How speaking up changed my financial future

How speaking up changed my financial futureHow speaking up changed my financial futureYou talk. You talk to friends about the drab. To partners about the day-to-day. You call your mama with the big UH OH and your sages about the dream of dreams. It doesnt matter if its vulnerable and it rarely matters if its mundane talking is your way through the process and onto the plan.The ones that love you they always offer honest feedback.The ones who trust you theyre going to open up about their experiences too.The ones who support you theyll give you the space to talk about any and all of it.But are you talking about the things that matter? Are you opening up about the topic thats the fruchtweinsignificant source of stressfor the majority of Americans?Are you talking to anyone about money?I welchesnt.My journey around the money conversation was one that literallyneveroccurred to me until coming across an incredibly human, honesty-driven manahme by Umpqua Bank calledMade to Grow which is a call to talk more about money and the consequences if we dont(read crazy stress).That hadsobeen me. As a young woman building my career in one of the most expensive cities in the US, I thought I was so alone alone in spending most of what I made. alone in my frustration with student loans. alone in the judgement I held for myself in having no retirement plan (yet). alone in having meager emergency savings. alone in feeling like I should most definitely be making more but was scared pantless to ask.So I bottled up every financial concern I had. I kept it in and kept the lid tight. For someone who would sharemostthings if they came up bathroom floor moments, passport agency meltdowns, heartbreak and screw ups I feltwildlyuncomfortable and even embarrassed to talk about money. Partially because at this time in my life I prided myself on having it all together and partially because I didnt know how to talk about it or who to talk about it with. As much as I love my parents and they re both killer at talking these things through with, I was too scared to even do that.I had created a self-imposed gag order that was keeping my pride in check. Thats about it.That order lifted, almost instantly, when I heard a small factoid that one of the biggest factors contributing to my ability to negotiate for a higher salary was whether or not I was speaking about it with my friends.Lightbulb.With even my best of friends, I wasnt talking about how much I made, how much their raises were, how their reviews went, or what they negotiated for. That day, though, I began talking about it with my best friends and roommates. Then, I started talking about it with other friends sharing my salary and asking if they were comfortable to share theirs. I remember those firsts vividly, it was like a massive gate moving aside opening the way to so much shared knowledge and support amongst my tribe.Heres what happened after those conversations about salary they turned into broader conversatio ns about money. We talked about student debt, we talked about our biggest financial mistakes, we supported each other in making our girls night dinner at home instead of the hottest new SF restaurant. We gut checked business plans and saving plans. And most of all we learned through our own stories and through our belief in each other about how to shift our relationship with money.I havent been the same since. Speaking up about money with those closest to me pointed a spotlight on my fears. It made them manageable, and it gave me the confidence to shift from a place of fear into a place of prosperity. I started investing in resources that could help my financial future. I made goals for my money. I pushed, sometimes uncomfortably, to be making what I deserved.A little over three years after lifting my own gag order around the topic of finances I found myself in a better place one where I was financially supported enough to take a giant leap of faith to begin my own business and pas sionately pursue my own dreams. While its an amazing (and scary) step, it presents its own set of financial challenges and fears. But this time around I have the confidence to talk about it and the support ordnungsprinzip to learn from.People cannot be there for you unless youre first willing to open the conversation and share your worries, your struggles, and your dreams.Speaking up about money changed my future. Its time you let it change yours.This article originally appeared on MaxieMcCoy.com.

