Rachel Rudisill

Apps – The New Calculator in Your Tool Belt

By Rachel Rudisill on Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Apps aren’t just for editing photos, managing your calendar, or playing games. A recent article on itbusiness.ca features 10 Android apps for skilled trades. The article overviews apps ideal for electrical calculations, calculating dimensions, HVAC calculations, drywall calculations, and more. Check out this helpful list of apps whether you’re a plumber, pipefitter, steamfitter, sprinklerfitter, electrician, welder, or construction worker.

Share with us in the comment section below what apps help you in the skilled-trades profession.

Uncategorized

Tips to Save Money During Your Job Search

By Rachel Rudisill on Friday, May 31, 2013

If you’re unemployed or underemployed, looking for a job can make a tight financial situation even more stressful. Expenses incurred while searching for a job, like printing resumes and getting an interview outfit, may be necessary steps toward a better financial future. To help out your financial budget, make sure you take the time to think through your job search expenses and consider creative solutions to save you money.

Your Resume
Before you purchase a resume template or pay for a resume critique, spend a little time researching online or at the local library for resume writing advice. Make sure to take advantage of resume advice offered from a career center, guidance counselor, or staffing agency recruiter. If you have family members or friends who have experience in hiring, ask them to review your resume. Just because someone you know isn’t in a position to hire you, doesn’t mean they can’t help by critiquing your resume and offering real world advice.

Networking
Treating club or association meetings and conferences as networking opportunities is a good idea, but can be expensive. To help keep the costs down, contact the group directly and ask if first time visits are free, if there are scholarships to attend a meeting, or if they have any free events. Or maybe you can volunteer to work at a conference in exchange for free or reduced admission. Don’t be afraid to ask for special opportunities, almost everyone has looked for a job and can respect the need to be frugal during the process.

Access to Open Positions
Plan your job search wisely. If you’re going to spend time canvassing an area for businesses with help wanted signs or dropping off applications, invest in mapping out your route and making a list of companies in that area. Make the most of your time and gas by applying at every opportunity in one part of town, then move to the next area and repeat the process.

Another less costly alternative would be to apply with a staffing company. Most staffing companies don’t charge anything to job seekers and can be a one-stop way to apply for several jobs. Not only will you save time and gas money from applying all over town, but they’ll also be able to offer advice on your resume and interviewing tips to help you get the job at no charge to you.

Express Employment Professionals offers a free Get a Job ebook that has resume advice and tips for your job search. Download it today as a helpful guide to finding employment.

What are some ways you’ve saved money during your job search? Share them in the comments section below.

At Work Work/Life Balance

6 Fav Apps That Can Help With All You Have to Do

By Rachel Rudisill on Monday, May 13, 2013

With our constant tie to devices like tablets, smartphones, and computers, consider downloading more than just entertainment apps. Look into apps that can help you with work and life. The app choices are overwhelming, but here’s a short list of popular apps to help you begin your exploration beyond downloading Fruit Ninja™ and Angry Birds™.

Apps for Organizing Content
For all the data and experiences you take in, Evernote offers a solution to store it. From notes, documents, photos, web pages, and more, Evernote allows you to gather, organize, and access it all. Other app options for storing information and taking notes include Springpad™ and Google Keep. For a quick overview of the three platforms check out this article.

Time Tracking Apps
If you wonder where your time goes, you might consider a tool like timr or Gleeo™, applications that allow you to track your time. Make sure the ways to access the application are compatible for your work environment to make keeping track of tasks and projects simple. Plus, with extended use, you’ll be able to see how long things take and do a better job of managing your workflow.

To-Do List Apps
Using an app for your to-do list can make it easier to categorize, update, and manage your tasks. With apps like Remember the Milk™ and Wunderlist, you can create tasks and visually organize them to your liking as well as set priorities, timelines, and even map your tasks to be more efficient with errands. The applications also offer the ability to share tasks and lists with others, allowing you to share with co-workers and your family.

What apps do you use to help organize your life? Let us know in the comments section below.

At Work New Job Tips The Daily Grind Uncategorized

What to Do About an Overwhelming To-Do List

By Rachel Rudisill on Monday, April 15, 2013

THE LIST. That list of things you have to get done or at the least, it’s the list of things you think you have to get done. But do you have the feeling that you’re forgetting something? If you’ve found yourself in a situation where your to-do list is overwhelming, here are a few tips for getting it under control.

When is it Due?
When you find your to-do list is out of control, sometimes you need to just focus on the things that need to be done soon. There is nothing worse than ASAP; it means everything and nothing. Be realistic about when something has to be done, ask for specific clarification, and pay attention to what you’ll need done before you can complete a task. You can’t plan to pack boxes for shipping that afternoon if the products aren’t going to be ready until the next morning. Don’t forget to take team members or other vendors into consideration when figuring out when something needs to be done.

How Long Will it Take?
Sometimes you’ve got three or four tasks on your to-do list that will just take a few minutes and a couple tasks that are going to take much longer. If you find your list overwhelming, and deadlines allow, see if you can take care of a few quick tasks right away. You’ll feel much better after you mark a few things off the list, giving you renewed strength to focus on the more arduous tasks.

