Why Hard Closes are Bad for Your Business and Your Karma

Why Hard Closes are Bad for Your Business and Your Karma I don’t think profit is a dirty word, I think it’s dirty when it is at the expense of others. The old capitalist rule of someone making a profit means someone is losing is not something I can get behind. I also think that certain things shouldn’t have a profit or free market associated with it at all.  I don’t feel that’s true about our chosen business, that of recruiting. I am offering a service, based on both my expertise and my time put in. The value is an arbitrary number but I know what I offer is intangible, as well, so there you have it. I pride myself on being honest with my clients and candidates, and providing the good, the bad and the ugly; I want to be a Trusted Advisor to all parties. I want to offer what are opportunities not just jobs. I want to offer my clients the best candidates and not just paper with skills listed. One of my best clients has been with me for over 10 years. She started as my candidate. We were working together on a Quality Assurance spot at a mid-level FX house. They made her a great offer, good money and all the other accoutrements. The same day, not through me, she received another offer from an online banking firm. Alice and I went for dinner, and I read her other offer and compared it to mine. I looked her in the eyes, and said, “Alice, you cannot take my offer. You need to take the second one”. She looked at me, amazed. “Jeff, I came here ready to defend why I am not taking your offer. How can you not be pushing your role?” I replied that we both know it was the better offer and we both know why. That, in the words of Greg Savage,  â€œIntegrity is like virginity when you lose it you can’t get it back.” At the end of the day, Alice has hired tons of people from me, more than I ever would have made if I “Hard” sold her on my offer. By: Administrador Galeria Uninter Karma grinds very slow but it grinds very fine. Actions that may cost deals in the short term may end up being much more profitable than you can ever imagine. That isn’t why I told Alice not to take it. That isn’t why I let my manager scream, rant and rave at me about not “Hard” closing. I did it so I could go to sleep at night knowing I did the right thing. It doesn’t hurt that generating good actions like these tend to come back around! Let’s look at it another way. Universal Health Care is a Human Right. The Affordable Care Act barely brings the United States to the standard of the rest of the Industrialized World, let alone to the changes we need to better our society. Yet, the idea has failed to take off in the United States. Many of the arguments against it revolve around cost, taxes and corporations afraid of higher costs. However, all the studies state that healthy workers would be happier workers. Healthier workers would take less sick days, meaning higher productivity. Healthier workers would earn more money, and then they would spend more money. So, now the companies are healthier too, as they make more money. How come Universal Health Care wasn’t sold to America on this, selfish capitalist basis? There is so much for us to learn, as recruiters, from this failure: It isn’t what you say but how you say it. NEVER EVER LIE!!! However, always know your audience and make what you are selling to match the person. Sometimes, you have to spend (or lose) profits in the short term to achieve great successes. It’s an investment. I have seen many unscrupulous things since I began Head Hunting. Sadly, until I matured personally and professionally, I did some of them. I have worked with Managers who encouraged these practices and I have been yelled at for not doing them. Doing the right thing, doing the honest thing, may not pay off immediately. It may never pay off, in fact. That isn’t why you practice good behaviors. You don’t just do it for your reputation either. While reputations last, and they go on forever in our digital age, it isn’t the be-all/end-all. Your ability to be happy with yourself, both personally and professionally, is the reason to be ethical in all your life’s actions.

