I know of few jobs more difficult than those that are considered “Customer Service”. If you are like me and have a strong work ethic with a desire to please, you may find when the workload piles up and people are waiting on you that you feel a good deal of stress. You have to satisfy the customer while also keeping your boss happy. It’s a “rock and a hard place” sandwich sometimes.
In this day and age, most companies are running “mean and lean”, and if your job is customer support, this means trying to satisfy customers with a minimum, or below minimum staff and resources. And that puts all or most of the pressure on you. To make matters worse, people are accustomed to hearing phrases like “The Customer is King” or “The Customer is Always Right” and some will use this to their advantage, putting you “under the gun” to satisfy them. Don’t get me wrong, many customers are a joy to serve, but there’s always that one or a few that can make your day really tough. Some people might only be difficult because they are having a bad day. But some seem to have a bad day every single day.
There was a time I was faced with a very difficult person in a very difficult situation and I may not have handled the situation as well as I should have. I allowed my stress to get the better of me. My boss discussed it with me and I was required to attend a seminar on “How to Deal with Difficult People”. I attended the seminar and learned a few things. But I couldn’t help but ask my boss, in private of course, why I was being sent to a seminar on “How to Deal with Difficult People” rather than sending the difficult people to seminars on how not to be difficult!
Honestly, I think I had a valid point, but as you could probably guess, I didn’t win that argument. So when it comes to dealing with difficult people, especially when you are in a customer service role, it becomes necessary to be better than the person who is being difficult. It’s good to have a number of tools in your toolbox to help deal with difficult people. And it’s good to know about the do’s and don’ts.
What you want to do is to try to resolve the problem in a win-win-win way. In other words, find a way that satisfies the customer, relieves you of the face-to-face stress with an upset customer, and keeps your boss happy. What you don’t want to do is make matters worse for you or the customer. So what are the do’s and dont's of dealing with difficult people? Stay tuned for my next blog and I will dive more deeply into this perplexing dilemma!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Mistakes
Nobody starts their day saying, “I’m going to make seven mistakes at work today”. We don’t like it when someone makes a mistake that affects us in a negative way. And I believe most people especially don’t like it when they themselves have made a mistake. We generally feel bad, guilty and embarrassed.
For starters, let’s face it. “To err is human” as the expression goes. We all make mistakes, although some more than others it seems. But there are two sides to this. One side is about how one deals with one’s own mistakes. The other part of the human equation is how one deals with the mistakes of others.
Mistakes come in different shapes and sizes. Little ones obviously don’t matter so much, but what should you do when you make a big mistake? If it’s something that can be fixed easily without any harm, then perhaps that is your best and only necessary course of action. But you should always ask yourself, “Who might be affected by this” and you should then consider informing them of any potential problems before matters get worse. If the mistake requires others be informed, waste no time! Report it as soon as possible. You’ll be looked upon with far less disdain if you immediately call attention to it rather than hoping it will just go away. If you fail to report a big mistake, you’ll then have made two mistakes, which makes things worse! Do not blame someone else. Take responsibility. Apologize! Offer to fix it or to pay for damages. Again – take responsibility! This will invite far more respect than cowardice and you may find that it will help you and others to feel better about it.
What should you do when someone else is the guilty party for having made a mistake?
In our busy and often stress-filled days, it can be easy to vent. Be careful! I mean, if you are dealing with someone who is mistake prone and doesn’t seem to care as much as they perhaps should, then it’s probably time to have a discussion with them. But don’t “fly off the handle”. If you do, you’ll be making a mistake. When you speak to them, don’t do it in front of their peers, otherwise YOU will be making a mistake. Talk to them in private. Point out that they are making too many mistakes and ask them why. And then coach them and mentor them. Make it clear that they will be expected to reduce their mistakes, but be sure to also offer to help them to improve. And if they do in fact improve, be sure to thank them and maybe even offer some kind of reward – otherwise you may be making a mistake. If they continue making too many mistakes, then you may have to take a more drastic action, but try to salvage the situation first!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
For starters, let’s face it. “To err is human” as the expression goes. We all make mistakes, although some more than others it seems. But there are two sides to this. One side is about how one deals with one’s own mistakes. The other part of the human equation is how one deals with the mistakes of others.
Mistakes come in different shapes and sizes. Little ones obviously don’t matter so much, but what should you do when you make a big mistake? If it’s something that can be fixed easily without any harm, then perhaps that is your best and only necessary course of action. But you should always ask yourself, “Who might be affected by this” and you should then consider informing them of any potential problems before matters get worse. If the mistake requires others be informed, waste no time! Report it as soon as possible. You’ll be looked upon with far less disdain if you immediately call attention to it rather than hoping it will just go away. If you fail to report a big mistake, you’ll then have made two mistakes, which makes things worse! Do not blame someone else. Take responsibility. Apologize! Offer to fix it or to pay for damages. Again – take responsibility! This will invite far more respect than cowardice and you may find that it will help you and others to feel better about it.
