How to Explain a Gap Year on Your Resume

How to Explain a Gap Year on Your ResumeHow to Explain a Gap Year on Your ResumeA gap year can take many forms A year in a kibbutz in Israel. Volunteering in Guatemala. Teaching English in Vietnam. Skiing on slopesacrosstheglobe. Caring for a sick parent post-college. This year can often be a world-opening, beneficial experience. While theyprimarilyoccur in the year preceding or following college, you may also choose to take a gap year between jobs. That can seem particularly appealing if you arelaid offwith generousseveranceor quit a high-stress job that doesnt feel like the right path forward. A gap year can be,asitsanthroponymimplies,a year long. When you end your gap year and seek to return to the workforce, you might find it challenging to figure out how to list this time on your resume. It wont necessarily fit into the experience and educationsections. And yet, you likely gained a lot of experience and knowledge during your time away from the workforce. Here is some key advice on how to approach mentioning your gapyearon your resume. Create a Non-Chronological Resume One option, of course, is to leave your gap year off your resume and diminish its visibility. There are manydifferent types of resumes, and while achronological one, which lists your most recent experience first, is most common, its not the only option. You can also create afunctional resume, which focuses on your skills and experience, rather than when you gained them. A functional resume might be particularly appealing if your gap year has a more recreational feel or if it happened because of personal family circumstances that youd prefer not to detail. With a functional resume, you can include any skills you picked up during your gap year while not listing how you spent the time outright. List Your Gap Year Under Experience If you worked, taught, or volunteered, this is a valuable experience. Why hide it? You can list this just like any other role in the experience section of your resume. Your gap year may also show that youre a leader, independent, or possess other qualities desired at many companies. As you write up a description of your gap year experience, take note of the job posting. Tailor yourpointsto emphasize the skills mentioned in the job description as well as the required tasks. (Heres advice on how tomatch your qualifications to a role.) Aim to usepowerful, action-oriented verbsandquantifyyour accomplishments and tasks as much as possible. Here are examples of how to list a gap year in your experience section ESL Teacher - September 2018-August 2019 Taught conversational English to adult learners in Tokyo, Japan.Developed curriculafor two levels of English speakers, basic and intermediateTaught 6 three-hour classes per weekBrainstormed and implemented program improvements during weekly meetings ExpandVolunteer at California Resettlement Nonprofit Organization - August 2018-December 2018 Worked to coordinate volunteer efforts in the wake of th e California wildfires.Assigned tasks and work rotations to 500 volunteersCoordinated with FEMA and other organizations to find shelter options for people displaced by wildfires ExpandIt can sometimes be helpful to include only the year (and not the month) when you worked or volunteered at jobs for short periods of time. Include Your Gap Year in a Breakout Section of Your Resume If your gap year time feels discordant with the rest of your resume - for instance, if you have a string of accountant jobs and then spent a year building access to clean water - you might want to set it off in a different section. You might call this section International Experience, Volunteer Experience, International Travel, or Additional Activities Experience. Do Highlight Gap Year Accomplishments Throughout Your Resume Most likely, you learned and grew a lot as a person during your gap year. And while some ofwhatyoulearnedmay not help in the business world (like the ability to find the cheape st hostel, say), other skills may be applicable. Add Skills to Your Resume Some skills you may have gained are speaking a foreign language,communication, planning and coordinating, and budgeting. Depending on how you spent your gap year, you may have other skills to add (or remove) from this list. You can include these skills in the write-up of your gap year experience as well as in theskills section of your resume. Use the Summary Section Think of this section as telling a (short) story about you - who you are, what youve accomplished, and what you want to work on next. In that framing, it makes logical sense that your gap year might be helpful to include. For instance, yoursummary sectionmay read World-traveler and experienced ESL teacher looking for a role teachingtheSpanish language to middle school students. Bottom line Go beyond thinking of your gap year as a fun break and consider what achievements and skills youve gainedalongwithhow they potentially apply to your next role. Then, include this insight on your resume.

Customize this Outstanding VP President of Finance Resume

Customize this Outstanding VP President of Finance ResumeCustomize this Outstanding VP President of Finance ResumeAs a vice president of finance, you are aware of facing stiff competition during your job search. Your fellow jobseekers are just as ambitious, clever, and ardent as you are. Because of this, you resume needs to be strong, showcasing your abilities and accomplishments to help you stand out from the rest. When applying for that position, reading a similar sample resume, such as the one below, helps make your resume writing process simpler.By reviewing our vice president of finance resume sample, you become more familiar with best practices and formatting for resume writing. Know what to include and how to convey your strengths to executive recruiters. If you need more assistance, please try our resume builder.Sample Vice President of Finance ResumeCreate Resume Qualification HighlightsExpert financial management professional with over sixteen years of accounting experien ce specializing in technology, manufacturing, and financial services companies with revenues in excess of $20 billionAccounting systems implementation expert specializing in Great Plains and Oracle Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and General Ledger and Hyperion products Experienced with presenting complex strategic and financial business decisions to a variety of audiences Proficient in detailed analysis with the ability to identify key information and formalize recommendationsExpert quantification skills including corporate budgeting, forecasting, strategic and capital expenditure planning, mergers and acquisitions, and managing accounting departmentsSummary of ExperienceU.S. Auto Parts ($200 mio Internet Retailer)Vice President of Finance 2007 to 2008AccomplishmentsManaged the accounting and finance departments including month end close, financial reporting packages, 10Q and 10K SEC filings, audit schedules, and treasury functionsPerformed corporate consolidations and curren cy conversions for both domestic and international locations including the Philippines and IndiaPerformed activity based costing, inventory analysis including FIFO calculations and physical inventoryImplemented Great Plains Accounts Receivable, General Ledger and Accounts Payable for domestic and international locations Prepared annual operating plans and monthly forecasts including profit and loss and balance sheetsPerformed acquisitions including due diligence that significantly increased revenue Implemented an internal control environment in accordance with Sarbanes Oxley for a newly public company including documentation, testing and remediation.Performed accounting research to determine the proper GAAP accounting methods are applied to transactionsPrepared corporate tax returns and state tax returns for multi domestic and international locations, perform FAS 109, FIN 48, and deferred tax account journal entries, and analyze tax regulations for compliance. Managed and built a st aff of 30 accountants and financial analystsQuest Diagnostics ($5.4 Billion Healthcare Company)Controller 2006 to 2007AccomplishmentsManaged the accounting department including month end close, financial reporting packages accounts payable, revenue recognition, fixed assets, cash flow forecasting, and account reconciliationsPrepared monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasts including the balance sheet and PL for 420 multi-site retail locationsPerformed product profitability analysis and prepared capital expenditure recommendationsPerformed audits and work with our external auditors to determine the reliability and integrity of financial information and reporting in accordance with GAAPPerformed Sarbanes Oxley documentation Managed a staff of sixty including the accounting department, materials, pricing, and managed careGeneral Electric ($200 Billion Financial Services Company WMC Mortgage)Controller 2004 to 2006AccomplishmentsManaged the accounting department including month end clos e, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting packages, fixed assets, cash flow forecasting, and audit schedulesPerformed corporate consolidations and currency conversions for the Australian and Canadian locationsPerformed acquisitions including due diligence both domestically and internationallyPrepared monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements including the PL and Balance Sheet for 46 multi-site locations Assisted in implementing Sarbanes Oxley including process flow documentation, manage the annual audit and prepared corporate tax returns schedules and purchase accounting tax schedulesComposed regulatory reports, perform new product line analysis, and prepare financial statementsAssisted with corporate and state tax preparation and play an integral role in implementing policies and procedures for new systems and process improvements to existing systemsGreenbelt Certified and recipient of three business impact awards for outstanding controllershipManaged a staff of six accountantsHomestore ($300 million Internet/ASP)Director of Corporate Financial Planning Analysis 2002 to 2004AccomplishmentsPrepared annual operating plans and quarterly forecasts including profit and loss, balance sheets, and cash flow statements and monthly business unit financial reporting packagesPerformed month end close including financial statements and SEC documentsPerformed product profitability analysis and prepared capital expenditure recommendationsAssisted in implementing Sarbanes Oxley including process flow documentation Created and prepared detailed business unit variance reports including account analysis and accrualsDeveloped standardized corporate-wide performance metrics for all business units that previously didnt exist that resulted in PL accountability for all business units Assisted with tax preparation and played an integral role in implementing new accounting systems Managed a staff of six accountantsDigital Insight ($400 million Internet/A SP software manufacturer)Director of Corporate Finance and Accounting 2000 to 2002AccomplishmentsComposed and reviewed all press releases and 10Q and 10K SEC documentsImplemented Great Plains Accounts Receivable, General Ledger and Accounts Payable Managed the accounting department including month end close, audit schedules accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, treasury and financial reportingPrepared annual operating plans and quarterly forecasts including profit and loss and balance sheets Performed consolidations and financial reporting for multi domestic locations and assisted in preparing corporate tax and multi state tax returnsPerformed audits and work with our external auditors to determine the reliability and integrity of financial information and reporting in accordance with GAAPPlayed an integral role in driving the organization to profitability through acquisitions and played a key role in integrating acquired companys finance and accounting organizations Managed a staff of ten accountants and financial analystsGateway, San Diego, CA ($10 Billion Computer Hardware Manufacturer) Director of Corporate Accounting and Financial Planning and Analysis 1998 to 2000AccomplishmentsPrepared domestic and international budgets with total revenues of $10 billion including profit and loss, balance sheets, cash flow statements and prepared corporate and multi state tax return schedulesPerformed activity based costing, inventory analysis including FIFO calculations and physical inventory and managed the cost accounting departmentManaged the accounting and finance departments including month end close, financial reporting packages, 10Q and 10K SEC filings, audit schedules, and treasury functions. Performed budgets, forecasts, financial analysis and systems implementations for 600 multi-site retail storesImplemented JD Edwards accounting package including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger and Fixed AssetsPerformed corporate consoli dations and currency conversions expressly for the United Kingdom, Europe and the Asian countries including JapanPerformed product line profitability and new product launch analysis including the sub $1,000 personal computer estimated to be 30% of the 2000 annual operating planCreated a five year strategic model including PL, cash flow, and balance sheet that provided significant impact to the organizations future growth and communication to the analyst communityDeveloped financial statements and negotiated with portal and world wide web service providers to form Gateway.net and Gateway.com start up companies resulting in 1 million subscribers Supervised a staff of ten full time financial analystsLucky Stores, Inc., San Leandro, CA ($5 billion retail and manufacturer) Controller1994-1998AccomplishmentsDeveloped the Northern California Divisions 480 multi-site store budgets, prepared an eight quarter rolling forecast, a five year capital expenditure plan and a three year strategic pl anPerformed activity based costing, inventory analysis including FIFO calculations and physical inventory and managed the cost accounting departmentManaged the accounting department including month end close, accounts payable, accounts receivable and financial reporting packages for 480 multi-site store locationsPerformed net present value analysis for the manufacturing departments that resulted in $10 million savingsDeveloped a strategic plan that added $1.5 billion in revenue through store openings and closuresCreated store closure analysis models that resulted in $20 million of net income savingsCompleted many special projects including quarterly presentations to senior management, four year strategic real estate plans, and competitor, profitability, and sales trend analysisSupervised a staff of six full time employees EducationMaster of Business Administration in FinanceUniversity of San Francisco, February 2003Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Management Inf ormation Systems Concentration California State University, Sacramento, December 1985References Available upon RequestCustomize ResumeWhy Is This a Good Vice President of Finance Resume Sample?This vice president of finance resume sample starts off with the candidates areas of expertise, listed under Qualification Highlights. The candidate uses five bullet points, emphasizing hard skills. The words expert and proficient are used to demonstrate experience. The jobseeker mentions having over sixteen years of accounting experience as well as skill sets in accounting systems implementation, detailed analysis, presentation of complex strategic and financial business decisions, and quantification skills. The resume also loads a number of keywords into this first section, such as budgeting, forecasting, expenditure planning, managing, and mergers and acquisitions, all of which are highly relevant to the position.The experience section lists each position backwards chronologically, with the most recent experience listed first and each previous position following. This resume lists 14 years of experience, but all the positions are relevant to the candidates career path. Typically, you would not list employment from 15 years ago and beyond. Instead of paragraphs, each position uses bullet points to list duties, with the anthroponym of the company, position, and years of employment shown. Each bullet point begins with a strong action word, such as managed, performed, implemented, prepared, composed, and developed. The jobseeker shows a record of increasing responsibility and upward mobility, starting from controller, moving to director, and finally to vice president. There is an increase in the number of staff managed over time, indicating growing authority. Each position shows the duties handled, and mentions specific achievements, such as Greenbelt Certified and recipient of three business impact awards for outstanding controllership.The jobseeker correctly places the education section at the end of the vice president of finance resume sample. It lists the most recent degree first, in proper reverse chronological order. The section only includes the necessary basic information, meaning the degree earned, the educational institution, and the year of graduation.Why You Need a Strong Vice President of Finance ResumeWhile the field for finance managers and above has a bright outlook, with a 7 percent increase by 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, competition for top positions exists, with more applicants than job openings. Those with a masters degree or certifications fare best in terms of job prospects.When hiring managers or recruiters review resumes, they spend between five and seven seconds skimming them before making quick decisions on whether to proceed with a potential candidate. Thus, the resume needs to make enough of an impression to encourage further consideration. Including keywords in the text makes your resume more likely to be skimmed and expresses your greatest strengths and triumphs. By integrating the writing tips and studying the vice president of finance resume sample, you are heading towards crafting a convincing presentation of yourself.Costly Vice President of Finance Mistakes To AvoidBe sure that your spelling and grammar are correct, and avoid including anything controversial, political, or religious. Omit personal details, such as date of birth, nationality, marital status, and children. When using an schmelzglas address in your contact information, use a professional-sounding email address, but do not use your current work email address.You want to communicate that you are familiar with the duties and responsibilities of the position you are seeking. As a finance professional, you need to show you have strong hard skills, such as critical thinking, good judgment and decision-making abilities, an aptitude for solving complex problems, and financial resources management. Your knowledge of economics, accounting, mathematics, and administration is also critical to the role, so emphasize these traits. Evidence that you have kept up your technology skill set is also crucial, so be sure not to omit this information. In our vice president of finance resume sample, the candidate uses bullet points and action verbs to deliver accomplishments that exhibit mastery.ConclusionWriting a winning resume requires care and attention, as seen in the vice president of finance resume sample. To succeed above the rest, its imperative to understand best writing practices. Your areas of expertise section is an opportunity to use relevant keywords and phrases. In your experience section, use action verbs and show applicable experience and increasing levels of responsibility, and close with the education section, after the work history.

