How To Promote Your Company At a Career Fair

How To Promote Your Company At a Career FairHow To Promote Your Company At a Career FairHow do you make your company more attractive to college students and new grads at a college fair? The answer lies in how you promote your company. To have a successful time at a college career effort, recruiters should plan to continuously promote their company before, during and after the event. Choosing your first job out of college or the perfect summer internship takes a lot of consideration, so recruiters should make sure theyre promoting their company every step of a students decision process. Before the Career FairBefore you start promoting, check what open job reqs you have and decide if you want to focus on that particular group. For example, if you have engineering or sales openings, youll probably want to gear your promotions with those particular students in mind. With a focus, you can choose the right swag and homilie for marketing collateral you want when designing your booth. Plan t o start promoting at least a month before the career fair. If you have money in your budget, fruchtwein colleges offer sponsorship packages, and you can be promoted in a school-wide elektronischer brief blasts. Many college professional groups and clubs offer sponsorship in their e-mail blasts, too. Make announcements on your corporate social media feeds and blogs, because students interested in your company might be following you and will appreciate the announcement. During the Career FairAccording to How Companies Attract the Best Talent, by Sanjeev Agrawal, the top three things millennials look for in an employer are People Culture Fit, Career Potential, and Work/Life Balance. The staff that you bring to the career fair should be knowledgeable on these areas, as most of the questions will probably be about them. Also, if most of your job opening are in one department, it would be smart to bring someone from that department to the fair, not just recruiters. This way students will get first-hand knowledge on what its like to work in that particular department, not just the generic sales pitch from a recruiter. Another tip fromAgrawalis that most millennials hear about companies from their friends. An engaging way to promote your company is to offer an incentive for college students to share their experiences at your table on social media. It could be a photo of them with your company branding. Another idea is an online quiz on what role at your company fits them best and give them the option to share their results on their social media account. Having something fun, relevant and shareable will encourage college students to talk about your company with their friends. After the Career FairBefore you blast a generic email to all of the contacts you collected at the career fair, contact the students with the most potential first. Students will respond more to a sincere, personalized e-mail from a real recruiter or employee versus an e-mail from an HR alias. You should include jobs that might interest the student and follow up with any more information on questions they had when you met them. Make yourself available to the student if they have any further questions about the job or the company.For the email that goes out to all of your new leads from the job fair, include recruiter contact information, where they can find a list of jobs, and links to your university recruiting social media accounts if you have them. Similar to during the career fair, it might be helpful to add an incentive if they share any of the jobs openings your company has on their personal social media accounts. College students are more likely to spread the word about your company if you make it easy and fun for them.

