Success Comes to All of Us in All Shapes and Sizes

Success Comes to All of Us in All Shapes and Sizes Career success comes to all of us in different shapes and sizes; this is because what success means to each of us is different. Everyone has their own goals and objectives, their own success measures. These goals and objectives can create a great deal of dissatisfaction and disappointment for individuals if current work circumstances are no longer fulfilling or providing the pathway to achieve them. It is at this time that many individuals run the risk of disengagement from work and have a heightened risk of mental health challenges. Circumstances such as depression can occur when an individual is unable to see how they can change their current situation. If this does occur there is a possibility it will impede an individual from achieving their success. It is important to be aware that at one point in time during our careers this will happen to all of us at different degrees. It is at this point that we need to look closely at the options and opportunities that may assist in returning to ‘success’. There are some things we can do that will help us focus on success and achieving it. 1. Always be aware of what success means to you One of the greatest downfalls for many individuals is that they do not take the time to look in to what success actually means to them. Without this knowledge very rarely are you able to understand the direction you need to take to achieve your success. Being aware of success also means that you are able to re-define your success when you see new challenges or you reach your goals and objectives and wish to look at what is next. 2. Build a network of mentors and motivators Many individuals see mentoring as a formal and structured activity, however, sometimes the greatest success comes from developing an unstructured mentor relationship. This may be someone in your industry or someone external, it may also be a hired coach. Mentors provide a great opportunity to sanity check, guide and challenge the perceptions that may be holding you back. They also should be someone that understands what success means to you and may have achieved this type of success themselves. Such a network of individuals provides you a great opportunity for development and learning that cannot be achieved from qualifications. 3. Identify someone you can look up to Who is your hero? Who is someone you admire? Who is someone you would like to know? Why?For many of us, these questions are forgotten once we get in to the boring daily routine of work. However, identifying someone that you admire, a professional hero, someone that you want to know and be like will actually challenge you to better yourself and remain committed to your own goals. These individuals may change throughout your career as you grow and this is great and should be something you plan for. 4. Be part of something bigger Networking groups, small business associations, industry associations. All of these take time and commitment however the opportunity you can get from meeting other professionals, understanding the challenges they have overcome and how will allow you to grow. One of the greatest challenges in our careers is in learning about the things that we don’t know, as well as the things that we don’t know we actually don’t know just yet. Other people’s experiences can be fundamentally important in making decisions and learning to overcome issues but also in understanding how to advance towards achieving your goals. 5. Monitor your success It is important to analyse what success you are aiming for on a regular basis. The reason for this is that you need to ensure that your success is still valid for where you are at in your life and career. Different changes and priorities in life may mean that you actually need to redefine what success means for you. This is really important, and is something that means that we may need to let go of what you were aiming for and redefine this. Doing this can actually be quite confronting; but also very valuable and fulfilling! This may see the need for you to undertake a career transition which is a very hard decision to make; but if this allows you to achieve your success then it is worth the time and commitment to undertake. Success is fundamentally important but it takes time to understand and define. Working towards your success allows you to remain motivated, engaged and committed to your career. It is something that you should be comfortable redefining when you need to as circumstances and priorities do change throughout our live. However in knowing and understanding what success means to you will be much more equipped to achieve it.

