6 Techniques to Fine-Tune Focus and Efficiency

6 Techniques to Fine-Tune Focus and Efficiency Business moves at supersonic speed. While technology has facilitated easier communication and information gathering, it has also ushered in a new economy in which the common worker can be more readily replaced by technological advancements than ever before.  The option to utilize advanced algorithms, data visualization and robotics as opposed to human assistance has become increasingly more alluring to organizations. In turn, the burden to prove themselves necessary has fallen upon the common worker. Competency alone no longer does the trick. More so than ever, it is crucial for professionals to not only be able to complete tasks, but to be able to complete them with the utmost efficiency, accuracy and creativity.  Performing at a consistently high level requires sustained focus. Luckily, there are ways to train yourself in order to become the type of individual who not only produces results, but produces the type of results that make you an all-star in your respective area. 1. Define your goals and prioritize tasks accordingly The first step in concentration is to form a mental picture of what you wish to accomplish. Understanding why you are engaging in an activity and clearly stating what you hope to achieve from completing the task adds clarity to your thought process. It’s important to write down your objectives and pinpoint how that job assists you in meeting those overarching goals. 2. Slow down When you work with a deliberate slowness, it allows you to more effectively pay attention to the task at hand. When it comes to engaging in mindful work activities, it is important to gain the discipline to keep things simple and moving at a pace conducive to improved focus. 3. Conquer negativity Negative thoughts greatly drain mental capacity, as an unhealthy thought process overly stimulates the brain, increasing mental pressure and tension. When your mind is overloaded with threats, demands and counterproductive thoughts, cognitive impairment (a big hindrance to productivity) is the result.  Such tricks as remembering your core values, defining aspects of yourself that you are grateful for, breathing to relieve bodily tension and getting up and moving will lessen thoughts of doom and gloom and heighten your ability to think efficiently and produce at optimal levels. 4. Practice intense focus Whenever you fix your mind on a certain thought and hold your mind on it at successive intervals, you develop concentration. Understand that the human brain has limited capacity for attention.  When you allocate anything less than 100% focus to a task, you weaken your ability to produce at a level consistent with your capabilities. If you wish to enhance the quality of your work, it is imperative to set aside any other activities that require effort for the time being.  When distractions such as emails, co-worker interactions and consistent client inquiries compete for your attention level, they dispose of a limited budget of mental capacity. Therefore, they must be put off until completion of that task or you risk a lesser output. 5. Confront procrastination Researchers estimate that nearly 15% of adults are chronic procrastinators. Putting off tasks is problematic on several fronts. First, when a job remains incomplete, it creates undue mental pressure straining your ability to focus on any other project. Additionally, failure to jump right in and see a project through to its end eventually becomes a habit and in time leads to low self-esteem.  Practices such as creating self-imposed deadlines, engaging in advanced planning and breaking a project into smaller steps will help combat procrastination. 6. Focus on the final product Knowing where a project is going is paramount to you being able to focus intently on that task. Understand what you expect out of the work will help you get down to work and provide you with the resiliency to finish the task. In the End As the working world evolves and many professionals find themselves ever closer to competing with efficient technologies in some aspect of their work, it is those who maintain the focus and good practices that lead to heightened effectiveness who will rise to the top, regardless of industry of position. Image credit: Shutterstock