Why Lateral Career Moves are Actually Power Moves

Why Lateral Career Moves are Actually Power MovesWhy Lateral Career Moves are Actually Power Moves Sometimes, the field you studied in school doesnt turn out to be the perfect career fit. Or you spend many happy years in a certain part of the business, but eventually youre no longer fulfilled.Its easy to feel stuck, and making a big career change can be daunting.But LisaAlteri, Chief People Officerfor Kraft Heinz U.S. , is a firm believer that big career changes are possible at any point. The keys to success Lean into your curiosity, and embrace the power of the lateral move.Its hard to urbeginn that evil ego, Alteri says. In general theres an obsession about titles because title is associated with status, and thats where the ego comes in. But you as the individual care so much more about the title than your current or future organization does. And those lateral moves can bring so much more than a title.Alteri knows that well She started her career decades ago in t he finance organization and enjoyed great success. Then she pivoted to ausverkauf and rose quickly through those ranks, too. And most recently, in October 2018, she moved to the people function in her current role as U.S. chief.Its something I try to encourage within people when it comes to their performance Dont think of moves as just about moving up think also of moving laterally, says Alteri. It doesnt have to be as hard as you might think, she adds. Heres how to make that big career move (or moves), and feel fulfilled at work again.This is Alteris key piece of advice throughout your career-change journey . If youre really interested in something, chances are youll be good at it, she says.So youll have the perseverance and drive to keep learning.But how can you discover that curiosity , especially if youre feeling uninspired in your current position?For Alteri, the answer lay in her exposure to different parts of the business while working in finance. Among other positions she served as an analyst at General Electrics manufacturing finance division, and later in operations finance and regional business management at Kraft.I did almost every possible rotation in finance, and the more I did that the more curious I became about those other aspects of the business, Alteri says.Your job may not offer that kind of exposure, so its also smart to seek advice from trusted managers or mentors. They may be able to place you on cross-functional projects , or at least offer advice about how to explore your next step. In Alteris case, a mentor at Kraft served as the catalyst for her first big career move. Had Alteri ever explored other functions, he asked, such as sales?Nobody in finance ever considered a functional move to sales, Alteri says, laughing. It welches known as the dark sideAfter the conversation with her mentor, Alteri made connections with senior leadership in the sales function, and she ultimately accepted a role that was two pay grades below her finance position.I realized that I didnt have the experience in sales that I did in finance, so I shouldnt expect I would be at the same level there, Alteri says. To be honest, even as I think now about all the different roles Ive had over my career, that was the hardest, scariest step to take.Alteri had to start all over, but once again, she proved herself in Kraft sales She rose from roles like customer business manager positions at different grocery chains, to national director of sales planning & strategy of the entire grocery business unit, and ultimately to vice president of sales for the beverage business unit.It just shows that its OK not to know everything at first, Alteri says. Theres a rush of excitement when you make a change, and that can carry you through.That feeling of excitement - or lack thereof, at times - can be another important guide, Alteri says. As she had risen to sales VP for Krafts beverage, the obvious next step was for Alteri to become the head of the U.S. retail operation.It was the natural progression, but Ive never managed my career in a linear fashion, Alteri says. My sanity check has become Does this give me an adrenaline rush, the butterflies in my stomach?So dont simply work toward, or accept, promotions in your current field simply because its just how its done. At each point, assess how you really feel about the role and whether you feel excited to continue down that path.For Alteri, the U.S. retail chief role just didnt feel right. She reflected instead on what gave her those adrenaline-fueled butterflies.At this point and level in my career, every role Im in is really a people-managing role, Alteri says. That thought gave me butterflies because I recognized functionally I didnt have the people experience. Im lucky to work for a company that truly does live by pursuing your curiosity, so it was a good time to have that conversation with senior leadership.Kraft ultimately created the role of U.S. Chief People Officer for Alteri, who stepped into the position in October 2018.But not all companies may be as receptive to conversations about 180-degree career moves, Alteri notes. In that case, its on you to make your case.Especially if youre in a traditional, hierarchical organization, you need to show you have a track record of delivering, of success, Alteri says. But thats just the first step, the table stakes that are the price of entry.To convince the company youll likely need to go several steps further, explaining why the move makes sense for the organization at large and how youve built colleagues trust in your capabilities over the course of your career there.But before you march into the boss office, ask yourself a few questions first - and be very honest with the answers, Alteri says.Can you look at yourself in the mirror and state what your legacy is? Alteri says. How is this organization better for you having been there? Thats the gut check. If you cant confidently state your legacy, you likely need to do that work before you move to the next step.

