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Sunday, April 24, 2011

The Work Buzz's Latest News: When it comes to going green, the workplace needs work


The Work Buzz's Latest News: When it comes to going green, the workplace needs work


Posted: 22 Apr 2011 09:35 AM PDT
It's been 41 years since the first Earth Day was celebrated in the U.S. in 1970, and since that time, we've made huge strides toward preserving our environment. Recycling has become the norm, the hole in the ozone layer is shrinking and everything from cleaning supplies to clothing to cars can now be found in eco-friendly versions.
While many of us have taken it upon ourselves to make earth-conscious decisions in our daily lives, most Americans feel that when it comes to their workplaces, both their employers and co-workers could make more of an effort to go green.
According to OfficeMax's 2011 Green Workplace survey, 84 percent of U.S. workers say they recycle at work, but nearly two-thirds think their employers can do more to promote earth-friendly initiatives, and 73 percent say that their co-workers could also make a bigger effort to reduce the company's environmental footprint.
When asked what their employers did to encourage green behavior at work, just 39 percent said their employers placed a sufficient number of recycling bins around the office, 13 percent said there was an employee dedicated to green workplace practices and 8 percent said their companies offered incentives to participate in green programs at work.
Of the workers who say they have room for improvement in their own environmental efforts, 63 percent say that company incentives that would give them the boost they needed to be more eco-friendly at work. Though 61 percent would prefer a cash incentive, most said that it wouldn't take much for them to step up their efforts, citing an extra vacation day (46 percent), free lunch (44 percent) or a “green” gift (39 percent) as all the reason they'd need to participate in earth-conscious programs.
Not all workers need external motivation to maintain their environmental mindsets, though.  Sixty-four percent of respondents said that a feeling of personal responsibility kept them motivated to recycle or take other eco-friendly steps at work. Fifty-eight percent said it was a desire to make a difference in the world, and 40 percent said they wanted to set a good example for co-workers.
Does your office celebrate Earth Day? Is your company eco-friendly? Tell us about it in the comments section, below.

Is Changing Careers Worth the Time and Money?


Is Changing Careers Worth the Time and Money?

Link to CAREEREALISM.com

Posted: 23 Apr 2011 11:00 PM PDT
Once again it's time for my grim warning: Do NOT change careers — ever, ever — until you get to know people who hold the jobs you are considering.

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.


REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: 2011 MBA CSC Annual Conference plus 1 more | Career Rocketeer


REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: 2011 MBA CSC Annual Conference plus 1 more | Career Rocketeer

Link to Career Rocketeer

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 03:30 AM PDT
Career Rocketeer is proud to partner with the MBA Career Services Council (MBA CSC) to promote its 2011 MBA CSC Annual Conference in Keystone, CO for MBA career services professionals and MBA employers.
MBACSC 2011 Conference
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Getting to the top is rarely done alone! Join your colleagues from around the globe in the beautiful Rocky Mountains as we help each navigate the peaks and avoid the pitfalls of MBA career development from a school perspective as well as corporate.
The conference will combine world-class professional development with lots of networking opportunities and FUN at one of the most scenic places in the world! That’s an adventure that you would not want to miss. Let’s start the climb by exploring some of the benefits of this year’s conference:
1. Professional Development
Here's a sneak peek at two powerful keynotes that you will experience at the conference:
  • Paul Harrington, Director of the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University, will help you define the evolution of the recent economic turbulence and its impact on MBA recruitment. Of course, we know that things have changed in our professional world, but Paul will help us understand what happened. And more importantly, his talk can help us begin to forecast what's coming.
  • Dr. Anne Harbison, Senior Leadership Faculty, Gallup University, will help us examine those key relationships shaping our personal and professional success. Get ready to become a better you.
Here are just a few Breakout Sessions to start the climb:
  • Decisions, Decisions, Decisions: Coaching MBA Students to Assess their Assets, Evaluate their Option
  • Innovative Approaches to Corporate Relations
  • Management Consulting Interview Preparation: What your students need to know and do to get an offer
  • And many more…
2. Networking
2011 Gala taking us even higher!
  • This is always a favorite for conference attendees – a time dedicated to networking with old and new colleagues as we enjoy great food and great music
  • The theme this year is all-American fun under the stars at the Keystone Stables! There will be an authentic Barn Dance and BBQ. Upon arrival at the Stables, we will experience live Country Western entertainment, line dance instruction, a bonfire, horseshoes, “steer roping,” and a great barbecue dinner!
3. Make It a Vacation
Keystone is perfect for an extended vacation for the entire family to experience the pinnacle!
  • Golfing
  • White water rafting
  • Shopping
  • Scenic lift rides
  • And much more…

REGISTRATION
Early Bird Discount Registration: $575 (members) and $850 (non-members) if you register by April 29
Regular Registration: $675 (members) and $995 (non-members)
Regular Registration closes on June 4. After June 4, registrations will be accepted if space is available.
Register today!

