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Once you are established and well into your HR career, your next thoughts most likely center on advancement. Human Resources is continuously evolving to meet the business needs, requirements, and laws that are ever changing. If you want to move to the next level in your field, you must work hard and prove yourself. This means taking on extra projects, not being afraid to voice new ideas , becoming a Subject Matter Expert, and going back to school for additional training, certifications and/or an advanced degree.

1. Taking on more projects - When new projects arise, that usually means extra work and most people avoid more work like the plague. If you want to advance your career, you must be the person who steps up to the plate. Why? Well, for numerous reasons. When promotion time comes, you will be at the forefront of the minds of management for your willingness to roll up your sleeves and help the company in their time of need. Secondly, you are showing eagerness and a willingness to both learn and try new things and that is also a positive with management. Thirdly, with each new project that you complete, you are proving just how knowledgeable you are and how much your help can improve the HR process.

2. Voice New Ideas - Everyone has an opinion, but most are too afraid to voice them. If you have an idea or suggestion that you feel will help the HR process, then voice it. This shows initiative and drive, and it can also make a great addition to your resume if your idea succeeds.

3. Become a SME (Subject Matter Expert) - Read HR blogs, start an HR blog, answer questions on LinkedIn, build your profile on social media sites, and get recommendations on those sites. In other words, spread the word that you are an HR professional and a true subject matter expert in the field. Not only will your employers take notice, so will other in your industry and that can only help you in the future.

4. Advance your education - Many Senior level positions requires certain certifications, training, and degrees. By taking educational classes focused on HR, you stay ahead of the pack by learning of the new laws, regulations, and business process hitting your industry. Do you think you don't have time? Online education is becoming increasingly popular and is now widely accepted by big organizations. Here is one HR class being offered online that is merely 8 weeks and is centered around your schedule. You already have the education and with training classes, you also have the education, which makes you the ideal candidate for promotion.

With these four steps, you will be on your way to advancing your HR career. Have you recently moved up the ranks in HR? How did you do it?

One of the joys of teaching is the ability to access a multi-talented array of speakers in the Capital Region and beyond who are interested in sharing their wealth of experience with students.

In addition, it is truly a pleasure to see speakers coming out to local events who have the passion and energy to truly engage an audience and put a different perspective on events than we can do from within our own organizations.

As a member of the Capital Region based Consulting Alliance, many of my colleagues speak regularly on a variety of topics related to business, marketing, law and health care professions. I encourage you to view our Find a Speaker page for the Albany Capital Region area serving New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut as well as surrounding areas.

Few people know I am fueled creatively by my intense hatred for Angela Lansbury due to her portrayal of Jessica Fletcher in "Murder She Wrote". Lansbury and the writers of Murder She Wrote fooled my grandmother and many other unsuspecting viewers into believing that somehow this character just happened to show up anytime a murder happened and wasn't the perpetrator. I find it hard to believe, and also feel that the show should have been called "Murder She Did".

All kidding aside, sometimes seeing the same situation pop up over and over again with the same cast of characters can lend people to believe that its the people and not the system that are to blame. Whether its poor customer service, poor sales, or lack of consistency, it's easy to point the finger at your employees, when in actuality it may be the result of poor training, poor management, or a poor system run by otherwise competent people.

The next time you rush to judgement that your people are to blame, think about what you can do to improve your marketing, management, or training.

t's that time of year again where it's time to rethink your resume.

If you submit your resume to me between now and 7pm on 6/16, I'll share some feedback with you on it for free and get that feedback back to you by next Friday the 17th.

As well, if you live in Saratoga Springs, stop by my office between 4-7pm this Thursday at 12 Circular ST for some advice on job search and careers. Also, you can find out about some of our online and face to face classes in business.

robert@galaconcierge.com

Look forward to helping many of you take that next step to a great new job or promotion!

Robert

http://www.braatheenterprises.com

What is your job page like on your website? Do you create an atmosphere where people feel like they are valued, even if positions aren't readily available?

It may be time to rethink your employment or jobs page. I've visited many sites in my time that are so complicated or convoluted that it can turn off potential applicants.

Some of the things to think to ask yourself when creating a job page for your company are as follows:

1. Can I create a simple, easy to use application system or partner with a company that already uses one?

2. How can I use a tool like Albany.com/jobs to cross-post the latest openings for positions?

3. How I can I create a backfill pool of talent when no jobs are currently available with my company?

4. How can we create a central contact and system for resume submission?

5. Do we use LinkedIn or another social media platform to support our recruitment efforts?

"I'd rather entertain and hope that people learn, than teach and hope that people are entertained."
Walt Disney, one of the inspirations for Braathe Online Education

Exceptional Human Resources is an 8 week online class with real-time elements that will teach you how to schedule your staff, recruit effectively, delegate and motivate, as well as develop effective internship programs.  Best practices learned during Mr. Braathe's time as a manager with Disney, Apple and Gap will be shared. The real-time elements are in the form of webinars (or face to face sessions if you are within proximity of Saratoga Springs, NY)

If you are interested in this course, or others like it, contact us at info@saratogacollege.org or visit http://www.braatheenterprises.com

The best and most productive people on the planet are the ones who under promise and over deliver. Nothing irritates people more when people say they are going to do things, say they are going to be present, and then lack the follow through.

As a recruiter, employer, colleague, friend, relative, and acquaintance, I urge everyone to challenge themselves to make less commitments this year, and instead deliver and do instead; even a maybe is better or I'll try is better than a yes that turns into a no-show, a lack of effort or followthrough, or an apology.

This year, I've noticed the top performers among my students, clients, interns, and friends and family are the ones who do about 10 times more than they talk; they leave the talking for while they are doing or for after they have done.

Be a doer, not a talker!

Early on my career, I always had to travel to a different office, different town, or take a day off from work to attend training.  Today, it's easier than ever to access training remotely.

I've been a member of LinkedIn since it was an invite only site.  My buddy Hugh turned me on to the site and since then I've seen it grow into a multi-million member networking site.

This Saturday at the Baptist Health 7th Annual Holiday Celebration in Scotia, NY, I will have a booth from 11-4 offering advice on business, technology and human resources. 

At my booth, you will get the chance to win an iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle, or one of two $15 iTunes Gift Cards.  All you have to do is come to the craft fair/celebration (Free Admission!) between 11 and 4 and fill out an entry blank at my booth.

As an added bonus, even if you don't win one of the prizes, you can put up to three HR/business/technology related questions on the entry form and I will get back to you within 48 hours with some advice and feedback.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend!



Robert


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