What should you do when someone else is the guilty party for having made a mistake?
In our busy and often stress-filled days, it can be easy to vent. Be careful! I mean, if you are dealing with someone who is mistake prone and doesn’t seem to care as much as they perhaps should, then it’s probably time to have a discussion with them. But don’t “fly off the handle”. If you do, you’ll be making a mistake. When you speak to them, don’t do it in front of their peers, otherwise YOU will be making a mistake. Talk to them in private. Point out that they are making too many mistakes and ask them why. And then coach them and mentor them. Make it clear that they will be expected to reduce their mistakes, but be sure to also offer to help them to improve. And if they do in fact improve, be sure to thank them and maybe even offer some kind of reward – otherwise you may be making a mistake. If they continue making too many mistakes, then you may have to take a more drastic action, but try to salvage the situation first!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Mistakes
Nobody starts their day saying, “I’m going to make seven mistakes at work today”. We don’t like it when someone makes a mistake that affects us in a negative way. And I believe most people especially don’t like it when they themselves have made a mistake. We generally feel bad, guilty and embarrassed.
For starters, let’s face it. “To err is human” as the expression goes. We all make mistakes, although some more than others it seems. But there are two sides to this. One side is about how one deals with one’s own mistakes. The other part of the human equation is how one deals with the mistakes of others.
Mistakes come in different shapes and sizes. Little ones obviously don’t matter so much, but what should you do when you make a big mistake? If it’s something that can be fixed easily without any harm, then perhaps that is your best and only necessary course of action. But you should always ask yourself, “Who might be affected by this” and you should then consider informing them of any potential problems before matters get worse. If the mistake requires others be informed, waste no time! Report it as soon as possible. You’ll be looked upon with far less disdain if you immediately call attention to it rather than hoping it will just go away. If you fail to report a big mistake, you’ll then have made two mistakes, which makes things worse! Do not blame someone else. Take responsibility. Apologize! Offer to fix it or to pay for damages. Again – take responsibility! This will invite far more respect than cowardice and you may find that it will help you and others to feel better about it.
What should you do when someone else is the guilty party for having made a mistake?
In our busy and often stress-filled days, it can be easy to vent. Be careful! I mean, if you are dealing with someone who is mistake prone and doesn’t seem to care as much as they perhaps should, then it’s probably time to have a discussion with them. But don’t “fly off the handle”. If you do, you’ll be making a mistake. When you speak to them, don’t do it in front of their peers, otherwise YOU will be making a mistake. Talk to them in private. Point out that they are making too many mistakes and ask them why. And then coach them and mentor them. Make it clear that they will be expected to reduce their mistakes, but be sure to also offer to help them to improve. And if they do in fact improve, be sure to thank them and maybe even offer some kind of reward – otherwise you may be making a mistake. If they continue making too many mistakes, then you may have to take a more drastic action, but try to salvage the situation first!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
For starters, let’s face it. “To err is human” as the expression goes. We all make mistakes, although some more than others it seems. But there are two sides to this. One side is about how one deals with one’s own mistakes. The other part of the human equation is how one deals with the mistakes of others.
Mistakes come in different shapes and sizes. Little ones obviously don’t matter so much, but what should you do when you make a big mistake? If it’s something that can be fixed easily without any harm, then perhaps that is your best and only necessary course of action. But you should always ask yourself, “Who might be affected by this” and you should then consider informing them of any potential problems before matters get worse. If the mistake requires others be informed, waste no time! Report it as soon as possible. You’ll be looked upon with far less disdain if you immediately call attention to it rather than hoping it will just go away. If you fail to report a big mistake, you’ll then have made two mistakes, which makes things worse! Do not blame someone else. Take responsibility. Apologize! Offer to fix it or to pay for damages. Again – take responsibility! This will invite far more respect than cowardice and you may find that it will help you and others to feel better about it.
What should you do when someone else is the guilty party for having made a mistake?
In our busy and often stress-filled days, it can be easy to vent. Be careful! I mean, if you are dealing with someone who is mistake prone and doesn’t seem to care as much as they perhaps should, then it’s probably time to have a discussion with them. But don’t “fly off the handle”. If you do, you’ll be making a mistake. When you speak to them, don’t do it in front of their peers, otherwise YOU will be making a mistake. Talk to them in private. Point out that they are making too many mistakes and ask them why. And then coach them and mentor them. Make it clear that they will be expected to reduce their mistakes, but be sure to also offer to help them to improve. And if they do in fact improve, be sure to thank them and maybe even offer some kind of reward – otherwise you may be making a mistake. If they continue making too many mistakes, then you may have to take a more drastic action, but try to salvage the situation first!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Mistakes
Nobody starts their day saying, “I’m going to make seven mistakes at work today”. We don’t like it when someone makes a mistake that affects us in a negative way. And I believe most people especially don’t like it when they themselves have made a mistake. We generally feel bad, guilty and embarrassed.
