3 Life-Changing Career Lessons I Got From Africa - Work It Daily

3 Life-Changing Career Lessons I Got From Africa - Work It Daily 3 Ways Africa Changed My Life Career Like a lot of recent grads, I wanted to delay getting into the ‘real world’ as much as possible after college. The idea of battling traffic for an hour so I could sit in a cubicle all day didn’t appeal to me that much... plus, I wanted some time to clear my head and figure out what I really wanted in life. Related: 10 Things That Matter In Your Career So, after a bit of research, I spontaneously signed up with a friend for a 4-week voluntourism trip to South Africa. About 20 of us spent two weeks volunteering at a beautiful South African wildlife reserve, and two weeks on a tour bus to the Mozambique coast and back. 3 Ways Africa Changed My Life Career I can’t begin to tell you how much better a person I am, personally and professionally, as a result of that experience, but here are. Here are some life-changing career lessons I learned: 1. Gratitude I’ll never forget the woman at the fast food store in the mall. I bought my meal with cash, and told her to keep the change. It might have added up to a dollar U.S, and she gave me a big smile and thank you. Next, my friend did the same thing… and she started laughing a bit too much… After all, it was only another dollar. No big deal. Another friend tipped her a third dollar, and she went crazy. Dancing, laughing, crying… and all of us just stood there, smiling back in awe. It was one of the most touching and unforgettable experiences of my life. We had given her what seemed to be so little… yet it was worth so much to her that she wound up breaking down at her job in the middle of the day. There are no words to describe that kind of thing. I feel extremely grateful for all that I have here in North America, sad that a couple of dollars makes that much of a difference to someone, and happy that we were able to help out someone who really needed it. Now, if I’m feeling stressed about work or money, I like to think back to the woman in that store, and remind myself that I have it pretty good after all. 2. What Really Matters Waking up at dawn and driving through the bush, being completely cut off from all forms of technology, and cooking and eating meals with 20 other people was the best way I’ve experienced to remind me where we all came from. There was a time when you couldn’t order a cab from your phone, or book a flight over the Internet. Living without those things, with just nature and other people, makes you get back to what we’re all here for… living. It’s incredibly simple once you’re in that reality. The only things that matter are eating, sleeping, having fun, and connecting with people and nature… and it’s amazing how the problems of the world drift away when you’re able to just live. So, if I ever get caught up in worrying about my career or future, I do my best to think back to that realization of what’s truly important. It’s not about money, promotions, or getting a nice car… it’s about living. 3. The Power Of Living Like I mentioned in my last point, I really got in touch with what matters most, which I believe is simply living. As a result of being in that state for a month, I wound up solving two major problems in my life. First, I was single, and looking for a relationship. I met the woman who is now my wife on that trip, and we’ve been happily married for over a year at the time of this writing. I’m from Canada, and she’s from the U.S, but things just found a way of working out once we got back to North America. Second, I came home with a much clearer sense of what I wanted to do with my life, and wound up getting my dream job about six months later. I firmly believe that living in that state for a month grounded me and connected me with who I really am, and what I wanted most in life so much that I was able to make it happen in a short period of time. I am forever changed as a result of that trip, and grateful for all that it taught me. Nowadays, my mission is help people find their dream jobs with companies that are making a real difference in the world. I teamed up with purpose-driven career expert, Andrew Hewitt (creator of the GameChangers500.com), on this project, and we’ve put together a free video with three valuable tips on how to get your dream job right here. If you think volunteering abroad might help you personally and professionally like it did for me, then you can check out the company I went with, which is International Student Volunteers. Happy travelling. Related Posts 3 Steps To Create Your Own Career Development Plan 5 Job Search Lessons You Learned In Kindergarten How To Learn From Failure   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

I Could Have Ditched the Bouquets 5 Women Share Their Biggest Wedding Budget Regrets