Tips for women heading to the executive suite

Tips for women heading to the executive suiteTips for women heading to the executive suiteMy special focus when coaching female leaders is to improve their influence and impact skills - in short, their leadership presence.You might be surprised to find that leadership presence is not an attribute automatically assigned to you because of your business results. Nor is it necessarily reflective of your true qualities and potential. Instead, it depends alfruchtwein entirely on how others perceive you. And that, in turn, depends primarily on how favorably you impress people and how convincingly you deliver your messages, both verbally and non-verbally.To gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to step into a senior executive position, I interviewed the following leadersKathryn Raethel, president and CEO of Adventist Health CastleSuzy Monford, president of quality food center at Kroger CEO and founder of Food Sport InternationalDana Simberkoff, chief risk, security and information Of ficer at AvePointNJ Goldston, editor-in-chief of fashion and lifestyle site The Blonde and The Brunette leading female venture capitalist in numerous businessesNat Sutton, partner and head of nonprofit practice at Buffkin/Baker, an executive recruiting agency that specializes in placing C-suite level executivesHere are five tips they came up with to help you navigate your way to the top1. Assess the current reality.Nat SuttonThere are no easy answers for women who aspire to the highest levels - because the culture of business has been very slow to fully embrace female executives. According to research from Catalyst (an organization that studies women in leadership), at SP 500 organizations, 45% of employees are women, but just 37% of mid-level managers and 27% of senior managers are women.Research also shows that while female executives are much less likely than male executives to become the ultimate boss, they are mora likely than men to do so if they stay on the management path f or many years. Currently, however, women are pushed out or leave at every stage along the way.Staying with a company, while building your reputation and skills is an important key to the executive suite today. Listen, learn and be continually curious about what goes on not just in your area, but in operations outside your department and/or division. Cultivate a mentor relationship in the management level directly above you and learn all you can about everything you can. If you cant find a mentor, analyze how the most successful leaders within the organization operate - not only their business skills, but also how they negotiate the organizations culture. Apply what you learn from them to become a more effective leader.Actively investigate possibilities for advancement or change to other disciplines that appeal to you. Then, when you are ready, apply to move to the next level or, perhaps, to a different area of the company.2. Take more risks.Kathryn RaethelWomen have a tendency to b e self-limiting - we think we cant do something because we fail to appreciate our abilities. Because of that, were sometimes less willing to take risks, step outside of the box, and pursue an opportunity that presents itself.Whenever a door opens, walk through it if you can - take the risk, dont grow too comfortable where you are. When you have a can-do attitude, people seek you out.I also think the first step to the C-suite is (surprisingly) not aspiring to become an executive. People often aspire to the title, rather than to the journey. Ive found it is more valuable to ask yourself, What job am I going to progress to next? In what ways will I excel? 3. Speak up.NJ GoldstonWomen can fall into the trap of waiting their turn or holding back at meetings. They dont speak up and own their place at the table.Not only should you speak up, but be direct in your speech. Dont add qualifiers that make you seem insecure or powerless Im not sure if youll agree, Im sorry, or Im not sure what youll think. Dont apologize. Period. Youre there for a good reason. Own that. Most importantly, be brief and get right to the point. No one wants to listen to long-winded explanations.Suzy MonfordMy greatest leadership skill is my ability to communicate, to tailor and craft messages that resonate with audiences, whether Im in the backroom talking with truck drivers or in a meeting with the executive board. And, by the way, the boardroom is where you need to be the most courageous and forthright- and always speak truth to power.4. Be your best authentic self.Kathryn RaethelI have come to really value the word authentic - people need to see the real you. I believe that when people know you, like you and respect you, they will come with you on the journey.Suzy MonfordTake a deep breath, trust your instincts, and dont over think it. When you trust your instincts, your true self bubbles up in the most authentic way.5. Increase your visibility.Dana SimberkoffIf you want to be evaluated p ositively for top leadership positions, being a legend in your own mind is not enough. You need to increase your visibility Find ways to ensure that executives in your company are aware of your work and accomplishments (and do so in a way that is not seen as boasting, but as informative and helpful). Promote yourself by volunteering for projects, giving speeches, writing blogs, and taking an active part in professional organizations. Network within and outside your industry. Find mentors and sponsors who will guide and help promote you.NJ GoldstonWho you know within your industry and area of expertise can be a major advantage in moving your agenda forward, and some of the best connections are made outside the office. Use informal gatherings and industry events to make connections that may prove invaluable to projects and your career. By having strong and varied contacts you bring new resources to your company, gain credibility, and build a powerful professional network.6. Defeat the double-bind paradox.My contribution As males rise in rank and position at work, they retain (and often increase) their perceived likability - so they can be both powerful and likable. The Double-Bind Paradox states that while women must project authority in order to advance in the business world, the more powerful they appear, the less they are liked. Catalyst calls this the damned if you do, doomed if dont dilemma. Their research shows that women in power can be seen as capable or likable - but rarely both.Blame it on the stereotypes of women as nurturing, sensitive, and collaborative, When their behavior is congruent with these traits, women are liked, although not seen as especially powerful. When their behavior runs counter to the stereotype, they are perceived more negatively. A frequently cited Stanford University Graduate School of Business study, the Heidi/Howard case, shows that when the same highly assertive and successful leader is described to grad students (of both g enders), that person is seen as far more appealing when given a male name instead of a female one.Does that mean you are indeed dammed or doomed as Catalyst suggested? Well, maybe not.One encouraging possibility that addresses this bias comes from another study at Stanford that found businesswomen who are assertive and confident, but who can turn these traits on and off depending on the social circumstances, get more promotions than either men or other women.The most successful women leaders have developed a strategic ability to read a situation and alter their behavior accordingly. Like them, you can take this potent combination of softness and toughness all the way to the C-suite.Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., is an international keynote speaker and leadership presence coach. Shes the author of The Silent Language of Leaders How Body Language Can Help or Hurt How You Lead and creator of LinkedInLearnings video series Body Language for Leaders. For more information, visithttps//CarolK inseyGoman.com.

