Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom The Intersection of Brexit and the Digital World

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom The Intersection of Brexit and the Digital World For the last few months, Brexit â€" or the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union â€" has dominated global news coverage. But for those of us concerned with digital transformation, are there practical implications? Here, digital transformation expert Mark Skilton from Warwick Business School sounds off on the challenges and opportunities in a disrupted world. Digital transformation + Brexit = what, exactly? This was the question that last month, I set out to answer for our readers. Mark Skilton is a Professor of Practice in Warwick Business School’s Information Systems and Management Group. Also a private consultant with an incredible website and two very informative books, (Building Digital Ecosystem Architectures: A Guide to Enterprise Architecting Digital Technologies in the Digital Enterprise, 2016) and Building the Digital Enterprise: A Guide to Constructing Monetization Models Using Digital Technologies (2015)), Skilton could very well be THE global expert on this topic. London was known as the digital capital of Europe. What was the state of digital transformation in the UK prior to Brexit? The UK has a long history of being a leader in digital creativity and innovation. Several of the leading global creative agencies are based in the UK, and new entrepreneurial initiatives are attracted all the time â€" as witnessed by theSilicon Roundaboutin London’s Shoreditch district and the Cambridge hubSilicon Fen. We also have huge international companies, including Unilever,Proctor Gamble, and MasterCard, expanding their digital footprints. Digital technology has transformed the way the private sector functions in UK companies of all sizes. Always-connected, socially engaged, multi-channel markets have influenced the local, regional, country, and international supply chains, as well as sector automation, job creation, employment productivity and GVA (gross value-added, or the measure of the value of goods and services produced in an area, industry or sector of an economy). Overall, how do you think Brexit will affect digital transformation efforts, both within the UK and the global economy? The UK relationship to the EU and to global digital transformation will evolve in several areas, including relationships, cybersecurity, andcompetitive innovation. EU legislation such as the General Data Protection Regulation (to be introduced by May 2018) will still need to be honored from the standpoint of privacy and consensus rights if this becomes a mandatory trade position. The new UK surveillance bill seeking mandatory access to company and consumer data through “back door” methods will be a legal issue for other countries. National security and corporate cyber protection will still need cross border collaboration in governments and industry, and the UK will continue to be a leader in this field. Digital transformation will enable greater online trading access. One Brexit-related issue is whether barriers to stock trading to the EU will result in a flight of both skilled talent and corporate headquarters to mainland Europe.This remains difficult to predict. But Brexit may also present a huge opportunity for the UK to seek digital transformation investment and competitive new models within the EU and other countries not defined by EU conditions. We will still require the right human skills to create knowledge capital and financial investment to fund digital transformation.Aleksi Aaltonen, Assistant Professor in Information Systems Management at Warwick Business School, recently wrote about Brexit’s impact on startup entrepreneurship. He discussed the critical need for technology skills possessed by the migrant workforce and the problem of the proposed £35,000 earnings threshold for migrants living in the UK. Access to EU innovation investments, including the H2020 fund of 80 billion euros, may be a casualty of the Brexit. If the UK cannot participate in these programs, we may not attract high-caliber members of the academic and scientific communities to work here. However, the EU’s efforts to form public/private partnerships that can effectively compete against Asia and the U.S. have not really come to fruition. Ironically, a UK outside the EU block may be a better way for this country to build global digital scale and to help the EU move toward a better integrated market. For the rest of Marks interview, check out the QuickBase Fast Track blog.

