6 Tips for Navigating a Merger or Acquisition

6 Tips for Navigating a Merger or Acquisition Mergers and acquisitions are a common reality for many industries, particularly the tech sector. Every year, billions of dollars change hands as a result of corporate consolidation. In 2019 alone, there were 3,590 technology industry acquisitions and mergers. With new technologies constantly being developed and introduced to the market as well as pressure from customers to provide more complete solutions, many deals offer the opportunity for organizations to gain new capabilities, expand service offerings, or acquire greater access to new or existing markets. With all these possibilities, it’s important to have a talented team to support all the new developments. Talent loss is common during any merger or acquisition, therefore retaining talent while also attracting new talent is crucial. Utilizing a talent acquisition strategy can allow organizations to proactively reach candidates that are right for the new company, rather than continue to hire with an old mindset. While the tech industry MAs reshape the landscape and appear to offer a fast track to take a company to the next level, they can be challenging and overwhelming for employees of those organizations. Fears of instability, chaos, and confusion can be common. However, being a part of a larger team offers a number of benefits including providing new opportunities to advance your career, broaden your perspective and make a bigger impact for customers. If you’ve found yourself struggling to navigate a merger or acquisition, don’t lose hope. Keep reading for a few tips on how to thrive in your new role and embrace the chaos that comes with it. 1. Embrace your new responsibilities. When transitioning to a larger team, it can seem like you are losing some of your job responsibilities. While you may be tackling fewer things, having a larger team can allow you to focus and do those things really well. If your new role and responsibilities aren’t clearly defined, make sure to reach out to leadership for clarity and find ways to contribute to your team’s success. Identify areas where you want to grow both personally and professionally. Having a more narrow range of responsibilities can be an opportunity to focus on the aspects of your job that you most enjoy. 2. Figure out what success looks like in your new role. One of the biggest challenges of an MA is the uncertainty of how your impact on the company will be measured. Make it a priority to talk to leadership about what success looks like given the changes. Knowing the key performance indicators (KPIs) for your new role will be critical in helping you exceed the standards set forth. 3.Consider moving laterally. If you’ve been focused in one area, but are really interested in something else, now is the time to make your move. Making a lateral move can increase the depth of your understanding and allow you to hone other skill sets. With a larger marketing team, you’ll have the opportunity to explore even more possibilities with your career. 4. Stay open-minded. Transitioning during a merger or acquisition can be even more difficult if you were content with your past position. Let go of the old, and focus on the new. If you’re stuck in the past you may find yourself falling behind. Mergers and acquisitions can be a hard thing to accept, but the sooner you embrace the changes, the sooner you can begin to grow with your team. 5. Support your team. Help out colleagues who may be taking on your former responsibilities. Even if you aren’t in a leadership role, you can still act as a leader to your new, larger team. Getting to know new employees can help broaden your perspective and learn better ways to approach tasks. Making everyone feel welcome after the merger or acquisition is key to having a positive experience. 6. Stay optimistic. With the uncertainty of a merger or acquisition, it can be easy to be negative about the situation. If there’s something you miss from your job role before the change, simply ask to be more included in that initiative. Keep in mind that everyone around you is also experiencing the same thing you are, so you can always figure it out together. Corporate change such as mergers and acquisitions won’t stop anytime soon. Embrace the change and use it as an opportunity to grow with your team personally and professionally.   About the author: Kerry Gilliam, Sr. Director, Marketing Jobvite.

Twitter Takes Center Stage - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Twitter Takes Center Stage - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Personal branding is more important now than ever before.   The economic downturn is not favorable to shrinking violets…you need to be front and center. Twitter is everywhere LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter â€" these seem to be the favorite tools of job-seekers and personal branders.   And this week, because of geo-political reasons in Iran, Twitter has taken center stage.   In fact, the newcasters mentioned they were following Twitter to get their news.  This indicates that Twitter is becoming more mainstream. It’s everywhere â€" on every newscast, in USA Today, etc.   What does this mean to you and your personal branding? New focus One thing for sure is that for anyone who hadn’t heard about Twitter before, has heard of Twitter now.   Twitter is suddenly everywhere-and it’s not the silly comments made on late night TV. People are realizing that Twitter has the power to spread a message faster and farther and more immediate than anything we’ve ever seen. Clearly, the uses for disaster recovery and organizing are evident. For those working on their personal branding, take advantage of this time and get your presence on Twitter ramped up. Everyone is paying attention to the platform and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to put yourself forward right now.   The attention may be on world news today, but it will eventually shift back to business, interests, etc. Remember: Make sure your bio reflects who you are and your picture is YOU.  Social media is all about “find and be found”. Use the Twitter search feature to the right conversations to join and add value. Be an subject matter expert. Give to get.   Offer to help, contribute, participate. Follow back, but DON’T send an auto-follow message, they are annoying. Twitter has taken center stage, and you are who you associate with.  If you’re already out there, refresh your Twitter branding strategy.   If you’re a newbie, now is the perfect time to start Tweeting! Author: Beverly Macy is the Managing Partner of YM Partners and teaches a social media class at the UCLA Extension.   She also co-hosts Gravity Summit events and provides personal branding coaching.

