Pandemic Is Fast-Tracking Digital Transformation In Companies - Newsletter on Linkedin by Bernard Marr

• Published on March 26, 2020

​Ability to Work from Home:


Even companies that were resistant to the concept of a distributed workforce have been forced to allow working from home, so work can still be done while taking precautions to halt the spread of the virus. According to a survey by Workhuman, only a third of people in the United States worked for home before the pandemic. Twitter and other large organizations encouraged their employees to work from home, and other companies such as Google and JPMorgan were building remote working policies in the event they needed to shift work home.
While the ability to work from home is a benefit many employees value, many companies lack the technology infrastructure structure to offer that capability without some sacrifices to "business as usual." However, one unexpected outcome of COVID-19 is that companies realize the benefits of fast-tracking digital transformation.
When many Chinese cities went under lockdown as COVID-19 spread, government and many companies encouraged millions to stay at home, which had them experiencing the joys and turmoil of working from home. Generally, Chinese companies were set up with appropriate technology to allow working from home, but many company cultures were not.
While some companies will eventually go back to rigid work-in-office policies, it's expected that some will realize the benefits to employees and that in fact, it can be done effectively. If nothing else, they will have valuable experience about what is needed and how to accommodate work-from-home needs in the future when it's required again due to another outbreak or other reasons.


Telehealth:


Before the COVID-19 outbreak, there was some progress made in telemedicine; however, public health officials are pushing healthcare systems to expand their telemedicine through smartphones and other tools.
Technology can assist in triaging patients and in diagnosing those without the illness but are worried they might have it from seeking treatment at overcrowded facilities by talking to them through telehealth technology. And, using telemedicine limits human-to-human contact, critically important to slow the transmission. There are certainly many advantages to telehealth but also challenges that need to be overcome. Healthcare systems are being forced to address them sooner rather than later with COVID-19. In fact, a bill for coronavirus funding in the U.S. Congress waives the rules that usually restrict video services for people on Medicare, a move that really emphasizes the potential for telehealth in not only this current outbreak but in the future.


Remote Learning:


As COVID-19 spread throughout countries, schools and universities began to turn to virtual learning options. Many universities decided to switch the rest of the semester’s work to online learning only and some closed campuses to contain spread of the virus. While many universities had experience with virtual learning such as Harvard Business School Online and were better prepared for the shift, the majority of education organizations are not really set up for online classes.  
There are some K-12 institutions that are going virtual, leaving teachers and administrators to ensure that all kids have access to the technology and tools they need to keep learning from home. The transition to digital education is certainly disruptive as it wasn't planned for in the timeline the coronavirus dictated, but the educators and educational institutions will be better prepared in the future.
In China, New Oriental Educations & Technology Group and interactive streaming platform Agora.io collaborated to quickly get digital platforms running in China under a tight timeline so education could continue as soon as possible.


Events Going Virtual:


Along with many in-person conferences being canceled worldwide in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, some are switching them to be virtual events. The first conference to cancel due to safety concerns was Mobile World Congress, the annual gathering of electronics makers. Google Cloud Next ’20 became Digital Connect and promised that what once was a three-day conference to be a “free, global, digital-first, multi-day event” that would use the Next ’20 content. Collison, the fastest-growing tech conference in North America, was another conference that turned to virtual as Collison from Home—the in-person event got postponed to June 2021. I am currently making arrangements to film my keynote for the SAS Global Forum, which has gone virtual because of the coronavirus, so that people can watch it virtually.
Conferences are a trillion-dollar industry and have been a critical way to exchange ideas and build professional relationships. Some companies are trying to bridge the gap between in-person events and virtual ones with platforms that combines video, networking, and more to try to capture the benefits of networking at an in-person event and the content and tech of virtual tools.
The virus outbreak has pushed conference organizers and business owners to think outside the box to provide compelling alternative options in the interest of public safety. This push could also result in innovations for the future with how people meet and interact better virtually.