For starters, let’s face it. “To err is human” as the expression goes. We all make mistakes, although some more than others it seems. But there are two sides to this. One side is about how one deals with one’s own mistakes. The other part of the human equation is how one deals with the mistakes of others.
Mistakes come in different shapes and sizes. Little ones obviously don’t matter so much, but what should you do when you make a big mistake? If it’s something that can be fixed easily without any harm, then perhaps that is your best and only necessary course of action. But you should always ask yourself, “Who might be affected by this” and you should then consider informing them of any potential problems before matters get worse. If the mistake requires others be informed, waste no time! Report it as soon as possible. You’ll be looked upon with far less disdain if you immediately call attention to it rather than hoping it will just go away. If you fail to report a big mistake, you’ll then have made two mistakes, which makes things worse! Do not blame someone else. Take responsibility. Apologize! Offer to fix it or to pay for damages. Again – take responsibility! This will invite far more respect than cowardice and you may find that it will help you and others to feel better about it.
What should you do when someone else is the guilty party for having made a mistake?
In our busy and often stress-filled days, it can be easy to vent. Be careful! I mean, if you are dealing with someone who is mistake prone and doesn’t seem to care as much as they perhaps should, then it’s probably time to have a discussion with them. But don’t “fly off the handle”. If you do, you’ll be making a mistake. When you speak to them, don’t do it in front of their peers, otherwise YOU will be making a mistake. Talk to them in private. Point out that they are making too many mistakes and ask them why. And then coach them and mentor them. Make it clear that they will be expected to reduce their mistakes, but be sure to also offer to help them to improve. And if they do in fact improve, be sure to thank them and maybe even offer some kind of reward – otherwise you may be making a mistake. If they continue making too many mistakes, then you may have to take a more drastic action, but try to salvage the situation first!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
For starters, let’s face it. “To err is human” as the expression goes. We all make mistakes, although some more than others it seems. But there are two sides to this. One side is about how one deals with one’s own mistakes. The other part of the human equation is how one deals with the mistakes of others.
Mistakes come in different shapes and sizes. Little ones obviously don’t matter so much, but what should you do when you make a big mistake? If it’s something that can be fixed easily without any harm, then perhaps that is your best and only necessary course of action. But you should always ask yourself, “Who might be affected by this” and you should then consider informing them of any potential problems before matters get worse. If the mistake requires others be informed, waste no time! Report it as soon as possible. You’ll be looked upon with far less disdain if you immediately call attention to it rather than hoping it will just go away. If you fail to report a big mistake, you’ll then have made two mistakes, which makes things worse! Do not blame someone else. Take responsibility. Apologize! Offer to fix it or to pay for damages. Again – take responsibility! This will invite far more respect than cowardice and you may find that it will help you and others to feel better about it.
What should you do when someone else is the guilty party for having made a mistake?
In our busy and often stress-filled days, it can be easy to vent. Be careful! I mean, if you are dealing with someone who is mistake prone and doesn’t seem to care as much as they perhaps should, then it’s probably time to have a discussion with them. But don’t “fly off the handle”. If you do, you’ll be making a mistake. When you speak to them, don’t do it in front of their peers, otherwise YOU will be making a mistake. Talk to them in private. Point out that they are making too many mistakes and ask them why. And then coach them and mentor them. Make it clear that they will be expected to reduce their mistakes, but be sure to also offer to help them to improve. And if they do in fact improve, be sure to thank them and maybe even offer some kind of reward – otherwise you may be making a mistake. If they continue making too many mistakes, then you may have to take a more drastic action, but try to salvage the situation first!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
About the Accounting & Business School of the Rockies
During the last couple of months, I have interwoven a somewhat common theme of self-improvement throughout my blogs. I have written about keeping up with technology and math. I wrote of having passion, writing down your goals and making constant improvements. I have blogged about overcoming road blocks to employment, job interviews, changing careers and networking with people. And I have written of education being freedom and how making decisions today can better your future tomorrow.
Where do I get the ideas to blog about all this? Sometimes my own thoughts lead to ideas to blog about, but often my blog topics are inspired and influenced by the people I encounter on a daily basis, some being my co-workers, others being students.
I work with some of the best people I have ever experienced. The staff at the Accounting and Business School, myself included, really do care about the success of our students. We go the “extra mile” to provide our students with an excellent educational experience to help them on their way.
