8 Basic Tech Skills Every Employee Should Have

8 Basic Tech Skills Every Employee Should Have Being tech-savvy is no longer unique, its universal. Some people may be more comfortable around technology than others, and that might depend on your profession. We get that, but every professional nowadays must have a degree of technological sophistication to them. To some of you reading this, the basic skills Im about to list might already be second nature to you, and that is what I expected. Remember I put basic in the title for a reason. But if youre one of those feeling incomplete when it comes to workplace tech, then have a read through this article and you might find a missing skill that changes the way you work for the better. 1. Social media savviness No matter what role you are in, in todays climate it is vital to be social media-savvy. The most vital platforms to become familiar with are  ones you probably already use socially; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Having the ability to share information, and engage with clients, customers and future prospects are vital for any and every employee. Its a two-way street that benefits both yourself  and your business as a whole. 2. Spreadsheeting On to the more boring stuff, having the ability to use spreadsheets effectively is a trait that companies look for. Whatever sector  you are in, you will need to store  vital company information whatever it may be, from contact information to research calculations. If you cant navigate yourself through Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, then get to learning! Here are the  7 Excellent Ways to Excel at Excel. 3. Presentation skills Most employers will assume you know how to create presentations either for clients or internal use. It doesnt matter if you operate in a B2B or B2C company, the ability to create visually compelling work is integral to the modern workplace. There is a multiplicity of tech tools available to you either on Google Suite or Microsoft Office that you can utilize. 4. Word processing This may be the most basic skill. But, learning how to type properly is very important as youll find that most work is done digitally now. Make sure you know to utilize basic formatting such as  bold,  italics, and  underlining effectively. There are plenty of free word processing tutorials online to help you brush up your skills and make your content look more attractive and readable. 5. Touch typing If you still use three fingers to type then we feel sorry for you. Having the ability to touch type means you dont  waste time looking at your keyboard. Employers will not appreciate a candidate that isnt a natural with the keyboard, as computers have become a necessity in the workplace. If need be, use a free online program like Ratatype or Keyhero to improve your touch typing ability. 6. Keyboard shortcuts Learning all the basic keyboard shortcuts of the system you use, either for Apple or Microsoft PCs, can save you a lot of time. Shortcuts such as copying, pasting, printing, window switching, bookmarking and more can make you a much productive worker. To get to know what shortcuts are available, check out these shortcuts listed by  Windows and Apple. 7. Emailing Ill repeat, the title of this article is about the basics, and email truly has become one of the staples of workplace technology. Knowing how to email professionally is everything. The email is the contact hub for almost all workplaces, and it is the main way for you to contact clients, customers, and co-workers. We recommend you get to know all the basics of sending out an email, such as how to compose or format an email, or even creating an email signature for yourself. An article we previously wrote called the  12 Professional Email Etiquette Guidelines might help you do just that. 8. Staying with the times Last but not least, I know this isnt an actual skill but it is very important you keep an open mind when it comes to technology. Just because you are used to doing something one way, does not mean you cant do it better another way. Furthermore, there is no longer an excuse to not being tech-savvy, these tech skills should be second nature to you. Without them, you are limiting yourself as a professional, and limiting the business you work for. Employers all around the world have a high demand for these basic tech skills. If weve missed any basics that you cant do without, then comment below and let people know!

