Seven Ways Military Spouses Can Avoid Resume Mistakes .

As a military spouse you likely take on many duties every day, especially as you try to improve your career skills.  One taxing chore that can be tough to keep up with is creating/updating your resume.  There are some common mistakes that most military spouses  make on their resumes.  Given how busy you are, we want to help you with this task so you can keep your resume out of the “pile” that most will end up in.   So take heed of these simple rules to create a solid resume that will get you the interview.

1. Exaggerating your credentials: What?! Everyone does it right? You see the gaps or descriptions of job duties and feel you have to exaggerate your experience, talents or titles.  What this really means is simple:  you don’t like your current resume, so it is time to revise it.  Revising does not mean exaggerating, it just means providing clarity.  Think back to your time at these jobs; did you receive any awards?  Work on any special projects?  What work was critical to making the customer happy?  Answer these questions and you won’t be exaggerating; you’ll be providing the important information employers want to know.
2. Thinking the title of your job will tell it all: Don’t expect HR or hiring managers to be mind readers. You need to spell out everything that you did with your past jobs. Don’t just copy and paste a job description.  Try to write out a one or two sentence summary of what you did, specifically focusing on how what you did provided value to your company.  From there you’ll start to get a better idea of how to clearly explain what you did in your position.
3. Sending out old resumes: Face it we all despise updating our resumes. It’s a daunting task, but keeping it up to date shows employers you care about yourself and the position you are applying for.  Updating your resume has to be done and sometimes you will have two or three resumes going depending on the jobs for which you are applying.
4. Not explaining employment gaps: You will likely have gaps, stemming either from having your precious kiddos to PCS-ing or even the many “hurry up and wait” situations the military will put your through. You can minimize them by using a functional style resume instead of a chronological resume. This way you can showcase your skills upfront and focus on what you can bring to the table, rather than worrying about meeting some artificial timeline.
5. For your enjoyment only: Your resume is not for you! Sorry tough love here. Although this is a picture of your work history and is indeed only about you, this resume is for the hiring manager or HR specialist to help them see that you meet their needs to fill an open position. They want to see that what you have done will allow them to not just fill the position but be successful as well.
6. Not tooting your own horn: Toot, Toot! This can be a tough step, many of us don’t do well when having to write down all of our accomplishments. I said this in point #2 above and I will say it again: Don’t copy and paste a job description. If you do that, you will not prove that you made the job your own. It will also show that you have zero initiative and imagination.  So take some time to get into a mindset where you have extra pride in what you have done and then write out your accomplishments; it really does help.
7. Sit and wait for a phone call back: There are likely hundreds of people out there applying for that job too. Don’t just sit there and wait. Networking is key — find a friend, neighbor or anyone who will help you put your resume at the top of the stack. Also, follow up a few days after you send the resume with a call or email.

The most important thing is don’t give up! As a military spouse you have so much to offer a company even if you only have a few years’ experience.  Network as much as possible and brush off your LinkedIn account. And remember – Bama At work and World Education.net provide each of our students a dedicated career coach who helps them with resume writing, interviewing skills, and networking.   We also offer the MyCAA scholarship to qualified military spouses. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website for more info and news about Professional Development, Online Training and how to improve your professional profile.

Article by Kelly Fuhlman, Director of Social Media  for World Education , and is personally involved in helping others make a better life for themselves through education. World Education is one of the main partner of the University of Alabama for Online Certificate Programs.

Creating a High Performing Team.

One of my favorite quotes is from Albert Einstein, who said, “I never teach my pupils, I only provide the conditions in which they can learn.”  This is a key concept to remember when you start exercising more leadership the further you get into your career.  In determining what kind of leader you will be, you need to know how to create the conditions to produce a high performing team that will grow.

Learning the ropes as a manager can be a long and difficult ride, but it doesn’t have to be.  Here are the most common tips to use to foster an atmosphere of growth within your teams.

1. Your title is not enough: Sorry to tell you but the titles of “director,” “manager” or “VP” will not move your people to outperform their past efforts. It is about learning to earn the respect of your team.  It is about getting out of your office and getting your hands dirty, showing them you are willing to work just as hard as they are to get the job done!

2. We are friends: You have to have defined lines to properly lead others. Yes, you want to have an open door policy for your team, but seek a balance that helps them to help themselves.

3. Goals? What is that: Along with defined lines, your people need to have clear goals they have to accomplish every day, week, month, quarter and year. These need to be 100% understood so they know how to prioritize their day to accomplish projects and tasks in the proper order.