Sales Interview Questions About Products and Services

Sales Interview Questions About Products and ServicesSales Interview Questions About Products and ServicesSales is a challenging job. After all, your goal is to sell someone something they dont want or dont yet know that they need Your job in aschlussverkauf interviewis to sell yourself as the best person for the position, and this is an ideal option to showcase your ability to sell withquestionsabout products and services. The interviewer will be closely observing yourcommunication skillsto determine if youre the kind of salesperson who can close a deal. Your answers to questions should be clear and persuasive. Avoid rambling at all costs. And, although preparation is key to acing an interview - just as its important when youre doing a demo or pitching a product - you dont want to sound stiff or overly rehearsed. Do use questions about products and services as an opportunity to demonstrate the research youve done on the company and discuss why you want to sell their specific produ cts or services. Convey your understanding of the companys product and sales strategies and how it relates to your past experience, using examples and anecdotes where possible. Here are some typical interview questions about products and services that you might need to answer during a sales interview. Whats More Important, a Quality Product or Excellent Customer Service? As you consider your response, keep in mind that you do not have to choose quality or service, despite the questions structure. Use your response to discuss the merits of each. Its ideal if you can relate this question back to your own experience. You could mention, for instance, a particularly high quality product you sold, and how it helped you do your job well. Sample Answers I believe that the two go hand in hand. You are not helping your customers by selling an inferior product. I make sure that the products that I represent are all of a high quality and good value, which gives me the confidence that I am p roviding my customers with the best possible customer service.The quality product comes first. When you are able to provide a consistently high quality product, you are providing the customer with the fruchtwein important aspect of customer service, a superior product experience. Customer service is the most important aspect of sales. Without friendly, knowledgeable service, no product can sell itself.Im more focused on selling solutions in whatever form that takes, rather than products or services. Have You Consistently Met Your Sales Goals? Naturally, the interviewer will want to know about your sales history and the ideal candidate will have proven experience meeting and exceeding sales goals. Come ready to talk about your sales success and how youve met and exceeded goals. Cite numbers as evidence when possible. Review this sample answer, and also take a look at these additional tips for responding to interview questions around sales goals. Sample Answer I have never failed to meet or exceed sales goals in my eight-year career. Last year my team exceeded goals by 20 percent and consistently increased sales month over month. We made this happen during a time when the industry was contracting and other teams fell short of their goal. Sell Me This Paperclip Demonstrating your sales skills on the spot is an age-old interview question to get you to think on your feet. To best attack this question, dont try to launch into a pitch about the paperclip find out what the buyer/interviewer is looking for and then sell the paperclips benefits that match his needs.If he needs something durable, note that the paperclip is guaranteed to last two years. If he needs something multi-functional, indicate the paperclip can hold papers, money, and keep a loose button attached. Sample Answer I appreciate your comment that you dont know that you need a paperclip, since you have a stapler available. Staplers are great - I use one myself. But I find that the paperclip ca n be really handy for papers before theyre filed away completely. For instance, you mentioned you often wind up with bundles that have multiple staples, since you have to staple every time you add to the pile of papers. With a paperclip, you can easily add to the collection of papers.

Improve Your Interviews with a Post-Game Review

Improve Your Interviews with a Post-Game ReviewImprove Your Interviews with a Post-Game ReviewImprove Your Interviews with a Post-Game Review HerrenkohlHow can you improve your teams hiring decisions when it comes to how to interview candidates? How can you avoid common hiring mistakes? One way is to conduct a post-gamemeeting with everyone involved in the hiring process.First,have multiple people interview the job candidate.After the interview, get all the interviewers together to share their assessment of the candidate. Here are some steps to take1.Share impressions. Allow each interviewer to share his or her impressions of each candidate based on verbatim notes. What impressed them?What questions did the candidate raise?What answers did the candidate provide that were weak or incomplete?By sharing these impressions, other interviewers can verify their own candidate reactions.Inevitably, one interviewer catches something that everyone else missed.2.Encourage open and honest comment ary.If you have a range of junior and senior people involved in the interview process, have the senior executives wait to share their impressions so as not to sway the junior people in the room. At the same time, emphasize with everyone that hiring is too important a decision to have anyone hold back their honest impressions.3. Utilize an interview scorecard. Force all the interviewers to rank the candidates interviewed using an interview scorecard and make a recommendation based on the information gathered so far as to who they would hire. This process forces people to compare and contrast candidates clearly.4.Beware of primacy and recency. Human beings have a tendency to remember what came first and what came last, and to forget what came in between. Warn interviewers to be aware of this primacy and recency dynamic and to guard against it.After all, if the 4th candidate out of 6 was the best person you interviewed, you dont want his or her name to get lost in the shuffle.5.Create a short list of candidates you will invite for second interviews.Exclude people who clearly dont have the accomplishments or hintergrund to do the job you need done.Include both highly qualified candidates and individuals who have the background to do the job but may not have communicated their accomplishments as effectively as other candidates.The latter candidate can often become a first choice.When you invite people for second interviews, keep everyone on the interview team in the loop, whether or not they are involved in the second interview.Author BioEric Herrenkohl is the founder and president of Herrenkohl Consulting, a firm that helps clients build great sales teams. He is the author of the book, How to Hire A-Players (John Wiley Sons, April 2010.) To receive his free e-letter, subscribe at herrenkohlconsulting.