Titles, Job Descriptions and Skills in the Fashion Industry

Titles, Job Descriptions and Skills in the Fashion IndustryTitles, Job Descriptions and Skills in the Fashion IndustryPeople working in fashion perform a variety of tasks. Those who work in fashion entwurf might analyze trends in clothing, shoes, and accessories. They might choose design concepts. They might use computer-aided design programs to develop designs. People who work in fashion marketing might visit retailers and convince them to buy certain clothing lines. Those involved in visual design might create photo spreads for fashion magazines and newspapers. People working in fashion can work for a variety of organizations. Some are employed by clothing, shoe, or accessory manufacturers. Others work for design firms, wholesalers, theaters, or dance companies. Some work for fashion magazines. If you are interested in fashion but dont know what specific career you might want, check out this list of fashion job titles. You might also use this list to encourage your employer to chan ge the title of your position to fit your responsibilities better. Also use the list of fashion skills when writing your resumes,cover letters, andinterviews. Include some of these skills in your job materialsto demonstrate that you have the skills it takes to succeed in the fashion industry. Most Common Fashion Job Titles species Director An art director is responsible for the visual styling of a particular product. An art director in the fashion industry might work for a fashion magazine, a public relations firm, or a retailer. They have to be very creative and have a sense of what images will help sell a product. Commercial PhotographerCreative DirectorDisplay DesignerEditorial PhotographerGraphic ArtistGraphic DesignerGraphic Production ArtistStudio PhotographerWindow Stylist Buyer/Purchasing Agent Buyers and purchasing agents select clothing, shoes, and/or accessories from clothing manufacturers and wholesalers to sell in retail stores. They work for retail fashion and depa rtment stores, selecting items they think will be attractive to customers. Buyers and purchasing agents typically have to travel a lot, visiting manufacturing sites and attending fashion shows. They often have degrees in fashion, marketing, and/or business. Account ExecutiveApparel Production CoordinatorArea Brand CoordinatorAssistant BuyerAssistant MerchantFashion BuyerMerckralleiserSales AssociateSales ManagerShowroom ManagerStore Manager Fashion Designer A fashion designer creates clothing, shoes, and/or accessories. Fashion designers work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, clothing companies, theaters, and design firms. Along with artistic skills, most designers need computer skills to use computer-aided design and graphics editing software. Associate DesignerBedding DesignerFashion DirectorStyle SpecialistStylistTechnical DesignerTextile Fabric Colorist Market Researcher A fashion market researcher studies the fashion market to get a sense of what types of clo thing and shoes and accessories people want, as well as who will buy what items, and at what price. They need strong analytical skills they have to read and understand large amounts of data, and convey their findings to retailers, manufacturers, and designers. Brand StrategistMarketing CoordinatorMarketing ManagerMedia PlannerSales Inventory AnalystTrend Forecaster Model A model poses for photographers or the public to help advertise clothing, shoes, and/or accessories. They might also walk in a runway fashion show while wearing a designers clothing. Models work in a variety of conditions, from indoor studios to fashion shows. They often have unpredictable schedules and have periods of unemployment. Art Class ModelFashion CoordinatorFashion Model AgentFitness ModelModeling CoachShowroom Model Top Fashion Skills Attention to Detail Whether you are sewing clothing or ordering products for your boutique, an attention to detail is critical in fashion. Clothing has to be meticulousl y made to impress buyers. Storeowners need to keep careful track of their products and prices. Marketing researchers need to keep a close eye on changes in their data. Models need to make sure the products they are modeling are meticulously displayed. Focus and a keen eye are necessary for almost any job in the industry. Color senseFocusPattern gradingPhotogenicTime managementVisualization Business Knowledge Anyone with a hand in the fashion industry needs to understand the ins and outs of the business. This requires more than just knowing the latest fashion trends. Designers need to know costs of materials and labor, and buyers and storeowners need to keep an eye on the market when purchasing items. Without a sense of market and business trends, a talented designer can struggle financially. AdvertisingFundraisingManagementManufacturingMarket researchMerchandisingProduct developmentPrototypingRetailingSales Communication Nearly every job in the fashion industry requires working with others. Designers need to be in constant communication with their team about everything from cost to production to display. Buyers need to communicate with others in their organization to decide on a budget. Art directors for magazines need to communicate with their editors to make sure they have a clear vision for their work. For all these reasons, people in the fashion industry need to have strong verbal and written communication skills. InterpersonalNegotiationNonverbal communicationPromotionVerbal communicationWritten communication Creativity Almost every job in the fashion industry requires some creativity. Designers need to be able to visualize clothing that has not yet been created. Art directors must create visual strategies for modeling products. Storeowners have to think of creative ways to display and sell their products. An open mind and a clear vision for how to market, display, and sell products are important in the industry. FlexibilityImaginationInitiativeSketchingS tylingTextilesVersatility Information Technology Skills People in the design and fashion industry increasingly rely on information technology (IT). Designers might use computer-aided design and graphics editing programs to sketch out designs or to share design ideas with clients. Marketing researchers work with various software to collect and manage data. When applying for a job in fashion, be sure to highlight any relevant IT knowledge that you have. Adobe IllustratorComputer Aided Design (CAD)ECommerceInDesignMicrosoft Office SuitePhotoshopPrimaVisionQuarkWebPDM