Interview with International Political Forum Founder- Natasha Lipman

Interview with International Political Forum Founder- Natasha Lipman The International Political Forum is the home of politically aware young people around the world. Bringing together a diverse group of young people from across the globe, the IPF provides a platform for discussion and debate on current affairs and policy issues that are important to their regional contributors. Natasha Lipman Natasha Lipman (@natashalipman) is the founder of the International Political Forum. Natasha grew up in London, England. After graduating high school, she went to Paris, France to learn French and “find herself”. This led her to pursue her BA (Hons) in International Relations from Regent’s American College in London. Natasha is now a Postgraduate student of International Relations at Webster Graduate School. Asya: Thanks for agreeing to do this interview with Career Geek. Through this interview I would like to present the readers of Career Geek with the opportunity of finding out about how a graduate goes about making their idea a reality. Hopefully you can shed some light on this, as well as get the IPF across to more people. When did you come up with the idea of the IPF, how did it come about? What was your main goal in setting about realising the idea of the IPF? Natasha: I came up with the idea for the IPF in May of this year. I was actually taking a semester off of University, as I was extremely ill. In an attempt to keep my mind active and not be absolutely bored to death at home, I started writing for UK-focussed political websites. It was then that I realised that there was no real place for an international forum, for people from all over the world to write about political and current affairs issues. My main goal when setting up the IPF was to create an online space for politically engaged young people from around the world to come together to talk about the political and current affairs issues that affected them. Getting the stories from people who were experiencing them. My main goal was to move the debate away from a UK focussed perspective and bring together a global contributor base and audience. So far, it is working! Asya: How did you go about executing your idea? Do/did you manage university and work for the IPF at the same time? Were there any sacrifices you had to make in order to make your idea a reality? Natasha: I was unwell at the time, so I had a lot of time on my hands to set up the website. Now, I am back doing my MA, so I am balancing my studies with running the website. I am quite lucky that I have a lot of friends around the world who are very interested in politics, and I knew that in order to start the website, I would need to have a good few articles to start me off. I approached some friends, and everyone seemed to like the idea (which is important), and were very happy to support the site and contribute. The first few posts came from contributors from Pakistan, Venezuela, the US, Ecuador, the UK and Zimbabwe. I designed the site, solicited content and started social media sites to try and get the word out there. I have had a much bigger response to the website in such a short space of time than I originally anticipated, and I currently have contributors from over 20 countries. I find it exciting that most of them are not people I know and that have found the site and contacted me. One of the biggest problems I find is when I am in 4-hour classes which happen at the time I want to publish an article, so usually I spend my breaks rushing to the library to upload content! I currently have two fantastic writers who produce the daily news briefings, so that is something that I don’t have to worry about. Now it’s summer I can focus on the IPF, but I am going to have to have a serious think when the semester starts at the end of August, to make sure that the attention I can give to the site is not compromised. Asya: Who funded your idea and did you approach many? Did your university help you in executing your project? How did they help? Share the best advice you got in establishing the IPF. Natasha: Currently the website is self-funded. There are a lot of ways that I am looking to expand, so I am in the process of looking for funding the website. I didn’t get any help from the University, but the professors I have spoken to about it have been really positive, and think that it is a really good idea. The best advice that I got came from my mother (thanks mum!), is that there’s no harm in trying. Starting a website is a relatively inexpensive way of putting an idea into practice, so there’s no reason not to try. I have also contacted some high profile ‘names’ on Twitter, and I am currently in talks about articles or interviews for the website. Again, there’s no harm in trying. Why not ask? All they can do is ignore me or say no. I have learnt that more often than not people are willing to talk and engage with you if you have an idea that you are passionate about. Asya:  What do you think of Universities at the moment? Are they encouraging entrepreneurs or are students being put off by the university burden? Do you think students are motivated enough to realise the ideas they have? Natasha: I actually have had quite a different university experience to most people. I was never interested in attending a British university, as I wasn’t too keen on the way in which the courses worked. I have been attending an American university in London (where I completed my undergrad degree in International Relations last summer, and now am working towards my Masters in the same field). For me, the course was perfect, having to take 6 classes a semester, constantly assessed, entirely in a seminar environment, I got to take classes that were relevant to my degree as well as a huge number of History classes, Model United Nations, Drama, Photography and a wide range of other subjects. I don’t think it’s a question of students not being motivated enough to realise the ideas they have, I feel like it is a question of students not having the support and encouragement to realise their ideas. We are often just told that there are no opportunities out there, that our degrees are worthless and that we are part of a ‘lost generation’. I know there are times when I hear that that I think that there’s no point in even trying because there are no jobs, no opportunities. I think we need to ignore that. Make our own opportunities, and realise that there are opportunities out there, we just need to do as much as we can, and grab onto them with both hands. I have learn so much through starting the IPF, and it feels great that I can give some people the opportunity to increase their writing skills and be published. Asya:  You take on contributors for the IPF. How can other students get involved? Natasha: I aim to have a truly international base of contributors for the IPF. I am always wary of having things too UK based, as this is not the direction I want the site to take. However, for those who are interested in contributing, I love to hear from everyone! Those who wish to get involved should send me an email to Natasha@internationalpoliticalforum.com with a short writing sample, a C.V. and a short description of their main areas of interest. Asya: What are your aspirations for the future with regards to the IPF? How are you planning on expanding/developing/getting a wider audience? Natasha: There are a lot of ways that I see the IPF being able to expand. There isn’t really a place like it on the web, and I feel as though it has great potential to become the online space for engaged young people around the world. There are a lot of ways that I am excited to expand the website, but I am trying not to get ahead of myself as the site is still in its infancy! I am currently working on growing our Facebook and Twitter followers, which I see as absolutely vital in increasing awareness of the site. Right now the website features daily articles from our contributors and a daily news roundup which provides a quick digest into the biggest news stories of the day. One thing that is currently underway is providing a platform for international projects to share their work â€" be that youth organisations, political lobbying, green initiatives, youth for youth charity organisations. I am looking forward to a professional redevelop, to make the site much more interactive and user friendly. This site will include message forums for people to actually talk about the big events, or important issues such as national stereotypes, human rights abuses and the environment. I would also love to launch a video/podcast series, and eventually my dream is to hold an international conference! Asya: Thanks for the interview, Natasha and we wish you best of luck as you take IPF to greater heights! We like the IPF and are ready to help you in any way we can.    Visit International Political Forum 11