I Could Have Ditched the Bouquets 5 Women Share Their Biggest Wedding Budget Regrets Weddings are expensive, point blank and period. In the United States, couples spend $25,764 on average for their big days, according to 2017 research.When you consider the costs of all the moving parts, the number makes sense. The average cost of wedding dresses alone across the United States is $1,509 (including alterations), according to The Kbedrngnis 2017 Real Weddings Study. The research suggests that brides also spend an average of $279 on accessories like the veil, shoes and lingerie. Meanwhile, couples spend anywherbeie between $12,343 and $14,006 on average for their wedding venue, including any general schauplatz fees, food, drinks and incidentals like tables, chairs and linens, according to a survey of brides. Then, factor in the costs of invitations, photography and videography, spa services, favors and mora, and the prices can quickly add up.Budgeting for a wedding isnt any easy feat wh ich is why we spoke with five women whove been there and done that. These women share what they wish theyd have spent less money on and where they would have splurged more on their own wedding days.1. mora on the aesthetic and photography, less on videography.I wish I had spent more attention and budget on florals and decor for our reception, says Miranda Schultz. The only part of my wedding that I truly didnt like welches my reception table centerpieces. The colors were wrong and the arrangements looked pretty sparse and cheap. Part of the issue welches that I welches trying to save some money, but I also didnt require enough from the florist in terms of producing examples, showing me pictures of what I would be getting, etc.She also wishes she had spent more on photography.I hired a great photographer, but didnt splurge for a second shooter to support him on the day, she says. I loved the photos I got, but I wish there were more pictures of both my husband and I, along with our we dding party.Schultz wishes shed spent less money on videography, however. She admits that, aside from watching the five-minute trailer from her wedding day, neither she nor her husband have even watched the wedding video and they got married almost three years ago.2. Less on photography, more on the honeymoon.I wish I had saved on photography. We hired a professional photographer to cover the ceremony and reception and we got a pretty good deal on him, too. But Ive been to plenty of weddings where guests were asked to use one to two hashtags and share their photos online, says Emily Johnson. Having seen how others used photos taken by attendees, I wish we had gone this route because you can get some really great candid shots.If she had it to do over, she says she would probably hire a photographer to capture just the ceremony and maybe a few special shots at the beginning of the reception. Shed then just use a group photo-sharing site with hashtags for the reception.In my opinion, its the ceremony shots that youll likely display in your home and/or gift to family members, and the reception shots that are more fun to look at, she says. With this in mind, I recommend hiring a photographer for the ceremony only, and using wedding guests as photographers for the rest of your event.She does wish she spent more on her honeymoon, however.We did not factor a honeymoon into our wedding budget at all, she admits. We were gifted a nice chunk of money from my parents, which we used to cover the majority of the event venue, food/drink, decor, DJ, photographer, most of the basics. Looking back, I think I would have tried to do a slightly less fancy wedding and set aside at least $1,500 to take a really great honeymoon.She and her husband have been married for two years and still havent taken a real honeymoon, she says.3. Less on the dress and flowers.I just got married in Santa Barbara. Looking back, I wish we spent less on the dress, because now my dress is hanging in a closet hoping to one day be made into a new dress, says Wade Brill. I totally got caught in the perfect dress craze. I also feel like I could have ditched my bouquet and made something super simple from flowers at Whole Foods for myself and my one bridesmaid to hold.4. Less on the little details and more on the memories.I wish I had spent less overall on my wedding, says Sue Toscano, noting flowers that were ultimately thrown out after her four-hour reception.That said, she does say that her wedding photography was and still is so important to her.What is priceless to me is the photography that I did splurge on we hired one of the best photographers in our area, she says. My mother, who has now passed, hated to have her picture taken. That day, she was thrilled with her dress, hair and make up, and she gladly posed for the most stunning pictures on my wedding day. Now that I only have her memory and these beautiful pictures, I know that these moments captured are priceless to me.T oscano also says that her stunning princess dress, tiara and makeup made her feel the most beautiful, and that was worth it as was her honeymoon.We splurged on our two-week honeymoon in Hawaii and, for that, I am grateful, she says. Those memories are so crisp to me, even now. it was the trip of a lifetime, and we share our stories with our children.5. More on photography.I wish I had spent more on a wedding photographer, says Ashley LaMar. We hired someone based on a referral from a coworker. She was far more affordable than others wed looked at, which raised some red flags. But, since she was recommended, we went with her and applauded ourselves for coming in below budget.Ultimately, she missed a lot of shots, claimed she had data corruption on the SD card in her camera (and computer problems) and, after months of demanding her photos and only being sent some from the ceremony, she disappeared completely.--AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure afi cionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about womens empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram her_report,Twitterherreportand Facebook.