I witness many students enrolling in and progressing through any of our certificate programs. I enjoy watching them gain a new sense of confidence. Many successfully parlay their experience with our school into a new career. It gives me immense satisfaction to know I have played a role in helping other people to achieve success.
There are a number of exciting events happening at ABSR. We have improved our courseware and are expanding it to include self-paced on-line or take-home courses for those who struggle to find time in their schedule to go to school.
Starting near the end of April this year, we will be offering a PAID INTERNSHIP program for students who pay in full, either out-of-pocket or through a grant or funding agency, to enroll in our Professional Bookkeeping Certificate program (2-5 months long) or our Office Skills Training (1 month long). Upon completion of the educational program, those who have met the school criteria (such as a good attendance record and a grade of 75% or better), will be placed in a one-month 20hrs/week job.
If you are interested, we can help! Please call us so we can help get you started on your track to success.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Where do I get the ideas to blog about all this? Sometimes my own thoughts lead to ideas to blog about, but often my blog topics are inspired and influenced by the people I encounter on a daily basis, some being my co-workers, others being students.
I work with some of the best people I have ever experienced. The staff at the Accounting and Business School, myself included, really do care about the success of our students. We go the “extra mile” to provide our students with an excellent educational experience to help them on their way.
I witness many students enrolling in and progressing through any of our certificate programs. I enjoy watching them gain a new sense of confidence. Many successfully parlay their experience with our school into a new career. It gives me immense satisfaction to know I have played a role in helping other people to achieve success.
There are a number of exciting events happening at ABSR. We have improved our courseware and are expanding it to include self-paced on-line or take-home courses for those who struggle to find time in their schedule to go to school.
Starting near the end of April this year, we will be offering a PAID INTERNSHIP program for students who pay in full, either out-of-pocket or through a grant or funding agency, to enroll in our Professional Bookkeeping Certificate program (2-5 months long) or our Office Skills Training (1 month long). Upon completion of the educational program, those who have met the school criteria (such as a good attendance record and a grade of 75% or better), will be placed in a one-month 20hrs/week job.
If you are interested, we can help! Please call us so we can help get you started on your track to success.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Write Down Your Goals!!!
In 1953, Yale University conducted a study where a group of fresh graduates was asked if they had their goals written down. The survey revealed that only 3% of the students wrote down their goals.
The other 97% percent did not have clearly defined goals written down and apparently adopted the attitude of living one day at a time without having a destination and goals to focus on.
Twenty years later, those students were re-surveyed. Are you ready for this? It was revealed through the follow up survey that the 3% of students who had written down their goals earned a combined income three times greater than the combined income of the other 97% who did not bother to write down their goals.
So if you are really motivated to achieve your life’s goals, I would suggest that if you have not written down your goals, now would be the best time to start. Obviously, just writing your goals is not enough to achieve wealth and clout beyond your wildest dreams! One has to take action as well. But it would appear from the results of this survey, that having focus can make a really big difference.
Personally, whenever I set goals, I write them down and I make a point of reviewing them and re-evaluating them from time to time. In addition to stating what you want, be sure to also include a deadline or timeframe as to when you intend to get it. It’s also helpful to spell out the actions needed to accomplish your goals. In other words, set your goals with a time table and then begin to take action toward your aspirations and endeavors.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
The other 97% percent did not have clearly defined goals written down and apparently adopted the attitude of living one day at a time without having a destination and goals to focus on.
Twenty years later, those students were re-surveyed. Are you ready for this? It was revealed through the follow up survey that the 3% of students who had written down their goals earned a combined income three times greater than the combined income of the other 97% who did not bother to write down their goals.
So if you are really motivated to achieve your life’s goals, I would suggest that if you have not written down your goals, now would be the best time to start. Obviously, just writing your goals is not enough to achieve wealth and clout beyond your wildest dreams! One has to take action as well. But it would appear from the results of this survey, that having focus can make a really big difference.
Personally, whenever I set goals, I write them down and I make a point of reviewing them and re-evaluating them from time to time. In addition to stating what you want, be sure to also include a deadline or timeframe as to when you intend to get it. It’s also helpful to spell out the actions needed to accomplish your goals. In other words, set your goals with a time table and then begin to take action toward your aspirations and endeavors.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Job Interviews
When you are interviewing for a job, it is important to remember that this is your one and perhaps only opportunity to represent yourself in the hopes of landing the job. Therefore, treat such opportunities with due respect.
Do not be late! If from the very beginning you are unable to make an appointment on time, imagine what the employer will think. Be 15 minutes early. Often the employer will have you fill out a job application during this time so that you are ready when the interviewer is ready to see you.