How to Use Resume Writing Services in Dayton Ohio

How to Use Resume Writing Services in Dayton OhioIf you are looking for a way to increase your chances of getting hired in Dayton OH, then you should consider utilizing the services of a professional resume writing service. Why?For those who are looking for the best job opportunities in Dayton OH and are still not able to land one, the experience of those who have done it before can certainly be used to your advantage. A resume, after all, is the first step towards securing a job. And if your resume is not very well written or is not able to display your qualifications, then your chances of landing the job are not high.Every time someone gets a chance to look for great career opportunities, there are always possibilities that get missed out. And for that reason, you should not allow your resume to simply serve as a mere reference guide. You should make sure that your resume is well written and that it has the right qualifications, so that the employer can see right through it and kno w exactly what he or she is hiring for.One of the best places to look for professional resume writing services in Dayton OH is on the internet. You can find many websites that specialize in writing resumes and have experts who can take care of all the job openings in Dayton OH. From there, you will need to fill out a form on their website. They will then contact you and offer you a free consultation.In the consultation, the writers in the writing services in Dayton OH will evaluate your skills and qualifications and devise a resume that is appropriate for your skill set. This allows you to save time, since you do not have to spend your time researching job openings and other requirements.Furthermore, you can also make use of the writing services in Dayton OH to assist you in rewriting the parts of your resume that are not quite good enough. Since the goal is to get you hired, you should always be on your way to a great career.If you want to hire the services of a professional, you s hould make sure that you research the company's profile carefully and check if they are licensed to do the job. If they are not, then it would be a good idea to search for another company to ensure that you get the best services possible.Professional services in Dayton OH are readily available and can be hired depending on the needs of the person. The right service can really go a long way in boosting your career and can help you move towards great career opportunities in Dayton OH.

5+ Best Maintenance Worker Interview Questions Answers - Algrim.co

5+ Best Maintenance Worker Interview Questions Answers - Algrim.co We’ve got the best maintenance worker interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your upcoming job interview. A maintenance worker is someone who is hired on the premise to help with repairs, fix and maintain any equipment or machines that might be on site. Generally speaking, a maintenance worker is someone who is well rounded in their craft. Meaning they can handle plumbing, construction, electrical, heating, cooling, carpentry and much more. The value of them being well rounded is whey they are hired to stay on-site versus the company hiring a third-party which may only show up when an issue arises. Often times maintenance workers are part of a commercial building or potentially a nursing home where they are housing many units simultaneously. In those settings, there is usually enough work that happens on a regular basis to where the maintenance worker is on a 9-5 hourly position. As a maintenance worker you may have to conduct routine inspections, perform preventative types of repairs, diagnose any leaks, mold, mildew or appliances for any potential problems. Maintenance Worker Interview Questions & Answers 1. What does the term HVAC stand for? HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. It is the process of having heat and cooling inside of homes as well as proper ventilation to prevent mold, mildew and increase the air quality within the homes ecosystem. 2. How would you go about diagnosing potential mold? Diagnosing mold is a serious problem. If you see issues in the drywall you need to immediately open up the drywall to see if there are any additional problems behind it. When the mold surfaces onto the drywall itself that can mean there are greater problems behind the surface. And you don’t want that lingering or staying in that area for long. That could cause health issues. Opening a small square of the drywall will let us see if there are any additional problems we need to be aware of. From there we can assess what’s the best next move to make. 3. What is the company Milwaukee known for? They are known for their high-quality power tool equipment. They make drills, screwdrivers and many more types of professional power tool equipment. 4. How do you handle faulty appliances? Figuring out what’s wrong with a faulty appliance requires some knowledge of the electrical work as well basic knowledge of how most home appliances work. Though, in today's atmosphere, many appliances make it easier to be replaced than repaired, unfortunately. So if we find there are significant problems with the appliance, sometimes it's better to simply replace it. 5. What happens when you encounter plumbing problems? Plumbing problems also sit in the zone of, needing to be addressed right away. Any plumbing problem can quickly spread additional damage that can be costly to the building as well as any home. Inspections need to be made right away to see where any of the leaks may have gone to and how or if those affected area’s need to be taken into consideration. Related Hiring Resources Maintenance Worker Cover Letter Sample