Technology:


Remote working—and learning—is easier for all with cloud meeting and team collaboration tools such as Tencent’s WeChat Work or Alibaba-owned DingTalk. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many technology companies are rolling out tools that can support companies and organizations when going remote for extended trial periods or for lower fees. Here are a few:

• Google is allowing free access to advanced features that normally have a fee every month for Hangouts Meet to all G Suite and G Suite Education customers for several months.
• Microsoft offered a free six-month trial of its top tier of Microsoft Teams to enable schools, hospitals, and businesses in China to keep operating even with the restrictions of coronavirus.
• U.S.-based video-conferencing provider Zoom saw its stock price rise during the crisis; clearly people are seeing the value of remote-working tools. Zoom lifted the 40-minute limit from its free Basic plan for China when coronavirus hit the country. Doctors in China from more than 1,000 hospitals used the service for online consultations.
• LogMeIn is offering healthcare providers, educational institutions, non-profit organizations access to its video conferencing tools, including GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar.
• Cisco is fortifying its Webex tool to properly support companies during the coronavirus in the 44 countries its available in, including offering 24/7 assistance for businesses using the tool. 

​MANAGE YOUR TIME WITH AN APP....THERE'S NO TIME FOR A NAP...
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Apps Can Help You Create an Organized Schedule

In today’s fast-paced digital world, you can never be too organized. Tasks large and small pile up so quickly at work, and for many of us at home as well, that we can get stressed out just thinking about what’s on the plate.
That stress comes out in numerous ways — you miss a task assigned by your boss, neglect to complete a project on time or forget to pick your child up from practice. Next thing you know, you’ve become suffocated by an avalanche of “to-dos.”

If you have little time to devote to organization…

When all you have is a few minutes each morning to organize your day, a basic to-do list is the right way to go. Simple and straightforward, you can plan and modify the tasks you need to complete for the day without taking up too much time. There are stellar apps out there, like Wunderlist, Todoist, Any.do and Pocket Lists – all with great features to help you stay on task.
A to-do list will help you move through assignments more fluidly. Prioritizing tasks for the day or the week will help you meet deadlines as you flow through your list. By breaking your responsibilities down into manageable chunks, these apps can also help reduce the stress that comes with living such busy lives.

If you’re often double-booked or easily distracted…

Many of us still live in the nightmare of manually coordinating our schedules with work, family, and other responsibilities. If you often come close to double-booking your life, apps like Google Calendar and TimeDriver are great ways to keep your schedule clean and simple.
Likewise, we often have more time than we think we do. For instance, how many times do you find yourself reading emails, getting distracted by an informal meeting and then forgetting to answer them later? When a deadline sneaks up on you, is it because you’re overwhelmed with work, or because you spend a few hours a day on Buzzfeed? You may be unorganized because you are all over the place in the digital world. To use your time more effectively, check out tools like RescueTime, which records how much time you spend on your computer, from actual work to shopping online to watching cats play pianos on YouTube.

If you’re more into visual lists that are easily modified…

The Kanban organizational style might be right up your alley. With Kanban tools you can organize projects into buckets. Your buckets can be any stage of the project, from a whole series of processes or smaller subtasks that mark your overall progress. Trello and Google Keep are great examples of Kanban. They’re visually appealing, letting tactile users move items around. You can set deadlines and reminders, share with others and link up with your calendar. Not only can this improve the efficiency of your organization, it might also help you spot bottlenecks in your system.
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A look at the possibilities — and warnings — of connected public clouds.

It’s a multi-cloud world, but recent alliances and initiatives are changing the way we live in it.

More than just a list of cloud vendors your company uses, multi-cloud is a strategy. Roughly 86% of enterprises are invested in that strategy today, according to a recent Forrester survey, and it plots out exactly how an enterprise uses multiple cloud providers to make business happen.
Motivations to go multi-cloud are plenty. Some companies want to balance risk against putting all their workload eggs in one basket. If one cloud provider goes down, redundancy with another can help a business avoid the threat of downtime. Other businesses, still, embrace multi-cloud for spot-on use cases and specific services offered by different platforms. 
But that’s where things can get complicated — and expensive. The more cloud services a company taps into, the more complex it becomes to manage. Poor multi-cloud management is notorious for wasting money and creating silos. 
What’s more: each cloud service provider has its own configuration nuances and interfaces. Integration across clouds requires depth and breadth of expertise you don’t often find within a single human being. So, multi-cloud companies are left with two options: find the elusive cloud unicorn or grow your team with already hard-to-find cloud computing talent.

How much does a cloud weigh on enterprises?

