Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Up in the Cloud Trends to Watch

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Up in the Cloud Trends to Watch By the end of 2015, 82 percent of organizations had adapted a cloud strategy, up from 74 percent in 2014. Cloud computing adoption is expected to hit $250 billion by 2017, but where is this segment of the IT industry going? We compiled a list of five major, influencing trends to keep your eyes on. Trend #1: Cloud Automation Last year, business-level automation of the cloud emerged, being driven by what Joe Kinsella at Cloud Tech called the “complexity gap”, where the complexity of the building and managing of cloud infrastructure is outpacing the ability of management software and services to contain it. “The future of the cloud will not be DevOps engineers writing low-level scripts to automate parts of our infrastructure,” he said. “Instead it will be business-level automation, with enterprises inputting the policies by which they want their business systems managed and smart software executing these policies in support of the business.” Trend #2: Security In Solutions Review, Brad Schulteis at Rackspace and Aaron Newman at CloudChekr commented on the significant security challenges facing the cloud in 2016. “We have failed to move beyond antiquated security analysis frameworks, and it’s still far too common to be required to document physical locations, IP addresses, and host names as a part of security assessments and audits,” said Schulteis. “We need to stop collectively treating cloud computing as IT outsourcing or server colocation and fully embrace the dynamic nature of the cloud.” Newman added that the cloud has introduced the biggest challenge to security in a decade. “Organizations will continue to need to properly implement network, operating system, and database security, but the cloud has characteristics that make the old methodologies and tools ineffective,” he said. “It’s ephemeral, elastic, and auto-scaling, and this makes everything from intrusion detection to vulnerability management to perimeter assessment very different.” Trend #3: Innovation According to Joe McKendrick in his recent article for Forbes, 2016 will be the year we’ll see a solidification of cloud computing’s role as a gateway to new things â€" and not just as the latest IT strategy. “Thanks to cloud, there will be many things people will be able to do that they simply couldn’t do before. They will be able to experiment, to test, and to pull data and applications from many sources,” he said. “One area where cloud really is laying the groundwork for innovation is in the Internet of Things space. Let’s face it, without cloud, there would be no IoT, just a bunch of Things.” For more, head over to the QuickBase Fast Track blog.

Resume Writing - How a Team Can Help Resume Writing Teams Reach Their Goals

Resume Writing - How a Team Can Help Resume Writing Teams Reach Their GoalsJob-seekers often do not realize that resume writing is a team effort. You are only responsible for your own work and you should collaborate with the rest of the team members to reach your goal.Team members should be hired on the basis of their skills and specific knowledge. It is also important to determine who will take responsibility for writing a resume. The one responsible for writing a resume must be part of the team. This will enable the team leader to focus on his task as well as being able to ask questions about the company's policies.By creating a mentor, the team members are able to share their ideas about the career goals and skills they can offer. Team members are able to bring additional insight. Asking questions to the team is an important aspect of the resume writing process. Every member of the team should be given a list of things to include in their resume. The candidate should ensure that h e understands the purpose of each item.When hiring the resume writing team, the first question should be why the team member is necessary. The reason will dictate the resume writing process. Another consideration should be the level of skills needed by the team members. A stronger qualification should be the deciding factor as to whether the position can be filled by the team members or not.There are several benefits that come with hiring a resume writing team leader. It can lead to saving money, time and energy. It can also reduce the risks of mistakes and time delays. Team leaders are also good at communicating the team members' ideas.Resume writing and collaboration should be handled with care. While collaboration is vital, the individual resumes should be written to suite the individual needs of the team leader. Team leaders should understand the basics of resume writing. If the team leader cannot understand the team members' ideas, the team leader should communicate with the te am members.Resume writing is a team effort. A resume is a comprehensive document that spells out a person's work experience, educational qualifications, skills and so on. Resume writing teams often include a resume writer, a cover letter writer, a proofreader and a business analyst. Each team member should be focused on their particular role.The potential candidates who want to join the team should also be well-versed with the team leader. There should be a clear-cut chain of command. The resume writing team should provide the leadership and support required to reach the goals of the company.