The Resume Examples for Customer Service Pitfall

The Resume Examples for Customer Service Pitfall Facts, Fiction and Resume Examples for Customer Service Some applicants make the mistaken alternative of style or old fashioned formats that could be damaging to the potential of finding the job. The tips below are a great collection of resume help for felons who are eager to begin all over again by locating a good job. Resume tips for felons are a massive assistance. The Definitive Approach for Resume Examples for Customer Service If you would like to set a career in customer support, then you need to be good with people. So if youre searching to get in the customer tafelgeschirr business, the opportunities are numerous. Technologies Customer support representatives should be tech savvy. Word-per-minute Customer support representatives will need to manage a high quantity of consumer communication. When you know what skills your employer is searching for, you may use the perfect words on your resume. There are lots of exam ples of resumes, but you need to remain certain to create your resume and cover letter with your very own personal touch. Each and every work type needs different sort of resumes. Resumes are produced to highlight the very best side of an individual. If youre confused regarding what things you should include and emphasize in your resume, and what things to avoid at all price, there are lots of websites you can discover on the Internet that offer tutorials about how to compose a resume, along with free resume examples. In addition, there are a few handy strategies to help you craft a successful resume. Make koranvers customer resume stands besides the others with behauptung tips. There are plenty of resume templates that are freely out there online. A Startling Fact about Resume Examples for Customer Service Uncovered Getting in a position to type quickly and accurately is an important benefit. Resume are simple to craft and can be readily copied and adapted to your specifi c circumstance. Want to Know More About Resume Examples for Customer Service? Conduct Your Research developing a problem-solving resume requires conducting a decent amount of research on the organization youre applying with. Resume is not just a document. however, it defines you and is the very first important key that ensures your prospective employer takes interest in you. It is going to remain essential included in employment app, which is deemed important details to make sure that an institution to evaluate regardless of whether someone is going to be a best prospect to receive an initially rounded talk to. Then youll move on to other resume examples that tell you just how to present your educational info and any special skills youve got. Make sure that you get the information youre looking for. You have to offer relevant, concise info. The exclusive information is very simple. Dont despair if change career resume examples appear to be not working as its quite possibl e that youll need some expert assistance whos a specialist in the area. For instance, when youve got no formal work experience in the area, you may use volunteer work instead. Your resume should be formatted in an easy, professional method. Who Else Wants to Learn About Resume Examples for Customer Service? Take a look at the broad range of examples and choose from the best areas of over one of them so that it is possible to find the appropriate message across in your own. If you do a resume example search, you can likewise find cover letter examples too. In all instances, keeping up a beneficial instance is crucial. General managers oversee several stores in a certain region. Customer good representatives work across a number of industries. You might, for example, attempt to send out a specific number of resumes weekly. Resume is needed for the jobs in all fields.