Frustrated with the heft of figuring out the right multi-cloud approach, some companies have started moving workloads from public cloud back to on-premises storage or on-site/private-cloud hybrid models. Cloud repatriation (as it’s known), however, isn’t interrupting the $214.3B cloud market. 
But it’s a sign that enterprises are eager to find easier ways to navigate their clouds. Good news for them: the top cloud service providers are listening.
In early 2019, Google announced Anthos, a single managed service that enables enterprises to deploy, manage and run workloads using a common user interface across on-premises servers and third-party clouds, including AWS and Microsoft Azure (a.k.a. Google Cloud’s biggest competitors). 
Anthos enables applications to run across clouds, unmodified — which means admins and developers don’t need to become experts at every cloud environment (that helps mitigate the talent-side sticking point of multi-cloud strategy). 
The value in creating an environment that lets businesses move workloads and run applications from cloud to cloud isn’t simply about convenience. Interoperability is ripe with opportunity. 
Microsoft made its overture to meet cloud clients where they are a few months later, announcing an interconnectivity alliance. Microsoft Azure and Oracle connected their clouds over a direct network connection. 
Joint customers can migrate applications and data seamlessly between the two public clouds without rearchitecting what they’ve already built nor posting losses against their existing cloud investments. Interoperability between these two cloud giants means enterprises can run databases on Azure or Oracle Cloud infrastructure, and connect services, like Azure analytics and Oracle autonomous database, without rethinking their multi-cloud strategy. 
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The shapes of connected clouds to come.

Innovations and partnerships, like Google, Microsoft and Oracle, aren’t simply taking the pain out of “lift and shift.” The potential in connected-cloud alliances is changing the way enterprises and providers think about the purpose of public cloud.
Beyond pure cloud logistics, interconnectivity could change the way enterprises plot their multi-cloud strategies. Forget planning and parsing which environment supports each use case. Interconnectivity can transform the way enterprises use cloud with technologies like service mesh, portability and microservices.
Could the dream of simple portability in the cloud come true with increased interconnectivity? Portability (which implies that you can move workloads and run applications cloud to cloud, like from an AWS environment to Microsoft Azure) seems to be front-and-center with this year’s rising cloud projects.
Alongside its Oracle alliance, Microsoft is also pursuing the portability dream with other partners. Microsoft, SAP and Adobe joined forces in 2019 to start the Open Data Initiative, a partnership to create a single data model for customer data that’s portable between platforms. 
By standardizing the data structure and improving portability, the initiative could make it easier for enterprises to do much more with customer data, like activate machine learning and AI. Locked into a CRM vendor, like Salesforce, enterprises are often stuck with the capabilities of their provider. (Although Salesforce hasn’t exactly been a slouch in the acquisition market.) 


Still, keep your eye on the dark clouds.

Portability isn’t without its price. With any connected services, especially when data changes hands, security will always be a risk. The Open Data Initiative is still young, but will need to get clear on who’s responsible for protecting that data, too.
The idea of connected clouds isn’t without its security biases, either. Enterprises still struggle with getting cloud initiatives off the ground due to internal security biases — with cloud or specific providers. Despite opportunities inherent in connected clouds and services, the connected companies will need to create a foundation of strong security practices to get over the existing stigma of business data floating in the clouds. 
As we imagine public clouds coming together, it’s important to wonder, too: what happens if all public clouds are interconnected? 
Alliances, like Microsoft and Oracle, provide interoperability for joint customers and promise a level of portability multi-cloud users dream of. Consider what happens if those alliances become mergers and acquisitions, and a race to own a greater share of the worldwide market — and its data. Who would own what, and how could anyone else ever compete? Only the future in the cloud will tell.


The future of your multi-cloud strategy.
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How might interconnectivity and the possibility of cross-cloud services change the way your business thinks about multi-cloud?

When contemplating your career plans, focus not only on the kind of work that fits you well now but also on what offers a path to the best jobs of the future. “Sounds reasonable,” you say, “but what specific positions should I focus on?”
Many are technical in nature. Ever-advancing technology opens up a wide variety of new and evolved roles, so many of the most promising professions require knowing and staying up to date with the latest digital innovations.
However, not all jobs that are currently seeing growth (or projected to grow in the foreseeable future) necessitate being an all-around tech wiz. Some involve keeping up only with software and hardware relevant to your duties — which is a best practice in the digital age no matter what you do for a living.
Employers will depend on their employees to make strategic, informed decisions using data collected by artificial intelligence and analytics, while keeping a pulse on industry trends and their customers’ needs and wants.
But the necessary aptitudes don’t stop with knowing and following technology. For example, interpersonal skills are important now — and will be even more crucial in coming years, putting positions with an emphasis on project or people management and empathy in high demand.

