This Woman Found a Career for the Long Haul - The Muse

This Woman Found a Career for the Long Haul - The MuseThis Woman Found a Career for the Long Haul We all want a career with longevity. But, how do you find the right fit? Jessenia Morales, Group Talent Acquisition Manager at Enterprise Holdings, did just that. Shes moved 3 times with the company, climbed the corporate ladder, and grown zu sich confidence and skill set. And now she helps to hire employees just like her who want to join a company they can commit to. Watch the video above for the qualities she looks for in an employee and what shes learned from spending her career at one company.

Leveraging Human Resources for Sustainable Growth

Leveraging Human Resources for Sustainable GrowthLeveraging Human Resources for Sustainable GrowthLeveraging Human Resources for Sustainable Growth W. Savitz with Karl WeberAdapted from Talent, Transformation, and the Triple Bottom Line, by Andrew W. Savitz with Karl Weber (Jossey-Bass, 2013)An organization that wants to become a sustainable organization has to look at changing a wide range of business activities, fruchtwein of which are measured by the triple bottom line (TBL) the total impact of your companys operations on the environment, society, and the economy.The TBL is comprised of specific environmental, social, and economic indicators, such as the amount of various pollutants released, the ways in which employees are treated and the financial impacts of companies on local communities. The TBL includes the direct impact of your operations, the impacts of your products, and the impacts of your suppliers and their operations.As daily headlines remind us, sustainability and th e TBL are now of enormous importance in practically every industry, helping shape companies public reputations and their future business prospects.Less widely recognized, however, is the fact that the human resources (HR) department often has an outsized impact on sustainability.In fact, HR departments in most companies are expected to generate a number of specific deliverables that are significant in measuring an organizations TBL includingFair and reasonable pay and competitive benefitsWorkforce diversityA happy, healthy, and productive workforceUseful training and career developmentHuman rights for employees and suppliersPositive community relations, andGood working conditions for employees and contractorsAll of these traditional HR deliverables are elements of sustainability and all are crucial to your businesss ongoing success.Fortunately, many HR departments today are discovering and focusing on their vital role in sustainability. Theyre becoming mora environmentally and soci ally responsible, generating direct and measurable benefits for the entire organization and leading otzu sich departments toward greater sustainability.Measuring Employee EngagementOne good way for your HR department to leverage sustainability is to measure how your company treats its own employees. One good, simple reason to start there is that any organization that claims to be managing according to sustainability principles should be taking good care of its own people. Sustainability begins at home.In fact, surveys reveal that most customers in the United States base their impression of a companys social and environmental responsibility largely on the way it treats its employees not on the companys corporate philanthropy, volunteerism, environmental projects, or any other acts that provide benefits to those outside the company.If employees are well-treated, this creates a halo effect that sheds a positive light on many other aspects of the company.Recognizing this, a number of c ompanies have used employment policies alongside a strong commitment to the TBL to create a cadre of loyal, supportive workers who are deeply engaged in their work.ansicht employees tend to be highly motivated, which leads to higher productivity, greater efficiency, increased customer satisfaction, or simply more good will in the community.Engaged employees feel that they are being valued and respected, and they naturally earn their employers a reputation for good corporate citizenship that helps grow and sustain their businesses.If they also feel that they are part of a company that shares their commitment to making a positive difference in the world, their commitment can rise even higher.How Starbucks Sustains SuccessConsider the coffee chain Starbucks as an example. For Starbucks, employees hold the key to financial success. