Poll Would you work for a robot boss

Poll Would you work for a robot boss by Amber Rolfe A quarter of UK workers would choose a robot over their current boss43% opt for the self-scan checkout 61% think that robots are going to take our jobs in the near future24% of UK workers are open to having a robot boss, showing that AI in the workplace might soon become a welcome reality.But how do people feel about the increasing dependence on robotics in everyday life â€" and what are our attitudes on automation when it comes to our superiors?We surveyed 2,000 employed adults in the UK to find out:  Bots or not? OK, so some of us might prefer a robot boss, but what about the use of AI in everyday life?Well, it seems that most of us are happy to give it a chance â€" even if we aren’t quite sure what it is.This is shown in the increasing use of chatbots,  with 64% of adults having used a chatbot. However, almost 30% admitted they didn’t actually know whether they were talking to a real person or not.And, with a third of people admitting to browsing a socia l media feed that’s personalised through AI, and  one fifth of adults saying they’ve spoken to a voice assistant  â€" our reliance on robotics might be more prevalent than we think.You know, just as long as it seems like a human.Life in the fast self-service check-out laneWhilst a digital workplace might seem like a not-so-distant reality, that doesn’t mean human service has taken a backseat.For example,  over half of the people we surveyed said  they would opt for a cashier manned by a person at the supermarket,  while only 43% would opt for the self-scan checkout.Greater peace of mind and a higher level of reliability were just a few of the key reasons for rejecting robotics.And with over 50% of recipients preferring the personable interaction they get from a real person, it’s obvious that we aren’t quite ready to go full-on AI just yet.The future of robot jobs A staggering 61% agree  that computers, automation or robots are going to take the jobs of humans  in the near future.Factory Workers and Receptionists were voted most at risk, whilst robots are seen to lack the human interaction and empathy needed to replace the likes of Doctors, Vets, and Social Workers.But although over half were worried about robot takeover, that doesn’t mean the rest of us are sure that robots won’t replace human jobs.In fact, only one in ten believe AI doesn’t have what it takes to replace human jobs, with a further quarter admitting they haven’t yet fully made up their mind.Robo-boss But what if we  really did  have to work with robots? Well apparently, most of us think Star Trek provides the best role-models.In fact, the majority of UK workers named Data as their number one potential robot boss, with Optimus Prime and Wall-E following closely behind.At least our careers would live long and prosper (etc.)Top 10 robots to work forData  (Star Trek)Optimus Prime  (Transformers)R2D2  (Star Wars)TerminatorRobocopK9  (Doctor Who)Bender  (Futurama)C3PO  (Star Wars)Ha l 9000  (2001: A Space Odyssey)Rosie  (The Jetsons)POLL[socialpoll id=2498327 path=/polls/2498327 width=700]Ready to love Mondays?  View all of our current vacancies now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

