Awesome Summer Vacation Ideas and Destinations

Awesome Summer Vacation Ideas and Destinations A vacation is a great time for you to relax and unwind, as well as create some memorable experiences. It’s also an opportunity for you to try new things and break out of your shell a bit more, especially if you don’t give yourself solid vacation time often. Taking time out of your busy schedule for vacation isn’t just about having fun; it’s also beneficial for your health and happiness. Whether you’re experiencing burnout or don’t often taken some time to yourself, a vacation can reduce your stress. One study from the from the University of Pittsburgh found that, on average, people were more satisfied with their lives after vacations, and were even able to improve their productivity in the workplace. Vacations also allow you to recharge your brain cells and enhance your creativity. As we roll into summerâ€"slowly but surelyâ€"it’s time to start thinking about the best ways to approach your vacation options. Here are some summer vacation ideas and destinations to get you started: Package Deals In Florida Florida is one of the best places to visit for a vacation. Whether you’re catching waves on the sun-soaked Cocoa Beach Florida properties or getting your adrenaline fix at Universal Studios, there’s an endless array of activities here. This is a great place to score package deals that include several nights at a Cocoa Beach resortâ€"a quintessential beach spot and one of the most affordable beach spots in the stateâ€"as well as activity tickets to Kennedy Center, complimentary shuttles to the pier, and exclusive resort amenities. This is a particularly great place to visit if you’re traveling for family; Florida fun is designed to be enjoyed by all ages, all at once. Shoestring Budget in Southeast Asia If you’re on a shoestring budget, there are few places in the world that are as cost-efficient as Southeast Asia. Countries in Southeast Asia include Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Because the value of the dollar is much stronger in these countries, you’re able to stretch it that much further. You can rent amazing Airbnbs and hotels in these countries for as little as $60 per night. Private rooms in award-winning hostels will only set you back about $30 per night. From snorkeling off the Southern islands in Thailand to biking through rice paddies in Ubud (made famous by the book and movie, “Eat, Pray, Love”)â€"there’s endless amounts of activities and adventures. Luxury Vacation In the South of France There’s so much more to France than Paris. If you’re looking for a luxury vacation, the South of France is one of the best options available. And learning French can even broaden your business opportunities! Explore the French Riviera’s Cote d’Azur, sparkling seaside resorts, sleepy medieval villages, and delicious French wines. There’s so much that southern France to offer that no matter activities you enjoy, there’s something for you. Saint-Tropez, for instance, is the perfect combination between tranquil beaches and energetic nightlife. Over in St-Remy-de-Provence, you’ll find beautiful, authentic village life. And while you’re on the Southern France route, don’t forget Gorges du Verdon, a river canyon that flows through the Haute-Provence’s limestone plateau, over to the foothills of the Alps. Along the way, you’ll find yourself surrounded by dramatic cliffs. Cruise Through the Caribbean A cruise vacation through a Caribbean is a great way spend a relaxing vacation. There are several reasons a cruise might be a good option for you. For starters, the majority of cruise packages are all-inclusive. With one flat fee, you can enjoy food, shows, amenities, and plenty of other on-board activities. This allows you to maximize your hard-earned money. You can even book on-shore activities in advance, or pay for premium products, services, and dining while on board. One of the biggest benefits of traveling is the ability to visit several locations in one tripâ€"and only need to pack once. Unlike similar multi-destination trips, you can avoid the hassle of packing and unpacking just to go on to the next place. Instead, you can focus on enjoying your time at each place.