The Best System to Use for Top Skills for Resume Exposed

The Best System to Use for Top Skills for Resume Exposed Thus, being thorough with the fundamental skills is extremely essential to create a stable career in the area. CNA skills become sharpened with time. If you would like to display your organization skills, obtaining a tightly structured resume certainly helps. There are a few skills that will be totally necessary for any successful candidate. WordPress is really the most popular content management system in the planet, and PHP is the language that its constructed on. A persons skill set is comprised of an assortment of personal skills that theyve acquired through education and employment. In addition to the practical demand for developers in just about any organization, programming skills demonstrate advanced problem solving skills that could result in a well-rounded professional. Therefore, to be an excellent receptionist, an individual must possess an amazing amount of organizational skills. Hard skills have a tenden cy to be more technical, and each business or sort of job will often have its personal necessary set. Soft skills on the opposite hand, are not simply useful across multiple industries, but are a wonderful tool for standing out from different candidates who all possess the identical hard skills. Strong planning abilities and organization are traits which are highly desired in an employee, particularly in the plan world. Heres What I Know About Top Skills for Resume If youre interested in submitting an application for a particular job, review the post carefully and observe the list of skill requirements. You may find below a list of the greatest skills you may put on your resume based on the kind of job that you are applying for. There are some diverse forms of skill sections and formatting alternatives that you should think about when crafting your resume. Your skills section stipulates a window into how much capability it is possible to bring to the organization. What Does Top Skills for Resume Mean? The placement of your skills section is also a rather important point to contemplate. Maybe it set is completely different. The skill section may be the most important section on your resume if you place it together correctly. In truth, it could be appropriate to incorporate a more prominent core competencies section at the peak of your resume with thorough descriptions of certain skills if theyre absolutely central to success in the desired position. The Good, the Bad and Top Skills for Resume You want to communicate to somebody else, so think about what they need to see. So, having the capability to drive is most likely the top rated hard skill you have to have to do the job. To begin with, if youre seeing a great deal of hard skills that you just dont have, it could be better to move on to the next position. Remember that critical thinking a part of good analytical skills. Theres only so much room on your resume, and at times it can be toug h to properly convey whatever you should. Read through it a couple of occasions and youll probably spot three or four vital skills mentioned repeatedly throughout the document. When you have time, you may also jot down some notes to assist you in getting your point across. If you cant motivate yourself to work when you want to to keep on track, then youre likely to have a really problem with lots of of remote jobs. Instead, you ought to showcase your soft skills by producing an achievement-oriented expert experience section. If youre on the lookout for a job for a sommelier, list your understanding of wine fundamentals and food pairing, together with your experience with inventory administration. Once it means your skills are more in demand, in addition, it means there are a variety of new tools you could need to learn as a way to create a prosperous career. Review their About Us page and see whether your soft abilities or attributes are aligned with the organizations core v alues. Your accounting degree or experience with bookkeeping might be more applicable than you believe. Resume objectives are occasionally thought to be the old schooltype of resume. To give employers a better idea about what youve accomplished, talk about the size of the group and the range of the projects you manage. What You Can Do About Top Skills for Resume Starting in the Next 20 Minutes No matter the scenario, its the HR managers responsibility to follow the employees and make certain they got their message across clearly. Resume is a kind of document utilized by individuals that are seeking for employment. Listed below are six of the most crucial, listed in the order of importance depending on the outcomes of the survey. On the flip side, HR involves a great deal of paperwork that has to be filed systemically such as employee profile and legal documents. You also need to possess the key soft skills employers search for. Be confident in yourself and what youre abl e to offer employers. Therefore, employers are increasingly on the lookout for candidates that are familiarized with Agile. Even if you disagree with an employer, coworker, or employee, it is essential for you to understand and respect their viewpoint. If youre not certain which skills you wish to share, consider your prior experiences. Some skills could be relevant while others arent. 3 First, you have to pick the best skills for your resume. Youve got to curate the few skills which are most relevant to them. The Key to Successful Top Skills for Resume A functional resume is a great place to begin. Locating a well-put-together resume example may be huge support to you as you want to craft the perfect resume for yourself. Superb people skills are an essential portion of what makes you such a standout employee whod be an asset to any company that offers you an opportunity to shine. For instance, if youve got a strong history with word processing and a work description de mands experience with a particular processor you havent used, you may use your experience to demonstrate the employer that youve got zero issue working with new word processors.