5 American Hiring Trends to Watch in 2017

5 American Hiring Trends to Watch in 2017 The hiring outlook for 2017 is the best the U.S. has seen in a decade with 2 in 5 employers (40 percent) planning to hire full-time, permanent employees over the next 12 months, according to CareerBuilder’s annual job forecast. 3 in 10 expect to hire part-time, permanent staff, while half of all employers anticipate adding temporary or contract workers. The national survey, conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder from November 16 to December 6, 2016, also indicates that employers will offer better wages, place emphasis on candidates’ soft skills and reach out to candidates via texts to invite them for job interviews. It included a representative sample of 2,391 hiring managers and human resources professionals across industries and company sizes. Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder says: Three in four employers reported that they are in a better financial position than they were a year ago, which is instilling more confidence in adding people to their payrolls. Following a divisive election season, employers are entering the New Year with a watchful, yet optimistic approach. One of the key challenges for employers will be bridging the talent gaps within their own organizations by either offering better wages or by helping to re-skill and up-skill workers. Trump administration’s impact on jobs When asked for their opinion on how the Trump administration will impact hiring in 2017, 23 percent of employers said the new administration would increase jobs while 27 anticipated no impact. 7  percent said they expect jobs to decrease while 43 percent were undecided. Full-time and part-time, permanent hiring The amount of employers planning to hire full-time, permanent staff in the New Year increased 4  percentage points from 36 percent in 2016 to 40 percent in 2017. Employers in information technology were the most likely to say they were adding new employees at 56 percent, a notable 12 percentage point gain over the prior year. 8 percent of employers across industries expect a decline in staff levels in 2017, an improvement from 10 percent last year. 44 percent anticipated no change while 9 percent were unsure. In terms of part-time employment, 30 percent of employers expect to increase their number of part-time, permanent employees in 2017, up from 26 percent last year. Temporary and contract hiring The demand for temporary labor will continue to be strong as employers strive to have more flexibility in their staff levels. 51  percent of employers plan to hire temporary or contract workers in 2017, an increase from 47 percent last year. 63  percent of employers plan to transition some temporary or contract workers into permanent roles in 2017, up from 58 percent last year. Five trends to watch in 2017 Among key trends shaping the job seeker experience this year are: Companies will be under pressure to offer higher pay â€" Two-thirds of employers (66 percent) plan to increase salaries on initial job offers; 30 percent of all employers will increase it by 5 percent or more. Nearly half (47 percent) of employers expect to increase the minimum wage at their organizations and, of these employers, 44 percent will increase it by $3 or more; 20 percent will increase it by $5 or more. Job seekers will need to emphasize their soft skills â€"When evaluating who they will hire in 2017, 62 percent of employers rated the candidate’s soft skills as very important (i.e, skills associated with one’s personality such as positive attitude, team-oriented or dependable). Employers will communicate with candidates via text â€" 41 percent of employers said they will follow a recent trend and reach out to candidates via text messages to schedule interviews. Workers in general will need to become more savvy on social media â€" 63 percent of employers said they expect employees across job functions to have some experience with social media. More companies will be open to hiring workers who are short on experience â€" 55 percent of employers said they will train workers who don’t have experience in their field and hire them in 2017. Hot areas for hiring Of employers who plan to increase their number of full-time, permanent employees in the New Year, the top five areas they will be recruiting for include: Information Technology â€" 28 percent Customer Service â€" 27 percent Production â€" 26 percent Sales â€" 25 percent Administrative â€" 24 percent See the infographic below courtesy of CareerBuilder  for the full annual jobs forecast for 2017.

The Difference Between Job Seekers And Successful Job Seekers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Difference Between Job Seekers And Successful Job Seekers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Picture it. Sicily, 1942. If you’ve ever seen “The Golden Girls” a flashback of Estelle Getty as Sophia telling her famous stories likely just ran through your head. She was a great storyteller as are many of my six aunts. Just last week, while mourning the loss of my dear Uncle Joe, my Aunt Joan told me that brewing two tea bags, draining them and then letting them sit on my eyes for 2-3 minutes would remove the swelling from the past three days of crying. It worked like a charm. Check your ego Successful job seekers check their ego at the door, as one of my college professors put it. They seek out those who have had success landing jobs in this uber competitive market, in their industry and in their profession. There’s a lack of arrogance, which allows a successful job seeker to approach career industry professionals (e.g. career coaches, resume writers, interview coaches) to seek out the resources they need to land a new position â€" faster and easier than others. Network, network, network If this were a game of real estate it would be all about location, location, location. This, however, is a game of job hunting and it’s about networking, networking, networking. In over 10 years of coaching professionals in career transition, this has remained a constant. According to ABC News, 80% of today’s jobs are landed through networking. If you network, and reach for a goal of three in-person meetings per week, that forward your search and have mutual benefit, you will be a successful job seeker. Understanding the purpose of networking is as important as doing the activity. Follow a strategic plan Every company from Google to Groupon has a strategic plan and so do successful job seekers. Unsuccessful job seekers take the shotgun approach and spread resumes all over the market without any rhyme or reason creating a lack of focus and mass confusion. The opposite effect, focused results and success in your search, is created by developing a strategic plan and following it closely. As Franklin Covey wisely said, Begin with the end in mind. It also does wonders to keep you motivated as you’ll be able to see marked progress each week and month working with your plan in place. Author: Adriana Llames is a veteran career coach and acclaimed author of Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game, released with top book seller Amazon.com. She is creator of   “HR In-A-Box,” a Human Resources software product helping small businesses across America and a professional keynote speaker motivating and inspiring audiences with her focused programs on “9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”, “Confessions of a Career Coach” and “Nice Girls End Up on Welfare.” For more information, visit www.adrianallames.com

