Technology Director Highlights ROI on Resume

Technology Director Highlights ROI on ResumeTechnology Director Highlights ROI on ResumeThad Fox took his time completing a self-assessment before handing over his resume for a rewrite. The result spells out his ROI in capital letters.Andrew Pearl, a certified resume writer, tells job seekers it will take about 45 minutes to complete the worksheet he sends them to prepare for the resume rewrites he does for Ladders.Thaddeus Fox took between 10 and 12 days.Spending such a long time mulling over questions entails both diligence and soul-searching - elements that the 53-year-old, senior technology manager said made all the difference.The most important thing, which I cannot emphasize enough for people who are evaluating the cost of doing this, is that the resume worksheet, if you take it to heart, if you dont just scrape stuff off your old resume and put in on the form and say, Here it is, I did it in 45 minutes, is the most crucial thing if you go back and earnestly answer those quest ions on that resume worksheet you will often discover you had forgotten some of your most important accomplishments and that you went well beyond the job description in your performance, Fox said.Ten to 12 days implies a lot of soul-searching. What else did Fox do during that time?He conducted intense research. Although hes now a technologist with solid managerial chops, Foxs career originally started on the financial side of business. That financial background helped him back up everything he said in his resume (and resume-building worksheet) with cold, hard financial data.Pull statistics from annual reportsTo begin with, Fox researched financial statements of the public companies for which he had worked to ensure that anything he claimed on his resume could be backed up by verifiable profit/loss figures and tangible evidence of business growth. Such research bolstered the strength and credibility in myriad instances.One example is in the description of his accomplishments during t he 10 years he spent at a recent position as director of technology at Innisbrook Golf Resort/Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Palm Harbor, Fla.In his work supporting capital and operating budgets, Fox saved Innisbrook a lot of money. But his original resume described the cost savings in a vague mannerI successfully planned and controlled a variety of projects for the owner and management company under very tight cash flow circumstances that culminated in positioning the property for a triumphant purchase and sale in 2007 to Salamander Hospitality, the original resume stated.Fox knew, as a business-savvy manager, that words such as successfully and triumphant need to be backed up with precise data relating to the bottom line. Thats what he researched, and the results show in the resume he and Pearl completed. The rewritten resume now delves into financial details. It also quantifies Foxs role in major technology initiatives and financial dealings, including vendor negotiations, and sp ells out exactly where the cost savings were found.Heres just one of many such passages in the new resumeDrove property to close 5-year combined lease/maintenance package for $1.2M Nortel Options 81C and single- and multi-mode optical fiber and copper infrastructure renovation project reduced cash requirements for project from $1.2M to $503K by negotiating a Managed Voice Services contract with Verizon. New infrastructure enabled resort to stay open when old PBX failed after lightning strike.Fox didnt stop with financial details gleaned from statements and his personal record-keeping, however.Insert comments from past performance reviewsHe also dug into his files to pull up assessments of his strengths from executive retreats.Those assessments provided an invaluable blueprint when it came time for Pearl to write the summary paragraph at the top of his new resume. A portion of that summary shows how he employed such assessmentsDiverse and customer-focused manager who demonstrates uni que combination of technical, business, and financial savvy. Energetic self-starter with strong communication, leadership, problem-solving, analytical, negotiation, and training skills.Foxs experience with the resume-rewriting process showed him that its not enough to pull from an old resume - that he had to be open to finding qualities and skills that Pearl could fold in as the resume writer emphasized Foxs strengths.Fox said he feels two things are critical in the resume-reworking process The first is the resume critique. Anybody who uses Ladders Web site should take advantage of the resume critique, he said. For the bluntness and the clarity of comments, and for them putting my resume in front of me and letting me know, Heres what youre saying to employers with this resume. That sparked in me a dialogue of honesty. And it lets you see the weakness of what you originally thought was a pretty good resume.The second critical component is to hand off the resume to others before you put it in front of employers. Fox submitted his before and after resumes to people whose opinion he trusts. When he asked for their gut reaction, he knew the resume rewrite had struck gold. You get responses back like This is amazing. This shows your achievements, shows you at your real level, he said.The result, he said, was catharsis. Others said, You were reborn. I said yes, I had been, Fox said. And the process was extremely important in getting there.