Four Kinds of Contacts

Four Kinds of Contacts Donald Asher is the author of “Cracking the Hidden Job Market.”   The book is full of common sense tips for finding a job, combined with get tough orders on what it takes to become employed.   He pushes the idea of networking hard; after all, he maintains that you must have 100 active leads to follow up on at all times.   Here’s how Asher talks about your active network. Asher maintains that most business professionals know somewhere between 600 and 10,000 people.   He says that you should divide your network into four active categories. Hiring Authorities.   These are the people who actually have jobs and could hire you if they thought you were a good fit.   They may be people who’d be your new boss, or they may be higher up the chain at a company.  This is a small but valuable part of your network.   Asher warns that more and more companies have professionals who look for a great match and might be able to override the boss, no matter how fond he is of you.   So don’t count on what he calls the “rich uncle” theory of getting hired. Direct Referral Sources.   These are people in your target industry who can tell you what’s happening and who’s hiring.   They can also provide advice, ideas and referrals, so Asher strongly recommends that you spend most of your quality time with this group. Asher’s fail safe method for working this group consists of four steps: Identify a job target of interest. Find someone doing that job. Talk to him or her. Repeat until hired.   Any questions? Centers of Influence.   These are the people in your universe who know things and know people.   Malcolm Gladwell calls them Mavens and Connectors respectively.   Social media has made it possible for these Mavens and Connectors to be in constant communication with hundreds of people every day.   Chances are, they will be the source of your next hot lead.   Get them on your side; they love a good challenge and love claiming successes. Everyone else.   And he means everyone; Asher says that you should make it a habit to speak to every person you meet and family members you might not have thought of as part of your network. Tell them that you’re in transition, and what you’re looking for.   You’ll get a lot of feedback, most of it not very useful.   That’s OK; eventually someone may produce a gem.     And along the way, you’ll meet a lot of people.   Use them to get leads back to Centers of Influence and Direct Referral Sources. Asher says you should begin with, and spend most of your time talking to, people who are in the job you want to have.   Worried about your ability to do that?   Get ready for some tough love: Asher says that if you can’t get someone in your field to talk to you, you probably can’t get that job anyway. If you’re not sure how to approach people you don’t know well, Asher has a simple system for that.   Craft a friendly and concise email, asking for what you need: information, a lead, a referral, or a meeting.   Then be willing to send it three times. Send the polite email.   If you get no response, don’t assume it’s personal.   Assume the recipient is busy.   Re-send the exact same email again. If still no response, add a note above the third version:   Dear A: I’m not sure I have an accurate email address for you… then append your original email.   If still no response, assume the email wasn’t accurate.   Fine another medium (Facebook, LinkedIn) and try again.   Repeat until hired.

Most Inspiring Ted Talks for Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Most Inspiring Ted Talks for Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Everyone can have downtimes especially at work. If you feel like you have been staring at the excel spreadsheet in your computer screen for the past hour and don’t want to do anything, you may need some inspiration to be able to refunction. Watch the below videos in your coffee break and get the inspiration you need to work effectively for the rest of the day. How Great Leaders Inspire Action: Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership â€" starting with a golden circle and the question Why? His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers The Puzzle of Motivation: Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers dont: Traditional rewards arent always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories â€" and maybe, a way forward. The Happy Secret to Better Work: We believe we should work hard in order to be happy, but could we be thinking about things backwards? In this fast-moving and very funny talk, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that, actually, happiness inspires us to be more productive. How to Speak so that People Want to Listen: Have you ever felt like youre talking, but nobody is listening? Heres Julian Treasure to help. In this useful talk, the sound expert demonstrates the how-tos of powerful speaking â€" from some handy vocal exercises to tips on how to speak with empathy. A talk that might help the world sound more beautiful. How to Make Stress Your Friend: Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quickens and your forehead sweats. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others. Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders: The successful author of  Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg, leads a TED talk about the glaring lack of women in leadership roles in the workplace. As Sandberg sheds light on some differences between men and women in the office, she gives aspiring female business leaders a few actionable tips to take their career to the next level. Got a Meeting? Take a Walk: Nilofer Merchants concept is quite simple: We are sitting 9.3 hours per day on average â€" and it is slowly killing us. Sitting has become the smoking of our generation, she says. So instead of having the typical work meeting, take your meetings outside â€" and youll be surprised by how easily fresh air can drive fresh thinking. *Narratives of above videos are taken from Ted.com website.