4. I have to hire someone now: The impact of hiring the wrong person can only create more stress on you and your team. Take your time when hiring, make sure they are a good fit within the company and your team’s culture. Hire a team member not just a body!

5. Everyone is motivated by money: Although your employees do need to pay their bills, many of them are not solely motivated by money. Some are motivated by work/life balance and maybe telecommuting can get their performance to increase. Others may need a pat on the back, extra responsibility, or even a sense of camaraderie with the company or team. Everyone is different so help them build SMART goals and watch them shine!

We know there is so much more to being a manager, and that is why we have released our newly expanded catalog of professional enrichment courses.  Built for convenience and packed with quality instruction, our professional development and enrichment courses can help you master many of the obstacles you face when improving your career and teams.  These courses range from business and health to courses that help grow your perspective on the world.  These affordable courses can range from 1 hour of your time to just a few weeks to finish. Bama At Work, The University of Alabama partners with World Education to offer students 100% online career training programs. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website for more info and news about Professional Development, Online Training and how to improve your professional profile.

Article by Kelly Fuhlman, Director of Social Media  for World Education , and is personally involved in helping others make a better life for themselves through education. World Education is one of the main partner of the University of Alabama for Online Certificate Programs.

Show Your Skills with Digital Badges.

When it comes to the hiring process, social media is now something many employers check out when evaluating candidates.  Whether it’s a LinkedIn page or Facebook profil or even Twitter, wouldn’t it be great to have your education institution endorse you with digital badges for the skills you have learned?

For many adults, the idea of a “badge” comes with memories of our childhood as a Boy Scout or Girl Scout. We had to earn each badge by completing a task and demonstrating our knowledge and skill. We then handed that badge over to our mom or grandmother to sew onto our vest so we could display it with pride. What if there was an opportunity as an adult to earn knowledge and skill badges with the ability to digitally display for all to see? With Digital Badges from World Education.net and Bama At Work, you can do just that!

Digital Badges are a way of displaying the skills you possess based on the courses you have completed; think of it as your own portfolio.  Your skill badges are issued by your education institution, so it is your own university that is vouching for you.  You can download your digital badges as you complete your courses.  They are stored in your “Backpack” online, and from there you can share them via Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Facebook.

We are committed to enhancing your value and this is another tool we provide to help you succeed in the modern workplace.  Bama At Work, The University of Alabama partners with World Education to offer students 100% online career training programs. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website for more info and news about Professional Development, Online Training and how to improve your professional profile.

Article by Kelly Fuhlman, Director of Social Media  for World Education , and is personally involved in helping others make a better life for themselves through education. World Education is one of the main partner of the University of Alabama for Online Certificate Programs.

6 Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions.

Well, it is the beginning of January and you are now staring at a list of your New Year’s Resolutions. Where do you go now? We all have good intentions when setting those new goals, and we want those intentions realized by actually accomplishing these goals during the New Year.  We know self-improvement is big in America, but according to a study from the University of Scranton only 8% of us actually achieve our resolutions. So as always, I wanted to find out why people have such a tough time keeping their resolutions.

1. NO bucket list! As the year comes to an end the idea of a new year and a new start creeps in and we start to make resolutions that are too big for us to achieve. The key to achieving any goal is to keep it simple. Make small attainable goals throughout the year.
2. Making vague resolutions. The goal of losing weight or saving money is very vague. Make the goals more tangible. For example: I will start drinking my coffee from home and put that extra money back in the bank, or I will commit to a Zumba class twice a week and drink more water. These are tangible goals that you can touch and feel.
3. Keeping it a secret! With the world of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so many others, you need to announce it to the world or even just close friends if you are not on social media. This helps tremendously with personal accountability. Put it out there for people to see and let them know when you have accomplished them as well, you’ll be surprised at the support you get to keep going!
4. Beating yourself up. We are human and we will slip. So, don’t beat yourself up when you miss a work out, get that Starbucks, or even have more of that cake you wanted. Then when you are done, simply pick back up and move forward with your goals.
5. Saying I can’t. Your ability to accomplish your resolution is only as strong as YOUR belief that you CAN DO IT. When you say you can’t you are creating a self-fulfilling attitude that significantly weakens your ability to achieve your resolution.
6. Not celebrating the small wins. We are driven by rewards and when you have set an entire 12 months as a time line it may be difficult for you to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Have mile markers for yourself and celebrate that small win when you achieve it. This is not eating a box of cookies after you lose weight, but rather buying yourself a new outfit to celebrate your new waistline. Celebrating small wins reinforces your belief that you can do it.

