Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom 3 Innovative Business Trends for 2020

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom 3 Innovative Business Trends for 2020 Remember when the year 2020 seemed incredibly far away? Sure enough, if wed read about this years new business trends in the late 90s, we might have thought they were pretty futuristic. A few developmentsâ€"including theartificially intelligent voice economy, democratized IT and enhanced social videoâ€"became reality in the last few years and form the basis of future business trends in 2020 and beyond. AI-Powered Voice Economy Proactive voice response systems have long been a part ofcustomer service. A proactive response from a machine prompts a human to ask a question. Then the machine answers and then asks a follow-up question. For example, a customer might call a drugstore to order a prescription refill. The machine would offer the customer options; the customer could choose one, such as “Do I have a refill available? and the machine could respond “Yes, there is one refill available. Can I fill the prescription for you? Phone-based customer service “robots were once clunky and fussy, but the technology behind them is rapidly advancing. This progress is mostly due to improvements in natural language processing (NLP), or a machines ability to process human speech patterns. Artificially intelligentvoice-based assistantslike Alexa and Siri are taking off because if you think about it, its much easier for humans to communicate with digital devices and software by voice than by typing onto a screen. Your assistant sits quietly in the background until you ask for its help, and thanks to NLP, it can respond to you far more accurately than in the past. For the rest of the innovations, head over to the AMEX Business site.

What Are the Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace

What Are the Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace When you think about diversity, what springs to mind? The first things that people usually think of are factors such as age, gender, race, cultural background, etc., but there is far more to creating a diverse workplace than hiring people who fit into different age brackets or creating the perfect male to female ratio. Though we may share things in common with other individuals, at the end of the day, everyone is their own person and can bring different things to the table, which is why diversity is so important among a team. By hiring people with different personalities and at varied  stages of their career, it can  help to  foster creativity and offer a range of  perspectives and ideas. Here are a few of the top benefits or diversity in the workplace. 1) Talents, skills, and experiences Individuals from diverse  backgrounds can offer a selection of different talents, skills, and experiences, that may be of benefit to the organization and their work performance. Though some crossover of  skills can be beneficial when it comes to assisting each other, its important to hire people with the appropriate skills to fit each of the roles within the company. A variety of skills and experiences among the team also means that employees can learn from each other 2) It creates innovation By working alongside people of  different backgrounds, experiences and working styles, creative concepts  can be born from bouncing ideas off of each other and offering feedback and suggestions.  Whereas one person may be great at  generating exciting, out of the box ideas, another individual may have the necessary experience to execute it; so it is essential to play on each individuals strengths and collaborate with others in the team. 3) Language skills can open doors for a business Language barriers and cultural differences can often act as a bit of an obstacle  for a company who want to expand their business over shores; however, by hiring employees who speak different languages it can make it possible for a company to work on a global basis and interact with a broader client base.  Representing a number of nationalities within your company can also help to make it more relatable 4) It grows your  talent pool A company who embraces diversity will attract a wider range of candidates to their vacancies, as it will be viewed as a more  progressive organization and will appeal to individuals from all walks of life. Naturally, as the number of applicants for each vacancy rises, the chances of finding an exceptional candidate increases too! It can also help with employee retention, as people want to work in an environment who are accepting of all backgrounds and promote equality. 5) Improves employee performance Employees are more likely to feel comfortable and happy in an environment where inclusivity is a priority. Equality in the workplace is important for encouraging workers from all backgrounds to feel confident in their ability and achieve their best. The higher the team morale, the more productive employees are.