Basic Cover Letter Example for College Students - Algrim.co

Basic Cover Letter Example for College Students - Algrim.co If you’re a recent graduate (college student), new nurse or teacher, sometimes you need a simple cover letter to include with your resume. Something that isn’t complicated but meets the requirements for your job application. Here’s everything that you need to know about writing an impactful, yet simple cover letter to put alongside your resume. Table Of Contents How To Write A Basic Cover Letter What Should Go In Your Cover Letter Body A Basic Cover Letter Format Highlight Skills, Accomplishments, Reasons They Should Hire You Plain And Simple Cover Letter Example/Template For A College Student Plain And Simple Cover Letter Example/Template For Anyone How To Write A Basic Cover Letter Inside your cover letter should be a few basic points. It should include some basic information at the top of the letter, which is called the “heading”. That information is: Your current address Your phone number Your email address Your name Your title or recent accomplishment (like Bachelor’s degree title) Beneath that should begin your actual cover letter. This would include your salutation, something like “To Whom It May Concern”, though we recommend you use “Dear Hiring Manager” instead as it’s slightly more personal. After your salutation, is the body of your cover letter, which we’ll cover what goes inside of that in a moment. Afterward, include your closing greeting, something like “Thank you so much” along with your name and signature if you can provide it. What Should Go In Your Cover Letter Body Whenever writing your cover letter content, always try to think about your prior accomplishments and how that best positions you for the job you’re applying for. If they aren’t targeted to the job, that’s okay, you should still list those accomplishments. If you have a particular story that you can tell which shows your passion for their business, that’s even better. For example, something related to when you first learned about what the business offers and how it impacted your life or how it resonated with values that you have. A Basic Cover Letter Format A basic cover letter format is as follows: Heading: Your name Heading: Your address Heading: Your email Heading: Your phone number Heading: Your previous title or recently graduating master Body: Greeting Body: Your cover letter body Body: Your thank you or salutation Body: Your name and signature Related: How To End A Letter: Examples Of Salutations, Closings, Sign Offs Highlight Skills, Accomplishments, Reasons They Should Hire You Whenever possible, it’s important to highlight accomplishments. Reasons that the HR manager might want to proceed to read your resume. On average, an HR manager reads a resume for no more than 7.4 seconds. This means that you might need to catch your HR managers attention with this letter in advance. Here’s an example of what an accomplishment might look like: Lifted production more than 19% in Q4 of 2014, by doing that we reduced production costs by more than 14% and increased overall revenue generation by about 3% annually. And here are some skills that you might like to mention: Listening skills Learning skills Verbal communication skills Presentation skills Comprehension skills Reading skills Analytical skills Analysis skills Collaboration skills Plain And Simple Cover Letter Example/Template For A College Student John Smith 123 Road Lane, New York NY 11211 john@smith.com 630-777-7777 Masters in Computer Science 2018 3.6 GPA Dear Hiring Manager â€" I’m very interested in the position of Software Engineer at Apple, Inc. I first learned about Apple when I was 8. My older sibling had an iPhone and it was something special to me. Access to all the world's information and knowledge. I would love to be part of the company that provides that to others. Here are a few accomplishments I think are relative to the role: Was able to start a computer science program at our university as an extracurricular activity. This became a club that other students could join and educate themselves for free. I look forward to interviewing with you. If you have any questions for me, I’d love to help answer them. Thank you so much, John Smith Plain And Simple Cover Letter Example/Template For Anyone Ryan Smith 123 Road Lane, New York NY 11211 ryan@smith.com 630-777-7777 Prior Role: VP of Product at Apple, Inc. Dear Hiring Manager â€" I’m interested in applying for the position of Sales Engineer at House, Inc. The company holds something dear to my heart as the passion for children and education is something I wish existed when I was younger. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend school until much later in life due to coming from a poor family. This is something I’m particularly passionate about changing for our future generations and I’d love to join your mission. I look forward to interviewing with you. If you have any questions for me, I’d love to help answer them. Thank you so much, Ryan Smith

