Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Interview with Amy Jo Martin on Innovation

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Interview with Amy Jo Martin on Innovation Innovation looks good on paper, but few established organizations are able to make it happen in practice. When I interviewedDigital Royalty’sfounder Amy Jo Martin, the bestselling author ofRenegades Write the Rules, she explained why the effort pays off. Alex: Companies talk a good game about being innovative, but few actually make it happen. Why do you think this is? Amy Jo: Because it’s hard work. It’s extra work. It takes more time and energy to think differently,test new ideas, try to sell them to everyone involved and stand your ground against the non-believers. Swimming in the sea of samenessappearsto be safer and easier than dipping your toes in uncharted, choppy waters. Anytime we innovate, adversity follows. With adversity comes tension and people tendto avoid conflict. In reality, tension equals growth. You’re much more likely to drown in the sea of sameness than get eaten by a shark while navigating through new waters. Alex: What’s the business case for an innovative culture? How should we convince the higher-ups to take the risk? Amy Jo: When employees feel appreciated, happy and safe they are more loyal, engaged, and productive. They care more about the company. They perform better. All of this is directly related toprofitability. Experimenting is key. It’s important to experiment and fail early so by the time everyone else catches up, you’re already polishing up your knowledge. Progress is related to innovation. When we strive to innovate, we feel a sense of progress and perceived progress is one of the three ingredients ofemployee happiness. For the rest of Amy Jos interview, have a look at Intuits Fast Track blog.

Biomedical Engineer Job Description - Algrim.co

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

Find A Job in Seattle - VocationVillage

Find A Job in Seattle - VocationVillage Dear VocationVillage.com, I know you are a Career Coach for a lot of Seattle clients and I am wondering if you know the best resources to find a job in Seattle? I dont know exactly what type of work I want to do but I do know I want to live in Seattle and build my career there.Signed, KenSeattle SkylineDear Ken, I recommend that you first invest some thought and effort to clarify your career focus. Otherwise, it is like trying to pack for a trip without knowing where you are going!You are right that I have worked to help a lot of Seattle career coaching clients, so over the years I compiled some resources that might be helpful for your career exploration. Here they are:Best Site To Find Seattle Professional Associations and Seattle Area Events for Networking: ILoveSeattle.orgSeattle Job Search Resources: Seattle JobsSeattle Advertising, Public Relations, and Design Firms: Seattle Advertising, Public Relations, and Design FirmsSeattle Government: Seattle GovernmentSeattle Hospitals: Seattle HospitalsSeattle Newspapers: Seattle NewspapersSeattle Recruiters and Employment Agencies: Seattle Recruiters and Employment AgenciesSeattle Technology: Seattle TechnologySeattle Venture Capital: Seattle Venture CapitalHope this helps!