Disgruntled Communication And Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Disgruntled Communication And Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career As a small business owner or personal brand, your reputation is critical to your success. It is how people view you and differentiate you from others which helps get you more business. A good brand image is not an easy feat though. It requires planning, hard work and diligence. You need to be able to engage, interact, and build a community around your brand. Since your brand image is so important, it’s essential that you do your best to protect it. There are times though when you simply can’t please everyone. Even if you’ve done nothing wrong, there may be occasions when someone decides that they don’t like you or your business and start making disgruntling comments or attacking you. Maybe they didn’t like what you said in your blog, maybe it was a comment you posted in your forum that miffed them, or maybe they simply don’t like the way you dress. No matter what the reason is, somehow someone has decided to target all his disgruntlement at you, and is so upset with your brand that he is doing his best to discount you and your brand. So what do you do during times like these? Should you simply ignore the discounting and hope that the person will eventually get tired and go away? Or should you confront the disgruntled person and fight back for your personal brand? Let’s look at the options above. Ignoring the discounting might make it go away, since the poster may eventually get tired of spouting insults and other complaints about your brand. The problem with this is, your audience may read or hear about it, and seeing that you have absolutely no response may lead them to believe what the person is saying about you. They may even start talking about it and what began as a simple discounting by a disgruntled person could spiral into a scandal that could ruin your brand image completely. On the other hand, is confronting the person a better option? If a person is attacking you, you should fight back, right? Perhaps you should start matching them reply for reply and rebutting every argument against you. Perhaps you should even retaliate even more violently by attacking their social media accounts as well. But that route is definitely much worse for your brand. If you become aggressive and lose control, you may end up ruining your image even more. You become the victim of your anger, and the comments of the disgruntled person suddenly become pale in comparison with your angry rampage. So is there another option? The most important thing you can do in a situation like this is to keep calm. You know that the disgruntled discounting has no validity, but you can’t ignore it as well since doing that may make the issue even bigger. So you need to be proactive in the way you address the issue, while still remaining in control. Don’t let the discounting affect you â€" the poster isn’t important. What’s important is your reputation so you need to protect it by defending it in a polite and intelligent way. You can use your social media accounts to let your audience know about the issue and what you’re doing to address it. Your loyal audience is sure to rally around you as well, so this will definitely work to your advantage. Be the better man (or woman) and don’t stoop down to their level. These people are beneath you, and you’re only giving them a little bit of attention in order to protect your reputation. Say your piece and let your audience know that the poster has no grounds to what they’re complaining or discounting your brand about. Your audience will eventually realize that the poster is simply a disgruntled and unhappy person who has way too much time on his hands. As a personal brand or small business owner, protecting your brand is vital to your success. So it’s important that you remain in control. Be aware of what’s happening, don’t ignore the issue since it could become even bigger, but be the better man and don’t stoop down to their level. Address the issue proactively and then let the community you’ve built around your brand rally around you and defend you. If you’ve built a good following, you can definitely expect some angry followers sometime along the way. But just remember to keep calm. You can never really please everyone in the world; you can only do your best and hope that people appreciate your efforts. Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of  buzz2bucks.com  â€"  a word of mouth marketing firm.   She helps create connection, credibility, community and cha-ching through mobile marketing and social commerce around your brand. She is co-founder of  #brandchat   a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of branding.

Develop the Perfect Personal Elevator Pitch - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Develop the Perfect Personal Elevator Pitch - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career A personal elevator pitch is a short summary to define you, to define what you are looking for. It is an important part of your personal brand because your elevator pitch should sell you successfully to prospective employers. The elevator pitch should include who you are, what your work experience is, and why someone should hire you. In other words, it should include what makes you unique from others. You should clearly state what you have studied, where you have worked previously or where you are working currently, and what you are looking for right at that moment. The elevator pitch shouldn’t be long, like a five-minute conversation. It should be thirty to sixty seconds long. It should be very concise. Drafting a great personal pitch comes with practice. It doesn’t happen overnight. You should get help on how to make your personal pitch so you can explain clearly to others your values as well as what you are looking for. Begin your personal pitch by stating who you are “My name is … and I am a …” Then, explain what you do. For example; “I work at … and help businesses do XYZ”. Afterwards, highlight your success stories. “My name is John Doe and I am salesperson with a strong track record in the insurance industry. I help my current organization sell…” Try to highlight 2-4 of your success stories.  Explain the impact you made in your current or previous organization. What value did you add to the ongoing process? Finally, end your personal pitch with a call-to-action. State what you want from the other person. Do you want to be introduced to someone else or are you looking to get an interview? Be specific. Remember to avoid industry jargon in your elevator pitch. You should make it as clear as possible so anyone can understand you. I highly recommend practicing your pitch in the mirror first and then practicing with family members, friends, and advisors to get their feedback and see what they are thinking about your pitch and revise it accordingly. A personal elevator pitch is a living speech. The things that you want for your career might change eventually, so you should always update your pitch according to what you have done and what you are looking for. Now, I want you to put together your own elevator pitch. After practicing this pitch in front of the mirror first, practice it with other people to make it natural. Author: Ceren Cubukcu  is a top 5 bestselling author of  Make Your American Dream A Reality: How to Find a Job as an International Student in the United States.  She recently founded her consulting business to help more international students find jobs in the US in addition to her self-service digital event ticketing platform,  Etkinlik Fabrikam  (My Event Factory), to be able to offer her webinars in her home country. You can follow her via  Facebook  or contact her via  www.cerencubukcu.com/contact.