What Not to Include When Writing a Resume

What Not to Include When Writing a ResumeIt can be tough to write a resume when you have a lot of busy work and responsibilities that you do not know how to fit into. You can be tempted to just run out and add things to your resume to make it seem impressive but that will just make you look like you are lying. If you want to know what not to include when writing a resume, read on.A common mistake when writing a resume is to list a lot of jobs and experience in one place. It is a good idea to add some of the less common, but sometimes necessary, jobs and experience. You should consider including jobs that you did not do so you can prove that you are still capable of doing them.You should be honest about all of the skills you have on your resume. List all of your strengths but also what you might lack. You may be self-employed and you may think that it is okay to list the minimum amount of experience you have on your resume, but you will be surprised at how many employers actually ask for more. It is a good idea to list all of your qualifications and how many years you have worked for each employer.One thing that you will not be able to forget about when writing a resume dates. Dates can be very important when you are applying for jobs because you will need to find out if you will be interviewed on the dates you were planning on going. You should not include dates that you are unsure of because you might end up getting an interview and then find out you did not want to go on that date. If you choose to use dates you should be sure that they are accurate. If they are not, you will have to edit your resume.Another thing that you will want to avoid when writing a resume is using words that you are not familiar with. A good resume should be filled with information that is important to your employer. If you have a lot of issues that you do not understand, then you will have a hard time filling your resume out and telling the employer what you are looking for. If you f ind that you cannot answer a question on your own, then you should write about it on your resume.Employers also love to see proof of certifications and degrees that you have received. These are good ways of showing that you are qualified for the job. If you have already graduated, you can make sure that you still have some important papers to fill out.When you send out your resume, you will want to make sure that you only include information that is related to the job you are applying for and nothing else. It can be tempting to give the employer everything on your resume because you want to get the application in front of someone. Keep this in mind and you will be fine.There are other mistakes that you can make when writing a resume but these are some of the most common ones and you should remember to include these things when you are trying to improve your chances of getting a job interview. Your resume will help you get that interview and keep you from being turned down because of a bad resume.