How to be a tall person at work

How to be a tall person at work The Institute of Social and Economic Research recently published a study about the connection between popularity in high school and earning power later in life. New York magazine, information source to the rich and popular, summarized the study like this: This study may seem to burst our Revenge of the Nerds fantasies, but its logical that people who are attractive, likable, and socially comfortable?the class officers, the cheerleaders?should get ahead in corporate settings. There is absolutely irrefutable data to support the idea that good-looking people do better in life than everyone else. Gordon Patzer, in his book, Looks, draws from a wide body of research to describe the advantaged life of a good-looking person from the time they are a baby (good-looking babies get better parenting) to the time they are in sales (the whole sales team performs better if there are more good-looking people on the team.) As a result, I have jumped on the plastic surgery bandwagon. Super-smarty Chelsea Clinton got plastic surgery before she entered the work world. We should all do that. And while I havent taken my own advice, I do find myself pinching and pulling at my nose to see what it would look like after a $10,000 investment. But wait. Before you take out a loan to straighten your nose, maybe you should just start thinking like a tall person. Being good-looking means having the right mix of a lot of things, and for you, being tall might be the final keystone to hold it all in place. (Wondering if youre already tall? Fast Company has the answer: over 63 for men and over 59 for women, which, by the way, makes me half-an-inch into the land of the tall.) Tall people make $789 more per inch per year, and are 90% more likely to ascend to the CEO chairs of Fortune 500 Companies, according to Arianne Cohen, author of The Tall Book. She scoured the sociology, psychology and workplace research to determine why tall people succeed (she herself is 63). And Cohen discovered that the behaviors tall people display can be mimicked by anyone in order to get the career benefits of being tall. Heres what Cohen says to do, based on the research shes gathered: Be unforgettable. Due to evolutionary programming, when a tall guy walks into a meeting, everyone registers that hes there, and remembers what he says. This is a huge boon for someone whos also an ambitious, talented worker. So be noticeable. Figure out a way that when you walk in the room, everyone registers it. You can do that through interesting (but professional) clothing, cracking jokes when you walk in, etc. Act like the boss. Tall children, from a very young age, are deemed the leader of their friends. Other little kids literally look up to them and often treat them as they would a slightly older child, and as a result, theyre more likely to function as the leader for the rest of their life. Even as interns, other office workers give them the physical space and attention usually reserved for a leader. So act like a leader. Find a way to look down on coworkers. Literally. An eye cast down is a really powerful behavior its the bodys way of signaling a power imbalance in your favor, and you can create that power imbalance with some attention to your positioning. Thus, stand whenever you can when coworkers are sitting, and avoid walk-and-talks and casual standing around the office where coworkers are looking down at you. Guard your personal space. Close friends hold conversations 18 apart; friends 2-3 apart, and bosses and employees four feet apart. Coworkers naturally give tall people four-or-more feet, which means that from the beginning, theyre treated with boss-like reverence. You can mimic this body language simply send out the physical vibe of professionalism, not chumminess, even in casual conversation. Youll see that people step back, and give you more space. Dont be shy. Tall people often build an oversize personality to fit their oversize bodies. In the workplace tall people are more likely to yell or make demands or pull off a tongue-in-cheek toast to the boss. Socially, they take chances, and those chances are rewarded. Focus on image rather than competence. Tall people arent actually better workers, but in surveys, their bosses think they are. Which means that though competence matters, the perception of competence matters much more. So stop spending so much time on your work, and start spending more time on this list of ways to look tall.