5 Project Management Methodologies That Actually Work! CareerMetis.com

5 Project Management Methodologies That Actually Work! Are you venturing into your first project management assignment?Well if so, it’s time to place the best foot forward. Now I have been working in the digital realm for a while as a project manager, so I’ve managed to pick up a few project management methodologies and tactics from here and there that I thought I should share.evalAfter all, being a veteran, I exactly know that selecting the right methodology can take you places.In this article, we will explore the most popular and widely used project management methodologies.About Project Management MethodologiesFor starters, allow me to define the term project management methodology so that we all are on the same page. It is basically a methodology, or we can say a system of techniques or procedures, practices, or even rules used to work in a disciplined manner.I am talking about all the Lean practices, say of example Kanban, and Six Sigma. In a layman language, these processes aim to assist project managers with appropriate guidan ce throughout the project, and a step by step guide used to complete the tasks.As there are a plethora of methodologies starting from Agile to Scrum, Kanban, leap, XP, waterfall PRINCE2 and PMBOK requiring different strategies to manage issues; it’s the choice that you make which defines how you work and communicate.Time to kick things off when it comes to project management methodology, what the fuss is all about?Like I said before, methodologies are basically a system of practices, techniques, procedures, and rules for professionals who love to work in the discipline. But it may quite interest you to know that the same methodologies are rooted in something more fundamental.evalMoreover, these aspects are the ones which dictate why we choose to do those things in the first place, so I’d suggest it should also include themes.As a project managerone requires applying the right methodology based on different principles, themes, frameworks, processes, and standards that assist well in the way we deliver projects. Some of this stuff define principles in the most straightforward manner, for example â€" agile while others such as PRINCE2 define a ‘full-stack’ methodology framework of themes, principles, and processes.Broadly speaking, I have come across many of you who have this misconception that combining best-practice frameworks is the most appropriate way to get the job done in no time.However, I personally don’t think that a methodology has to be a complete full-stack implementation system all the time, but that doesn’t mean you can do anything you want. Like it or not, but as project managers, we often end up using a hodgepodge featuring a rare mix of principles, themes, and processes especially created for our clients and projects.evalNow before we proceed any further, let’s get one thing very straight. There is no cookie-cutter solution or no right methodology. The answer is, “it depends.” In the end, it’s using the correct methodology, w hich makes sense and is most suitable for the project, team, and client. Now why these methods?I say, why not! I mean at some point in your life you must have placed an order for a piece of equipment or tool with a lot of disconnected parts that cannot be correctly put together with the aid of an instruction manual.Similarly, when you conduct a project, you will find many interconnected and interdependent tasks that require a set of instructions that can be generally accepted or serve as guiding principles to manage things effectively.When Choosing a Project Management Methodology Like I said before there is no one-stop solution for choosing the right project management methodology for all business types, sizes, or industries.All you have to do is choose a structure things wisely, such as:Simplicity and complexity- Here I am talking about the entire project itself right from available resources to project constraints When you wish to iteratively deliver whatever worksThis one is my favorite buzzword. You might find this quite shocking that agile is not a methodology at all. Rather an appropriate set of principles used to develop software.Principles such as:Using individuals and interactions over processes and tools.Instead of comprehensive documentation use a working software.Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.Responding to change over following a plan.Agile can be put to best use when used for projects featuring iterative and incremental aspects. It’s basically a process where demands and solutions evolve through a collaborative effort of self-organizing and cross-functional teams and their customers.evalAgile was created as a response to the inadequacies of the Waterfall method while developing software.Customer satisfaction, accommodate changing requirements, frequent delivery, supports a consistent development pace, and so forth are some of its core principles.In addition to this, adaptiveness to deliver more complex projects is something t hat makes the methodology popular.Technically speaking, if you wish to track progress or create the product, know regarding the product vision statement, product roadmap, product backlog, release plan, Sprint backlog, and Increment, the methodology uses such deliverables to enhance your project. With a bunch of such interesting features, the methodology is able to emphasize collaboration, flexibility, continuous improvement, and high-end results.Best suited for:Are you working on a project that requires flexibility and comprises of a great level of complexity or uncertainty?evalFor instance, a product or service that hasn’t been built by the team.Last but certainly not the least Agile is one such methodology that comprises Scrum and Kanban within itself. So, you can carry your very own set of characteristics and terminology. I personally find this aspect to make the methodology worthy enough to be included on this list.2) ScrumAllows teams to cross-function, self-manage and delive r solutions at paceThis project management methodology, in particular, proposes principles and procedures with the sole objective to improve delivery.Within software development, Scrum is one such method that puts Agile into practice.The goal is to:Improve communication.Enhance teamwork.Speed up development.Now how one can identify Scrum?Well, there is a trick I would like to share with the non-techies. In case, if you hear about prints, scrums, backlogs, and burndowns, then without a shadow of a doubt; it’s Scrum! Call it a project management methodology or a framework for the ongoing development and maintenance of complex products. The light approach defines a simple set of roles, meetings, and tools to efficiently, iteratively, and incrementally deliver valuable shippable functionality.Scrum Jargons Sprintâ€" It means all the iterative time boxes in which a goal is accomplished. The time frame doesn’t exceed one calendar month and is consistent throughout the development proc edure.Sprint planningâ€" As soon as the entire Scrum team gets together- at the beginning of every Sprint; it’s mandatory to plan the upcoming Sprint.Daily Scrumâ€" 15-minute time-boxed meeting held at the same time, every day of the Sprint. Things discussed include were the previous day’s achievements, as well as the expectations for the following one.Sprint Reviewâ€" This is more of an informal meeting held at the end of every Sprint where the Scrum team present their Increment to the stakeholders and discuss feedback.Sprint retrospectiveâ€" A meeting where the Scrum team reflect on the proceedings of the previous Sprint and establish improvements for the next Sprint.3) Extreme Programming Those who are conducting large projects that require maintaining stringent stages and deadlines or it is relevant enough for projects that have been done various times over. Somewhat like a tried and tested method where chances of surprises during the development process are relatively low.T he waterfall methodology emphasizes more on the importance of documentation. The main idea is that if a worker was to leave during the development process, their replacement could easily start where they left off by familiarizing themselves with the information provided on the documents.5) Six SigmaCoined by Motorola engineers, Six Sigma is one such project management methodology that strives hard to improve project quality by identifying what is working and what’s not by removing it from the current process.Six Sigma mainly comprises of:DMAICAn acronym used to define the problem and project goals, measuring different aspects of the process currently being in use. In addition to this, analyzing data to detect core defects, improving the process, and controlling how it is carried out in the future.DMADVThis acronym is basically used to define the project goals, measuring some of the essential parts of the process and product, analyzing the data to develop various process designs an d choose the best one, designing and testing the new processand verifying its quality via simulations and another testing.If you own a bigger organization or a company that emphasizes on using data to improve their operating efficiency and output quality.Best suited forLarger companies and organizations who crave to improve quality and efficiency through a data-driven methodology?ConclusionLike I said before, making a perfect choice can be tricky at times- all thanks to a couple of variables which mind you keeps on changing with every project. So what you need to do is, look beyond the methodology “turf war” in the industry.Consider these methodologies as mere tools that can aid you in delivering projects instead of arguing with your teammates over the final details of these methodologies.Always focus on the bigger picture, the ultimate objective! Because it doesn’t really matter which methodology you’re using.All that matters is a commitment to doing quality work that not o nly meets the user needs but also delivers the great value of the output to your end clients. So, go and get it right!