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz describes the vital relationship between his companys employees and its customers this wayWhen we are fully engaged, we connec t with, laugh with, and uplift the lives of our customers even if just for a few moments. Sure, it starts with the promise of a perfectly made beverage, but our work goes far beyond that. Its really about human connection.How does Starbucks make the seemingly mundane job of a coffee server attractive and get baristas to make the Starbucks Experience one that customers will pay more for, certainly beyond what they might pay elsewhere for the same cup of coffee?One important way is to provide excellent employee benefits employees who work twenty or more hours a week receive health insurance coverage, including prescription drugs, dental care, and vision coverage an unusually generous package.Other benefits include a retirement savings plan, stock options, a discounted stock purchase plan, an adoption assistance plan, domestic partner benefits, referral programs and support resources for child care and elder care, and, of course, a discount on Starbucks merchandise including a free pound of coffee each week.This array of benefits, combined with flexible work hours and above-average pay for entry-level employees, makes Starbucks a significantly more attractive alternative than most of its obvious rivals, including other food chains, and pays rich rewards to the company as well.Similar employee-centered strategies have been followed by other businesses, from the Wegmans grocery chain to the PricewaterhouseCoopers accounting firm, with impressive financial results.But Starbucks goes a step further to deepen its connection with employees with a strategy we call values alignment.Starbucks works hard to attract and hire people who share the companys well-publicized social and environmental commitments (such as buying ethically sourced coffee). Many even consider these commitments part of the benefits of working at Starbucks.So although Starbucks sustainability programs appeal to many customers, they are even more important in terms of motivating the employees who cr eate the Starbucks Experience the heart and soul of the companys business model.Employee Motivation through Sustainability Many of todays most successful businesses, from GE and PepsiCo to IBM and the Gap, as well as smaller companies, are creating such sustainability-based motivational programs, with tremendous benefits for the business.Whats more, a commitment to sustainability, as evidenced by these kinds of initiatives, is proving to be a powerful attractor of todays best talent.Countless surveys as well as anecdotal evidence provided by many HR professionals we interviewed underscore the reality that working men and women of all ages today are hungry for opportunities to live out their personal values on the job, including environmental and social values.As a result, companies that practice sustainability starting with their HR policies have a leg up in the war for talent that will largely determine the winners and losers in todays global marketplace.Factors such as these help explain why we believe that every HR professional needs to put sustainability at the top of his or her agenda for years to come.Author BioAndrew Savitz is co-author of Talent, Transformation, and the Triple Bottom Line(Jossey-Bass, 2013). He iscurrently Principal, Sustainable Business Strategies and a creative advisor, author and speaker, with over 20 years of hands-on experience assisting corporations to become leaders in sustainability, environmental performance, measurement and reporting. Savitz speaks frequently on the topic of sustainability and corporate social responsibility and has been widely quoted in both the sustainability trade press, the environmental press, and the mass media. He serves on the Board of the Environment and Natural Resources Department at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He founded, and currently chairs the Board of the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters. Visit The Savitz Report website (launching early Apri l, 2013). Reach Andrew Savitz by email.Read moreCareer Planning for your Multigenerational WorkforceE-Learning Tools to Advance Employee DevelopmentTeam Development Creating Positive Change

