Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom All Hail the Blockchain What It Means for You

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom All Hail the Blockchain What It Means for You You’ve heard the term, but what on earth does it mean? Let’s start with the basics. A blockchain is a data structure that makes it possible to create a digital ledger of transactions and share it among a distributed network of computers. It uses cryptography to allow each participant on the network to manipulate the ledger in a secure way without the need for a central, often fee-charging authority. Bitcoin and the mechanics of blockchain If you are familiar with blockchain technology, it may be because of Bitcoin, the first app built using the platform in 2008. Bitcoin’s main premise is to digitally send payments between any two people or organizations without a third-party financial institution. Every time a transaction is made, it’s recorded on the blockchain ledger and each new block is tied to the prior ones via digital signature. Once a block of data is recorded on the ledger, it’s difficult to change or remove, and in order for someone to add a block to the chain, network members have to first ensure it’s valid. A few key components underpin blockchain technology. First up is the network, which can vary depending on the organization setting up the blockchain. It might include everyone in the public domain (as in Bitcoin) or an exclusive group of known participants. The computers within each network are called nodes. Then, there is the consensus mechanism, or the set of rules used to verify each transaction. In the Bitcoin blockchain, for instance, the consensus mechanism is called proof of work. Network participants run algorithms to confirm the digital signatures attached to blocks in order to validate new transactions. Once approved, transactions are packaged into a block. They are then re-distributed to all the nodes, which are responsible for ensuring that all records match. For his article for the Wall Street Journal CIO Journal blog, writer Steven Norton consulted Guardtime, a company that sells blockchain-based products and services to organizations like Ericsson AB. Guardtime provided this example of a complex blockchain in action: “Assume an organization has 10 transactions per second. Each of those transactions receives its own digital signature. Using a tree structure, those signatures are combined and given a single digital fingerprint â€" a unique representation of those transactions at a specific time.” “Once validated, that fingerprint is stored in a blockchain that all the participants can see. A copy of that ledger is also sent back to each organization to store locally. Those signatures can be continuously verified against what is in the blockchain, giving companies a way to monitor the state and integrity of a particular asset or transaction.” “Anytime a change to data or an asset is proposed, a new, unique digital fingerprint is created. That fingerprint is sent to each client node for validation. If the fingerprints don’t match, or if the change to the data doesn’t fit with the network’s agreed-upon rules, the transaction may not be validated. This setup means the entire network, rather than a central authority, is responsible for ensuring the validity of each transaction.” Want more? Check out the full article on the QuickBase Fast Track blog.

Writing a Resume Quizlet

Writing a Resume QuizletHave you ever heard of what is known as the 'writing a resume quiet?' If you have not, you should! This is a very simple yet highly effective technique that can really help you get the information you need when it comes to your resume.First of all, let us talk about what the term 'quizlet' means. It is the acronym for the word 'question.' Now, in order to use this form of writing a resume, you will have to answer questions about yourself and any experiences that you have. In other words, you will be giving the prospective employer your real life story and experiences.You see, one of the best parts about using a writing a resume quizlet is that you are giving the potential employer the information they need to decide whether or not to hire you. While you are at it, you are also developing the communication skills necessary to create a lasting impression. You are giving the recruiter a very good idea of how you work and what kind of person you are.This is defini tely an easy thing to do, but many people simply give up right away. When you write a resume quiet, you don't have to go the extra mile in order to make it effective. The formula is really quite simple, but you must follow it correctly if you want to gain the attention of potential employers.First of all, you will have to decide on a topic for your resume quiet. Usually, these days, we do not think much about our first job or even the first year that we are employed. For example, the past three to five years is the best timeframe that you can use when writing a resume quiet. A lot of people will naturally want to include their entire first year, but this is not always the best thing to do.Instead, start out with the topics that you have the most experience in and then focus on those that involve direct industry experience. For example, if you worked in the security business, then you should include information about your security firm. As long as you don't include any information th at is too general, you should be fine.When you write a resume quizlet, you are also giving the potential employer something else that they will be able to use as part of your resume. Many times, employers will ask for a short list of things to include, and if you leave out one or two things, they will just assume that you were hired because of the experience you have. You may be surprised to find out what the worst case scenario actually is, so be sure to include all of the information.There is no better or more powerful way to convey your self about yourself than a well written resume. By learning how to write a resume quizlet, you will be one step closer to getting the job you want.

