10 Tips for Planning a Successful Company Conference - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

10 Tips for Planning a Successful Company Conference - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Planning a company conference can boost your career and visibility. It can strengthen company sales and morale, depending on its purpose. Conferences are complex, though, and can be tricky to plan. A compelling agenda and great speakers are a must. But so are food, comfortable seats and a myriad of elements behind the scenes. Think air conditioning. Heat. Morning coffee. A conference that isn’t planned well can impact your career like a lead balloon. If the speakers don’t impress attendees, or you run out of food, it can be talked about for months afterward…and you might shoulder the blame, or at least share it. So plan your company conference thoroughly. Don’t leave anything to chance. Here are 10 tips for planning successfully. Initial Steps Decide on a Clear Purpose Successful conferences have a clear purpose. Do you need to motivate the sales force? Introduce a new product? Engage in team-building activities? Bring separate geographical regions together? The purpose determines much of the rest of the conference: its size, its speakers and the agenda. Brainstorm a Wish List Once you have a defining purpose, begin to brainstorm. What would you â€" and the meeting committee, if there is one â€" most like to see? Do you want to engage dynamic and well-known speakers? Do you want plenary sessions, where the entire group of attendees gathers to hear speakers? Or do you need a series of break-out sessions on multiple topics? What about the conference venue? Should it be near the company? In an area convenient to attendees throughout the U.S. and overseas? Create a Budget Once you have a purpose and wish list, set up your budget. Be sure to include all the categories you need. Set up a line item for each thing on your wish list. Will you need paid speakers? Will meals be part of the meeting? How about the venue? What kind of conference rooms will you need? Plenary session rooms may have to accommodate several hundred people, while break-out session rooms may only need to accommodate 20 or so. Will you be hiring vendors to create printed or web-based material? For meeting-related information? Create a list of everything you need and how much each item will cost, roughly. Then begin your search for a venue that can accommodate all of it. Look for meeting places that offer flexible meeting packages and are well equipped to handle your needs. Narrow Down the Wish List and Budget Once you’ve paired your wish list and the budget, one of two things might happen. One: Your available budget and the wish list are a match! You can now start the planning stage in earnest. If you have a shortfall in the budget for your wish list conference, revise the plan so it fits within your budget. If you planned eight breakout sessions over two days, for example, streamline it into four sessions over one day. If your desired speakers quote expensive fees, scout around for an equally good one who will speak to your business for less â€" or pro bono. Research Available Dates The planning period of a conference needs to be at least one year, and preferably more. Why? Because meetings have a multitude of logistics. You need a venue, vendors and speakers all available on a particular date. If your planning period is less than a year, availability of one or more of these elements may be limited. You will need to place a tent pole in the form of a date before all the planning is complete. It’s a good idea, though, to research availability dates for 1) venues that can accommodate the number of people and type of meeting you want, 2) well-known speakers and 3) vendors. Once you have their dates of availability, decide on the meeting date(s). The Rubber Hits the Road: Planning in Earnest You’re now ready to begin planning the conference! Book the Venue Set up commitments for the place where the conference will be held. If the venue will be responsible for preparing and serving meeting meals, set up commitments for those as well. Hire the Speakers and Vendors Make arrangements with any speakers. Send them the meeting date, time and any other material needed. Hire any vendors you will need. Develop the Agenda You may have a good sense of what the agenda is from the initial brainstorming sessions. Or, you may at this point need to sit down and draw it up, point by point. Developing a firm agenda should begin immediately once the date for the conference is firm. Be sure to circulate the agenda so that all relevant parties have seen and contributed to it before it is finalized. Publicize the Conference All meetings, whether internal or external to the company, should be publicized. If attendance is mandatory â€" say it’s a motivational meeting for the sales force â€" publicity will excite the attendees and let them know what the meeting is all about. If it’s not mandatory â€" rolling out a new product, so employees can attend or not â€" publicity can provide reasons to attend. Publicity should provide reasons that the meeting will be beneficial for attendees. Use it as an informational channel as well, to let people know the dates, the agenda, the venue and any surrounding attractions. Decide what the publicity methods should be. Web site? E-mail blasts on a regular basis? Flyers and brochures? A story in the company newsletter? A mix of all these? Evaluate the Conference This post-conference step is sometimes skipped. It shouldn’t be. You need concrete and measurable feedback on the conference for attendees. A short questionnaire asking what participants gleaned from the conference is a good idea. Go back to your purpose here. If the purpose was motivating the sales force, what was their take-away? If a new product launch, did attendees learn valuable information about the product? Were they comfortable during the meeting? Did they find it valuable to their careers? Conference planning is a great way to build your visibility and profile within a company. Because conference planning is complex, it needs to be handled with an overall plan in place and specific steps to execution. These 10 tips will set you up for a memorable conference.

