Its More Than Just Cookies 7 Career Lessons We Learned From Girl Scouts

Its More Than Just Cookies 7 Career Lessons We Learned From Girl Scouts If you were a Girl Scout, you remember the fun of selling cookies, learning cheers, making crafts and going on camping trips. But what you might not have realized between the fun of earning your patches and starring in plays welches that you were learning important life lessons along the way. I certainly didnt realize that all those Samoas could add up to a job in sales, or that all those hours spent making crafts for the community could lead a member of my troop to a life of community service. But thats the kind of change Girl Scouts is impacting in women every single day.March 12 is National Girl Scout Day, commemorating the anniversary of the first Girl Scout meeting in Savannah, Georgia in 1912. Today, over 100 years later, the Girl Scouts organization has over 1.5 million girl members and 750,000 adult members working as volunteers. To celebrate the organization that has impacted and informed millions of gi rls, we asked the Fairygodboss team the greatest career lesson they learned as a scout. We also asked a member of the Girl Scouts organization to weigh in on how the Scouts has impacted her career.And in case you mucksmuschentotenstill feel guilty about that extra box of Thin Mints you bought... read this and let your heart rest, knowing you were funding education. Thank you very much.1. Surround yourself with supportive women.Looking back, Girl Scouts welches my introduction to the concept of women supporting women. Led by a female troop leader, every week a dozen or so girls came together to learn and grow. The Girl Scouts encouraged me to be self-sufficient, but also showed me the power of being a part of a team of strong women. Anna McCarthy, Account Executive at Fairygodboss2. Its OK to be ambitious.I was 6 years old when I first joined the Girl Scouts. It was the first space in my life where I felt it was natural to be knowledge hungry, ambitious and achievement oriented. Ther e was some of that happening within school, sure, but within limits I could get all As, but was that really amounting to something bigger? Being in the Girl Scouts felt different. As I worked toward different badges, and especially ones that involved volunteering or taking some sort of action within my community (and not just in a classroom), I felt like the impact I was making and the skills I was acquiring existed on a very real plane. Simply put, it gives girls a sense of agency they often arent getting elsewhere, and I know I have carried that sense of my own possibilities with me ever since. Liv McConnell, Associate Editor at Fairygodboss3. Collaboration is the key to success.I was a Girl Scout from Kindergarten to 8th grade, which is a lot of time to learn a lot of meaningful lessons. But the most important one that still follows me today is the importance of community and collaboration. Girl Scouts taught me the importance of belonging to and creating communities that are we lcome to all, regardless of your socioeconomic status, personality, ability, race or gender. Although the Girl Scouts was a community of women, the lesson to create a inclusive and diverse community was enforced strongly. The second part, collaboration, went hand in hand with community. Girl Scouts was a space where we worked with our troop, we had fun with our troop, and we grew with our troop. I am still best friends with the girls that I was in troop 1709 with. In fact, we have a cheer that we all can still recite to this day. Girl Scouts was a time of growth and development, and today I still bring the importance of community and collaboration to my work. I believe that being able to create communities that are inclusive will allow space for more effective collaboration, which ultimately will lead to a better tomorrow. Marina Sideli, absatzwirtschaft Intern at Fairygodboss4. Likeminded individuals bring out the best in you.The Girl Scouts taught me the value of surrounding mysel f with strong women. By volunteering, selling cookies, doing community service projects and hanging out every week I learned how important it was to work with women who felt passionate about similar things and who were committed to making change happen. This helped me build up my own confidence from a young age and inspired me to work in a career where I can help other women every day. Samantha Spica, Partnerships and Communications Manager at Fairygodboss5. Sell, sell, sellAre you kidding? Selling Girl Scout Cookies taught me how to do sales and it has turned into a career for me Romy Newman, President and Co-founder of Fairygodboss6. It pays off to get out of your comfort zone.I was a Girl Scout in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. Each year I platzdeckchen my goals higher than the year before, until I cumulatively sold over 10,000 boxes of cookies in 12 years. The cookie sale taught me to take risks and go outside of my comfort zone. I was incredibly shy, bu t over the years it got easier to talk to strangers (with my parents close behind, of course). My Dad encouraged me to sell cookies off the beaten path and I discovered there are loyal cookie customers everywhere in addition to my neighborhood, yearly stops included the car mechanic, local jail, and recycling center. The experience of pitching a product, setting goals, and reliably delivering products on time are all critical business skills that I used every day when founding my first startup in college. Julie Sygiel, senior Director of Alum and Lifetime Membership, Girl Scouts of the USA, and founder of Dear Kate7. Make things, keep track of your accomplishments and always be in the parade.The Girl Scouts taught me several things.A. Selling Girl Scout Cookies prepared me for my side hustle.My job was to go door-to-door with a big colorful poster and a ball point pen (yes, door to door, alone, as a 7 year old growing up in the 70s). It taught me how to approach people, how to ask f or a sale, and very importantly, how to upsell.I would ask Are you sure you wouldnt like an extra box of Thin Mints for the back of your freezer? It worked like a charm.B. Be nice to old people.Many of my favorite memories as a Girl Scout involved visiting or making crafts for old folks. Wed go Christmas caroling at the elderly homes, wed make crafts as gifts for them on Valentines Day, and wed just have time when we would go and read to them. It was nice. I hope there are still Girl Scouts when Im that old.C. Make things. Girl Scouts was the weekly reminder that its important to make time to just make things for fun. I still have many of the crafts I made, including the broken ceramic egg that I painted and promptly dropped just before it was ready to be taken home as a gift for my mom.D. Keep track of your accomplishments. In real life, you cant expect a colorful embroidered badge when you finish a big project, but it sure would be nice. Instead, I make a point of documenting my s uccesses on a Trello board and use the collection of wins to occasionally pat myself on the back (or to have an easy list to access when Im job hunting).E. Whenever youre invited to be in a parade, be in the parade.You just dont get those kind of invitations later in life. Bernadette Sheridan, Director of UX/UI at Fairygodboss