MEMBERSHIP
It pays to be an MBA CSC member! In order to register at the member rate, you must be a current member. Memberships are by individual, not by organization. If you have not paid your MBA CSC membership dues, you should do that before registering for the conference by visiting the MBA CSC Membership page.
  • To become a new member, visit the MBA CSC Membership page (this includes anyone who has never had a membership with the CSC in the past).
  • Click here to renew your membership (this includes anyone who has had a membership with the MBA CSC in the past). If you do not remember your username or password, contact the Executive Director
  • If you do not want to join at this time, you can register on the website as a guest and then log in with your guest registration ID to register for the conference (please note it is a two step process).
If you purchase a new membership or renew an existing one after April 1, your membership will be extended through July 30, 2012.
For questions about MBA CSC membership, website registration or technical issues with conference registration, please contact Megan Hendricks, executive director.
For more information on the conference, please click here.
Posted: 23 Apr 2011 03:30 AM PDT
Resume TipsThe idiomatic expression red herring refers to tactics used to divert attention away from an item of significance.  According to Eve Tahmincioglu, contributing writer for MSNBC, as a job seeker you have about 15 seconds to make an impression with your resume.  That may not seem like a long time but consider a drag racer can go from zero to 300 miles an hour and cover a quarter of a mile, in less than 17 seconds.  Your resume may not be a race car but it can certainly attract a lot of attention in 15 seconds.  You need to make sure those 15 seconds get you across the finish line.
Your resume must stand out by attracting the right attention and not being diverted by red herrings.  A herring turns red from a smoking process.  Eve T. writes in her column there are 6 resume mistakes to avoid that in my opinion can result in you being smoked out of consideration.  Check them out.
1. Resume that is too vague.  A resume that is broad gets you smoked.  Narrow and specific to the job requirements will get you noticed.  Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for people that match their job requirements.  That may mean you need to tweak your resume accordingly without fabricating experience you do not have.  Don’t apply for jobs that you do not meet at least 80% of the job requirements.  Then make sure your resume speaks specifically to those areas.
2. Ignoring the cyber age.  This is simple.  Your resume will pass through an electronic filter before, that’s right before, it ever will be touched by a human if at all.  That human will only see your resume if it passes the electronic screen.  That means you must include words in your resume that the electronic screen will be seeking.  Normally, these are words that appear in the job posting.  Without being obvious, include those key words somewhere appropriate in your resume.  In addition, Eve suggests, and this is common sense, name your file with your name not just resume.
3. Every job but the kitchen sink.  This is tricky because recruiters are looking for chronological job history.  In other words, no gaps between jobs.  However, the reality is there often are gaps.  Eve suggests you try to avoid “filler jobs” that are not relevant to the job you are seeking.  I would add that instead of using month and year for your job history just use years.  That may help close some gaps.  In any event, a gap won’t get you excluded but you need to be able to explain it if you get to the interview process.
4. Not being your own cheerleader.  This is underselling your role or accomplishments.  You may think that most people are guilty of inflating their accomplishments but what most people don’t do enough of is quantifying their accomplishments.  Thus, a red herring, because while words are important, quantifiable results are better.  Eve suggest that words such as assisted, supported or participated in connote teamwork they should be avoided unless you are very specific with what your role was on the team.  I would add your specific, quantifiable accomplishments.
5. Being cookie-cutter.  This is one size fits all.  Obviously, that is not true but how to avoid tailoring your resume to every job you wish to apply.  This goes back to some of the previous comments.  Make sure your resume speaks to at least 80% of the job requirements.  Make sure you have great profile summary, specific accomplishments, roles that match, etc.  In other words, think before you apply.  In a world of instant everything, you can respond too quickly and miss an opportunity to differentiate yourself.
6. Forgetting the basics.  Spelling, grammar and formatting all the typical things we know but still forget.  I have one piece of advice.  Do not do your resume alone.  Make sure you have someone proof read it for you.  I also like one comment Eve includes in her article.  Every time you change your formatting (bold, new fonts, etc.) you focus attention on that item.  That can be good or bad.  Make sure it is not a red herring.

Guest Expert:
Thomas D. Cairns, DBA, is the Principal and Chief Career Coach of Cairns Blaner Group (www.cairnsblaner.com), a consulting company focused on delivering career management strategies and services. He is a career coach for the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University and adjunct professor of management at Azusa Pacific University. Previously, he served as Chief Human Capital Officer, U.S. Department Homeland Security, and Senior Vice President, Human Resources NBC Universal a division of GE. He may be contacted via e-mail at tom@cairnsblaner.com.



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The Monster 5 for Friday--Careers Edition--April 22


The Monster Blog


Posted: 22 Apr 2011 04:53 PM PDT
Happy Earth Day! Here are five of our favorite career-advice and job-search articles from this week:
5. Could you be more environmentally conscious on the job? Check out the tips in "Be Green at Work."
4. Summer is coming -- it's time for teens (and many adults) to start thinking about summer jobs. Check out these summer job-search tips.
3. Get tips on standing out in a sea of competitive candidates, in "8 Questions Job Seekers Should Ask Themselves."
2. Are you selling yourself as well as possible to potential employers? Get tips, in "How to Market Your Skills in Your Job Search."
1. Technology is changing the way we interview for jobs -- it's becoming likelier that your next interview will be by phone or video conference. So check out "Tips for the Virtual Job Interview."
Do you need job-search advice? What job-seeker topics would you like to see covered? Leave a message for us in the comments section below, or find @monstercareers on Twitter and send a message.

Always Attempt a Salary Negotiation


 Always Attempt a Salary Negotiation

Link to CAREEREALISM.com

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 10:00 PM PDT
We often get questions about whether to negotiate salary when being offered a new job, and we always urge people to attempt to ask for more money.

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.


Career Igniter

DeVry University "Career Igniter" Green Tech Sales from J. Kelly on Vimeo.

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