eensie weensie confession

eensie weensie confession So, I have a confession. A shameful confession with some good news at the end. Let me go back a few months, to when JibberJobber was first being designed. Earlier this year I was talking with a buddy of mine about the networking aspect of JibberJobber. The idea that networking is more than keeping names and phone numbers, etc. etc. etc. He mentioned this awesome book to me, Never Eat Alone, and talked about how they have some great ideas (which we talked about). Well, I incorporated the ideas as best I understood, based on his description. And then, as I talked with people about JibberJobber I said that part of the networking was based on ideas from networking experts. But I had NEVER read the book! As a matter of fact I just finished Never Eat Alone ! (ya, just 4 months after I released the website, I finally read the book that partly inspired it) And Id like to share some thoughts from it. I went online a few months ago and searched for other bloggers who have blogged on it. I didnt find much. There was one guy that said that halfway through he threw it across the room in disgust. I found another that said that is fine for (Keith) Ferrazzi but Im too introverted. Well, I couldnt judge until I read the entire book. I went into the book thinking it was a book on networking (and, wondering how in the world you could write over 200 pages on how to network). Not even halfway through I realized that this book had a much bigger message than go network and heres how. Duh I should have looked at the sub-title a little closer: and other secrets to success, one relationship at a time. That made more sense, this is more a book on personal success than it is on how to network. I appreciated Keiths personal experiences that he shared. He has had an amazing career, and has had a lot of success along the way. But he shares a lot of what he did wrong also. It is a very candid assessment, and I felt that it was a coach or mentor (or best friend) trying to share with me what I need to do in my career to be successful. I understand why some people would think this book is not for them I probably would have thought the same way before I lost my job. But I see the world in a new way now, and I just soaked up this book. Check out some of these chapter titles: 2. Dont Keep Score 4. Build It Before You Need It (ya, my next book is Dig Your Well Before Youre Thirsty) 6. The Networking Jerk 9. Warming the Cold Call (has a great message!) 14. Follow Up or Fail 17. The Art of Small Talk (very personal, again a great message!) 23. Build Your Brand (hah, this obviously was a personal favorite of mine. But I was disappointed to realize that I didnt invent the concept or maybe she invented it?) 29. Find Mentors, Find Mentees, Repeat I thought I could take the chapter titles and pretty much figure out what this is about, but one thing that drove me to get this book was to find the parts that encouraged some of the functionality of JibberJobber. But I was hooked from page one. Of course it helped that a lot of his messages were directly in-line with where Im at right now. If you dont read any other book this year, you must get this book (my library system has 3, waiting to be checked out). I know there are other networking books, which Ill check out, but heres my suggestion: GET ONE AND READ IT! I think there are too many misconceptions about what networking is, how to network, and when to start, and most people need this paradigm shift. Im still amazed at the newly laid-off people that I meet that say I dont know anyone you need to begin to build your network right now! And reading a good book like this will help you get in the right frame of mind, and learn some good techniques along the way. eensie weensie confession So, I have a confession. A shameful confession with some good news at the end. Let me go back a few months, to when JibberJobber was first being designed. Earlier this year I was talking with a buddy of mine about the networking aspect of JibberJobber. The idea that networking is more than keeping names and phone numbers, etc. etc. etc. He mentioned this awesome book to me, Never Eat Alone, and talked about how they have some great ideas (which we talked about). Well, I incorporated the ideas as best I understood, based on his description. And then, as I talked with people about JibberJobber I said that part of the networking was based on ideas from networking experts. But I had NEVER read the book! As a matter of fact I just finished Never Eat Alone ! (ya, just 4 months after I released the website, I finally read the book that partly inspired it) And Id like to share some thoughts from it. I went online a few months ago and searched for other bloggers who have blogged on it. I didnt find much. There was one guy that said that halfway through he threw it across the room in disgust. I found another that said that is fine for (Keith) Ferrazzi but Im too introverted. Well, I couldnt judge until I read the entire book. I went into the book thinking it was a book on networking (and, wondering how in the world you could write over 200 pages on how to network). Not even halfway through I realized that this book had a much bigger message than go network and heres how. Duh I should have looked at the sub-title a little closer: and other secrets to success, one relationship at a time. That made more sense, this is more a book on personal success than it is on how to network. I appreciated Keiths personal experiences that he shared. He has had an amazing career, and has had a lot of success along the way. But he shares a lot of what he did wrong also. It is a very candid assessment, and I felt that it was a coach or mentor (or best friend) trying to share with me what I need to do in my career to be successful. I understand why some people would think this book is not for them I probably would have thought the same way before I lost my job. But I see the world in a new way now, and I just soaked up this book. Check out some of these chapter titles: 2. Dont Keep Score 4. Build It Before You Need It (ya, my next book is Dig Your Well Before Youre Thirsty) 6. The Networking Jerk 9. Warming the Cold Call (has a great message!) 14. Follow Up or Fail 17. The Art of Small Talk (very personal, again a great message!) 23. Build Your Brand (hah, this obviously was a personal favorite of mine. But I was disappointed to realize that I didnt invent the concept or maybe she invented it?) 29. Find Mentors, Find Mentees, Repeat I thought I could take the chapter titles and pretty much figure out what this is about, but one thing that drove me to get this book was to find the parts that encouraged some of the functionality of JibberJobber. But I was hooked from page one. Of course it helped that a lot of his messages were directly in-line with where Im at right now. If you dont read any other book this year, you must get this book (my library system has 3, waiting to be checked out). I know there are other networking books, which Ill check out, but heres my suggestion: GET ONE AND READ IT! I think there are too many misconceptions about what networking is, how to network, and when to start, and most people need this paradigm shift. Im still amazed at the newly laid-off people that I meet that say I dont know anyone you need to begin to build your network right now! And reading a good book like this will help you get in the right frame of mind, and learn some good techniques