10 Essential Online Tools To Improve Business Writing Skills

10 Essential Online Tools To Improve Business Writing Skills It’s crucial that your  writing is clear and accurate when writing emails and work-related reports. If you’re already a sensational writer, then great for you! But if you need a little guidance, these 10 tools will help you improve your writing. 10 Essential Online Tools To Improve Your Business Writing Skills 1.  Read-Able Read-Able evaluates your writing and gives you a readability score. It tells you at what grade level most people would be able to understand your writing. You want to aim for a low grade level, like 6th or 7th grade. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that your writing will be “dumbed down.” It just means that the structure will make sense to younger people. 2.  Help.PlagTracker Plagiarism is simply not acceptable in business (or anywhere, really). Help.plagtracker.com will scan your business files to make sure they are completely original. If for any reason they aren’t, the site can rewrite those parts to make them unique. 3.  Dragon Dictation If you have a large document to write and you want to save some time, write it out using Dragon Dictation. The software lets you speak into a microphone to dictate your paper. The program is very accurate, so you won’t need to spend a lot of time editing. And the bonus is that you’ll hear how your words sound. So, the writing will be very clear. 4.  Verbix Verbix is great for you if grammar is not your strong suit. It walks you through English verb conjugations (as well as German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Japanese, and Latin). If you’d like to practice your skills, you can play games on Verbix and view language maps to learn where each language is spoken. 5.  Ninja Essays If you need a business document immediately and you don’t have the time or resources to get it written, Ninja Essays can be your saving grace. The professional writers can provide custom documents or edit and proofread your existing work. 6.  Email Excellence Email excellence helps you master the art of writing business emails. When you first visit the site, it will ask you if you’re a business leader, and trainer, or an individual. Depending on your position, you will get different advice and tools to help you understand how to write effective emails and improve your online communication. 7.  Men with Pens Men With Pens provides a helpful blog with business writing tips. To help improve your writing, read one or two articles a day to brush up on your skills. 8.  White Smoke White Smoke will provide comprehensive editing and proofreading of your written documents. The site is among the most accurate free editing services. The site also features tutorials and documents to help you improve your writing. 9.  One Look Reverse Dictionary Have you ever known what you wanted to say, but you couldn’t think of the right word? One Look Reverse Dictionary can help you with that. Just type in the concept of the word and it will give you a list of words you might be searching for. 10.  Scrivener Scrivener is an alternative to Word that helps you more accurately process your thoughts and your writing. Widely used by authors for its versatility, Scrivener lets you divide your content into sections and then arrange them however you’d like. You can also attach notes alongside your writing. The process of improving your writing is a long one. It will take time and concentrated effort. Daily practice will go a long way toward improving your skills, and increasing your understanding of business writing practices. These tools can help you along in the process.

Your Guide to a Budget-Friendly Work Wardrobe

Your Guide to a Budget-Friendly Work Wardrobe Who doesn’t love pencil skirts and crisp button-ups? As a bright-eyed college graduate, one of the greatest allures of a first job lay in its wardrobe: I could hardly wait to line my shoe rack with kitten heels and spend my Saturdays ironing blouses. Needless to say, that allure faded once I began the job search and especially once I started working as an administrative assistant, when I became more concerned with the value of the work I was producing than the hem on my tailored slacks. However, a professional wardrobe is a staple of a careered life, even if that life is a freelance one. I have spent many years gradually realizing this, despite a thin wallet and a distinct lack of fashion sense. I’m here to tell you that your budget-friendly work wardrobe does await, provided you approach it with savvy and (as always) a bit of light-hearted flair. Know what suits your shape. I am always wary to categorize my body in any capacity, but I cannot emphasize this point enough when establishing a work wardrobe (budget-friendly or not). Identifying your general body shape can help you select artful pieces most likely to flatter and impress, even if your office’s dress code is stringent. You may feel silly doing this, but visit style guides like these to catch a glimpse of what’s likely to suit you. Such articles helped me elucidate the value of a professional wrap dress or jumpsuit, pieces I used to never consider (but which now make up the bulk of my work attire). They can also coax youas they coaxed meout of my mindset that a work wardrobe is naturally dull and limited. (I mean, you can only go so far with collars and slacks, right?) Having a precise image of what pieces you’d like to add to your collection can also minimize the risk of purchasing something that is 1) less likely to last and 2) not suited to your work needs. Minimizing these risks ultimately means more money in your pocket. Identify a budget. This may seem obvious, but how often do you pinpoint an exact expenditure value for work attire purposes? I found that I was in the habit of what I call “vague budgeting:” i.e., walking into Nordstrom every couple of months with the intention of “getting a few blouses.” Yes, this wreaked havoc on my credit debt, but it also made for a more inconsistent, unsteady relationship to my wardrobe. As a vague budgeter, I spent more in the long runbecause I wasn’t establishing specific aims and realistic spending caps. Sit down with your finances and budget the following: 1) how often you would like to “add to your work wardrobe” (i.e., monthly, every six months, etc.) and 2) a feasible dollar amount you can spend per trip to the mall. Then stick to these commitments. Consignment stores are your friend. You don’t have to be relegated to the discount racks at the Gap or Salvation Army thrift stores to build a budget-friendly work wardrobe (although these can act as solid Nordstrom stand-ins). Consignment stores hold it all: “thrift” stores that sell upscale, like-new attire, often with a professional bent. I have relied heavily on consignment stores to build the bulk of my wardrobe. If you don’t have one nearby, you can revel in the magic of consigning by visiting an online store. Poshmark is my current favorite online consignment store. The secret lies in your accessories. You don’t need ten different blazers to have a diverse, versatile work wardrobe. The secret lies in having several “classic” piecesand in having the right accessories. I used to roll my eyes at this sentiment; I’m not one to hunt out the perfect clutch or hair clasp. Yet accessories can enable you to “re-use” certain items in clothing in the same week and still appear as if you’re wearing something fresh on the daily. They also permit a smaller (and less expensive) overall wardrobe. What can accomplish this? Jewelry, for one thing, particularly long necklaces or colorful pieces. Scarves can also transform Monday’s work meeting jumpsuit into Thursday’s happy hour attire. The same goes for shoes, particularly boots, and even headbands. My favorite current accessories? Long-chain geometric necklaces (that are hypoallergenic, too!) and silky head scarves, all found via online consignment. Don’t neglect your comfort. When browsing budget-friendly wardrobe items, keep fashion and comfort at the fore. In general, the higher the quality, the greater the comfort. This puts many working women at a potential disadvantage. How do we find the funds to afford a consistently high-quality professional wardrobe? I’ve learned that it is possible to purchase more high-end items, provided I do so with long-term value in mindand do so every now and then (rather than every week). Recognize the value of investing in comfort and quality. You may just notice a change in your work performance as a result! About the Author: Kate King is a writer, artist, and insatiable wanderer. Her work focuses on mindful living, awareness, and power. When not keeping up with her blog (A Lighter Earth), Kate is a freelance editor, professional tutor, and digital marketer. Follow her on Instagram.

