choices Ive ever made I took a year off (a gap year). While all my peers were jumping straight into the hustle and bustle of corporate America, I did exactly th e opposite. First I took a three-month trip up to Canada to work as a tree planter (a manual labor job where you live in a tent in the woods and plant tree saplings for nine hours a day), and then I took all the money I made and spent it on a seven month adventure through South East Asia. Which, up to this point, is one of the highlights of my life.Looking back, its amazing that so many of my friends thought that taking a year off to travel was a horrible decision. Justin, think about your career How do you expect to make up all that lost time? However, whats a year? Many people end up, for various reasons, unemployed for some stretches over the course of a career. So, while my peers were collecting a year of work experience that will ultimately blend into an expectantly homogenous forty-year career, I was collecting unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The truth is, after it was all said and done, I hadnt lost anything because I spent a year gaining valuable experience a n experience that made me even mora employable when I did enter the job market.Below Ive illustrated why taking a year off to see the world will actually enhance your career, and not hinder it. Perhaps a gap year is also right for youGain a Broader PerspectiveOne thing that every person should experience in his or her life is a cultural shock or the experience of total confusion at a societal norm that completely challenges the norms of your daily life. After seven months in Southeast Asia, I saw a plethora of things that I couldnt have ever imagined as a college graduate from California.After experiencing culture shock, you start to realize your preconceived notions of normalcy are not all fair or correct, and that beliefs you thought were undeniable truths are actually just social constructs. This consciousness generates an open-mindedness that is more accepting of different perspectives. This is an invaluable tool at the start of your career. This experience will give you an edge in any bewerbungsgesprch.Interact with People Who Have Different Perspectives and PersonalitiesWhile in Southeast Asia I spent the majority of my time traveling with cowboyfilm Europeans. Meeting hundreds of people from different backgrounds meant that I met people with hundreds of different perspectives, who came from a variety of unique cultures. Learning how to interact with people who have a multitude of viewpoints is definitely a perk when entering a professional environment. I knew how to navigate the complexities (and difficulties) that can arise when people have very different values, cultures, norms, and perspectives.Travel is similar to the workplace in that you dont have control over the people you interact with, and you need some degree of cooperation between the parties. Unless you are at the top of a business hierarchy, chances are you will have zero input in deciding whom you work with it is important to understand and respect our work peers and to be able to see thi ngs from their perspective (even if we dont agree). Traveling was, in hindsight, intense training for me, and it would have likely taken many years to get that same experience if Id gone straight from university to a job. It is important to learn how to cooperate with people possessing differing perspectives and personalities.Build Confidence Problem-Solving SkillsI was absolutely terrified before I got on the plane to Southeast Asia. I had never traveled alone, and it was my first trip to a country where I did not speak the language. I was so nervous about my trip that the thought of canceling it had, indeed, crossed my mind in the weeks prior to leaving. However, navigating new cultures gave me a lot of time to practice creative problem-solving skills Now, on the other side of the experience, I realize my fears were normal since I was so green back then it was definitely a personal growth experience. Today, I am a confident traveler, and I know that I could go anywhere on earth, and be completely capable. As a result, I have new aspirations for the future, and have considered jobs in Hong Kong or Singapore the world is my oyster.This confidence is quite useful in your career. The process of moving from one company to another is very similar to the experience of traveling to a new country. Often, the nervousness associated with switching companies is rooted in the fear of the unknown. Although it is surely possible to glean information about corporate culture from the interview process, the intangible experience of working at a company is something that cannot be described, only experienced. Being confident that you can thrive in any climate will quell your fears and allow you to be more open to new opportunities.Gain a Unique Experience to Discuss with EmployersAn interview is not just a test of your skills, but it is also an assessment of whether or not you will fit into the organizations corporate culture. An interview is a perfect time to share your tra vel story (or stories). Not only does it act as an icebreaker, but it also shows the interviewer that you have the skills and personal assets discussed above you have a broad cultural view, the ability to interact with multiple personality types, problem-solving skills, and you exude self-confidence. Furthermore, it gives you an easy, non-polarizing topic to discuss with your interviewer.Find Clarity Define GoalsLots of people graduate from college and still dont know exactly what they want to do when they grow up. This is another instance when a gap year can be extremely helpful. Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of academia and the working world can be a great way to clear your mind, and decide exactly what career to pursue. I met plenty of people in Southeast Asia who were teaching English abroad as a way to test out whether or not they really wanted to teach full-time. I also met people who were working at hostels or for travel companies, and at the same time, they were actively determining if hospitality was the field for them. My favorite travel buddy even found a couple of acting gigs in Australia, so you never know what opportunities will become available to you Even if none of these work opportunities end up being your dream career, it broadens your range of experiences and gives you the ability to make an informed decision when you return home.In the end, taking a year off to travel was one of the very best decisions Ive ever made, no doubt. Not only was it a ton of fun, but it was in no way a sacrifice. One year in the grand scheme of things is a tiny amount of time, and it gave me a career-long edge over typical candidates. Ive tried to convince everyone I talk to that they should take some time off to go traveling, see the world, and broaden their horizons. Most importantly, the amazing and unique experiences you have are simply impossible to replicate at home.How did a gap year benefit your career? Share with us in the comments
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