Do not be unprepared! I take a folder with me that contains all of the information regarding my employment history, such as references and their contact information, former employers, addresses phone numbers, responsibilities, salary history, etc. If you have not interviewed for a while, I highly recommend finding someone willing to do a mock job interview with you. If you know someone who is a hiring manager, they could really help you when it comes to knowing what to say and do verses what not to say or do. Also, make sure your resume is perfect, without any errors of any kind.
If during the interview you are asked an open question such as, “Tell me about yourself”, do not answer by talking about your personal life, hobbies or interests. Use the question as an opportunity to explain why you are right for the job rather than talking about your hobbies and personal interests.
A good interviewer will open up the interview at some point to allow you to ask questions. It’s best to wait until then to ask your questions. Until then, allow the interview to set the direction. Don’t ask about salary or hourly wage or benefits until it is appropriate. Generally questions of this nature should be asked later, rather than sooner during the interview. Ask if there will be a second or third interview. If so, it’s best to wait until the later interviews to ask about benefits and compensation.
And finally, make sure to follow up quickly with a phone call or a brief written thank you letter or note.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Do not be late! If from the very beginning you are unable to make an appointment on time, imagine what the employer will think. Be 15 minutes early. Often the employer will have you fill out a job application during this time so that you are ready when the interviewer is ready to see you.
Do not be unprepared! I take a folder with me that contains all of the information regarding my employment history, such as references and their contact information, former employers, addresses phone numbers, responsibilities, salary history, etc. If you have not interviewed for a while, I highly recommend finding someone willing to do a mock job interview with you. If you know someone who is a hiring manager, they could really help you when it comes to knowing what to say and do verses what not to say or do. Also, make sure your resume is perfect, without any errors of any kind.
If during the interview you are asked an open question such as, “Tell me about yourself”, do not answer by talking about your personal life, hobbies or interests. Use the question as an opportunity to explain why you are right for the job rather than talking about your hobbies and personal interests.
A good interviewer will open up the interview at some point to allow you to ask questions. It’s best to wait until then to ask your questions. Until then, allow the interview to set the direction. Don’t ask about salary or hourly wage or benefits until it is appropriate. Generally questions of this nature should be asked later, rather than sooner during the interview. Ask if there will be a second or third interview. If so, it’s best to wait until the later interviews to ask about benefits and compensation.
And finally, make sure to follow up quickly with a phone call or a brief written thank you letter or note.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Changing Careers
I’ve done it twice now. It’s not easy. If you are looking to make a career change, I can offer some advice.
1. It’s a profound, life-changing event, so really think it through and decide what you want to do before doing it.
2. Be realistic. Expect it to be difficult, not impossible, but difficult. Save money and plan ahead. Expect that you will have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Even if you are advanced in your current career, do not expect that to give you much of a head start in your new career – even though you might think or know it should. It’s currently an employer’s market. You will likely have to start at a low wage. You may have to take an internship.
3. If you are serious about making the change, do anything and everything you can to show prospective employers that you are serious. Research, read, network, volunteer, join professional groups, and/or consider going to school. Anything you can do to bolster your vocational knowledge or experience will likely make you more attractive as a job candidate.
4. Write your new resume for your new career. Your new resume should be fashioned for your new career, not your old one.
5. Talk to people. Talk to people who have made career changes. They may have very valuable thoughts about it. Talk to people who work in the career you want. They may offer valuable insights as well.
6. When you finally get a job related to your new career, respect it and work smartly and show your employer they made a good decision to hire you. That way you will advance and grow and increase your income.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
1. It’s a profound, life-changing event, so really think it through and decide what you want to do before doing it.
2. Be realistic. Expect it to be difficult, not impossible, but difficult. Save money and plan ahead. Expect that you will have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Even if you are advanced in your current career, do not expect that to give you much of a head start in your new career – even though you might think or know it should. It’s currently an employer’s market. You will likely have to start at a low wage. You may have to take an internship.
3. If you are serious about making the change, do anything and everything you can to show prospective employers that you are serious. Research, read, network, volunteer, join professional groups, and/or consider going to school. Anything you can do to bolster your vocational knowledge or experience will likely make you more attractive as a job candidate.
4. Write your new resume for your new career. Your new resume should be fashioned for your new career, not your old one.
5. Talk to people. Talk to people who have made career changes. They may have very valuable thoughts about it. Talk to people who work in the career you want. They may offer valuable insights as well.
6. When you finally get a job related to your new career, respect it and work smartly and show your employer they made a good decision to hire you. That way you will advance and grow and increase your income.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Technology Today
I believe the job market has changed perhaps more in the last twenty years than during any other time in history. More recently, the slow economy has contributed to a fair share of change. But it seems major changes in the workplace have been due to ever-changing technology.
