Emmys 2014 Lessons for Entrepreneurs from Game of Thrones

Emmys 2014 Lessons for Entrepreneurs from Game of Thrones The acclaimed HBO series Game of Thronesâ€"which is up for 19 awards at tonight’s Emmysâ€"provides interesting commentary on the modern state of politics and warfare. But speaking as the founder of an online folder printing company, I’ve noticed that the show also demonstrates some valuable lessons for first-time entrepreneurs. These might not help you become king of a fantasy kingdom, but they’ve been invaluable to me throughout my more than a decade of successful entrepreneurship. (Reader beware: This article contains several spoilers.) Lesson #1: Knowledge is power In Westeros: The Game of Thrones characters who are most likely to survive are the ones with the best information: Where would Varys be without his network of spies gathering secrets from all across the Seven Kingdoms, for example? Would Cersei and Littlefinger still be around if they didn’t have dirt on their enemies? In your business: Knowledge is your best asset. But that doesn’t mean you need to train swaths of children to uncover your competitors’ deep, dark secrets a la Varys. You simply must to get to know your industry inside and out, so that you can identify what it is that you can provide your consumers that others aren’t already providing. When you understand your field and the needs that aren’t being met, you’ll be better positioned to fulfill those needs. For me, recognizing an unmet need was the impetus for starting my own company. After discovering that those seeking custom presentation folders faced extremely limited choices, I set out to provide materials of more variety and greater quality. Lesson #2: Unearned confidence can be dangerous. In Westeros: Pride often precedes a fall. Ruthless, arrogant King Joffrey mocks his enemies and abuses his subjects in a display of power and privilege, only to be poisoned at his own wedding. Viserys Targaryen shamelessly proclaims his superiority to the people around him, one of whom happens to be a powerful warlord who “crowns” him with molten gold. Even fan favorite Oberyn meets a messy, head-crushy end when he lets his careless bravado get the better of him. In your business: Know the difference between confidence and an overgrown ego. Starting a successful business requires boldness, determination, and trust in your own abilities and resources, but be careful not to let it turn into hubris. Make sure your actions are grounded in fact or reason; check yourself against someone you trust before making any rash moves. Overconfident people take risks that they can’t afford, and they often don’t listen to their peers’ good advice (“Trust me, Oberyn, wear a helmet”). Back when my company was first beginning, I did a lot of different odd jobs on the side. A friend of mine told me that I should concentrate on my core competency: custom printed folders. I didn’t listen to that advice, and it ended up losing my business money in the long run. Once I started concentrating on folders, the company grew much stronger. Lesson #3: A good mentor helps secure your success. In Westeros: Each of the Stark children has flourished with the help of mentors, albeit unconventional ones. Arya Stark learned swordplay from her “dance instructor” Syrio; Bran has developed his psychic powers with the help of mysterious companion Jojen; and even Sansa seems to have picked up some lessons in court intrigue from Littlefinger. In your business: Reaching out to a mentor can be a little scary, since it means acknowledging your own weaknesses as an entrepreneur. But remember that the person helping to guide you probably achieved their success with the help of a mentor of their own. When you make the choice to work for yourself, the only people you have to turn to for guidance are those who have already done the same. Many of my friends are successful business owners, so I make it a point to consult with them periodically. Learning from their experiences helps me to avoid common pitfalls and ensure that my company is running as efficiently as possible. Mentors aren’t just there to make you feel good about the work that you’re doing, though; they should have enough experience to tell you when you’re doing something wrong. Sometimes the advice that you need most comes from someone as bluntly honest as the Houndâ€"though ideally, your mentor will be a bit more supportive. Can you think of more business lessons to be learned from Game of Thrones? Share your thoughts on Twitter, with the hashtag #GoTbizadvice Vladimir Gendelman is the founder and CEO of Company Folders, an innovative presentation folder printing company. Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of promising young entrepreneurs. YEC recently launched StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program.

