Five Ways to Improve Learning with Performance Management

E-learning for external audiences, applied to the right business problem in the right way, can deliver enormous efficiency and effectiveness gains to an organization. But how do you justify the investment and ensure that learning is aligned with business goals?

In this whitepaper, you’ll look at e-learning from a business manager’s perspective, describe some of the ways it can improve your bottom line and build a compelling business case reaching out to your external audiences including customers, partners, channel or distributor networks, independent agents, suppliers, franchises/franchisees, association members, contractors or volunteers.

 

The Business Advantages of E-Learning

Classroom-based (instructor-led) training is still an effective way to teach new skills, particularly those subject areas that involve changes in behavior or complex concepts. But it comes at a high cost in terms of training charges, travel and lodging expenses, and lost work time. And the transition from theory to application in the workplace is still not guaranteed.

 

E-learning engages the end user with interactive material, testing and motivation. Web 2.0 learning strategies further adds human support and interaction between students and instructors through text chat technology, social learning, collaboration and Web casting, thereby extending the scope of what can be effectively taught into many new subject areas. In addition, more supporting material can be made available by capitalizing on the ease with which an e-learning system can link to other resources, multimedia, documents and systems.

 

E-learning for external audiences can also offer organizations the opportunity to:

 

•               Develop and deliver education and information to audiences outside your organization.

•               Drive revenue through customer, channel and distributor channels.

•               Increase sales and market penetration.

•               Accelerate adoption rate of new products and services.

•               Improve productivity and information sharing with external partners.

•               Deliver certification programs and share knowledge.

•               Eliminate excess training costs while accelerating time to market.

•               Increase customer satisfaction.

•               Provide consistent training available 24x7x365.

 

The growth in Internet-delivered learning is driven by both compelling economics and the potential for more effective education and knowledge management. The Internet reduces the cost of learning, both direct and indirect, and increases its relevance and retention. In addition, it enables learning programs to be customized and tailored for individual audiences and facilitates knowledge management by providing the means to collect and re-deploy knowledge more efficiently and consistently. Whereas customers, partners, suppliers, independent agents or association members once had to congregate in one location to receive learning, sometimes flying in from around the country or even the world, learning can now come to them online and on-demand. Read more>>

Executive Guide: Improving Business Performance through Sales Teams, Partners, and Customers

Engaging Your Extended Enterprise

 

Organizations today face multiple challenges to sustain and grow their bottom line, and they engage multiple audiences to achieve success including customers, partners, suppliers, channel and distribution networks, independent agents, and others. These diverse groups of constituents who have an impact on your organization’s success are known as your Extended Enterprise.

 

Likely, your organization is involved in activities to derive the greatest value from these groups including:

• Strengthening sales skills and tool sets to increase sales effectiveness.
• Cross-selling and up-selling to customers to grow your existing share of wallet.
• Focusing on customer satisfaction and retention to protect the revenue stream.
• Improving customer service by finding new ways to sell, generating greater knowledge of the customer and adding value to current offerings to reduce churn.
• Finding new customers to capture new revenue.
• Generating additional revenue streams via precisely targeted marketing and heightened brand awareness.
• Evaluating supplier agreements and processes to minimize costs.
• Enabling Channel and Distribution networks with tool sets and knowledge to drive more sales.

 

Improving Business Performance

But exactly how are these objectives to be attained in a cost effective manner? The answer lies in the concept of the Extended Enterprise. SumTotal’s Extended Enterprise platform is ideal for companies that are to some degree dependent on external audiences to promote and sell their products. Industries including insurance, real estate, financial services, durable goods manufacturing, technology, communications, or any field relying on the channel or independent reps/dealerships can all benefit markedly from the Extended Enterprise. Firms operating in such sectors can harness Extended Enterprise to:

1. Boost agility to prepare for and react to rapidly changing market conditions.
2. Improve business performance and productivity to impact the top and bottom line.
3. Increase customer retention and acquisition to maximize revenue.
4. Protect, reinforce, differentiate, and promote brand image to attract and acquire customers.

Read more>>

21% of Employers Plan to Hire Seasonal Workers This Summer

The competition for summer gigs is expected to remain stiff this year as more workers use seasonal work to get their foot in the door for long-term opportunities. According to CareerBuilder’s annual Summer Job Forecast, one-in-five employers (21 percent) reported they plan to hire seasonal workers this summer, on par with last year. More than half (57 percent) of these employers said they will be considering some summer hires for permanent positions. More than 2,800 hiring managers participated in the nationwide study, which was conducted from February 21 to March 10, 2011.