Who Else?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Review your list and see if there is anything you can ask for help with or decline. Most people enjoy helping others and find it easier to say yes than no, resulting in a to-do list they can’t keep up with. Also, seek the advice of your manager when prioritizing your to-do list. Don’t assume everything has the same priority level. Check in with your leader to see what expectations or suggestions they have.

What are your best tips for taking control of your to-do list? Share them in the comments section below.

Uncategorized

The Mentor Test

By Rachel Rudisill on Friday, March 29, 2013

You’ve probably heard the benefits of finding a mentor, how they can help with skill development and learning the ropes in the working world. Mentors can offer wonderful advice on how to handle some of the unspoken rules in the business environment, as well as help coach and challenge you in your career.

But you can’t trust just anyone with this role. Here are three things to look for when you’re selecting a mentor.

Find someone you respect.
They could be the hot shot sales rep in your business or the fastest on the production line, but do you respect them? Consider your personal values when selecting a mentor. One person’s style and method for getting to the top may not align with your values and work ethic. Even if you admire someone’s achievements, if you can’t respect the way they reached them, there isn’t any point in making them your mentor.

Find someone you trust.
Once you’ve established a mentoring relationship, you’ll be sharing your challenges and frustrations in order to seek advice and learn. This information is often best kept confidential. If you can’t trust your mentor, you may find yourself holding back or not offering your full side of the story, which then results in a relationship that isn’t as productive as it could be. Your mentor should be someone you can share your failures with so you can get advice and a different perspective – without worrying your story will become office gossip.

Find someone you can mutually learn with.
You’re never done learning, especially in today’s business environment. It’s best to select a mentor who is still working and growing in the business world, someone you can learn from and alongside. This is important when trying to learn how changes in production, financing, communication, and technology will impact your industry. If you have someone who can give you a historical perspective in the industry while going through a transition or change in your job or business, it will provide a unique filter to the situation and give you greater confidence.

Keep in mind, not all mentor relationships are formal. You may learn and take advice from someone on a certain project or at a certain stage in your career, and it won’t be until later that you look back and realize you were being mentored. However, it’s important to make sure you consider the source when taking advice on your career. Hopefully, these three things to check for will be a quick and easy reminder for you to filter guidance through.

What do you look for in a mentor? Share with us in the comments section below.

At Work Career Options New Job Tips The Job Search

Is Writing Code the Must-Have Skill of the Future?

By Rachel Rudisill on Monday, March 25, 2013

With our world and daily life wrapping more around technology, you may want to consider learning to write code. In this video, successful people including Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Bosh and will.i.am discuss the importance of learning code in every industry and why it’s important for jobs of the future. The video – which has already received more than 9 million views – was produced by Code.org, in an effort to emphasize the importance of educational tools that teach code in our schools and offer access to training. So while you may have thought learning Spanish was the best transitional skill for your career, it’s quite possible that learning code is the language that will transcend into every career option.

Have you ever considered learning code? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

At Work Career Advancement

Want to Know How to Get Others to Support Your Idea?

By Rachel Rudisill on Friday, March 15, 2013

So you’ve got a great idea, a wonderful plan to act on and, you’re on your way to success. But you can’t do it alone. You’re going to need the support and approval of your manager and colleagues. Here are some tips for getting the help you need.

Making an Idea a Reality
While your experiences can result in great ideas, it’s best not to work in a vacuum. It will be easier to get others to support and take action on your idea if they can be involved early in the process. This can be as simple as asking for advice and feedback on your idea from a few peers and a mentor, or as formal as holding a brainstorming session to explore your idea and possible alternatives. Perhaps your idea won’t be the final solution, but it could be the catalyst to coming up with the perfect plan. Be open to letting others take hold of your idea and contributing to the overall success.

Gaining Your Manager’s Support
Often working on the front line can give you the experiences and perspective to come up with a great idea. Whether it’s a new product, process, or growth strategy, knowing how to effectively pitch your idea to your manager and leadership team can make all the difference. When sharing your idea, be respectful of the processes currently in place and the people managing those processes. If your idea addresses a challenge or focuses on the technology of the future, make sure you don’t dwell on the shortcomings you see in the current situation or process. Remember that your leadership team has invested time and talent into taking the business to this point. It’s key to demonstrate how your idea builds on their successful history.

Including Your Team
When it comes time to put your plan into action, recognize the impact it can have on your teammates. If your idea leads to a change in processes or implementation of new technology, try not to take it personal if there are some bumps along the way. Additionally, as others help implement your idea there could be changes to your plan. It’s important to stay focused on the overall success of the business without getting caught up in the details. And while celebrating your accomplishment is certainly deserved, don’t keep the spotlight on yourself. Share your success with your co-workers, those who helped formulate the plan, and those who put it into action. Remember, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Do you have a great story to share on how one of your big ideas came to life? Include it in the comments section.