How to Negotiate Anything Fearlessly

How to Negotiate Anything Fearlessly Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'c5fay_vKTtFV65BoZAuYKg',sig:'5VZbDtW0FeWLgJKFMeBp8ijzF2gmpNEfQYOFMGHy9Sw=',w:'486px',h:'353px',items:'481510165',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Michael Donaldson is the author of Fearless Negotiating: The Wish, Want, Walk Method to Reaching Solutions That Work. He says in the introduction that he wrote this book for: anyone who is feeling a bit unsure going into a negotiation anyone who feels beaten up after a negotiating session anyone who feels that they could have or should have done better in their last negotiation anyone who wants to say Yes to the master negotiator within each and every one of us Negotiating a job offer is one of the scariest moments in your job search, ironically, since it’s also the much hoped for culmination of your journey. Donaldson’s Wish-Want-Walk method is designed to put everyone at ease as they approach a negotiation. It’s even more effective because of the simplicity of its design. To prepare for any negotiation, Donaldson writes, you must first prepare â€" in writing â€" your list. The Wish is your goalâ€"your dream resultâ€"the way you would have things turn out if you didnt have to negotiate with anyone, ask anyones permission, or seek anyones approval. It is the way the world would be if you controlled the world. Donaldson recommends that you aim high and that you wrote down all your wishes. That way, you won’t be distracted in the middle of a negotiation by a new idea of what you’d like. The written plan’s purpose is to keep you focused and prepared at all phases of the deal. Your Want is the place where you think the negotiation is most likely to end up on the basis of all the facts and circumstances in the situation. In other words, this is the likely compromise outcome. You might hope for a $65,000 offer, but you understand through research that it’s more likely come in closer to $60,000. Your Walk Away point is just that: the point at which you bow out of the negotiation you are in and move on. Be sure to establish your Walk Away point before you walk into the negotiating room. This is where your true power in the negotiation lies, Donaldson writes. “Having a well-defined Walk-Away point levels the playing field no matter how unbalanced the bargaining power may appear to an outsider. The reason is simple: The other side would not be in the room with you unless you had something they wanted. They may want it a little or they may want it a lot, but they want it or they wouldnt be there.” With your Walk Away point defined, you have decided before you start the negotiation that you will not give up the things they want unless they make it worth your while and you have decided exactly what that means. They can yell and scream and threaten and cajole, but they are not getting what they want unless they meet a certain threshold price. Thats power.” Understanding what you want, what you realistically expect to happen, and your walk away point can give you the confidence to enter any negotiation. One of the ways in which we give up power in negotiations, Donaldson says, is that we let fear guide our actions. He writes that FEAR is simply False Evidence Appearing Real. He writes, “Believing the other person has all the power or believing that bad things will happen if you put your own desires on the table or believing that your world will come to an end if you walk away from a negotiation are all pieces of false evidence.” You have power in every negotiation, because you always have options. They may not be ideal outcomes, but you have the power to decide for yourself. How do you feel about negotiation? Have you used these tactics? Leave a comment and let me know.

The Benefits of Interactive Resume Writing

The Benefits of Interactive Resume WritingThe term 'interactive resume writing' describes a way of making the document more interesting. There are some basic principles that can be used when it comes to interactive resume writing. It will involve creating a story line that makes it interesting and the reader will want to continue reading through the entire document.When it comes to interactivity, an interactive resume is something that you must always remember. You must be able to stay on topic. As a matter of fact, the point of the resume is not to highlight your work experience, but to let the employer know why you are the right candidate for the job. The story should be engaging and should get the reader to read through the whole document.It is quite possible that you can be one of those who write very long documents but you still do not know how to write them properly. You will want to take care of your resume writing to make sure that your resume will impress any potential emplo yer. This is where interactive resume writing becomes a necessity.You will want to make sure that you are thinking like the employer. You should keep in mind that the reason that you are applying for the job is to advance your career and to make it to the next level. You should never think that the reason you are applying for the job is to get that promotion. You should be the person who has a solid track record and is truly motivated to move up the corporate ladder.It is highly recommended that you write your resume in an engaging way. You do not have to be an expert in writing to be able to write an interactive resume. In fact, you should take this opportunity to learn how to use software to enhance your writing skills.It can make the difference between the success and failure of your resume. The first thing that you need toremember is that you do not want to spend a lot of time on the resume. In fact, you should consider having it read over several times to make sure that you did not miss anything. The time spent on the resume should be about fifteen minutes or less.You should try to highlight the different experiences that you have had. To make it interesting, you can include photos or videos. You may also want to include a testimonial that you might have written by including the resource box at the end of the document.When it comes to using a resume writer to help you with your resume, you will want to make sure that they use different formats. They can use MS Word, which is free. You can also use templates and even enter text manually to make sure that it looks and feels different from the resume that you would normally write.