How to Attract the Perfect Employee

How to Attract the Perfect Employee Recruitment is not something that you can do with 50% effort you need to get it right, otherwise youll end up with a team filled with bad hires. However, it is also one of the hardest elements of running a business theres a lot more competition now-a-days and a greater amount of people applying for each position so how do you attract the perfect employee? Which sets and elements do you have to introduce? This infographic by BGL Group  outlines 8 things to get correct. Attractive salary: Salary tops a lot of lists for things that candidates look for in a job, with the UK average being £27,107. Make sure your salary mirrors the job requirements and how hard people will work for their money. Clear career path:  42% of finance professionals state that having clear opportunities for promotions is important for job satisfaction. If your employee is uncertain of where theyre headed, they may not excel as well as someone who is. Opportunities for promotion: Employees are always looking to learn and advance in their careers promoting within a company boosts morale and keeps productivity high. On site gym: Over 4.5 million UK adults have a gym membership and healthy employees are happy employees. If you exercise three times a week, more mood-elevating endorphins will be released, so why not allow them to do it on site? Development reviews:  If youve given employees a clear path to follow, its important to show that their performance will be recognised and rewarded regularly. 40% of those who receive poor job training leave the job within the first year. Company pension: As we work through the years, we all want to ensure that well be protected later in life so a good pension will make them feel valued. Flexible work hours: 83% of people state flexibility as an important factor when applying for a new role and 70% of managers report an improvement in productivity after a shift to flexi-working. Subsidised cafe and healthy food:  Having an area where staff can interact (such as a cafe) can lead to an increase in a morale and healthy options enforce the idea that the workforce is looked after and treated well. RELATED: 10 Reasons Why People Quit Their Jobs [Main image: Shutterstock]

Outreach Coordinator Job Description - Algrim.co

Outreach Coordinator Job Description - Algrim.co Outreach Coordinator Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs.

How to Answer the Top 5 Most Stupid Interview Questions

How to Answer the Top 5 Most Stupid Interview Questions This is  the 9th most popular blog post of 2014. See the rest of the top 15 here. I do love going to job interviews! I dont consider them an exam, but rather improvisation or creative impromptu. You never know for sure what they will ask you. Some questions are so dazzling, that they become a subject of jokes and memories for a long time after the interview itself. Just check these most ridiculous questions you may hear at a job interview, and think how to answer them: 1) Do you know all machine languages? Sure! And I speak all languages of the world, sing opera, and save mankind at nights”. Every programmer understands that its impossible to know all languages. But a recruiter doesnt know it. Often it happens, that your first interview is conducted by HR-managers, not your potential future employee. Certainly, big chances are that recruiters dont know all nuances of your profession. How to answer: If you are still sure you want to work for this company, then your task is to pass the first filter in order to meet with a manager who will understand your specialty better. So, do not tell HR-managers how wrong they are, and dont accuse them of incompetence. It is better to list the languages (skills, abilities) you know, because the recruiter will give all this info to a person who will understand what you can. 2) Tell us about your drawbacks: “I dont drink, I dont smoke. I am always responsible and  initiative. I am Iron Man, and I dont have any drawbacks at all. Oh, wait.. I have one. I lie a  lot.” Certainly, this tricky question doesnt presume an answer about how bad you are. But it would be also inappropriate to answer something like this: “I would tell you about them with pleasure, but I dont have any drawbacks actually”. This is a question to check your self-irony, adequacy and quick response. After all, both you and a recruiter understand that there are no ideal people among us. How to answer:  You can play the same game with a recruiter, answering something like this: “When I dive into work, I forget about everything” or “I am so passionate about my work, that I spend a little time  with my family”. Or you can tell about some harmless flaws that will be  completely unrelated to your future work. Just try to deal with your emotions, and do not let this interview get awkward. 3) Where do you see yourself in 5 years? The owner of multi-million dollar business, living in his own  villa somewhere on islands. No, this joke wouldnt be a perfect answer to such a question.  It is usually given in order to find out how ambitious you are in your job search, and how adequate your requirements are as well. So, if you apply for a position of a courier in a large company, there is no need to say that you plan to become its director in 5 years. How to answer:  Be modest with your ambitions, telling how you would like to develop yourself in this company. It is not necessary to admit: I plan to gain experience here, and leave you in 2 years for a work at a normal company. You better let them know that you want to be trained to improve your skills and become a true professional in your field to reach some position in their company. But if you talk to your future manager, you should not name his position as your desired one. Maybe he would prefer not to hire a potential competitor. 4) Why do you want to work at our company? Because you are the first one who responded to my  resume! This question solves two problems at once. The first one is to find out whether a candidate knows something about the company, or he just goes to all interviews in a row. The second one is to check if he is interested in working for this company, or he sees it just like a starting point. So, it is necessary to learn more about the company before the interview, and demonstrate your interest during it. How to answer:  It is not necessary to put money on the top: usually, managers do not like employees whose main motivation is money. Praise the company, tell them you want to work with them because they are the leader in the market, or they are known for their revolutionary approach to business. In addition, tell about your creative ambitions that you can realize at this job in particular. READ MORE: What to Answer When the Interviewers Ask “Why Should We Hire You?” 5) How much do you want to earn? Believe me, you do not want to know the answer to that  question! Such a response constantly spins in my head when I hear this question. Because “how much I want to earn” and “how much Im ready to work for” are two completely different things. Moreover, most companies have a certain rate for each position, and your answer will not affect your future salary. So, why do they ask this question then? There can be several reasons. First, an employer can really doubt whether he can afford to keep such a specialist. Second, this question will help them determine the adequacy of your queries. How to answer:  First of all, identify several sums for yourself: a minimum you are ready to work for, a maximum you can expect, the average wage in this specialty, and the level of salaries in this company. The amount you call should be between minimum and maximum value, and it must be close to the average salaries in the market. But if you really want to work there, verify that the important thing for you is not money but creative growth, and therefore you are ready to discuss other possible options. READ MORE: How to Answer Salary Questions in Your Interview Author: Lesley J. Vos is a blog writer of www.Bid4papers.com. She also works as an essay proofreader and a private  educator of French language from time to time.