How to Build Your Personal Brand Like Gatsby - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Build Your Personal Brand Like Gatsby - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald introduced Jay Gatsby to the world in The Great Gatsby. This summer, Leonardo DiCaprio brought the iconic character to life once again on the big screen. Jay Gatsby is the master of the intriguing personal brand. Everyone in New York City knew his name. Everyone wanted to know more about him. Take some cues from Gatsby in building your own personal brand. Make your name memorable When James Gatz was a teenager, he lived in North Dakota with his parents who were extremely poor. One day, he decided he wanted more in his life than the path he seemed to be headed. On that day, he introduced himself as Jay Gatsby. After that, “Jay Gatsby” stood for wealth and attraction. Everyone in New York talked about him. You don’t have to change your name to make it memorable. What you should do is make your name associated with your industry. Figure out what you want to be known for and become an authority in that area. When other people hear your name, they will remember who you are and what you do. If you make your name memorable, you will become more credible in turn. Find a mentor Gatsby learned everything about his lifestyle from a mentor. Dan Cody was a wealthy man who showed Gatsby the ropes while spending five years on his yacht. Gatsby took advantage of the time with Cody by adopting everything from his style to the way he spoke. After all of that time, Cody even wanted to leave his fortune to Gatsby. In your own life, it is a good idea to find a mentor. Find someone who has experience doing what you want to do, someone who’s work you may admire. While you probably won’t get to spend five years on a yacht with your mentor, you can learn a lot in time. Ask your mentor for advice and use it to shape your personal brand. Dream big Not satisfied with a life in poverty, Gatsby aimed high. He saw an opportunity to do bigger things and took advantage of it. After the war, he studied at Oxford for a short time before committing his life to wealth and high status. When he returns to the U.S., Gatsby uses Prohibition to gain both of those things as a bootlegger. While it’s definitely not a good idea to seek out your dreams through illegal activities, it is a good for your brand to dream big. Don’t limit yourself to jobs you think will be easy to get. Aim high and learn from your experiences along the way. Someone who wants more than what they have will exude hope and motivation. These qualities are attractive in a job candidate and will amplify your brand. Build a network Gatsby is the king of networking. He becomes most recognized for the lavish parties hosted at his mansion. Gatsby hosts the parties and invites everyone in New York in hopes that the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan, will attend or if not, someone who knows her. Put yourself in the position to meet people. You don’t have to host a party to be good at networking, but you should take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. Make a list of ideal people to whom you’d like to introduce yourself. For Gatsby, it was Daisy. For you, it might be a hiring manager at your ideal company or even the CEO. Find ways to meet these people directly or find someone to introduce you. If the first plan works out, you’ll seem confident. If it comes down to the second, another person’s recommendation can do wonders for your brand. While Gatsby’s corrupt business methods may not be admirable, you cannot deny his mastery of the personal brand. What other ways does Jay Gatsby build a strong brand? Author: Heather R. Huhman  is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder president of  Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for job search and human resources technologies. She is also the instructor of  Find Me A Job: How To Score A Job Before Your Friends, author of  Lies, Damned Lies Internships  (2011) and  #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle  (2010), and writes career and recruiting advice for  numerous outlets. Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