7 signs your work is more fulfilling than your romantic relationship

7 signs your work is mora fulfilling than your romantic relationship7 signs your work is mora fulfilling than your romantic relationshipLets face it. It can be hard to pull yourself away from work.All the more so if you genuinely like your career, receive praise and promotions for burning the midnight oil, and especially when you seeexecs like Elon Musk and Jack Ma boastingabout the extreme lengths they will go to for their careers.But research has shown that its our relationships outside of work thatmake us the happiest in the long run.The good news? A few small changes can go a long way in resetting your relationship while still honoring your passion for your career.Recognizing theres a problem is half the battle. So here are seven signs your work is more fulfilling than your romantic relationship.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWhen you say we, youre talking about you and you r company, elend you and your partnerMake sure youre being mindful, because we do live in a culture of your identity being so tethered to your work. Its very dangerous, Charreah Jackson, author of Boss Bride The Powerful Womans Playbook for Love and Success, told Business Insider.Read more9 signs youre sabotaging your marriage without realizing itIf you want to shift away from the company we (we did really well this quarter) to a more relationship-oriented we (we are thinking about getting a dog), Jackson recommends creating rituals with your partner.For example, you could decide to do something outside together every Sunday or cook together on the first of every month. Its an easy way to keep your personal life a priority and it gives you something to look forward to on a regular basis.One of the things I talk about in the book is when life gets hard, a lot of times its notlage your job or coworkers who will show up. Its your friends, your partner and your family, she said.When you receive a text from your partner, it feels more like an obligation and gets an eye-rollTexts from our partners tend to come with an unspoken deadline,Marla Mattenson, a relationship and intimacy coach, told Business Insider. If you dont respond within a certain amount of time, you know there will be consequences.The issue here may also not be the sender, but the content. As we get further into a relationship, texting tends to be less about flirting and more about logistics.Its typically not a sexy text or Hey, just sending you lots of love, Mattenson said. Its probably a When are you coming home or Will you pick up these things on the way home.Here, Mattenson recommends modeling. Send your partner the kind of texts you would like to see lighting up your phone. Think about how you can make your texts more fun or playful, even if they are about who needs to pick up the almond milk on the way home. If you feel pressed for time, consider sending an emoji to confirm that you got the not e.Obviously this depends on your relationship, but if theres still hope in the relationship, then one of the best things you can do is model the kind of behavior you would like to receive, Mattenson said.When your coworkers ask about your weekend, you dont have anything to sayIf your weekend is just recovering from your week, then your work week didnt end, Jackson said.To reclaim your weekend, you may need to be a little more proactive in how you spend your time. What do you value Activism? Time with friends? Get it on the calendar. Not only is this good in and of itself, it can also translate into a more dynamic relationship.That makes you a fun date, Jackson said. Because your partner doesnt just want to hear about work either, theyll want to hear about other things that are happening. So what else is exciting?You travel for business at the drop of a hat, but cant remember the last time you booked a trip with your partnerResearch shows that couples who engage in new activities tog ether increase their bond while also increasing happiness levels, Mattenson said. When you experience anything new, it keeps the relationship more fresh.But if youre already feeling annoyed with your partner, you may feel hesitant to commit to even more time with them. Mattenson challenges couples to go into travel with fresh eyes. Be open and your SO might surprise you.Of course, money is a question - after all, travel for work gets expensed while travel for fun gets expensive. But remember it doesnt have to be a grand European tour to feel novel. Even a day trip or afternoon hiking offers plenty of opportunities to reconnect.When you do a good job at work, you feel like others take note. In your relationship? Not so much.Praise can be highly motivating. If you know that words of affirmation make you feel validated, then you can bring that quality out in your partner in a few ways.The first is to make sure youre loving yourself.Often, people dont treat us the way we treat them. Pe ople treat us the way they see us treat ourselves, Jackson said.The second is to be direct with your partner and ask for what you need. Finally, when your partner does offer you the feedback youve solicited, let them know you appreciate it.Know whats celebrated is repeated, Jackson said. Its the saatkorn way with a three-year-old, its the same way with your 45-year-old boyfriend or your 45-year-old boss.You find yourself staying late even when your workload doesnt merit itIts common for ambitious personality types to draw more satisfaction from work, where setting difficult goals, delivering results and