Here are 12 of the jobs our data show as having some of the greatest long-term potential, including their salaries: 

Mobile Applications Developer

Mobile development continues to generate traction across industries. And as more businesses rely on mobile technology to reach customers, demand for mobile applications developers will continue to increase. These professionals are in the driver’s seat when it comes to designing and recommending enhancements to smartphone- and tablet-based software. They work on new deployments, app coding, testing and debugging. The midpoint salary, or median national salary, for a mobile app developer is $146,500, and the outlook is bright.

Data Architect

While the collection of data can be automated, the ability to translate, analyze and make business recommendations based off that data is in high demand from employers. As the Internet of Things (IoT) grows and more devices and sensors become interconnected, the volume of available data is only going to expand. To help manage and derive value from it, businesses need skilled data architects who can translate information into specific database solutions.
Data architects need analytical and creative skills, plus in-depth knowledge of data systems and database methodology. They need to communicate effectively, plan and coordinate data resources, and translate business requirements into database solutions. Familiarity with Oracle, Microsoft SQL servers and other systems — like Unix, Linux, Solaris and Microsoft Windows — is essential. Data architect jobs are plentiful across the nation, and start at a national midpoint salary of $141,250.

Compliance Manager

Working under the direction of the compliance director, a compliance manager in the legal field supervises the development of risk controls and oversees the efforts of the compliance administration team to implement internal procedures, processes and programs. People seeking this career should have a post-secondary degree and seven-plus years of compliance and audit experience in a relevant field. Due to frequently changing regulatory mandates and increasingly strict enforcement, the practice area is expected to continue to grow.
Compliance managers are in high demand in the legal profession, especially those who possess strong leadership and organizational abilities, as well as analytical and interpersonal skills. Candidates with seven to nine years of experience can expect average starting salaries around a midpoint of $97,250.

Business Intelligence Analyst

Companies have embraced the use of big data analysis, which has increased their activities in data mining and reporting. As a result, the need for business intelligence analysts has grown exponentially. This job involves turning raw data into actionable insights and developing reporting solutions that work across the organization. People who succeed in this role have solid analytical, troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, along with proficiency with using business intelligence and data mining tools, as well as Excel pivot tables, to analyze data. An education in finance, business or information systems is typically required. Relaying results and making recommendations to senior management necessitates high-level communication skills.
The current midpoint salary for a senior business intelligence analyst is $97,000, but due to the high demand for the role, employers may be willing to pay more. And candidates with additional qualifications, such as the CPA certification or specific industry expertise, stand to earn even higher pay.

UX Designer

UX designers are responsible for how a product or website feels. Their job is to zero in on users’ underlying emotional and functional needs and help create an enjoyable digital experience based on those discoveries. UX designers conduct usability testing and consult with clients to understand their goals and intentions.
The growth of mobile and web development leads to continued demand for this role. Today, the midpoint salary for a UX designer is $96,250 — and it’s likely to rise in the future.

Marketing Analytics Manager

Marketing analytics managers are in high demand across the country. These professionals are responsible for providing data-driven insights to various stakeholders and leveraging information from marketing automation and customer relationship management software, and other business intelligence tools. Strong analytical reasoning and collaboration skills are important, as marketing analytics managers often work with various partners and departments, like IT, operations, sales and marketing, to improve processes and meet business goals. The midpoint salary is $96,000.

Systems Analyst

Systems analysts help business and IT teams find technical solutions to business problems. They play a central role in the planning and execution of projects, and they may serve as a liaison between IT and end users. Duties include analyzing hardware and software issues, writing and maintaining systems documentation, and translating user and system requirements into functional technical specifications.
Hiring for systems analysts is projected to increase 9 percent by 2028 (based on levels initially from 2018), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, largely because of the rapid adoption of cloud computing and the rising use of IT services in the healthcare field. Currently, systems analysts earn a midpoint salary of $95,500.

UI Designer

Working with UX designers and development teams, UI designers shape and build a product or website’s wireframe. Their goal is to make sure every touchpoint that users come across in their interaction with a product is intuitive and conforms to the team’s overall vision. With strong visual design skills, coding expertise and an understanding of website layout best practices, UI designers are key players for creating interactive experiences with customers. And as more companies focus on improving the customer experience, job prospects for this position grow stronger. The midpoint salary is $80,000.