9 revealing job interview questions top CEOs ask answered

9 revealing job interview questions top CEOs ask answered9 revealing job interview questions top CEOs ask answeredCEOs are notoriously eccentric, but they gotwhere they are by picking the brightest people to join them. When it comes to either job interviews, why not base your preparation on some of their favorite questions? Here are some questions CEOs really ask - and how to answer them.(Oh and hey, if yourethe one doing the interviewing of a potential employee - you might just find some great questions in here to use yourself.)Neil Blumenthal, CEO of Warby Parkers favorite interview question1.What do you like to do for fun?

Last Minute Spring Cleaning Don#8217;t Forget To Tidy Up Your Resume

Last Minute Spring Cleaning Don8217t Forget To Tidy Up Your Resume Last Minute Spring Cleaning Dont Forget To Tidy Up Your Resume According to Behirings Confessions of the Recruitment Industry infographic, if a recruiter sees one spelling or grammatical error on a resume it will be thrown into the trash.One.And Harris Interactive conducted a study last year of more than 2,000 hiring managers and HR professionals. The study asked them to anthroponym the fruchtwein common and most outrageous real-life resume mistakes they see.Most common mistakesResumes with typosCandidate has an inappropriate, non-professional-sounding email addressResumes with missing information- no dates of employment, no list of skillsResumes are too generic, not tailored for the positionResumes that copy/paste text from the job adResumes printed on decorative paperResumes that are too long or too shortMost outrageousResume welches written entirely in the Star Trek language of KlingonResume used text-speak the letter u instead of the word youUnder objective the candidate wrote To work for someone who is not an alcoholic with three DUIs like my current employerCandidate neglected to include his/her name in the resumeResume included baby pictures of the candidateResume included jail term served for assaulting former bossWhile the above outrageous resume examples may sound amusing and unbelievable, having your resume rejected because of errors is certainly believable- and missing out on a potential job opportunity is no laughing matter.So, while youre doing your last minute spring cleaning, dont forget to tidy up your resume. And to offer a few quick and simple tips to help you do this, Recruiter.com spoke with Karen Ochoa, career development coordinator at Computer Systems Institute. Read on to discover what she had to say about this type of spring cleaning, common resume mistakes and the latest trends in resume writing.Why is the spring season a good time of year for job seekers to clean u p their resumes?I believe the spring season is a great time of the year for job seekers to clean up their resumes because the summer months are quickly approaching Which means many employers will be hiring extra help. With high school and college kids being off of school for the summer, there will be direct employment competition. Therefore, start fixing up your resume early- spring time so as to avoid fighting for available positions with the masses.What are the most common resume mistakes?The most common mistakes on a resume would be, believe it or not, the small details. Not so much what is on a resume, per say. For example, an extra space where it is not needed, a period after the month, abbreviation in one place and not another. Many employers look at the small details to make sure you actually put time and effort into a resume. If you say you pay attention to detail and then you have a three-letter month abbreviation in one place and a four-letter month abbreviation in another , the employer will wonder how you did not catch the discrepancy.What are the latest trends in resume writing and how can job seekers use them for job hunting success?The latest trends in resume writing would have to be design. If you are a job seeker looking to have your resume stand out amongst the rest, your resume should not be a plain bold name here, or bold title there. Rather, consider using a template that you can purchase online or contacting your alma mater and asking for some templates. Making your resume stand out from the pack is always beneficial.Now, there are wrong ways and right ways to stand out. Highlight your skills, minimize gaps in employment and wow them with your summary of qualifications. Remember to ask for a critique of your resume. You very well may miss a detail or a critical spelling error.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