along the way. eensie weensie confession So, I have a confession. A shameful confession with some good news at the end. Let me go back a few months, to when JibberJobber was first being designed. Earlier this year I was talking with a buddy of mine about the networking aspect of JibberJobber. The idea that networking is more than keeping names and phone numbers, etc. etc. etc. He mentioned this awesome book to me, Never Eat Alone, and talked about how they have some great ideas (which we talked about). Well, I incorporated the ideas as best I understood, based on his description. And then, as I talked with people about JibberJobber I said that part of the networking was based on ideas from networking experts. But I had NEVER read the book! As a matter of fact I just finished Never Eat Alone ! (ya, just 4 months after I released the website, I finally read the book that partly inspired it) And Id like to share some thoughts from it. I went online a few months ago and searched for other bloggers who have blogged on it. I didnt find much. There was one guy that said that halfway through he threw it across the room in disgust. I found another that said that is fine for (Keith) Ferrazzi but Im too introverted. Well, I couldnt judge until I read the entire book. I went into the book thinking it was a book on networking (and, wondering how in the world you could write over 200 pages on how to network). Not even halfway through I realized that this book had a much bigger message than go network and heres how. Duh I should have looked at the sub-title a little closer: and other secrets to success, one relationship at a time. That made more sense, this is more a book on personal success than it is on how to network. I appreciated Keiths personal experiences that he shared. He has had an amazing career, and has had a lot of success along the way. But he shares a lot of what he did wrong also. It is a very candid assessment, and I felt that it was a coach or mentor (or best friend) trying to share with me what I need to do in my career to be successful. I understand why some people would think this book is not for them I probably would have thought the same way before I lost my job. But I see the world in a new way now, and I just soaked up this book. Check out some of these chapter titles: 2. Dont Keep Score 4. Build It Before You Need It (ya, my next book is Dig Your Well Before Youre Thirsty) 6. The Networking Jerk 9. Warming the Cold Call (has a great message!) 14. Follow Up or Fail 17. The Art of Small Talk (very personal, again a great message!) 23. Build Your Brand (hah, this obviously was a personal favorite of mine. But I was disappointed to realize that I didnt invent the concept or maybe she invented it?) 29. Find Mentors, Find Mentees, Repeat I thought I could take the chapter titles and pretty much figure out what this is about, but one thing that drove me to get this book was to find the parts that encouraged some of the functionality of JibberJobber. But I was hooked from page one. Of course it helped that a lot of his messages were directly in-line with where Im at right now. If you dont read any other book this year, you must get this book (my library system has 3, waiting to be checked out). I know there are other networking books, which Ill check out, but heres my suggestion: GET ONE AND READ IT! I think there are too many misconceptions about what networking is, how to network, and when to start, and most people need this paradigm shift. Im still amazed at the newly laid-off people that I meet that say I dont know anyone you need to begin to build your network right now! And reading a good book like this will help you get in the right frame of mind, and learn some good techniques along the way. eensie weensie confession So, I have a confession. A shameful confession with some good news at the end. Let me go back a few months, to when JibberJobber was first being designed. Earlier this year I was talking with a buddy of mine about the networking aspect of JibberJobber. The idea that networking is more than keeping names and phone numbers, etc. etc. etc. He mentioned this awesome book to me, Never Eat Alone, and talked about how they have some great ideas (which we talked about). Well, I incorporated the ideas as best I understood, based on his description. And then, as I talked with people about JibberJobber I said that part of the networking was based on ideas from networking experts. But I had NEVER read the book! As a matter of fact I just finished Never Eat Alone ! (ya, just 4 months after I released the website, I finally read the book that partly inspired it) And Id like to share some thoughts from it. I went online a few months ago and searched for other bloggers who have blogged on it. I didnt find much. There was one guy that said that halfway through he threw it across the room in disgust. I found another that said that is fine for (Keith) Ferrazzi but Im too introverted. Well, I couldnt judge until I read the entire book. I went into the book thinking it was a book on networking (and, wondering how in the world you could write over 200 pages on how to network). Not even halfway through I realized that this book had a much bigger message than go network and heres how. Duh I should have looked at the sub-title a little closer: and other secrets to success, one relationship at a time. That made more sense, this is more a book on personal success than it is on how to network. I appreciated Keiths personal experiences that he shared. He has had an amazing career, and has had a lot of success along the way. But he shares a lot of what he did wrong also. It is a very candid assessment, and I felt that it was a coach or mentor (or best friend) trying to share with me what I need to do in my career to be successful. I understand why some people would think this book is not for them I probably would have thought the same way before I lost my job. But I see the world in a new way now, and I just soaked up this book. Check out some of these chapter titles: 2. Dont Keep Score 4. Build It Before You Need It (ya, my next book is Dig Your Well Before Youre Thirsty) 6. The Networking Jerk 9. Warming the Cold Call (has a great message!) 14. Follow Up or Fail 17. The Art of Small Talk (very personal, again a great message!) 23. Build Your Brand (hah, this obviously was a personal favorite of mine. But I was disappointed to realize that I didnt invent the concept or maybe she invented it?) 29. Find Mentors, Find Mentees, Repeat I thought I could take the chapter titles and pretty much figure out what this is about, but one thing that drove me to get this book was to find the parts that encouraged some of the functionality of JibberJobber. But I was hooked from page one. Of course it helped that a lot of his messages were directly in-line with where Im at right now. If you dont read any other book this year, you must get this book (my library system has 3, waiting to be checked out). I know there are other networking books, which Ill check out, but heres my suggestion: GET ONE AND READ IT! I think there are too many misconceptions about what networking is, how to network, and when to start, and most people need this paradigm shift. Im still amazed at the newly laid-off people that I meet that say I dont know anyone you need to begin to build your network right now! And reading a good book like this will help you get in the right frame of mind, and learn some good techniques along the way.

