Sunday, August 16, 2015

GoLoco: Carpooling Meets Social Networking

I was questioning if I could investigate ways to connect to car pooling instead of using public transportation.  When driving to other states to visit family and friends what is the best mode of transportation?

Robin Chase has built an online community that has provided the opportunity to carpool.  I have yet to meet Robin Chase or use this online platform, but plan to connect online to learn more about her life and her work.

Slowing climate change is a positive outcome of creating carpooling or ride shares communities.  The result is the reduction the use of fossil fuels.  The use of fossil fuels for transportation is the second largest emission of  CO2 .  Knowing that burning fossil fuels produces CO2 emissions how is it removed from the atmosphere?  The CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by natural processes that tend to keep it in balance.   The gas exchanges with the atmosphere, ocean and land surface through microorganisms, plants and animals.



Friday, August 14, 2015

REVIEW of the IEEE RESUME LAB - My first Website

Personal Website - Judy Kilday   Nothing is perfect, and this goes for the IEEE Resume Lab.  It is a fancy tool that set up a personal website.  Nice idea.

The problem is that the competition demands perfect resume and cover letter. If you open the resume and cover letter you will find it is not centered in the window.  Does this make a difference, well yes, and Ralph Converse has stated so in his live webinar on September 16, 2015.  The resume and cover letter have to be perfect to get noticed as a top pick by employers.

Why is the IEEE Resume Lab not included in the IEEE Virtual Career Fair for Region 6? Another waste of time for job seekers, or a great tool that will be included later.  Good question and who will give us the information before we spend umpteen hours crafting a professional profile and website that isn't regarded by human resource professionals and hiring managers as a worthwhile endeavor.

It appears from the onset that the IEEE Resume Lab is a great tool for organizing your professional information. Will it land you a job or is it overkill.

Uploading Resumes and cover letters is easy using this tool.  It provides the ability to create a personal website which can be sent to employers that looks semi - professional.  They may simplify the number of templates, just choose a smaller sample of the best.

The job search takes time and lots of energy to complete.  The IEEE Virtual Career Fair Region 6 has taken steps to simplify the job application process.  Setting up individual accounts on employers websites and sifting through the jobs is time consuming.  Targeting jobs that employers are willing to consider outside hires - experienced verses inside hires or even new hires (recent graduates) will save time.


Thursday, August 13, 2015

Getting There : A Book of Mentors

Why read a book on how others are 'getting there' unless you want to learn how to DIY.  The interesting thing about the book were a short list of pearls following each person's story.  The anecdotes are real and alive. But the pearls are what you want hold on to. 

The book Getting There may just be a way to keep you pointed towards the corner office.  Maybe these real life characters have sought after mentorship roles. They jump at the chance for others to learn from their experience.  Another way to develop personal credibility as a quality skill.


Don't expect success to be without challenges.  Struggling through the challenges, expect good mentors to look for teachable moments.  Times when teaching and learning just click.  


The fallacy of this struggle-free perception of success, like pearls often suggest we do things we have a passion for,  not to allow rejection to deter you, and  see failure as open door.   Be open to new ideas, and take action.





  

Developing Leadership Skills

To some degree or another everyone has  learned about being a leader.  The skills you need to develop leadership are taking initiative, being adaptable, intelligence, and being conscientious.

The dictionary lists synonyms and antonyms for conscientious

CONSCIENTIOUS

Friday, August 7, 2015

Getting Referrals Guarantees You An Interview

The story goes like this, getting an interview is not easy.  If you ask for an employment referral to a company the chances of getting an interview increase to 100%.

Asking for a referral is important.  The first step is to decide where you want to work. Then networking within the community to find other employees you know.

Ask them if they want to participate in the employee referral program.  Can they refer you for work.