BBC Future Media Division event at Media City 11 Dec University of Manchester Careers Blog

BBC Future Media Division event at Media City 11 Dec University of Manchester Careers Blog The Future Media division is responsible for all of the BBCs digital media services. Heres what they have to say about an event theyre running on 11 December: As part of the BBCs expansion in the north, many departments of BBC Future Media moved into MediaCityUK. If youve ever used iPlayer on a mobile, TV or games console, pressed the red button, let your children play the games on the CBBC website or visited bbc.co.uk then youve used our products. On 11th December 2012 we are opening our doors to show you the work that BBC FM has produced since moving to MCUK. Well be exhibiting our latest products, talking about how we made them and giving you a chance to meet to the teams who build them. See what we built for the Olympic and how we did it. Get a feel for whats coming up in future technology with BBC RD. Our experts will be on hand to give talks about different aspects of working at the BBC and how we go about creating fantastic products for our audiences. We are actively recruiting for a wide variety of technical roles in Future Media, representatives from BBC Recruitment and the Future Media Graduate scheme will be here to talk about the opportunities available. Full info about the event is at: http://bbcfm.eventbrite.co.uk/ All Media

Best Travel Apps to Try This Year

Best Travel Apps to Try This Year With app stores overloaded with thousands of software options claiming to make life easier and less stressful, it can be hard to sort out the truly great apps from those that really don’t provide anything new. Luckily, when it comes to travel, you’re not likely to find yourself searching for a helpful option for long. Whether they’re helping you find a taxi, saving you dollars or pointing you in the direction of the best sights to visit, there is an app to solve every potential travel problem. Read on for five of the latest travel apps you can use to make your smartphone smarter and holiday more relaxing in 2014. Minube Minube is a free app containing a plethora of social travel guides (designed for the iOS and Android operating systems) created to help travellers around the world discover the best things to see and do at a variety of international destinations. The social travel guides allow users to share holiday experiences in real-time and discover the best travel options from the recommendations of others. Voted 2011s Best App by Apple Spain, Minube features tips for countries all around the world in regions such as Europe, North America, Africa, South America, Asia and Oceania. For example, travellers who are ready to select a hotel in Adelaide but want to know what quality restaurants are nearby can search the app for highly rated options, or those looking for the best day trips from Melbourne can search for top suggestions to try out. Hailo Another free app that is available for iPhone and Android phones, Hailo is one of a growing number of apps that enables travellers to hail a taxi directly from their handheld devices and pay for it online. Rather than standing on the street and waiting an indeterminate amount of time for a cab you can simply summon one to your location from a map that shows how far away a variety of registered drivers currently are. As well as positioning travellers just two clicks away from a licensed taxi, Hailo provides a convenient online option for customers to pay for their ride, rather than searching for the right change. The app, available in a variety of cities in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia has carried more than 8.5 million passengers to date. Founded in Great Britain, Hailo is one of 25 companies recently selected to receive support from the UK government as part of the first Tech City “Future Fifty” project, helping high-growth British companies to expand. Citymapper Free transport app Citymapper is an iOS, Android and web application that aims to make it easier for users to navigate their way around London, Paris and New York City (with more locations to come). The app displays a variety of handy info such as the cost of different transport options, the weather at destinations and how many calories can be burned by walking or cycling to the desired location.  