What is a Cover Letter? How to Write a Cover Letter and Make it Stand Out

What is a Cover Letter? How to Write a Cover Letter and Make it Stand OutSo, what is a cover letter? What is a resume?A cover letter is the main document which determines whether or not you get an interview. The cover letter should always be written in your best personal and professional voice. By 'personal' I mean, the cover letter should tell the hiring manager about your credentials, education, and professional experience as opposed to simply mentioning your name. It is also not required that you name-drop but the more personal the better.While applying for a job, the hiring manager will review your resume. They are looking for something specific which stands out and tells them that you are the person they are looking for. They will ask you to send in a resume and this is when you have the opportunity to either put your resume in a word processing format or send it in an attachment. This will be the opening that you need to let them know that you are someone who is worth getting a n interview with.When writing a resume, there are some things that you should keep in mind when creating a new resume. The first thing you should do is have it all ready. When you begin, focus on reviewing your resume from top to bottom and get rid of any errors, broken sentences, and missing information.Your resume needs to stand out and grab the eye of the person reading it. When writing a cover letter, you are only doing half of the work. The resume needs to stand out and capture the attention of the hiring manager. You need to mention your accomplishments and skills but also to explain why they should hire you. Don't forget to add your contact information so the hiring manager can get back to you right away.When writing a cover letter, you are only doing half of the work. The resume needs to stand out and capture the attention of the hiring manager. You need to mention your accomplishments and skills but also to explain why they should hire you.It is a proven fact that when an a pplicant's resume does not appear to be read closely, they will automatically receive a rejection letter. This is what you want to avoid. An employer is not going to tell you that your resume is not read thoroughly. It is your responsibility to read through it very carefully. It is better to get a good interview by receiving a rejection letter than getting one of the highest paying jobs by missing out on an interview.You need to make sure that your resume is unique and stands out. Be sure to include your contact information in your cover letter. You can have an experienced editor to create a resume for you but it will cost you an additional fee. By having a professional writer create your resume for you, you will have the assurance that the cover letter is being read carefully.