How to Choose an MPFA Guide to Resume Writing For Your Job Search

How to Choose an MPFA Guide to Resume Writing For Your Job SearchThe more you study, the better the MPFA, or any other guide to resume writing for your particular career are going to be for you. This is just one of the many free resources for a more successful job search. The great thing about these guides is that they can really help you get through the job hunt process in a much more organized and efficient manner.There are lots of aspects to consider when choosing an MPFA for your job search. First of all, it will be a good idea to focus on areas of the guide that pertain to you specifically. If you're applying for a job as a project manager, for example, you may want to look at the career section and see what types of jobs project managers typically do. You will probably find out that yours is not going to be an interesting area of expertise, so it's important to do some additional research and find out if there are other ways that you can utilize the guide to help you with your job search.One of the first things you should do when beginning your job search is to visit the website of your state's chamber of commerce. You can use this site to find out about local opportunities in your local area. Many local chambers of commerce will also have links to local job boards and networking events in your area. This is often a great place to find out about upcoming job fairs and any other networking activities that you can participate in. The information that you glean from these may help you land a job faster.Once you've found the information you need, you should contact the local Chamber of Commerce or Literary Agent to see if they have a job board for writers. You will probably have a lot of information to provide them so make sure that you include as much detail as possible. Remember, this is not a resume, but a piece of writing and you should be able to share your experiences and skills in an interesting and useful way. This will help you get an even better wri te up that will attract employers.Before you send your resume, be sure to review the MPFA guide to resume writing to ensure that everything you're writing down is accurate. A grammar check should be included in your resume, but even if it isn't, it should have been reviewed before you sent it in. It is imperative that you proofread every single word you write, because even the tiniest error could cost you a job!After you've reviewed your resume and make sure it has been correctly proofread, you can begin posting to online job boards. You should include a link to your MPFA resume along with your resume. This will help you get a look at how a prospective employer will read your work. If you're using a sample resume, you should make sure that it clearly states your education, experience, and training.The next step is to take a few minutes to look over your portfolio and send a short and concise list of samples to your prospective employer. Be sure to include any personal references you have as well. Your portfolio should be an array of samples of your writing and show that you are knowledgeable and creative. Use the link included in your MPFA guide to resume writing and include your portfolio with your resume so that your future employer can read it.After you've finished your job search, be sure to ask your local Chamber of Commerce or LEO (Law Enforcement) Association about any local job fairs or other networking events that you can attend. These groups can sometimes help you get noticed during the job hunt. It is crucial that you always have fun and let your personality shine through when you're at work.

