Do You Solve Problems for Employers, or Create Them

Do You Solve Problems for Employers, or Create ThemDo You Solve Problems for Employers, or Create Them1Knowing how to solve problems is a transferable skill- an ability that can be applied to a variety of different jobs. In the ever-changing 21st-century workplace, such a talent is a valuable commodity, and presenting yourself as a problem solver can be an edge that attracts attention. When you are job searching, how do you show you can solve problems for employers?Most jobs are not as simple as push this button and repeat, says career coach Lavie Margolin, author of Winning Answers to 500 Interview Questions. Many jobs have an outline of responsibilities, but when you are on the job, you have to be adept at solving or managing the problems as they occur. Perhaps a deadline was missed, a contract had the wrong language, or a shipment got lost. What do you do then? The boss isnt always available to work you through all of the problems. The company often wants the employee to manage th e situation as best as possible.So how can you come across as the problem-solving, rather than problem-making, candidate?Here are a few strategies to show hiring managers that you solve problems for employers, rather than create themPresent examples.In your cover letter and during your interview, talk about real-life situations in which your ability to think on your feet or come up with a clever solution to a difficult dilemma resolved a problem or improved company performance. Margolin suggests particularly thinking about the types of problems that could occur in the job for which you are applying. Remember, youre trying to get the hirer to envision you in that position.Leave old baggage at the door.Maybe its true that your old manager offered zero support or that former coworkers were slackers. Unfortunately, the potential new employer doesnt really care. Youre the one likely to come off as whiny, finger-pointing, and trouble-making by bringing up these grievances. Focus instead o n being the positive person who can handle whatever is thrown your way and can get along with everyone.Become a life-long learner.Workers who are stuck in their ways and resistant to change can be problematic for employers. Make it clear that youre willing to adapt to changing circumstances by emphasizing the desire to learn and grow. Seeing that youll go the extra mile to take a class, talk to relevant people, or do independent research in order to overcome a problem can peg you as a can-do candidate.Show youre up to a challenge.Lastly, consider directly marketing yourself as a problem solver. Look for clues in the job ad about areas in which the company might want to improve, and offer some ideas about how you might go about tackling them. Maybe they are yearning to boost public relations and youre a whiz at social media, or perhaps they are trying to become more efficient and you just read a great book on time management. Demonstrating that youre a great fit for the company today and for its future development will give the employer one less problem- figuring out who is the right person to hireReaders, is the ability to solve problems for employers on your list of transferable skills? How do you show it on your resume? Share with us below

How to Be a More Engaged Employee

How to Be a More Engaged EmployeeHow to Be a More Engaged Employee The struggle is real, folks. Employee engagement is on the decline, and its something every employer - and employee - needs to take seriously. According to Office Vibes Global & Real-Time State of Employee Engagement The statistics dont lie many employees are notlage engaged. But its not just on employers - I firmly believe that employee engagement is a two-way street.Employers should be engaging with their employees to build meaningful relationships - at my company , we send out bi-weekly pulse surveys to gain regular feedback from our employees - but employees should also show some initiative to become a more engaged employee. Because odds are, becoming engagedwill make yourday-to-day life at the office a whole lot more enjoyable. It might even boost your work performanceHaving personally read through hundreds of comments submitted by employees, Ive found myself providing some of the same tips a nd advice over and over again. Below are my suggestions on how to become a more engaged employee.How is a company supposed to fix a problem they arent aware exists? If your company is investing in surveys and feedback tools, the least you can do is engage and provide your thoughts and feedback. And if your organization does not have these tools, request themTransparency is expected in most organizations today. Let your employer know you dont understand a certain policy or dont agree with something. If you have a great suggestion, then share it It doesnt necessarily mean your new idea will be implemented, but at least you can have your voice heard and be a trusted source of feedback for your employer.If you dont speak up now, its hard to complain later. Just remember, feedback is nothing without honesty - thats what your employer is asking forQuestion your employer. Not in a rude or gotcha fashion, but ask tough questions. Ive found that when an employee asks a question, and I can provide context as to why a decision was made, it benefits all parties involved. Not only do you get your answers, but you show your employer that youre invested in the company.Set-up a regular meeting cadence with your manager - you can ask questions, talk about your performance and set career goals . These meetings dont have to be long, but dedicating time from you and your managers calendar shows how important this meeting is to your success.You hear a lot today about employer branding (defined as a companys ability to differentiate and promote its identity to a defined group of candidates that theyre interested in hiring). HR writer, speaker and advisor William Tincup simply states employer branding is your unique scent.Theres no one better to help share your companys message than you - an employee of the company. Studies show time and time again that employees are viewed as more trustworthy than CEOs and/or marketing departments, and recommendations from friends and fam ily always rank near the top with respect to trusted referral sources.When your employer publishes a great blog post, share it with your network. At the next company event, take some fun photos and post them using the companys branded hashtag. Being an employment brand ambassador will show employers you care about the company, and not just yourself.To give is better than to receive. Whether youre talking about presents or philanthropy, this statement always rings true. Many companies are fully on board with social responsibility and giving back to the communities where their employees live, work and play.If your organization sponsors and/or volunteers at these events, do yourself a favor and be present. Sometimes these charitable events are after hours or are on the weekends and not necessarily convenient. However, your attendance will not only impress your employer, but more often than not, will also enrich your life in more ways than one.No one person, or even team, is responsibl e for employee engagement. Every employee at an organization adds to or takes away from the company culture. We spend a tremendous portion of our waking hours at work - why not be engaged while youre there?Chris Skaggs is the head of talent and brand at TSP , a privately-held IT services company, and co-founder and president of Leightons Gift , a non-profit with a mission of turning a tragedy into something positive. Branding, digital marketing, talent acquisition and HR are all functions Chris has developed building teams, processes and strategies from the ground-up. Passionate about giving back, he also serves on the boards of a variety of different organizations. A natural storyteller, Chris work and experiences have been featured on CNN, Marketing Sherpa, CBS Radio, Recruiter.com and Glassdoor. Get connected online, skaggschrisL.