Graduate Schemes vs Graduate Jobs The Pros and Cons CareerMetis.com

Graduate Schemes vs Graduate Jobs The Pros and Cons For those in their final year of university, the decision aboutwhat to do nextcan be one that causes a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. Even graduates who want to dive straight into their careers will often find themselves stuck at a crossroads â€" should they apply for high profilegraduate schemes, or a ‘normal’ graduate job at a smaller company?Whilst there’s no reason you can’t apply for both types of graduate job, it’s important to remember that both paths have their own distinct sets of benefits and drawbacks. It’s worth not only considering what you want to do in terms of actual work, but also the sort of company and environment you’d like to work in.evalAfter all, there’s a big difference between a huge corporate office and a startup just getting off the ground! You’ll likely find that one suits your personality and ambitions far more than the other.With this in mind, we’re going to take a look at the main differences between graduate jobs and graduate schem es. We’ll break down the pros and cons, and help you to make that difficult decision.What Are Graduate Schemes?Strictly speaking, a graduate scheme is just another type of graduate job. However, they often offer a totally different experience to other jobs. Although businesses of all shapes and sizes seek the fresh talent of graduates, graduate schemes are typically offered by large, well-known and very successful companies.The scheme itself will normally be a formalised, fixed term of employment which lasts between one and three years Your career might not be all about the money, but a decent salary can really sweeten the deal. Those on graduate schemes enjoy anaverage annual salary of £27,000, with some salaries far higher than this.For example, the popular graduate scheme offered by Aldi pays its new regional managers a starting salary of £44,000 per year. What’s more, if you carry on working there, the figure rises to £75,000 after four yearsâ€" far more than most will be earning at that point! That’s definitely a perk.2.Training and Development OpportunitiesevalGraduate schemes offer amazing opportunities for personal development, right at the start of your career. With a structured plan in place, you can expect plenty of formal training, giving you more than enough chances to really get to grips with your chosen role.You’ll be learning and developing constantly, and will learn an abundance of new skills in a relatively short amount of time. You could even get the chance to earn a professional qualification. Plus, you’ll often be given a mentor who will guide your personal development through one-to-one sessions.All these skills will benefit you in the future and look brilliant on your CV. Compared to many jobs where you’ll just learn as you go Fancy exploring the world? Some graduate schemes offer you the opportunity to do just that. You could be visiting clients and customers in far-flung locales, or you even get the chance to work abroad for a few years on a secondment scheme.Plus, you’ll be getting paid the whole time so can avoid the bed in a shared hostel dorm in favour of something a bit more luxurious.5. Additional PerksevalGraduate schemes often reward their employees generously. You can expect anything from a snazzy new phone or laptop, right up to a company car. Other benefits could include private health insurance, gym memberships or free breakfast at work everyday If you think a job interview is bad enough, graduate schemes take their application processes to a whole other level. You’ll have to be successful throughout multiple application stages.Even the initial application form can be incredibly detailed, often including difficult question and answer sections where you’ll be expected to articulate in depth knowledge of your chosen field. If you overcome this first hurdle, you’ll still have to tackle many more stages which could include:Psychometric testing â€" timed tests which often include num erical and verbal reasoning components, as well as a personality test to determine if you’re a good cultural fit.Phone or Skype interviewsVideo interviews â€" these are different to an online video interview, as there won’t be someone talking to you on the other end. Instead, you’ll have to record yourself answering a series of timed questions which will pop up on the screen.Group assessment days â€" these often include team building activities, presentations, group discussions or role playing scenarios.Initial individual interviewFinal interviewAll these steps can take many months, so make sure you’re willing to commit the time and effort it will take. The initial application window can also be quite narrow, meaning you’ll have to keep an eye on any approaching deadlines.3. Very Corporate EnvironmentThis won’t be a con for everyone, but some people find they hate the corporate feel of a large company. You can end up feeling like just another face amongst hundreds or