THIS Is What Employers Want You To Say In Job Interviews! - Work It Daily

THIS Is What Employers Want You To Say In Job Interviews! - Work It Daily LEARN WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR WHEN THEY'RE INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES. Join JT O'Donnell ask she explains what employers are looking for in candidates they're interviewing and how you can position yourself to impress them and stand out. Employers Won't Directly Tell You What They Want Join JT O'Donnell ask she explains what employers are looking for in candidates they're interviewing and how you can position yourself to impress them and stand out. Resources Links Mentioned In This Video Work It Daily's Free Career Decoder QuizHow To Answer Behavioral Interview Questions How To Write A Cover Letter*FREE TUTORIAL* 8 Ways You're Being SHUT OUT of the Hiring ProcessWork It Daily's Subscriptions What Is Work It Daily? Work It Daily is world's first affordable career job search subscription. Depending on what level you choose, you get access to 15+ job search and career courses including resume, cover letter, interview prep, strengths assessment, fired to hired and MORE. You also get access to our career growth club. Inside this workspace, you can work 1-on-1 with our coaching team to get your questions answered and your materials reviewed. We also have an active community of like-minded professionals who can help support you and build you up as you work towards your career goals. This is also a one of a kind networking opportunity. Ready To Get Started? Let's build a career you can finally brag about to your family and friends.LIMITED TIME PRICING!If you have additional questions about our new platform, please reach out to our customer support specialists at support@workitdaily.com - Thank you! From Your Site Articles 7 Most Common Interview Questions And Answers - Work It Daily ... How To Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle A ... 5 Smart Tips For Answering Interview Questions - Work It Daily ... How To Answer Why Are You Interested In This Job? - Work It Daily ... How To Answer The Question Describe Yourself In One Word ... Related Articles Around the Web Common Interview Questions and Answers: the best ones Best Answers to the 11 Most Difficult Interview Questions - AOTA The Best Answer to Lifes Most Important Questions - Personal ... Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!

