A Hard Look at Soft Skills

A Hard Look at Soft SkillsA Hard Look at Soft SkillsIT executives are being called upon to demonstrate soft skills like business smarts and communications.Cars. Advertising. Shower-curtain rings. Sales veterans like to say that a good salesperson can sell anything. Its a maxim of the profession that its leid what the salesperson is selling but her inherent selling skills and experience that determine success of the sale.Can the saatkorn be said of an IT professional? From network management to enterprise applications to mobile computing, are there inherent skills and experience that allow a good IT professional to move over - or up - in any area of IT?Yes, according to hiring experts in the IT industry who spoke with Ladders. This is true in many industries, they say, because transferable soft skills are now among the most important when selecting a candidate.For IT executives, an alphabet soup of certification acronyms is a job requirement. But the industry has focused increasin gly on hiring senior managers who can demonstrate traits like common sense, business smarts and good communications skills, said several experts in IT hiring.One of the top qualities employers are looking for from IT workers is soft skills, said J. Tod Fetherling, president and CEO of the Nashville Technology Council. No certification is required, of course, but lots of sensitivity and good old common sense are prerequisites. Fetherling, who works with displaced workers to help them find new jobs, added that most companies will work with new employees to help them acquire any certifications necessary for the job.The nice thing about IT jobs is that its about your capability more than your pedigree, said Gayle Laakmann, a software engineer who has worked for Microsoft, Google and Apple.While at Google, Laakmann served on the companys hiring committee, so she knows a bit about what determines who gets an offer and who doesnt. When looking to fill a software engineer position, for exam ple, its not about knowing a particular flavor of Java, its about whether you are inherently a good coder and you are inherently smart, said Laakmann, who is currently an MBA candidate at Wharton and author of Cracking the Coding Interview.Business SmartsUntil recently, most businesses treated technology as part of the infrastructure there to support the business, barely more important than the plumbing and electricity. But the advent of business applications has made technology a business driver, and business savvy is now a required skill for IT professionals.Business-analysis skills are critical to being able to understand the ultimate business objectives driving a technology initiative, said Sean Ebner, regional vice-president at Technisource, an IT staffing and solutions provider. Having the ability to see the forest through the trees in an IT effort is extremely important, sought after and highly transferable.Paul Kostek, chair of the Individual Benefits and Services Committee of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and principal systems engineer at Physio Control, said understanding business and how IT fits in can be a way to differentiate yourself in a crowded job market Too many IT professionals only see a project from the software/hardware side and not the business impact.Indeed, said Ebner, business capabilities are important not only for landing a job but for keeping it. We have seen in the most recent recession that IT organizations are doing more with less, he said. Having the acumen to work seamlessly between the business organizations and the IT department is no longer a nice-to-have it has become indispensable.Ebner said a record of performance in business means IT professionals can move into a wider array of functions and organizations. It is now much more common to see associates move between the functional business departments and the IT organization and back, he said.Organizations are also looking for IT professiona ls who can demonstrate that they have successfully budgeted for, planned and managed a project no matter what the IT discipline.Whether it is rolling out new hardware, upgrading existing systems or building new applications, the process, structure and experience around leading projects and ensuring that they are delivered to schedule and to design are very important, said Technisources Ebner. Individuals who possess strong project-governance skills and experience are highly sought after, as these skills are highly transferable.In technology, the soft-skills trend is even affecting the hard skills on which the function was founded. Some of the newly important certifications focus on cross-technology practices like information organization, project management and systems integration. According to Ebner, Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certifications for help desk associates have increased in relevance and demand, and Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma are important certifications for project-governance associates in some organizations. Ebner also cited Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) for supporting Cisco equipment as well as anything related to security as certifications that make a difference when seeking new opportunities.