“More than half of employers reported they treat summer jobs as extended job interviews,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. “Summer employment is a great way for workers to network, test-drive different career paths and earn permanent placement within an organization. It’s still a highly competitive hiring environment, so you want to make sure you apply early, highlight specific accomplishments in your resume and thoroughly research the company before the interview.”

What They’ll Pay

More than half (58 percent) of employers reported they will pay $10 or more for their summer positions. Thirty-one percent will pay between $8 to $10; eight percent will pay $20 or more.

Types of Summer Jobs

While Retail and Hospitality jobs most often come to mind in terms of summer employment, employers also plan to hire in the following areas:

• Office Support
• Customer Service
• Information Technology
• Engineering
• Research
• Landscape Maintenance
• Sales and Telemarketing
• Construction/Painting
• Camp Counseling

There’s Still Time to Get Hired

While 35 percent of employers reported that they typically complete their summer hiring by April, 45 percent complete it in May while 20 percent will hire in June and beyond.

Tips for Landing a Summer Job
Looking at a subset of Human Resource managers, one-third (33 percent) reported that they typically receive more than 100 applications for each summer job opening. Nearly half (47 percent) receive more than 50 applications. Rasmussen recommends the following tips to help you stand out from the crowd, based on what hiring managers said they want to see most from candidates:

1. Get specific about your accomplishments – 55 percent. Provide examples of how you’ve contributed to previous organizations, quantifying results whenever possible. If you’re in high school or college, you can reference class work or involvement in school or community organizations.
2. Get a referral – 37 percent. The hiring manager is much more likely to consider your application if someone within the organization has sent it to him/her.
3. Show you’re knowledgeable about the company – 35 percent. Talk about something interesting you recently read about the company during the interview. It underscores your enthusiasm for the job.
4. Talk about long-term interest – 35 percent. If you’re interested in a permanent position with the organization, inform the hiring manager up front. It can set you apart as a serious candidate.
5. Submit a cover letter – 26 percent. Often overlooked, the cover letter enables you to showcase your communication skills, grab their attention and highlight your main selling points.
6. Remember to send a thank you – 24 percent. It shows follow through and enables you to further emphasize why you’re the best candidate for the job.

Jobs You Might Not Know You’re Qualified To Do

So you just graduated college, and the pure joy you felt after being freed from the chains of your undergraduate institution has quickly metamorphosed into shear terror – you don’t have a job. To top it off, you just realized how utterly unmarketable your major really is.



There is hope; you just need to think creatively. First off, recognize the idea that you’re going to land your dream job straight out of college isn’t very realistic at this point. If you really are in a panic, you’re going to need to consider what your limits are when it comes to pay, hours and location. Hopefully this isn’t the case, but you should be prepared to compromise at some point.



How your (possibly worthless) degree can help you get other jobs in other fields



English/Journalism



Ideally, you’d like to earn a living by writing books or articles that will be consumed by the masses. However, you still have to support yourself in the meantime. Market your writing skills to a new platform. Some believe that the Internet has made the need for good writing obsolete, but nothing could be further from the truth. With so much poor quality content being pushed online these days, big name companies are hiring professional writers to work with their marketing teams. Although online marketing might seem like a far cry from writing fiction novels or investigative journalism, the skill set is the same. There’s no shortage of companies looking to hire full-time writers to help them produce great content.



History



Having experience in researching past events and paying attention to details can come in handy in a variety of different ways. Since history majors often study the progression of American government, a job working for a government agency is extremely viable. History majors know how to find specific information and then use it to support theses, which is similar to the work by those who work for government agencies (i.e. lobbyists and those who write bills at the state level). State legislators always need assistants to help them research precedents and write bills related to policies such as insurance, surety bonds or taxation.



Philosophy



It’s generally assumed that the ultimate goal of philosophy majors is to either teach or write lengthy, existentialist bodies of work. However, this might not be feasible for, nor desired by, many graduates. If you’ve completed undergraduate studies in philosophy, you’ve been exposed to a wide variety of viewpoints. You have the ability to keep an open mind and consider logical solutions. Community service programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters offer paid positions to open minded, humanistic individuals who can see the bigger picture and promote the program’s goals.