Why Everybody Is Talking About Resume Writing/quiz

Why Everybody Is Talking About Resume Writing/quiz Looking for the ideal job is typically a lengthy search for the majority of people. Also, bear in mind that lots of job postings are written and hunt for more generalizable terms. Finding the businesss mission statement on its website is also a very good idea. To begin with, you can have a look at the job posting that the business creating to determine precisely what is necessary for the position. Now you can get genuine college essay online, one that is going to fit your financial plan and get your work done also. After you receive a task done from us you will return again if you need assistance with another one of your essays. Many trustworthy writing services are eager to provide essay help. A hiring manager doesnt wish to understand about your hobbies and only wishes to learn about the skills youve got. Instead, you would like to use the info that youve researched to demonstrate your abilities and accomplishments are already so closely matched to what the business needs that they truly would be foolish to employ somebody else. Your computer skills will be especially attractive and ought to be highlighted. There are a couple of dozen different resume templates readily available online, but many of them suck. Resume Writing/quiz - the Conspiracy Therefore, in the event you really need to improve your work perspective then it will become important that you compose an eye catchy resume. There are a few things that dont belong on a resume for work. You are likely to love our work. There isnt any reason to lie about work anymore. Choosing the best Professional Resume Writers will be helpful for getting bulks of assignments. Resumes have developed quite a bit since that time. They can be used for a variety of reasons but fruchtwein often they are used to secure new employment. There are lots of standard kinds of resumes used to make an application for job openings. What to Do About Resume Writing/quiz The important thing is to examine the work description. Make Sure to complete 1 application in 1 page and dont carry forward to another as it may result in the recruiter out-of-focus from your Cv. You are able to find one similar to use, and in doing this, be sure to open the job and inspect the summary report to make certain it works. Internships can also produce a very good impression on the employer. Choosing Good Resume Writing/quiz The ideal CV along with all the distinctions might assist you in getting placed in top companies with no ifs or buts. You have the capacity to make your future. Likewise, are there things you should change or remove because they arent relevant for the job which you are applying for. Based on what type of job that youre applying for, there are distinct resumes that are appropriate for your requirements. Vital Pieces of Resume Writing/quiz If you are able to take care of numbers, for instance, you could be called to work with t he books. For instance, volunteering may also be written in the shape of experience. A candidate may want to use a fairly standard template when formatting a resume. All our resume templates are in Microsoft Word, that is the simplest program to use. The Resume Writing/quiz Game While its true that there are a few excellent writers in college some find it extremely tricky to write. Our job at TopResume is to be aware of the the inner workings of resume writing. You are looking for a career which will be satisfying to you and will offer you the opportunities you seek. Getting your own site is likewise a significant part getting your career started