Choose a Professional Resume Writing Service in Houston

Choose a Professional Resume Writing Service in HoustonThe technology involved in Houston technical resume writing services is very advanced. That is why it is important to hire the services of an experienced professional. You have to make sure that the resume that you hire will meet the standards set by a professional resume writing service in Houston.A technical resume is one that has all the information needed to get the job. Therefore, in order to create the resume, the writer needs to understand the technical aspects of the job. Once the writer understands the job requirements, then the writing process begins. However, when a writer writes for an expert in Houston, he or she does not need to be an engineer or an architect.The writer works as an independent contractor. Therefore, he or she has to consider every aspect of the job. Therefore, he or she should be able to manage deadlines and take the necessary actions in order to meet the deadline. If you hire the services of an exp erienced professional, you can expect the best technical resume writing services Houston has to offer.There are many writers who have the capacity to create a technical resume that will meet the needs of any employer. In the United States, it is now possible to hire the services of an independent contractor. This means that the writer of the resume is not an employee of the company and there is no need to worry about employee benefits.However, there are still some writers who have the ability to write a professional resume. In order to maintain good quality, the writer of the technical resume will need to invest in his or her skills. For instance, he or she has to spend time in learning the technical jargon used in the field. You should hire the services of an experienced writer to get the best results.The objective of any technical resume is to describe the basic skills of the job to the hiring officer. Therefore, the writer should understand how to describe each skill in a clear m anner. He or she must also know how to format the data in a manner that makes it easy for the hiring officer to find the required information.It is important to consider hiring the services of a professional resume writing services in Houston. These experts have the capacity to help you meet the standard set by any companies or universities. For example, a professional resume writing service in Houston can show you the correct format of your resume. He or she can also create the cover letter that will contain the proper formatting that will enable you to convince the hiring officer that you are the right candidate for the job.You have to make sure that you hire the services of a Houston technical resume writing services. You can easily do so by making use of online services. Online services are available at affordable rates.

Dont Knock It Until Youve Tried It

Dont Knock It Until Youve Tried It What is IT? Is is everything, from networking, to cold calling, social media. It is actually all those activities that you say you dont know how to do or dont like doing. Stop nay-saying or making excuses- try it for 30 days! For those who have tried to lose weight, you know that you cant wish the weight off, just like you cant wish a new job to land in your lap. Even trying diet pills, the easy quick fix, takes some time. Sitting behind your computer all day or even part of the day, applying for jobs online is the equivalent of watching an exercise video from your sofa. You are unlikely to benefit from such an activity. When job seekers ask whether they should send an email or call, I ask Which is more difficult?. Picking up the phone, right?   That is the activity you should pursue. Job search, as you all know, is not easy. Managing your career is a job in and of itself. Awhile ago I wrote a tongue and cheek post.   If you are looking for a chuckle, feel free to check it out. 25 Signs You Need Serious Help with Your Job Search. Here are some simple reminders: You can get a job and a job that you will enjoy. Find your calling and get moving. Have a fire in your belly. Be enthusiastic. Networking is just meeting people and finding something in common. You are not being a pest, you are being persistent. Learning new technology demonstrates your ability to learn new things. You WILL be looking for a new job again, this I promise you.   Learning how to develop your personal reputation and nurture relationships are the skills that will help you out next time. Why do you feel your job search isnt working?   Dont blame the economy, this is about you.   What can you do differently, what will you do differently.   People are securing new jobs and have been for the past two years.   What did they do that you arent doing?   These are the tough questions. What are the activities you arent doing? Why? Will you please do yourself a favor and try them again for 30 days and see what happens this time? Just try. 30 days.

