Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Hadoop Is Not a Star Wars Planet

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Hadoop Is Not a Star Wars Planet According to arecent surveyfrom TDWI, overall Hadoop adoption by enterprises is on the rise, with 60 percent of respondents planning on having Hadoop clusters in production by the first quarter of 2016.But what exactly is Hadoop and what can it do for us? Forrester analyst Mike Gualtieri offered a “Hadoop for Dummies” (otherwise known as regular business people) tutorial on the firm’s blog last summer. Here’s how he explained the technology: Hadoopis an open source project that offers a platform to store and managebig data. There are two important things to understand about it. The first is how Hadoop stores files, and the second is how it processes data. Hadoop’s storage capabilities are extremely powerful. Using it, an organization can store very large files and a great number of files. No longer are companies encumbered by the storage limits of a particular node or server. Hadoop also has a cool framework for processing data called MapReduce. Moving data over a network can be painfully slow because files are so large, so MapReduce splits the data sets into smaller, independent chunks that are processed in a parallel manner â€" thus speeding up processing time. How Hadoop is Conquering the Enterprise As an open source technology that got its start in digital organizations, Hadoop’s challenge now is to scale to a variety of industries and types of companies, and to successfully integrate with more traditional IT platforms. As it expands across the enterprise and its ownership moves back and forth from citizen developers to central IT, run of the mill IT professionals have to become data architects, analysts, and scientists. If the TDWI survey is any indication, Hadoop is not only meeting this challenge, but proving essential. “Hadoop for the enterprise is driven by several rising needs,” said Philip Russom in a 2015 TDWI white paper. “On a technology level, organizations need data platforms to handle exploding data volumes. They also need a scalable extension for existing IT systems in warehousing, archiving, and content management. On a business level, everyone wants to get business value and other organizational advantages out of big data instead of merely managing it as a cost center.” And Hadoop has another trick up its sleeve â€" analytics. “Hadoop is not just a storage platform for big data: it’s also a computational platform for business analytics,” said Russom. “This makes Hadoop ideal for firms that wish to compete on analytics, as well as retain customers, grow accounts, and improve operational excellence.” Then there’s companies like Cloudera that have built adata management and analytics platform onApache Hadoop and the latest open source technologies. Operations departmentsare using it to create an enterprise data “hub” todeploy a single analytic data management platform that handles a variety of data to ensure optimal service and product delivery. For more on Hadoop and what it does, head over to the QuickBase Fast Track blog.

Personal Branding Weekly The Quick and the Dead - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Weekly â€" The Quick and the Dead - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Todays consumers are always on the move, and they love to get hold of any information the fastest way that they can. If you have a potential customer with very limited time to listen to take in a sales pitch, what will you say to make a memorable impression? How are you going to create a lasting impact that can convince them to buy your brand? Elevator pitch An elevator pitch is a powerful marketing tool that tells your story in less than a minute. And, while you might think the term is from days gone by it still applies. Call it the parking lot pitch, the dropping off and picking up pitch, or even the pitch that might happen as you’re walking into an event, concert or movie. It is a brief statement about who you are, what your business does, and why it is special. It is an ice-breaker that must have a hook to your audience that will capture their attention to know more about you. However, condensing all your life’s achievements in a less-than-60-second speech is a hard task to cover. In creating your elevator pitch, there should be balance on what to include and what to leave out, with the aim that you won’t look boring or too pushy. The key here is to adapt your speech to the situation that you have. Networking without goals is a waste of time.  [tweet this] Here are some tips in crafting your elevator pitch: Figure out what is unique about you that apply to the audience. There is definitely something that stands out about you. But it doesn’t always appeal to all audience members. In line with this, you have to know who you are speaking with. Start it with information that your audience will most care about. Know what you are trying to accomplish. Always remember that while you are trying to sell yourself, it is not about you. Your elevator pitch must address the concerns of your audience. Offer a solution to their problems that they cannot resist. Keep your speech short and succinct. Avoid unnecessary details that will veer your audience away from listening to you. Also, be conversational. Do not use terms or jargon that the audience is unfamiliar with. Otherwise, this will bore your audience if not come across as trying too hard. An elevator pitch is a great word of mouth marketing tool. It is very helpful in creating relationships and in making brief and compelling introductions especially when you are using social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. It doesn’t require a lengthy paragraph or essay to let others know what you do. But keep in mind to include your website link so that your audience will be able to know more about you. Basically, the same approach as mentioned above applies in your online elevator pitch. Your elevator pitch is a way for you to introduce your brand in the hope that your audience will catch your attention and will love to learn more about you. Be ready at all times. You never know whom you may run into in an elevator! Here are last weeks post from your Personal Branding authors: Why You Need a Lifeguard to Get a Promotion  by Nance Rosen How to Give a Great Presentation  by Ceren Cubukcu Conference Strategy Leads to Strong Business Results  by Elinor Stutz Why Advokatfirman’s Michael Sterner Believes Niche Specialization is Essential  by Dan Schawbel 5 Tips to Make the Right 1st Impression  by Brian Horn If There’s No Work, What to Do Next?  by Alex Freund How Universities Are Failing Their Graduates  by Richard Kirby Interview Horror Storiesâ€"Even When It’s Not Halloween  by Skip Freeman Using the SDP Scale to Evaluate Yourself and Others  by Jeff Shuey Which Blog Types Work Best for Your Personal Brand?  by Susan Gilbert 7 Social Platforms to Help Cement Your Personal Brand  by The Young Entrepreneur Council Finish Strong: Your End of the Year Marketing Plan  by Leslie Truex Ten Signs You Could Be a Budding Workaholic  by Beth Kuhel Advanced Interviewing Tactics for the Recent Graduate  by Ken Sundheim Anatomy of a Winning LinkedIn Publisher Post  by Marc Miller