When emojis lead to better communication

When emojis lead to better communicationWhen emojis lead to better communicationI use emojis way mora in work contexts than I do in my personal life, and theres no doubt in my mind that it makes me a more effective communicator and improves my ability to do my job.When I first started working at Google 10 years ago, I noticed that many of the more respected product managers at the company used just a ton of smiley faces in their e-mails, and in my mind, I thought what the hell is going on here? And over the past decade, I didnt necessarily internalize this as an intentional strategic tactic, but I have noticed that my emoji usage (at least smileys) at work has increased dramatically.So, in true analytical PM/Quoran fashion, Im going to try to deconstruct why I think its actually pretty effective for communicating at work. I dont know that this is applicable to all industries, but at least applies for collaborative roles in the tech industry.First,extremely direct communications are h eavily valued at companies like Quora. If youre not used to this, it can be almost shocking at first because you may not understand why everyone seems so critical or curt all the time.This is a natural reaction because in social contexts, theres rarely need for you and your friends to rigorously and efficiently execute towards meaningful goals with material consequences, so there just isnt much incentive to give your friends direct feedback. If anything, leisurely time with friends is the complete opposite of that, by design. Work is obviously very different, and the more everyone can embrace feedback that fuels personal growth, the more effective teams will become.Emojis play a role in that because they help set the tone in written communications and allow the glaubenszeugnis to land without making it seem so dire or awkward.As an extremely contrived example, lets say someone drops the ball on a task and it delays the team by a few days, and in e-mail, I say well dont f%ing forget next time (tbc, I dont e-mail like this). The other person doesnt know if Im just teasing playfully or if Im actually furious. Just adding a ) at the end makes it clear its the former, but still lets them know that the mistake did affect other people.Second, its amazing to work at a company with cultural diversity, and thedifferent cultural perspectives add a lot of value to everyday decision-making, but it also makes it much easier for people to misinterpret things in written text.The tech industry, in particular, has a lot of people who grew up in different countries / cultures, so your dry San Francisco hipster sarcasm often wont quite land the way you think it will. Similar to the above point, emojis help in this context too because a smiley is universal, and so it helps reduce the variance in how your words can be interpreted. If youve ever worked with people on the opposite side of the world before, you know how bad a simple e-mail misunderstanding can be when it just simmers there for a whole day before its cleared up.Third and most important, one of the biggest lessons Ive learned in my career is thatyou need to reduce friction in communication if you want accurate information to flow freely.If communication feels too formal or buttoned up, then people will be hesitant to say things, and the things they say will be overly-managed, which means youll both get less information and more biased information, which means youll make worse decisions. Think about it - you can tell your best friend anything in an unfiltered way, but you wont necessarily speak as freely with your boss boss. I actually think this is a big part of why Slack is so much more effective than e-mail - because it makes work collaboration feel like a circa 1998 AIM conversation.This might all sound somewhat trivial, but the truth (at least IMO) is that at most tech companies,the bottleneck to impact typically isnt technical breakthrough or innovation, its the ability for people to commun icate and work well together, so they can make good decisions and have their efforts compound, and little things like this can add up to a lot.This column first appeared at Quora.

What Does a Resume Cover Letter Look like - an in Depth Anaylsis on What Works and What Doesnt

What Does a Resume Cover Letter Look like - an in Depth Anaylsis on What Works and What Doesnt Aside from the forementioned details, its important to realise that its good to produce the look and feel of your resume attractive, it ought not be overdone in order to defeat its objective. You might think about an expert statement, instead of an objective. Its primary objective is to capture the eye of the recipient enough to find that individual to check at the attached resume with interest. If youre asking what does a resume look like, the normal answer we can provide you is that it may look like nearly anything you would like it to look like. Most folks will attempt to consider something which will help you. Online, they can act and use informal words and phrases. Youre attempting to convince people you really need the job. Even though most individuals assume youre applying for at least 1 job at a moment, it is a fantastic idea not to act as if you are. The Downside Risk of What Does a Resume Cover Letter Look like For the reason, its almost always an extremely great concept to update your CV. So make certain you finish your cover letter with a highly effective call to action which will help you accomplish your target. The primary reason behind writing a cover letter is to grab the interest of a work employer at the exact first glance. Obviously, knowing that you desire a cover letter is simply a single portion of the equation. At the other times you should have a cover letter. You must also understand what an excellent cover letter resembles. Keep it simple so that your cover letter will be simple to read and understand. Just take a look at the cover letter guide below that youre able to utilize to compose an amazing cover letter for hiring managers. It is crucial to find out whos doing the hiring within the business so you may deliver the letter to that individual. Check for grammar and spelling errors and be koranvers tove included all of th e ideal contact information at the very top of your letter. Always keep in mind that your email message needs to have the exact impact as your application documents.You must be sure your letter is on letter paper since it is of a greater stock and you would like to make certain you type your letter instead of handwriting it. Frankly, you dont need to explain everything on your letter. Your letter should incorporate a concise summary that fits with your abilities and experiences to the work description. A brief and snappy letter is an excellent choice in doing this. Becoming in a place to display precisely the very same with respect to animals is a bonus. Such phrases reflect your confidence that your employer is searching for, however, take care not to put an arrogant tone. It is essential that you capture and keep the interest of the employer within 10 seconds. Utilize industry terms, where appropriate, if youre seeking a job very similar to your present-day position. The experience youre able to gain can be employed to construct your resume. A resume is your very first step to become noticed. With an internship, the procedure is quite different the true start date could be months away, which is the reason why you should consider it in advance. Its now more important than ever to select the application process serious if you would like to come across a career position. Naturally, the resume objective must be the job you wish to take. You may add the overview of technical skills in your CV to offer clear idea about your current skills. Your resume will provide additional information. Each resume style differs and is founded on which job you plan on using your resume for.