Business Analyst

Business analysts bridge the gap between business and IT. They determine business unit needs and plan, implement and improve business information systems across multiple departments, ensuring business data and reporting needs are met. Companies hire for this role when they want to act on business intelligence and make data-driven decisions. People with experience in financial analysis, data flow analysis and project management are strong candidates.
These jobs are in high demand, and it can be difficult to fill these positions across industries. Previously considered a subset of general business skills, business analytics is a field with space to build a lucrative career thanks to explosive growth since it came into its own. Business analysts with one to three years of experience can expect to earn a midpoint starting salary around $71,000.

Litigation Support/eDiscovery Analyst

Litigation is a high-growth practice area, driving demand for lawyers and paralegals with litigation support and eDiscovery backgrounds.
Employers typically seek litigation support/eDiscovery analysts with a juris doctor or bachelor’s degree and proficiency in the latest industry software. Strong project management abilities, attention to detail and interpersonal skills are needed to support litigation matters and liaise with external firms and service providers. The midpoint salary for a candidate with one to two years of experience is $65,250. Hiring for this position should increase as law firms and companies focus on keeping pace with technological advancements, federal rulings and new regulations.

Member Services/Enrollment Manager

In the healthcare field, member services managers are responsible for quality assurance. They supervise other customer service staff, who answer inquiries from providers and members about coverage, claims, benefits and other issues.
Stellar communication and leadership skills are a must, as well as the ability to maintain confidentiality. The midpoint salary for member services/enrollment managers is $57,000.

Executive Assistant

An executive assistant supports senior leaders by doing everything from managing calendars and scheduling meetings to preparing reports and helping coordinate key projects. Companies look for job candidates with strong soft skills, expertise in Microsoft Office and project management experience. Resourcefulness, problem-solving abilities and discretion are also essential. The midpoint salary for an executive assistant role is $55,500.

Nike convinced you to Just Do It. McDonald’s knows you’re Lovin’ It. And Like A Good Neighbor, State Farm is there for you. Branding is big business, but it isn’t just for megacorporations—it’s for everyone. Personal branding has become a bit of a buzzword recently, and for good reason: With the advent of social media, it’s easier than ever to build your own digital empire. Below, we’re sharing eight tips to create an authentic personal brand and position yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

1. Identify Your Unique Sales Proposition

Determine what you have to offer. What’s unique about your experience or skill set? How can you educate others in your space? If you have multiple interests, drill down to the ones that will most effectively help you break further into your desired industry. You don’t have to start out as an expert. As long as you’re involved in the discussion, you’re building brand recognition on the topics that are important to your career.

2. Be Authentic

Don’t change who you are. The point of personal branding is to share your personality with your colleagues, industry, and potential clients. Faking a persona for the sake of advancing your interests doesn’t do your brand justice, and it can come off as disingenuous to others. Find your strengths, be authentic, and watch the connections roll in.

3. Define Your Audience

Whose attention do you want to attract? By determining who you’re targeting, you can decide on the best platform for your work, the best sales and engagement tactics, and the style in which you should write or design content. It’s okay if you’re audience is broad early on. As you develop your personal brand your audience should begin to focus.

4. Hone Your Pitch

Write your elevator pitch. If you can’t succinctly answer the question, “So, what do you do?” it’s time to refine your pitch. Make a list of the key points you want to hit, then write, refine, and practice your pitch until you can easily and efficiently explain your value in 30 or 40 seconds.

5. Build Value

Have something to offer. It’s great to be curious, but unless you’ve got something valuable to offer others, they’ll likely scroll right past your “I’m looking to learn more about…” post. Are you a pro in sales? Production? Coaching? Whatever your expertise might be, find a way to share it with the world. Writing expert content on Medium or LinkedIn is a great place to start.

6. Distribution

Use social media wisely. Whether you’re most active on LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, or Facebook will largely depend on your industry—but your story should be consistent across all platforms regardless. On LinkedIn, zero in on your skillset, and be sure to quantify your accomplishments: “doubled blog readership in six months” sounds a lot better than “edited company blog.”

7. Be Productive

Don’t be too cautious. Spending months designing a logo or days crafting the perfect Facebook post won’t get you anywhere. Find your niche, establish your platform, and get to the meat and potatoes of your content, whether that be writing articles, sharing designs, or uploading videos. Don’t get caught in the weeds with the method of delivery—just get your brand out there and refine it along the way
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8. Be Consistent

Anyone can create a blog, but it takes someone dedicated to their craft to post regularly. No matter your medium, create a schedule and stick to it. Potential employers and clients will see your commitment to your work and know you’d be a disciplined addition to their team. If life get’s in the way of your schedule, have a backup in place. Social scheduling tools can allow you to post consistently even when you can’t produce new content. If you’re having trouble coming up with topics to cover, look to the industry leaders who you admire. for inspiration.