5 Steps You Should Take If Youre Trying To Return To The Workforce

5 Steps You Should Take If Youre Trying To Return To The Workforce In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in zum vorteil vonfessional women returning to the workforce after taking time off to raise children. High-profile technology companies like Paypal and Google, are incorporating programs to train and hire skilled women after a career break. Financial services companies, such as JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and legal firms using OnRamp Fellowships, have already seen the benefits of such programs. Given how important it is for companies to maintain top talent and increase their diversity, its no surprise that they would recognize the value in this pool of women.While such internships and training do make it easier for some, many women find it daunting to even determine what they would like to do for work after a number of years caring for children or other family members. Often, they discount their philanthropic and freelance work, simply because the roles were volu ntary or underpaid. Fear and a lack of confidence prevent many accomplished women from putting themselves out there, which is the greatest disservice when seeking a job.As a career coach, I support women in transition, either between roles or after an absence from the workforce. In teaching courses on how to best punkt yourself for a return, we focus on the following steps (1) figuring out what you want, (2) learning to market your talents (3) building a strong network, (4) getting strategic experience, and (5) preparing for this transition.Step 1 Assess YourselfIn order to know where you are going, you need to think about where youve been. What did you like/dislike in your prior roles? What are your strengths/weaknesses? What would you do if you knew you would succeed?Begin to consider and rank the various factors at play in seeking a new position, including salary, flexibility, status, and intellectual stimulation. What you perceive to be important may change when the options are presented in front of you and you have to choose. This is about being honest with yourself and knowing what you need out of your next job and how that meshes with what you want. What matters now might not be the same as it was before you birthed a baby or four.Of course, it is necessary to also think about the market demand for your expertise. If you want to departure your own business, fantastic However, be prepared to have at least a year where you are not reaping a profit. If you want to try a completely new career that requires a lot of training, be realistic about the time/energy/financial requirements to get that training. That said, there are so many online resources now that it is much less intensive than it used to be to say, learn how to code, or begin an interior decorating business. More than anything, you need to consider these three components in your assessment-What are you reisepassionate about?-What are your talents?-What is the market need for the combination of th ese two?Step 2 Network YourselfNetworking gets a bad rap. People still associate it with awkward cocktail hours filled with boring people. Thankfully, while those parteies still exist, networking as a whole is much less contrived now. You can do it on your own time, from the safety of your computer, calling the shots on when and where to meet or speak over the phone. Breaking down the initial barrier is the hardest part If people dont know that youre looking, they definitely wont think of you.To begin, make a list of those in your immediate circle to inform them of your desire to return to the workforce. The more specific you are, the more helpful someone can be to you. Even if these people are seemingly unconnected to the industry you want to be in, they all have contacts themselves. In addition to colleagues and former supervisors, also reach out to those you supervised as these individuals may be running the show by the time you want to return.After starting with your contacts, e xpand beyond your comfort zone and connect with people you dont know, or at least dont know well. It always helps if there is some kind of commonality, whether its a mutual contact, school/workplace alumni association, or kids school groups, to encourage the person to respond.Ask to set up a call or meeting to get information- about career paths, companies, industries, and the market generally. Conducting informational interviews can also help you lay the foundation for future applications. When opportunities do arise, then you have already established a relationship with someone who can serve as a reference. Try to create partnerships wherever possible-make introductions, pass along industry knowledge, etc. Always thank everyone you meet with for their time and remind them to think of contacts and opportunities for you.Step 3 Market Yourself Having persuasive marketing materials helps establish your professional identity and empower your next steps. Consider your values, talents, a nd career goals in creating resumes, profiles, and elevator pitches that work. In addition to LinkedIn, Apres is another multi-faceted career platform offering jobs and content specifically for women returning to the workforce. Make sure your professional profile stands out and demonstrates your accomplishments. Always keep an eye on how others in your prior and/or desired field describe their work so that your profile stays fresh. Include recent relevant roles and activities, even if they were voluntary or informal. For example, serving on a board or executing a large-scale community event allows for the development of marketing, time-management, and numerous other skills. Rather than downplay un- or underpaid experience, use it as a selling point demonstrating your ability to succeed in a related role.When updating your resume, remember that most companies employ recruiters or software programs to weed out irrelevant applications. Be sure to have yours speak directly to the needs of the position by including key terms, the proper context for those buzz words, and the names of high-profile competitors.In considering the jobs you want, think about where you are really lacking expertise and then create opportunities to build those skills.Bolster your expertise by taking classes through Coursera or the like to keep up with technological developments. Renew relevant certifications or licenses. Follow companies on social media and join relevant professional groups to receive updates about events, networking opportunities, and job openings. Set Google alerts on industries/companies to stay abreast of developments. A good elevator pitch is integral to a job search and tailoring it to the audience can make it that much more persuasive. Your pitch to a friend about returning to work should be different than your pitch to someone working at your dream job. Practice saying it out loud- in the mirror, to a friend, or to your child- to ensure that you are conveying what you want to convey. Step 4 Professionally Develop Yourself The key to getting a new job is to get relevant experience. Depending on various factors, including childcare and financial constraints, you may need to look beyond a full-time position, at least initially. Find short-term opportunities that will lead you to your long-term career goals. These might be volunteer programs, consulting projects, community leadership, or other ways to make connections and boost your skillset in a particular area.Leveraging your current resources is imperative as you begin your search. If you plan to return to the legal world, perhaps start with a local bar association pro bono programs or ask a sole practitioner about contract work. If you have a marketing background, offer your services to launch a new campaign for your kids preschool or a friends small business. Do not stress about the status or pay, as it is up to you to spin your background in the most advantageous way. Potential employers ca re more about your accomplishments and the skills you developed, than the exact number of hours worked and income earned. You need to value this work so that others will as well. Create opportunities for yourself if none currently exist. departure writing articles about a particular subject matter to garner expertise. Offer to cover someones maternity or medical leave, or check out Upwork or Thumbtack for freelance work. Look into the long list of returnships. While highly competitive, these offer a very targeted on ramp back into a specific field. The possibilities are endless if you are willing to be creative and sacrifice some time and income. That said, make sure to always be progressing toward your long-term goals by creating accountability for yourself. Whether through hiring someone to help you or enlisting a friend to serve as an accountability partner, establish metrics to ensure that you are moving forward.Step 5 Prepare Yourself Returning to work will be a major shift for you and your whole family. You will need to actively manage the shift by creating routines to increase efficiencies and minimize stress. While it may take a while (or forever) to achieve true balance, there are measures you can take to maintain some sort of equilibrium for yourself and your household.Depending upon the ages of your children, childcare may be the biggest impediment to a return to work. While the US is sorely behind other developed countries in its lack of subsidized childcare, there are ways to reduce the cost, particularly for very young children. Offer to swap childcare days with someone with similarly-aged children, hire an au pair to live with you, or potentially seek out work at a school in your relevant field to take advantage of tuition reimbursement. The sooner you establish a cohesive plan for childcare, the sooner you can begin to focus on your career. As you manage your family and your work, dont neglect yourself. Calm your mind and focus your energy by s etting aside time for meditation through apps like Buddhify, Mindfulness App, and Take A Break. Incorporate short bursts of exercise or yoga into your day through Daily Yoga or Seven-Minute Workout and devote more time to fitness as you can. Keep your body and your brain happy by regularly eating 10 everyday superfoods. Once you start working again, your time management skills will be tested. Delegate what you can, as you will no longer be able to do everything you used to do. Buy the weeks groceries online and have them delivered through Instacart. Seek out a laundry/dry-cleaning delivery service such as Washio. Hire a housecleaner and landscaper through Taskrabbit. Cook multiple meals at a time, or use a meal delivery service like Munchery. The goal is to maintain your sanity and health so that you can actually enjoy your new career.Elana Konstant is a career coach and consultant focusing on professional women in career transition. A former lawyer, she founded Konstant Change Coac hing to empower women to create the career they want. Change is good. Elana will help you find out why. Her career advice has been featured onGlamour.com, Babble, Motherly, and other outlets. You can learn more by visiting her website,konstantchangecoaching.com.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women. Join us by reviewing your employer