Welcome. Coffee - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Welcome. Coffee - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog This is not a coffee shop this is the reception at one of our clients in Denmark. They can greet you, get you a visitors badge and?notify the employee your meeting with. And while you wait for them to come meet you, they can also whip up an excellent cappuccino or a flat white. Employees can also have informal meetings in the caf? and buy coffee cheaply using?their ID cards or an app on their phones. I saw something similar at the Coca-Cola HQ in Atlanta. I like this kind of thing because it breaks down the formality of the reception area and makes it more welcoming and interesting. It gives visitors a better first impression and provides employees with a more relaxed setting. Does your workplace have something similar? Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Seven Career Choices for Active People IM HIRED

Seven Career Choices for Active People Get out from under the desk and get active in your career If you love being active and would like to avoid a desk job, there are some great, rewarding careers you can pursue to stay fit and avoid boredom in the workplace. You can spend your time outdoors. Help people make the most out of their fitness and talents, or simply ride your bike for money. No matter which job makes your heart beat faster. You can find your true calling if you start thinking outside of the box. Find out more about these great career opportunities below. Wildlife Researcher/Preservationist Are you a person who cares about the environment and every living creature? You can pursue a career in preservation and animal welfare, and even become a part of a wildlife research team. You need your hiking gear for this challenging job, and you will most certainly need your passport handy at all times. A good way of embarking on a career in this field is applying for charity work or apprenticeship programs. Find out whether life in the wilderness and working with animals is for you. Sports Organiser   When you are passionate about sports, you might want everyone else to take part and enjoy the benefits of physical exercise. You might become a local sport organiser, or even an event manager. Check out the great courses offered by Adelphi University to find out more about the different methods you can get closer to your career goal. You might work with kids and local community organisers to introduce people to sports, promote exercise and healthy lifestyle. To make a real difference in people’s lives. You will need a management degree and a sport related diploma to be considered for this job. Bike Courier If you are looking for a flexible job that keeps you fit and active, why not try becoming a bike courier? In case you are using your bike for leisure and complete several miles per weekend. Why not getting paid for it by turning your hobby into a career. You will burn calories all day, see different places, and interact with people. This job can make you feel better about yourself, especially if you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint. You might need advanced bike safety training to get started with a company. But you will be able to set your own hours, so you still have time for those scenic, leisurely rides after work. Image via chuttersnap Event Organiser   You love the buzz and like talking to people from all walks of life. You can put your communication skills to good use, and help people create the perfect event. Whether you will find employment in the wedding or corporate industry, you can get creative, listen to people, and deliver dreams on every level. You might need to develop strong working relationships with contractors and venue managers, as well as company leaders and individuals, and you can be surrounded by interesting individuals all day. Sports Coordinator If you want to help kids and adults get fit and change their lifestyle, you can join a local fitness centre, a school, or a community centre to organise events, activities, create courses and training, find talent, and locate the best regional and national competitions your team can take part in. You might want to create awareness of a sport you are passionate about, offer introductory training, or free advice for those who are thinking about changing their lifestyle. Image via troy williams Water sport Instructor Water signs simply love being close to the sea or river. If you are one of those people who is first to go in the water and last to leave, you can find your true calling by becoming a watersport instructor. Whether you are passionate about water skiing, sailing, or surfing, you can train to be an instructor and help others have loads of fun while in the water. You will need first aid and lifeguard skills. But as a perk you can spend most of your time in the water. Choreographer Are you a dancer and have a natural feel for rhythm? You can become a choreographer. Helping local amateur and professional groups design their performances, choose their music and moves. You will need to have advanced dance skills and training, good communication and interpersonal abilities, and a fun-loving personality. You will not only have to write the choreography, but also communicate and teach it to the performers. If you are an active and outgoing person, a job behind the desk or the wheel might not be for you. Choose one of the above professions to get a rewarding career.

Tips in Writing a Resume - How to Do a Resume Writer Resume

Tips in Writing a Resume - How to Do a Resume Writer ResumeIf you are wondering how to do a resume writer resume, then you should first be acquainted with resume writing. In this article, we will give you an idea of what you need to know in order to write a resume.Remember that your resume should be the full details of your skills and experience. It is important that you emphasize on the things that really interest employers. If you have the relevant expertise, you will surely impress the reader with it.A professional resume writing can boost your chances of landing the job interview. You need to avoid making the error of not having a professional resume writing style. While drafting resumes, you have to make sure that it is well written. This may cost you in terms of your job but you should remember that it is the first impression that counts.Make sure that the content of your resume is geared towards the potential employer and make it interesting. The most important thing is that i t is clean and brief.You should also possess good proofreading skills. To make your resume look professional, you should get professional help in spelling and grammar.On the other hand, a professional resume writing should not be one that has very much information. Remember that resumes have to be short and concise in nature. If you put too much information on the resume, it might prove disadvantageous to you.Resume writing is easy if you know the right tips that are associated with it. You should also keep in mind that what you have to include is the minimum requirement needed by the employer. If you do not have the required skills, you can easily hire a professional resume writer resume writing service.