What Recruiters Need When it Comes to Personal Branding

What Recruiters Need When it Comes to Personal Branding Social media, Googling and the likes are one of the first places that a recruiter can attempt to gather background on a potential employee. What an individual volunteers in public (and the web) are fair game and a great resource for better understanding who the next hire should be. Likewise, your applicants are going to the same places to gather similar information. Its easy to market chocolate to candy lovers and cars to interested buyers, but when it comes to a recruiter and applicants, marketing yourself isnt so simple. The challenge ofbuilding a personal brandcan be difficult, but, according to Placester and Feldman Creative, so beneficial.Though the A to Z pointers seems extensive, truthfully, the 26 pointers can easily be summarized into 5 rules1. Be Real. Establish who you are and what your goals are in the long run, then stick to them Knowing who you are and what you stand for will not only define what is needed from current and future employees, but also help build a genuine personal brand.Authentic leadersare strong leaders who keep employees engaged and encourage new hires to work well with the team. Along with a positive environment, authenticity is welcoming to interviewees. Who wouldnt want to work for the company with happy employees?2. Be Aware of Your Appearance.That doesnt mean taking a professional headshot that erases all blemishes and has amazing lighting. Appearance isnt all about the LinkedIn profile picture (however, it is recommended for bothcredibility and saturationto have a nice picture in all social media outlets).The way a company and its employees are viewed can change the success of hiring and happiness of employees. Having a great personal brand involves being a great brand ambassador.That said, only 14 percent of companies have employees whounderstand the organizations strategy, goals, and direction. The first place to start when it comes to building your brand ambassadors arsenals is developing a clear idea of what they are supporting.3. Brag a Little.Everyone has something to show. Social pages should be a place where all the wonderful things you and your team do, whether it be great content or interesting experiences.Everything from volunteering, fundraising, blog posts, infographics or conferences give social pages personality, and in turn, give their owners personality. Again, while this helps with personal branding, it supportsthe look of the companyfor which you work.4. Give Praise.No one entered the field or industry knowing it all. In fact, no one will ever know everything and this is great news.One benefit of not being omniscient is that there is someone who deserves shout outs. Be open about who helped you get to where you are and in turn pass the knowledge on. Someone is in need of the same advice. Its a great cycle that all industries have and the pla ce you play in it can be the difference in a strong and out of this worldpersonal brand. Also, job seekers (and maybe even some of your hiring managers) dont know all that a recruiter does.A great way to get started is by sharing the content that give aha moments. When content is shared, relationships and thought leadership are built. No one should have to make a case for networking when it comes to recruiting. While youre sharing that great content you find, write some of your own. Use what youve read as inspiration and use the opportunity to develop even more insight. Even the Slideshares and PowerPoints used in presentations can make for engaging knowledge sharing.5. Be Zealous.Not everyone is outspoken and thats fine, but if you dont have passion then you dont have any way to affect the person from which youre sitting across the desk.Consider your audience and where you fit within them and run with it. Create avoicefor all the content you produce and stay consistent. Be open to questions, encourage opinions and stay true to who you are.Weak brands focus solely on intellectual arguments. Strong brands tap into emotions. The subject you need to master is psychology.Mastering your own personal brand is difficult, but so important. Defining who you and the company are can help not only in your online presence, but also in an interview setting. People want to be employees of passionate companies and positive brands.How do you and your company help encourage positive personal brands? Where do you like to show yourself off?