Can You Get Professional Resume Writing Services For Your Job Search?

Can You Get Professional Resume Writing Services For Your Job Search?In case you need professional resume writing services for your next job search, you can look for them in Milwaukee. That's because the city is just about as full of potential employers as any other part of the country. You have the history of a proud manufacturing industry, and a healthy economy that doesn't rely as heavily on tourism and trade. At the same time, the area is home to some of the best museums and art galleries in the country.For these reasons, there is always a big draw in this city. Employers are looking for talented workers, and a top-notch resume with the proper qualifications is key to getting a job interview. Here are some tips for using Milwaukee resume writing services.First, you will need to ensure that your resume is well organized. Use the same format in every section. Consider what kind of work experience you have on each field, so you don't end up forgetting to put it in somewhere. Use bul let points to make the process easier to follow, and add in your accomplishments as you go along.Next, take the time to make sure the information is concise. If you're trying to sell yourself to an employer, they want to see everything right away. Make sure you can list your achievements and provide contact information, and consider looking for a service that offers a free report.Last, be sure to provide a comprehensive list of your work experience in addition to any training and college education you may have had. Including this information gives employers an idea of what you can do in the workplace. Your resume should be tailored to your specific needs, so consider what kinds of work experiences you might be looking for.Finally, make sure you give your contact information. Never leave itout of your resume, since that could result in an employer not contacting you or a rejection letter. While employers are usually pretty responsive, they do not want to wait for weeks before they ca n get back to you.The government is eager to hire US citizens, so if you think you would fit into the workforce, you are able to receive an offer for employment without any trouble. While many employers in Wisconsin will have their own application processes, they can certainly assist you with your job search. Many allow you to work online and access your personal and work profile at any time of the day or night.If you need help with creating an effective resume, consult with a professional. They will help you compile a resume that will stand out from the rest.

Summary Sunday Advancing Advice

Summary Sunday Advancing Advice Career Advancement As you count down the days until 2013, this means it is time to set some new goals for the new year. I hope youll find something in this collection of posts shared this week that will inspire and motivate you to be the best you can possibly be! Career Advancement 6 Work Habits to Break in the New Year by Alex Levit on Intuits FastTrack Im not saying you are guilty of all of these, but perhaps some and as Alex puts it, they impact your reputation. 8 Things Remarkably Successful People Do by Jeff Haden on Inc.com This is a more positive spin and some great examples of things successful people do to stand out! How to Get Promoted: Advice from Real Bosses by LearnVest on Huffington Post This post has 11 pointers for the right way to get noticed by your boss! Campaigning (ie. Job Search) Branding Value vs Skills by Phil Rosenberg on B2C If you continue to focus on job titles, job descriptions and responsibilities when crafting your marketing materials and campaign, youll most likely get lost in a sea of job seekers. Focus on the value you provide! 4 J0b Skills Most Likely to Land You a Great Job by Erika Anderson on Forbes Besides the 4 skills in demand in todays workforce, this post also contains the top 6 communication skills that will get you promoted! Go have a look! Workforce Trends DDIs Study on Global Selection Forecast 2012 DDI has been in the forefront of smart hiring (and talent management) since the 1970s. Theyve trained thousands of people and companies on how to hire and promote the right people. In fact,   I first learned about behavioral based interviewing from people trained by DDI. To better understand the challenges of hiring and these findings below, go check it out! When selecting talent for leadership positions, hiring externally is more expensive and can backfire. Only half of new hires are confident they made the right decision in accepting their job offer. many organizations do not thoroughly define what’s needed to be successful in the job, nor are they using the right mix or number of assessments to know more about candidates.