The Benefits of Creating a Resume

The Benefits of Creating a Resume What Creating a Resume Is - and What it Is Not If youve got extensive experience, longer may be critical. Your job (while youre attempting to find a job) is to ensure you fit what theyre searching for. Whenever you havent updated your resume in some time, it can be difficult to understand where to get started. Read my essay writing service reviews and my guide to selecting the ideal service for everything you want to understand about how to pick the best writing businesses. Utilizing a writing service is the perfect means to have a well-written essay to use as a guideline to guarantee the essays you write are hitting all the vital points and are at the appropriate depth needed for your academic grade. Create a new expert email address when you have a novelty email address If your own personal e-mail address isnt appropriate, establish a new account only for job searches. Creating a resume is a significant portion of the application practice . Youll need several versions of a resume for different portions of the application procedure. The process might appear daunting. If you have a look at resume building as a step-by-step procedure, it is going to be simpler to do and not as overwhelming. Heres What I Know About Creating a Resume Next, you will have an experience section. For job resumes, its important to list all former work experience. Each time you put in an application for a new job, check your resume to guarantee that it is not only targeted, but in addition current. With the aid of our Resume Builder and CV Builder app you may come across resumes to create professional looking absolutely free resumes. Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that can help you get your fantasy job. Employing a professional writer is an investment in your career that may exponentially boost your likelihood for a telephone interview by turning your previous experiences into your special story. You ha ve to invest time into each application and be certain that your resume is tailored to every employer and the job which youre applying to. Purpose of your resume is to receive a job.

A Review of Administrative Resume Sample

A Review of Administrative Resume Sample The job of an assistant product manager demands a multi-talented candidate whos multifaceted and can work in a stressful atmosphere. Studying resume samples is among the absolute most effective ways to get ready for developing your own winning document. One of the absolute most helpful methods to produce your resume is to incorporate a resume objective section at the topmost portion of your resume. Getting the Best Administrative Resume Sample Fill the info in Administrative assistant resume skills sample document as it is simple to understand and covers all facets of the skilled and individual data. Employed as an administrative assistant is able to help you earn a sufficient amount of money and is regarded as a strong career path for everyone with a passion of working with a number of files and secretarial work. He resume template is a wonderful tool for the users. Senior administrative assistant resume has professional experience c ategory to present comprehensive information regarding the job profiles before. Administrative work is growing increasingly reliant on software. In other instances, an undergraduate or postsecondary program is mandatory to be able to find work. You would have to work with a lot of papers and to be confident that you finished all of the tasks in time. A lovely Administrative assistant resume summary is an ideal beginning to the interview session. You need to be among the very best at multi-tasking while still paying special attention to the little particulars of the job. There arent any minimal years of experience for somebody to be promoted from a junior function to a senior one. A brief expert history followed by educational qualifications are going to be better for developing a oben liegend impression. The War Against Administrative Resume Sample Never include the main reason why you left your prior jobs. Organizations are increasingly turning to the web to locate new ta lent and employees. Some businesses will request your salary history, but all they really wish to know is how much money youre looking for. So when the hiring company hasnt provided a salary for work, we look at salary data from related businesses and locations to think of a fair estimate for what it is possible to expect. Administrative Resume Sample for Dummies An effective career objective shouldnt be generic. When seeking to acquire such a position its vital that you express your abilities and abilities regarding the position in your objective. In case you have any special abilities or abilities, be certain to include them. The majority of the above mentioned skills can be gotten over a time period, as you acquire your teaching experience. Writing objectives for resumes can be hard. In addition, you can learn more on the topic of administrative careers on Monster. Therefore when applying to jobs which are extremely different in nature, you must use various resumes also. When youre prepared to start your work search, its time to assess your CV and see whether it completely sells your talents and expertise. Key Pieces of Administrative Resume Sample Well, the great part is that today you have a vast variety of Administrative Assistant Resume Templates to assist you. Following that, it has to impress the hiring manager with information that is related to them. Only you must send a great administrative assistant resume to recruiters. When you spot a job that you like, go right to the work opening on LinkedIn to find out more regarding the option and apply. To find out more on what it requires to be an Administrative Professional, have a look at our complete Administrative Professional Job Description. The Career Objective is intended to provide the hiring manager a reason to keep on reading your resume. Candidate should have good communication skills as he wants to communicate with staff members from various departments and could be even the ex ternal customers. As the use of the administrative assistant is vital to keeping an office on track, it seems sensible that the vetting and hiring procedure is also more involved. Administrative assistant jobs involve a wide array of duties and abilities. An administrative assistant position isnt an exception. It entails a lot of responsibilities. If you produce a generic one for convenience and submit it for every type of administrative assistant position, its possible that you wont be regarded as relevant for the job. If you would like to be an administrative assistant, there are only a few things you have to know. Creating a resume isnt an easy job if youre aiming for a reputable job. Knowing the right measures to take will produce the transition quick and effortless.

