Leading Women with International Careers - Jill Von Berg Viewpoint careers advice blog

Leading Women with International Careers - Jill Von Berg This is the first feature from our upcoming series “Leading Women with International Careers”. In this interview Jill Von Berg, CIO at Calix, based in San Francisco, USA, shares her experience of moving internationally and describes how being globally mobile has benefited her career. Jill is also a mentor for the TechWomen programme. What was your route to the USA? I actually came twice to the USA. The first time was just a few years after I had graduated from college. I had an engineering degree and I was working on aircraft engine design at Rolls Royce in the UK and was given the opportunity to work at GE Aircraft Engines in Cincinnati, Ohio. I jumped at the chance and spent much of the next decade designing military aircraft engine systems. In the early 90’s I was recruited by ABB Power in Switzerland and it was there that I transitioned my field from engineering technologies to information technologies. That switch in career brought me to Silicon Valley, and I was smitten by the dot.com fever. I returned to the USA to join Hewlett Packard in Palo Alto and have worked in the San Francisco Bay Area ever since. What’s your role now? My current role is Vice President and CIO at Calix, a global provider of broadband communications access systems and software. As a member of the executive team, I set the strategic direction for Calix enterprise IT and am responsible for all aspects of corporate IT development, delivery and support. Tell us about your involvement in TechWomen Ive always made myself available to talk about careers in technology; Id love to see everyone with an aptitude for maths or science follow a career in technology, but especially young women. That women are still a minority group in almost every STEM field seems such a waste of great talent! TechWomen is a U.S. Department of State initiative with the mission to empower, connect, and support the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. TechWomen brings emerging women leaders in STEM from Africa and the Middle East together with their professional counterparts in the U.S. for a mentorship and exchange program. Last year I had the privilege to be a professional mentor for an emerging leader from Nigeria and earlier this year I was part of a state department delegation to Rwanda, touring and speaking at technology institutions and start-ups, focused on inspiring and empowering young women. How has moving internationally impacted your career? Moving internationally has greatly impacted my career and I would say has even defined the way I measure a career. Picture a mountain; you can choose to scale up one side or spiral round and round to go up. Had I stayed in one country, my career would have been a single, vertical climb. Instead, I’ve made a series of international moves, most often lateral, like a spiral through my career. It makes the journey longer, but you see and experience so much more, and in the end you are a more rounded person with a much broader view of the world. It’s not the easiest path, but can be the most rewarding. I remember when I left GE; I had been considered a rising star, a technology manager whose opinion was respected. I was a great communicator; I felt comfortable and in command. Moving to another country took me out of that comfort zone; suddenly I was an unknown entity, I was really starting again in many ways. My new role was a lateral move, but I had to re-establish my reputation and gain the confidence of new customers and colleagues. My influencing abilities were dampened as I struggled to communicate in a new language. It was a humbling experience, but it taught me new skills and made me a wiser person. It took me about a year to get back in gear, and once more move up and across the corporate ladder. I learnt a lot from these experiences, they were invaluable for my personal growth. You’ve worked in a number of different countries, what were the highlights? Each country has its highlights and looking back I inevitably associate vivid cultural experiences with memories of business events, especially from when I was living in Zurich and travelling throughout Europe. I remember speaking at a Java conference in Paris, and later at the speakers’ dinner there was a fortune teller reading palms, I had to translate what the future would hold using my High School French! I will also always remember how the sun never set after a midsummer conference on patents in Norway or the mountains of parmesan cheese at a technology roadmaps meeting in Milan! One of the most exciting times in my early career in the US was managing the GE component certification for the F14 flight test. Making sure every part was analysed and verified, then liaising between the aircraft manufacturer in Long Island, NY and the US Navy in Washington DC; it tested every skill I had. The final reward of course being the successful first flight! Now I’m settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, and every day brings new highlights, I love the energy here, no wonder it’s the center of innovation! What did you do to prepare for your relocations? My preparation has improved in many ways with each move. Preparation for my first transatlantic move comprised of little more than packing a suitcase and flying to Cincinnati. I’ve been much more diligent about subsequent moves. I first visited the region, staying long enough to get the sense of how it would be to live there, researching housing, cost of living and company culture. I’ve wanted to make sure the moves were right for me. What were the main challenges you faced when relocating? For someone like me who thrives on communication, not understanding a local dialect or feeling tongue-tied in another language is always a challenge. Then there is the steep learning curve for life’s really basic needs like paying bills, finding a doctor, filling taxes or in the case of my first trans-Atlantic move, driving on the other side of the road. Small challenges that can make you feel temporarily useless! Some places are, of course less challenging than others; it was easier for me coming back to the USA, where there was no language barrier and as a nation of immigrants felt exceptionally welcoming. Relocating to another country can be exciting, but at some point almost everyone misses home and that’s probably a good time to seek out the local ex-pat community. You can find ex-pats in just about every country and while they can be a great source of knowledge and support, I’d also recommend doing everything you can to be a part of the local community too. I think you can get more out of an international experience when you are able to immerse yourself and live as if the new location is home. Settling in is easier when you are prepared to adapt to the local culture. Just be ready to listen, observe and react accordingly. Learning a local language really helps of course. Do you have any advice for anyone thinking about mobilising their own career? If you are at the beginning of your career and do want to travel with your role, give consideration to your field of specialisation; some skills and certifications simply transfer more easily than others. I have been lucky, in IT or Engineering there is an international language of programming and technology. With careers in law or accountancy for example, there may be some necessity (depending on the region) to study again for local professional qualifications. An international career is so rewarding, so fulfilling, I would tell anyone who is considering it to go for it, you can’t be too young or too old to make an international move! If you’re exploring the possibility of making an international career move, read my recent article ‘Move yourself’ for further advice and guidance. Stay tuned to hear more influential women from organisations such as Carlsberg, Lego, SAB Miller and MTR, share their experiences of moving internationally in order to enhance their careers. //