The most important thing is to stick to it and never give up! If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to find a new career, go back to school or get that promotion, then we can help. Bama At Work, The University of Alabama partners with World Education to offer students 100% online career training programs. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website for more info and news about Professional Development, Online Training and how to improve your professional profile.

Article by Kelly Fuhlman, Director of Social Media  for World Education , and is personally involved in helping others make a better life for themselves through education. World Education is one of the main partner of the University of Alabama for Online Certificate Programs.

5 ways to Stay Focused on Studies During the Holidays.

Believe it or not many people don’t get out of school during the holiday break! Most college students take their finals this week and then are done until the middle of January. Some will decide to take mini-sessions or even online courses over holiday breaks to increase their knowledge or really reach that goal for 2015 to finish school and find a new career. Whatever your reason for going to school over the holidays, this busy season provides many distractions from your studies.  To help you stay focused on your goals, here are some tips to help you stay on target while not missing out on the fun too!

1. Stay on a schedule: You have a schedule already, but make sure to modify it around holiday events and family visits. Make sure you carve out time every day to do your work or study some. This way you will not feel so far behind when January rolls around I find it best to get up early in the morning to get things done and out of the way; but, if you are more of a night person, take time then to do some homework after everyone is asleep.
2. Take Breaks: Whatever holiday you are celebrating make sure and take those big days off. Spend that day with your family and keep the computer and books closed! Go and celebrate the New Year with friends and family without having to think about math problems or an essay. Again, if you are doing something every day leading up to these big days it will not hold you back if you take the entire day off.
3. Clear your mind: Those invitations are piling up, your family is asking you what you will bring, and you also find yourself surfing through Amazon for gifts. Phew!  The best thing to do is write down what you want to think about later after you are done with your studies. Put all of your ideas, thoughts and concerns on a paper; fold it up and put it in a drawer to look at later.
4. Reward yourself: This is so important once you hit a milestone you have set. Reward yourself with a night at the movies, dinner with friends, time with family or even a nap! Make sure your rewards are not counterproductive to your goals but will help you push through until the end.
5. Stay healthy: It can be very tempting to indulge in a ton of holiday treats! Eating sugary and fatty foods can drag your metabolism down and kill your energy levels. Sometimes taking a 30 minute walk or run can help clear your head and get you focused. Also, make sure you are getting enough rest as well. All-nighters do not help before exams or getting a big project done. It leaves you exhausted the next day and will keep you from pushing forward.

Staying focused during the holidays is difficult, but with a clear commitment to your goals the work you do now will pay off in the end when you find that dream career!  Bama At Work wishes you Happy Holidays.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website for more info and news about Professional Development, Online Training and how to improve your professional profile.

Article by Kelly Fuhlman, Director of Social Media  for World Education , and is personally involved in helping others make a better life for themselves through education. World Education is one of the main partner of the University of Alabama for Online Certificate Programs.

The Advantages of Blended Learning for Six Sigma Courses.

Blended Learning is defined as a Lean Six Sigma training model that integrates multiple delivery modes and learning activities.  Generally, it consists of a mix of e-learning, classroom exercises, coaching and job application.  It is designed to reach a globally and educationally diverse audience in any industry.  It is designed to be highly interactive and flexible with “High Touch” access to mentors who will aid in the application to real business problems.

There are two levels of Lean Six Sigma offered through this program:  Green Belt and Black Belt.  The duration for the Green Belt is approximately 4-6 months.  The duration for the Black Belt would be approximately 6-8 months.  During the journey, an individual will work online to review the course material, work individual exercises that are geared toward working on a process improvement project tied to the business, and complete short quizzes at the end of each lesson.  A mentor/coach oversees the work and provides individual and group workshops, study halls and in-class simulations that reinforce the learnings.

At the end of the course, a completed improvement project is reviewed by the mentor/coach for completeness, content, and tool application.  Individuals will also be asked to take a final comprehensive exam.  A passing grade of 70% or better qualifies the individual for certification.  The University of Alabama will provide the certification credentials upon approval of the mentor/coach. With our new blended format, you get the best of combined learning environments to enable you to master the material with a minimum amount of travel and in-person class time, but with a high degree of personal interaction with our faculty and other students in your class!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website for more info and news about Six Sigma courses, professional development for the workplace and how to improve the efficiency of your organization.

Article by Dianna Rockett, MBA, SIX SIGMA MASTER BLACK BELT, and President and CEO of Donald E. Smith Associates, Inc . a business management consulting firm specializing in process improvement initiatives using Six Sigma Methodology. She is also a our instructor for the new blended Six Sigma program.