Should I Buy My Boss a Gift How to Give Gifts in the Office

Should I Buy My Boss a Gift How to Give Gifts in the Office Have you ever had a problem thanking someone in the office? Knowing the right people may be able to get you that position, promotion, or that connection that you need to make things happen for your career. However, showing appreciation in the office environment is incredibly tricky. How do you do it without crossing the line to unprofessional territory, or raising your co-worker’s eyebrows? RULE 1. KEEP IT SMALL AND THOUGHTFUL. Here’s a good rule. Buy something meaningful as oppose to something expensive, something that relates to position, interest, or shared event. Something expensive can seem like you are over reaching and trying too hard to please. The goal behind gift giving is showing gratitude, not showing bank. Sincere yet not overly personal. RULE 2. DISCRETION WILL SERVE BOTH OF YOU GOOD. It is best to give the gift with discretion. Not that you are trying to hide it from the world because you have an ulterior motive (that’s called a bribe). You just don’t want to appear like you are gloating about being given a favor or showing appreciation for it. Keep the buzz to a minimum. RULE 3. NEVER EVER CASH.  If you’re not a boss giving bonuses or incentives don’t dare.   Even if you get him one of these great gifts, it is better than cash. Sure it’s convenient but I think cash is a bit inappropriate as any form of gift to anyone anyway. If you really have to, try a gift card with a humble, reasonable amount. RULE 4. TANGIBLE IS BEST. A favor or an IOU is a big NO NO. Keep it as mental note and offer it freely when the moment arises, but never voice it out. Can’t afford a gift for now? Write a modest thank you note. RULE 5. NO EXPECTATIONS. Sincerity is about not expecting anything in return. Give with heart and true gratitude, not as a strategy. Gift giving in the professional world is not as hard as you think. Follow these 5 rules and you will have both a great and APPROPRIATE token of appreciation for anyone in the office. Do you have any other tips or want to share your experience with giving gifts in the office? Tweet us @mscareergirl or comment below!

What Are the Important Reasons Why You Should Include Your Extracurricular Activities Resume in Your Resume?

What Are the Important Reasons Why You Should Include Your Extracurricular Activities Resume in Your Resume?Extracurricular activities are included in the curriculum of almost all schools and colleges. Therefore, they must be included in your resume. There are hundreds of reasons why extracurricular activities are important. The most important is the fact that they provide students with a variety of skills and qualities that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to develop or use.First of all, it is very important for students to realize that these things can have a profound effect on their future. When a student realizes this, it will help them in understanding that their future should be focused on something other than their current studies. They should try to pursue this further, as this can be very rewarding.A second important reason why these activities are vital is because they give the students the opportunity to make friends. This is especially true for the younger on es. It is quite natural for a young child to want to join a sports team. It is a great idea for them to know that they are not alone when it comes to forming friendships.Moreover, the students can make friends with other students who participate in the activities that they are involved in. These people may be at the same level as them, but are not at the same level as they are. It can be quite helpful for a student to have these friends.However, it is important for the students to realize that there is a limit to what these activities can do for them. They can get close friends from a school club or organization. However, these friendships may not last long as they do not have the kind of abilities that the others have.A student has to be extremely careful about how they handle their extracurricular activities resume. There are some things that you must avoid, including making a false statement. One example of a false statement is to say that you were a member of an international te rrorist group. You will definitely make a bad impression on potential employers.Moreover, students should avoid making empty claims when it comes to their extracurricular activities resume. They should instead be prepared to back up these claims with facts and figures. If they fail to do so, they will be providing employers with a very low impression.In conclusion, make sure that your extracurricular activities resume is as detailed as possible. It is vital that you know everything about your school, which includes memberships and activities. If you are not sure about certain things, do not hesitate to ask someone else who is knowledgeable in the field.