7 Keys to Entrepreneur Success - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

7 Keys to Entrepreneur Success - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Successful entrepreneurs exhibit a series of traits and behaviors that set their businesses apart from their competition. Striving for perfection in every area is, of course, next to impossible. But with an awareness of what has made business leaders in the past successful, getting close to perfection is achievable. Here are 7 key ways to become an entrepreneur and live out your dream of owning a business: Adapt Businesses that spend time becoming aware of the fluctuating needs of their target audience are more able to adapt accordingly. If, for example, there is a growing trend to join a new social media site, a smart entrepreneur would look for a way to incorporate that into the business plan. This attentiveness to new but ongoing trends means that the business remains on the level of the people it serves. And just as everything is constantly evolving and changing, it’s imperative for entrepreneurs, as well as the businesses they own or are starting, to evolve and change as well. Make it a point to stretch yourself as an entrepreneur. Find opportunities that make financial sense and are a natural progression within your field. Connect Find a way to make a connection to the community. More and more, community members are looking for businesses that give back. They are, in fact, choosier with where they shop based on how well a business gives back to the community they serve. According to a corporate social responsibility study by Cone Communications, “91% of global consumers are likely to switch brands to one associated with a good cause, given comparable price and quality.” A real and viable connection to the community builds credibility. It also shows customers that by giving business to you, they’re giving business to the community or cause to which you’re connected. Lead Leading is so much more than a position in a company. Leading is setting an example for what to do, as well as what not to do. As an entrepreneur, this means every failure serves as an example of how to turn it around and put “mistakes” to good use. Showing great strength in leadership is essential to making it in the business world. Challenge yourself to continually learn if you want to be knowledgeable in your field, and be the one customer’s come to for action. The key components of a true entrepreneur without a doubt include effective leadership. Focus Strong entrepreneurs study their industry on a daily basis. Read articles, search for information, and utilize your knowledge to hone your expertise. Focus on what you can improve. Search for similar companies, and see what you can learn from them. Take notice to what they’re doing differently. Surely there’s something you can learn. Avoid trying to do more than what’s feasible. Innovate Strive to create new ideas every day. If a product does really well, seek to make it even better. Look for new ways to approach customer service, money management, product development and public relations. Businesses that foster a culture of innovation find avenues for running more efficiently. Take Ecogreen for example: the company used innovation to help streamline tank deliveries. This improved approach helped pave the way for the company’s continued success. Encourage staff to bring new ideas to the forefront. Create an atmosphere for sharing or brainstorming ideas with one another. This could be done at staff meetings or at the start of each day. Sustain Aim to create a sustainable business venture. Build a system of checks and balances that manages your cash flow and leads the business to responsible stewardship of the monies entrusted to you. Be cautious about using and maxing out credit lines. Just as individuals strive to live within their means, your business should strive to do the same. Ask People who want to succeed, even outside of business, are always willing to ask the tough questions, such as the following: How can you do this better? What can you streamline? Who do you know who can help you? Effective leaders and entrepreneurs aren’t afraid of not knowing the answer. Instead, they go out and find it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and be sure to foster an environment that rewards asking questions. Starting a business can be a difficult process. It’s oftentimes just as difficult as sustaining an established company. Lead the process with the above 7 tips, and you can ensure your entrepreneurial venture is successful