500,000 Walmart Workers Are Getting a Raise. Heres How You Can Get One, Too

500,000 Walmart Workers Are Getting a Raise. Here's How You Can Get One, Too Two corporate giants have made headlines recently for perking up their workers’ paychecks. Last month, health insurance provider Aetna announced it would be raising the lowest wage it pays to $16 an hour, effectively giving raises to 5,700 of the company’s workers. On Thursday, Walmart followed Aetna’s lead, revealing it would be giving 500,000 associates a salary bump of at least $1.75 above the federal minimum wage. While across-the-board wage increases such as these are unusual, other corporations are also expected to be more generous with pay this year. Among mid- and large-sized employers, the average increase in base pay is expected to be 3.0% in 2015, up from 2.9% in 2014 and 2.8% in 2013, according to HR consulting firm Mercer. You can help your chances of boosting your pay with these five tips: 1. Ask at the Right Time Choosing the optimal time to approach your boss about a raise will significantly increase your chances of success. Stay on top of your own industry’s salary trends and consider whether your company and division are doing well enough to afford what you’re asking for. It’s also a good idea to ask for a raise a few months before performance reviews so that salaries aren’t already set. Read more: How to Tell if Now Is a Good Time to Ask for a Raise 2. Know What Others are Getting Before you ask for a raise, you’re going to need to know what kind of raise is reasonable. Check sites like PayScale.com and GlassDoor.com to get an idea of the industry standard for your position, then consult your colleagues to see what the story is internally. For women, that means making sure to check with your male mentors as well. As MONEY’s Margaret Magnarelli writes, female employees tend to be underpaid relative to their male counterparts, and often remain unfairly compensated because they compare salaries with female colleagues who are also underpaid. Gathering a broad cross section of salary data can help break through the ceiling. Read more: The Foolproof Way to Make Sure You Land a Big Raise This Year 3. Be Able to Prove You’re Better than Average The 3% average bump that Mercer projects isn’t bad, but being better than the norm can be very lucrative. In 2014, Mercer said the highest-performing employees received a 4.8% raiseâ€"more than 2 percentage points higher than the average for that year. How do you show you’re the best of the best? Gather a portfolio of past endorsements and ask satisfied clients to write testimonials. Then do your best to quantify your accomplishments so that your boss has the hard numbers as well. Read more: 5 Ways to Get a Big Raise Now 4. Identify Your Added Value Think about what you do that no one else at the office can doâ€"either where you’ve particularly excelled or what highly marketable skill you bring to the tableâ€"and then frame your ask around this added value. Jim Hopkinson of SalaryTutor.com suggests framing your requests as follows: “Not only do I have [all the standard requirements that everyone else has] + but I also possess [the following unique traits that make me worth more money].” Read more: The Secret Formula that Will Set You Apart in a Salary Negotiation 5. Just Ask! As Wayne Gretzky said, you miss you 100% of the shots you don’t take. According to CareerBuilder, 56% of workers have never asked for a raise, which is a shame because 44% of those who did ask got the amount they asked for, and 31% still got some kind of salary boost. It might seem daunting to ask for more money with the economy still in recovery mode, but job openings are the highest they’ve been in a decade, almost three-quarters of employers say they’re worried about losing talented workers, and raises are gradually getting larger. Being assertive can be scary, but don’t let fear stand in the way of a bigger salary. Read more: New Study Reveals the Odds You’ll Actually Get the Raise You Ask For Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayMuteCurrent Time  0:00/Duration  0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type  LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time  -0:00  Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions and subtitles off, selectedAudio TrackFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.PlayMuteCurrent Time  0:00/Duration  0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type  LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time  -0:00  Playback Rate1xFullscreen More from Money.com: How to Balance Spending and Safety in Retirement When to File an Auto Insurance Claimâ€"and When Not To 4 Ways to Hit Your Money Goals

Colin Brown - Work It Daily

Colin Brown - Work It Daily Recruiter Info Name: Colin Brown Title: Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist Email: cbrown@cbnco.com LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/colinbrown Twitter: @colinbrown Company Info Company: Canadian Bank Note Company Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Website: www.cbnco.com For Job Candidates Preferred Method To Be Contacted By A Candidate: Email Preferred Process For Following Up On Application: Please feel free to follow up with me by email if you haven't received a response within a week of applying. Our hiring managers travel frequently so sometimes it is hard to nail them down the same day! Things That Impress You In A Candidate: Tailoring your resume for a specific role (attention to detail) and knowing how to brand yourself. Taking the initiative to go for what you want. Things Candidates Must Include To Be Considered For Job: Relevant experience, motivated and professional. Things That Will Disqualify A Candidate From Getting Considered: Applying for every role on our career site, spelling my name wrong, cut paste cover letters. Can Candidates Apply For Multiple Positions And Not Get Penalized?: Yes Recruiter's Perspective What's your favorite quote? Be the change you want to see in this world. What do you like to do in your free time? Spend time with my kids and play sports. Get OUTSIDE. In a sentence, why do you enjoy working at your company? Gives me an opportunity to pursue my passion. In a sentence, how does your company have fun on a regular basis? Corporate fitness challenges, pot lucks, parties. In a sentence, how would you describe the employees at your company? Lucky! Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!