Is It Better to Take a Bad Job With a Good Boss, or a Good Job With a Bad Boss

Is It Better to Take a Bad Job With a Good Boss, or a Good Job With a Bad Boss Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose. I am a speaker,an author, and anexpert in time and project management. I help busy professionals and entrepreneurs create effective systems so that they can comfortably delegate to others, be mora profitable, and have time to enjoy life. At the end of the day, I transform the way you zulauf your business into a business you love to run. Todays question comes from a busy professionalCurrently Im working with a good boss, but the job isnt that great (because there is no future there, and the pay isnt that great). I recently found a good job (pay is good with medical insurance, commission, and bonuses), but the boss there is kind of stupid and a nightmare to work with. What is my better option? Should I take the badeanstalt job and the good boss, or the good job and the bad boss?The false pre mise is that there are only two options good bossanda bad job, or bad boss anda good job. In reality, there isan abundance of other opportunities out there including good jobs with good bosses.The other mistake is to think that yourcurrent situation is permanent, rather than temporary.So what if, for today, there is no future at the job and the pay isnt that great? Thats a temporary situation. Perhaps the pay isnt that great and theres no future for someone with your current skill set and experience.Perhaps if you update your skill set to match the next-generation tools and gain moreclient advocacy experience, you will be eligible for a new role with a higher salary range. Perhaps the company will head in a differentdirection, and if you areprepared and you align yourself with the companys goals and vision, you couldgeta better position.Now, lets talk about the good job with the nightmare boss. Who is to say that the boss is a nightmare? Your friend Joe, may need more hand-holding in his job, andmaybethis boss isnt a micromanager. Therefore, Joe might feel this boss is terrible. But maybe you, on the other hand,work best when you have some autonomy and that would make this boss a good boss to you.Perhaps this is the worst boss in the universe you are stillmaking the erroneous assumption that this is the only boss or manager in this organization. Whos tosay that, once you are in this role, you cant network and build relationships with other, better managersand move onto their teams?When faced with the good job/bad boss and bad job/good boss dilemma, you actually have a lot of opportunities. It isnt even really a dilemma at all. So what will your next step be?What Does a Bad Boss Mean to You?If you have a bad boss, define why you feel this person is a bad boss. Once you know this information, you can take some steps to make your life with this bad boss a little more comfortable.For instance, maybe you feel your boss is a bad boss because he is a micromanager. If so, you canbe proactive in supplying him with status updates and details of your work. Understand what your bossneeds to feel comfortable, and what he needs for his success. Once you understand the bosssposition and start thinking like him, you can better appreciate and anticipate his requests and maybe start to feel a little less like he is a bad boss.No mora Bad Bosses Make an Individual Career Mission StatementIf you havent created your individual career mission statement yet, do that now. Your career mission statement should include yourSMART career goals and the specific steps you will take to achieve them. You should also create an individual development plan, which will include your professional skills and income goals.If youhave a great boss, seek their input onyour career goals. Theywill have a different perspective on whats available or just around the corner for the company. Work with your mentors, coaches, and even external recruiters to find out which of your skill s are outdated, which are in need of some polishing, and which are in demand or going to be in demand.If you are not networking with people outside of your department and even outside of your companys walls, well start doing that. Attend professional association meetings and local conferences, and do some networking on LinkedIn.Spend more time defining what you really want to be, do, and have and then go after it.For more information on everything discussed here, feel free to reach out to me.We canschedule an appointment, and I can get to know more about your unique situation. I will be happy to make recommendations on what your best steps are moving forward.ContactLauraRoseRoseCoaching.info.