If there’s one word a workaholic hates to hear, it’s vacation.
For workaholics, the warm days and beautiful summer nights are no different than freezing winters and snow-covered roads. Work must get done, regardless of the weather.
America is considered one of the most overworked nations in the world. And like it or not, everyone needs some down time. Otherwise stress builds up, and too much stress is dangerous for your health.
But a vacation mustn’t mean a 10-day trip to Thailand. Here are a few simple vacation ideas to help you relax this summer, without damaging your productivity. Not just summer any time of year for that matter. Weather spring, fall or winter weather.
1.       The staycation
If you’re crammed for time and finances are stretched thin, a staycation may be the perfect summer vacation solution for you. The Staycation is exactly what it sounds like. You don’t need a flight. You don’t need overnight accommodations. All you need is time off to explore your city. Maybe you go to your favorite restaurant or visit the local theme park. Staycations offer lots of fun without any checked baggage. Take up a new hobby - hang-gliding, sky-diving, scuba diving all come to mind, or just pain fishin'.
2.       In-city hotel stay
This is a small step-up from the staycation. Unlike the staycation, where you go exploring all day but come back to your home at night, the in-city trip comes with a hotel visit. Head downtown and get a room. Enjoy the amenities of room service and a great view of the city from the 16th floor. Again, this saves you having to spend lots of time traveling to a destination and dropping lots of money on airfare.
3.       Maybe it’s time for a cruise
Many will argue that a cruise is the ideal vacation. You don’t have to drive anywhere. Your food is included. And all the activities you could want are within walking distance. Not to mention there’s plenty of night life. You can even find a three-day cruise, which is perfect for a weekend getaway. Not too mention, even out in the ocean, WIFI is standard. So don’t worry about missing the occasional email if that’s the only thing holding you back.
4.       Shorter weeks, longer weekends
If you’re like most workaholics, you probably have lots of vacation days built up and no desire to take a three-week trip. Fair enough. Maybe your solution then isn’t to have a long vacation, but a series of mini vacations. Why not take a Friday or Monday off every week for the next few months? This way you are still able to come into the office and get things done, but you’ll have more time over the weekend for chores, errands, or that round of golf you’ve been putting off.
5.       Take the plunge
Or maybe this is the year you go all out. Maybe this is the year you finally take that big trip with your family. But make it a trip with a purpose. Don’t just go somewhere for the sake of going. That defeats the purpose. Is there anywhere you’ve always wanted to go? Any city or sights you have on a bucket list? If so, treat yourself. You’re less likely to think about the office and your emails if you’re somewhere you’ve always wanted to be.

As technology improves and makes tasks easier, you’d think people would have more time. But instead it seems people are trying to fit 30 hours of work into 24-hour days.
To help people manage life’s demands and busy schedules, app developers constantly create new tools to help improve productivity and time management. Whether you need help managing the items in your fridge or a long list of demands at work: there’s an app for that.
Apps for your everyday life
The following is a small sample of popular apps that can help you better manage your day-to-day life.
1.       ToDoist
This app could fit under work just as much as lifestyle. To-do lists are one of the best ways to stay organized and prioritize everything you need to get done. It can be hard to remember everything, so it helps to write it down.
Think of ToDoist as the ultimate to-do list application. Users simply write down their tasks and the application will interpret it and categorize everything. It’ll also schedule reminders for meetings you write down.
2.       Grocery Pal
It may seem odd to have an app solely dedicated to your shopping list. But how often do you forget to pick up milk or try to find the best deal on fruit?
Not only can you use Grocery Pal to create grocery lists, but the application will notify you of weekly sales and promotions at the stores closest to you.
3.       Evernote
Think of this app as your second brain. You browse websites, snap pictures, write notes and all those things end up in different applications. Weeks or months later you’ll remember it’s in your device somewhere but have no way to search and find it.
Evernote allows you to combine and organize all your thoughts and ideas into one, easy-to-use platform.
Apps to make you the office organizational guru
Here are a few apps to improve project management and work productivity.
1.       Slack
If you did a quick search on your device for the most popular work productivity apps, Slack would be right near the top. The Unicorn company is popular with major players like Target and Oracle in the way it helps improve in-office communication.
If you’re tired of email and struggling to maintain control of your inbox, Slack may be the solution you’re looking for. All office communication is organized and searchable and you can design specific channels for specific projects and clients.
2.       Trello
Are you having problems organizing projects at work? Trello uses a visual platform to not only display all projects in the queue, but also the tasks and phases that must be completed as part of the overall projects you’re working on.
3.       Zapier
Here’s an app that could also work wonders in your personal life, but is an office organization lifesaver. Zapier is the application facilitator. It allows you to quickly integrate options and attachments from one application into another.
For example, you can quickly and seamlessly send Slack attachments to Dropbox or provide contact information to Salesforce without downloading, saving, and re-uploading.