LinkedIn Redesign What You Should Know

LinkedIn Redesign What You Should KnowLinkedIn Redesign What You Should KnowBy far, LinkedIn is one of the best networking tools in your job searching arsenal. Used correctly, it can help present the best possible professional image of you, connect you to former (and future) colleagues and bosses, and be a great way for recruiters to find you- and help you get hired for a job.Earlier this year, LinkedIn went through a major redesign aimed at making the user experience more streamlined and efficient. But its up to you, as said user, to update your LinkedIn profile to adopt unterstellung changes and adapt them to your bio to truly make the most out of your LinkedIn experience.Heres what you need to know and do to get the most out of the latest LinkedIn redesignEdit your experiences. Since the goal of the LinkedIn redesign is to make things as seamless- and current- as possible, it makes sense that your profile should be as up to date as possible. But that doesnt just mean updating each section it means carefully curating each section, cherry-picking the top skills and experiences in order to give your profile as much pop as you can.So go through each section and remove any old job experiences (anything over 10+ years isnt going to matter much to a potential employer), listing them just by title, employer, and the dates you worked. Thats it.Specify your skills.Sure, youre a jack-of-all-trades, but that wont matter to a recruiter reviewing your LinkedIn profile. To him, it might look like you couldnt decide on a career, or that you just threw any ol skill into the proverbial kitchen skill sink.Although LinkedIn allots up 50 skills, dont feel that you have to tout that many. Instead, pick the skills that you possess that will reflect the career that you want, elend necessarily the ones youve had. And be sure that the skills you list are true skills having a basic knowledge of something does not a skill make.Add up your accomplishments. Part of the LinkedIn redesign includes a new Accomplishments section meant to replace the Projects, Honors Awards, Patents, and other sections. Grouping all of this under one new umbrella is a great idea, since it makes reading your profile that much easier (and frankly, theyre all technically accomplishments, anyway).But again, dont just copy and paste all the info from the former categories and dump them into the accomplishments section. Be careful with what you list outdated awards (your award for mastering Commodore 64, for example) might classify you as an older worker and cut you out of the running for a potential job.Revisit the recs. Youve worked diligently during your career, and all of your recommendations reflect your years of hard work, your dedication to company and career, and just being an overall awesome person. Thing is, if your recommendations are from jobs that you held eons ago (or worse, come from an employer that went out of business), they might not hold as much weight as more current one s from well-known bosses/mentors/friends.Shine a spotlight on the recommendations that can help you land a job- today.Listen to LinkedIns advice. LinkedIn wants you to succeed on its site. Thats why its offering up advice about your profile. It might recommend updating your profile picture, or stressing the skills that recruiters are looking for. Consider it LinkedIn job coaching- for free.LinkedIns new redesign can be a great impetus to refreshing your stale profile. Make the most of the design changes so that you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers- and get a chance to interview for a job that you really want.Check Out More Advice on Social Media for Job Seekers