Protect Yourself from 5 Common Job Scams

Protect Yourself from 5 Common Job ScamsProtect Yourself from 5 Common Job ScamsWhile so much of it seems like a no-brainer, tough economic times can make it more challenging to protect yourself from common job scams. The most important thing to keep in mind is that something that seems too good to be true- a promise of easy money for not a lot of effort- should be given extra scrutiny and a healthy dose of skepticism.A job seeker searching the Internet for work-at-home opportunities will come across many scams that may steal a persons identity, their money, or trick them into committing criminal activity. Keep up on scam keywords that may be more likely to bring shady results.Be alert and protect yourself from these five common job scams.PhishingScammers using this tactic try to gain access to your personal information with the intent of stealing your identity. Generally posing as a known and trusted company, the possibility of employment is offered pending a pre-employment backgrou nd check.One known example is a fake job offer with Google/Zagat that requires some sort of fee- often a training fee- prior to starting. Its not a real offer and any money sent is going to a scammer.Money MovementThese scams often present themselves in one of two forms. The check cashing scam offers a commission to individuals who will receive a commission for cashing a check through their personal accounts and wiring the remainder of the money to someone usually located outside the United States. Unfortunately, the check ends up being bogus and the individual is faced with cleaning up a financial mess. On the surface, it seems like an easy trap to spot. However, the people who set up these scams are skilled at building relationships and making job seekers comfortable.There is a similar scheme that involves money laundering, with the main difference being that the victim is asked to transfer money in and out of their own account. The money actually exists, but it is likely to have been acquired through illegal channels and puts the victim in a position to have criminal charges brought against them.Package ProcessingAlso known as reshipping, these job seekers are told to receive shipped goods, which are repackaged and shipped to new locations. Typically, the goods have been ordered with stolen credit card numbers. The middleman (you) is subject to arrest for the transport of stolen goods.Assembling ProductsThis scam is often framed as a firm working with companies that need products assembled for the end user. For an enrollment fee, the job seeker is told they will have access to the portfolio of jobs offered by the various businesses, all with different items to assemble and varying pay scales. Be aware of how to spot scams in work-from-home jobs and avoid being a target.Envelope StuffingEarn $500-$2,000 a week Free postage and supplies, no advertising Weve all seen these advertisements for jobs that promise earnings for each envelope stuffed once a small fee is paid. According to the Federal Trade Commissions consumer information on envelope stuffing schemes, its rare that anyone ever gets paid.No matter what the job opportunity is, be sure to complete your due diligence and ask a lot of questions. If anything ever feels off, its best to take the conservative approach and walk away.Readers, what are some other jobs that leave you wondering whether or not theyre common job scams?