57 Highest Paying Jobs To Pursue in 2020

57 Highest Paying Jobs To Pursue in 2020 57 Highest Paying Jobs To Pursue in 2020 Whether you are new to the job market or plan to change careers, the one thing that inevitably interests you is the pay range. Just how much can you earn by doing X or Z? Freesumes team decided to do some serious digging and prepared this data-backed list of in-demand, well-compensated jobs.Buckle up and let’s take a close look at different groups of the highest paying jobs in America.   The 20 Highest Paying Jobs and Job Niches in 2020Salaries are often dictated by the skills demand and rarity. People with in-demand, niche skills can command higher rates, while “generalists” usually receive less attractive offers. Boston Consulting Group recently published a massive study showcasing which skills are in the highest demand and how this reflects on the offered compensation.Below is a list of high growth jobs that pay $70,000 annually or more:Application software developers â€" median base salary: $106,710Database Administrator â€" median base salary: $86,996Civil Engineer â€" median base salary: $86,141Information Security Analyst â€" median base salary:$82,200Occupational Therapist â€" median base salary: $80,943Registered nurses â€" median base salary: $73,550General and operations manager â€" median base salary: $71,424Computer Systems Analyst â€" median base salary: $71,230In addition, Business Insider also suggests that the following jobs will experience significant growth in 2020 and onward. Similarly, the list includes the top paying ones:Family and general practitioners   â€" median base salary: $198,740Dentists â€" median base salary: $151,440Computer and information systems managers â€" median base salary: $139,220Financial managers â€" median base salary:$125,080Lawyers â€" median base salary: $119,250Physician assistants â€" median base salary: $104,860Nurse practitioners â€" median base salary: $103,880Medical and health services managers â€" median base salary: $98,350Postsecondary health specialties teachers â€" median base salary: $97,870 Construction managers   â€" median base salary: $91,370Physical therapists â€" median base salary:   $86,850Management analysts â€" median base salary:$82,4508 Highest Paying Part-Time JobsFor those who want to earn a good paycheck without clocking in 40+ hours per week, the prospects are great too.   Flexjobs just released their annual report showcasing who is hiring for “flexible” positions in 2020. By flexible work the company means:Remote part-time and full-time jobsFreelance (contract) jobsJobs with flexible schedules or alternative work hours.Unsurprisingly, theres a lot of tech companies among “flexible” employers. However, a number of healthcare, educational and scientific organizations are also hiring for part-time roles, both in-house and remote. Here is a list of part-time jobs offering great pay as per Flexjobs:Exam Prep and College Course Instructors: (grab a teacher resume example to help you with writing)Project Managers and Project CoordinatorsBack-end and fr ont-end developers (we also have a resume example for engineering positions)Technical WriterVisual and graphic designers (check our graphic designer resume example if you are feeling stuck)Food PhotographerSEO Manager/Digital Marketing ManagerBusiness System Analyst17 Highest Paying Jobs Without a DegreeA college degree does not always equal higher pay and better employment prospects. Today, with the rise of e-Learning and alternative education, most employers are increasingly willing to hire experienced candidates without traditional educational credentials.Here’s proof: according to CNBC, the following jobs pay over $79,000 per year that do not require you to have a degree:Media and communication equipment workersPower plant operatorElevator installers and repairersPowerhouse, substation, and relay electrical and electronics repairersDetectives and criminal investigatorsCommercial pilots (note: you’ll need to obtain a license though)Power distributors and dispatchersFirst-line supervisors of police and detectivesNuclear power reactor operatorsTransportation, storage, and distribution managersAnd we’d like to add a few more other well-compensated career options you can easily pursue without graduating from college:Real estate agent (also one of the highest paying part-time jobs!)Property managerWebsite developer (there’s plenty of free and paid coding courses available today)Commercial Makeup ArtistPersonal Stylist/ShopperFlight Attendant (certification required)Sales Representative12 Highest Paying Entry-Level JobsBeing new to the workforce doesn’t mean you should settle for a meager paycheck. According to Glassdoor, fresh graduates earn $50,004 on average as their first salary. However, compensation in the in-demand niches such as finance and tech is way above that figure. Just how much are we talking? Here are the numbers.Data scientists â€" median base entry-level salary of $95,000.Software engineer â€" median base entry-level salary of $90,000P roduct manager   â€" median base entry-level salary of $89,000Investment banking analyst â€" median base entry-level salary of $85,000Product Designer â€" median base entry-level salary of $85,000UX Designer â€" median base entry-level salary of $73,000Implementation Consultant â€" median base entry-level salary of $72,000Java Developer â€" median base entry-level salary of $72,000Systems Engineer â€" median base entry-level salary of $70,000Software Developer â€" median base entry-level salary of $68,600Process Engineer â€" median base entry-level salary of $68,258Front End Developer â€" median base entry-level salary of $67,500Wrap Up  Tech, healthcare, finance, legal and management are among the highest-paid job niches. Creative jobs in design and marketing also hold great potential salary-wise. And those with strong mechanical engineering skills can also count on a good paycheck (even if they dont have a degree).Planning to get serious with your job search in 2020? Don’t forge t to grab a free resume template from our team to pack an extra punch in your job application! previous article Career (Con)Quest #3: The Quantification Act next article Career (Con)Quest #4: Too Good to Be True you might also likeThe Best Way to Explain Your Sabbatical To a New Employer