Learn How to Dress in a Business Formal Professional Workplace

Learn How to Dress in a Business Formal Professional WorkplaceLearn How to Dress in a Business Formal Professional WorkplaceSample Business Formal Professional Dress Code Policy Yur Companys objective in establishing a formal work dress code is to enable our employees to project the professional image that is in keeping with the needs of our clients and customers to trust us. Because our industry requires the appearance of trusted geschftliches miteinander professionals and we serve clients at our site on a daily basis, a more formal dress code is necessary for our employees. (See relevant pictures of the proper professional attire in a business formal dress environment.) You must project the image of a trustworthy, knowledgeable business professional for the clients who seek our guidance, input, and professional services. Therefore, our formal business attire guidelines support the successful relationships we hope to maintain and enhance with our valued clients. This dress code tel ls you what you need to know to dress professionally in our business formal office environment. Formal Dress Code Guidelines In a formal business environment, the standard of dressing for men and women is a suit, a jacket, and pants or a skirt, or a dress paired with appropriate accessories. Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business. In our work environment, clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. All seams must be finished. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees and customers is unacceptable. Dress Code for Informal Dress Down Days Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays. On these days, business casual clothing, although never clothing potentially offensive to others, is allowed. Clothing that has the company logo is encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable. But, we discourage you from wearing clothing that is affiliated with religious, potentially controversial, or political organizations because of its divisive nature. Our business formal professional dress code must contribute to workplace harmony. You might want to keep a jacket in your office for the days when a client unexpectedly appears on a dress down day, especially if the client shows up wearing a suit. Formal Business Attire Requirements This is an overview of appropriate formal business attire. The lists tell you what is generally accepted as formal business attire and what is generally not acceptable as formal business attire. No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about acceptable, professional formal business attire for work, please ask your manager or speak to you r Human Resources staff. Slacks, Pants, and Suit Pants Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants, pants that match a suit jacket, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable in a business formal work environment. Inappropriate slacks or pants include any that are too informal. This includes jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for exercise or biking. (These are not allowed as professional dress on dress down day either.) Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted Suits Dresses, skirts, skirts with jackets, dressy two-piece knit suits or sets, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, s korts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate as professional dress in the office. Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets Shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work if they contribute to the appearance of formal, professional dress. Most suit jackets or sports coats are also desirable professional dress for the office. Inappropriate attire for a professional workplace includes tank tops midriff tops shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans halter-tops tops with bare shoulders or plunging necklines golf-type shirts sweatshirts and t-shirts. Shoes and Footwear Conservative walking shoes, dress shoes, oxfords, loafers, boots, flats, dress heels, and backless shoes are acceptable for work. Not wearing stockings or socks is inappropriate. Athletic shoes, tennis shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any casual shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the offi ce. Accessories and Jewelry Tasteful, professional ties, scarves, belts, and jewelry are encouraged. Jewelry should be worn in good taste, with limited visible body piercing. Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne A professional appearance is encouraged and excessive makeup is unprofessional. Remember that some employees are allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and makeup, so wear these substances with restraint. Hats and Head Covering Hats are not appropriate in the office. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed. Consequences of Failing to Follow the Business Formal Dress Code Policy If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employees manager and Human Resources staff, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If the problem persists, the employee may be sent home to change clothes and will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. All other policies about personal time use will apply. Progressive disciplinary action will be applied if dress code violations continue. As with any other policy, you will want to run this formal dress code by your employment law attorney before distributing the policy to your employees. DisclaimerPlease note that the information provided, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality. The site is read by a world-wide audience and employment laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to country. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct for your location. This information is for guidance, ideas, and assistance. Additional Resources About Dress Codes Work Dress Codes and Image CollectionSample Letter to Introduce a Dress CodeSample Policy Receipt Acknowledgement Form

Need a killer support system 3 steps to take right now

Need a killer betreuung ordnungsprinzip 3 steps to take right nowNeed a killer support system 3 steps to take right nowYoure not meant to do any of this alone. Although, it can feel that way. When the times are down, or youre a bit unsure, or youre feeling some things that youreallywish that you werent feelingsometimes the easiest thing to do is clam up. Admit it to no one. And put all of the pressure on figuring out what to do about it.You actually do need support. Not from everyone. And not at all times. But when youre working on pushing the train out of the station, its helpful to not have to do that alone and rely on the energy thats around you. There IS so much around, if you take the time to look for it, to build it, to deepen it, and to call on it. And byitI mean them. Your support system.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIts OK if you dont feel like you have one. Its OK if your system is small. Its OK youre still testing the waters with those people. But like any good system, youre going to work together with what you do have. Or work to tischset it up so you can get there. If you already have a killer one, great. Dont take it for granted and rather make the most of whats supporting you.No matter where youre at, dont miss on these right now.Becausethe journey is far more beautiful when its accented with the people who get us. And who want the best for us.First, assess who who your cheerleaders are.In the constellation that is your support system, the brightest light are the people always cheering you on. I talk about cheerleadersa lot.Because when youre up, or when youre way down, these people have so got you. Recently though, I was pulled aside by a young woman who asked, But if you have no idea who these people arehow do you look for them? To which I responded with something along the linesof this.Second, figure out your roster.Taking time to know who does what in your support system is going to help you. Itll ensure you know who to go to for what. It doesnt mean you need a million different types of people, it just might mean you need a few people who can provide you with lots of different things.Heres some starters to consider.Lastly, support them.What comes around goes around. So make sure to give your love, give your enthusiasm, and be generous with your encouragement for all the people who are so generous with theirs. Itll bring the system closer together.Youre not alone.And in the days you feel like you are, remember to start here. Everyones support system started somewhere.This article originally appeared on Maxie McCoy.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 1 2 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people