5 Ways to Have Amazing Opportunities Land in Your Lap

5 Ways to Have Amazing Opportunities Land in Your Lap Have you ever had a really cool experience just drop into your lap? Or made a really good networking connection without expecting it? Well, both of those things just happened to me last weekend, and that helped me realize there are ways to make it more likely this can happen to you too. But first, let me set the scene. Here's what happened “Am I on a movie set?” My taxi had just pulled up to the Hyatt in Phoenix, Arizona, and I couldn’t wait to check in. I was hot, tired and hungry. But when I walked into the lobby, it was so packed with people that I couldn’t even see where the check-in counter was. Then I realized these weren’t the regular business people I expected to see. They were all wearing costumes. Amazing costumes! It looked like I had walked onto a movie set and I was the one out of place. At the registration desk, the two people behind it were also dressed in costumes. And all along the walls and counter were maps and references to Game of Thrones â€" a map of Westeros on the wall, house names like Lannister, Stark and Baratheon along the counter. As it turned out, this was the main hotel for people coming from all around the world to attend Comic-Con Phoenix, which was taking place at the convention center across the street. “I must take a selfie!” Comic-Con is a very cool event that my kids have talked about wanting to go to. So I was amazed and excited that I had somehow wandered into Comic-Con central! So I took out my iPhone and was turning around to take a selfie, saying, “I can’t believe I’m here and it’s Comic-Con! I can’t wait to tell my kids!” The woman behind me in line ended up taking the photo (probably to speed things along). Then the man who was with her said to me, “I just want to thank you for making my day. Your sheer joy is inspiring to me, because it reminds me of how my work is seen through new eyes.” I later learned that his name is Tim and he has a business that helps game makers market their products and build community. As part of his work, Tim goes to 30 or 40 conventions like this a year and runs the marketing effort for his clients. “No ticket? Leave it to me.” Tim and I started talking and he said, “Well, are you going to check out Comic-Con?” I said, “I’d love to but I don't have ticket. I didn't know this was going on.” He said, “leave it to me” and a series of great opportunities just landed in my lap. Tim arranged for me to attend Comic-Con in the convention center for a couple hours. Not only was this an amazing experience, I also bumped into a client and her family who were attending (who knew!). That shared experience will help us build a stronger relationship. He then agreed to an interview for my new video series (more on that later), and even found a professional videographer, Scott, who was part of the community and just happened to have his camera with him. And along the way, I learned about the gaming community and how doing something online can lead to greater connection offline, especially for people who are introverts. I’ve even become an adopted member of the community, getting to meet some of the artists and illustrators who are considered royalty in this field. I also came home with some swag â€" Magic the Gathering cards and a game mat signed by artist Steve Argyle, whose clients include Sony Online Entertainment, LucasArts and Capcom. Signed game mat by Steve Argyle 5 Ways to Have Amazing Opportunities Land in Your Lap This Comic-Con experience was a fascinating glimpse into a different world and it unexpectedly turned out to be helpful to my business interests as well. And for you, it’s probably something completely different that you’ll find cool and amazing. The good news is you don’t have to go in search of amazing experiences and connections like this. Instead, here are 5 ways to put yourself in a position to have more really cool experiences, opportunities and connections land in your lap. They’ll help you allow serendipity do its thing. Be Open Recognize that opportunities are everywhere. I was just going to check into a hotel â€" a pretty mundane occurrence. That led to the whole series of coincidences, but only because I was open to them. So make sure you’re open to spotting opportunities to engage and connect, and be prepared to go with the flow. Mindset Matters To capitalize on opportunities, your mindset is absolutely essential. What I mean is this: How you show up determines the quality of your experiences and opportunities. So, how do you show up? What’s the energy you're bringing? Are you attracting people or are you repelling people? You want to make sure you're attracting people. In my case, joyfulness is what attracted Tim and Kat to become my friends. Everyone needs joy and fun, so you’ll always be welcome if that’s what you bring. Embrace the Situation When I walked into that packed lobby, I had a decision to make. I could have been annoyed. After all, I was hot, hungry and tired. And there were all these people standing between me and checking in. Instead, I made a conscious choice to embrace the situation as something really cool and amazing. And so many good things followed from that one decision. Don’t Over-Schedule These days, we’re all so busy that our days are packed with calls, meetings and work. But when you over-schedule yourself, you can miss out. Don't schedule yourself so tight that you're under stress every moment to get to that next thing you have to do. And even if you have a strict schedule, make sure you give yourself some flexibility to change and adapt your schedule so you can take advantage of spur-of-the-moment opportunities. Connect with an Insider It helps to connect with someone who knows who everyone is and can give you the scoop. An insider. They’re like tour guides who share the inside stories and explain what you’re looking at or experiencing. That’s what makes things interesting and helps you learn. It's always better when you're with a guide. Without Tim and some of the people around him explaining the world of gaming, I would have walked right by Steve’s artwork and also missed out on what is a large global community without having any insight, without learning anything, and without connecting with anyone. When you’re with insiders, you can be the one with fresh eyes that helps them get re-inspired about their work. And they can teach you about a whole new world. What will you do? If you want to meet great people and enjoy amazing experiences, it’s all down to the way you choose to show up. So, my challenge to you: How are you going to show up so you can enjoy amazing experiences and meet all kinds of cool new people? Leave me a comment and let me know. And what amazing experiences have you had and how did the way you showed up make a difference? I’d love to hear your story.

Myth Busting You Get Paid More Because Youre the Best.

