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Articles from Kristen Harris | Selfgrowth.com
- Kick-start Your Career: Tips for the New Year - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2012 from Kristen HarrisWhether it’s a New Year’s resolution, rebounding from the holidays or simply having more free time, the new year makes people think about their career. Typically folks fall into one of three camps: happy, okay for now or definitely not happy. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, ...
Views: 1051(1 vote) - Closing the Skills Gap: Is It Really a Technology Issue? - by Submitted on Feb 29, 2012 from Kristen HarrisThe so-called “skills gap” has become a hot topic lately—lots of people are talking about the problem, but few have solid ideas about how to solve it. In a nutshell, unemployment in the U.S. is still high, but employers are saying they can’t find the workers they need to grow their businesses. ...
Views: 1011(1 vote) - Brushing Up on Soft Skills: 10 Lessons from Preschool - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisThere’s been a lot of talk about “soft skills” lately, they continue to be an important differentiating factor for job seekers, employees and employers in the current market. Beyond the technical skills and education (“hard skills”) required to do a job, employers are also looking for the ...
Views: 909 - Connections for Job Seekers: Associations Lead to Opportunities - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisJob hunting in a good economy can be an effort. In a slumping economy it can be downright brutal. It would seem logical that job seekers would use every available strategy to secure employment. Yet according to a recent study by Career Builder and The Inavero Institute for Service Research*, ...
Views: 635 - Critical Thinking and Creativity Key: Job-Seekers Need to Be Prepared - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisIn a recent study1 of corporate employers critical thinking and creativity were indicated as important skills they need from new hires. The catch is that companies are not providing training for these skills, they expect new employees to come prepared in those areas. When surveyed, more than ...
Views: 619 - Debunked: Five Myths About Working With Recruiters - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2012 from Kristen HarrisThink you know all there is to know about working with a recruiter to land a great job? In my work running a temporary staffing firm, I’ve found many job seekers fall prey to false beliefs about what the process is like. Here are the top five myths when it comes to working with recruiters. ...
Views: 1094 - Design Job Forecast: A Look Ahead - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisForced to be more innovative and efficient with the resources they have, companies continue to need creative thinkers to compete. No longer a manufacturing-based workforce of skilled laborers, we’re idea and technology-based. We’ve moved from the Industrial Economy to the Creative Economy. Enter ...
Views: 672 - Development: If You’re Not Growing Your Career, Who Is? - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2012 from Kristen HarrisWondering who’s responsible for your career development? Take a look in the mirror. It’s you. Yeah, you. Why? Because no one else is. There may have been a time when employers provided extensive on-the-job training for new, potential or current employees. But in an era of fast-paced, ...
Views: 1166 - Engagement: Mentors Help Creative Professionals Grow - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisRemember the teacher who encouraged you, or even pushed you, to try something new? Or that supervisor who took you under their wing to show you “how things really get done around here?” Maybe you had a business associate who met you for coffee to talk through a troublesome problem. We may not ...
Views: 574 - Entering the Danger Zone: Handling Tough Job Interview Questions - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2012 from Kristen HarrisThere are literally hundreds of questions you may be asked in an interview, from straightforward ("do you know xyz software?") to eclectic ("how many things could you make with three paper clips and a rubber band?"). A quick online search will give you many lists of different types of questions, ...
Views: 855 - Exposure: 10 Reasons Why LinkedIn (Still) Matters - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2012 from Kristen HarrisExposure: 10 Reasons Why LinkedIn (Still) Matters By Kristen Harris With the explosion of social networks, especially those that blur the line between personal and professional, a lot of people are wondering if LinkedIn is still relevant. Does it still matter? In a word, yes. Like a lot ...
Views: 1038 - First Impressions: Using Your One-Tenth of a Second Wisely - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisOne-tenth of a second. That’s the amount of time you get to make a first impression every time you meet someone. Yes, in less than one second that person has made a judgment about you, and their impression is very difficult to overcome once it’s been made. Unfair? Don’t a judge a book by its ...
Views: 1580 - From Job Renter to Owner: Tips for Making the Commitment - by Submitted on Jun 25, 2014 from Kristen HarrisYou might not know it just by looking around, but every workplace has two kinds of employees: renters and owners. Renters are in a job temporarily. They might be committed for a while, a one-year lease, maybe even two. But they’re not planning to put down roots and stay for the long haul. It ...
Views: 752 - Ideas Matter: Why the Creative Class Survives and Thrives - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2012 from Kristen HarrisLooking back at the recent economic crisis, it’s easy to think that all classes and industries suffered equally. In reality, workers in the so-called creative class have come through relatively unscathed. Yes, just under three quarters of a million creative jobs were lost during 2008-2010, but ...
Views: 897 - Independent by Choice: GenX Workers Lead the Way - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisFreelancers, independent contractors, sole proprietors, consultants, temps, self-employed, or contingent—no matter what term you use, independent workers are a growing segment of the workforce. Today’s independent workforce is 16 million strong in the U.S., and projected to grow to more than ...