The journey planner technology provides real-time updates on public transport, plus Foursquare integration and a single tap “Get me home” button for ease of use. EatWith Based around the idea that one of the best parts of travel can be meeting and sharing experiences with locals, the EatWith app was developed by co-founder Guy Michlin after a chance invitation to an authentic Greek dinner at a resident family’s home on a trip to Greece. Taking the guess work out of picking a restaurant when travelling to an unfamiliar destination, EatWith enables tourists to dine in the home of local residents, paying a fee for each guest. The app so far has hosts (many classified as “EatWith Verified”) located in five continents. Viber If you’re sick of paying hefty charges for texts and phone calls on your mobile then take a look at Viber. The app provides a free service that allows customers to send texts, share photos and videos, and make VoIP calls using 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi through their existing mobile number. The well-designed interface is clean and simple with a quick setup, and syncs with contacts automatically, plus it can search your phone to locate friends who are already using Viber. The app gives the well-established Skype brand a run for its money and has a high audio quality to boot. About the Author: Angie Beaumont is a blogger and travel writer with a passion for technology and gadgets, who loves to keep up to date with the latest travel news and tech breakthroughs.

Resume Writing For Professional Engineers

Resume Writing For Professional EngineersWhen it comes to resume writing for professional engineers, the trick is to keep the technical facts and to apply the same logical thinking as in a well-written academic thesis. It is a good idea to concentrate on relevant facts rather than throw out generic information. With a good writer, it is not hard to construct a good resume that highlights the best of the applicant's experience and achievements.The first stage in writing a resume for professional engineers is to know exactly what is required from the resume writer. A good resume writing for professional engineers will follow a number of specific steps to make the resume stand out in the stack of hundreds of other applications.A resume writer who can focus exclusively on resumes will produce a higher quality product. To begin with, the resume writer must understand the format of engineering resumes. Normally, the applicant has to fill out a personal section and another section will usua lly be designated for all professional qualifications and experiences. Although the personal information portion is important, the information listed in the other sections should be taken into consideration, as well.Before starting the drafting process, the applicant needs to put down the date, place and purpose of the engineer's experience. However, the applicants also need to make sure that he or she takes note of all the relevant details regarding the experiences. Also, the applicant should be clear about the type of experience which he or she wants included in the resume. For example, a student who wishes to emphasize his or her experience as a junior member of a research team will have to tailor the resume to highlight the research work.In resume writing for professional engineers, the applicant will be expected to list all the projects or tasks completed and to talk about the results achieved. Of course, the objective of the project should be mentioned here as well.After listi ng the objectives and the results, it is time to include the information relating to the training that the applicant has received. Information about previous work experience and education is also appropriate, as long as the applicant has registered with a proper business to do so. For example, if the applicant had done a PhD degree after completing an undergraduate course in engineering, it is likely that the applicant will have to mention this fact in the resume. The reason for making such information mandatory in the resume is to give the resume writer an idea of the applicant's experience level.Finally, the candidate should make a point of mentioning any new or outstanding publications that are related to the position which the candidate holds. These are important because they can be included in the portfolio.Resume writing for professional engineers can be a tedious job. The applicant will have to spend many hours drafting a resume, all the while worrying about the various gramm atical, spelling and typographical errors that may be present in the document. Fortunately, the answer is in the form of professional resume writers who can do the work for you.