What is a Cover Letter? How to Write a Cover Letter and Make it Stand Out

What is a Cover Letter? How to Write a Cover Letter and Make it Stand OutSo, what is a cover letter? What is a resume?A cover letter is the main document which determines whether or not you get an interview. The cover letter should always be written in your best personal and professional voice. By 'personal' I mean, the cover letter should tell the hiring manager about your credentials, education, and professional experience as opposed to simply mentioning your name. It is also not required that you name-drop but the more personal the better.While applying for a job, the hiring manager will review your resume. They are looking for something specific which stands out and tells them that you are the person they are looking for. They will ask you to send in a resume and this is when you have the opportunity to either put your resume in a word processing format or send it in an attachment. This will be the opening that you need to let them know that you are someone who is worth getting a n interview with.When writing a resume, there are some things that you should keep in mind when creating a new resume. The first thing you should do is have it all ready. When you begin, focus on reviewing your resume from top to bottom and get rid of any errors, broken sentences, and missing information.Your resume needs to stand out and grab the eye of the person reading it. When writing a cover letter, you are only doing half of the work. The resume needs to stand out and capture the attention of the hiring manager. You need to mention your accomplishments and skills but also to explain why they should hire you. Don't forget to add your contact information so the hiring manager can get back to you right away.When writing a cover letter, you are only doing half of the work. The resume needs to stand out and capture the attention of the hiring manager. You need to mention your accomplishments and skills but also to explain why they should hire you.It is a proven fact that when an a pplicant's resume does not appear to be read closely, they will automatically receive a rejection letter. This is what you want to avoid. An employer is not going to tell you that your resume is not read thoroughly. It is your responsibility to read through it very carefully. It is better to get a good interview by receiving a rejection letter than getting one of the highest paying jobs by missing out on an interview.You need to make sure that your resume is unique and stands out. Be sure to include your contact information in your cover letter. You can have an experienced editor to create a resume for you but it will cost you an additional fee. By having a professional writer create your resume for you, you will have the assurance that the cover letter is being read carefully.

13 Tactful Ways to Fine-Tune Your Online Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

13 Tactful Ways to Fine-Tune Your Online Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career What’s one way you can strategically refine your digital marketing persona? The following answers are provided by members of  Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC),  an invite-only organization comprised of the worlds most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched  BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. Get Inside Your Audiences Head   Visualize the person you are targeting, and write down as many characteristics as you can think of. Once you have formed that image in your head, brainstorm about what worries and anxieties keep that person awake at night.  Brandon Dempsey,  goBRANDgo! 2. Pare It Back if It Seems Bulky Your digital marketing persona should  include  the basics: demographics, the goals and challenges it faces, and a brief marketing message. There are a few other topics, but when you get too far away from the basics, it becomes difficult to manage, track and update. Thats when you want to dial it back.  Andrew Schrage,  Money Crashers Personal Finance 3. Use Analytics to Personalize Your Messages With todays marketing automation advances, use analytics to help you determine what messages convert best and what resonates with your target market. Use that information to go  even deeper into your prospects fears, dreams and needs. Then personalize your messages to speak directly to  what your prospects are thinking or worrying about to position yourself as a trusted business advisor.  Nicole Munoz,  Start Ranking Now 4. Make Concise Statements Most of our online attention spans have become increasingly fleeting.  Most people share links they dont even read themselves.  In order to build an influential and accessible persona, you have to be able to make your point quickly and stand out from the pack.  Nicholas Haase,  Startup Drugz 5. Dont Overthink It Social medias biggest problem right now is everyone overthinking what their content should be. Over-strategizing  can come off as contrived and boring. What people want right now are authentic thoughts. Its  important to give thought to your posts and what kind of effect it will have on your consumers. Just dont think about it too much, or youll water down your content and make it uninteresting.  Cassie Petrey,  Crowd Surf 6. Be Consistent and Valuable This is what it all comes down to. There are marketers out there telling you what to share with your followers, when to schedule your posts for, and on what platforms. But a bad strategy applied consistently is better than a great strategy never executed. If you keep showing up and you keep sharing content your target audience wants to engage with, you will break through.  Ismael Wrixen,  FE International 7. Test Things Out There are many things that can help build a strong digital marketing persona. Finding exactly what it is that your customers engage with most takes time and testing. Do you do best with photography? Videos? Email campaigns? What type of content is working best on each of these platforms? Once youve tried a few different approaches, look at your results and refine from there.  Jayna Cooke,  EVENTup 8. Consider Bringing In Outside Help When refining your digital marketing persona, Ive found it best to bring in outside help. An outsiders point of view can assist with providing a distinctive, unbiased perspective and recognize things that I may not otherwise notice. Additionally, all digital agencies should consider bringing in outside help in order to maximize current perspective and future outlook.  Anthony Pezzotti,  Knowzo.com 9. Consistently Share High-Quality Photography I think high-quality photography is underrated in the digital marketing world. The more you can share custom-made photos instead of those from a stock photo site, the more valuable your brand becomes. It should be as big a part of your content marketing as the copy itself.  Carter Thomas,  Bluecloud Solutions 10. Refine Your Digital Marketing Persona Frequently I think we should be refining our digital marketing every six months if we can. We need to make sure that it is responding to the needs of our audience and of the people that we want to have as clients, customers and recruits.  Cassandra Bailey,  Slice Communications 11. Contribute to Authority Sites and Media Outlets One of the best ways to redefine yourself or your brand is to put in the time and effort to reach new audiences. A great way to accomplish this is through the use of guest blogging, contributions or conducting interviews through other online media outlets. This is also an excellent way to reach new audiences and gain massive advertising without spending your own money in the process.  Zac Johnson,  Blogger 12. Conduct Customer Research There’s no better way to refine your marketing personas than with in-depth customer research. The insights gleaned from one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and online surveys will always be worth the investment. It’s only by actually asking your customers about their goals, values and pain points that you can hope to understand these profound attributes, central to any useful marketing persona.  Brian Lischer,  Ignyte 13. Be Authentic Anyone can Google best online practices and apply them to their digital marketing strategy, but that wont make them stand out from the crowd. Our digital selves should be an authentic extension of who we are and don’t compromise. Be authentic even if that means being different and don’t be afraid to break the status quo when it comes to content.  Phil Laboon,  WUDN