7 Questions to ask Your Career Coach in Online Training.

We often see the term “coach” and think about athletics or using a trainer at the gym to help us fit into our summer clothes.  Yet we rarely think about a career coach to help guide us through our pursuit of a better life at work. Let’s face it: as jobseekers, we only have so much knowledge of how to polish our resumes, put the perfect cover letter together to get the attention of a hiring manager, and find different ways to network. This is why having an experienced career coach who focuses on your success will help so much once you finish your education or certification program.

Many schools or universities offer “career coaching” as a part of their enrollment processes, but what is a career coach exactly, and what should you be looking for in a coach?  The bottom line is a career coach should help you assess your professional situation with a good amount of honesty, curiosity, empathy and compassion. With the normal amount of anxiety that comes with the job search, your career coach should help you feel comfortable and inspire you to keep going. The largest part of a career coach’s job is to bring you out of your shell and help you understand that just submitting your resume to online job search engines will not give you the kind of return you want. Career coaching is extremely personal so make sure you do your research before you commit.

Here are a few questions you should ask during your research:

1. Just like with a sports coach, you want to know a career coach’s win/loss record. If you are talking to a school or university, ask what their career services statistics are and get them to show you the following: their student graduation rate, success in passing certification exams, and their career statistics. If you want to learn more, look up Gainful Employment Regulations.
2. Find out their career path. You want to make sure that the person who is coaching you had both coaching experience and real world experience as well.
3. Geographic location is another option for you to consider. Technology like Skype gives you the opportunity to choose a coach from anywhere in the world. This is your own preference so make sure you are comfortable with your choice.
4. Interview your top two or three picks. Ask about the following: fees, rates (they may vary from $50 to $300 per hour), how often you will meet, and for how long. Most coach-client relationships last from six months to a year.
5. Whether it is a school or a career coach, you need to ask what is included in his or her “experience.” It should include some of the following: goal setting, time management, study skills, and your motivation to advance.
6. If you are working with your school or university, then there are also a few important questions you should ask and have answered. Will they help you build a solid resume? If there are certification requirements involved, ask them how they can help you. Are there hands-on job experience opportunities they can help you with such as externships or internships? Will they teach you how to market yourself and network? Also, find out if they will set up mock interview sessions with you to prepare you for that job interview.
7. More than anything chemistry and connection with your coach should be top on your list. You will have to be comfortable with sharing intimate details of your life with your coach, so it’s important that you like and see him or her as an equal.

Bama At Work and our partner World Education.net will assign our students a dedicated career coach from Day 1 who will assist them with a success plan from training to a fulfilling career. We offer our graduates career development assistance up to 1 year after course completion to make sure they are on track to find that dream job!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website for more info and news about Professional Development, Online Training and how to improve your professional profile.

Article by Kelly Fuhlman, Director of Social Media  for World Education , and is personally involved in helping others make a better life for themselves through education. World Education is one of the main partner of The University of Alabama for Online Certificate Programs.

 

Happy Halloween!

There’s nothing spookier than a workforce in need of training…

Fear not, Bama At Work is here to help you and your organization meet all of your professional development goals!

There’s no need to be afraid of the competition when you have strong leadership, sharp skills and fine-tuned processes.  Our wide variety of certificate programs can help you meet your educational objectives, improve proficiency, and advance in your career.  They can even be customized and provided on-site for companies with specific needs.

Are you terrified of not meeting your CEU requirements? Our conferences are vast in scope and well-known for their rich content, atmosphere and networking opportunities.  If you’re frightened of starting a new career, our online programs are available for you to start anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.

 Experience hair-raising, spine-chilling success in every position and profession by taking advantage of what Bama At Work has to offer. Go ahead and give us a ring at 205-348-6222 or explore our website, if you dare! Happy Halloween!

What to Look For in an Online Certificate Program ?

With the growing cost of a college degree, many students are leery of taking out thousands of dollars in student loans.  In looking for alternatives many of these students are turning to short certificate programs that are significantly less of an impact on the pocketbook and can be completed in 6 months to a year. These courses are short and get right to the training needed without any excess costs for the student.  As good as they are for your time and budget, how can you be sure of the quality of the program you are taking?  If you are considering a certificate program, please pay attention to these “buyer beware” tips you need to follow:

• Accreditation of the school.
  You need to ask the institution if they are regionally or nationally accredited. If the representative you are talking to starts to stutter on this question and begins to ramble about memberships and associations, then you need to be suspicious! Regional accredited schools are most of your colleges and universities, like The University of Alabama with Bama At Work. If you receive a certificate from a recognized school you are covered on the accreditation question and employers will see this as a trustworthy institution. Sometimes the best way to ask this question is “Are you approved by the Department of Education?”. Do your research!