Attract Top Talent to your Small Company with your Employer Branding Message

Attract Top Talent to your Small Company with your Employer Branding MessageAttract Top Talent to your Small Company with your Employer Branding MessageAttract Top Talent to your Small Company with your Employer Branding MessageAs a small business, you put out firesand conquer challenges every day. And hiring the best talent is no exception.After all, its tough to compete against big-name employers who have name recognitionnot to mention bigger budgets.Hold on there That line of thinking ignores the big advantages that small companies have in attracting talent.Dont assume that high-caliber candidates wont consider working for a smaller firm.After all, half of U.S. employees work at small businesses, and its often because they want to be part of a smaller shop where they can make their personal mark, says Will Staney, founder and principal consultant at Proactive Talent Strategies, a recruitment strategy consulting company in Austin, Texas.As a small business, you can get in front of candidates the same way large companies can, Staney says.Business owner Joni Doolin agrees.We are a small business, but we are attracting world-class talent from much larger companies because of culture, our team, our pretty amazing benefits and workplace practices, says Doolin, CEO and founder of TDn2K, a Dallas-based benchmarking company for the restaurant industry. More and more candidates are trading off the traditional corporate ladder for a home.Your company can generate that sort of success by creating a compelling case to candidates with an employer branding message that brings to life your companys unique story of home.Start with these three strategies.Tell the Story Behind your Employer BrandThe biggest issue in competing with larger companies isnt trying to lure candidates away from them, but the simple fact that awareness of their brand is strong.That doesnt mean that your companys brandcant stand out your firms small size actually means you can be more nimble than the b ig guys. In fact, you can attract candidates in a lot of creative ways large companies cant because their brand is so rigid, says Staney.How can you strengthen your employer brand?Think about that idea of creating a home for potential employees. Every home is uniqueand every home has a story. Whats your organizations story? The key is to tell it in a variety of ways to reach more people, recommends Staney. Try a few ofthe following strategies and keep track of the response Publish blog posts on sites such as medium.com that attract a wide audience Submit your story to online sites such as Entrepreneur Apply to join organizations such as the Young Entrepreneurs Council Speak at local industry and business events Mentor others in your industry circles to establish yourself as a thought leaderAll or even a few of these steps will enable you to highlight your company culture , mission, and vision to a larger audienceand attract the interest of people who might be interested in working for you.Tout your Companys Unique BenefitsVirgin CEO Richard Bransonbelieves in the power of lists to achieve important goals. Take his cue and make a list of the things that make your company special. What are the top reasons people should want to work with you?People apply for jobs, but stay for culture, says Jodie Shaw, chief marketing officer at The Alternative Board, a peer advisory board service that helps provide advice to small businesses. Fortunately culture doesnt have to come at a big cost. Big companies may be able to outspend you on fancy cafeterias and onsite day care, but small companies can also offer flexible schedules and opportunities for growth.At Advanced Graphic Engraving, a printing and engraving company based in Broussard, Louisiana, co-owner Allison Bonin says the company highlights its family-friendly culture. Everyone can leave early one day a week to take their kids to extra-curricular activities so they dont miss out on family time. The company also has a special space for kids to abfahrt out after school complete with a popcorn machine and video games.Target your Recruiting EffortsBig companies have long had the ability to distribute their job openings to a wide audience. Smaller firms, meanwhile, have had to manage their hiring budget more strategically. Fortunately, times have changed. Today, your Job Ad is automatically distributed to 500+ job and news sites and across network sites.As you write your job description, think about the person youre looking to attract. Create a profile of the types of candidates who would be the ideal fit for you, both in the open role and in the company as a whole, says Christina Boudreaux, owner and senior talent consultant at Talent Made Simple, an HR consulting firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Be sure to include details that give your ad a taste of your companys culture.Your candidate profile could include a rough outline of the skills, education and experience that a person would need to succee d in the position, as well as the personality traits that would help them fit in your culture.Job boards such as make it easy to distribute your job across social media as well. With aSocial Job Adyou can reach the right people with precision targeting. As your promote your job through your own social channels, use hashtags such as hiring, nowhiring or joblisting as well as tags common in your industry to target people who looking for jobs at companies like yours.Apply this same mindset to your offline thinking too. Where would the people who are likely to succeed at your company likely to congregate?If youre looking for specific skills, consider advertising at colleges that specialize in that skill to nab new graduates. You may want to join local industry groups to find people who are interested in the kind of work you do.Overall, chooseto adopt a mindset of reaching out to your talent pool rather than waiting for the perfect candidates to come to you. And keep at it. Just like wit h recruiting in more established companies, Boudreaux says, theres no one-size-fits-all approach.As you promote your company to potential job candidates, you can takepride in your company and the people who work there. Its time to share that story with the world Get started now by posting a Job Adand receive up to 20 recommended resumes from extensive resume database.