6 Useful Tips for Choosing Between 2 Job Offers

6 Useful Tips for Choosing Between 2 Job Offers6 Useful Tips for Choosing Between 2 Job Offers If youre choosing between two jobs, congratulations All of the hard work from your job search has paid off.But once the celebrating is over, you have a real dilemma on your hands. When it comes to deciding between two jobs, how can you make the right choice?To help you make up your mind, here are six tips on comparing job offersso you can pick the one that offers you the most fulfilling future.When youre interviewing for a job , you want to prove youre the best person for the role and that the organization cant live without you. Once you have two job offers on the table, though, its time to consider how these job prospects align with your career goals.Instead of focusing on what you can do for the company, consider what each company can do for you. Go over everything you learned about the job, organization and culture during the interview process.Then, ask yourself the fol lowing questionsIf youre having trouble deciding between two jobs, consider both through the lens of your long-term goals. Consider which position holds the most promise, and choose the one that will get you where you want to go.When choosing between two jobs, an easy question comes to mind Which one pays mora?Of course, salary isnt the only important factor . Personal satisfaction is also paramount. So what happens if the job you dont really want pays a lot more than the one you do?If this is the case, youll need to weigh whether a higher salary will make up for a job you dont like. Sure, youll have more money to spend outside of work. But if youre bored 40 or more hours per week, a higher salary might not boost your happiness much.My first job decision was between a financial consulting firm and an online education company, said Augustin Kennady, media relations director for ShipMonk . While it offered less money, the online education company was the right decision at the time. I t also gave me the skills I needed to succeed in my next position.I strongly recommend that you decide on your job not necessarily for the money, but for how closely the offer aligns with your values, he added.You also might try negotiating for more money. Practice your salary negotiation tactics , and find out if you can increase your earnings or snag better benefits.If one positions pay is so low you wont be able to support yourself, you should probably go with the other one. But if both salaries meet your needs, you might be better off choosing a more fulfilling job.Many hiring managers assess cultural fit during an interview. They want to make sureyoull fit in well with their organization. But cultural fit isnt a one-way street. You also need to decide whether each company is a good fit for you.If youve ever been in a toxic work environment , you know how tiring it can getday after day. Even if youre passionate about the companys mission, youll lose steam in an uncomfortable workplace. On the flip side, you might develop a passion for a company if its culture makes you feel valued and challenged.When choosing between two jobs, learn more about the culture of each workplace. You might ask your interviewer about it or reach out to current employees. Or you could investigate employee reviews online .Figure out what youre looking for - whether its a culture of collaboration, independence, flexibility or new challenges. Then, opt for the company where youd be the best cultural fit.Have you ever heard that people quit managers, not companies? Your direct manager has a big impact on your experience at work.A bad manager could make you lose motivation or even want to quit, Jerry Maguire-style. But a good manager will motivate you, as well as help you learn and grow.One of my biggest career mistakes so far was to not assess my future managers skills beforehand, said Jssica Carmonaof Guarana Technologies . Making sure you have the right person above you is im portant, especially in your early years.Your manager might even serve as a mentor figure, guiding you on your professional development. When choosing between two jobs, learn about your potential new managers.You might ask how they help new hires transition into the role or what promotional tracks are available. Or you could speak to current employees about their experiences with the manager.I make sure to ask the right questions to make sure theyll be a good fit for me just as much as Ill be for them, said Carmona.I make sure I only get placed in companies where Ill be able to grow in a healthy environment, under managers with the right profile for my career moment.If youre wondering how to decide between two jobs, the decision probably isnt clear-cut. Both roles have pros and cons, and neither is obviously oben liegend to the other.One way to cut through the confusion is to list out a typical day in each role. As you make your list, ask yourself these questionsMake a big comparison chart, advised Valerie Streif, senior advisor at Mentat . Having it all written out and in front of you can help you to understand what youd be getting into with each job option.This can also be a way to get more information about each offer, Streif added. If there are pieces that you realize you are missing, you can take the steps to fill in the blanks.Consider all the details of a typical day in the job, and envision yourself going through the motions. If the two jobs are similar in all other respects, your choice could come to a small detail, like a shorter commute or more attractive workplace.Once youve done your research and made your lists, step back and check in with your inner voice. Ask yourselfTrust yourself, said Streif. You know you and your work preferences better than anyone. If friends or family are urging you to go against your gut because one option may seem more prestigious, but you know youd be happier with the alternative, trust yourself. Its you who will ha ve to work there.Sometimes, you have to take a risk and leap into the job that excites you. If youre still figuring out what that is, learn how to find the right career in 10 steps .This article was originally published on Student Loan Hero . It is reprinted with permission.