Top trends in Security Clearance Hiring

Top trends in Security Clearance HiringTop trends in Security Clearance HiringTop trends in Security Clearance HiringIntelligence dug into whos hiring Security Clearance professionals these days. If youre recruiting in this area, youll want to know what we found.A security clearance is a government authorization that allows a rolle to view classified information as a job requires. They are essential to landing a job with a government contractor or federal agency. According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence about 4.2 million people held security clearances at the end of fiscal 2015. Not surprising, the majority of these were government employees and military personnel.There are three levels of security clearance, which are top-secret, secret and confidential. A clearance is typically good for two years or until the date a review is required, whichever comes first, after a person leaves a security clearance position. Reactivating a lapsed clearance is more likely t o be less costly and faster than gaining a security clearance for a new employee for the first time.To give you some insight into what your recruiting competitors are up to, our Intelligence team analyzed data from the CEB TalentNeuron tool to identify which companies are posting the most Security Clearance jobs and where these jobs are harder to fill.Most In-Demand Security Clearance JobsNetwork and Computer Systems AdministratorsInformation Security AnalystsSoftware Developers, ApplicationsComputer User Support SpecialistsComputer Systems Engineers/ArchitectsSecurity Clearance Jobs44% of available Security Clearance jobs are for TechnologyOf all open technology positions, 48% are specifically for Software Engineers and Information AnalystsWho is hiring Security Clearance talent?Most Common Companies Seeking Security Clearance Talent1Lockheed Martin *ProfileDepartment of Veterans AffairsNorthrop Grumman *ProfileBooz Allen HamiltonCACIGeneral DynamicsBAE SystemsRaytheonCorrect Care Solutions *ProfileHarris CorporationHow difficult is it to recruitSecurity Clearance talent?Security Clearance positions are harder than the average to recruit when compared to all other positions posted online.Which high demand job markets are harder to fill?Here are 10 of the hardest to fill job markets most in demand, some of which may surprise you.1No. 1 Washington DCAvailable Online Jobs 32,800Hiring Difficulty 73zentralwert Ad Salary $132,650No. 2 Colorado Springs, COAvailable Online Jobs 2,100Hiring Difficulty 73zentralwert Ad Salary $88,650No. 3 Baltimore, MDAvailable Online Jobs 8,800Hiring Difficulty 72Median Ad Salary $103,250No. 4 Denver, COAvailable Online Jobs 2,000Hiring Difficulty 65Median Ad Salary $88,850No. 5 San Diego, CAAvailable Online Jobs 2,800Hiring Difficulty 59Median Ad Salary $91,200No. 6 Huntsville, ALAvailable Online Jobs 2,400Hiring Difficulty 56Median Ad Salary $106,150No. 7 Boston, MAAvailable Online Jobs 3,300Hiring Difficulty 55Median Ad Salary $10 5,100No. 8 Norfolk, VAAvailable Online Jobs 2,500Hiring Difficulty 54Median Ad Salary $77,750No. 9 Dallas, TXAvailable Online Jobs 1,700Hiring Difficulty 51Median Ad Salary $88,500No. 10 Los Angeles CAAvailable Online Jobs 3,500Hiring Difficulty 49Median Ad Salary $100,850Want to know more about the top trends in hiring Security Clearance talent? Check out the Security Clearance Market Overview from Intelligence.Data finding are based on analysis of all available online jobs reported by TalentNeuron and job seeking activity from more than 22 million unique visitors2.1The CEB TalentNeuron Tool, JAN-AUG 20162comScore Media Metrix, 1Q 2016, 3-month average, (includes all US Mobile + PC traffic)*FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COMPANY PROFILES, CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OR 1-800-X6333 TODAY.