Recycled Paper Stands Up Against Non-Recycled Paper in Quality and Performance

Recycled Paper Stands Up Against Non-Recycled Paper in Quality and Performance Take a look at the image above.   Can you tell which one was made from recycled paper and which one was not?   I remember back in grade school when recycled paper was a dull gray, and looked dingy.   Those days are long gone the brightness of current recycled paper is on par with non-recycled paper.   I recently compared Boise ASPEN 30 to Boise Multi-Use X-9 Copy paper and I couldnt see any visible difference. Performance Of course, looks are not everything.   The paper still has to perform.   Theres nothing worse than a paper jam midway through a print job.   I tested the same two reams of paper for performance, and neither ream generated a single jammed sheet. Recycled vs New Paper Did you know you should actually use a mix of recycled paper and new paper?   Non-recycled paper needs to be included in the mix of the recycling process to introduce new wood fibers to the cycle.   Recycled paper can only go through the recycling process up to seven times before the original wood fibers break down, so when the process is complete, it’s crucial to have new wood fibers in the mix, like Boise X-9 Multi-Use Copy paper, to keep the cycle going. Recycled doesnt have to mean dingy, sub-par, or second rate.   You can now get the same quality in a recycled sheet of paper that you expect from a new sheet of paper.  

Unlock the Power of Attention Management at Work

Unlock the Power of Attention Management at Work Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comI’m a speaker and trainer on workplace productivity. You might imagine that that means I show people how to squeeze more and more work into their day, or how to fill every moment with activity, or how to accomplish five things at once.Nothing could be further from the truth.Being constantly busy may sound impressive. Have you ever noticed how people love to brag about how crazy their schedules are? “Busy” has become a common answer to the question, “How are you?” But constant “busyness” is actually a pretty terrible way to get anything meaningful done. And it’s a recipe for a stressed and unbalanced life.evalAfter years of teaching all types of companies and organizations to improve their productivity, I’ve seen what truly helps people do their best work â€"and live a life of choice. It’s not multitasking, and it’s not some must-have tech tool. It’s the ability to manage your attention with mindfulness and intention.Why Attention Man agement Is the SecretevalI know you’ve experienced for yourself just how interruption-filled our workplaces are. It’s hard to get away from emails, texts and other communications from our jobs, even when we’re allegedly on vacation. Then there are distractions that aren’t related to workâ€"like social media notificationsâ€"that can still invade your workday.If your office has an open layout, that brings a whole other set of disruptions, like chatty colleagues. But perhaps the biggest problem is that so many workplaces have an “always on” culture, where employees feel they have to be available 24/7.Constant distractions and a frenetic pace aren’t good for our brains. In these circumstances, we tend to stay in reactive mode If you can’t seem to make headway on a major project, you may not be giving your brain what it needs to do the job. It’s easy to knock out some tasks â€" like routine emails or paperwork â€" in a lively open office. But for projects that take seri ous brainpower, you need some peace and quiet.Can you retreat to a more serene area of your office where it’s easier to focus? Think about how you can claim the rejuvenating time you need. This could mean questioning some of your assumptions and clarifying expectations with your colleagues.For example, if your boss emails you in the evening or while you’re on vacation, does she really expect an instant reply? (In my experience with CEOs and other leaders, the answer is usually “no.”)3. Tame your technologyHigh-tech tools are supposed to make our lives easier, not make us attend to their every demand. To focus on your attention on what’s important to you, take full advantage of features like “Do Not Disturb” on your phone.Remember that your technology is intended for your convenience, not so anyone in the world can interrupt you at any time. So turn off notifications from apps. And do you really need a notification to tell you that you have new email? Just accept that y ou always do, and shut off all email notifications.One last thing to rememberYour job and the technology you use have probably conditioned your brain to be distractible and jumpy. When you’re used to constantly checking your phone or switching between tasks, it’s going to feel unnatural to get quiet and give all your attention to the work you want to focus on.You’ll probably be itching to just give your email a “quick check.” But don’t give in to the temptation. Set a timer for 10 minutes and then spend that time working on one thing, with email, texts and other distractions silenced. Then gradually increase the time until you can stay focused and undistracted for an hour or more.Taking a few baby steps like these will help you work from a more attentive place. And that’s good for your productivity and your life.