Freelance Resume Writing Jobs in India - a Brief Outline

Freelance Resume Writing Jobs in India - a Brief Outline The Fight Against Freelance Resume Writing Jobs in India Second, its reasonable to locate a part-time position to acquire some more flexibility. If youre asking for work thats a stretch, you must do extra work. Its important to locate a process which works for you. The blog must also have a brief overview of yourself and your abilities. Writing guest posts wont only construct your confidence but is also an extraordinary marketing and advertising tactic. There are two ways that youll be able to begin blogging Networking goes a ways in the freelance Earth, and LinkedIn is an excellent resource to do some networking through common connections. The Unusual Secret of Freelance Resume Writing Jobs in India You should have access to a computer and the web, and be an authority in Microsoft Word. Data Entry jobs are merely a sort of typing job in which you need to convert images into docs files. The ideal part and also the most difficult portion of call center services is the fact that it changes and transforms itself regularly enough. Freelance Resume Writing Jobs in India Ideas Freelancing provides the perfect respite, if youre one of many who is running the success-race in Freelance resume writing. Freelancer has existed for quite a while in the freelancing world. Using Freelance Resume Writing Jobs in India Internshala and Lets Intern are a few of the websites where you are able to find Freelance on-line Internship opportunities. Now, what youve got to actually do in Data Entry on-line Job Affiliate Marketer Affiliate Marketing is among the best internet jobs from home that you can do without investment. The perfect way to get Data Entry jobs online is by way of freelancing sites. You have to be able to have a notion of what types of jobs require what sorts of resumes. So, it is going to be a good deal simpler for you to compose articles on related topics. Looking up for quick courses or internet study material to find adept at SEO is a fantastic approach to better the odds of finding freelance writing jobs for beginners. You learn to compose papers. What You Need to Do About Freelance Resume Writing Jobs in India Beginning in the Next 3 Minutes In India, professionals who wish to write for money can obtain a lot of benefits. You ought to be really professional when you get started searching for work and once in the job. Although some people today opine that social media is useless, it is really very useful, if used in a suitable way. There are several fake businesses around who will let you know to pay some refundable amount to be able to find the job. Make certain you start small like writing a couple of articles for a customer and request prompt payment so you dont have a lot to lose. You also have to be in a position to grasp the finest possible information for the customers resume. Resume writing is more engaging and client-facing since you have t o work one-on-one with the customer. Rather than a client hiring you to create a lot of repetitive articles for a site, a client hires you to concentrate on a single piece of writing and to make it the very best part of work that youve ever produced.