Web Designer Resume The 2019 Guide Withe 20+ Examples Samples

Web Designer Resume The 2019 Guide Withe 20+ Examples SamplesWeb Designer Resume The 2019 Guide Withe 20+ Examples SamplesAre you a web planer looking for a job opportunity but dont know how to make a professional web entwurfer resume?Dont worry anymore The resume experts at Hiration are here to help you out.Web designing is a highly competitive field and to surpass the competition, you need a flawless and eye-catching web design resume, that is elend only ATS friendly but also mesmerizes the recruiter.If you want the summary for a web designer resume, then here it isMake a Summary section on the top in case you are not an entry level web designerSeparate your Technical Skills from your Key Skills and avoid supportive phrasesInternship section can be added separately from the Professional Experience sectionIf youve any certification as a web designer, then make a separate Certifications sectionBold the key achievements throughout your web designer resumeTo create an ideal web desig ner resume for you, we have written this exhaustive blog which shall discuss not only the minutest detail of What to write in your web designer resume, but also How to write a web design resume. You dont need an expert to tell you that a professional web designing resume can open doors to a plethora of new opportunities for you.After this blog, with the assistance of a web designer resume example, you will knowWhen and how to write a website designer resume objective sectionHow to write a web designer resume summary sectionWhat sections to include in an entry-level web designer resumeHow to write your professional experience in web designer resumeHow to write skills section in website designer resumeFocusing on all unterstellung points will help you stand out in the cutthroat competition and help you bag your dream jobTo make it even easier and, trouble-free for you the resume experts at Hiration have made a state-of-the-art Online Resume Builder for a smooth web designer resume des igning experienceMoreover, weve provided web designer resume examples in this blog to enable more clarity on how to make an ideal web design resume.Additionally, after completing your website designer resume, you can use our AI-powered resume review feature to get a professional review of your resume in a matter of seconds Or if you prefer one of our resume experts to pore over your profile, you have that option as well.Similarly, a web designer resume should also be an amalgamation of great ideas and a visually engaging template.The primary level of education needed to become a designer is a graduation/bachelors degree. As per Blog.daac, in the field of a web designer, the employment is likely to expand by 27% by 2020, faster than other occupations as the demand is driven by the growing popularity of mobiles laptops and e-commerce platforms.Salary can vary depending on many factors such as education, certifications, skills, and professional experience as a web designer.I strive fo r two things in design simplicity and clarity. Great design is born of those two things - Lindon LeaderThe work of a website designer majorly revolves around designing, building and improving websites deploying their creative, software engineering programming skills. Furthermore, they also understand nutzer/clients experience adhering to design specifications and voreingestellts.In the modern world, when everything is going online, the demand for web designer has increased manifold at the same time, there are thousands of job applicants for the profile of web designer, which makes it indispensable to build a unique and stellar web designer resume.Our 2019 guide to Web Design Resume will cover the below-mentioned topicsWhy do you need a Website Designer Resume?The main motive of the web designer resume is to signify the expertise level as a web designer.A website design resume shows the recruiter insights of your acquired skills and how coherent you are at utilizing those skills to benefit the next organization.Heres the gistIn case you do not have a web designing resume, then your chances of getting a job are gone there itself. Your resume is required everywhere, irrespective of whether youre looking for a job through traditional means or using a modern approach.Another reason for you to have an excellent web designing resume is because of its direct connection to your salary. Yes You read it right, fruchtwein of the recruiters decide your salary based on the number of years of expertise mentioned in your web designing resume.As per PayScale, the salary of a web designer can sortiment anywhere between $34,000 to $74,000.The average pay of a web designer is $49,476 with $19.82 as an hourly pay.You can plump for to make your web designer resume at Hirations Online Resume Builder for an uncomplicated time-saving website designing resume making experience.Therefore, it becomes highly important to have a well-written website design resume.Web Designer Resume Sec tionsThe ideal way to write your website designing resume sections isHeadlinePersonal InformationTitleSummary/ObjectiveKey SkillsTechnical SkillsProfessional ExperienceInternshipEducationCertificationsAwards RecognitionHow to write your Website Designer Resume Professional Experience SectionStep 1 in the website design resume making process is to create the professional experience section. By drafting it first, you can easily add all the other sections such as skills or professional summary without consuming much time.It is one of the most crucial sections as the first section that catches the attention in your work experience. Your work history defines how proficient you are as a website designer and how valuable you are for your next firm.Use the below-given format to write the professional experience section of your website designer resume.Organizations Name Your Designation Location (city, country pin) Dates (in mm/yy-mm/yy/ standard format)How to Frame Points in Web Design Resume Professional Experience SectionYou will get a wide range of tips from the web on how to make a professional experience section in a web designer resume, but how would you know that its the ideal way to create that section?There is a proper method to write this section which nobody is going to tell you - trust us, NOBODY But here we are We will give you a detailed analysis of what to write on the work experience section with webdesigner resume sample along with the web designer resume examples containing a section-by-section analysis.So, heres the perfect method to write your work experience section in a web designer CV.The method of designing your work experience section in an ideal way is called the STAR format. Making the resume using the cause-effect relationship aids in showcasing the quantifiable effect you delivered in the organization you have worked in.What is STAR Format in a Professional Experience Section?S stands for Situation - Situation when you were assigned a taskT stands for Task - Task you were assignedA stands for Action - The way you handled a task by using tools or strategy, etc.R stands for Result - The outcome/final result and the achievement figureThis shall enable recruiters to essentially see what you did and how you benefitted the key stakeholders/clients. For more on STAR format or better understanding of cause-effect relationship, check Hirations Professional Experience BlogWhile writing a resume one has to make sure that theres a concrete cause-effect relationship in each one-liner point of your resume, which means you dont have to mention WHAT you did but mention WHY you did it.Ensuring a cause-effect relation assist in exhibiting the quantifiable impact you delivered on the business.Quantifying your contribution is a sure-shot way to instantly grab the recruiters attention. For instance, as a web designer, you can mention how many projects you made, how many graphic designs were designed by you, how many clients you hand led (and how their problems were resolved), etc..Focus on providing numbers wherever you can. Numbers instantly give an idea of the scale which you were operating in and helps create more impact.So, here is a detailed analysis of how to write the professional experience section in a web designer resume by deploying the cause-effect technique with the assistance of web designer resume examples.Incorrect Web Designer Resume ExampleOptimizing the user interface to design website layoutsHandling all color, illustration, composition, branding, and typographyCollaborating with other teams to produce graphical resourcesCreating audio enhancements, images, icons and postersDeveloping engaging interactions and created visual digital designsThe bullet points written in the example as mentioned earlier dont provide enough information around the impact and your contribution to the organization, as these points are not framed by the cause-effect strategy of drawing up points.Correct Web Designer Resume ExampleOptimizing the user interfaces to design 10+ website layouts via standard HTML and CSSControlling all color, illustration, composition, branding, and typography, for 5 clients in a monthCollaborating with other teams to produce 10+ graphical resources in a day as per branding guidelinesCreating audio enhancements, images, icons and 15+ posters in a weekDeveloping engaging interactions as part of creating 100+ visual digital designs across mobile and webThe bullet points written in the example mentioned above provide great information on the impact and contribution to the organization, as these points are framed by following the cause-effect method of making points.Therefore, they provide more clarity on your job profile as a web designer along with the impact the persons work had by giving an analysis of their contributions.Hiration Pro-Tip Dont use a full-stop at the end of your resume one line points as those bullets are not complete English sentences.Bolding Buc keting in Professional Experience Section in Web Designer ResumeBolding and Bucketing play a principle role while designing the professional experience section in a web design resume. You may be wondering how bucketing can do wonders in your web designer resume.For that, here are two web design resume examples that highlight how bucketing can make a great difference in the website designer resume.Incorrect Web Designer Resume ExampleHandling user interfaces and 10+ website layouts via standard HTML and CSSHandling all color, illustration, composition, branding, and typography, for 5 clients in a monthCollaborating with other teams to produce 10+ graphical resources in a day in check with brandingCreating audio enhancements, images, icons and 15+ posters in a weekDeveloping engaging interactions and have created 100+ visual digital designs across the mobile platforms and webLeading a team of 15 members to manage the international national clients with 99% client satisfaction Lifted UX scores by 38% and customer retention by 20%Building 5-6 responsive websites per month including 2 major websitesReceived best performer of the year award in 2018 for creating 6 minor websites in a monthThe pointers mentioned above score low on the readability meter because there is no bucketing and bolding in the above example.Correct Web Designer Resume ExampleWebsite Layout BrandingOptimizing user interface and designing 10+ website layouts via standard HTML and CSSOverseeing all color, illustration, composition, branding, and typography, for 5 clients in a monthGraphic Digital DesignCollaborating with other teams to produce 10+ graphical resources in a day in check with brandingCreating audio enhancements, images, icons and 15+ posters in a weekDeveloping engaging interactions as part of creating 100+ visual digital designs across the mobile platforms and webKey AchievementsAchieved a 99% client satisfaction score by leading a team of 15 members to serve global and national clientsLifted UX scores by 38% and customer retention by 20%Developed 5+ responsive websites per month including 2 major websitesReceived Best Performer of the Year Award in 2018 for creating 6 minor websites in a monthIn this example, we have inserted the related points under the bucket/subheading of that function and along with it, we have highlighted all the key achievements and keywords to enhance the readability of the web designer resume.In example 2, weve made two separate buckets, namely Website Layout Branding and Graphic Digital Design.Hiration Pro-Tip Dont forget to mention the Key Achievement section. Make sure theres a Key Achievement subheading for each work experience as it will help in directing the attention of the recruiter to the impact of your contributions rather than just your basic roles/responsibilitiesHave a look at the example given below to get a clear picture of how your web design professional experience section should be like.To get more clarity on what to write on a web design resume, you can visit Hirations online resume builder tool where you will get countless website designer resume examples. Here is the linkHow to Write an Entry Level Web Designer Resume?Fresher? Fear notAt Hiration, we know that as a fresher you dont carry much experience. But still, there are ways to make your resume look appealing. If you are a fresher, then you need to mention your internships done during college while showcasing any and every cocurricular or extracurricular achievement or contribution.So, in place of a Professional Experience section, you have to make an Internship section in your web designer resume.Internships and professional experience section differ from each other in numerous ways. In an internship, you work for an organization for a few months - say 1 to 6 months or rarely more. In case youre one of the extremely few lucky ones who actually got paid, it wont even be enough for a brief trip to the grocery store.Cont rarily, as an employee at a company, you work for a relatively longer period of time and get compensated in return.To make your Internship section look attractive, write it in the same way as we have explained in the professional experience section. Make sure to write all the duties which you performed during your internship using the STAR-based format, bolding key achievements and bucketing similar points together.Have a look at the internship section of the web designer resume to get more clarity on how it should look like.Resume Headline Personal Information Section in a Web Designer ResumeHow to Write Web Design Resume Headline?The headline plays an important role in a web designer resume as it gives your resume an individual identity of its own. It ensures that your application is not confused with someone elses web design resume.The header comprises just your name. So, make sure that it is error-free when it comes to not just the spelling but the spacing as well, as you canno t afford to make such an error in your headline.Hiration Pro-tip No need to write Resume or CV on the top of your resume. Instead, mention your name in bold on the top.Additionally, in case of a middle name, do not write your complete middle name, but just write the first initial of middle name with a full stop following it.Also, the header is supposed to be the largest text in the whole of your website design resumes, written between the font size of 14-16 points, not less than that.To get more clarity on building your web designer resume headline, you can go to our article on Resume Header here.To check the title, font or the ideal way to write web design resume, go through Hirations online resume builderHow should you write the Personal Information section?The next section to put your emphasis on is the personal information section.Hiration Pro-Tip If youre applying in mid-east, UAE, etc., you need to mention your DOB, gender, etc. In the US and everywhere else, its strictly proh ibited.However, the following should be written in this sectionPersonal Mobile Number Write a mobile number on which you are available 24x7 at the top (below your name). Mention only that number which you use primarily and are always available on.Add the country code without the brackets, add a space, then the 5 digits of your number, then another space, and then the remaining 5 digits.E-mail Address The e-mail address added by you should be the one which you use daily because, after your mobile number, this is the most importantas this is the most obvious medium through which the recruiter might contact you.Make sure not to use an unprofessional e-mail address name like sweetadamxyz.com and make it professional.Location The last thing to be written in the personal information section in your web designer resume is your current drehort.Through this, a recruiter will get to know your location and will contact you accordingly.If your location is far away, your resume or cover letter w ill be checked to see if youre comfortable relocating. .In your location, mention the city name followed by a country pin, but in case you are applying overseas, write your state country pin.Hiration Pro-tip No need to write your complete residential address. Just the city countrys ISO code is fine.Use the given format to write your personal information section.Personal Phone number Professional E-mail ID LocationHave a look at the below web designer resume example to get a finer idea of how to make the header and personal information section.How to Create the Profile Title in a Web Designer Resume?Writing your profile title on the top of your resume (after the heading personal information) is of utmost importance as it helps the recruiter know your profession and area of expertise at first glance.Moreover, adding the prefix to your profile informs the recruiter your expertise such as adding senior or junior to your profile title helps the recruiter know your expertise and leve l in advance.The text of your profile summary should be the second largest in the whole of the web design resume and should maintain the font size of 14.See the website developer resume sample of the profile title below to get a better understanding of how to make it.Also, you can look out for Hirations Resume Free Reviewing benefit to get clarity on how to write your web design resume profile head.Writing your Web Designer Resume Education Section?To create your education section in the best way, use the following formatName of the University/School Degree Name CGPA Location Dates (in standard format)The education segment is of foremost importance as it lets the recruiter know if you are eligible for a profile or not based on your degree. For example, for a web designer, Bachelors in Graphic Design will be the first choice of a recruiter especially in the case of an entry-level web designer.The below-mentioned website designer resume sample will give you an understanding of how to make the education segment in a web design resume.Best Way to Write Certifications in a Web Design Resume?Incorporating certifications in the web designer resume increases not only the value of your resume but also plays a vital role in impressing the recruiter. In a website design resumes, your certifications can be in the field of Photoshop, Illustrator, UX/UI, Graphic Design, etc..The below-mentioned format highlights the format in which you should structure your web designer resume.Certifications Name Affiliating Institution Location Date (in standard process)The web designer resume sample given below will give you a clear understanding of how to create the certification section in the web design resume.How to Create Skills Section in a Web Designer Resume?This section should be included after making your professional experience, certification or internship section in your web design resume so that you will get a better understanding of your skills after writing all the o ther headings.To write your skills in web designer resume, create a separate head for Technical Skills as well as Key Skills. Lets go through both the sections in detailKey Skills Section in a Web Design ResumeTo make the Key Skills segment in a website designer resume, scan your complete resume first, filter the domains/functions you have excelled in, and then add them in the Key Skills section.Additionally, add a bullet before every key skill. For InstanceVisual DesignUX/UIWebsite DesignClient Relationship ManagementMobile Design... and so on.Hiration Pro Tip Remove all assistive phrases like experience in, good understanding of etc. while writing your skills.To make attractive key skills/technical skills section, opt for web designer resume template at Hirations Online Resume Builder nowTechnical Skills Section in a Web Design ResumeKey Skills section comprises your professional skills in the resume of a web designer, a separate section is created for showcasing your technical sk ills where you have to write about all the software, tools and techniques you know for your web design resume.As a web designer, your technical skills can beHTML/CSSAdobe PhotoshopIllustratorJava ScriptAjax... and so on.To be on a safer side and get more lucidity on how to write a key and technical skills section, look at the web designer resume sample given below.How to write your Web Design Resume Objective/Professional Summary Section?If you ask us whats the best way to write a summary, then we would first ask you to pick up the summary section in the end while creating your web design resume. In this way, you can scan your complete web designer resume and select those points that are the highlights of your career and can make you stand out from the crowd.When to Write a Summary in Web Designer Resume?Add a professional summary section in your web design resume if you have the experience of working as a web designer or in case of an internship. In these cases, you can make a summ ary section and can let the recruiter know how you can benefit the next firm.Dont just list out your skills in this section, but describe how you can use those skills to deliver a quantifiable impact. Additionally, put less emphasis on your current/previous roles if the profiles are not related to web designing and more focus on your newly gained expertise as a web designer.When to Make an Objective Section in a Web Design Resume?If you are an entry level web designer then you can opt for a web designer resume objective section.While making the objective section in your web design resume, focus on what you can offer to the next firm and not what you expect from the organization to be able to provide you with.Hiration Pro Tip A professional summary/Objective is written only in paragraph form (not bullets) not exceeding 3-4 linesGiven below is the web designer resume example which will assist you to write your summary/objective professionally.Key Takeaways in a Web Designer ResumeDo n ot add your skills in just the skills sections in your web designer resume instead, add them throughout your resume so that theyre validated through your work experience.This will help in increasing the chances of getting selected for an interview as skills are in the form of keywords and based on these the recruiter will think of you as an eligible candidate for a given post.Write a single liner description of all your organizations to let the recruiter know that you were working for a good company.For instance, you can include figures around revenue, no. of employees, geographic presence, etc.Formatting your web design resume plays a very important role in making your resume look logical and rational. So, you must draw a clear difference between your role your contribution and make sure all your points highlight your contribution, its impact, and achievements as a web designer.Dont forget to mention the time period across all your profiles. In case there are gaps in your professi onal timeline, you might think that if you skip mentioning the time altogether, it will help. But truth be told, itll eventually come out sooner or later, so we strongly recommend being honest about it starting from the resume itself.Begin all your points in the web design resume with a power verb because of their stronger impact on the recruiter. These convey your meaning more impactfully when compared to normal verbs, but dont use the same power verbs repeatedly.For all the verbs, use past tense for your previous projects/profiles and present continuous for ongoing projects/profiles, as the use of the wrong tense can lower down your chances of getting selected and you cannot afford to make mistakes even in 1 or 2 pages resume. So, make this change across the entire web designer resume.In case you have ever led a team, make sure to add the total people you led to make it more impactful by quantifying the information. Besides this, dont forget to highlight/bold the total people you led.Make sure there are no paragraphs in your entire web design resume (except summary/objective). In case youve used paragraphs, either make multiple bullet points of that single point or write them as sub-points of that point. This way you can improve the readability of your entire web designer resume.Make it certain that you dont overdo the bolding. Bold only your key achievements and keywords relevant to web designing throughout your resume. Its better to not to bold more than 3-4 words in one go as it can lower down the impact of major achievements that have been highlighted throughout your website designer resume.Ensure that you follow the cause-effect approach explained above in the guide to make all our website design resumes point. This way you can give a better perspective of what you did and what was the result of it.