What an Ironman competitor can teach us about financial planning

What an Ironman competitor can teach us about financial planningWhat an Ironman competitor can teach us about financial planningIt was August 15, 2015 on an already sweltering morning in Mont Tremblant, Canada. I dug my toes into the sand amidst a crowd of 2,700 elite athletes from around the world. As I zipped up my wetsuit, I thought about all my training the past year, my strategy to conquer the day, a slew of what ifs Id encounter over the next 16 hours, and excitement mixed with worry. Then BANG, fireworks erupted across the beach.I learned a lot from my journey to become an Ironman, but it wasnt until I returned to my sekretariat in New Jersey that I thought about my experiences and how they related to my work. As a CFP and author on personal finance, Millennial Millionaire- A Guide to Become a Millionaire by 30, I naturally connected my competition to my clients goals and concerns.GoalsThis outrageous idea of elend even having a bicycle, let alone competing in triathlons, to t aking on the ultimate fitness test stemmed from another one of my crazy New Years Resolutions. I woke up on January 1, 2015 and the first thing I did was scour the internet for potential Ironmans. August gave me 8 months, what I thought was enough time, and Quebec was not too far away. I immediately registered for the race, paid my $800 entrance fee, and marked the date on my calendar.As simple as this sounds, this was probably the most important step I took in the whole process. I advise clients all day long who want to reach their financial goals, but a goal without a date and commitment is just a wish. Circling 08/15/15 on my calendar instantly set the tone and allowed me to design a training regimen and appropriate diet. Im not saying a 24-year-old client should pick 08/15/58 as their exact retirement date, but benchmarks penned to paper and voiced aloud are critical.Back to the training and diet I had no idea where to begin. I still lifted weights as I did for football in coll ege and I ate anything I wanted. So, I went to Barnes and Noble and purchased an Ironman endorsed training manual. I read cover to cover and created my own daily workout routine from 03/01/18 08/15/18, recognizing that Id burn out if I devoted to any longer of a program. There are two lessons to be gained here, first I sought expert help and became a student of the game.A financial objective is no different in that a client must educate him or herself, furthermore a trainer certainly would have accelerated my development as will a Certified Financial Planner to a client. Secondly, there was a detailed game plan of how Id be prepared for race day, this is no different than how a family must plan for college, retirement, or saving for their first house.A roadmap towards a defined goal with consistent effort despite ups and downs along the way makes a far-off goal attainable.Race dayThe nerves I felt before diving into the crystal-clear water of Lake Tremblant are not all that differe nt than those before buying an investment property, sending a child to college, or handing in your retirement papers. The fear of the unknown is inevitable and faith in prior preparation is the only comforter.Within the first 200 yards of my 2.4-mile swim, I was booted square between my eyes from the heel of another competitor. I stopped swimming and struggled to gather my senses as everyone pushed past me. I was just a few minutes into a 16-hour contest and doubt raced through my mind. Plenty of retirees or entrepreneurs can sympathize with this feeling after suffering an early defeat or market setback. Taking a break (perhaps fora vacation for me 30 seconds of floating amongst adrenaline filled contestants) and diagnosing the situation from an optimistic viewpoint can help stay the course.Next was the 112-mile bike ride through the mountains of Quebec, as the sun raged overhead with 90+ degree heat. This was the longest part of the contest and most monotonous, yet most dangerous. I saw several cyclists leave in ambulances due to brutal downhill crashes, the result of not paying attention or taking unnecessary risks. Again, there is a perfect parlay to wealth management, a sound financial plan often borders on boring, tempting investors to enter unchartered territory at the risk of the whole strategy. Even though a financial plan may seem to be on autopilot, active oversight is crucial in order to miss an unforeseen trap (tax change, market correction, illness/injury, lawsuit, etc.)Then there was the 26.2-mile run, I raced through the dark of night fighting off a roller coaster of emotions. I knew if I could suck it up and stay positive that I would complete my mission. The screaming support of thousands of fans along the race course was also invaluable. A client near the end of paying off college, selling their geschftliches miteinander, or in the last stage of retirement distributions knows what I mean. At this stage, one needs to play it safe (perhaps fix ed income or annuities in retirement), visualize the finish line, and realize its okay to ask for help, be it fans, advisors, or family.Lastly, sportsmen cant forget about recovery or their body might not appreciate their accomplishments. Clients must not forget those estate planning documents and business succession plans, or your legacy could be squandered as well. As we now know, athletes and investors alike can enjoy the thrill of a well-deserved victory by following the same tenets.Bryan M. Kuderna is a Certified Financial Planner, Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow, and Investment Adviser Representative withKuderna Financial Team. He is also theauthor of the best-selling book, MILLENNIAL MILLIONAIRE A Guide to Become a Millionaire by 30.