3 New Years Virtual Interview Resolutions

3 New Years Virtual Interview ResolutionsWith 2013 right around the corner, its time to start looking at your current hiring practices. The new year is the perfect time to overhaul outdated practices and embrace new ways to find the best candidates quickly and easily. The virtual bewerbungsgesprch is a great way to connect with talented job seekers with less time and money wasted.In 2012, video interviews gained some real traction. In fact, according to a survey from Office Team, six out of 10 companies are utilizing video interviews as an everyday part of their hiring process.This technologys increase in popularity makes 2013 the perfect year to make sure your company is following best practices when it comes to performing a virtual interview.Here are the three virtual interview resolutions your company should make in the new year to ensure youre correctly utilizing video interviews to hire the very best peopleStop, collaborate and listenIt might not seem like it on the surface, but the virtual interview is actually a great way to collaborate with your entire hiring team. For instance, now your team doesnt have to occupy the same physical space to share notes and impressions of a great candidate.Plus, getting the whole team on board is the best way to make smarter hiring decisions in 2013. After all, if everyone on the team has the opportunity to evaluate talent youll be mora likely to hire someone who will fit into your company culture with ease.There are multiple ways to collaborate effectively around video interviewsOne-way video interviews If youre utilizing one-way virtual interviews, its easy to have team members log into your account on Spark Hire and view the video answers. Team members can even share notes on the platform itself. Since these interviews are asynchronous in nature, answers can be viewed at any time and by any member of your hiring team.Live video interviews You might think its hard to collaborate using a live video interview. After all, these are face-to-face interviews that occur in real time. How can you collaborate with team members using these interviews if your coworker cant make the meeting? Thankfully, its entirely possible to record a live video interview, allowing team members who are busy or out of the office to still review the interview. This way, you can share your top contenders with the busy department heads who will be working with this potential employee every day.Ask the right interview questionsAsking the right interview questions is very important in any interview, but is especially important in a virtual interview. It is especially important because using one-way virtual interviews allows you to save your written interview questions to pose to more than one candidate. Therefore if you come up with a list of lackluster interview questions, this could affect interviews for multiple candidates.Instead, look at the job and really think about the essential qualifications youll need in the new year. Perhaps your company is looking to expand and you need someone with top-notch communication skills and a keen eye for business development. Or maybe your company is expanding its technical know-how and you need a tech-savvy superstar in 2013.Hone in on the most important attributes a superstar candidate should posses before drafting your interview questions. This way you have a list of top-notch queries and can reuse them in all your one-way virtual interviews.Replace the phone interview with one-way virtual interviewsLets admit it, the phone interview just isnt very effective. By now, youre good at schmierblutung quickly whether a candidate will be a good candidate or all wrong for the position. But in a phone interview its more than likely youll be stuck on the phone with even candidates you know are all wrong for at least 20 minutes to a half hour.Instead, make it a hiring resolution in the new year to replace your clunky phone screens with one-way virtual interviews. Now as a h iring manager you can move on as soon as you know the candidate isnt right for the position or your company culturewhether thats six minutes or six seconds into the interview.Plus, you get the benefit of seeing your candidate on a more personal level, as opposed to the phone screen where its harder to evaluate communication skills and personality. Let the new year be your opportunity to leave the phone interview behind and embrace one-way video interviews.With the new year approaching its time to focus on how youre utilizing video interviews. Make sure some of these virtual interview tips are part of your 2013 hiring resolutions so you can find the best people with less hassle.What are some of your 2013 resolutions? How will you use the virtual interview to connect with great people in 2013? Share in the comments