In order to function well in the job market today, it is almost an absolute requirement to have strong technology skills. At the very least, you most likely need good computer skills. But in addition to computer skills, you should have good technology skills in general. In other words, you should be able to compute, process, print, copy, scan, fax, e-mail, text message and archive.
Not every job requires a high degree of technology skills, but overall, most jobs nowadays require a fair amount of computer or technology skills. If you find yourself behind in these skills, you’ll likely also fall behind in the job market. So what are you waiting for? Don’t let time slip away. There’s no time like the present. If you want the dream job of tomorrow, you had better get up to speed with your technology skills today.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
In order to function well in the job market today, it is almost an absolute requirement to have strong technology skills. At the very least, you most likely need good computer skills. But in addition to computer skills, you should have good technology skills in general. In other words, you should be able to compute, process, print, copy, scan, fax, e-mail, text message and archive.
Not every job requires a high degree of technology skills, but overall, most jobs nowadays require a fair amount of computer or technology skills. If you find yourself behind in these skills, you’ll likely also fall behind in the job market. So what are you waiting for? Don’t let time slip away. There’s no time like the present. If you want the dream job of tomorrow, you had better get up to speed with your technology skills today.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Stay up on your Math!
Math is an incredible tool. We use it in so many aspects of our lives, often taking for granted the regularity with which we use math in our daily strife. Math is needed to balance our checkbooks. It is used in the culinary arts, engineering, computer science, medicine and the insurance industry. It is used on Wall Street and to predict the weather. Math is in music and the stars. Math is a language that speaks of the universe. It describes energy, trajectories, orbits, and the structural integrity of buildings and bridges. Math is literally everywhere at all times.
I honestly cannot think of a single profession or art where math isn’t needed one way or the other. Even if you don’t think you need or use math, I bet you do. But math serves not only as an excellent tool, but also as a means to get some exercise. I’m not talking about a physical workout! I’m talking about a mental workout. Your brain is like a muscle. Exercise does a muscle good. And being practiced in the art of the logic of math will help you to respond more quickly and accurately to any kind of problem that requires logic solve. Math – it does a brain good.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
I honestly cannot think of a single profession or art where math isn’t needed one way or the other. Even if you don’t think you need or use math, I bet you do. But math serves not only as an excellent tool, but also as a means to get some exercise. I’m not talking about a physical workout! I’m talking about a mental workout. Your brain is like a muscle. Exercise does a muscle good. And being practiced in the art of the logic of math will help you to respond more quickly and accurately to any kind of problem that requires logic solve. Math – it does a brain good.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Education is Freedom
Education lifts you and propels you. Knowledge is power. Education is a freeing force. In previous blogs I’ve discussed constant improvement and talked about stepping out of your comfort zones. Continually improve yourself. Get out of your comfort zones. Expand your horizons and keep learning and growing.
I know someone whose parents it seems seldom encouraged her to try or do things herself. It seems they did most everything for her. Now, as an adult, she struggles. My point is that learning should be a habit. Make it a habit to try and do things yourself. The more you do, the more you’ll learn.
Last winter my truck would sometimes not start in the cold. I didn’t want to have to spend a lot of money to fix the problem. I was pretty confident my starter was going bad. I had never replaced a starter before. After a quick Internet search, I found a video showing how to replace a starter. After a trip to the auto parts store, I had the starter replaced all by myself. It feels good to be able to learn and do things yourself.
Education comes in many shapes, sizes and flavors. We go to schools and get diplomas, degrees and certificates. But we all attend the school of life, or the school of hard knocks as well. And what’s on the curriculum is anything and everything. Life is an ongoing semester.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
I know someone whose parents it seems seldom encouraged her to try or do things herself. It seems they did most everything for her. Now, as an adult, she struggles. My point is that learning should be a habit. Make it a habit to try and do things yourself. The more you do, the more you’ll learn.
Last winter my truck would sometimes not start in the cold. I didn’t want to have to spend a lot of money to fix the problem. I was pretty confident my starter was going bad. I had never replaced a starter before. After a quick Internet search, I found a video showing how to replace a starter. After a trip to the auto parts store, I had the starter replaced all by myself. It feels good to be able to learn and do things yourself.
Education comes in many shapes, sizes and flavors. We go to schools and get diplomas, degrees and certificates. But we all attend the school of life, or the school of hard knocks as well. And what’s on the curriculum is anything and everything. Life is an ongoing semester.
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Constant Improvement
Constant improvement is a topic one of my supervisors brought up in a staff meeting many years ago. It’s a philosophy. It’s about making things better. It’s a good idea. I’ve tried to make it a habit in my life because it works.
For example, years ago I started a contracting business and needed a way to provide prospective clients with a written quotation and contract when they accepted my bid. A number of my customers complained that other contractors gave them hand-written estimates. I agreed. This is not very professional.