How to give yourself structure when you work from home

How to give yourself structure when you work from homeHow to give yourself structure when you work from homeWhen you work remotely, you gain the flexibility of getting to work from the comfort of your home. But the downside of this situation is the lack of structure. When you work from your bed, its all too easy to let the day slip by hunched over a computer, forgetting to take breaks or eat. To make your remote work successful, you need to build yourself the set schedule and structure of an office into your home. Heres how to do it1) Make your bedTidying up your sheets and fluffing up your pillow may not seem like much, but the simple, mundane act sends a signal to your brain that you are switching into work mode.For William McRaven, a former U.S. Navy Admiral and the 9th Commander of USSOCO, making your bed is the foundation to having a productive day If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride. A nd it will encourage you to do another task, he told graduates at the University of Texas, Austin. By the end of the day, that one task will reinforce the fact that the little things in life matterand if you cant do the little things right, youll never do the big things right.2) Make work boundaries for yourselfCreating healthy boundaries between your personal and professional space is critical to staying focused on your work when the temptations of home surround you. Try working away from your bed that you use for sleeping. Change out of your pajamas and shower, even if no colleague can see you. Find a room with a lock away from your family members intrusions. All of unterstellung are ways you can delineate boundaries between where your work begins and ends.I have a dedicated home office. When Im working, I can shut the door and leave the rest of the house behind,Kira Makagon, executive vice president of innovation at RingCentral, recommends.If youre working from your couch in your pajamas, chances are that youre not in work-mode and wont accomplish what you need to that day,3) Get outsideWhen there are no set hours for how long you should be working, you can end up working too late into the day, which can lead to less sleep and higher chances of burnout. When you work from home, make a point to give yourself the reward of a break so you are not tempted to slack off during blocks of work time. You can make your break more appetizing by giving yourself the gift of fresh air and sunlight and going outside.Walk away from your work space for lunch,Kimber Streams, an editor at Wirecutter, recommends. Even better, go outside If youre bad at noticing that its lunch time, set a calendar event (or an alarm) to notify you that its time to step away.4) Add some hintergrund noiseWhen we work alone in our homes, we lose the comfort of office chatter that research has found actually makes us more productive than total silence. One study found that people working in70-decib el levels of noise, a sound equivalent to the chatter in a caf or your television in the background, significantly outperformed people working in total silence. They were better at generating creative ideas than the groups working in silence.So next time you need to work remotely, try going to a coffee shop or turning on the TV when you need help brainstorming that next idea.

5 Really Stupid Questions from Interviewers

5 Really Stupid Questions from Interviewers5 Stupid Questions from Interviewers5 Really Stupid Questions from InterviewersInterviewers often struggle with what questions to ask job candidates as they try to rapidly understand the skill sets and work styles of applicants they have just met. Its bedrngnis easy to predict someones future job performance in a 45-minute interview. Hiring managers need specific information about the candidates talents, but they often dont know how to conduct aninterview or what to ask.Some interviewers are very skilled and well trained, but the vast majority are not. This results in some fairly creative, yet rather stupid, interview questions.Heres a list of five really stupid questions from interviewers and how you can handle them1.If you could be any type of Muppet character, which one would you be?(Variations of this type of question include What is your favorite color? Favorite TV show? Animal? etc.)The interviewer is under the illusion that he or she can gain insight into your personality by asking a question like this. Whatever your answer is, be koranvers to explain the reasons why you like a particular Muppet, TV show, color, or animal the best. Highlight the qualities that support your answer. Do not leave it up to the interviewer to interpret your answer. Use the question to communicate the talents and qualities you feel best represent your abilities for the position.If you dont have a response, just ask the interviewer the following. Thats an interesting question. Why do you ask? Your intent with this response is to modify the focus of the conversation and steer it back toward things that are relevant to the jobyour experience and talents.2.How many gas stations are in the USA?(Similar question How many airplanes are in the skies over the USA?)The intent of this question is to binnensee how you approach solving a problem, not if you know some obscure bit of trivia.In reality, theres no way to know for certain whether a cal culation is accurate or not.The interviewer is looking to have you think through - aloud - your approach to solving the problem.One approach to solving this problem goes like this To begin, we could look up the total membership list for professional associations of gas station owners.We could also estimate the number of gas stations by researching gasoline sales tax filings for every state.Gas stations are also under the control of the Department of Environmental Protection and most likely have to file an annual report of the condition of this gasoline storage tanks. We could research these figures by state or at the federal level.If you get stuck, just say, as in the question above Thats an interesting question. Why do you ask? While this may help steer the focus of the interview back to your experience and talents, it can also give you a little time to formulate your response.3.Where do you see yourself in five years?This dumb question falls into the same category as What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What would your boss say about you? Even though these questions are frequently asked, it doesnt make them any less irrelevant.Such questions have no value in predicting future job performance. Interviewers really dont want the truth theyre only interested in seeing how you respond.They really want to hear that youre committed to your career, constantly improving your value to the organization and seeking to do an excellent job in whatever role youre assigned. They dont really want to hear about your personal goals or aspirations beyond the open position for which youre being interviewed. Of these five stupid interview questions, this one is the most likely to be asked. And lets face it How many people can see how their lives are going to turn out five years into the future?4.How does your family or partner feel about you working long hours?This question is not only a stupid one to ask, its illegal. It suggests the interviewer is trying to learn whether or not youre married or have a family.This information is irrelevant to the positions qualifications, but the interviewers intent may be simpler He or she may be trying to find out how supportive your family is of your working, or how flexible you can be with long working hours. Regardless, if you hear this question, use your response to communicate your work ethic and flexibility to achieve desired outcomes.5.Why are manhole covers round?This really stupid interview question was made famous by some knuckleheads at Microsoft. They somehow believed that a candidates response indicated something about them. If youd like to blow the interviewers mind, you could approach the problem like a physicist as described on the HEBIG.Org blog, or one of the writers from Seinfeld. You can just hear the bass riff as you read itThe key to answering a stupid interview question is to relate itdirectly to your experience, talents, and anything having to do with the job and working for the orga nization.