8 Tips to Make Your Resume Awesome

8 Tips to Make Your Resume Awesome When it comes to job hunting, your resume plays a significant role in securing you a good employment. As a matter of fact, no company or organization allows candidates to walk in and claim for the opening posts.To get a good job, it’s essential to create a perfect CV free of errors and junk to let the managers and recruiting firms acknowledge your expertise and potentials.evalA curriculum Vitae is a piece of paper that can do great wonders. It allows you to speak on your behalf in front of successful entrepreneurs. Through your resume, you can describe your personality and professional skills in a pretty impressive way. But unfortunately, many job seekers don’t understand the importance of resume and come up with horrifying CVs that sound totally dull and ordinary.A standard format of resume never appeals recruiters because of its boring structure being unable to represent your vibrant and interesting personality.Recruiters receive hundreds of resumes on daily basis to fill vacan t positions. As every post plays a significant role in running a company, their foremost priority is to recruit a deserving candidate as soon as possible without wasting any moment.Due to time shortage, they do not conduct interviews with every candidate but shortlist the interesting ones on the basis of their submitted resumes.To get shortlisted, you must come up with an outstanding CV persuading recruiters to send you in a ‘YES’ list.Here are eight great tips to help you creating an awesome CV to get your desired job:1. Avoid Grammatical mistakes and typosWhile writing something such as essays, blog posts and articles there are chances to make spontaneous grammatical mistakes. Such impulsively made errors lowers the quality of the content. And, a CV with poor quality is of no use as recruiters do not ignore even a minor mistake.evalTherefore, when you are done creating your CV, proofread it thoroughly to see if there are any typos or structural mistakes. You may also ask someo ne professional to check it for you as sometimes we become unable to detect the mistakes made by ourselves.Remember, a littlest typo can kill your whole impression!2. Stick to the pointMentioning things in your CV that have nothing to do with the job you’re applying for is completely unnecessary. Stick to the point and don’t add stuff that is useless or not important for the recruiters to know.Due to thousands of applications, recruiters give a fixed time to every CV. Resumes containing dragged content frustrate them hence they ignore such CVs and move onto the next ones.evalTry to be precise and clear about your expertise, experiences and potentials. Instead of trying to impress the recruiters by mentioning every single accomplishment, you should focus more on describing your valuable experiences that may add to company’s success.If you want your resume to be perfectly awesome, exclude the irrelevant content!3. Consider proper formattingPerfection is a key aspect of professio nalism! To make your CV flawless you need to format it properly. Use impressive structure to make your resume attractive and more official.Choose a fine font style and size, use bullets and numbers to mention achievements orderly and go with a perfect spacing and alignment options.When a recruiter holds up a CV to give it a read, formatting sets the first impression. Hence, show your professional attitude by formatting your CV impeccably and impress the recruiters with your perfectionism!4. Describe all components in a proper orderA CV consists of various elements including your academic information, professional experiences, skills and expertise and accomplishments. These all components should be mentioned by following a fine order to create an awesome resume.And if you go against that order, it might spoil your whole CV. For instance, if you will describe your professional experiences before mentioning your educational background, the CV will look quite disorganized and messy.Jumb led resumes confuse the recruiters and end up as junk. Therefore, have a close eye on this issue and follow a proper order to come up with a perfectly organized curriculum vitae.5. Keywords are of great importance!When a post opens for recruitment, employers and recruiting teams search for the database of most suitable candidates by using keywords.evalTherefore, your CV should have some useful keywords relevant to your desired type of job. Embedding keywords in your resume will enable you to be found by the recruiters as a result of relevant keyword search.Do not use keywords that are inappropriate or unrelated to your prior work experience as it will give the impression of keyword stuffing.6. Talk facts and avoid opinions!Your CV is a professional piece of paper that must contain facts and no personal opinions or recommendations.Do not comment on your previous employment but only mention your duties and achievements related to it. Avoid political language and stick to professional facts that will include your career details, expertise and academic background.You are not allowed to mention any kind of opinion about anything in your CV and strictly avoid writing statements like “I think I’m capable of this job,” because recruiters are the one to make opinion after evaluating your described facts.eval7. A cover letter is a must95% recruiters do not read a resume submitted without a cover letter. As a matter of fact, the cover letter explains your interest in the job very precisely and saves readers’ time.Recruiters judge the whole resume on the basis of cover letter hence write one carefully and submit with CV.8. Get help from an expertThe last tip to write an awesome resume is to get help from an expert. It doesn’t mean to pay someone to create your CV because nobody can describe your potentials the way you can.Getting help from expert means to obtain a pro advice before writing and once the CV is complete, get a professional feedback to make it perfe ct!So, follow these tips to create a flawless resume and get your desired employment!