5 Resources for your College Grad Job Search - CareerAlley

5 Resources for your College Grad Job Search - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Dont be irreplaceable. If you cant be replaced, you cant be promoted. Unknown Half way through the summer and no job prospects? Parents on your back (of course they are thinking about your $200,000+ college education)? You are not alone. Some of my friends kids are now home from college having graduated a few short months ago. With very few exceptions, most of them have jobs (at the moment) that do not require a college degree. Jobs like, working in the local movie theater, working in a liqueur store or working for a local retail store. Of course all of these jobs are better than not working at all. But I suspect that these individuals are not focused in their job search. Even in the most difficult of times, there are many more entry level jobs then there are experienced hire jobs. So whats the point? Looking for a job is not easy. For many, it is more difficult than college. The truth is that for most of us, we really have no clue how to look for a job. In reality, the time you put in is directly related to what you will get out of it. Like most things in lif e, you need to invest some time and effort to see the results. Job search is much the same. Lots of time up front but results start to come in after the initial investment. What Every New Grad Needs to Know About Employment Agencies Posted on Bestcollegesonline.com, this is a great article for college grads or anyone who is attempting to use employment agencies (recruiters) for the first time. The article not only help you choose agencies that match your requirements, but also provides a warning for those that are less than above board (if it sounds to good to be true . . . ). The article also explains how to get the best out of the agency as well as how agencies work. There are related articles at the bottom of the page, take a look. 48 Essential LinkedIn Tips Your Teachers Wont Tell You LinkedIn has become, by far, one of the most important job search tools. Besides tracking contacts, LinkedIns posted jobs and high profile with recruiters makes it a must have for anyone who is seriously looking for a job. This article, posted on Onlinecolleges.net, provides a bunch (48 to be exact) of great tips to ensure you leverage the site. And, not only are the tips good, but each tip has an embedded link to a more detailed article for that tip. Dont forget to take a look at the related posts at the bottom of the page. 10 tools every new college grad needs to land a first job Most job searchers think that all they need is a good resume to get a job. This is not accurate and for recent grads, all the more difficult since their resume is a work in progress. This article, posted on Nativetimes.com, provides 10 tools that will help in your job search. Some of the items (like letters of recommendation) are standard, but many of the tips are just as important and often overlooked. A short and concise article, definitely worth the read. CollegeGrad.com No college grad job search is complete if youve not leveraged this site (and the one following below). This is one of the best sites for entry level job search. There is a link at the top left hand side of the page for their job search center. The top of the page has tabs for Top Employers, Top Jobs, Top Careers and more. Move further down the page an you will find a link to the 2011 Top Entry Level Employers Survey (a very powerful tool which lists top employers with links to their site). There are a bunch of links on the left hand side of the page which will also help you with your search. Collegerecruiter.com I would be remiss if I did not list Collegerecruiter.com, which is another site that is a must have for college grads looking for a job. Top of the site is a job search box (there are over 2,500,000 jobs posted and no, this is not a misprint) where you can do a quick search or use their advanced search. Newest job postings are on the left hand side of the page and there are links at the top of the page for Job Seekers as well as Advice and Resources. Definitely take a look at the Advice and Resources, which has links to tons of resources (like Best Places to Work and Resume Builder to name two). Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook

Simple ways to deal with your difficult boss at work - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Simple ways to deal with your difficult boss at work In an ideal scenario, where there is always a happy ending, we all would come across a boss who is one of the best as a person and as a senior colleague. He would have helped us achieve great success at work and is someone who would open doors for us in terms of growth and development. Everyone wishes to ride on a fairy tale like this, but seldom do we come across bosses who are genuinely that good. It is a known fact that one has to deal with bad bosses more than the good ones in their professional career. However, anyway, whether it’s a good boss or a bad one, you have to adapt sometimes. If you have received a bad boss, whether it’s his anger issues or the management ones, you have to deal with it. Either you quit your job and become someone who runs away or you fight and face the challenge. The benefit of facing the challenge is you will learn more and grow faster than the others with the ability to work with difficult people, which is a rare one. Whatever your reason for adjusting with your boss is, it is going to make you a stronger professional and this is why you should try and manage with a difficult boss. Today’s blog is going to suggest some simple yet effective ways to help you manage and work with a difficult boss. Observe the behavior and find common patterns Your boss gets way too angry easily, doesn’t want to work on small things or hates to socialize? First, find out the problem that makes your boss a bad boss according to you. Whether it’s his discipline you do not like, his way of recognizing work, what exactly is it that makes him an undesirable boss? Eliminate negativity and identify your boss’s motivation No matter how bad is your boss, he must be motivated and get happy with something, whether it’s good food, good work, and discipline or business development. Now that you have found out both good and bad aspects, try to eliminate all the negativity and work on your boss’s motivation. 9 times out of 10, you should be able to easily motivate your boss and this will always keep him happy. Work on changing his behavior When you have found what kicks him and what annoys him, slowly and eventually work towards changing his behavior. Very subtly you should experiment and see if your plan is working, this way you will very soon change your boss to something he really was not before. Focus on work If you do great work, even your bad boss will be forced to like you because you become an important resource for him and the company. So never let any negativity affect your work at the end of the day, your actions and performances should be so strong that it forces your boss to show some casual and good side of him. This is the way smart employees work and fix their bosses. Author Bio Rick Hoffman is the author of this blog post. Rick works as a human resource manager at a firm in Australia. He likes to stay online and advise people on various issues from the site Dissertation-House. Rick also available at FacebookTwitterGplus.