What the Experts Are Saying About Resume for Bartender and How This Affects You

What the Experts Are Saying About Resume for Bartender and How This Affects You What Is So Fascinating About Resume for Bartender? If you would like to turn into an excellent Server Bartender, you should have the capacity to cope with pressure and manage stress. Needless to say, a Server Bartender is an important status in the establishment. Based on your degree of experience, education and skill set, you will want to begin your bartending resume with whatever looks the very best. Its always better to highlight accomplishments and exceptional achievements in your bartending experience. Writing a bartender resume isnt too complicated if you adhere to a very simple format. What You Dont Know About Resume for Bartender Bartending schools, a very good concept, in theory, do not provide the type of hands-on experience thats required to be a bartender at a busy restaurant. One of the absolute fruchtwein important traits in a very good bartender is experience. If youre attempting t o create an outstanding bartending resume, have a look at the sample bartender resume below to provide you with some ideas about what to write in addition to how to compose your own. Furthermore, a private partey or private bartender has the benefit of an ever-changing atmosphere. The cashier in such a situation is going to have to take care of cash in numerous transactions with clients. If you want to submit an application for a position of a host or hostess with an establishment then its possible to use the expert bartender resume. If youve worked as a bartender previously then you can take advantage of the experienced bartender resume. Make certain youre actually listening to what each customer states that is what makes an excellent bartender great. The hiring manager will be searching for someone whos an exceptional applicant. Therefore, an employer will realize that youre more accurate not quite general. A great objective is going to keep the employer reading. Make certai n that you exhibit the proper body language, like the ones stated below, in order for the employer to think about your bartender resume. Your jobs might be varied, your experience and abilities vast, and it can be hard getting it all on paper. Despite the fact that bartending requires an extremely particular set of qualifications, skills you have learned from different jobs are also important, and are regarded as part of your work experience. The skills ought to be modified slightly to allow it to be applicable for the particular job description. For someone without experience, youve got to concentrate on your abilities and qualifications. The more you have faith you will see the appropriate position, the more likely youll be in a position to. Though its the ideal job for men and women who get bored easily on the job. Writing a resume for a career change is among the most difficult kinds of resumes for the majority of people to write. Studying resumes of individuals who hold , or have held the sort of job that youre pursuing, is also beneficial. If you need a career in the bar and restaurant business, becoming a Server Bartender is a wonderful entry point to obtain valuable experience. Hunting for jobs as a bartender demands sharp job-seeking skills perfectly coupled with the correct attitude. Because bartenders need to work quickly, they need to have each of the custom made cocktail recipes memorized. Finally, the Bartender will take alcohol inventories, and place in the order if needed to be delivered a day later. He resume samples should be used as references to make your own resume accordingly. He should hold the glass at an angle while filling it to prevent a ton of foam from building up on top of the drink.

How Collaborative Hiring Benefits Your Business - Spark Hire

How Collaborative Hiring Benefits Your Business - Spark HireGone are the days of one hiring manager sitting down and going through interview after interview to find the perfect candidate for an open position. Today, businesses are becoming increasingly interested in a collaborative hiring model. Collaborative hiring gets more team members involved in the process. There are a number of perks to using this style of hiring. Some of the major benefits includeYou get a range of opinionsWhen you have just one hiring manager weighing in, its easier for skewed opinions to cloud a hiring decision. A candidate who rubs the hiring manager the wrong way could fail to receive an offer, even if they actually are the best partie for the job. When a whole team is involved, other people are able to voice their thoughts, making it more likely that the final choice is a good one.It puts less pressure on one personFilling an open spot can be a lot of pressure for one person, particularly when youre tryi ng to find someone to fill an integral role in the business. When you involve multiple team members, it allows the hiring manager to relax a bit.You get to see the dynamic between the candidate and their potential colleaguesIf your hire will be working closely with a certain group of people, its ideal to bring them in and have the group interact. This way, you know ahead of time whether everyone gets along. If theres a major problem, you can go with a different candidate, instead of finding out after the new team member is causing tension in the office.It reminds employees that you value their opinionsEmployee morale is significantly increased when your staff members are reminded that their opinions matter. When you let them weigh in on the hiring process, it reinforces the notion that you care about what they think.Your employees can help to sell the company to the candidateWhile the candidate needs to sell why theyd be a valuable member of the team, youll also need to sell your bu siness to them at the same time. When you have happy, engaged employees participating in the interview process, selling your company to a potential new hire becomes much easier. The candidate is able to experience the company culture and see the type of future theyd have should they accept an offer from your business.Collaborative hiring can also help make the training process smoother. When team members are involved in the hiring process, they often feel more responsible for the new hire, and are more likely to help them get up to speed quickly. This cuts down on the learning curve that inevitably exists when someone starts a new job.renommee Wavebreak Media Ltd/BigStock.com

Understanding Your Quota - Part 2 of 2

Understanding Your Quota - Part 2 of 2Understanding Your Quota - Part 2 of 2In part one of this series, we discussed how most sale quotas are formulated, how management views assigned quotas and briefly discussed how sales professionals feel about their quotas. But just knowing how your quota was determined does not make hitting your quota each month any easier. To make your assigned quota serve you instead of being an ever-present reminder of your responsibilities, you need to learn how the most successful sales professional view their quotas and how to use your quota as a guide to your sales activities. Own Your Quota Having a positive attitude arguably provides benefits in practically every area of your life. And many (including the author of this article) believe that sales professionals who adopt a positive attitude regarding their assigned revenue quotas are often the most successful. In most cases, when you accept a sales stelle, you accept the sales revenue quota at the s ame time. By accepting the position, you are also accepting the quota. If you complain later about your assigned quota, you are essentially stating that you made a mistake and should have never accepted the position in the first place. Owning your quota means that you are fully aware that you have are expected to deliver a predefined quota and that you understand that your hitting your quota is part of your job. It means that you agree to your quota and to your responsibility as an employee who happens to be assigned a quota. Owning your quota means that if you dislike having a quota and hate being expected to deliver on your quota, that you shouldnt be in sales. See Hitting Your Quota as the Second Most Important Part of Your Job Without question, every sales professionals first job is to take care of their customers. A close second is to achieve or over-achieve your assigned quota. The fortunate thing about sales is that focusing on taking care of your first priority often ens ures that your second priority is also satisfied. A wonderful and empowering s motto to live by is that your main job duty is to profitably serve your customers. Keeping this motto in mind gives you both a focus on taking care of your customers and to earning your position with your employer. The most successful sales professionals make taking care of their customers their number 1 priority and seldom have an issue with hitting their quotas. They always think win-win and fully believe that their products or services are the best products or services for their clients. Know How Many sale You Need to Hit Your Quota Sales is a numbers game and understanding the numbers behind your position is very important. You need to take full responsibility for your assigned quota and know exactly what you need to do to hit your quota. If you have a monthly assigned quota, you should determine how many sales you need to close on a monthly basis to hit your quota. To do this, simply calculate yo ur average selling price (asp) per deal and divide your quota by your asp. The result will be how many sales you need to close each month to hit your quota. Simple math to give guidance for a very difficult industry. Lastly, if you are uncomfortable with having a quota, realize that every profession comes equipped with expectations. The very reason jobs are createdis to solve a problem and to deliver a specific result. In the wonderful world of sales, that specific result is called your sales quota.