Hot Cognition and the Crocodile Brain

Hot Cognition and the Crocodile Brain Image courtesy Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis This post isn’t about interviewing skills, but if you get this right, you can get any job. The techniques used to turn on “hot cognition” are the key to pitching â€" and winning   million dollar deals. Master these techniques, and you can sell yourself to anyone. Promise me before we go on that you will only use these powers for good. I’ll wait. Good.   Now we can talk about how to win over what author and business development expert Oren Klaff calls “the crocodile brain.” His book: Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal, reveals the science of Neuroeconomics, which he describes as “the Rosetta stone for human behavior.”   He goes on to define Neuroeconomics  as the “combination of neuroscience, economics, and psychology to study how people make decisions. It looks at the role of the brain when we evaluate decisions, categorize risks and rewards, and interact with each other.  â€œ Klaff has used Neuroeconomics  to raise over $400 million in deals to develop projects since 2006. He starts out by defining the key to success when you pitch anything: keeping the audience’s attention. But what does that mean, and is there a reliable, learnable, technique for holding attention? Lucky for you, there is. Klaff spends time getting you acquainted with the parts of the human brain and their functions. The crocodile brain is the most primitive part of our cognition, the earliest to develop. It filters most of the incoming messages the brain receives, and is responsible mostly for figuring out whether something is an immediate danger. It’s basically got just two response buttons: danger (run!) and boring (ignore.) It produces strong emotions, too: love, hate and desire among them, but it’s not really good at, well, thinking. The midbrain, the next most developed cognition center, is used for determining the meaning of things through sensory input and the context of social situations. The Neocortex is the most evolved part of our brain; it’s where we process complex thought and solve problems. And that’s the problem, Klaff writes.   We prepare for presentations (including interviews) using our complex thought center, the Neocortex. But that’s not where the message is screened; it’s screened in the crocodile brain. And the crocodile brain views new information in only two ways: a danger (something to avoid or eliminate) or not a danger, in which case it can be safely ignored.   Either way, your message is bouncing off without creating any desire for what you’re selling. Most people try to persuade using facts and figures; they figure that the smarter they sound, the better their chances of success.   But the crocodile brain, the screener, is not good with facts or figures. It simply kicks them upstairs to the Neocortex for processing.   Klaff calls this processing function “cold cognition.” The Neocortex loves to process data, but it doesn’t make buying decisions; we use data to justify decisions only after we’ve made them. Decisions to like or dislike something â€" or someone â€" are made quickly, and generally without thinking. What we want, and what we like comes early in our processing, and it’s the crocodile brain doing the processing. (That’s why it’s so hard to talk yourself out of ordering dessert using logic; logic isn’t what’s at work there.) Wanting or liking something, getting turned on to an idea or a person, comes from the crocodile brain, and Klaff calls this processing “hot cognition.” It’s not based on data; it’s based on stimulating the primitive part of your brain without creating fear.   That’s the secret to selling anything: arousal without alarm. Actually, it’s arousal with just the right amount of alarm; just enough to keep your audience interested, intrigued, and present in the moment. Interested and intrigued makes for a great interview, and may lead to a great offer. In your next interview, try selling to the crocodile brain.

Why do you love your subject University of Manchester Careers Blog

Why do you love your subject University of Manchester Careers Blog One of the most engaging things about a great presenter, lecturer or interviewee is often their enthusiasm and passion for their subject. At Manchester, were on a mission to enthuse and inspire others about the work we do here and you can be part of it. They call it public engagement, but thats a rather dull-sounding phrase for something which is far more fun sharing your interest and excitement for your subject with well frankly, anyone wholl listen. Whatever your subject, there are loads of opportunities to get involved. Why do it? Because its fun Because it can also be scary and learning to overcome your fears, and developing new talents is surely what being at university is all about? Because its a chance to talk to people outside your course/lab/School in fact, outside the university all together. Particularly if youre new to Manchester, find out what life is like beyond the university precinct. Because its great practice for talking to potential employers, especially for that inevitable question, so, why are you studying corrosion control engineering/medieval studies/developmental biology? Because, if you want to be an academic, your funders will expect you to do it so youd better start practising now. How do you start? One of the best resources, gathering all sorts of public engagement opportunities together in one place, is the Public and Community Engagement website for the University of Manchester. Their blog highlights dozens of opportunities to get involved in activities for all sorts of subjects. A lot of the organised events are science based, but in the last month, there have also been calls for events around International Womens Day and the Manchester Histories Festival. You can also ask in your School are there any opportunities to get involved in Open Days, or other local school activities? Or you can just do it yourself Im not sure how many of you are ready to tackle this an a capella discussion of string theory set to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody, but its one of the most extraordinary (and brilliant) examples of science communication Ive ever come across. However, Im not sure how much youll learn about string theory if youre not already familiar with it a case of (admittedly fabulous) style over substance? On the other hand, if his aim was to promote himself and his Masters research thesis, then its spot on. See what you think: All Postgraduate communication skills