Backstage - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Backstage - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog That feeling when youre introduced and go on stage in front of a 1,000 people :) Patricia took this pic at the CSCMP Edge conference in Nashville where I gave the closing keynote. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

7 Companies That Offer Highest Paying Jobs For MBAs - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

7 Companies That Offer Highest Paying Jobs For MBAs In the contemporary world, everybody wants to have a challenging job, world-changing opportunities and impressive takeaways and to claim it all; many aspirants opt to do MBA. MBA happens to be one of the most dynamic educational courses because it changes the way a person approaches things in life. The course teaches individuals to follow and trust only Data; any business decision that is made under the emotional influence will cost millions but a data-driven decision will change the fortune of the company. MBA degrees are seen as a tool to do gain world changing capabilities. Also, enterprises from around the world are ready to reward them with handsome salary packages, grandeur lifestyle and opportunities that help them and the company as well to grow together. Let’s traverse through a wisely curated list of companies that offer highest paying jobs for MBA graduates. If you a fresher than pay attention, you may end up working for these: 1. Google: Google owns the real Internet, will more than 70% of searches made on Internet coming on its servers, Google enjoys the position of being a world leader and thought leader. Google offers an exclusive range of marketing, designing, development and blogging tools that helps a lot of businesses and individuals webmasters make the most of every opportunity; what looks so easy on the outside is extremely difficult and depressing on the other end but everything is compensated with a good salary package. Average Salary: £ 90,000 2.  Mckinsey Company: World’s one of the most renowned management consulting firm surely has some good perks to offer. MBAs from across the world, crave for a position at this firm because they are simply the best, but are the salary equally best? Let’s have a look. Average Salary: £ 98,000 3. A.T. Kearney: A global firm, founded in America provides small scale, large scale, public and private businesses with consulting services. With offices in 40 countries, A.T. Kearney is one of the most sought consulting firms when it is strategic or operational CEO-agenda in businesses and government. This reputed multinational company offers MBAs with a handsome salary package. Average Salary: £ 83,878 4. Strategy  PriceWater Cooper recently acquired it; Strategy was founded in the United States of America in 1914 and since then it has promisingly provided enterprises with consulting services. After acquisition by PriceWater Cooper, Strategy’s reputation did hit a setback but things are now getting on track for the enterprise. Average Salary: £ 65,000 5. VMware: A subsidiary of Dell, which happens to be a Computer Giant. VMware specializes in cloud and virtual software category. With people creating a greater space, engineers have deciphered the amount of space that will be required in the coming times hence they have started being dependent upon the cloud for the same. VMware is changing the world one bit at a time. With VMware doing so much for the world, the people behind this brand are rewarded really well. Average Salary: £ 88,000 6. Juniper Networks: Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Juniper Networks is an American multinational company that specializes in designing networking based products. The company not only designs but also markets networking based products. Juniper Networks was able to leave a lasting impact because one of its kind when it was founded. The company continues to enjoy an exclusive partnership with a lot of enterprises. Average Salary: £ 87,000 7. Amazon Lab126: Owned by the e-commerce giant Amazon, this part looks into the development of Kindles. It is the firm that has developed the requisite framework that lets millions of people from around the world, read books in electronic format and it has also enabled another thousand of writers to publish their books digitally. Average Salary: £ 93,000 While these are the top seven companies with the highest salary for MBA graduates, there are lot more, which provide equally competitive salary packages and offers. Salary provided by these enterprises are good enough to inspire fresher’s to work harder and make the most of every opportunity in life. Author Bio: Cara Smith is an online marketing expert working with an Online STD Testing portal hivrnatest.com. She is passionate about writing and loves to contribute an article on different websites. You can follow her on Twitter.