Customize this Outstanding Social Media Specialist Resume Template

Customize this Outstanding Social Media Specialist Resume TemplateCustomize this Outstanding Social Media Specialist Resume TemplateWriting the Social Media Specialist Resume TemplateIndividuals involved in social media promotion of a business or product must be articulate, engaging, organized and strategic. A well-written resume for this field will reflect these qualities with professionalism. This Social Media Specialist resume template indicates these attributes for optimum positioning in the job market.Create ResumeResume Template for Social Media Specialist Tammy JohnsonProfessional SummaryEngaging Social Media Specialist experienced in development of brand-building social media strategies. Diverse background including a wide array of media platforms, tactical dashboards and analytics programs. Creative developer of engaging, viral and results-driven social media strategies.Core QualificationsAdobe AnalyticsHootSuite ProMicrosoft OfficeAdobe Creative SuiteCampaign DevelopmentCo pywritingAudience DevelopmentExperienceSocial Media Strategist, achter monat des jahres 2009 PresentUniversity Health System New Cityland, CADevelop social media marketing strategies for a 640-bed health system in collaboration with marketing manager, creative director, website content specialist and email communications specialistWrite campaign copy and dashboard posts using HootSuite Pro for timed platform deploymentReview daily social media performance metrics for identification of the most effective campaigns, tactics and practicesMaintain awareness of competitor social media methods, practices and market positionUse Adobe Fireworks and PhotoShop for development of engaging memes, infographics and gifsMarketing Coordinator, April 2005 August 2009Cityland Family Practice New Cityland, CAProvided marketing administrative support within a thriving medical practice with a patient base of 12,400 community familiesDeveloped social media following of 122,000 individuals across all channelsPerformed social media, website content development and general marketing duties as assigned by the marketing managerCoordinated open house and patient education eventsEducation2009 Bachelor of Arts, CommunicationsUniversity of California New Cityland, CACustomize Resume

How to Think Like Successful Entrepreneurs

How to Think Like Successful Entrepreneurs How to Think Like Successful Entrepreneurs How to Think Like Successful Entrepreneurs A. Schlesinger and Charles F. Kiefer with Paul B. Brown Excerpted from Just Start: Take Action, Embrace Uncertainty, Create the Future.Copyright 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. When people write about entrepreneurs they invariably focus on their behavior: what Howard Schultz or Michael Dell did in building their companies. If you take that approach, you probably would conclude that every single entrepreneur is unique, so there is little to be learned from studying them; you would have to be Howard Schultz to start Starbucks and Michael Dell to start Dell. Enter our friend Saras D. Sarasvathy, professor at the University of Virginias Darden School of Business. (We are huge fans of Sarasvathys work.) How Successful Entrepreneurs Think Early in her work, she made a fascinating discovery, one that ran counter to the conventional wisdom. Sarasvathy studied serial entrepreneurs, people who have started two or more companies successfully. But instead of looking at the behavior of entrepreneurs which is indeed unique Sarasvathy focused on how they think. There she found amazing similarities in how they reasoned, approached obstacles, and took advantage of opportunities. Yes, of course, there were variations. But the basic approach, as she understood it, was always the same. In the face of an unknown future, entrepreneurs act. More specifically, they: 1.Take a small, smart step forward; 2. Pause to see what they learned by doing so; and 3.Build that learning into what they do next. This process of act, learn, build, as we came to think about it, repeats until entrepreneurs are happy with the result, or they decide that they dont want to (or cant afford to) continue. Prediction Versus Creaction When we set out to see if the way serial entrepreneurs think would work for everyone, we werent looking to replace Prediction. There were two reasons we werent. Prediction works really well when the future can realistically be expected to be similar to the past, and since we are advocating smart steps, it certainly isnt smart to discard something that works well in a specific situation. Sarasvathys research shows that entrepreneurs continue to use Prediction effectively in the situations where it works well, that is, in the places where it is logical to assume that the future will be a lot like what has come before. So, we were not looking to replace Prediction. Rather, we wanted to know whether the logic entrepreneurs employ when they face the unknown we came to think of it as Creaction would work for everyone else when the future is essentially unknowable. In other words, we wanted to know if Creaction could be used to complement Prediction in everyday situations that we frequently find ourselves in (Can I convince the town to add a bicycle lane downtown? Will anyone buy what I have to sell, if I start a company? Would I be happy chucking it all to join the Peace Corps?) We found that the entrepreneurial logic works in business and potentially elsewhere. You can use this way of thinking to complement the kind of reasoning you have already been taught an additional way of thinking that can help you deal with high levels of uncertainty no matter what kind of situation you face. Three Steps to Creaction What exactly is Creaction? Well, to start, it is based on acting and creating evidence, as contrasted with thinking and analysis. Heres one way to think about that pivotal difference. A dancer dances. Substituting thinking for dancing doesnt work. If all you do is think, you end up just thinking about dancing. There is nothing to show for that thought. Thinking is often a part of creating, but without action, nothing is created. This is true for even very intellectual, cerebral fields. For a task to be considered creating, you must publish, teach, or whatever. Daydreaming by itself is not creating. How does Creaction play out in practice? How does it help us deal with uncertainty? The process has three parts, which repeat until you have reached your goal or decide you no longer want to. 1.Desire. Find or think of something you want. You dont need a lot of passion; you only need sufficient desire to get started. (I really want to start a restaurant, but I havent a clue if I will ever be able to open one.) 2. Take a smart step as quickly as you can. As you will see, a smart step has its own three-part logic as well. Act quickly with the means at hand i.e. what you know, who you know, and anything else thats available. (I know a great chef, and if I beg all my family and friends to back me, I might have enough money to open a place.) Stay within your acceptable loss. Make sure the cost of that smart step (in terms of time, money, reputation, and so on) is never more than you are willing to lose should things not work out. Bring others along to acquire more resources; spread the risk, and confirm the quality of your idea. 3. Build on what you have learned from taking that step. Every time you act, reality changes. In other words, when facing the unknown, act your way into the future that you desire; dont think your way into it. Thinking does not change reality, nor does it necessarily lead to any learning. Author Bios: Leonard A. Schlesinger is the twelfth president of Babson College, widely recognized as the worlds leading educational institution for entrepreneurship. He formerly served as vice chairman and chief operating officer of Limited Brands. Charles F. Kieffer is president of Innovation Associates and a regular advisor to global companies on leveraging the human side of their enterprises. Paul B. Brown is a long-time contributor to the New York Times and a former writer and editor for Businessweek, Financial World, Forbes and Inc.

How Employers Can Encourage Healthy Food Choices at Work

How Employers Can Encourage Healthy Food Choices at Work How Employers Can Encourage Healthy Food Choices at Work Think that your employees are interested in healthier food choices at work? They are- as long as you dont appear to be eliminating their other options. Providing nutritional food choices for employees at work is controversial among employees. But, it may assist with employee wellness even though you should never force nutritional food choices on employees. When is the last time you were offered a doughnut at a morning meeting? Healthier food and beverage choices may- just maybe- becoming more widespread in workplaces. Workplace Stories about Healthy Food Choices Several client companies provide a free lunch once a week and supply all beverages at work free of charge to employees. At one office, the vegetarian choice for the free Friday lunches is always heavily subscribed. But, when the final employees arrive for lunch, the vegetarian choices are often all that remain. And, when you look at the lunches that are consistently left-over, the meat-free options top the list. Do employees delude themselves into thinking healthy thoughts, and then, when presented with the reality at the lunch, go for the meat- usually another employees choice? In another company, as part of an effort to gauge employee interest in wellness activities, an employee team asked other employees about whether they desired more nutritious beverage choices. Pop, flavored water, coffee, and tea were their current choices. You would not believe the uproar, which even asking the question, caused. Employees were convinced that the food police were going to replace their favorite Coke, Pepsi, and Starbucks coffee with fruit juices and water. Such an uproar over a seemingly small issue surprised the team  but understand, the employee team was messing with the other employees 18 inches of personal space, that hypothetical area that surrounds each person. Employees 18 of Personal Space In this personal space, youll find what employees eat, what employees wear, and what employees are required to do, such as punch a time clock or sign in at the office when arriving at work. Nothing upsets employees more than when they believe that someone is interfering with their personal rights and space. This personal space issue is why dress codes are notoriously difficult to introduce.   The cubicle police are regarded by some employees as slayers of employee self-expression; other employees bless the day on which the pyramids of pop cans disappear. As you seek wellness options for employees, for best success, remember the significance of their 18 inches of space. Healthy Food Options in the Workplace According to a survey about healthy eating choices at work, commissioned by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM): The poll found responsive organizations giving their diverse community of employees what they want and need- a wide array of food options, said Mark Schmit, director of research at SHRM. HR professionals walk a fine line between creating initiatives to help employees and acting like the food police. Ultimately, the proactive approach to creating both formal and informal initiatives that support health and wellness, has been shown to have positive impacts on employees lives and organizations bottom lines. More than half the employers surveyed do promote healthy food and beverage choices by: providing healthy choices for company meetings, parties, and events;providing healthier food options in office cafeterias; andadding wholesome food options to vending machines. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of HR professionals surveyed do not think it is their responsibility to regulate employee food and beverage choices. The study found that employers in the Midwest (49 percent) were more likely than organizations in the West (29 percent) to have formal or informal policies promoting healthier food and drink options at work. Larger companies and multinationals were more likely to offer these wellness choices. Given the choices made daily by Americans who prefer French fries to vegetables by a large margin, anything an employer can do to help can make a difference in employee eating choices. Did you know that salad consumption, as the main course at restaurants for lunch or dinner, has sunk by half since 1989 to 5 percent? The, now recommended, nine servings of vegetables a day for people eating 2000 calories, is nothing but a distant dream, according to Kim Severson, writing for The New York Times in Told to Eat Its Vegetables, America Orders Fries. This is shocking. But, consider the opportunity that you have for your next employee luncheon. Offer a variety of dark green, leafy lettuces with toppings that include vegetables, cheese, and meats; dressings with several low-fat choices; and crusty bakery bread  with peanut butter, jelly, and butter. You cant (and you shouldnt) try to control employee eating choices at work, but you can offer options that give everyone healthy choices. The rest is up to them.