What is Gen Zs Attitude Towards Their Future Careers

What is Gen Zs Attitude Towards Their Future Careers Manager marking specialists, Universum have as of late discharged the discoveries of a review they led exploring the mentalities that youngsters (conceived somewhere in the range of 1996 and 2000) have towards their future professions, fears about work and contemplations about advanced education. Gen Z are the most computerized astute age yet and are the first to have grown up their whole lives with simple access to data and a methods for conveying on the web. Their certainty with innovation enables them and widens their knowledge on the world and the alternatives accessible to them. Despite the fact that a large portion of them are still in school, they will make up a huge part of our workforce not long from now. So by what method would employers be able to approach drawing in this group who feel like the sky is the limit and have such a distinct fascination for enterprise and what do these people expect of their vocations? Hopeful soul: 65% are cheerful about the future; anyway they are less hopeful about their way of life that Gen Y. Simply over portion of Gen Z accept they will outperform that of their folks, contrasted with 71% of Gen Y. In what manner will businesses bolster the positive thinking and inventiveness that goes through this age? Qualities at work: 36% fear they won't get a new line of work that coordinates their character. 35% are concerned that they will stall out with no improvement openings. A further 28% are worried that they wont realise their own vocation objectives. Its fundamental that businesses perceive the requirement for this age to communicate their character to work and offer them the opportunity to develop expertly in their organization. College options: Just 15 % accept previous college out and out, yet 47 percent state they would perhaps consider the thought of joining the workforce as opposed to seeking after school/college. Businesses may reevaluate the business/worker relationship, connecting prior and extending to more on-the-employment opportunity training than is run of the mill today. Top vocation objectives: The top vocation objectives of the age are a decent work-life parity and professional stability and steadiness. Work-life balance is generally essential to those in Hong Kong and Malaysia. Enterprising outlook: A great 55% state they are keen on beginning their own organization â€" a figure that is much higher in developing markets. Bosses must make a solid effort to persuade them regarding their worth these people can bring to an organization. They might be prevailed upon by an imaginative culture and opportunity in their work. Social selectivity: Online life appears to be a simple method to arrive at Gen Z, however bosses must continue with care. 83% are available to being reached by a future manager by means of online networking. Anyway 59% state that they would prefer not to see promotions from bosses on there. [Top Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Real Revies Resume Writing Service

<h1>Real Revies Resume Writing Service</h1><p>The utilization of genuine revies continue composing administration is a savvy decision for some experts that desire to have a superior resume for interviews. A resume is something beyond a report. It tends to be utilized to land the position you need and it ought to be as expert looking as possible.</p><p></p><p>Resumes are sent to many bosses every day. Many won't take a gander at a report with spelling and language structure mistakes. Resumes that don't precisely depict the abilities and characteristics an individual has are in all probability not a decent early introduction for imminent employers.</p><p></p><p>So how does the genuine revies continue composing administration do this? In any case, the organization you recruit will experience a similar procedure as you would to set up an archive for some other meeting. The main contrast is that this expert will invest more energy in the substance and the arranging. On the off chance that you don't know whether the revies continue composing administration you pick has the proper preparing and involvement with the field, a couple of things to search for include:</p><p></p><p>Experience - This implies there ought to be no issue discovering this administration. A resume composing administration that has been doing business for over a half year would be acceptable, yet this doesn't really mean they have the mastery to compose your resume. It is additionally critical to ensure the substance is high caliber. All things considered, businesses will peruse a resume on the off chance that it merits perusing, and a terrible resume may make them ignore you for an alternate candidate.</p><p></p><p>Training - They ought to have some kind of in-house preparing that is distributed. Their aptitude depends on what they have done before and what is their reputation in the business. This incorporates having put forth the attempt to make the material expertly and submitting it to the same number of bosses as possible.</p><p></p><p>Proofreading - Make sure they give editing. A resume can look great on paper, however without the important assistance of an editor, it won't look proficient. You might need to ask about their editing program before consenting to work with them. You can likewise demand edit material whenever to guarantee the organization's work is accurate.</p><p></p><p>These are a portion of the nuts and bolts, yet your resume author ought not simply mention to you what you should know. They should assist you with making an extraordinary resume that will establish a positive first connection. A resume is an impression of your abilities and information. A decent resume will assist you with landing the position you want.</p><p></p><p>Using a genuine resume composing admini stration can assist you with making an incredible resume for interviews. When your resume is finished, give it a trial. Approach to see the substance for some other boss and check whether it coordinates with your expectations.</p>