MOOCs and the Coming University Mergers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

MOOCs and the Coming University Mergers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career If you are considering going to college or going back to college in the near future, I recommend you read my last post titled How Universities Are Failing Their Graduates, Part 3. I ended it with: “Dinosaurs are dead. Is higher education (as we now know it) headed for a slot beside them in the Museum of Natural History?” Within a week following my post, CNN aired a two hour special entitled The Ivory Tower that was subtitled “Is college worth the cost?” The film brought up some of the issues I raised in my three recent posts. In this post, I want to discuss alternatives to the excessive hype and cost of typical university degree programs. It’s important to note the potential advantages of technical schools and community colleges. For those who are not quite ready to toss all traditional higher education onto the trash heap of outdated societal traditions, technical schools and community colleges are certainly worth a look. Many people can earn reasonable incomes and have productive careers by learning the practical skills taught at technical/vocational schools. Likewise, community colleges can provide targeted coursework at significantly lower costs than universities. But, the David that may slay the Goliath universities appears to be Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs. Every revolutionary market concept is besieged by detractors who range from their established competitors (universities, etc.) to the numble minded (“numble” is not a word…but, you know what I mean) late adopters who catch the wave about 15 years later. So what the heck are MOOCs and why should you care? In the simplest terms, they offer flexible coursework at low or no cost. A recent New York Times article titled Demystifying the MOOC cited this as a reason for disillusionment with MOOCs: Eight of every 10 students enrolled in University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania MOOCs in 2012-13 already had a degree of some kind. The credentials gap was most pronounced in countries where the courses were supposed to have the biggest impact among the undereducated: Some 80 percent of MOOC students in Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa had a college degree, while in the overall population only 5 percent did. So, this numble minded industrial media leader considers the attraction of MOOCs for college graduates a negative. Is it possible that  college graduates are still feeling the sting of high university tuition costs and that they are early adopters,  leading the way by  avoiding expensive university courses? Then, the New York Times article went on to say A second problem is that when MOOCs replace traditional courses, an extremely high number of students fail. Contrast this statement with my last blog post, referenced earlier, in which I quoted an article in The Economist that noted 43% of all grades handed out (double entendre intended) by universities and colleges were A’s. Given that MOOCs tend to be free, how much harm do you think is being caused by higher failure rates in these courses? While the New York Times seems to conclude that the high failure rate is due to the inherent inferiority of MOOCs, I believe there could be a wide range of other explanations. The NYT article seems to draw the following conclusion: The companies that rode to fame on the MOOC wave had visions (and still do) of offering unfettered elite education to the masses and driving down college tuition. But the sweet spot for MOOCs is far less inspirational and compelling. Given how long it took newspapers and other industrial media to embrace the internet and their continued financial crises while struggling to enact strategies necessary to avoid extinction, I would place my bet on the MOOC originators rather than on the New York Times. I’m running out of space, so I’ll conclude by explaining my reference to university mergers. If MOOCs succeed, they will surely drive a more rapid consolidation in higher education. Even without their impact, budget squeezes have begun  to require  consolidations as noted  in a Time article titled Cash-Strapped Universities Turn to Corporate-Style Consolidation. A tsunami is  coming in higher education. It  may be just over the horizon. What do you think?