The One Word That Can Transform Your Resume

The One Word That Can Transform Your Resume The One Word That Can Transform Your Resume If I told you that one word can change your resume and dramatically improve your job search results, would you think I welches nuts?Let me explain why Im not.One of the keys to a successful resume is to ensure that it clearly communicates your unique value proposition what makes you different from all the other job seekers out there? This value proposition should be the focus of every word of your resume, so that employers cant help but get the message you want them to get.One of my favorite strategies to do this is to distill the clients value proposition into one word (or sometimes one brief phrase). Doing this helps me create a focus for the resume, which in turn helps me choose what content to highlight and what content to leave off the resume all together.How Do You find Your Word?I choose the word or phrase based on two thingsFirst, I define the blend of skills, experiences and personality traits that make my client unique.Then I look at whats important to the companies who are hiring for this type of position and identify what they will MOST like about my client (they may like lots of things but I am looking for the most important aspect of their experience).Then I come up with a word or short phrase that encapsulates that one thing.How it Worked for One Client So to give you a specific example, one former client welches a senior tax executive. He was unusual because he had a breadth of experience that spanned all aspects of taxes from having worked at the IRS, to being a tax lawyer, to working for a top consulting firm providing tax guidance on highly complex issues. He worried that his background was too diversified he was shooting for a position as the top tax executive in a large corporation but he felt that because he had never held such a role before, employers would dismiss him.In reviewing his goals and his experience, I felt that the one key word for him wa s expertise. His broad-based background gave him unique insights and experiences. He hadnt just worked on tax issues for one company, he had worked on them for many companies. He hadnt just viewed them from the inside, but from the outside as a tax attorney and as a consultant. Having decided that expertise was the core concept for his resume, I then focused on gathering the data to support that concept so that we could lead his resume with a strong statement and then support that statement throughout the document.You can see the end result here (opens PDF).This resume got the desired result within 3 months, which is a relatively short time for such a senior-level position. The staff at the Fortune 500 company where Peter now works told him that his resume was the best one they saw and given that its message was so carefully crafted, this is no surprise. In Summary Knowing your one word is a powerful way to transform your resume from a collection of facts into a cohesive marketing d ocument that clearly positions you for success.So whats your one word?Need help with your resume? Check out our new online resume writing course. Its free