Is the Career Advice We Give Our Children Crushing Their Futures

Is the Career Advice We Give Our Children Crushing Their Futures Once, during the question and answer session following a keynote speech of mine, a rather dignified and well-dressed gentleman vigorously raised his hand. His body language seemed uncomfortable and angry. Of curse, he welches my first pick.The man asked, What do you have to tell these young people who want to pursue a feel good degree like environmental science? I paused for quite a long time, allowingthe question to sink into the audience.Then, I answered Well, actually, I was thinking that environmental science is a rather courageous and vital career choice.Continuing, I said that since todays college graduates arelikely to change careers a few times in their lives, we need an entirely new approach to preparing students for the future of work. Many of the jobs our children will pursue have yet to be invented. In a world of constant change, we ought to be helping young people identify w hat they love and what is meaningful to them.For those of us who grew up in the shadow of the Second Industrial Revolution, this must sound like pig latin.However, Id insist that finding work you love is important to everyone, at every stage of their career. Successful change requires wakefulness, learning, engagement, and new skills. And while change requires courage, we ought to be far mora frightened of living with ambivalence or even hatred for our work. Without love and passion, were unlikely to succeed in our careers.After the event came to an end, the well-dressedman quickly walked over. He brought up the possibility of my coming to speak at an organization he serves. As it turned out, the man ran two career development programs for one of the most prominent charter schools in America.I thought of this well-meaning man railing againstfeel good degrees in one of the countrys more sophisticated communities. Such advice is all too common. For many, it is an automatic response to the world today. Unfortunately, it can perpetuate mistruths for young people regarding how they should pursue meaningful futures.Today, we need to change the way we go about planning careers. We need to learn how to derive security from growth. The four-year or graduate degree isno longer an endpoint, but a license to learn. It is an introductory course to active learning. This iswhat healthy, vital, and coveted employers look for in new hires first and foremost. As active learners can attest, becoming one introduces you to a world of growth unlike anythingyouve ever seen before.If you are a parent, make sure your children are getting healthy, realistic career development support at school and at home. Tomorrows talent pool will be full of entrepreneurs, disruptors, problem-solvers, and teachers tacklingjobs that have not even been invented yet. Creativity will be in demand. In fact, an MFA is far more salable today than an MBA. Empathy is another trait whose importance will only g row in the business world going forward.More importantly, we need to teach our children to sell to draw healthy attention to themselves, to connect with others skillfully, and to buildcommunities tailored to their unique mission, vision, and purpose.Quite frankly, the countrys entire educational system is turning away from these skills, as are many parents If the world is rapidly changing every day, how on earth will our children thrive without these skills?Kevin Kelly, author of The Inevitable, tells us the rate of change has sped up to the point thatthere is no longer a destination. We are becoming. In other words, we are learning and moving so quickly that we are always growing into someone new. In front of us is a world that few parents recognize, especially if they were hammered into shape by their elders career advice.Telling our children to take careers they didnt really want or care about was always a good way to kill their souls today, its a good way to kill their careers. Once, while interviewing the author and corporate trainer Jack Canfield, and I asked him what he did to prepare his two sons for work. He responded I always told them to do whatever made them happy. Then, I centered all of my attention and energy on instilling in them the confidence they could deal with anything life dished out to them.Jack intuitively helped his sonsbecome good atsales, communications, asking for help, and engaging with others. Success and happiness came their way.Our children need new voices, and our parents need a new language and mindset. At Inspired Work, we are studying children these days and have found they have far more wisdom than we give them credit for. In fact, Ive come to the conclusion they are already ahead of us.Within every child is a mission, vision, and purpose that is probably beyond our understanding. What is going to happen when we apply our energy and love in helping them discover that purpose? What kind of world will we live in when we teach them the life skills to thrive and succeed as unique human beings?Life will certainly become more interesting.David Harder is the founder ofInspired Work.

Rules and Policies Restricting Nepotism in Government

Rules and Policies Restricting Nepotism in GovernmentRules and Policies Restricting Nepotism in GovernmentNepotism is something of a buzzword, and its generally seen in a negative light, particularly in government. Merriam-Webster defines the term as favoritism based on kinship. Most organizations avoid nepotism because its seen as unfair and it brings to mind more sinister concepts like cronyism and the spoils system. Many companies prohibit nepotism, but it remains rampant in business, sports, and entertainment. Donald Trumps children are executive vice presidents of his companies, and, as President, his daughter, Ivanka Trump, is his senior advisor. National Football League owners Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft also placed their children in executive positions with their respective franchises. The children of Hollywood producers and A-list actors are often cast in roles based on their family connections. Countless laws and policies prohibit nepotism under particular circumstances in the public sector. The prohibitions most often deal in the areas of human resources and procurement. These are hot-button areas because of the money involved in hiring personnel and awarding government contracts. Nepotism Is Not Simply Working Together The key word in Merriam-Websters definition is favoritism. Its certainly not uncommon for family members to work for the saatkorn company, and in and of itself, this doesnt have to be a negative thing. The US Census found in 2015 that nearly one in four American men age 30 or older has, at some point, simultaneously worked at the same business with their fathers if their fathers were active in their lives during their teen years. The statistic drops to 13 percent for women. The numbers are significantly higher in Canada. Ultimately, its the terms of the workplace relationship that set the tone for charges of nepotism. Common Nepotism Rules Nepotism can be somewhat difficult to avoid in small local governments given the small applicant pool and the likelihood that there are few other employers nearby. In medium-sized and large governments, nepotism policies tend to be nuanced around reporting structures. Family members might not be prohibited from working within the organization, but there may be prohibitions on a few actions, such as hiring a family member or serving on an interview panel where a family member is an applicant.Directly supervising a family member is typically against the rules, as is working in the same line of supervision as a family member Nepotism rules often require that job applicants and potential contractors disclose their relationships with any employees up front. Family members of elected officials, appointed officials, and chief government executives are often prohibited from working within the organizations their family members lead. This happens because those individuals are at the top of the organizationso all employees fall in their line of supervision. Additionally, the m ere appearance of impropriety among those in high levels of authority can cost politicians elections. Nepotism in U.S. History Approximately 40 of President Ulysses S. Grants family members and family connections benefited from his presidency. In the Encyclopedia of White-Collar and Corporate Crime, Lawrence Salinger cites instances of Grant and Mrs. Grants family members being appointed to public office. Additionally, Robert F. Kennedy served as United States Attorney General under his brother President John F. Kennedy.