6 Unique and Exciting Career Paths

6 Unique and Exciting Career Paths Are you bored of the same old job search that doesn’t seem to return anything interesting?You’ve seen the same handful of local jobs pop up time and time again and you’re not feeling inspired to apply for any positions. Well, good news for you, brand new jobs are being created each and every day.Here are six incredibly unique opportunities that might get your gears turning.1. Forensic NursingevalHave you ever wondered what goes into solving a crime?Besides police work and specific targeted evidence analysis, there are other big players behind the scenes.Forensic nurses are trained to notice intentional crimes such as physical and sexual assault, child neglect, and domestic abuse. They are even trained to notice signs of psychological harm as well.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comA healthcare professional’s job is to assess the needs of these patients quickly and collect evidence that police can use to solve the crime quickly and efficiently. They are essentially the first stop for data and evidence collection. Forensic nurses can help solve crimes faster and more accurately.2. HippotherapistHippotherapists specifically use horses to treat patients with both physical ailments and psychological ones. Hippo comes from the greek word “hippos,” meaning horse.Hippotherapy is often used to treat children with spinal postural issues and delayed motor function. In addition, children with speech issues can also benefit from such therapy. Learning to ride, guide, and care for a horse takes dedication in many areas.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comevalForming a bond with the animal allows the child to explore their underdeveloped skills, but in a friendly and fun way that doesn’t feel pressured. People of all ages can benefit from hippotherapy, but a main aspect of hippotherapy focuses on the advancement of children.3. Food ScientistFood scientists are not only responsible for creating new, interesting, and unique foods, but they are also the geniuses who make our food better. They test foods, and all the ingredients within them, in order to create a tastier and overall safer treat.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comFood scientists work diligently to find the perfect preservatives and additives when they are absolutely necessary to a creation. They are constantly working to find better, safer, and healthier versions of additives that are already on the market.All in all, they play a big part in what tasty treats you see on your self at your local supermarket.4. Ethical HackerevalCompanies that maintain extensive technical systems will often hire “hackers” to protect their sensitive data. These hackers are hired for the specific job of trying to break through a company’s data protection.Their goal is to find areas of a website, software, or other computer program that may have weaknesses. If the weaknesses are not found, there’s a chance that a real hacker could come around and exploit it in order to find sensitive information.Photo Credit â€" Pi xabay.comEthical hackers find these weaknesses and work with IT teams to create a stronger system that can withstand even the most skilled of hackers.5. Robotics EngineerIf you want to be apart of a groundbreaking team that helps to make discoveries in a myriad of different fields, then robotic engineering might be for you.Robotics engineers are at the forefront of creating exciting new machines that can help us do things we never dreamed of. For example, engineers have been perfecting precise machines that help doctors with surgeries, which can help eliminate human error in many procedures.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comSeparately, other engineers choose to work on projects that help us explore the deep, dark ocean.One such project is an aquatic robotic “fish” that can withstand much more pressure than a human ever could. It’s outfitted with an extremely sensitive camera to capture creatures we’ve never laid eyes on.This type of work and everything in between can benefit from progress in robotic engineering.6. Fragrance ChemistHave you ever wondered exactly what goes into the making of perfumes, lotions, and other body products and cosmetics? Who chooses the scents and how do they know that certain scents will work well together? Well, believe it or not, there’s usually a chemist working hard behind the scenes of it all.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comevalFragrance chemists not only have a deep understanding of individual fragrances and their scent properties, but also the ingredients on a chemical level. They know what kind of a reaction two fragrances might have when combined, which is integral to the safety of cosmetic products as well.Hopefully one of these positions reached out to you and gave you some ideas about your future employment. If not, let these suggestions inspire you to branch of in a related category.This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to creative careers. Do some research on a free job posting site in one of these fields, r eally dive in and see what type of career path truly speaks to you!