Todays Social Media Experts are the Email Experts from 1965 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Todays Social Media Experts are the Email Experts from 1965 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Ive put a lot of thought into the future of social media experts, which typically includes consultants and corporate employees who dawn the social media specialist, social media manager and other titles. Jeremiah Owyang has the entire list. The truth is that these titles will be non-existent in the future. Social media is not just an advancement in technology, but its a movement, in which we have transitioned our behaviors and interactions. A similar instance of this occurred in 1965 with email. Although email hasnt disappeared, it will slowly be manipulated and drained by the likes of social networks like Facebook. The history of email Before email, people used regular phones (not cell phones) and in-person meetings to hold conversations. Around 1961, peoples behaviors began to change, as the internet was born and MIT first demonstrated the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS), which allowed multiple users to log into the IBM 7094. The IBM 7094 was the fastest computer of its time (IBM sold its computer business a while ago). In 1965, CTSS allowed multiple users to login and encouraged users to share information in new ways. From email came network email, which allowed users to send messages from one computer to the next. The history of social media Before social media brightened all of our worlds, web 2.0 was coined, which symbolized the transformation of the internet. Web 2.0 aims to enhance creativity, information sharing and collaboration among users. Although this is nothing new to you, after reading this blog, in combination with others, its important because social media became a set of tools that facilitates web 2.0 behaviors. A lot of people get social media and social networking confused because they are unsure what the difference really is. Basically, social networking is an instance of social media. The main movement comes from the openness of communication, human interaction and an integration of words built to share-meaning. What defines an expert? I never used to brand myself as an expert in personal branding and social media. It came about almost unexpectedly when I proved the concept that I replaced. For the first 6 months of my blog I felt comfortable calling myself a spokesman or personal branding spokesman until Fast Company wrote about me and was recruited based on my passion at the same company I applied to a year before. This was my transition to expert and the reasoning is simple. To be labeled as an expert you need PROVEN results, with an associated endorsement to back it up. Although I brand myself as a personal branding expert, Im hired by EMC to be their social media expert and there is a big difference. Social media is just 1 of 8 tentacles of personal branding (see Octopus Model of Relevancy). A comparison and explanation Both email and social media have a lot in common. First, I dont believe anyone was ever called an email expert but they were possibly referred to as such in the workplace, when few understood the concept. If you Google email expert you will get approximately 40,000 results, of which, none are relevant. Second, social media and email both stem from the art of communication and interaction, accept social media is more advanced and new. So why do we have social media experts today? Well, its taken our culture just as much time to understand the ramifications of social media and because of generation differences, some are adopting it faster than others. Will we all be using and have proficiency in social media 2-4 years from now? The answer is yes. When everyone is an expert on a topic and has the same level of competency, the expertise becomes a standard. Basically, you cant stand out, thus your personal brand suffers. This is a reminder to us all that we must constantly diversify our skill set and remain relevant to our audiences. Its like the stock market, where, if you invest all your money on a single stock, and the stock loses value, you suffer. If you purchase multiple stocks in various industries they can counter each other. In 2-4 years if you claim to be an expert in this field, you will be laughed at. If I walked into work today and screamed hey if anyone needs help with email let me know, I would hope people thought i was joking. The future of social media experts (SME 2.0) I couldnt leave this post open ended because its too important. I am currently a social media specialist, but Ive figured out how to apply my knowledge to various business functions, which creates value. Since there is an apparent intersection between social media and business functions like PR, HR and marketing, its almost obvious to apply your skills to these areas, but not just one. You must learn how social media impacts them all and this blog will help you bridge that knowledge gap. Ive made the obvious connection between social media and personal branding, which is yet another application. Apply your social media knowledge to business functions for survival. If your interests lie in working for a corporation, then you MUST apply social media to those business functions, but also learn traditional approaches and look to the future. At the same time, there is NO job security anymore. When your colleagues preach about job security, its a load of crap! The only way to have job security is to become indispensable. On another note, the other popular title in this regime is community manager, which my friend Connie Bensen dawns. I have confidence in this title because its similar to having customer service representatives. You need individuals to monitor communities, encourage participation and be creative. Your turn Ive spent a lot of time thinking about this and hope to hear your opinion. From social media experts, to community managers, to independents and those who dont have a bias, please share your thoughts. Part of my message in the past few months has been to protect yourself and by finding new ways to apply your skills, your future will be bright.

Interview Series - Career Experts - Brian Howard from The Howard Group CareerMetis.com

Interview Series - Career Experts - Brian Howard from The Howard Group â€" CareerMetis.com In this interview series, we caught up with Brian Howard from The Howard Groupwho shares his expertise and insights about job search, career change, etc. in today’s marketplace.Tell us a little bit about your companyevalThe Motivated Job Search is a series of job search books. It is from those books that I coach job seekers.How did you get started in this path?Career coaching is a natural component to my career as an executive recruiter.Is this something you decided early on in your career?No. It developed over time.What is the Best Career Advice You’ve ever received?Do what you like, be passionate about it, become very good at it and the money will follow.evalWhat is the most exciting part of working in thisindustry?The Ah-ah moments when a client learns something new or connects something together to advance their job search.How do to stay abreast of the industry as an expert?Mostly by interacting with candidates.What are some of the things that you see job seekers struggle wit h the most?LinkedIn profile optimization and actual job search strategiesWhat are the common mistakes that you see them do?Relying on posted job openings.How should job seekers approach job search today?Proactively.What is the biggest trend(s) you see that job seekers will face in the next 2-3 years?There will be a continuing demand for candidates with strong skills.What is one advice you would give someone just out of college today?Learn how to conduct an effective job search.The college experience and a college degree taught the skills to succeed. Now learn how to get a job so you can use those skills to make a living.What is one advice you would give someone who is switching careers?Learn to sell transferable skills and professional character traits.How should job seekers get the most out of LinkedIn?Choose keywords wisely then properly repeat them through out your profile.Unemployment is at the lowest levels, why do you think that is?A very strong economy.What is the biggest tre nd(s) you see that hiring managers will face in the next 2-3 years?The war for talent.What are the best resources you recommend to job seekers?For a job search â€" The Motivated Job Search, Second Edition.What is the best way for our audience to reach you?Email â€" [emailprotected].Connect with or Follow Brian Howard on Social Media:LinkedInTwitterFacebook PageYouTube PageAdditional Resources:Check out the 4 Podcast interviews â€" Brian Howard has done with us, on the topics on job search, networking and Resume writing:#30 â€" Career Expert Series â€" Brian Howard from The Motivated Job Search#37 â€" Networking Expert Series : Brian Howard on Motivated Networking#64 â€" Career Expert Series â€" Over 50 and Motivated with Brian Howard#81 â€" Career Expert Series â€" Resumes LinkedIn Profiles with Brian HowardBrian Howard is also a regular contributor columnists on CareerMetis.com on the topics of job search:Ensuring Your Resume Stands Out â€" Advice from An Executive Recruiter and Resume WriterHow to Successfully work with external recruiters to advance your job search?The Advantages of a Self-Motivated Job SearchStrategies For Your LinkedIn Profile When You Are UnemployedWhat is the Monetary Value of Job Interviews?Brian Howard and The Howard Group have also been featured in our recent compilation of the most resourceful career experts and career blogs â€" Top Career Advice Websites.