eve n thousands of other employees, and this can be especially uncomfortable for a newbie.After years of wearing what you want at university, you’ll also have to adjust to wearing formal attire everyday.evalPlus, in big businesses it can be really difficult to avoid getting involved in workplace politics â€" particularly when there’s often intense competition for promotions. There can also be lots of frustrating bureaucracy and resistance to change.If this doesn’t sound like your scene, it might be worth going with your gut instinct.4. Long HoursIf you’re the sort of person who really values work-life balance, grad schemes might not be for you. There’s often pressure to work long, tiring hours well beyond 5pm, and at times you might have to work weekends.Graduate JobsFor the purposes of this article, graduate jobs are any jobs aimed at graduates that don’t have the ‘graduate scheme’ structure. Whilst graduate schemes often hire a whole cohort of graduates, a smaller empl oyer might only need one or two graduates at a time. These ‘normal’ graduate jobs will be available year round (unlike the short application window you often get with grad schemes) and many more graduates end up taking a job like this. After all, there’s always someone looking to hire.Pros of Graduate Jobs1. Smaller, closer teamsIf you don’t like the idea of being lost in a corporate environment, a job at a startup or SME could be perfect for you. You’ll be working with less people and you can get to know more people across the business. This often means a friendlier, warmer workplace that feels truly inclusive.2. Available across all sectorsGraduate schemes are all well and good, but they’re often limited to quite specific sectors. Most of them are either in finance, IT or retail. If your own ambitions don’t line up with these sectors, opting for a normal graduate job means you’ll have many more options available to you. It’s not worth beginning a graduate scheme in an industry you hate just for the money!3. More hands-on experienceYou probably won’t get as much training at an SME, as they’ll have less time and resources to devote to it. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re the sort of person who likes to get stuck into a job straight away. Learning on the job gives you the opportunity to develop your skills in a practical setting, which can sometimes be more effective than being taught it in a training session.4. You’ll have a noticeable impact on a businessThe smaller the business, the bigger your impact. It can be nice to see the results of your work and how your contribution is helping the business grow. Plus, smaller businesses tend to have less regimented policies and systems and so are more open to new ways of doing things. You won’t just feel like another cog in the machine, which can happen at huge companies.5. More Flexible RolesGraduate schemes offer a fixed career path, often focusing on a specific ar ea of the business. However, smaller businesses often have less staff and so need their employees to get involved in lots of different areas. If you value variety and flexibility, this can be a bonus. You certainly won’t get bored!Cons of Graduate Jobs1. Lower PayYou can expect a more modest starting salary at a smaller business. You won’t get the ‘premium’ rate that graduate schemes offer. In the UK, the average starting salary for recent graduates is actually only around £20,000 per year. This is around £7000 a year less than what’s normally offered for graduate schemes.2. Fewer and Less Structured Training OpportunitiesTraining at an SME or startup is normally more informal. This doesn’t matter so much if you have a manager that focuses on your personal development.If you don’t, a lack of formal training can mean you don’t learn much at a particular job, and leave it with much the same skills you started with. Many businesses undervalue training, and this is defi nitely something you should screen for when attending job interviews.3. Less Structured Career ProgressionAt larger companies, there are usually very clear career paths in place. You’ll be able to see exactly how you’ll rise to a more senior position within the business. For very small companies, promotions may be few and far between, meaning the only way to really progress is to move jobs.4. Greater Job InstabilityThis won’t always be the case, especially for more established SMEs. However, taking a job at a start-up or brand new business can be risky. There’s a much greater chance that the business will fail in its early stages, with a shocking90% of start-ups collapsing. That’s a pretty big chance that you’ll ultimately end up left without a job and salary.To conclude, if you’re looking for a high flying and lucrative corporate career, and you don’t mind some stress along the way, a graduate scheme could be perfect for you.But if you’re looking for a job where y ou get to know everyone in a more relaxed environment and see your tangible impact on the business, definitely consider applying for a regular graduate job!