Bored at Work

Bored at WorkBored at Work*/Read the infographic text.BORED AT WORKHours per week employees say theyre bored at work 10.5Hours per week managers think employees are bored at work 62 in 5 employees would quit if they felt bored at work.The main reason employees are bored, according to managers28% They dont feel challenged by assignments23% There isnt enough work to do22% The nature of the work isnt interesting20% Too many/poorly executed meetings7% They dont enjoy interacting with their coworkers(Top responses shown)The time of year workers are most bored*28% Winter7% Spring18% Summer3% Fall45% Equally bored throughout the year39% of managers say employees have too much to do in their jobs.Source OfficeTeam surveys of 382 arbeitszimmer workers and 307 senior managers in the United States.*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding. 2017 OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.

10 Top Companies for Compensation Benefits Hiring Now

10 Top Companies for Compensation Benefits Hiring Now10 Top Companies for Compensation Benefits Hiring Now The numbers are in great compensation and benefits attract employee to companies and keep them there. MetLifes 16 th Annual Benefit Trends Study found 62% of respondents said employee benefits were an important reason they came to work for their current company, and 87% of respondents said that having insurance/benefits gives them peace of mind for the unexpected. Today, the race for companies to attract prospective employees with exciting benefits and perks is increasingly competitive, with the expansion of wellness programs, work from home options, and flexible vacation plans. But which companies really dole out the compensation and benefits, and which ones just look good on paper? Weve drawn up this list of top-scoring companies on our Compensation and Benefits ratings to clarify things. And better yet, these awesome benefits and compensation packages ar ent so out of reach all of these companies are hiring Compensation and Benefits Rating 4.7Where Hiring Remote Washington, DC Phoenix, AZBellingham, WA & more.Open Roles Regional Administrative Coordinator, QA Automation Specialist, State Administrative Broker, Senior Director of Data and Intelligence, & more.What Employees Say The training and the leadership. This company strives to bring agents the latest tools in technology, and hires the most experienced people as leaders. The ability to invest in the company and purchase stock at a discount is a huge draufgabe too. Current Real Estate BrokerCompensation and Benefits Rating 3.2Where Hiring London, England Dublin, Ireland Berlin, Germany Paris, France Zrich, SwitzerlandOpen Roles Technology Advisor, Buying and Merchandising Consultant, Supply Chain Analyst, Resource Officer, Consultant, & more.What Employees Say Great work-life balance, great people and schreibstube is in a great location. Frequent team nights out and s ocial club outings all covered by the company. Strong engineering focus. Former Software Developer InternCompensation and Benefits Rating 4.0What Employees Say RCG is one of those rare professional services companies where people stick. The depth of both strategic and tactical offerings in data and analytics, as well as traditional IT services, provide an opportunity to work with clients across multiple industries using a variety of platforms and technologies. Many of the employees have been with the company for 6 or more years which enables a unique environment forcamaraderie and collaboration. Its a good place to practice and enhance skills and to be a part of a team where individual contributions are recognized. Current EmployeeCompensation and Benefits Rating 4.8Open Roles Sales Lead Qualifier, Facebook Specialist, Analytics Product Manager, PPC Marketing Consultant, & more.What Employees Say Great office culture with bright motivated people The management is fully inv ested in the success of individuals. Employees are well taken care of with opportunities to grow and develop professionally. Families are often invited to participate in office lunches and company parties. I also appreciate the way the company strives to find ways to brighten the lives of others in the community. I love