Myth Busting You Get Paid More Because You’re the Best. Myth: I should make more money because I am the best at what I do. Myth Busted: Higher pay comes with broader job scope and is not necessarily based on merit. In other words, pivot your brain (and wallet) to think and talk in terms of the quantifiable differences in the size of your responsibility now compared with a previous job. Here are three strategies to stay in your “wheelhouse” and parlay what you already do into a higher paying position. Strategy #1: Seek a promotion within your current team at your current company. Most employees do a pretty lousy job at asking for a promotion. Either they make it about a comparison to someone else, an emotional plea, OR simply come across entitled and justified based on their long hours or great quality of work. Remember, your pay check IS your compensation for great work. However, here are two tactics you can use: Prepare the points you want to make, in writing, before you ask for a dedicated 30-minute meeting with your manager to talk about your career. During that meeting, explain your business rationale for an increase. Use business facts to demonstrate that the job you are doing today is bigger than the job you were doing, say, one or two years ago. For example, are you managing more people than before; are you processing X% more claims than before, or taking X% more calls than before? Everybody has some way to measure that they are doing a bigger job. Strategy #2: Seek a path to a bigger position within your company. You don’t have to leave a good company if you feel “stuck” in your current role. Not every position has upward mobility, so you may need to step out to move up. Go to your company’s career site and see if there are one of two types of positions open: A lateral position (same pay level) that has bigger jobs on the team. A bigger job than the one you have now at a higher pay. Be sure to discuss with your current manager why you are considering applying to other internal positions. (Don’t mention that you are looking outside the company if you are!) If you do interview internally, prepare for a formal interview process and don’t assume you will get it! Work hard for it. Strategy #3: Job search for a higher paying position at another company. While this strategy takes a lot more effort, the income increase is likely to be significantly better than an increase within your current company. The tactics to apply: Before you embark on a job search, “window shop” on the big job boards (Indeed.com, Monster.com, etc.) to get an understanding of what is out there so you are clear on your job search goal. Only work on your job search outside of work hours and do not use company equipment, including phones and computers. Learn how to job search. Period. So much has changed, you can’t assume the old ways work best. The most economical investment is to buy a job search book like my Cut the Crapâ„¢, Get a Job! which is a workbook with templates and tools to see you through every step. Research salary levels for similar positions in your city on Glassdoor.com when click on “salaries”. Remember: Your job search expenses are tax-deductible as itemized deductions â€" check with your accountant. Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class ® now and get the most comprehensive job search system available!

Making Your Executive Job Hunt Easier Some Tips from Us to You

Making Your Executive Job Hunt Easier Some Tips from Us to You The best executive resume format can make your job easier. It can be difficult to find a new job when you’re involved in an executive fieldâ€"more so than it seems to be for those in lower positions. If you’ve been out of the job hunting game for a while, going back down that road can seem more intimidating. However, it doesn’t have to be. If you’re having trouble navigating today’s job market, we can help you. In this article, we’ll give you a few helpful tips for job hunting in today’s era so you can land your next career position more easily. Don’t Forget About Networking! The connections you have within the industry will be the most valuable resource you have as you search for your new job. Keep in touch with them regularly. Youd be surprised how easily an opportunity could be sent your way based on the people you know! Of course, you should also aim to build new professional networks as well. Visit industry gatherings and put yourself out there. You may run into someone who can put your skills to great use! Another great idea would be to get back in touch with those industry colleagues you havent contacted in a while. They may be able to help with leads. Reach Out to Headhunters and Recruiters Its a well-known fact recruiting companies have received a bad rap over the years. Popular opinion dictates recruiting companies often have a low turnout as far as landing jobs for executives. Regardless of the accuracy of this statement, a resource is a resource. All you have to do is learn how to make the most of recruiting services. Work on building up the  best  executive  resume  format  to show recruiters your skill set as clearly as possible. This will work to your advantage because recruiters with distinct knowledge of your professional skills and needs will more easily be able to match you to a job. Continue to keep in close contact with recruiters so you can help them help you! Update Your LinkedIn Profile LinkedIn is an incredibly useful resource for networking and discovering new job opportunities. You will be able to get in touch with other industry professionals across the globe, opening up a wider expanse of opportunities, all with a click of your mouse. Brush up on how to write  cover  letters  for  resumes  and use the information from your resume to augment your LinkedIn profile to its fullest. The site is full of resources to help you with your job search. Thousands of professionals have a LinkedIn account in this day and age, meaning you may easily run into someone who may be able to open the door to your new career or can put you in touch with someone who can. You never know who is connected to whom. Furthermore, recruiters often browse through LinkedIn to find professionals they can help navigate the job market. Just be sure to keep your profile up-to-date! If you still need help, you can also turn to other resources! A professional resume service can help you through your job hunt by showing you how to market yourself to employees more efficiently. Our services have earned us our title as the  best  resume  writing  service.