Some contractors would mail their bids or revisit their customers to deliver bids. I did not want to spend my valuable time driving to a customer’s site a second time just to deliver a bid after having met with them a day or two before. Nor did I want to hand my customers a handwritten bid. My customers liked the fact that I handed them a professional bid the same day. It worked well for them and me as well.
I started off with a laptop and wrote a simple program to crunch a few estimate numbers and print out a professional looking estimate that also served as a contract when both I and my customers signed it. It worked great! But on many occasions, it would occur to me that my program would better if I did this or that. So, I would often improve my estimating program.
After just a year, my simple estimating program had turned into a rather elaborate, but very functional system that made my life much easier, saved me time, and made a good impression on my clients.
So the next time you think about something you could do to make something better, don’t just think about it! Do it, and then watch what happens over time. You may learn to enjoy the philosophy of constant improvement!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
For example, years ago I started a contracting business and needed a way to provide prospective clients with a written quotation and contract when they accepted my bid. A number of my customers complained that other contractors gave them hand-written estimates. I agreed. This is not very professional.
Some contractors would mail their bids or revisit their customers to deliver bids. I did not want to spend my valuable time driving to a customer’s site a second time just to deliver a bid after having met with them a day or two before. Nor did I want to hand my customers a handwritten bid. My customers liked the fact that I handed them a professional bid the same day. It worked well for them and me as well.
I started off with a laptop and wrote a simple program to crunch a few estimate numbers and print out a professional looking estimate that also served as a contract when both I and my customers signed it. It worked great! But on many occasions, it would occur to me that my program would better if I did this or that. So, I would often improve my estimating program.
After just a year, my simple estimating program had turned into a rather elaborate, but very functional system that made my life much easier, saved me time, and made a good impression on my clients.
So the next time you think about something you could do to make something better, don’t just think about it! Do it, and then watch what happens over time. You may learn to enjoy the philosophy of constant improvement!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Overcoming Road Blocks to Employment
Overcoming Road Blocks to Employment
In this economy, it’s an employer’s market. And, unfortunately, this means it can be much harder to land an interview. There are any number of reasons a person may be told they have been turned down and often those reasons seem unfair. It seems unfair that employers can check your credit rating and use it against you. There are a lot of people who, for no fault of their own, have lost their house, their business or their job. And now their credit rating isn’t what it used to be. To then be turned down because of this can be extremely frustrating and vexing.
Realize that it isn’t a company or corporation that turned you down. Instead, it was a human. And as long as there are human beings, there will be unfairness and differences of opinion. It’s unfortunate, but true. So what can we do about it?
First of all, I find that kicking and screaming, while serving to vent, doesn’t fix the problem and can often make things worse. Following the advice of others, I have discovered that it helps to actually embrace and accept it. Learn from it. That’s the first thing you can do. Just accept that the world can be unfair and move on. If someone rudely cut you off on the freeway, will you think about that person tomorrow or a week from now? And will that person even bother think about you? Probably not! They may already be down the road cutting someone else off!
What you can do is to make it a goal to become a hiring manager one day – one who makes fair hiring decisions. Or remind yourself that if the hiring manager unfairly turned you down (this can be a matter of opinion), you probably wouldn’t want to work for them anyways, right? Keep looking for work. The process is about finding a good match between the company and who gets hired. Part of that responsibility rests with employers. The other part is on you. If you were turned down for an unfair reason, it’s on YOU to move on by realizing this would not have been a good match.
Perhaps it will help to look at it as interview practice, which is a good thing. Even if you were turned down, the practice will make you better for your next interview. Never give up, and I mean NEVER!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
In this economy, it’s an employer’s market. And, unfortunately, this means it can be much harder to land an interview. There are any number of reasons a person may be told they have been turned down and often those reasons seem unfair. It seems unfair that employers can check your credit rating and use it against you. There are a lot of people who, for no fault of their own, have lost their house, their business or their job. And now their credit rating isn’t what it used to be. To then be turned down because of this can be extremely frustrating and vexing.
Realize that it isn’t a company or corporation that turned you down. Instead, it was a human. And as long as there are human beings, there will be unfairness and differences of opinion. It’s unfortunate, but true. So what can we do about it?
First of all, I find that kicking and screaming, while serving to vent, doesn’t fix the problem and can often make things worse. Following the advice of others, I have discovered that it helps to actually embrace and accept it. Learn from it. That’s the first thing you can do. Just accept that the world can be unfair and move on. If someone rudely cut you off on the freeway, will you think about that person tomorrow or a week from now? And will that person even bother think about you? Probably not! They may already be down the road cutting someone else off!