climbing ladders all come with the territory.If you know you get a thrill from achieving goals, why not bring that into your relationship? Mattenson recommends setting up a weekly meeting where you and your partner can discuss your relationship goals, such as becoming more patient in arguments or better articulating your needs.You can also enlist your partner to work on personal goal s with you. For example, if you want to read more, then the two of you could agree to set aside time to read while snuggled up, give each other book recommendations, or even transform part of your home into a little reading nook.If you can activate their goal-setting and ambition in relationships in a playful way, then youre going to see a whole new side of your partner, Mattenson said.This harkens back to the issue of how youre spending your time. If your partner only gets to see you when you are at your most exhausted, such in the odd moments of a 50- or 60-hour work week, then its no wonder that all you want to do is watch the game or nap.But according to Mattenson, you can create new memories with your partner while also boosting overall intimacy. She points tonew researchthat has shown that couples who take art classes or play games together increase levels ofoxytocin, a hormone associated with happiness and trust.And one sign that you may be doing better than you think? Your c oworkers and romantic partner know about each otherIts easy to assume that if one aspect of your life is going well, then you must be making sacrifices somewhere else. Right?But life doesnt have to be so segmented. Our work and personal lives are not in competition with each other, but can actually bolster one another. According to Jackson, one indication that youve figured this out is if your coworkers and your significant other know about each other.If your partner can cheer you on and offer advice during the ups and downs of your work day, and your coworkers know enough about your partner to ask after them, you might want to consider giving yourself more credit.Its not about balance, Jackson said. Its about integration and harmony.This article originally appeared on Business Insider.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily sc hedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Do you need a Millennial mentor Get ready for the latest fad to hit corporate America

Do you need a Millennial mentor Get ready for the latest fad to hit corporate AmericaDo you need a Millennial mentor Get ready for the latest fad to hit corporate AmericaWhile some people in the workforce love to disparage the Millennial generation - echoing complaints about young employees that have been bandied about by older workers since time immemorial - others are looking to the most recent additions to corporate life to help companies survive.So-called millennial mentors have been advising everyone from longtime staffers to CEOs at companies including SoulCycle, Lloyds of London and Mastercard, according to the New York Times. The reverse mentorship helps provide insight into how to reach young customers as well as how to retain young staffers in the workplace - and can allow young workers to give a fresh perspective on the industry that their veteran counterparts lack, according to the Times.This is particularly true for keeping pace with lightning-fast changes on social m edia platforms, online shopping trends, and other internet-specific skills that can be more intuitive for digital natives than for those in older generations, experts say.Its a pretty smart thing for them to do, Malcolm Harris, author of the soon-to-be-published book Kids These Days, tells the Times. If you cant get a 25-year-old to run your company, you can at least tell people your C.E.O. is talking to 25-year-olds.While the idea of pairing up workers across generations to swap best practices is not new - former General Electric CEO Jack Welch paired up 500 executives with younger employees to learn how to use the then-nascent internet, of the idea still divides some workers, who took to LinkedIn to weigh in.Opinion on millennial mentors is splitIf you are out of touch with your market, and youre a leader of your company, then I feel you should resign and let the younger, more tech-savvy executives take your place, Charles Wagner wrote on LinkedIn about the idea.It just further f uels their egos and the misunderstanding that they should not respect their elders, Matthew Kern added on LinkedIn.Some business experts cautioned that execution is everything - since some older workers might rankle at being told what to do by someone more than half their age.The actual matching of junior employees with senior employees needs some strategic thinking, Danielle van Jaarsveld, an associate professor at the University of British Columbias Saunder School of Business, told the Globe and Mail.But others rallied behind the idea.I think this is fantastic. A true mentor relationship should be a two-way street anyways. This idea can help build connections and deepen cross-functional integration throughout an organization, Hailey Casper wrote on LinkedIn.Netflixs former head of HR, Patty McCord, refused to abide millennial bashing when she was at the company, according to Quartz.People want to have conversations about millennials and I dont like to talk about it. I think its s tupid, McCord said on the podcast Friction with Bob Sutton. You were a millennial, I was a millennial Its called being young, being early in your career. What do you want? Everything. When do you want it? Now.