Networking Equals Relationships

Networking Equals Relationships What is networking anyway? Plain and simple: networking is about relationships! Dont be turned off by the term. Learn how to use your existing relationships to help you network.   Based on your relationships with people you already gather information, acquire recommendations, find out interesting things, uncover solutions, and the list goes on! Heres how to use your relationships to acquire information that will help your job search. Your Existing Network (aka Friends, Family, neighbors, colleagues, etc) Lets keep it simple.   You already have a list of people you know. These are your friends, family, neighbors or the people you know well.   This is your current network.   These people care about you and your well-being.   Have you ever asked any of them for the name of a good electrician, or what kind of car they drive or their favorite restaurant? Why? Because the thought of pulling a name out of directory is risky.   You want something reliable at a fair price and you trust the recommendation of someone you know. Right? What you were doing was looking for information! You were looking for their help! Now use these people to help you! These are a few ideas: Tell them specifically what type of job you are looking for and ask if their company is hiring or they know of a company hiring for that role. Ask for their recommendation on good companies to work for. Ask if they know anyone who works inside a company you are interested in working for or are about to apply to. Your Extended Professional Network This network is comprised of people you may have only interacted with professionally. They could be vendors, suppliers, customers or even competitors.   They could be people you have served on committees with. You do have a relationship with these people.   If you called any of them on the phone they would recognize your name!   Have you ever asked anyone in this set of connections for advice, recommendations, information?   If so, youve networked! Try asking them these questions: What companies are growing right now? What skills do you need to highlight to be in-demand in their field? Is there anyone else you would suggest I speak to for more information on whats happening in our field? Who Else Do You Need In Your Network? We all can benefit from growing our network. So who are the people you want to meet? Create a list of people you would like to meet. They could be movers and shakers in your industry.   It could be a person whose name comes up frequently in conversation. Here is some help:   Tips for creating your networking bucket list As you write down names, also write down WHY you want to meet these people. Networking is so misunderstood! I keep writing about networking because it is so misunderstood by those new to job search.   If you consider yourself to be the owner of your own business (Me, Inc!) then maybe you would understand the power and importance of building a more targeted network.

5 Reasons to Become an Electrician - CareerAlley

5 Reasons to Become an Electrician - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. The world now-a-days is dependent on technology. As a consequence, there are more technological products that are being developed every day. There is as high rise in the demand for careers that are related to this industry, careers such as electrician and I.T. experts. Aside from technology, we are also dependent on electricity. Without electricity, technology will be of no use to us. To maintain and to repair the electrical system of your home and work, you need the expertise of an electrician. Here are the things that might encourage you to consider this profession for a future career. The Pay One of the things that come to mind when we talk about careers is the pay. Does this career offer a good pay? Does an electrician receive a good pay? This matter rests on different factors. If you are planning to become an electrician and you want a high rate for your salary, then you have these factors to consider: 1) If youre under a contractor or not. Those who have worked under a contractor tend to have lower rates than those who worked independently. 2) Number of years in the service and the quality of service. If you have worked in the industry for a long time and have an established reputation, chances are youll receive a fat check at the end of the day. And, 3) the type of work and the level of license you hold also determine the rate of salary. The annual rate for licensed electricians ranges from $ 32,000 to 35,000. However, to those who are already established in the field, they earn up to $80,000 per year. High Demands for Licensed Electricians Due to the fast growing changes in technology, there rises the problem on the shortage of skilled electricians. And if you think that this will only last for a short while, then you have to think again. There will always be a need for individuals who have the ability to install, maintain, and repair electrical systems. A Challenging Profession Dealing with electricity can be a tricky business. However if you are an individual who wants just that kind of thrill, then this just might be the job for you. Being an electrician, you have to have the ability to think quickly and provide solutions to the problems that deal with electricity. Being an electrician means interpreting different electrical diagrams and layouts. The Working Environment An electrician isnt tied down to the four walls of an office. The job requires them to go to different settings, residential or commercial. This opportunity to set off to different places is one of the best things of being an electrician. They dont have to work at the same place every day. Lifetime Career Aside from those mentioned above, being an electrician can be a lifetime career too. There will always be a demand for these types of professionals, since technology and the need to use electricity grow constantly every day. From those mentioned above, is it still a wonder why some choose this career path despite the rigors of the job and the training? Additional Resources:Electricians Leeds Suggested Reading: How to Become an Electrician We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search