How to Write a Unique Resume Cover Letter

How to Write a Unique Resume Cover LetterWriting a unique resume cover letter is very important to your chances of getting the job you want. Your letter will be seen by those that you are applying to, by the hiring manager, and also by the people who work for the organization that is hiring you.Your letter should not only be professional but should be something that will impress those who are reading it. Although you don't have to write the letter yourself, it is a good idea to use a professional letter writer. Even if you do not need their services to begin with, hiring someone who specializes in writing resume letters is a good idea.So how can you write a professional letter? Well, the first thing you need to do is make sure that you know how to format a resume properly. In order to get the most from your letter, it is necessary that you have the skills and experience required to be able to format a good letter.If you don't know how to format a letter, look at some sample letters a nd note what the general style of the letter is. You will find that there are differences between these samples and the one you are looking to write. The way that they are written will differ significantly. For example, the sample letter will begin with an introduction, whereas you would start your own letter this way:It is also a good idea to read through the sample letters that are available for you to review so that you can see how they are structured. In order to write a good letter, it is necessary that you get the style right. As you start to write the letter, you will find that your style will probably evolve. This is fine, because it is a good way to let your personal style shine through.Now that you know how to format a letter, the next step is to sit down and write out a sample resume cover letter. Start by filling in all of the information about your employment history. Give a brief summary of your position and any special skills or qualifications that you have.As you wri te your resume cover letter, you will want to keep in mind the objectives of the letter. What are the goals of the letter and are they specifically targeted at the employer or are they something broader in scope?If you are trying to market yourself to a prospective employer, then the letter will be more important than if you are writing a general letter for the benefit of anyone who might be reading it. Always put the reader first and this means that you need to be careful when you write a letter.

What and Who is an Executive - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

What and Who is an Executive

Civil Service Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC)