Career documents need freshening up, so do some spring cleaning!

Career documents need freshening up, so do some spring cleaning! Spring Cleaning: Freshen Up Your Career Documents It’s springtime!   Cue the singing birds, blooming flowers, and that warm promise in the air that summer is just around the corner. Ahhh… what a wonderful feeling! But to borrow a page out of our hardy forebears, this isn’t where one gets to rest on their laurels… time’s a-wastin’!   It’s time to do much-needed deep cleaning. But I’m not talking about purging the garage, or moving the couch to get at those annoying dust bunnies. Instead, let’s zero in on your career documents.   Why? Because most people let them gather dust and only clear them off to see the light of day only when they actually need them… say, for a job interview, or in the event of job loss or layoff. Sound familiar? Have I struck a nerve yet? Freshening up your career assets ensures that you are ready to respond to opportunities as well as unplanned changes… and is essential to your overall career management.   Don’t treat them as obituaries… you know,   as in: “Susie did this and Susie did that….” Yikes!    Wouldn’t it be better to instead have an up-to-date document that also helps you strategize what skills you might want to add in the coming year, or what organizations you should join to boost your networking IQ? I think so. So, every time I speak to a group, I make everyone in the audience raise their hand and take a solemn oath to update their résumé and career documents every 6 months. Sounds kind of funny, but in reality, this isn’t a frivolous exercise. This is serious business. By keeping on top of what you’ve been achieving and setting career goals for yourself, you’ll gain the momentum you need to either find that dream job or nail the promotion you’ve been angling towards over the past few years. But first, in order to take the pain out of updating your career documents, you’ll need to create a career management file. Not having one is sort of like trying to put the cart before the horse. This file is going to be your catch-all file that will help be those memory triggers so you don’t spend hours on end scratching your head, trying to remember what in the heck you did 5 years ago. In this career management file, you’ll put: Career documents that are updated are just like fresh-smelling flowers. 1)           Kudos letters from co-workers, bosses, colleagues, and clients. 2)           An extra copy of registrations for any educational events you’ve attended (including seminars, workshops, conferences, conventions, tradeshows, webinars, trainings, classes, etc.) 3)           Certificates of memberships so you can easily recall what organizations you joined and when 4)           Staff reports 5)           Plan of work 6)           Post-event recaps 7)           Performance assessments / reviews 8)           Any kind of metrics used to measure job success to goal 9)           Notations of any kind of volunteer, committee, or board service 10)     Any accolades you’ve received (i.e.   awards, speaking engagements, features, quotes, etc.) So, presto! Now when it’s time to update your career documents, you have all of your updates in one easy-to-locate spot! Update your work history with concrete, measurable wins.     Under the “Education” section, you’ll add all the things you’ve done to enhance your professional development with jobs-specific knowledge.     Don’t forget including new volunteer service (MPI has a great way of adding this kind of meaty stuff to most members’ résumés) to demonstrate involvement and leadership. Once you have your résumé up to date, then it’s time to turn your attention to its online companion, LinkedIn, and add in the same information to freshen up your profile. Once your profile is modified, make sure you occasionally add a status update as well (much like a Tweet on Twitter) so it looks like the lights are on and someone is home. By always doing a spring cleaning to your career credentials, you can rest assured that you are always “at the ready”   for any opportunities that come your way. Trust me… You’ll thank yourself later for it!