17 creative weekend routines for a happier, more successful week

17 creative weekend routines for a happier, more successful week 17 creative weekend routines for a happier, more successful week Your weekend  routine  can often  set the tone  for your upcoming week, so it’s important to spend your time doing what  recharges you.Oprah Winfrey, for instance, has said: “I always give myself Sundays as a spiritual base of renewal - a day when I do absolutely nothing. I sit in my jammies or take a walk, and I allow myself time to BE - capital B-E - with myself.”We asked the  Thrive Global community  what they choose to do to prepare for a happier week ahead, and we’re seriously inspired to try a few of these fun, calming and downright creative weekend rituals. Pet-itation anyone?Stargaze“On the weekends, I look forward to an evening walk to observe the stars. Late in the evening, we bring along one device and use a stargazing app to locate planets, constellations, satellites and the International Space Station. The world fades away as we look to the skies, and our hassles seem less important when beholding the big picture. It’s our own form of grounding for the wee k ahead.”- Marti Ouellette, life and business coach, Phoenix, AZDeclutter your home“I love to get chores done! Working from home can make it really hard to keep a routine, but knowing that I’ve cleaned on Saturday mornings prepares me mentally for the week. It’s amazing how much clearer my head is for the week when my home is clean. Working in a cluttered home makes my whole week feel scattered!”- Michaell Johnson, blogger, Los Angeles, CAKeep calm and watch rom-coms“On the weekends, I like to keep calm and watch rom-coms. My Saturday mornings start at about 8 a.m. I wake up to a glass of water and write for a couple hours. But once that session is over, the onslaught of binging romantic comedies begins. It makes me smile, keeps things lighthearted and puts everything in a strange kind of perspective. A world with rom-coms can’t possibly be all bad.”- Kern Carter, writer and author, Toronto, CATry device-free Sundays“Weekends are gas in the tank for my week. Every dinner at our house is device-free, but we try to add to the equanimity by having a device-free Sunday. That just creates more space for naps, games and long walks. We don’t always stick to our ideals, but we give it our best every week.”- Donna Carlson, life coach, Monument, COPrep your meals“When it comes to preparing for the week ahead, I love to meal prep. Shopping, cooking and packing for the week ahead is not only a time saver, it’s also a health saver. Having meals prepared in advance that can either be eaten on the go, heated up or frozen until later in the week saves precious time and money. It also reduces the urge to grab stress fillers or meals that won’t fuel you properly. Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live in.”- Joshua Miller, author and executive coach, New York, NYTake a solo nature walk“My weekend routine that makes my weekend happier is a solo walk by the lake - usually taking photographs. As we move into the autumn season , the colors are so very beautiful.”- Karina Saakyan, journal development specialist, Lausanne, SwitzerlandPut away the to-dos“During the week, there is always something lingering that  needs  to be done. I used to spend time relaxing and then the whole time felt anxious about everything else I ‘should’ be doing. That killed any chance of feeling refreshed. Eventually I realized that recharge time, whether it’s extra time strolling in the park, in front of the TV or curled up with a good book, has to be prioritized equally as getting work tasks done, or you’ll never feel rested.”- Allison Graham, keynote speaker, author, business coach, Ontario, CanadaEnjoy an at-home happy hour“My weekend routine is all about time with the people I love most. Fridays I enjoy HHH (home happy hour) with my husband. We throw on records, open a yummy bottle of wine and sit outside on the patio with our pups to discuss our week. It’s a great opportunity to reconnect after a busy week o f brief encounters.”- Caitlin Root, strategic account executive, San Diego, CAExercise with your family“One of my best weekend routines is a Saturday morning at the gym. Our gym does a great Kids Fit club, so my husband, my 6-year-old daughter and I all go off to the gym and do our own thing. Sometimes I’ll spin, sometimes yoga, sometimes weights. Once we’ve finished our classes or workout, we come back together for a quick snack and then hit the pool for a swim and a play. By lunchtime, we’ve got a good work out in and shared some quality time together.”- Angharad Boyson, coach, Lincoln, UKQuiet the work-talk“I like to keep Sunday evening work-free, to make sure I’m really ready for Monday. I always make sure there is time out on Sunday. As soon as we’ve had Sunday dinner as a family there is no work/school talk, a complete switch off. Allowing time for us all to unwind before the week starts again on Monday and keep the weeks apart.”- Tina McDonald, youth caree r coach and leadership facilitator, UKKeep it unscheduled“On the weekends, it is important for me to have unscheduled recreation. I love live music, dancing and the great outdoors, so my weekend rituals include these at some point. My intention is to not be scheduled with these right brained activities, and the truth is these activities fuel my spirit. By allowing my unscheduled passions to happen on the weekend, I feel more creative and open as the week unfolds.”- Cathy Reinhold, business coaching, Houston, TXTry “plogging”“I recently replaced jogging with ‘plogging’ - picking up litter while I run. I thought the stopping and stooping would annoy me, but the burn in my leg muscles from lunging and squatting tells me I’m working them, which is satisfying. However modest the effect on the environment, it takes no extra time, makes me more fit and helps clean our world.”- Joshua Spodek, author, speaker, and professor of leadership, New York, NYPet-itate“Beyond qua lity time spent with friends and family on weekends, I have a Sunday evening ritual that sets the tone for my week. I meditate with my dog. It sounds silly but it is a sort of bonding experience for us; sitting in silence, no disturbances or distractions - just a moment in time to reconnect, relax from an active weekend and set intentions for the upcoming week.”- Jennifer Giamo, health and fitness expert, New York, NYTake a restorative bath“Every Sunday evening I begin my bath ritual in a way most people wouldn’t define as relaxing: I grab a Clorox wipe and clean my bathroom sink and tub. Clearing the space of empty shampoo bottles, soap slivers and rusted razor blades is the first step in relaxing for any recovering perfectionist. Once the space is prepped, I fill the bath with epsom salts, light scented candles and fire up my classical piano for relaxation station. During the bath I make a point to be mindful of my body and connect to it.”- Rebekah Storm, body confidence coach, MNCelebrate your successes“Every Sunday evening, I take some time to celebrate my successes from the week. Sometimes there is a lot to celebrate, sometimes less but there is always something. I recommend listening to a relaxing soundtrack, closing your eyes and reflecting on all the good things that have happened during the week. Ending the week on a positive note helps me to start the next week happier.”- Yasmina Hedhli, life and executive coach, London, UKWrite in a bullet journal“Every Sunday evening, I take one hour to go though the following in my bullet journal for the upcoming week: Last week’s accomplishments, my remaining to dos, upcoming priorities and important events. I also ask myself, ‘What did I learn from last week?’ This routine keeps me on track with what actually matters in my life.”- Marie Claire Bourque, MD, FRCPC psychiatrist, Calgary, CanadaConnect with the outdoors â€" and your creativity“My routine is to go one day on the weekend techn ology-free, without my iPhone or laptop. I avoid tech as much as possible working on weekends, as this is my family time. Instead, I try to incorporate something that rejuvenates and opens my mind to allow my creative energy to flow, such as a visit to the beach to take in fresh air.”- Anne Clark, business and life coach, Melbourne, AustraliaThis article was originally published on Thrive Global.