Why Is This Hiring Process So Slow - Hire Imaging

Why Is This Hiring Process So Slow - Hire Imaging One of the frustrations my clients vent about as jobseekers is what sometimes seems to be a snail’s pace hiring process, why is the hiring process so slow? You get a first interview. Then, you wait. Or you zip through two and feel you’re near the finish line. And you wait. Clients often ask me how long they should expect to wait. My answer: It depends. There are so many variables affecting the hiring scenario. Even my recruiter colleagues would tell you this is a question without a clear answer, because expectations can be set; then things change, and more often than one might think. I put it back to my clients to build this question into their interview, negotiations or conversations with a potential employer. It is absolutely appropriate to ask, “What are the next steps in your process? How long do you anticipate it taking?” Then take the response from this hiring authority (recruiter, human resources, boss, decision-maker, search committee member) as a statement of hopeful intent. Remember; they want to fill the position  with a great-fit candidate, just as much as you want to be that candidate of choice. Here are some the things that can happen in any hiring scenario that can put a snag in the timeline you expected or were hoping for: Absentees.  Key people might be on vacation, sick, not in action. They are not in the office; not accessible. Money. The budget for this position has not been formally approved by Finance or Accounting. The process is orchestrated slowly but surely, in the hopes that the stars of time will align with the selection and the funds to go forward. Workload. The recruiter or human resources generalist has 30 to 40 openings waiting for action. Wishing and hoping will not speed things up. Timing. The major decision-makers are busy, or have conflicting schedules preventing getting together to talk about the candidates. Privacy. The information about this position is confidential. The players are treading cautiously through the hiring activity. Equity. They told you that you were at the top of their list. It was true. But they have 5 or 15 others to interview. They have to carry out a fair process. Reluctance. You’re not their favorite. But they don’t know how it will go with their top or top several candidates. So they’re keeping you on hold till that plays out. Where’s your power? Obviously there are those things above you cannot control. But you can control the interview on your end. Be armed with good questions. Show that you’ve done your research on the company. Act as though you’re excited about the opportunity. Ask for the job. Say thank-you. Follow up with emails. Keep stamps and note cards on hand and snail mail thank-you notes. Pull out matters discussed that you’ve thought about and have ideas about. And if you think you’re at the top of their wish list â€" and you are being courted elsewhere, tell them that!   Tell them that you really want their company, this job, but that … well, you get the gist. No, don’t bombard them. But be assertively persistent  and respectful. You might be amazed at the results! And yes, you may need to be patient! Photo: David Lombardia

Emailing About Your Resume - How to Write an Email That Will Get the Interview

Emailing About Your Resume - How to Write an Email That Will Get the InterviewThere are several reasons to write an email letting the person know you're sending your resume. It's an easy and inexpensive way to let them know you're available. In addition, it's an effective way to improve your chances of getting the interview.Sending an email is usually a one-time thing, usually sent to get the person's attention. But it can be an effective way to continue the conversation when the first email doesn't work. This method can be a great way to get someone's attention when they may have stopped responding to your initial emails. You can use your email to remind them to reply.When you send an email to someone requesting their resume, you're not only sending a request for an interview. You're also making a request to discuss the offer. Email can be a powerful tool that begins a conversation about your resume.If you're applying to the same job, you can include the person's email address in th e body of the email. Some people may view this as a way to follow up. But if the person had ignored you when you first emailed about the job, then the email is likely to bring a positive response. When you start the conversation with a request to send your resume, it shows that you want to help.Sometimes email is more effective than a phone call. One reason is that it takes less time to communicate over email. Additionally, it's very easy to forget to check your email.If you're thinking of trying to email marketing, it's always important to add your company logo and a welcome letter to accompany the email. The letter should explain the company, your background, and why you're a good fit for the job. Also, the letter should list your biggest strengths and the best parts of your previous work experience. By thanking the person for their interest in your career, you're showing them that you respect them enough to make them feel welcome.You can also send a formal resume and cover letter to a potential employer with an email. It helps to make your contact with a person of equal or greater value. You don't want to offer any advice or provide any information in the email, just a request for the contact information. This lets the person know that you care about getting the job and that you're genuinely interested in talking to them.After you've gotten a resume from someone, remember to include a link to a page where they can find more information about you. Also, indicate that you would be happy to respond to any questions they may have. If you follow these simple steps, it will be much easier to get the first interview, and you'll have much better results from your resume.