Are You Ready For a New Career

Are You Ready For a New Career Are You Ready For a New Career? Are You Ready For a New Career? May 19, 2013 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas Leave a Comment Are you thinking, “I need a new job!” Are you thinking it every day? Do you dream of starting a fresh, new career where you feel challenged, fulfilled and energized? Where you can flex your professional muscles and be valued for your expertise? Or maybe reinventing yourself into an entirely new job role or industry where you’re doing something completely new and different? Maybe you’ve been pushing away that thought because it seems impossible, or overwhelming, or maybe because you simply don’t know how to change your career? Ive successfully reinvented my own career four (4) times and I fully believe that life is way too short to stay in a meaningless job where you’re unfulfilled, unchallenged and under-valued. As a leading career coach, the #1 biggest question I get asked is, How can I reinvent my career without decreasing my salary? Each time that I reinvented my career, I received anywhere between an 8% 32% salary increase. A client of mine, Matt, just reinvented his career from being a manager in the TV industry to becoming a manager in high tech, and he received a 17-percent pay increase. So how did we do it? Reinventing your career means repackaging your skills, qualifications and successes so that you can transition into a new job role, company or industry. It takes a strong vision, a solid plan, and someone who can coach you through your transition, but yes, it is possible! Below are four steps I take with my clients to teach them how to reinvent their career Identify your transferable skills. If youve been working for at least five years, then you have transferable skills. These are skills that transition from industry to industry, or from job role to job role. Examples include: managing projects, teams, clients or budgets, as well as negotiating contracts, helping a company generate revenue, save money, or gain market share. Other transferable skills include personal characteristics such as demonstrating leadership, mentoring or training others, risk taking, being goal driven, results oriented, a problem solver, or having the ability to influence senior managers. These are great skills to have, and they transfer from industry to industry. All kinds of industries and companies value employees with these types of skills and characteristics. Match your transferable skills to job roles. Read job descriptions posted on Indeed.com, CareerJournal.com, CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com, as well as business journals and industry-specific websites. If you want to work for a specific company then check out their website’s on-line job postings. Learn the skills and qualifications required for various job roles. Then, match your transferable skills to those jobs you want to go after. If there’s a gap between the required skills and the skills that you currently have, then look for ways to gain that experience such as taking on an extended assignment in your current job, or if you’re in between jobs then try freelancing, consulting, or volunteering. Also, attend industry conferences, trade shows, business networking events and association meetings. Talk to people who work in the industry to learn about their career path, key skills, and advice on how to break into the business. Blow up your resume. The first thing I always did before I transitioned into a new career was blow up my resume. Trying to piece together a resume that highlighted the skills I used to get my last job with the skills I needed to land my next job was like trying to weld together Lexus parts on a BMW. It doesn’t work. You need a brand new resume. Hiring managers don’t care about every job you’ve ever had. They just want to know, Can you do their job? In order to get noticed youll need a clean, polished and professionally written resume. Attitude is the key ingredient! I’ve found that getting a new job really boils down to two things: confidence and passion. I’ve never walked into an interview having met all of the job requirements. In fact, for the television interview, I lacked the two biggest requirements which were a minimum of two years experience in television, and a reel to show my TV work. There’s a kind of quiet confidence that we all have down deep inside. A confidence that comes from knowing what we’re capable of doing. When you transition into a new job role or a new company, you need to show the hiring manager that you have confidence in yourself and know that you’ll be successful in the job. When it comes to reinventing your career, it’s not just your skills and talent but your attitude that counts! Want a little help transitioning into your new career? Check out my services for personal career coaching packages, resume development and interview coaching.   Potential clients can request a 15-minute complimentary consultation by writing to Tim@CareerCoaching360.com â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€" Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist, international speaker and award-winning author of the BEST CAREER BOOK of 2012 by Indie Book Awards for independently published book authors for her book  â€œThe Bounce Back â€" personal stories of bouncing back higher and faster after a layoff, re-org or career setback”.   She also  authored, “Career Smart â€" 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand” â€" which is on AMAZON’s TOP 10 LIST for personal branding books. Sherri is the President and Founder of Career Coaching 360 which provides resume help, interviewing support, and personal career coaching packages for executives and professionals who want to change their career. For a limited time, you can download the three FREE chapters of “The Bounce Back” at http://www.MyBounceBack.com  

Resume Writing Affiliate Program

Resume Writing Affiliate ProgramResume writing affiliate program is probably the best way to get jobs for a software programmer. Resume writing affiliate program can provide a pathway to the many freelance positions you need to gain work in IT. It is a good way to make money if you are doing something for others or you can use it as a sideline. Also, when you know that your skills are required by the application developer, you have a sure path to getting a job.Although many people think that they should get a degree to qualify for a job, there is no need to do so. There are no universities in existence that offer any type of training in resume writing, and you should not even consider doing this unless you are committed to getting a college degree to begin with. You don't want to risk missing out on an opportunity just because you didn't pursue your dream.If you are familiar with applying for jobs or if you've been laid off, chances are you'll be grateful to any developer who will lo ok at your resume for you. Most jobs in IT are filled by recruiting companies, so don't even bother trying to do it yourself. The more the merrier. A good resume writer can literally write your perfect CV.Most companies that use resume writing affiliate program are specialized in your particular area of expertise. This makes your chances of success much higher, since you have someone who knows the industry intimately that is going to look at your resume. The people who write resumes for their clients are typically very adept and familiar with the needs of those in your particular field.Every one of these experts understands the various intricacies of that particular language, and they're in a better position to provide solutions to your specific problems. Since you know how to write and who is going to read it, you won't need to write every line by hand. If the idea of typing your resume does not appeal to you, a professional can write it for you, and you won't need to worry about h aving it proofread and edited.Resume writing affiliate program is not for everyone. It is for those who want to have some control over their careers. If you are ready to take the risk of writing your own resume, then maybe it's time to learn what you need to know to begin.Of course, if you aren't able to write a perfect resume by yourself, there are plenty of people who have done it for you. Resume writing affiliate program can turn to qualified writers who are experienced and skilled in the use of the English language. With a little practice, these professionals can transform your resume into a masterpiece.Writing a resume is only the first step in the process. When you see your letter to the recruiter, be sure to ask lots of questions. The company you chose should be willing to answer them all, and you will learn a lot about how to market yourself and reach the people who matter.