Civil Service Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC) The UK Civil Service plays a significant role in the governance and management of the UK. By helping to develop and implement new policies and procedures, the Civil Service has established itself as Britain’s premier public sector organisation.To get a job in the Civil Service, you’ll need to pass a number of difficult tests and challenges. In this blog, we’ll give you some top tips on how to pass the first 3 stages of the Civil Service fast stream assessment centre: the written exercise, the group exercise, and the presentation.The Civil Service Fast Stream Assessment CentreThe Civil Service Fast Stream Assessment Centre is held at the Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC) in London, where you will complete the final stages of the Civil Service assessment.Assessment centres are used in selection processes to highlight and produce accurate results in determining strong candidates. Fast Stream standards are extremely high (as you would have learned from the tests you have previou sly completed), therefore you need to be able to show your personal qualities and the skills required to be a successful fast stream candidate.Essential DetailsUpon arrival at the assessment centre, there are a few essential details to take care of. These include:Registering. This is the first thing you do when you arrive. There should be a member of staff on hand to assist you with this.Asking questions. If you have any doubts or concerns, then now is the time to ask them. The desk team should be able to answer any questions that you might have.Following this, you will be provided with a timetable for the day, which outlines how your activities will be structured.During your Civil service fast stream assessment centre, you will take the following tests:A written exercise.A role play/group exercise.A presentation.An interview.For each civil service fast stream assessment centre test, you will need to demonstrate the core competencies as much as possible. Now, let’s look at the det ails of every element of the test.Written ExerciseThe written exercise requires candidates to complete two tasks. The first task will include a file of papers which will provide data and information about potential Government projects which can be used to resolve a problem. Your job is to analyse the papers and recommend which proposed project should be used. Remember, there is no right or wrong answer. You can pick either option, as long as you conduct a clear and convincing argument as to why you chose it. You need to structure your answer as a formal argument. Your argument should include detailed explanations, analysis, evidence and significance.The second task follows straight on from the first. The papers that you have just read and the proposed solutions that were described should be taken into consideration to form your own additional ways of achieving a solution. Your option should implement the Government strategies and pay particular attention to the overall implications, significance and objectives which would result from your idea being implemented. This task is used to assess your performance based on making effective decisions, communication, seeing the bigger picture and other important competencies.Tips For The Written ExerciseAlthough you are not told what subject areas you will be given to compare and contrast in order to write your answer, you can practice your writing style.An important part of the written exercise is to demonstrate an effective, clear and concise argument which highlights the relevance, importance and benefits of why you decided on the choice you made.Practice by reading articles on the same subject, and form your own conclusion. Read these articles and decide which article makes the argument better and why.Your writing style will also need to depend on the type of role you are applying for in the Civil Service. If you are applying for a business-orientated role, your writing style needs to be professional and ‘business -like’. Adapting your writing style to your preferred job position clearly illustrates that you have taken the time to think about the selection process and how much it means to you.Practising written analysis methods such as the SWOT and PEST analysis will allow your writing to cover the main points. The SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) will create an all-round argument and ensure you have covered most aspects of your choices.The PEST analysis (political, economic, social and technology) will filter your answer more specifically if writing an answer fitting one or more of these examples.Group Exercise/RoleplayThe Civil Service fast stream assessment centre group exercise is designed to test the candidate’s ability to make effective decisions, work alongside other team members, show leadership and communicate effectively. Sometimes this exercise may be described as a ‘role play’ and to some extent it is. You are put in a fictitious scenario, t herefore you need to pretend to have the job given to you in the brief. You need to take the role seriously and fully comprehend what is being asked. Your group will consist of 5 or 6 people, and you will be given a fictitious scenario which you will need to evaluate and form a proposal. You will usually be given a number of options, and it is your group’s task to recommend an option and provide support and evidence to back up your reasoning for this conclusion.You will be given approximately 50 minutes to complete this task.At the beginning of the exercise, you will be provided with background information about the brief, the scenario and the main issues which need to be addressed.All group members will receive the same core material, however each individual will be given an assigned, individual brief. It is your task to come up with the best outcome for the position which you are representing.Tips for The Group ExerciseEnsure that everyone in your group makes a contribution to t he discussion. It is a group exercise and therefore you will get marked on collaborating with other people.Try to avoid taking notes during the discussion time. You need to make sure that you are paying attention to what is being said, and that you show interest into what other people have to say.If you can, try to voice your opinions in the discussion as early as you can. Try to show your enthusiasm. Being one of the first people to speak will leave an impression on the assessors.Try to avoid being shy and timid. You do not want to take a laid-back approach to this exercise. Assert your views and opinions and make sure you demonstrate that you have something to say, and what you say is worthwhile listening to.Be prepared to alter your opinions and thoughts after hearing other people’s views. This shows the assessors that you are willing to support somebody else’s claims.Do not take criticism personally. Someone may not agree with what you have to say, but that is no reason to g et upset or disheartened. Stand your ground and try to win them over. If unsuccessful, listen to what they have to say and respond to their views showing you disagree and the reasons why.PresentationThe presentation is another important test that you can expect to take at the civil service fast stream assessment centre. You will be notified about everything you will be expected to participate in prior to the assessment day, so it gives you plenty of time to practice and prepare for the presentation. You will not know the subject of your presentation until a short time before you actually have to make it. Therefore, you need to make sure you are well-versed in a number of potential scenarios that could be used during the presentation.These scenarios could range from anything concerning the Government. For example, health and safety, the environment, legislation, new policies and regulations, equality etc. Some of these scenarios may overlap and you will be able to use your research t o make important points.Tips for The PresentationTalk about both the advantages and disadvantages of your argument, how is it beneficial, what are the downfalls, are there other alternatives to consider. If you don’t answer these questions yourself, you are more likely to be asked them by the assessors in the follow up questions, so try to show you have already thought about these issues in your presentation.Your success rate of your presentation can be determined by your efforts and work you put in during the preparation time. Therefore, it is fundamental that you make the best of that time to ensure your best performance.The assessors do not expect a well-versed and polished performance in your presentation. What they do expect is that you can take a brief and show your understanding and ideas about a subject area despite having little knowledge about it.As in any presentation, you will want to make sure that you keep good eye contact, speak slowly and clearly and demonstrate co nfidence in what you are saying.A timely presentation is important. If you find yourself running out of time, make sure you have said all the important information you wanted to get across.Be ready to answer any follow up questions. The assessors may have picked up on something you said and want to talk about it in more detail. Be prepared and make sure you provide a valid response.The assessors in follow up questions usually ask as many questions as possible until it looks like you have nothing else to say. This isn’t to undermine your performance, nor is it to make you look like a weak candidate, they do this to highlight your ability to put forward your views when put on the spot.Want More Advice on Securing a Career with the Civil Service?  If you’re looking for further advice on how to join the civil service, then we’ve got the perfect resource for you! Check out our excellent online course for a comprehensive overview of everything needed to ace the civil service intervi ew!https://www.how2become.com/courses/civil-service-interview-questions-and-answers/   This entry was posted in Assessment Centres, Civil Service. Bookmark the permalink. Jordan Cooke RAF Women: Combat Roles Now Open!Essential Writing Tips â€" Top 10 Strategies 5 thoughts on “Civil Service Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC)” S says:Thank you for this. that’s definitely going to help me. December 14, 2018 at 1:11 pm Reply Jacob Senior says:Hi there,Thanks for the comment. Please let us know how you get on with your Civil Service assessment centre!Kind regards, The How2Become Team. December 17, 2018 at 1:43 pm Reply Viorica Cristanovici says:Hello, thank you for the valuable information. As I am willing to apply it is undubitable useful to have read all this. I do appreciate the openess and clarity of process. Thank you. September 19, 2019 at 1:33 pm Reply Viorica Cristanovici says:Thank you for the clarity and openess of the selection process. It’s undubitable u sefull to have read all this info prior to a future application. Thank you. September 19, 2019 at 1:35 pm Reply Jordan Cooke says:Hi there. We are so glad to hear that you found this useful! If you need any further tips then please don’t hesitate to get in touch! September 20, 2019 at 11:34 am Reply