Business Networking for Beginners - Part Two - Jane Jackson Career

Business Networking for Beginners - Part Two - Jane Jackson Career Business Networking for Beginners(Click here to read Part 1) You’ve arrived at your business networking event, and your intro is running through your head. At some point there is going to be ‘open networking’.   This is your chance to make the most of being at the event and your moment to shine!   You will most likely find that once you are up and running, conversations will flow but having a bank of useful questions will keep things moving.   Here are some of tried and tested favourites: What brings you here? Have you been to (the event) before? Do you know many people here? Are you a member?  and if so,  How do you find the commitment/events/results? What do you enjoy most about  (what they do)? How did you get into ….. ?Remember the list of attendees mentioned in Part One? If you’ve identified someone you definitely want to speak to then keep an eye on those name badges.People are quite flattered and ready to talk if you just go up to them, look them in the eye and say â €˜Oh hi, I really wanted to speak to you if you have a moment?’And, listen.  At a networking event you of course want to tell people about what you do and seek out potential opportunities, but your best opportunities may not even be in the room.A good networker builds a rapport with others, you want them to feel comfortable telling you about their business without competing for the conversation. You want them to think of you if a referral comes their way.* * * * * * * * *#LinkedInLocalSydney events are great opportunities for networking in a ‘no sales’, ‘no pitching’ environment where the focus is on getting to know the real people behind their public profiles.   By genuinely connecting with those you meet at these events you will develop authentic relationships and have fun while learning about how to most effectively use LinkedIn through the top tips that Co-Hosts, Jillian Bullock and Jane Jackson provide at each event.   If business or opportunities arise as a result o f developing those relationships further after the event, that’s a great bonus!   To find out more about these events follow Jane and Jillian on LinkedIn!  * * * * * * * * *Depending on the structure of the event, there may be the chance for one to one sessions after open networking. Be sure to follow up with new contacts via email, social media or a telephone call afterwards.It’s  very unlikely you will walk out of a network event with an armful of business, but you should have a bag (or pocket) full of new contacts and leads!You return to base from your networking event, yes, you made it out the other side! There are probably a few people or conversations that are front of mind, so what do you do now? First, sort through those card and flyers.Pull out all the most relevant ones and those from people you have definite actions or conversations to follow up.   If you are a job seeker, remember the golden rule when networking for a jobGet these recorded somewhere  you can put the details into a spreadsheet, into a CRM (customer relationship management) system or use a card scanner app on your phone.A spreadsheet or other free system such as Hubspot or Trello works well.   The important thing is to record the information and be able to make notes against it.You want to move on these most relevant contacts  within 24 hours, whilst you are still front of mind and the contact remembers you.   An email, a call or a LinkedIn connect message are your best options for this.Never request a connection on LinkedIn without a message.   Not only is it a missed opportunity to say something but also more open and professional.Whatever communication you choose, DO NOT MAKE IT A SALES MESSAGE.   Your contact will receive many sales messages from the event, the fact you don’t do this will make you stand out!  Instead:Mention a conversation or something that happened at the event.Always offer help before asking for anything.Ask to meet up to continue the discussion (not for a sales pitch)If using email, write an informative subject line â€" not just the name of your company and keep to the point.Connect on LinkedIn, with a message, even if you email too. You can say you have emailed and thought it would be useful to connect on LinkedIn too â€" a extra signpost to your email.Follow them on Twitter, like their Facebook Page or connect on LinkedIn but don’t add them to your Facebook friends â€" business contacts do not want to see pictures of your dog, know what your Aunt did for their birthday or how your love life is going!Update your CRM/spreadsheet with what you have sent, said and when.It is even possible to connect with people you had identified but missed at the event.   Something along the lines of  â€˜what a great event, I was disappointed that time ran out before we had the opportunity to speak because ….’.It may not always work but it’s the one opportunity you have to legitimately connect with someone you haven’t even ever spoken to! What NOT to doDon’t bombard contacts with sales calls and standard emails or creepy connection requests.Don’t make promises you can’t deliverDon’t fabricate opportunities for their business to win a contacts ear.Don’t add them as a Facebook friend (see above)For all the less immediate or obvious contacts, still collect their data and connect with these contacts as appropriate. A LinkedIn connection request with an appropriate message and a following on Twitter is usually sufficient.A message along the lines of  â€˜it was interesting to learn what you and (business name) offer, I thought it would be useful to connect on here should we or associates require similar services in the future.   My business can …… (1 sentence).This professionally and efficiently keeps contact touch points open for future requirements and referrals on a mutual basis. This is almost always positively received, remember they were there to network too!It will also show you to their LinkedIn conta cts and they may follow you back and retweet you on twitter.I hope you have found this series on Business Networking useful.If you have read both parts you will be significantly better equipped than many of the other attendees at a networking event and get the most you can out of your time there.You need to build a strong Personal Brand to attract job and business opportunities.   A powerful brand will precede you.   Learn the 3 Secrets to Personal Branding for Career Success in my FREE MASTERCLASS!   Click here to register now.To learn how to network effectively, connect with me on LinkedIn or  book a Complimantary Career Clarity Chat today!Carolyn Strand is a Digital Marketing specialist and Managing Director at C J Strand Ltd