Passing QTS Literacy Skills Test Overview and Practice

Passing QTS Literacy Skills Test Overview and Practice While pursuing your dream of becoming a teacher, you will have to pass the QTS literacy skills test. The test assesses your understanding of literacy areas such as spelling and grammar. If you want to teach in the UK, you need to pass the literacy test. Here, we will outline what the test is, followed by more detail on what you will be tested on.What is the QTS Literacy Skills Test? The first thing to remember is that none of the QTS skills tests are assessing your teaching ability, and this applies to the literacy test as well. Instead, you will be tested on the general literacy skills required to teach at an acceptable level. It takes around 45 minutes to complete, is sat via a computer (rather than pen and paper) and your first attempt is free of charge. Since you’ll need to pay for subsequent attempts, passing on your first try is quite important! The test can be taken at Learndirect centres which are found all over the country. While it only takes 90 minutes to complete, prepa ration time can take a lot longer. For this reason, we’ve compiled an outline of each section as well as some helpful tips for passing the literacy test.What am I being tested on? The literacy skills test consists of four sections, one for each of the following: spelling, punctuation, grammar and comprehension. Different sections have a higher or lower number of available marks, so you should prepare to spend slightly longer on some sections than you do on others.QTS Literacy Skills Test â€" Spelling This first test assesses your ability to spell words to complete a sentence. You will be provided with headphones and ten sentences will appear on-screen, each with a single word missing. In the missing word’s place there will be an audio icon which you can click when ready to have the word play through the headphones. A sentence may appear like this:                      The head teacher determined that the students were ________ dressed for school. The audio icon will appear and you must click it to hear the missing word. After hearing the word, type the correct spelling into the box where the word is missing from. You can press the icon to repeat the word if you need to hear the word again. NOTE: Once you have completed the spelling section of the literacy test, you cannot return to it. Therefore, check your answers thoroughly before finishing the section. If you have impaired hearing, a multiple choice test is available. Questions will appear as follows:                       The head teacher determined that the students were ________ dressed for school.appropriatelyapproprietlyappropriatlyappropreetlySpelling â€" Tips and NotesIn this section, you will be expected to answer using British English spelling conventions. For example, “colour” would be correct (because it’s British English) while “color” would be considered incorrect (because it’s American English).However, use of the American English â€"ize suffix is acceptable (e.g. “realize ”). You can use this or the British English â€"ise suffix (e.g. “realise”). Both will do fine.If you’re struggling with the spellings, try and break the words down into their syllables. For example: Appropriately â€" App-ro-priate-ly This may help with some of the longer words that you may face.A total of 10 marks are available for this section. After the section on spelling is finished, you will not be able to return to it. However, the following three sections can be attempted in any order. We strongly recommend that you start with the section(s) you find easiest in order to secure as many marks as possible early on. You can save the toughest section for last.QTS Literacy Skills Test â€" Punctuation In this section, you will be asked to punctuate a piece of writing. In other words, you will be presented with a paragraph and then must ensure that the punctuation is correct. In order to succeed in this section, you will need a good understanding of basic punctuation, as well as punctuation marks such as apostrophes, colons and semi-colons. Here is an example of the kind of question you may be asked: it had been decided that the board of governers job was to keep the school leadership in check acting as a devils advocate in meetings this was not popular with the teachers they felt that too much power had been handed to the governers but the leadership team agreed nonetheless The above passage has 8 missing punctuation marks, but in the real test there will be 15. You will not be penalised for adding punctuation which isn’t incorrect but is also unnecessary, but you won’t receive any more marks for them, either. Just ensure that the punctuation is consistent and appropriate.Punctuation â€" Tips and NotesThis section has a total of 15 marks available, making it an extremely valuable part of the test. Make sure you are prepared for it. QTS Literacy Skills Test â€" Grammar In the