How to Put Your Work Samples Online

How to Put Your Work Samples OnlineHow to Put Your Work Samples Online6Over the course of your career, youve amassed quite a collection of work samples. Now, what to do with them? Having an online portfolio of your previous work, accolades, and other awards is a smart and strategic move, particularly if youre looking to find a new position. So gather up all of your pieces and put your work samples online with the help of these ideas.Organize your work. Depending on the focus of your job search, consider how to divide or categorize your work samples to make it easier for potential employers to peruse and understand. Start by creating a list of all your work samples, and then rank them by most impressive or most important for employers to see. If you have a lot of really spectacular work, you can then continue to sort your list by various categories. For example, if youre a graphic designer looking for design jobs with nicht gewinnorientiert organizations, youll want to display any pre vious nonprofit work first, followed by your other work.Learn to edit your work.Lets say you have over 100 articles that youve written, and you absolutely, positively love each and every one of them. While its easy to fall in love with your work, youll really need to have a discerning eye when choosing what will make the cut- and what wont. Thats where organizing and categorizing your work comes into play. The more organized your work samples are, the more youll be able to display to a potential employer without overwhelming them.Publish your work. LinkedIn is a must for any job seeker to post work samples. About.me is also a good vorkaufsrecht for a sleek, easy, simple look. Pinterest can even be a good choice if you want to devote your Pinterest page to your work portfolio. And Contently is a solid (and free) option for writers. If you want to create your own custom web page for your work samples, its easy and free to create a blog with Blogger.com or WordPress, both of which offe r a lot of really nice templates and designs.Provide a context.Its important that when you post your work samples online you provide an explanation about each one. After all, when employers see your work samples, theyll need some context to understand each of them and how it relates to the job youre applying for. But dont feel that you have to give a long-winded soliloquy for each sample. Simply offer a brief explanation of each work sample so that employers can better understand how your previous work can benefit them should they hire you.When youre job searching, youll need to pull out all the stops- and your previous work samples- in order to position yourself ahead of the other job candidates. So select the work that best represents your skills, education, and experience, and sample your way to a successful new jobReaders, do you have your work samples onlineor in the bottom of your closet? Let us know in the comments below