Why Designers Need Human Skills as Much as Tech Skills

Why konzepters Need Human Skills as Much as Tech SkillsWhy Designers Need Human Skills as Much as Tech SkillsBusinesses across industries are racing to adopt emerging technologies, like augmented reality and artificial intelligence (AI), so they can work smarter and create better products and experiences for their customers. To get the most from these investments, they need a team of multiskilled and adaptive creative professionals. But technology is evolving so fast, its hard for even seasoned practitioners to keep pace.In fact, nearly nine in 10 creative professionals who responded to The Creative Groups Creative Workplace survey said it will be challenging to keep their skills up to date as they advance in their careers.Its understandable if you, like many creative professionals, feel insecure about your current - and future - marketability. One look at the in-demand skills list in The Creative Group 2019 Salary Guide might deepen your concern, especially if youre just launching your creative career. That list shows employers increasingly seek candidates with proficiency in areas such as data science and machine learning for a variety of creative roles. Those are high expectations given those skills are already hard to find.Human skills are key to creative inspirationAll creative pros are wise to learn technology skills relevant to their job or industry, of course. You may also want to build a fundamental understanding of AI and its growing role in design, as industry experts like Ashleigh Axios advise. In addition, you should focus on refining abedrngnislageher vital skill set - your human skills - if you want to achieve long-term success in an increasingly tech-driven creative industry.Several creative leaders underscore this pointMoira Cullen, vice president and global creative director at method products pbc. Pum Lefebure, cofounder and chief creative officer of Design Army and Eddie Opara, a partner at Pentagram.Cullen, Lefebure and Opara each stron gly recommend that creative professionals detach from technology as often as possible to find inspiration in the real world. They also stress that fundamental human skills - such as knowing how to explain your design process - are essential for all creative pros, no matter how adept they are at using the latest tech tools. Read on for more of their insights and advice, which will come in handy as you look to further your creative career in the digital era.Design is a relational professionCullen, who has held senior creative leadership positions at companies like Coca-Cola, Hallmark Cards, the Hershey Company, and PepsiCo, says technology can be a great friend to designers. It gives them more time to focus on the work they love, and helps them create and experiment with new ideas faster than ever before.Even so, the human factor in design remains essential. Cullen says that no matter how much creative work becomes automated, designers totentotenstill need to be in touch with the hu man soul.Designers are pioneers, always pushing into new places. But that comes from human curiosity, notlage technology, Cullen explains. What we produce is for the human experience. And only humans right now can discern that unquantifiable nuance between magic and just good enough, which is vital to great creative work.Cullen says that when shes hiring creative talent, she weighs the following questionsWho can bring extra dimension to my team?What is their ability to communicate, collaborate, influence and show empathy?The latter human skills are especially important as designers become increasingly reliant on technology. At some point in the design process, there needs to be a human interface. How does what a machine makes get out into the world? People have to formulate it, present it, and galvanize other people around it, she says.Cullens advice to designers, especially those just entering the profession, is to not be duped by technologys ability to make certain aspects of work easier Technology offers an entry point into design. Many designers create something with programmatic efforts and think, Wow, that was easy. But then, when they want to customize it, they find that the program cant help them. They need to apply a professional mind and eye to make something more meaningful, differentiated and extraordinary.We can help you find your next creative jobSEARCH JOBSTake a break from technology for inspirationLefebure has led teams that have developed high-profile campaigns for clients worldwide, including the Academy Awards, Adobe, Disney, PepsiCo and Ritz Carlton. Rapid technological change has - and continues to be - a constant reminder that what theyre doing right now might not be relevant in six months or a year, so they must keep learning. Change is part of a designers job, she