5 Tips For Small Businesses To Successfully Deal With Downtime

5 Tips For Small Businesses To Successfully Deal With Downtime Downtime. Its the bane of every business and something that could happen to any of us at any time. Whether the cause is seasonal and expected or due to a problem with technology, even one hour of downtime could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. source: Pexels Most companies couldnt withstand such a loss. If you dont want to become a statistic, you need to find a realistic way to deal with downtime. The True Cost and Causes of Downtime Downtime has effects that can be measured, such as financial and data losses. There are also intangible effects that cant be calculated but will be felt regardless. These include things like loss of customers, trust, and reputation. In some ways, these intangible effects are more dangerous to the life and health of your brand, and they can take longer to turn around. More than half of SMBs will go out of business entirely within six months of a major disruption. Business disruptions can come out of nowhere. The most common reasons for downtime are: Hardware failuresSoftware malfunctionsSecurity breachesHuman errorSystem overloadsPower loss Every minute that your systems are offline and you cant serve your customers, you risk sending business to the competition. You may not get it back. Such losses can even happen to large, international corporations like Amazon. Just last year, Amazon experienced a system crash during one of their peak business days. The problem wasnt extensive; the disruption only lasted about 15 minutes. Their estimated financial loss during that short amount of time? Two and a half million dollars. Large enterprises have the resources to bounce back and a large customer base to take the sting out of a loss. They also plan for such situations in advance. Rather than learning the hard way and paying the ultimate price, you can learn from the experiences of others by implementing strategies to reduce the cost of downtime. Five Strategies for Mitigating the Effects of Downtime The best way to deal with downtime is to avoid it altogether. Unfortunately, some downtime is unavoidable. For example, no one can predict when a natural disaster or an IT glitch will hit. The strongest companies are those that can withstand adversity and reduce its effects. Perform a Risk-Assessment No matter how big or small your business, one of the most critical steps you can take is to know your strengths and weaknesses, both internal and external. This risk assessment can be conducted in-house or outsourced to a professional with a bit of objectivity and experience analyzing business vulnerabilities. Outsourcing has the added benefit of reducing stress on your staff and containing costs. Comprehensive risk assessments allow you to detect weaknesses in security, problems with efficiency, and identify issues you didnt even know you had, such as staff dissatisfaction. Improve Your IT Oversight Whether youre a sole practitioner or you run a large enterprise with multiple locations, technology is a critical component of your business. Tech issues are also one of the leading causes of downtime. You can reduce the risk of problems by: Using secure services and networksKeeping all of your tech up-to-dateUsing managed IT services, which often come with expertise and resources that are beyond the reach of a smaller company Many companies do take measures to protect tech they deal with every day. But, what is the state of your shadow IT? Shadow IT are those systems that run quietly in the background. They hum along unnoticed until something goes wrong. They also include outsourced systems and apps, including: Cloud-based apps and SaaSOAuth-enabled, cloud-based connectionsHardware or devices brought in by staff Even a medium-sized business can have hundreds of apps and connections that arent directly under their control. These pose a high risk to data integrity. You can avoid such issues by limiting BYOD (bring your own device), using only secure, known networks, and setting policies that curtail the use of external or unauthorized applications. Use Planned Periods of Downtime to Your Advantage You can reduce the chances of a tech-related disruption and keep your customers happy by planning for short periods of downtime and announcing them in advance. This will give you ample time to upgrade or replace redundant systems and avoid the problem of customers visiting an inaccessible website. Try to shoot for planned downtime during times when you would typically have less traffic, and put a notice on your website with the exact date, time, duration, and reason for the shutdown. Have a Backup Plan for Everything If youre in an area that experiences weather-related power outages on a regular basis, make sure that you have a backup power system. You can better protect your databases by using a combination of off-site, cloud-based storage, and physical storage in another location for more sensitive data. When you dont have to replace lost data, you can get back up and running faster. Youll also eliminate the embarrassment of public disclosure and the resulting loss of business. Have a Mitigation/Restoration Plan in Place When the unexpected happens, agility and fast recovery are essential. This requires planning based upon your risk assessment and a periodic reevaluation to address changes in circumstances and goals. You should also incorporate the cost of disaster recovery into your budget. What does an effective mitigation and recovery plan look like? It involves having a detailed overview of your liabilities by the level of risk and cost of recovery. For example, if you lost a critical file, how long would it take you to recover from that loss? How can that cost be reduced? Once youve determined your risk tolerance for various types of disasters, draw up a detailed plan that describes how recovery should proceed. This might include: The stages of your recovery planThe person or department responsible for each phase or componentIn what ways your business will be affected, such as which departments can be back online fastest or which will cost them mostWho will need to be notified in the event of a disruption, when, and by what means Once youve formulated a plan, you need to test its efficiency. Are all components working as expected? Is your backup tech functioning as it should? Have you overlooked anything that could pose a problem in a real-world situation? Its also critical that you reevaluate and re-test your plan periodically and that all stakeholders are involved in the planning, reevaluation, and testing. Final Thoughts Managing downtime is just as important as managing business growth. You can reduce the amount of unplanned downtime by scheduling set times for maintenance and other business disruptions. No one can predict the future. But, we can put safeguards in place to minimize that damage and turn the situation around faster. When you demonstrate that youre in control and ready for anything, it instills confidence in your team and supports brand loyalty. Has downtime been an issue for your company? Tell us about your challenges and success stories. Ashley Wilson is a content creator, writing about business and tech. She has been known to reference movies in casual conversation and enjoys baking homemade treats for her husband and their two felines, Lady and Gaga. You can get in touch with Ashley via Twitter.

Career Corner Career Transition Survival Tip #4 - Hallie Crawford

Career Corner Career Transition Survival Tip #4 Sometimes were so busy taking care of business that we forget to take care of ourselves. Yet, if youre amidst a major career change, there is nothing more important than listening to your Inner Voice and tending to all the little things your body, mind and soul is asking for and needs. Here are some great ways to nourish your whole self and stay balanced while successfully navigating through your career change. 4. Get support. Sometimes when we share our vision of the future with friends, family and coworkers, we are met with resistance, hit with frightening and discouraging rumors about the career marketing or industry of our choosing, and can feel like the wind was just knocked out of us. This is not a healthy way to feel when trying to break out of established ruts and make a motion for improvement in our careers. For this reason, if youre serious about finding a new job that has you springing out of bed each morning, youll want to invest in a career coach. Many people who decide to make a bold move in their career, start up their own business or return to school to learn a new skill or trade, do so with the help of a career coach or counselor. You will find that a career counselor can give much needed practical advice and guidance, while offering an objective viewpoint on your personal situation. For more information about coaching and to explore my own career coaching tools, tips and services, visit my coaching products page. I’m here to help. Heres to having a career you love, Career Coach for Singles