Views: 725 - Making Connections: Three Steps to Grow Your Career Through Personal and Professional Networks - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisWe’ve all heard the phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” It can seem pretty negative, as if some people have all the advantages due to family, circumstances or other advantages, while the rest of us are out of luck. But at the core, “who you know” means exactly what it says—who ...
Views: 547 - Nobody Hires in December and Other Holiday Myths - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2012 from Kristen HarrisAs we head into the festive season, and before you get distracted with turkey, pumpkin pie and after-meal naps, let’s talk about job hunting during the holidays. I’d like to dispel a couple of common myths that hold people back in their job search, especially during the holidays. 1. Myth #1: ...
Views: 1083 - Recruiting is For Lovers: Life as a Professional Cupid - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2014 from Kristen HarrisMy reality television weakness is The Millionaire Matchmaker. In case you haven’t seen it, the premise is that Patty (The Matchmaker) runs a high-end dating service (The Millionaire’s Club). Every week she and her team select two high-net-worth individuals, preview potential dates for them, set ...
Views: 846 - References Matter: Three Tips to Prep For Success - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2013 from Kristen HarrisReferences Matter: Three Tips to Prep For Success By Kristen Harris There is a lot to think about when applying for a job—prepare a great resume, write a compelling cover letter, dress appropriately for the interview, follow up with a thank you note—these are all things YOU need to do. There ...
Views: 796 - Sharpen Your Job Hunting Focus: It’s Competitive Out There - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisUnemployment numbers. Job loss reports. The latest jobs-related statistics are enough to make you want to just crawl under a rock and hide until “this whole thing” blows over. Guess what? It’s not blowing over and nothing will be exactly like it was before. The jobs marketplace is highly ...
Views: 644 - Social Media: Using LinkedIn for Design Professionals - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisLinkedIn is the most widely-accepted social media platform for business. Anyone who is an employee, employer, student, freelancer, business owner, job-seeker or otherwise involved in a professional endeavor should have a complete and current LinkedIn profile. It’s the site where recruiters find ...
Views: 615 - Survey Says: Employers Feeling a Talent Shortage - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisThe 2011 Talent Shortage Survey1 results have been released, and news is mixed for job seekers. By being forced to reduce their workforce and find ways to “do more with less” during the recent recession, businesses have found that they can do great things if they have the right talent in place. ...
Views: 681 - The Future of Work: Flexibility and Options are on the Rise - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisEconomic upheaval of recent years has dramatically changed the American workforce. Companies of all sizes have had to reduce staff, figure out how to do more with less and become more creative than ever in how they use their people to get work done. For the job-seeker, these shifts mean ...
Views: 582 - The New Sharing Economy - Staffing Firms Were Pioneers - by Submitted on Jun 25, 2014 from Kristen HarrisRecently Lyft, Uber and Car2Go came to Columbus. They all just showed up, practically at the same time, seemingly overnight. Surprised? I wasn’t. It’s just another sign of the rapidly growing “sharing economy.” Also called “collaborative consumption,” the sharing economy is an old idea ...
Views: 1107 - Think You’re Too Old? That Employer Might Think So Too - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisWith some of the recent unemployment statistics it’s no surprise age discrimination continues to be a hot topic. Looking for a job is hard enough. Feeling as if you are being discriminated against for any reason makes it even harder to keep moving forward. There certainly are documented cases ...
Views: 846 - What Employers Look For: Performance Skills Are Critical To Career Success - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisWhether searching for a new position, or looking to advance your current career, it’s necessary to understand the skills and traits employers are looking for. In an environment where education and training is fairly accessible, it is possible for technical skills to become a commodity. If so, ...
Views: 555 - Workforce Readiness and Training: Don’t Rely on Employers to Bridge the Gap - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisA perfect storm is brewing, setting us up for a workforce that will be ill-prepared for the jobs of today and the future. Young people are graduating from high school, and even college, lacking basic skills required for success on the job. Companies have ever-increasing needs for basic, applied ...
Views: 577 - Working with a Recruiter: What Have You Done for Me Lately? - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisWorking with a recruiter or staffing firm can be a useful tool in your job search toolkit, whether your ultimate goal is temporary work or a full-time position. As with most things related to your job search, developing positive relationships is often the key to success. To truly leverage all ...
Views: 627 - Workplace Flexibility: The New Normal - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen HarrisWe keep hearing the phrase “the new normal,” and wondered what exactly that means for the world of work. With that expression, experts are essentially saying, “Don’t expect things to return to how they were pre-recession. What you’re seeing now is about what your expectations should ...
Views: 668 - Your Career in the New Year: Three Resolutions Worth Keeping - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2012 from Kristen HarrisI love a new year! It always feels so filled with possibility. It’s a fresh start and time to try something new. Instead of the same old resolution to lose ten pounds, exercise every day, or give up chocolate (gasp), this year make some resolutions worth keeping. Here are three ideas that will ...
Views: 784 - Your Career: It’s All About Results - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2011 from Kristen Harris“Never mistake activity for achievement.” –John Wooden This quote by John Wooden is great to keep in mind when talking about your career. Experience is great, education and training is usually required and always useful, industry knowledge helps, but in the end it’s all about the results. ...
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