Need a Job Heres 4 Reasons You NEED Linkedin

Need a Job Heres 4 Reasons You NEED Linkedin 0 Flares 0 Flares Have you ever heard the phrase, Its not what you know, its who you know?  When it comes to your career, this saying is completely spot on.  Most people that Ive met over the years will happily go out of their way to refer, or promote an individual that they think has done a job well done.  Ive also seen just as many willing to stick their neck out for someone who may only be your average bear.  The point Im making is obvious, the more connections you have in life, the more celebration parties you will throw. Before Web 2.0, most people held their precious contacts in their very own rolodex.  What seemed like a pretty clever system was blown away when Linkedin was founded in 2002.  While Facebook and MySpace quickly built their popularity by targeting young adults and those on college campuses, Linkedin focused on the needs of those in the work place and hoped to connect every last one of them.  So, how are the three popular networking sites different?  Reid Hoffman, founder of Linkedin describes the differences between social networks by saying that Linkedin is the social medias office,  while Facebook is a barbeque, and MySpace is a bar.  Facebook and Myspace do offer opportunities for connecting with other professionals, but Linkedin has proven to be the elite networking application, proven by the following facts.  Linkedin has over 43 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world.A new member joins LinkedIn approximately every second, and about half of o ur members are outside the U.S.  Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members. While the advantages of Linkedin are quick to point out, I find that far too many people still do not have an account, or simply do not know how to properly use the application to their advantage.  Before I list my reasons why I feel Linkedin is absolutely crucial for todays job seeker Ill provide a quick story to explain just how powerful of a tool it can be.  My sister graduated in May of 2008, with a degree in Fashion Merchandising from Philadelphia University.  My sister worked throughout college at different designer stores at the King of Prussia Mall and was able to meet some influential people throughout college.  Her GPA was high enough to warrant induction into the honors society for her area of study.  She was very much so an above average student, but even with this and all of the connections she made, it proved tough to find a path to  becoming    a buyer.  The fashion industry is not easy to break into, and unless you know somebody you can almost count on being in retail at the mall or your entire life.  When I realized the situation my sister was in, I offerd my help and ran a quick search for buyers who were in my network on Linkedin.  Within a few days, my sister was talking on the phone with a buyer who worked for the very popular company,  Urban Outfitters.  One of my contacts on Linkedin had this person in their network, so they quickly set up an online introduction and then it wasnt long before she and my sister were discussing career paths, company benefits, the down falls of the company, and how to be a successful buyer.  My sister was sold. If that didnt completely sell you, here are 4 reasons why every job seeker absolutely needs Linkedin: Connections The importance of making connections when trying to land your dream job can not be overstated.  Most companies today offer a nice referral bonus to employees who refer a candidate that successfully passes all pre-employment screening.  Getting your name out to everyone youve met (seriously everyone), will only result in a higher referral percentage.  Through my experience, Ive seen that companies love to hire through referrals.  When a trusted/respected employee submits a candidate through to Human Resources, there is an odd sense of confidence in that this candidate will perform along the same level of the employee.  Companies absolutely love referrals. Resources Linkedin allows you to customize your very own profile.  Its a fun way to showcase your skills, and the application is easy to use.  Its also easy for prospective employers to read through your information quickly before they ask for  a more in depth resume to review.  Linkedin also offers job hunters a massive load of articles and blogs on topics such as how to create a persuasive cover letter, how to make your resume stand out, different interview techniques, and much more. Online Recommendations Through your career you may have done some pretty neat things, and impressed many people along the way.  Unfortunately, those people are not allowed to highlight your resume on an interview, thats your job.  Linkedin offers a very powerful feature allowing those people youve impacted to write an online  recommendation  of your work, which sits on your profile for everyone to read.  Whether its just a quick comment patting you on the back, or a full paragraph or two explaining the positive impact your work had, this sets you apart from others and PROVES your worth to an employer.  Employers love proof, and this is one step to proving youre the real deal. Job Listings Linkedin features an easy to use job search tool.  Like most online job search websites, you can search by location, job title, date of availability, company, as well as many other options.  Applying for a job on Linkedin will send your profile, resume, and your  recommendations  right to the desk of the recruiter, HR contact, or hiring manager. Herb Brooks was famous for saying, great moments are born from great opportunity.  With every connection you make in  life, its one more chance youll come across an opportunity you cant refuse.  Building your Linkedin profile will open many doors through connections, allowing every opportunity for your own great moment or quite possibly that dream job youve been hoping for.