Nominate the books that shape work -

Nominate the books that shape work - From Ben Franklin to Betty Friedan, from Of Mice and Men to The Devil Wears Prada, the U.S. Department of Labor launches the Books that Shaped Work in America project. This Centennial project invites the public to compile a list of books about work, workers and workplaces and learn about departments mission and history. UPDATE: View the list of nominated books! WASHINGTON â€" From Ben Franklins Poor Richards Improved to Sonia Sotomayors My Beloved World, nearly 100 titles of fiction, nonfiction, plays and poetry begin the initial roll of Books that Shaped Work in Americaâ€"a Centennial project of the U.S. Department of Labor in partnership with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. The web-based project, www.dol.gov/books, launched as part of the departments ongoing commemoration of its 100th anniversary, aims to engage the public about the Labor Departments mission and Americas history as a nation of workers as portrayed through published works. The Books that Shaped Work in America initiative explores the dignity of work and our progress in expanding Americas fundamental promise of opportunity for all through the lens of literature, said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. Think of this effort as an online book club where people from all walks of life can share books that informed them about occupations and careers, molded their views about work and helped elevate the discourse about work, workers and workplaces. At the same time, the site provides a unique way for people to learn about the mission and resources of the U.S. Department of Labor. Work, like our nation, is constantly evolving, and so Books that Shaped Work in America is no different. To get it started, 24 individuals, including Perez, eight former secretaries of labor from both Democratic and Republican administrations, department staff (including an intern), civil rights leaders, critics, authors, media personalities and staff from the Library of Congress submitted suggestions. Among the contributors: former Secretaries of Labor George P. Shultz and Robert Reich, authors Daniel H. Pink and Joan Acocella, Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith, Liz Claman of Fox Business News, President of the National Urban League Marc Morial and Scott McGee of Turner Classic Movies. Their recommendations are included on the initiatives website, along with brief summaries of each book and links to related U.S. Department of Labor resources. Now the public is invited to expand the list. A simple, online form makes it easy for anyone to suggest a book. From a simple tale for children like The Day the Crayons Quit to a scholarly tome like Quality, Productivity and Competitive Position, the books on the list demonstrate the rich breadth and depth of work in America, said Carl Fillichio, the departments senior adviser for public affairs and chair of its Centennial. As we continue to mark the Department of Labors 100 years of service to workers in our country, this project is a terrific way to educate the public about work, workers and the work of the Labor Department. Watching the list grow, and hearing the discussion broaden, is going to be very exciting. Read Fillichios Get Out Your Work Books blog post. The project was inspired by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress 2012 Books That Shaped America exhibition, which explored the impact of books on American life and culture. Many of the books in that exhibition had work as a central theme, bringing to light the significant role published works have played in shaping Americas view of workers and workplaces throughout its history. What book shaped what you think about work and workplaces? Suggest a book and become part of the project.