Film



Film majors often consider one of two possible career paths as they undergo their undergraduate studies.

• Finding a job that allows them to create innovative and impactful platforms on which they can showcase unique fiction works or social commentaries.

• Finding a job in Hollywood that values the technical skills they’ve acquired so they can start raking in the big bucks.

No matter which category you fit into, you probably need to earn a steady paycheck in the meantime. Film techniques are highly valued by a number of companies these days, especially those that developing interactive platforms. Countless news publications are developing apps for products such as the iPad, so they’re on the lookout for professionals who are proficient in both shooting and editing videos. Anytime you’re developing digital film content, you have the opportunity to make a decent paycheck.



Of course you should never give up on your dream job, but there are plenty of viable alternatives that can help you along your way in the meantime. It’s better to get experience in a field that’s at least related what you want to do than to work a random job as a clerk (unless you’re in sales or marketing, of course). Finding a job that can help you cultivate your skill set takes a little effort and compromise, but in the end you’ll be happy you had the opportunity to gain the experience.



This article was written by Danielle Rodabaugh, blog editor for the Surety Bonds Insider. The blog’s Surety Bond Education Center provides resources that outline industry regulations for new professionals entering the workforce.

Getting a Job after Being Laid Off

In the unstable economy that exists today, no one individual is completely safe from losing their position and being thrown into the unemployed market.  Because of the recent recession, many companies worldwide have had to cut back on their costs and obviously one major way to cut back on their costs is to lay off a large portion of their employees.  So if you find yourself without a job, read on to find out how to get out there, market yourself, and get a new job right away.

Although getting laid off can be a very hard hit to the self-confidence, don’t take it personally because the employer that laid you off more than likely didn’t fire you because you were not a productive worker but because they were forced to cut back on their costs.

The first action step is to begin conducting a thorough job search in your local area.  Conducting a job search is sometimes a new job in itself.  To find a good job that will suit your preferences and your qualifications, you’ll need to conduct a job search daily to check for any new positions.  You’ll be checking your local newspaper, your local classifieds websites, job posting websites, and you should also register with your local temp agency because a short work contract is better than being completely unemployed.

Before you begin applying to any positions that catch your eye, ensure your resume and cover letter is completed properly and professionally.  Ensure your resume is completely up to date with your most recent jobs beginning first.  Another great idea is to join your local Chamber of Commerce and attend the events they host because this will give you great opportunities to network with employers.  Any networking events are fantastic to attend because even if you don’t have any luck at the time of meeting employers, you never know when they may remember you and offer you a great job in the future.

When you begin applying for these positions you don’t actually have to mention that you’ve been laid off.  If you happen to receive an interview for a job, always ensure you look your best and you’re fully prepared for the job interview.  You can find many job interview resources online which offer common interview questions you can use to prepare yourself mentally for any questions the interviewer may ask you.  Always ensure you bring your references with you to the interview as well because the employer will more than likely want to speak with your past employers to ask questions about the quality of your work and your work ethics.

Ensure you don’t put all your energy into getting one position; you should focus on any possible job opportunities that arise because there are more than likely hundreds of other people applying for these jobs besides you.  You also shouldn’t be completely surprised if you don’t get a position you apply and interview for because the reality is that some employers will see that you were laid off from your last position and may wonder about your efficiency and skills.  Just continually search for available positions and apply to all which apply to your skills and qualifications and you’ll be back in the job market before you know it!

LinkedIn Valued at Five Times What Monster.com Is Worth

Computer Science Overtakes Accounting as Major With Top Offer Rate for the Class of 2011

More than 56 percent of computer science majors who have applied for a job have received an offer making it the major with the highest offer rate from the Class of 2011, according to results of a new survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

This is the first time since 2008, when NACE began tracking offer rates its annual Student Survey, that computer science majors have topped the list. In previous surveys, accounting majors had the highest offer rate. In NACE’s 2011 Student Survey, however, accounting majors came in second, with 53.8 percent of those who have applied for jobs receiving offers.  

“The difference between the two majors is that the offer rate for computer science majors has increased 13.8 percentage points this year, while the offer rate for accounting majors is up 8.3 percentage points,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.  