What you can do is to make it a goal to become a hiring manager one day – one who makes fair hiring decisions. Or remind yourself that if the hiring manager unfairly turned you down (this can be a matter of opinion), you probably wouldn’t want to work for them anyways, right? Keep looking for work. The process is about finding a good match between the company and who gets hired. Part of that responsibility rests with employers. The other part is on you. If you were turned down for an unfair reason, it’s on YOU to move on by realizing this would not have been a good match.
Perhaps it will help to look at it as interview practice, which is a good thing. Even if you were turned down, the practice will make you better for your next interview. Never give up, and I mean NEVER!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Friday, January 28, 2011
It’s a lot about who you know
Statistics indicate that your next job is most likely to come about because of someone you know. Hiring managers are more likely to hire someone who is somehow connected with someone known and liked in their workforce. Therefore, make networking a habit. Use it to lift your spirits. With each person you meet, you increase your chances of finding your next job. And who knows, maybe you can help someone else find a job. Wouldn’t that feel good?
When should you start? Now! Don’t wait. Where do you start? Contact family members, friends, previous co-workers and supervisors, and neighbors. Certainly there is someone you know. Tell them you are looking for a job and ask if they know of anyone companies that are hiring.
Join professional organizations and networking groups. Contact job recruiters. Go to job fairs and seminars. Be comfortable. Be yourself. Be prepared. Enjoy a little small talk and look for things that you have in common. When you meet someone with whom you share interests, be sure to get their name, phone number, or email address. And be sure to later follow up with a friendly brief message. Just get out there! Be persistent and look for ways to stand out in the crowd. Many will be impressed simply by the fact that you followed up.
If you are changing careers, you may wish to consider vocational training or an internship, or both. This will not only show prospective employers that you are serious, it will also help develop your human network. The statistics don’t lie. You will most likely land your next job as a result of someone you know.
The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies offers quick, quality Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. You may qualify for a grant to pay for your certification! Call us at 303-755-6885 to learn more!
When should you start? Now! Don’t wait. Where do you start? Contact family members, friends, previous co-workers and supervisors, and neighbors. Certainly there is someone you know. Tell them you are looking for a job and ask if they know of anyone companies that are hiring.
Join professional organizations and networking groups. Contact job recruiters. Go to job fairs and seminars. Be comfortable. Be yourself. Be prepared. Enjoy a little small talk and look for things that you have in common. When you meet someone with whom you share interests, be sure to get their name, phone number, or email address. And be sure to later follow up with a friendly brief message. Just get out there! Be persistent and look for ways to stand out in the crowd. Many will be impressed simply by the fact that you followed up.
If you are changing careers, you may wish to consider vocational training or an internship, or both. This will not only show prospective employers that you are serious, it will also help develop your human network. The statistics don’t lie. You will most likely land your next job as a result of someone you know.
The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies offers quick, quality Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Management, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. You may qualify for a grant to pay for your certification! Call us at 303-755-6885 to learn more!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Your decisions today affect your reality tomorrow
While looking through a local newspaper in the fall of 2009, I learned of a job fair at Invesco field. I planned to attend. But the following morning I struggled to muster the energy and desire to attend yet another job fair. I almost didn’t go. But I had this nagging thought in the back of my head: “What if I miss out on an opportunity because I’m not feeling like going today?”
I’m glad I pushed myself into going. I interviewed with a number of the companies represented at the fair. One of the companies I was interested in at the job fair was the “Accounting and Business School of the Rockies”. When I visited with them at the fair, I felt genuinely interested in attending classes in order to demonstrate recent education and job skills to prospective employers.
After taking the Professional Bookkeeper Certificate Program, I found myself interested in becoming an instructor for the school. So I submitted my resume and am now gainfully employed in a position that I truly enjoy. A decision made over a year ago now has me well on my way to enjoying a challenging new career. I hate to think what would have happened if I didn’t attend that job fair! So remember, the decisions you make today affect your reality tomorrow. Don’t wait!!!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
I’m glad I pushed myself into going. I interviewed with a number of the companies represented at the fair. One of the companies I was interested in at the job fair was the “Accounting and Business School of the Rockies”. When I visited with them at the fair, I felt genuinely interested in attending classes in order to demonstrate recent education and job skills to prospective employers.
After taking the Professional Bookkeeper Certificate Program, I found myself interested in becoming an instructor for the school. So I submitted my resume and am now gainfully employed in a position that I truly enjoy. A decision made over a year ago now has me well on my way to enjoying a challenging new career. I hate to think what would have happened if I didn’t attend that job fair! So remember, the decisions you make today affect your reality tomorrow. Don’t wait!!!
We offer short-term Certificate programs for Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User and Project Management bootcamp. We also offer Securities training for those interested in passing the Series 6 or Series 7 licensing tests. Please call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about exciting opportunities to make your future reality a good one!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