Five benefits of work-life balance

Five benefits of work-life balance by Amber Rolfe Wondering how work-life balance could benefit you? Look no further…No matter what career you’re in or how many additional commitments you have, creating a healthy balance between work and play is absolutely essential when it comes to leading a happy and productive lifestyle. But it’s not always easy â€" especially if you have a particularly demanding career.We’ve already covered how to achieve work-life balance, but to encourage you to apply it to your everyday situation, here are five benefits of work-life balance:  Your health and wellbeing will improve Overworking isn’t just putting you at risk of being a ‘very dull boy/girl’ (we’re looking at you, Jack) â€" it could also be affecting your health.In fact, if you’re sacrificing too much of your time for the sake of work, it won’t take long to start feeling the consequences â€" whether it’s through increased stress, constant bouts of illnesses due to a weakened immune system, or non-stop exhaustion.That doesn’t mean you have to stop working hard though. Many professions require a lot of time and effort, and sometimes large amounts of downtime just isn’t possible if you’re determined to do well. But it’s all about finding that balance.By recognising your own individual triggers and understanding when you’re overdoing it, you’ll be able to recognise the early warning signs before you start burning out.How to achieve it: Don’t ignore the signs. Feeling tired? Sleep. Getting ill? Take a sick day. There’s nothing wrong with giving yourself a break. Just make it’s on your terms. Six tips to improve your workplace wellbeingYou’ll be more productive Having a healthy work-life balance isn’t just essential to your well-being â€" it also boosts your productivity.From finally getting around to redecorating the house because you switched off your work phone for the weekend, to completing a work task you’ve been stuck on for weeks after being able to go ba ck to it with a fresh mindset â€" creating a good balance between your work life and your personal life will allow you to be more productive in both areas.And work-life balance doesn’t always refer to a solid line between work and play.Whether it’s by working from home when you need quiet space for a project, or dedicating time to group brainstorm sessions where collaboration is necessary â€" creating your own balance between team work and head-down work is equally essential to achieve productivity in all aspects of your job.How to achieve it: Keep your life a balanced amount of work, recreation, and rest in order to stay fully functional. Because too much of anything is never a good idea. Six things productive people do every dayYou can actually enjoy work Always dreading work? Find yourself ‘subconsciously’ setting your alarm on snooze every morning? Don’t know what a weekend is?If your work days begin with a search for an invisible light at the end of the tunnel, you pr obably need to give yourself a break. After all, if you don’t remember what home looks like and you haven’t worn anything but your work uniform for the past month â€" it’s no surprise that you’re feeling slightly delusional.And, a hatred for your job (or just about anything) is one of the most common signs of a non-existent work-life balance.But it doesn’t have to be that way. Knowing when to switch off is often the best way to give just the right amount of time to your job, not to mention, allow yourself to actually enjoy the time you’re there.Because who knows â€" you might actually start to miss it. Especially once you’ve exhausted the entirety of Netflix’s newly added section.How to achieve it: If you’re starting to resent your job â€" ask yourself why. Sometimes all it takes is allowing regular breaks to put things into perspective. And if all else fails, it might be time to find a new position… Eight signs it’s time to resign  You’ll have more ‘you ti me’  It’s easy to make excuses when you rarely get free time.And whether your devotion to overtime has meant you still haven’t taken that photography course you’ve been interested in for months, or working weekends has caused you to miss 99% of your yoga classes â€" you shouldn’t have to sacrifice that much of yourself to do a good job.After all, work isn’t the only place you can learn and develop â€" and from quantifying your skillset with a qualification, to learning a new language, taking up a hobby, or even just reading a book â€" making the most of your time will add some much needed variation â€" and enjoyment into your life.So not only will improving your work-life balance give you more control over what you do, you’ll also be able to use your dedicated ‘you time’ to do things you’ve been putting off for years.How to achieve it: Don’t sacrifice your free time just to put the extra hours in every single day â€" especially if it means giving up on your o wn personal development. There’s a time and a place for everything, and sometimes work isn’t it.   Personal development planning: What you need to knowYou’ll stop missing out Those who overwork have one thing in common â€" and that’s that everything in their lives except work probably isn’t going as well as it could.Common signs and symptoms include: always being the guy/girl who misses the best social gathering of the week, their anniversary, their child’s first word, or a really funny ‘you just had to be there’ moment â€" possibly involving their housemate, a dishwasher, and a family sized tub of vanilla yoghurt. But we digress…Whether it’s by sticking to a nightly dinner with your partner or a weekly film night with your best friend, there’s always time to actually have a life outside of work. And without it, you could be suffering from some serious FOMO.Remember: achieving a good work-life balance often comes down to your own ability to prioritise according to what’s most important to you.How to achieve it: Pick your battles wisely when it comes to what you sacrifice for your career. Working extra hard to earn bonus points at work can be a great idea, but your relationships and social life should never be sacrificed as a result. Six signs you’re working too hardSearching for a position with a better work-life balance? View all available jobs now