Overcome a Resume Gap When Re-entering the Workforce

Overcome a Resume Gap When Re-entering the WorkforceOvercome a Resume Gap When Re-entering the WorkforceJob searches can be frustratingly long processes. What can prolong them even further is when you have eu-agrarpolitiks in your career. These are often red flags for hiring managers and they will fear the worst if you dont explain them. They may think you got fired, had performance issues, or perhaps had trouble getting hired because of weaknesses in your background / candidacy.In reality, perhaps you were home raising kids or out of the workforce caring for an aging loved one. We advise tackling the gaps straight on and communicating the why behind these gaps to potential employers. How do you go about doing that?Here are some tips on how to address a gap in your careerAddress it in your cover letter.If you have a gap thats a few weeks or even a couple months, dont focus too much on it. However, gaps any longer than 4-6 months likely need an explanation. And while your resume offer s highlights of your career, your cover letter is the ideal space to go into more detail about your background, what you were doing during your career gap, and what you learned along the way.Discuss how you spent your time.Wondering how to re-enter the workforce after a gap? Be open about it. For instance, if you were home with young kids, talk about the skills you gained from running a household, such as organizational and budgeting. Or, if you were taking care of a sick loved one, discuss how you relied on freelance work and consulting jobs to fill the gap and keep your skill set sharp. Dont forget about any continuing education seminars you attended or career certifications you earned.Be prepared for interviews.If a hiring manager schedules an interview with you, be prepared to address your career gap during the conversation, but only if asked. If they do ask about it, they might want more details, or simply want to verify what you included in your resume and cover letter. Be pre pared to provide the hiring manager with the facts they need to move on and focus on your strengths as a candidate.Be honest.Whatever the circumstances are behind your career gap, be honest about it. A hiring manager can easily verify the information you provide, so dont include phony dates to overcome a gap on your resume or volunteer opportunities that arent real. Simply be honest and focus on why a company should hire you.Need more tips on how to re-enter the workforce after a career gap?Turn to the experts at ResumeSpice. If youre wondering how to address a gap in your career, we can help you get back on track with our career coaching services, as well as our professional resume writing, LinkedIn, and cover letter writing services. We can also give you insight and advice on nailing your job interviews through our interview prep services. With our help, youll be able to overcome your career gap and re-enter the workforce with confidence. Get started or learn more today by calling 832.930.7378.

Be the First to Read What the Experts are Saying About Build a Free Resume

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Spark A Conversation Corporate Culture Based Interview Questions

Spark A Conversation Corporate Culture Based Interview QuestionsHere at Spark Hire, we want to help companies utilize the power of online video to find the best candidates. We get a lot of questions from readers about best practices for using online video in the hiring process. These posts will address those questions about how to find your next superstar employee.Question What questions do I ask to determine if candidates will fit into the corporate culture?Adam from Connecticut Thats really a great question, Adam. Its so important for companies to ask bewerberinterview questions that hire for fit in terms of corporate culture. An employee can learn new skills, but its much more difficult to mold an employee to fit into a corporate culture that you have already established. In fact, most times it is impossible.The best way to tackle this corporate culture hurdle in the interview process is to ask behavioral interview questions or have an all out behavioral interview with your candid ate. Behavioral interviews are aimed at delving deep into a candidates work past to see how they have dealt with work issues or struggles. Rather than simply asking questions on the surface level such as what are your biggest strengths or why did you leave your last job, behavioral interview questions delve deeper and force candidates to reveal aspects of their personality and work ethic. Their answers can help you determine if they will fit into your particular corporate culture.The most important aspect in hiring for corporate culture fit is to first understand what your corporate culture is. Do you stress gruppework in your company or are employees generally working on their own? If your company does stress teamwork and its a big part of your corporate culture then you can ask behavioral interview questions such as, Tell me about a time in your previous or current position where you had to work with a team to complete your tasks or goals. How did it go and how did you like it? Th e answer given will likely tell you if this candidate is focused on teamwork or likes to work alone. Then you can asses if they will fit into your corporate culture.Other great examples of behavioral interview questions aim at why the candidate is in this industry. If passion is a must for someone working at your company then you will want to know if this candidate has it. Interview questions such as, Why did you choose this industry, or What do you think it takes to be successful at our company? can help you out with that. If you simply dont want to ask behavioral interview questions, then you can get right to the point and ask interview questions about the culture at their last company. Or you can come right out and ask them, What was the worst corporate culture you ever worked in and how did you cope with it? If the candidate answers with a corporate culture that sounds just like yours, then you know this likely wont be a great relationship. On top of that, you will gain great in sight into the way this candidate deals with rough work situations. This can make or break their chances of fitting in and making it in your corporate culture.At the end of the day, its most important that you, the employer, understand what kind of corporate culture you are fostering at your company. When you have a firm grasp on this, you can then ask specific questions aimed at judging whether or not a candidate will fit in. Good luck with your interview questions in the hiring processDo you have a question you need answered? Spark a conversation with the Spark Hire team by submitting your question to blog(at)sparkhire.com or in the comments below.