Four reasons you need a Recruiter…especially in the digital age

Presented to you by BusinesStaff
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If your company has open positions, you’ve undoubtedly seen the pitches from online job boards: find a candidate in just one day with just one click and so on. Many companies sacrifice quality when only relying on job boards, social media blasts or even understaffed internal HR and recruitment teams. In this digital age, good recruiters are even more valuable!  Yes, not all recruiters are the same.  Let’s take a look at four reasons why a good recruiter brings great value…
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A good recruiter saves you a tremendous amount of time:
Time is a high cost factor that many companies overlook including the time that key positions go unfilled. Posting your open positions on job boards or social media may be less expensive and sometimes free, but are you really saving when you add in your time and lost productivity. You first have to create not only a refined job description but also a company sales pitch to even have a chance to attract top talent.  Then you need to decide where to post it among the numerous boards and job sites that all tout that they are the best.  Only to find that you’re spending countless hours filtering through stacks of applications from unqualified candidates. At BusinesStaff, we take work off your plate rather than adding to your already overscheduled workload. We know how to compose posting that will attract the best candidates.  We vet, scrutinize and evaluate every candidate for your specific needs and submit only the top few that make the cut. You need only to decide between the best of the best, rather than relying on those unqualified resumes that takeover your email.


A good recruiter targets passive candidates:
When you use job boards etc you attract candidates who are actively looking or even unemployed. It has been proven time after time that most top performers are neither of the above. Coming home from a long day of work and spending the evening filling out job applications requires a level of commitment that only the most motivated candidates have. And here’s the bad news—many active candidates are only looking because they are discourage, unsuccessful and even hate their current jobs. That’s not who you want to hire. Recruiters add value by targeting passive candidates: those who are very selective, rarely respond to online postings and are too busy to look for something new. Top recruiters have databases of talent as well as tools and persuasive tactics to find these under-the-radar top performers.


A good recruiter helps you market your company to high-quality candidates:
Many companies don’t realize that they’re in a sales role when recruiting talent. Companies have to drop their ego and put their best foot forward.  My recent article “Five ways to attract top talent” addresses this very issue.
Top candidates:

• Know their skills are the best in the industry
• Know what they are worth in the job market
• Rarely look for a new job
• Know that most companies are looking for them

We find that many—or even most—small to medium sized companies haven’t thought about factors such as company culture or promoting key benefits of working for their firm. Today’s social media-savvy candidates will research your company on LinkedIn, Glassdoor and other social media. They may even contact past or present employees. It’s imperative that companies become aware so that they’re prepared to answer questions about their work environment and expectations.  A good recruiter will help sell your opportunity by putting you in the best light possible.


A good recruiter looks for specific skills:
At BusinesStaff, we know that vacant positions put the brakes on your growth. When you need someone with a very specific skill, whether it’s certain sales experience, programming language or industry background, it will be a challenge.  This is very true for key positions, time-sensitive needs, or special projects. Recruiters know where to find those people, and how to help promote your company as a place they’d love to work. Recruiters even keep lists of candidates who are specifically targeting project-based assignments, unique requirements and other nontraditional situations.
It’s true that job boards and social media posts can be useful. Offering referral bonuses to your current employees is certainly a valid strategy. But in many situations, a good recruiter can save you time, productivity and money by helping better position your company to attract top (passive) candidates that can bring your company to the next level.


If you’d like to put the recruiter advantage to work for you, contact us at BusinesStaff today!