• Preparing for a certification exam.
  Many certificate programs prepare you for an exam that will certify you to work in a certain industry. Many careers in the health and fitness industry require you to have a certain amount of hours in training and an 80% or above on your certification exam before you can work with clients or patients. Make sure the school you choose is an approved training provider and offers vouchers to take the exam.

• Career Services.
  Many schools say they have career services that help students find a job after the training is done. However, you need to find out what services they specifically they offer. When you ask the question “How are you going to help me?” and they fumble over that question or simply give you a document, chances are you will not be happy.  However, if they offer you a personal career coach, resume writing tech, webinars for current students to attend for career development, and also stay with you at least 1 year after completion then you have found the right place!

• Cost and time commitment.
  This is where your research comes into play. Make sure you compare prices before choosing a school. Many schools will charge a premium for programs that you can take elsewhere with the same training, accreditation and vouchers, sometimes at 50 to 60% cheaper. Again, check the credentials of the schools but also make sure you are not paying more than you should for a certificate program.

Using these 4 tips should help you choose the right school and program that fits your needs and not break the bank. Make sure when it comes to your money and education you are an informed consumer!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website for more info and news about Professional Development, Online Training and how to improve your professional profile.

Article by Kelly Fuhlman, Director of Social Media  for World Education , and is personally involved in helping others make a better life for themselves through education. World Education is one of the main partner of the University of Alabama for Online Certificate Programs

The Role of Simulation Software in Electronic Online Certificate Programs.

Training students to use bench top equipment, robots, PLCs, and laboratory equipment is a crucial stepping stone for their development as technicians in the industrial workplace. But how would you gain this crucial experience in an online program? Our programs accomplish this by utilizing leading commercial simulators to introduce new content, develop new designs, and learn the troubleshooting and programming skills that are fundamental in a successful student’s skill set.

 CircuitLogix Simulator running a resonance lab

The Electronics Technician Certificate and Electromechanical Technician Certificate programs make use of CircuitLogix and 3D Lab simulators.  3D Lab provides a simple bench top lab environment within which students learn introductory circuit building skills. Components and testing equipment are assembled in the virtual bench top environment, and students build and test circuits.  CircuitLogix provides a more advanced experience as students become more familiar with components and circuit building. It uses a 2 dimensional “schematic capture” environment, very similar to the actual industrial design tools used by professionals to develop their circuits. These simulation tools, integrated within the program content, introduce schematic capture, demonstrate live circuits, teach troubleshooting, and provide a design environment where you can design and test real circuits without having to step into a real bench top lab.

LogixPro simulator running an industrial silo simulation

Two different PLC simulators are integrated into our two PLC technician certificate programs These simulators provide an environment where students can gain experience with the operation of PLCs, and design ladder logic programs to solve automation problems.

The PLC Technician certificate program uses LogixPro, which simulates the Allen-Bradley 500 series PLCs, while the PLC Technician II certificate program uses PLClogix, a simulator for the Allen-Bradley Rockwell 5000 series PLCs. Our PLC technician certificate and LogixPro provide a basic introduction to PLCs in manufacturing and simulates RSLogix 500, and SLC 500 series PLC software. The PLC technician II certificate and PLCLogix covers a similar experience in PLC theory; however, it covers more advanced programming content and applications, and emulates Rockwell’s Logix 5000 series PLC software.

Our Robotics Technician Certificate utilizes RoboLogix, a simulator developed to simulate robotics systems and a control environment using to teach pendants. This program provides students with an introductory foundation in the theory and application of industrial robotics while specifically teaching how to program an industrial robot’s movement and actions in a manufacturing environment.

These simulators are yours to keep after completion of the certificate programs, allowing the student to design, test, program, and troubleshoot programs and circuits before applying them on the job in their future positions. The fundamental skills developed by students within the simulators for these programs give our graduates exceptional practical skills upon graduation that can readily be transferred and applied to the workplace.

To learn more about professional development, online training and how to improve your professional profile, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + , LinkedIn or visit our website.

Article by Scott Duncan,  Manager Business Development for George Brown College. George Brown College offers online certificate electronic online certificate programs in its partnership with Bama At Work.