How to Organize Resume in a Positive Way

How to Organize Resume in a Positive WayThe ability to organize resume is a very important skill for any business person. The right way to do it depends on the job for which you are applying and of course on your personality and your knowledge.In any organization of any size, from large corporations to small business owners, the skill to organize resumes can be of the utmost importance. The ability to do so is as important as any other management skill. This makes it a vital skill to develop in any organization because it can make the difference between success and failure of the organization.Resume writing is about building relationships and the more appropriate the resume is to the job, the better the chances of getting hired. When writing resumes, the first thing you should keep in mind is the aim of the organization to which you are applying for a position. If the goal is to attract more qualified employees, then you need to present your qualifications in a more organized way, wi th more emphasis on achievements rather than achievements in the past.Keeping the aim of the organization in mind will help you in organizing your resume in a systematic manner. As you are applying for a position in any organization, do not think of yourself only as an employee of the organization, but rather as a representative of the organization. You must state your accomplishments while presenting yourself as the best of the best in your chosen profession.The way to do this is to use words and phrases that help to promote the organization. If you are applying for a position in the tourism sector, say something like: 'Tourism expert for your organization'. You can also use a reference to the strengths of the organization like 'Tourism industry support'Reliable office'. These can create the impression that the position is suitable for you, and that you are looking forward to joining the organization.Organizational skills arenot just a matter of writing and compiling resumes, but t hey involve many aspects of the human psychology. You must learn about the dynamics of people and how to relate to them. There are people who are very much interested in details and if you do not know how to show your initiative, this may result in them ignoring you and maybe even rejecting your application. If you apply for a position with a negative attitude and low self-confidence, this will reflect negatively on the organization and can discourage them from giving you a position.When you are applying for a position in an organization, it is important to avoid all things that may undermine your confidence and lessen your chances of being accepted. For example, if you have made some mistakes in the past, do not talk about it in your resume. Instead, you need to go through your past mistakes and tell people why these mistakes occurred, and how you managed to fix them.When writing your resume, always remember that the goal of the organization you are applying for is to improve your chances of being accepted by the organization. So, do not lose the opportunity to express yourself in a positive way in your resume and come out with a higher chance of getting accepted.