says. You must keep looking forward and anticipating trends.Check out our QA with Pum Lefebure here.Lefebure says she loves technology but is also old school when it comes to finding sources of inspiration. If you only see whats on the internet, youre not looking at real life, says Lefebure. Its crucial to go out and see things in the real world.She offers an example, based on her own recent travel experience, of how disconnecting from technology can provide powerful inspiration Say you want to see examples of white ceramics from France. You do an internet search - and boom - its all right there in front of you. But now, think about this You go to Paris and find an antiques dealer at a flea market. You browse the tables. You hear people speaking French. You feel the wind blowing and the sunshine. You take in the smells of the market. Then you see it a gleaming white ceramic jug. You grab it by the handle and feel its weight and coolness. You tap it to hear its sound. That is a much more human, sensory experience, no?While it may not be possible for you to spend an afternoon strolling a Parisian antique market, Lefebure emphasizes that creative inspi ration can be found anywhere you go, whether its a local park or museum. Just get out and clear your head. We are all so glued to technology now. We must decompress - especially designers, she says.And when you cant get outside, Lefebure says books can be a good substitute, but not ones about graphic design. I dont look at those anymore, although I used to in my 20s. Now, I prefer to look at books about interior design, fashion or art. But still, above all else, I prefer to walk around and do real research. The world is so much deeper than what you can see in books or on the internet.Hiring creative professionals? We can helpSTART HIRING NOWYour job isnt just a job - its a professionOpara is a multifaceted designer whose work encompasses strategy, design and technology. His clients have included the Morgan Stanley, New York University, Santander, Smithsonian Design Museum and St. Regis Hotels, to name a few. Hes also a senior critic at the Yale University School of Art. And like L efebure, Opara encourages designers to go out in the real world to find inspiration.While Opara recognizes that technology can be a tremendous help to designers, it can also do more harm than good. He says too many designers are coming out of school with no understanding of process. Opara explains, Youre not going to be hired just on the principles of the solution you came up with, even if the aesthetics are good. You need to be able to explain, including in writing, how you came up with that solution. Unfortunately, many designers cant do that.He continues, I find that disheartening as I think about the future for the creative field. Too many designers today look at their jobs as jobs - and not as a profession. They have to ask themselves, Do I want to be a producer of work or a person who comes up with breakthrough ideas? Being conceptually minded will earn you respect.Opara says a lack of understanding about historical factors behind graphic design can also limit designers abili ty to create standout work and build successful careers. Learn about the origin of graphic compositions and the history of typography across the centuries, for example. Look at things from different points of view to be globally minded. Read books, listen to podcasts, go to museums and read articles.Opara says understanding the meaning of certain colors can be invaluable for a designer. I was talking to my team and the color purple came up. I said, Do you know where that color actually comes from? The bottom feeders of the sea - really small snails. Thats why purple was once a rare color, and why it was sought after by royal and wealthy people. And thats why, today, its still associated with quality. How did I know all that? I read an article about it.Another piece of advice to creative pros from Opara Be careful not to restrict yourself to mastering one specialized skill set, like user experience design, data visualization or video production, even if its in high demand. You shoul d be an all-rounder, he explains.Opara suggests that creatives think of themselves like architects. Architects are very knowledgeable about building processes. They know a little bit about engineering. And they have to explain their concepts clearly to clients. Creative professionals need to do these same things, too.The bottom line is that while technology is essential to design careers, and you must keep up with it, dont forget how important your other skills are to your profession. Its your human skills and human experiences that will allow you to excel in the ever-evolving world of design.Watch this video to find out more about how digital transformation is impacting creative teams and professionals.