The Perfect Job

The Perfect JobIf you are looking for a career in resume writing management consultant you will find a great deal of success if you stay focused on your goals and treat every resume assignment as a new project. Each project will require a unique set of skills and abilities which will vary depending on the task.The first thing you should consider when you are planning a resume writing management consultant project is whether the assignment will require writing. Each person has a unique set of skills and abilities which are not transferable to each other so consider what kind of resume you need to complete the project. If it is a writing assignment you can always choose to write a custom cover letter to accompany your resume, which is another easy way to have a resume that complements the other documents.When you have determined whether or not the resume writing assignment will require writing, you need to focus on your skills. Whether you are in a position of authority or have experti se, you will need to know the necessary skills to complete the project. If you are new to writing in particular, you need to read as much as you can on resume writing and review the advice that experts will give you.Once you have a good idea of what you need to know when you are writing a resume you need to decide what format you will use. Professional resume writing services will offer different formats for different projects. If you are looking for a resume cover letter, you should consider how you would like to receive it in the email. If you are submitting a proposal for a hearing, you may want to opt for an ATS or archive file.Even though you may be submitting your resume for an interview, the resume you use can be different than that of the interviewer. Many of the questions you will be asked may require you to respond in a specific manner. This means that you may not have an answer that is as quick or simple as you are used to. In order to meet the new standards, many people turn to writing services which will often give them the template, which they can use for the interview.Before you make any major decisions to make sure that you have all the information you need. You should find a resume writing service that will give you a set of templates and then give you the information you need in the project. This way you know what questions you will be asked so you do not have to waste time answering them. You can then choose a template that is appropriate for your specific needs.Many such services also offer a service that allows you to check the work that has been completed and keep track of your progress. This will help you keep your resume up to date with the information you need and save you time in the long run.

Uncommon Article Gives You the Facts on Resume Writing Services Cost Estimates That Only a Few People Know Exist

Uncommon Article Gives You the Facts on Resume Writing Services Cost Estimates That Only a Few People Know Exist Obviously, the best method to discover such assistance is if you take a look into the top rated professional resume writing services reviews. If you cannot locate a review on a certain company you want to know more about, I advise that you take a peek at our top rated resume writing services and pick one from the list. You'll locate a list of some of my personal beloved services at the close of the write-up. You may direct folks to that page whenever you don't have a resume to hand. Introducing Resume Writing Services Cost Estimates Because a superior writer will often devote a couple of hours writing or editing a resume. It's essential to note that pricing isn't everything when it comes to deciding on an executive resume writer. Certified resume writers possess the credentials, obviously, but a writer who's simply very good at writing sales pitch may be more sui table. In reality, Resume Writing Group's writer was the sole company that contacted our mystery client to assemble extra details. Unless you're on the lookout for a career counselor that specializes in resume writing, you can continue to keep your expenses relatively low. Add-ons, including writing a cover letter, can cost more due to how this is distinct from the resume. Needless to say, getting great resumes fast will come with a higher price tag, which means you definitely need to choose the most effective possible resume writing company. It's possible for you to follow resume examples to get inspired, but you have to never copy somebody else's work. What You Need to Do About Resume Writing Services Cost Estimates Before It's Too Late The Master t he Interview guide can help you understand and apply key practices, and that means you always leave an outstanding impression. You will also have to have other small business management skills, like negotiating with suppliers and expert report generation and presentation. Or, in the event that you left a job to take care of a loved one or to relocate, a very brief explanation will suffice. With this much uncertainty, it can be difficult to assess the cost you're being given. To continue to keep prices affordable, we limit the total amount of onsite visits and have an excellent email and phone procedure that achieves the exact results. For resume services, our rates are somewhere in the center of the market with a few of our premium services being priced slightly greater. Most services offer package deals which include more than 1 service. My site is your very best solution if you're fighting with the decision on which service you ought to choose. Purchasing multiple services simultaneously generally lowers the general cost per service. Other crucial areas in your work experience will likewise be explored to highlight your credentials and make a stand-out resume. A whole lot of inexpensive ser vices on the internet also outsource their work to inexperienced or very low superior writers. When you would like to find the best resume help, you're able to simply follow our lead. You will need assistance with making a resume. In reality, the decrease price point represents a 3-5 day services. The price of a resume can change depending on the sort of job which you are applying for. On the flip side, the maximum price doesn't necessarily signify the maximum quality. For the typical job seeker, the typical price of $200 is more than enough to acquire a quality resume.