Meanwhile, economics (50.9 percent offer rate) and engineering (50 percent) majors also saw strong offer rates. Conversely, education (19.5 percent), English (23.5 percent), and healthcare (28.7 percent) had weak offer rates. The offer rates for all of these majors dropped from last year; healthcare (-8.4 percentage points) saw the biggest decline followed by English (-5.6 percentage points) and education (-2.8 percentage points).

Overall, job offers are up. This year, 41.2 percent of the members of the current class who applied for a job have received at least one offer, compared with 38.2 percent of the Class of 2010 at this time last year.

 

Psychologist: A Caring Career That’s Going Places

A good career and high salary are great, but what if you’re after a “higher calling” of fulfillment, of wanting to make a difference in the lives of others? A career as a psychologist or counselor allows you to lend an ear, offer emotional comfort and support, and perhaps mend a childhood wound or heal a broken heart. That’s a rewarding job ‘perk’ if ever there was one! Psychologists and counselors work in therapy offices, of course, but you’ll also find them in hospitals, schools, law enforcement and mental health research labs.

Career Outlook: Healthy

Employment of psychologists and counselors is expected to grow at a healthy 19% rate by 2018, with the professions adding more than 140,000 jobs during that timeframe, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs for industrial-organizational psychologists, who focus on researching and improving quality of life in the workplace, are expected to grow at a 24% rate. In general, the more education you have, the more you will be in demand, BLS says.

Earnings that Make You Feel Good

Clinical, counseling and school psychologists make an average of $64,000 per year, according to BLS, with the typical salary ranging from $49,000 to $83,000. Counselors typically earn between $39,000 and $65,000 annually. The top 10% of psychologists make more than $150,000 per year.

Psychology Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral

Bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees in psychology are all available online. Remember, as the BLS reports, a higher degree means more opportunities… and more income potential. Online psychology degrees programs include:

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Master of Science in Psychology
• Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

So, considering the high earning potential and the high growth rate in this field, earning a degree in psychology could be just what the doctor ordered! 

3 Surefire Ways to Create an Unrealistic CV

Let’s start by saying no one wants to create a CV they know won’t get them hired. At least, let’s hope no one shoots for this goal. But sometimes, job seekers inevitably set themselves up for failure by creating unrealistic CVs. Here are three ways to create the CV you don’t actually want to submit:

1. Make Your Qualifications Unrealistic

If you want to set yourself up for failure down the line, add qualifications to your CV that surpass your true capabilities. Some people make the mistake of looking at the requirements found in a job posting, then duplicate them on their CV. Without being able to back up those qualifications, the truth about your ability to fulfill the employer’s goals are bound to be revealed.

2. Include Unrealistic Details Regarding Your Background

Another surefire way to make your CV unrealistic is by exaggerating your educational background or experience.

If you attended a college for one semester, don’t write your CV in a way that gives one to understand that you have obtained a degree. And just because you were asked to manage a project that required you to also oversee a team of salespeople for two days doesn’t mean you deserve the title “Sales Manager”.

Employers will look for you to come with the expertise and wisdom you claim to have. If you can’t back up your statements, you could find yourself in a bad position down the line.

3. Say You Can Make a Commute You Can’t Actually Make

Sometimes we run across amazing jobs that just happen to be located 150 miles from home. We want the job so badly that we go ahead and apply with no plans of relocating or making the commute. Or sometimes we simply want to know that we could get hired—even if we don’t plan to accept the position.

If you know that you can’t make a commute for a position and don’t plan to move, don’t say that you will on your CV. Better yet, to avoid wasting everyone’s time, it’s probably a good idea not to apply at all—unless you’re sure the employer will allow you to telecommute.

Being unrealistic is a normal human trait. Unfortunately, it could make for a difficult job search if you’re unrealistic while writing your CV. Take time to think about what it is you know that you can contribute to positions for which you apply. Taking this approach saves valuable job-seeking time and increases your chances of being hired.

 

Author Byline: Jessica Hernandez, expert CV writer, is a nationally-recognized CV authority and former HR Manager who has achieved over a 99% success rate securing interviews with prestigious organizations through exclusive, personal branding strategies.
Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Sending Out Countless Resumes With No Response? 3 Strategies to Change it Up!

 

Author Info: An exceptional resume authority, Jessica Hernandez and her team of credentialed writers partner with professional- and executive-level candidates to open doors to jobs at prestigious corporations, achieving over a 99% interview-winning success rate. Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com