Good small talk makes us likable, but it’s easy to get rusty—How to avoid dominating – and being dominated in a conversation Jason Swett still cringes when he remembers the party in Atlanta 10 years ago, where, drink in hand, he tried “to impress the local Southern belles,” he says, by talking—nonstop. He told the six or so people he’d just met the tale of how once at a grocery store he helped apprehend a thief who’d stuffed steaks down his pants…
SECOND-ACT CAREER SUCCESS
Digital natives don’t have anything on these gen-xers and boomers who crafted new careers with social media savvy, storytelling chops and a dynamic approach to reinvention. Don’t dismiss these stories – there is something valuable to take away from each of them. From Fast Company by Lydia Dishman “Around these parts, we like to celebrate creative people. And we stand up and cheer for (and hire!) people like Natalia Rodriguez, whose tweets and blo…
Colorado Employment 2016 Outlook:
All sectors of employment up – but one – Colorado’s oil and natural gas industry is expected to keep shedding jobs in 2016, perhaps between 1,000 and 2,000. But even with such losses, the state’s overall unemployment has gotten so low that in-migration of new residents will be critical to Colorado filling all of the new jobs expected to come online, noted University of Colorado Boulder economist Richard Wobbekind said. Wobbekind made the remarks…
USA Pro Challenge unveils host cities for 2014
The USA Pro Challenge Monday unveiled its host cities for 2014, with the Colorado professional bicycle race including a mountaintop finish for the first time. Colorado Springs takes the downtown circuit race in Stage 4 on August 21st. So far, Denver has not been named as a host city for the race, to be held Aug. 18-24, but it is among the options for the as yet undecided Stage 7. The third stage of the race will finish at Monarch Mountain near Sa…
Colorado’s best Wine, Beer and Distillery Tours
Colorado has a remarkable collection of 45 distilleries, more than 200 breweries and 108 wineries (and counting!), and each one has its own characteristics that will vie to make it your favorite. Why you should go: free tastings, an understanding of the creative science behind these beverages and the opportunity to rub elbows with friendly and knowledgeable craftspeople. Tours are available all over Colorado, so we’ve decided to outline a few of…
6 Signs It’s Time for a Career Change
There are tough days and stressful periods at work. We all feel tired, drained of energy, and we lack motivation at some point. In most cases, talking things over with a friend, spouse, or getting a good night’s sleep is all that’s needed to get your head back in the game. But it’s starting to bother you, this insistent, buzzy thought – “just quit and find a new job”. Are these feelings just normal or are they warning signs you need to pay attent…
Your New Year’s …Revolution!
Its not complicated… That kid in the AT&T advert didn’t get it wrong – its not a New Year’s resolution we need, its a Revolution – and it starts with some simple steps. Accomplishments are based on actions, not on thoughts–yet the thought is always father to the deed. Achievement starts with an idea, a perspective, a point of view, or even just an attitude. Here are some of the things remarkable people think every day, and how those thoughts spu…
New Year, New Times, New Job Search Tools.
If you’re one of the 52 million people in the U.S. thinking about changing jobs or switching careers this “new resolutions” month, know this. Many of the traditional job search strategies alone aren’t working very well. For most, they aren’t working at all. What has changed? The Internet. You can now electronically “zap” your resume to hundreds and thousands of destinations. As strong of an idea as that may seem to the job seeker, it’s not such a…
Job Search – The Absolute BEST Time To Look!
OK, Pop Quiz! When is the very best time to look for a job? a) When you have a job (so don’t quit before you find a new one). b) When you have time to devote to finding a job. c) When you’re “ready” and focused to look. d) Once your resume gets updated. e) Only after two years in the same job. f) None of the above. The correct answer is (f) none of the above. The ideal time to look for your next job is the day you start a new job. If you’re like…
A Proactive Job Search Strategy
There are two kinds of job searches, proactive and reactive . Most people use reactive job search strategies, which means they look for job openings and then apply to ones that interest them. So, when you send your resume to recruiters and respond to job board postings, you are really at the mercy of what comes up. In a proactive job search, you pick the companies and the jobs you are seeking, aiming for the next step in building your career. Thi…
Successful Steps to Fearless Mondays!
Those first few hours after a Colorado weekend are critical. Start your week off right. Monday mornings are the most critical time of the workweek, as they set the stage for the day and week ahead. “Because you’ve stepped away for a couple days, these back-to-work mornings are the most memorable for the rest of the week,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss…
Interviewer: “Sell me this Pen”
I personally never thought anyone would actually say, “sell me this pen” in a sales interview. I was wrong. It will happen to you too. And to avoid panic, you should know exactly what to say back. I am going to give you the right sales framework to respond perfectly every time. On a quick side note, did you know this sales interview question has been around for millions of years? Its origins date back to the earliest of cavemen. Selling slingsho…
Looking for that Colorado Job for too Long?
When it’s taking some time to find that new job, it can wreak havoc on your self-worth and self-esteem. The process can be corrosive. The longer you remain in your search, the more anxious, and less confident you can get, making it even harder to land that new job. Confidence is essential and on your own, difficult to maintain with all the external pressures. Sure, job hunting is really hard. It can be agonizing, tedious, and sometimes, discourag…
Top 5 Interview Mistakes Millennials Make
In a perverse way the following Forbes article about ‘millennial’ job candidates should give heart to the 50+ career seeker. Studies show that 70% of hiring managers are more likely to prefer a 50+ candidate. However, these top 5 millennial mistakes are relevant for every career seeker whether interviewing or just networking. Case in point, a recent millennial graduate of a top Colorado University scored an informational interview with one of the…
Networking that makes you cringe – don’t be one too!
Things Not to Do at a Networking Event, Ever… You’re probably not going to avoid awkward networking situations entirely, no matter how hard you try–at some point, you will get cornered by the one person in the room who just can’t resist making a sales pitch. But what you can do is ensure that you aren’t the one making others cringe, and that you’re focusing whatever face time you do get on building real relationships. So before you grab that stac…