being involved withsuch an amazing company Current EmployeeCompensation and Benefits Rating 4.7Where Hiring Fort Meyers, FL Atlanta, GA Toronto, CanadaOpen Roles Customer Success Manager, Director of Product, Customer Support Specialist, Sales Development Representative, & more. What Employees Say Ive worked at companies where Ive gotten along with most of my coworkers, but usually because we bonded over workplace frustrations which made for a negative environment. I can honestly say that isnt the case with FieldEdge My team respects each others abilities and we genuinely enjoy working with each other. Everyone works hard to contribute to creating a quality pr oduct that we are proud of. The work ischallenging but rewarding and management is truly invested in helping employees not only succeed at FieldEdge but in future career endeavors as well. Current Product Manager Compensation and Benefits Rating 4.7Where Hiring Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL Los Angeles, CA Boston, MA Dallas, TXOpen Roles Executive Assistant, Primary Researcher, Accountant, Recruiting Assistant, Senior Product Designer, & more.What Employees Say Bain has some of the best people, an extremely collaborative environment, and the company absolutely cares about developing their people to be the best they can be. Current Associate ConsultantCompensation and Benefits Rating 4.9Where Hiring Atlanta, GA San Francisco, CA Boston, MA Tampa FL New York, NYOpen Roles Senior IT Auditor, Application Developer, Receptionist, PCI QSA, & more.What Employees Say Schellman prides itself on putting employees first. The benefits are amazing such as having medical and dental insura nce paid at 100% for a single individual, and a substantial amount covered for spouses and family. Furthermore, vision insurance is also substantially covered, and Schellman now covers the cost of lasik for its employees. In addition to health benefits, Schellman encourages employees to save for retirement via its 401k plan. It matches up to 10% of employees contributions. Schellman also values work-life balance and offers employees 3 weeks of PTO, and a mandatory 2 weeks PTO around the Christmas holidays. In addition to PTO, employees also receive maternity and paternity break to bond with their newborns. Current Senior Consultant Compensation and Benefits Rating 4.8Where Hiring Seattle, WA Hilo, HIOpen Roles Customer Support Representative, Outside Sales Representative, Financial Analyst, Senior QA Engineer, & more.What Employees Say This company truly cares about its employees and gives you the autonomy to create your own path and explore other positions if thats what you re interested in. The support system is endless internally, and they truly care about the people they work with and service. Its nice to be part of a company that actually puts purpose before profit. Current EmployeeCompensation and Benefits Rating 4.8Where Hiring New York, NY Atlanta, GA Fort Lauderdale, FL Philadelphia, PA San Rafael, CAOpen Roles Financial Analyst, Analytics Engineer, VP of Performance Display, Talent Acquisition Sourcer, & more.What Employees Say Unlimited PTO, WFH flexibility, great 401K match and healthcare benefits, lunch stipend, free snacks, office dogs, great people and transparent leadership. Elite will reward you for your hard work and dedication Current EmployeeCompensation and Benefits Rating 4.8Where Hiring Seattle, WA Milwaukee, MI Raleigh, NC Herndon, VA San Francisco, CA Open Roles studienplan Developer, Executive Protection Specialist, Senior Software Engineer, Director of Security, & more.What Employees Say Tanium is growing which w ill open the door for new opportunities and career development. Ive been at several smaller start-ups that were very clich in the tech scene and it was refreshing to come to Tanium where you still get the challenges of a start-up but with a more mature environment. Employees are smart, driven and passionate about succeeding. My manager trusts me to do my job and values my input. I feelrespected in my role and I can truly say that I love coming to work every day. Benefits are competitive, catered lunches and snacks are a great perk, flexible vacation plan, and work-life balance is valued. Current G&A