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“You only get one shot — do not miss your chance to blow.” Eminem may have been referring to rap battles when he dropped this lyric back in 2002, but he just as easily could have been talking aboutresumes and the job search. Resumes, after all, are your first chance to show a company what a perfect fit you are for a position — but if done incorrectly, they could also be your last. That’s why it’s absolutely critical to get them right the first time. Otherwise, all the time you spend filling out applications is essentially for naught.
But for every resume mistake, there’s a remedy. We’ve rounded up a few of the most common resume errors that prevent you from moving onto the next round, as well as solutions for how to fix them. It may take some time to tweak, but the payoff is worth it.


1. Not Customizing Your Resume

​When you’re applying to multiple jobs, it’s tempting to use a generic, cookie-cutter resume and blast it out everywhere you’re applying to. But that strategy may end up preventing your resume from getting in a recruiter’s hands at all. “Most resumes are reviewed electronically before a human sees them,” shares career coach Jeanne Patti, and if your resume doesn’t have the keywords specified in the job description, it will likely be overlooked by the software.
The Fix: It may be a pain to create a customized resume for each company, but if you’re truly interested in a position, it’s worth it. “Tailoring each submittal with keywords from the job posting is critical to pass the electronic screening,” Patti says.

2. Focusing on Job Functions Over ResultsIf your resume reads like the original job description you saw when you applied, it’s time to spice it up. “Most people focus too much on their job tasks/functions to ensure [that] the keywords are in the resume, and fail to devote time to strategically marketing their best skill sets and career wins,” says Wendi Weiner, resume writer & career transition coach.
The Fix: Instead of talking about the day-to-day, describe the big picture impact you had. “The more effective thing to do is to have a separate core skills section and focus your work experience section on results, major contributions, and key projects you have worked on at various companies/organizations,” Weiner says. “It is the number one way to distinguish yourself among the hundreds of applicants applying for jobs.”
What Hiring Managers Expect on Resumes Now
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3. Including an ObjectiveIf your college career counselor ever told you to put an objective like “Find an entry-level position in marketing” at the top of your resume, we’re giving you full permission to disregard them. “[One of the biggest mistakes] that I often see in a resume is an objective in lieu of a professional summary. Objectives should not be used in a resume,” Weiner says.
The Fix: Don’t just say you want a job — show recruiters why they should hire you for the job with a professional summary. “Your professional summary should resonate who you are as a professional and the high-caliber skill sets you have to offer,” explains Wiener. “Think of a professional summary as an introduction to the novel about yourself. It should allure the reader and entice him/her with information that will make him/her want to continue on reading to learn more.”

4. Poor WritingWhen it comes to your resume, your experience and career accomplishments are the most important, but how you present that information comes in at a close second. “The way you express yourself on your resume (and in any form of communication) impacts the way others perceive you,” says Angela Copeland, Career Coach. Spelling mistakes, clichés, and complex, industry-specific jargon will all count against you.
The Fix: “First, ensure your resume is grammatically correct. Then, be sure that it is worded in a professional manner with a somewhat formal tone. Last, ensure your resume is understandable to someone, even if they don’t work in your industry,” Copeland says. “The easiest way to improve your choice of words is to read your resume out loud to yourself. This can catch many of the potential issues before anyone else sees it. Then, ask a friend or family member who works in another industry to read it. If they find your resume to be confusing, consider updating the wording, so that it’s more clear.”

5. Leaving Out Social Media Links“Many people aren’t using the presence of social media to their advantage and use their resume as a stand-alone document,” Patti says. But in a constantly connected world where being transparent and informed is critical at every stage of the hiring process, it only makes sense to add links to your professional social media profiles.
The Fix: Give another layer of depth to your resume by linking to relevant, professional social media links. Patti recommends that job seekers “remove your physical address and add your LinkedIn URL. By linking to your updated profile, you will immediately gain credibility through your recommendations and endorsements of your skills and show insight into your personal brand and value,” Patti adds.
How To Ensure a Glowing Job Reference
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6. Telling Instead of ShowingIt’s an age-old adage in writing: show, don’t tell. When job seekers simply state how great they are without providing any evidence, they lose credibility in recruiters’ eyes. One common way job seekers do this is by “using buzzwords (strategic, specialized, leadership, experienced, passionate, focused, creative, enthusiastic),” Patti shares.
The Fix: “Instead of using these words, demonstrate how you use that skill. It’s a powerful way to share your experiences and what makes you stand out without boring the person on the other end,” says Patti. One common approach is the STAR method — provide the situation, task, action, and result of different initiatives you have been involved in, making sure to include specific information like metrics as relevant.