What you need to know about hiring blind and visually impaired workers

What you need to know about hiring blind and visually impaired workersWhat you need to know about hiring blind and visually impaired workersWhat you need to know about hiring blind and visually impaired workers Ashford, contributorAt a time when recruiters are facing a hiring shortage, and its harder than ever to find qualified workers, you cant afford to make your jobs inaccessible to anyone.Youre leid only legally mandated to make sure your hiring practices are ADA compliant, but if your website, interview practices, and office itself arent accessible and friendly to disabled applicants, youre doing your company a disservice by essentially eliminating an entire swimming-pool of potentially immensely talented candidates just like that.These strategies can help recruiters and low-vision candidates see each other betterMake your application process accessibleBlind candidates must be able to access both your job postings on your site and any job boards youre participating in and fil l out the application itself. Web content accessibility guidelinescan help you determine what needs to be done.If Im a blind person and I go to an employers website and I cant even fill out the basic job application, that discourages me and tells me that employer is maybe not all that serious about hiring blind people or hasnt really thought about it, says Chris Danielsen, a spokesperson for the National Federation of the Blind.Consider putting information on your website on how to contact someone if a candidate needs to request an accommodation to apply for a job or for interviews.If a job requires that an applicant complete testing as part of the interview process, be sure there are accommodations available for someone with low vision.The fewer barriers there are to hiring, the more likely it is that youre going to get applications from blind people, Danielsen says.Reach out to organizations that cater to disabilities You can specifically interface with organizations that work wit h the blind and other people with disabilities, such as the National Federation of the Blind, the New York State Commission for the Blind or VISIONS.We have a job fair every year as part of our convention, Danielsen says. Blind people have as many career goals and employment interests as the sighted public does, so theres no particular thing that needs to be done other than letting blind people know that youre interested in hiring, and making your hiring process accessible, so that blind people can participate in it.Its also worthwhile to spread the message at your company that youre looking to hire inclusively.Often, theres commitment at the top of the organization, but it doesnt always trickle down to the hiring manager or recruiters, says George Abbott, chief knowledge advancement officer for the American Foundation for the Blind.Make sure the organization as a whole is clear on their philosophy about it, and you may need to do some awareness training.Know what you can and cant a skBefore youve extended a job offer, you cannot ask a job candidate any questions that would reveal the existence of a disability or ask about the condition itself.For instance, you cant ask whether theyve had any medical procedures related to their vision or whether a medical condition may have caused their blindness.That said, if the disability is obvious or the candidate brings it up themselves, you may ask them whether they would need a reasonable accommodation to perform the tasks required in the job.In general, however, you should be asking all candidates the same questions about their relevant experience and why theyre qualified to do the job. Ask a blind person the same questions youd ask any other candidate, and try to stick to that, Abbott saysAdditionally, respect that candidate by not asking them things youd never ask any other job candidate like how theyd get to work every day.Every blind person has a story about being in an interview and being asked a question like, How will you get to the bathroom by yourself? Danielsen says.What wed really like to see more of is employers starting with at least a basic idea that blind people are generally competent to handle our lives.Expect great thingsThe biggest thing we face in all areas, including employment, is low expectations, Danielsen says.One of the frustrations blind people often face is that employers frequently just assume that they cant do the job because theyre blind.Blind people are doing almost every job you can think of, Danielsen says. If it doesnt involve driving, a blind person is probably doing it somewhere. And as a general rule, the blind person wouldnt be applying if they didnt think they could do that job.In fact, you may find that hiring a blind person is a huge advantage because they can add a lot to your team. We spend so much of our day being problem solvers for everything we do, Abbott says. So we just naturally bring creativity and creative thinking to the work environment an d I think that adds value.

Where the Legal Jobs Are, December 2017 Update

Where the Legal Jobs Are, December 2017 UpdateWhere the Legal Jobs Are, December 2017 Update WHERE THE LEGAL JOBS ARE IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2018Lawyers were asked, Which of the following best describes your companys hiring plans?FIRST HALF OF 2018SECOND HALF OF 2017Expanding/adding new positions22%33%Maintaining/filling vacated positions51%51%Freezing/not filling vacated or new positions14%6%Freezing/not filling vacated or new positions0%3%Lawyers were asked, Which practice area will offer the greatest number of job opportunities in the first half of 2018?38% Litigation12% General business/commercial law5% Regulatory or einhaltung5% Family law3% Intellectual propertyLawyers were asked, Which areas of litigation will offer the greatest job opportunities in the first half of 2018?*48% Insurance defense33% Commercial litigation11% Personal injury9% Employment*Multiple responses were permitted. Only top responses are shown.Source Robert Half Legal survey of 200 lawyers with the largest la w firms and legal departments in the United States 2017 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.