Networking Advice to Help You Succeed at Networking Events

Networking Advice to Help You Succeed at Networking EventsNetworking Advice to Help You Succeed at Networking EventsNetworking Tips to Help You Thrive at Your Next EventDont just attend a networking event, own itVery early on in my career, I didnt understand the importance of networking events. Job networking landseemed like a bunch of people hanging around in suits exchanging business cards, which welchesnt my idea of a good time. But thats because I didnt truly know what networking meant.What is job networking?Essentially, its going out and meeting people in your field (or the field you want to break into) that could potentially help you later find or land a job. Besides LinkedIn and connecting with co-workers, networking events are a great way to create professional connections.Through the years, Ive landed clients, and even a job, through my efforts at these professional networking events. Ive also connected with vendors that I ended up working with on projects and met other like -minded people who I ended up working with collaboratively to help promote one aelendher. Networking opened doors to opportunities I would have otherwise missed, and these professional events helped.Thats not to say, however, that I didnt stumble along the way. Successfully navigating networking events isnt easy, and knowing how to network effectively may not come naturally. The good news is there are some key things you can do to help you avoid some of the stumbles many professionals struggle with when they first start attending networking events. Use the following networking advice to help you succeed at the next event you attend.Related How to Make the Most of Every Professional Networking EventDress appropriatelyNot sure how to dress for a specific networking event? Keep in mind that not all events require the same type of attire. Read up on the event, whether on a website, a brochure, or elsewhere, and see what you can find about the type of attire expected at the event.If you cant find the information youre looking for, its OK to contact the event organizers and ask. Whatever method you use to find this information, make sure you use it.If its a formal affair, be sure to show up dressed to impress. If its more of a business-casual environment, dont go overboard. Whatever the dress code may be, if you dont follow it youll stand out like a sore thumb. Dont be that person.Be preparedKnowing how to prepare for an event can go a long way in being successful. Networking events are typically different than career fairs its important to make that distinction. Rather than coming prepared with resumes, think business cards instead. One of my favorite professional networking tips is that its important to be relaxed and act naturally at a networking event, so carrying around a folder full of resumes just doesnt allow for that. If you do come across someone whod like to see a resume, grab their business card and schmelzglas it to them the next day.In addition to busi ness cards, be prepared with a pen. You may need to jot down some additional info on a card youre handed, so bring a pen (or two) so you dont miss out on this opportunity. Think about each of the items youll need and make sure you have them packed and ready to go the night before.Be ready to deliver your elevator pitchOne of the most important things you need to have prepared is your elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive pitch that really sells something, and its key for networking effectively. These are critical for business professionals to have for situations when theres only a short amount of time to impress. Networking events present attendees with many of these types of situations, so be prepared to pitch yourself or your business in two minutes or less.A solid elevator pitch can pique the right persons interest and convince them that theres a reason to stop and listen longer. Think of yourself as though you were selling a product. How would you sell yoursel f to the CEO of a major organization if you crossed paths on an elevator, and you only had 10 floors to go until the opportunity was lost? Develop and then practice your pitch. It takes guts to give a good elevator pitch, so be ready.Related 5 Tips for Delivering the Perfect Elevator PitchWork the roomNetworking events are no place for the timid. A great networking tip Dont linger too long in one area. One mistake I made early on was thinking that I could park myself at a table and the right people would come to me. Wrong A few stragglers may wander over, but in reality, the table with one random person standing at it is the table most people will avoid.A little solitude is nice, dont get me wrong, but theres no place for it at a networking event. You need to work the room in order to be successful, so find ways to smoothly enter conversations. Move around the room and dont spend the entire time talking to one person or group. Its OK to politely move on from a conversation because e veryone at the event is likely there to talk to more people than just you. Exchange business cards, move on, and continue that conversation later.Dont overindulgeAs you work your way around the room, youll run into a number of tempting food and beverage options. Theres no shame in sampling food offerings or sipping on a glass of wine just make sure you do it in moderation.Too much food can make you look like a slob or give others the impression thats the only reason youre there in the first place. Plus, if your mouth is always stuffed with food, its difficult to have a meaningful conversation. Limiting the alcoholic beverages you consume goes without saying. The last thing you want to do is start slurring your speech and rambling on about a night you and your buddies had on spring break 10 years back. Just keep in mind that moderation is the key.Final networking-event thoughtsHow do I know that all these things work, you ask? Easy. All of these, aside from the overindulgence in alco hol, are mistakes I made early on. I got zero value out of the events I attended early on in my career, and so I made a conscious effort to learn from my mistakes and work to improve upon them.I analyzed my performance at each event, thought about what I did that worked and what I did that didnt work, and then compared my notes to how many solid connections Id made. Going into each subsequent event, I took what Id learned from the event before and used it to improve my performance. I like to challenge myself to be better and step outside of my box. The effort Ive put into improving my networking skills through the years has been infinitely valuable in helping me advance in my career. This networking advice can help you take that next step as well.Networking events offer lots of excellent value to professionals at all levels in their career. Take each event seriously, but dont expect to be perfect. Learn from your mistakes, and youll improve with each event. As they say, practice mak es perfect.Click on the following link for more networking advice.Need help updating your resume before your next networking event? Start with a free resume reviewRecommended ReadingNetwork Like an Expert Networking Tips from the Industrys FinestSocial Networking How to Connect with Potential Employers OnlineYes, Business Cards totenstill Matter. Heres How to Craft Good Ones