Tips for Writing a Resume That Gives Your Employer a Closer Look

Tips for Writing a Resume That Gives Your Employer a Closer LookThe personal section is one of the most neglected parts of your resume. Often, it is deemed so important that employers expect to see this section first before they consider anything else. However, the personal section is one of the most important sections to you as a job candidate. To effectively apply for the job of your dreams, you need to be a good writer.Most professional resume writers know that there are certain points that must be included in the personal section of your resume. As a matter of fact, they want you to be able to do what is necessary to present yourself properly. In fact, they are happy to show you exactly how to do it. I have noticed, however, that too many job hunters just write their resume without even bothering to add any personal information to it. They do not realize that this section of the resume is their opportunity to sell themselves.There are certain personal details that can help a cand idate to sell themselves in a major way. For example, include details about your hobbies, past experiences, and skills in some detail. For example, if you enjoy playing the guitar, make sure you list that in your personal section. You will also want to include things like your interests, awards and achievements, or job knowledge in your personal section.As you write, make sure you take time to research and learn about the job in which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for a customer service position, learn all about the company you are applying for. Write about you being able to work with people and your knowledge of the company.In your personal section, do not be afraid to add some humor in your resume. Remember, you are applying for a job. It would be embarrassing to stand in front of an employer with a poorly written resume. Therefore, try to inject some humor in your resume. It will help you to sell yourself more.Include your current education and work experienc e in your personal section. You can include both your formal education and previous work experience. Be sure to indicate where you went to school as well as what courses you took in order to gain your degree.Take time to research the jobs that you are considering. Often, you will find that the jobs that you apply for will require personal information in your resume. Try to determine which of these positions you would like to apply for. At the same time, it is crucial that you apply for the jobs that will actually lead to a job interview.Finally, it is vital that you find the right place to include your personal information. Most job applicants go through one or two companies before they get to the one that will hire them. Therefore, make sure that you get yours at the right place.

Thank people who helped you during your job search - Sterling Career Concepts

Thank people who helped you during your job search Thank people who helped you during your job search Thank people who helped you during your job search Once you’ve successfully landed your new job, don’t forget to go back and thank people who helped you during your job search. It can easily be overlooked in the excitement of starting in a new position, but its truly one of the few things you should not forget to do once you start in a new role. It comes down to the basics of successfully maintaining your professional network. Its imperative to communicate with your network not just when you need something from them, but to stay in contact with them. This includes thanking them for their assistance and introductions, learning whats new with them professionally, and seeing if theres anyway you can be helping them. Effective, true networking is a continual back and forth dynamic. This will help ensure they’re willing to help you the next time you’re looking to make a move. So celebrate that new offer!  And then before you settle in to your new role, take a moment to look back on your job search and who helped get you to where you are today. Even in todays digital world, business is still about people, and relationships are still at the core of being successful. Related Sterling blog posts on networking: How do I network for a job? Will the best networker please stand up! How to best use the members of your network

Why arent we doing that more in our careers - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Why arent we doing that more in our careers Working on your career can feel overwhelming at times, wouldnt you agree? It is easy to make big decisions e.g. THIS is the year I will finally get a promotion or a new job, but then you realize you don’t know to do it and as it is such a big idea, you get stuck and end up doing nothing. There  are  Train the Trainer Courses  available for you which will provide courses on topics  like project management, sales training, interviewing training, Receptionist skills and even can improve your communication skill so that you get success in your professional life. You can always get a coach to help you out, but I also wanted to share an idea with you. Many businesses I’ve worked for plan business quarter by quarter instead of just doing it once a year. Of course, they always have an annual plan, but there are always quarterly metrics and they report quarterly, too. Why? A year is just too long to have a plan without checking progress and reviewing what has and hasn’t been working.  On the other hands 3 months is just enough time to take action and see some results. So, why arent we doing that more in our careers? For example: If you have a goal of finding a new job in 2014, instead of saying: Im going to get new job by XX date (which is completely out of your control), how about saying instead: Im going to attend one networking or new event per week, and have coffee or a phone call with one new person every week as well, as I research jobs and companies.   I expect this to lead to at least 3-4 interviews by the end of three months. At the end of the quarter you take a look and ask yourself: okay, how did I do? Did you talk to people every week? If not, why not? Did you get any interviews? If so, how did you hear about those positions and what did you learn? The point is that if a project is too big and the outcome feels out of your control, you are likely to fail. However, when you can point to concrete things that you do, then you can see what really works AND make progress. Or if your goals is to be promoted this year, your 3-month plan might look like this: 1. Talking to your manager to find out what steps you need to take, including training or experience that you need to complete. 2. Sign up for training and volunteer for a specific project. 3. Review your progress with your manager at the end of three months, and talk about what other steps you might need to talk. And of course rate yourself on your own.   Where did you do well? What really worked? And, what can you do better? Feels more manageable, right? Sometimes we make things too hard.   So, my question to you is this: What do you want to concentrate on for the next three months in your career? Make a plan, take some action and see where it takes you.   I cannot wait to find out! And if youre looking to accelerate your career in the next 3 months, check out my 90-day Career Control programme you can save £250 if you register by end of April. Warm regards, Margaret Buj Interview Career Coach Margaret Buj is an  interview and career acceleration coach  who specializes in helping professionals get any job they want at their best ever salary. If you want to find out how recruiters read resumes, why you’re not getting hired, how to sell yourself successfully in a job interview and how to negotiate your best salary yet, you can download her  free “You’re HIRED!” video course.