This Is How Successful People Read a Book (and Make Themselves Smarter)

This Is How Successful People Read a Book (and Make Themselves Smarter) This Is How Successful People Read a Book (and Make Themselves Smarter) I think we’ve all had that moment when we’ve flipped the last page of a book, sat back, and thought, “What the hell did I just read?” Reading and being able to use what you’ve read are completely different things. Without purpose and intention, the knowledge gained and ideas sparked easily slip away. Learning to hold onto them means understanding how our memory works. For the purposes of retention, we can think of our memory as being basically made up of three components: impression, association, and repetition. I’m going to run through how to make sure you’re using all three of these components while reading, and then look at how some of the best creative minds do it and use what they’ve learned to their advantage. Impression: Read to Be Impressed (and to Impress Others) When you’re impressed by something, there’s a much higher probability that you’ll remember it. This could mean a phrase or quote that catches you off guard or changes the way you think about a certain topic. Or, an interesting fact that you’ll want to teach someone later on. Just like a teacher is able to master a subject because they know they’ll be teaching it later on, attacking a book with the same level of purpose means you’ll be able to recall information a lot quicker. A recent study in the journal Memory Cognition showed the effect that reading with intention and purpose can have. Two groups were given the same material- one was told they’d have a test at the end, while the others were told they’d have to teach someone the material. In the end, both groups were given the same test. Surprisingly, the group that was told they’d have to teach the material (rather than be tested on it) performed much better. Having a clear question in mind or a topic you’re focusing on can make all the difference in helping you to remember and recall information. Association: Make Associations With What You Already Know Association is a peg upon which you hang a new idea, fact, or figure. When you know where the peg is located, it’s a lot easier to find what you’ve hung upon it. As you read and come across new ideas and thoughts, you’ll want to connect and associate these with familiar memories as a means of creating a bond between old and new. There are many different ways to create associations in your mind, from pairing new thoughts with familiar objects to creating acronyms. Many champion memorizers (there’s such a thing) talk about creating a memory palace- a mental map in their mind where they store information. Each memory is connected to a ‘physical’ place in their mind, so as they walk through the palace they can ‘find’ what they were looking for, just like you or I would walk through the house looking for our keys. The information ‘sticks out’ because it’s in contrast to the ‘physical’ locations in your mind. Our brain’s work much better with visuals than they do with words and abstract thoughts alone. Connecting a memory with a location or visual makes it much easier to recall. Repetition: Repeat, Revisit, and Re-engage The final factor influencing our memory, and the one that is most important for long-term memorization, is repetition. Without revisiting or re-engaging with the material that you’ve read, there’s a pretty low chance you’ll be able to remember and apply any of that knowledge in the real world. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to look through the book multiple times (although that does help). But rather, that you need to have a method for taking and organizing notes around the key parts you want to revisit later on. Which brings us to… How the Successful People Actually Read The most successful creatives don’t just read for pleasure- they read to learn. Reading with intention is the sum of all the parts that make up our memory- it means that you have a specific goal at hand (impression), that you want to connect what you’re learning to other information (association), and that it’s something you’re invested in and will come back to again and again (repetition). Let’s take a look at how this actually works in practice: Ryan Holiday: Author and Marketer Ryan Holiday’s monthly book recommendation emails are one of my favorite newsletters to receive. Ryan is so well-read on a wide variety of subjects that I was incredibly curious as to how he organizes his thoughts. Turns out Ryan uses a method he picked up from his mentor Robert Greene. Here’s the rundown: While reading, write detailed notes in the margins and then fold the bottom corner of any page you’ve written on. After a week or two, come back to the book and transcribe the notes you’re still impressed by onto notecards. Each card gets a category or theme in the top right-hand corner (or you can use color-coded cards). Organize the cards by category (or by chapter if you’re working on a book project). This way, you can move them around as you please and connect random ideas (the basis of creativity). Maria Popova: Author and Founder of Brain Pickings If you read Brain Pickings, you’ll quickly realize that Maria Popova either has a freakishly good memory or has devised an incredible way to store and organize thoughts. Turns out it’s a little bit of both. Maria relies on making her own indexes of books in order to quickly scan what’s inside and connect it to what she’s writing. Here’s how it works: While reading, highlight any passages or quotes you find interesting (making notes in the margin). In the back (or front) of the book, create an index listing each page you’ve highlighted and what category the note should be under (This could be ‘C’ for creativity, or even the title of your latest project). Austin Kleon: Artist, Author, and Poet Austin Kleon leverages the fact that our brains respond better to visual information by taking notes in a mind map fashion. Here’s how he explains it: “I’m trying to construct a 2-D memory palace on paper. By making notes in a non-linear manner, by arranging images and words in space, I can see connections that would otherwise be impossible with just words written in sequence.” Josh Kaufman: Bestselling Author of The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business While not as intricate or interesting as some of the other methods, Josh’s- named The McDowell Grid after Benchmark Revenue Management CEO Tyson McDowell- is an excellent way to connect new thoughts with your own opinions and ideas. Here’s how it works: Create a simple two-column grid. On one side, write the fact, thought, or quote you are impressed by. On the other side, write your own personal reaction and thought. That’s it! This way, when you revisit your notes later on, you’ll be able to put yourself back into the same frame of mind you were in when you originally read. Reading is one of the great joys of life. And while it’s an incredible way to unwind from the busyness of our day-to-day lives, doing it with intention allows us to increase our skills and learn from the lives of others. This article was originally published on Quora. It has been republished here with permission. Photo of person reading courtesy of petrunjela/Getty Images

5 strategies to deal with difficult colleagues

5 strategies to deal with difficult colleagues 5 strategies to deal with difficult colleagues It is hard to put difficult colleagues into a one-size-fits-all box. After all, they come in so many shapes and sizes. No workplace is without them.What about the passive-aggressive who feeds on bullying others? How about the know-it-all corporate climber who walks all over people in her 5-inch stilettos? Or the two-faced backstabber who delights in betraying confidences?Difficult colleagues create stressful environments and unpleasant working conditions. A survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 65% of Americans cited work as a top source of stress. Only 37% of Americans surveyed said they were doing an excellent or very good job managing stress. In fact, work-related problems significantly outpaced other leading causes of stress such as health concerns or family responsibilities.Not all stress at work can be blamed on difficult colleagues, but our workplace is a perfect breeding ground for people who push our buttons. A gossip who might not ordinarily get on our nerves becomes toxic when we are forced to work with them on a daily basis.Unfortunately for entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders, difficult employees are not always bad employees. They may be highly skilled or very talented. They may add to the bottom line of your company, but they can also create stress for your other team members which reduces overall productivity.The way your team deals with difficult colleagues will have a major impact on their careers and their well-being. Here are 5 strategies to deal with difficult colleagues:1. Keep friends close, enemies even closerA difficult colleague may not be your enemy, but the more you know about them, the better you can understand them.I will admit that, as an FBI agent, there are people out there who considered me to be the difficult colleague. I (sometimes) regret that I left casualties in the squad room, but I also know I had reasons for taking my stance. I’m not justifying my behavior; I make this point to under score the importance of trying to understand the difficult colleague.A Buddhist practice suggests that if someone is causing you to suffer, it’s because they’re suffering as well.If someone had taken the time to ask me about my behavior, I would have pointed out that I am an overachiever. As such, I put so much pressure on myself to excel that, at times, I had no time for the pettiness of common courtesy! The stress I put on myself to run undercover operations and develop human intelligence (humint) sources caught up with me; I ended up incredibly sick for several months.TIP: Take the time to understand that your workplace antagonist is an imperfect person, just like you. You don’t have to like them but if you can understand why they act like a jerk, you might be able to prevent yourself from adding fuel to the fire.2. Know what pushes your buttonsNo one escapes childhood without a few bruises and scrapes. We all have flash points that stem from our upbringing, family life, an d relationships. Anger or frustration can be triggered when we least expect it. We react to a situation or individual rather than choose our response.Our buttons are our responsibility to uncover. It’s so much easier to blame the difficult colleague or stupid supervisor rather than admit we have our own flaws.Instead, take a look at why you react to certain people or situations in a negative way. Mental toughness is managing your emotions, thoughts, and behavior in ways that will set you up for success. You need to be brave enough to look at yourself with honesty and compassion. This might mean going back to childhood hurts to discover the patterns of thinking that are sabotaging you now.TIP: Don’t be a wimp. Get a handle on what those buttons are and who, or what, pushes them. Rather than seeing difficult colleagues as a burden, they could actually be your ticket to dramatic professional growth.3. Save the fight for what mattersAnalyze the person and situation so you can rule o ut “false triggers” that create unnecessary stress in your environment. If you can’t, you will be at the mercy of the office bullies because they will know how to manipulate you. By pushing one of your buttons, you can be made to look oversensitive, weak, or gullible.TIP: Be responsive, not reactive when someone pushes your buttons. A knee-jerk reaction is never a good choice.4. Keep a lid on angerAnger flares up when we feel that we, or another co-worker, have been unjustly treated by the difficult colleague. There are several reasons anger is not a good reaction: An unpleasant emotion Bad for your health Clouds your judgment Makes you look unprofessional Avoid anger in the workplace. If you are embroiled in a constant conflict at work, you risk being seen as unable to handle the situation like a seasoned professional. Worse yet, you may get labeled as being a difficult colleague as well.TIP: Don’t flare up in the immediate heat of a confrontation. Instead, allow yourself to observe what is happening without getting caught up in it (meditation can help you with this). If you feel you can’t control your anger, try stalling for time. Here are some suggestions:“Can I have a little more time to think this through? I’ll get back to you with an answer.”“This isn’t on today’s agenda. Can we talk about it later?”“I have a deadline. Can I get back to you on that?”Bottom line: get out of the situation as quick as you can so you can decide if this is the hill you want to die on. If not, wait until your emotions are under control and then choose your response rather than reacting with negativity.5. Face conflictConflict avoi dance is not always a great idea, either. Staying away from disagreements and conflict creates stress as well.If you’re faced with a difficult colleague, take some time out to reflect on the situation. Think about what the ideal outcome would be for you. What would you hope to accomplish from a conversation with your colleague?Talk the situation out with other co-workers to gauge their assessment of it. They might be able to offer constructive advice and observations.Don’t criticize, blame, or judge. Point out what you both agree upon at the beginning of the conversation.TIP: Things might not change between you and the difficult colleague at first, but it’s worth a try. In a corporate environment that is known for tactics and playing games, develop a reputation of someone who is direct, personal and genuine. You’ll stand out!This  article  first appeared on  LaRaeQuy.com.