Top Chef winner Brooke Williamson on the secret to victory in your career

Top Chef winner Brooke Williamson on the secret to victory in your careerTop Chef winner Brooke Williamson on the secret to victory in your careerThe road to the top isnt always an easy one, and Top Chef Charleston winner Brooke Williamson is a classic example of that.We first came to really know Brooke four years ago, when she competed on Top Chef Seattle, only to lose in the end to fellow competitor Kristen Kish.In that season, Brooke had impressed the judges in every challenge and never been eliminated - only to lose out in the finale to Kristen. Kristen, who had been told topack her knives and go early on. Kristen came back in the Last gunst der stunde Kitchen competition for chefs who had been eliminated from the show and, incredibly, won the entire tournament. Being so close to victory only to have it snatched away at the end - made the Seattle competition atougher loss for Brooke to deal with.Cue this season on Top Chef, in which Brooke again seamlessly made it to the final f our - only to be eliminated right before the finale. She had karma on her side this time, she came back to compete because of the Last Chance Kitchen and won the Top Chef Charleston title last week.Brookes experience of overcoming multiple obstacles is relatable to anyone, whether youre trying to create an exquisite sauce or just move up at work. Ladders chatted with Brooke shortly after her win to discuss leadership lessons from the kitchen and beyond.Ladders Youve done this twice, and in doing so has caused a flood of emotions for many reasons. What do you think you have learned the most, now that youve won about this entire experience?Brooke Williamson I think that I learned that I need to have fun and that when Im elend having fun, it shows in my food and in my confidence. Just to be lighthearted about what I do because I love it. Of course winning welches satisfying and wonderful, but having to go to Last Chance Kitchen and competing to come back, I thought that it was the be all and end all of life - and it was in the end a wonderful and gratifying cherry on top.What was the best way that you deal with the ups and downs of this season?I think what people dont necessarily see, or understand always, is that life is always ups and downs and you learn from your mistakes. Being a chef is all about being creative and inspired, and that doesnt always happen on a daily basis. Top Chef puts you in a position where you have to be that creative 100% of the time, and you cant always be. Im far from perfect and far from able to cook perfectly the first time around. It doesnt always happen We are under this microscope on Top Chef where if something isnt executed perfectly, it is shown for the whole world. So, I think taking the criticisms, both the good points and the bad points, are important for the growth of any persons career.Did you ever have a moment in your culinary career where you doubted the future of it, and how did you conquer that fear?There have been l ow points. However, I have been cooking for such a long time and have known I wanted to be a chef since I was six years old, so there was never a point in my career where I said to myself I cant do this. I think that having a child really motivated me. To provide for someone else and stay inspired and be a role model for him, and to show him that he can be anything he wants to do in life, is a big motivation for me.The culinary industry has a stigma of being very male-dominated. How do you think you have succeeded the most in this environment?I think the environment has shifted a lot over the past couple of years, especially with women being showcased so powerfully and positively on television. Im used to being the only female in the kitchen, which in turn became motivation to do better than the men around me, and I think that it was a positive experience for me. Of course, there were moments where it was frustrating, but I always saw that as motivation to do better.What is the best career advice you have ever gotten from someone and how did it change your outlook on your career?I chose to not go to culinary school because of my first legitimate chef boss, who I looked up to. I admired his career. He said to me, You have the motivation, you have the drive, you have the work ethic. Do what you are doing and you will move quickly. I saw that as motivation to kind of impress him and at the same time, because I didnt go to culinary school, needing to educate myself on technique. I spent a lot of time reading, which a lot of chefs dont do- whether it be cookbooks or reviews about other restaurants - and feeling that I really needed to take it upon myself to get the education that I needed to be able to do what everyone else expected of me.What is the best advice you can give to be someone like you, who is viewed as a leader and a winner ultimately?If you feel passionate that you have this dream of what you like to be, make it that. Anything is possible. If you find yourself not being quite as passionate about what you are doing, then shift or move to something else because I think attaining really high goals can only be done with legitimate heart and passion.Finally, would you do Top Chef again or are you pretty much done?Im pretty much done (Laughter)