grammar section, you will be required to identify poor grammar. You will b e given a passage with parts missing, and then will have to pick from a selection of answers to fill the space. From the multiple choice selection, only one answer will match the sentence in a way which is grammatically correct. Therefore, you must be able to distinguish between sentences which make grammatical sense and those which don’t. A question in the grammar section of the test could appear as follows: Parents evening was postponed becausea large proportion of the staff was on strike.a large proportion of the staff were on strike.a large proportion of the staff is on strike.a large proportion of the staff are on strike.Grammar â€" Tips and NotesLook out for the use of tense in these passages (i.e. past, present, future) and make sure that they are consistent.Depending on which kind of test you take, the grammar section will have between 10 and 12 marks available. QTS Literacy Skills Test â€" Comprehension In this section, you will need to demonstrate your ability to read, u nderstand and interpret a passage of text. Keep an eye out for the main points of the passage since you may need to provide a summary of them. You’ll also need to be able to distinguish fact from opinion, and be prepared to summarise the passage in your own words. In addition, you might need to make a logical deduction. A deduction is simply a conclusion made from information presented. Here’s an example:All squares have four sides.This object is a square.(Deduction) Therefore, this object has four sides. Here is an example of a passage you may face in the comprehension section of the literacy test. The passage in the real test will be significantly longer (3-4 large paragraphs), but this should give you an idea of what to expect: It was decided by the leadership team that stricter uniform rules would need to come into immediate effect. These amendments would need to be in place prior to the 18th October in order to increase the standard of discipline. This would also mean that the new rules were in place for the Ofsted inspection, which could improve the results of their report. However, the school was prepared to concede if the stricter rules were deemed too harsh on the students by parents and teachers. However, reversal of this rule would not take place until the first day back after the October term break on the 2nd November.Comprehension â€" Tips and NotesThe comprehension section usually involves multiple choice answers.Pay attention to key points and key words. Breakdown of Marks The marks available in the QTS literacy skills test are broken down as follows:Spelling â€" 10 marksPunctuation â€" 15 marksGrammar â€" 10-12 marksComprehension â€" 10-12 marksFinal Tips and ConclusionReading regularly will help your literacy skills improve. In particular, reading non-fiction (such as newspaper and online news articles) will help your comprehension skills.Since the test is taken at a computer, make sure to brush up on your typing skills. Make sure you avoi d those typos!The pass mark for the QTS literacy skills test is 60%. This means you need to get at least 29 marks in total in order to pass. You should now have a general idea of what to expect from the QTS literacy skills test, as well as some tips on how to pass it. You can find general  information about booking the test here. This entry was posted in Testing. Bookmark the permalink. Jacob Senior Conquering Your Exam Stress: The Student’s GuideWhat Is The Role Of A Teacher?

Worth Repeating Job Search Wisdom

Worth Repeating Job Search Wisdom As I dig through blogs and filter through tweets I am looking for original ideas. How can I put a fresh spin on something thats been said one thousand times by hundreds of experts? The answer certainly isnt easy. Maybe it is enough to just repeat the message. They say that an adult learner needs to hear something about seven times before they actually hear it. But perhaps there is a lesson in this. Job seekers should remember this too. HOT POTATO The news about your quest for a new job shouldnt be treated like a hot potato. In other words, dont blast the message out just once and think youve done your part. Just because youve told your network once what you are looking for, doesnt mean theyll remember it. KAMIKAZE NETWORKING If youve created a target list of people and companies to connect with, dive-bombing to meet with them once isnt enough. Maintain contact. Pepper them with meaningful followup. Be a nurturer. TESTING 1, 2, 3 Near the end of the interview make sure they know you are qualified. Ask the interviewer if there is anything on your resume that they have questions about or if there is anything they think you may be lacking to be seen a a top candidate for the position. LATHER RINSE REPEAT When leaving a voice mail message clearly state your name at the beginning and remind the listener at the end by repeating your name and telephone number.