All About (Y)EU What are the Commercial Implications of Brexit

All About (Y)EU What are the Commercial Implications of Brexit You’ve probably heard a lot about the possibility of ‘Brexit’ by now. If youre applying for jobs and may be attending interviews you need to know what all the fuss is about. I asked Dr Ben Farrand, Assistant Professor in the Law School here at Warwick  to give me a potted version of what is going on and why it matters. Heres what he said: As you know, the UK and Gibraltar will be holding a referendum on continued membership of the European Union on 23 June 2016. All UK, Irish and Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK are entitled to vote, as well as all UK citizens living outside the UK, so long as they have not been gone for more than 15 years. The question that people will be asked is Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union? The debate is a highly charged one, which has received considerable media coverage. Discussions have focused on issues such as immigration, sovereignty, and security. But what about the commercial implications? Is ‘Brexit’ even likely? One of the first questions to consider is whether Brexit is likely to happen. Every new opinion poll results in a flurry of media coverage, with some newspapers often declaring that the UK leaving is a foregone conclusion. However, the result is not nearly as clear as that. One single poll may not tell you much, but a ‘meta-analysis’ of polls can present a clearer picture of trends in voter intentions. Take the following example: As this list of polls demonstrates, the number of polls finding that the percentage of voters intending to vote to remain is significantly larger than the percentage of those indicating they intend to vote to leave. Another point worth noting is that the majority of the polls indicating a ‘remain’ result are conducted by phone, whereas most indicating a ‘leave’ result are online polls. Amongst psephologists, political scientists who study elections, there are debates about whether online polls are less reliable or more reliable than telephone polls. Given the considerable difference between stated opinions and the 2015 General Election result, as well as the fact that figures such as Boris Johnson have announced publicly they will be supporting the ‘leave’ campaign, at this stage it is very difficult to determine what the result will be. What happens if the UK leaves? In terms of commercial implications, in the event that the UK votes to leave the EU, it loses access to the EU’s internal market, at least on its current terms. This means that the rules applying to the free movement of goods, services, capital and workers will no longer apply, which could result in barriers being placed upon the import and export of goods between the UK and the rest of the EU. Supporters of leaving the EU have argued that this fear is overblown, as the UK will be able to adopt a ‘Swiss’ model agreement, or a ‘Norwegian’ model agreement, where specific trade treaties are made between the UK and EU. While this may be the case, these agreements are not guaranteed, and may come with their own conditions. For example, the Swiss agreements focus on only narrow sets of issues, including free movement of people, air traffic and road traffic, which often are negotiated on an individual basis, meaning that access for the UK adopting a similar approach could take man y years. Furthermore, the agreements are mutually dependent, meaning that if Switzerland breaches any of its obligations under one treaty (such as the free movement of people), the EU can suspend all agreements, a condition known as the ‘guillotine clause’ . Could the same apply to the UK? If so, what is to stop the EU requiring free movement of people as a condition for access to the internal market for goods and services? Similarly, while Norway does have market access, it is required to meet the EU’s standards and regulations, without being in a position to negotiate the terms of those standards and regulations, a power the UK currently has as a full member of the EU. If the UK depends on trade with the EU for its commercial success, then losing the ability to negotiate those terms would arguably put the UK at a significant disadvantage. What does business (and the world) think? Overall, business and industry appear to support remaining within the EU by a considerable margin. The CBI, or Confederation of British Industry, has made clear that 80% of its members support remaining in the EU, on the grounds that it is ‘better for their business, jobs and prosperity’. Similarly, the British Chambers of Commerce also supports remaining in the EU, with its former head John Longworth being temporarily suspended and subsequently resigning over a public statement he made favouring Brexit. It is not only business, however, that has argued that leaving the EU could be economically damaging, both for the UK and the world. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (the OECD) chief economist stated that Brexit would be ‘bad for the UK, bad for Europe and bad for the global economy’. Suggesting that a UK outside of the EU may potentially be economically isolated, after Brexit campaigners stated a desire to make agreements with key internationa l players such as the US similar to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that the US is currently concluding with the EU, such designs were rebuffed by the US Trade Representative, who stated that ‘Were not particularly in the market for FTAs [free trade agreements] with individual countries. Were building platforms that other countries can join over time […] We have no FTA with the UK so they would be subject to the same tariffs â€" and other trade-related measures as China, or Brazil or India’. Could the UK continue to ‘punch above its weight’ in international affairs as a sole trading nation? The US, at least, thinks not.

Consistency Separates The Good From The Great

Consistency Separates The Good From The Great Consistency. When I hear that word, I cringe a little. Its a word that makes me think: boring, too many details, not challenging and routine. It makes me think of people that get stuck in the same old boring job that they hate, just because it is routine. Fun and creative people arent supposed to be consistent, right? I think one of the hardest parts about the first few years after college is facing the fact that consistency will eventually become a part of your life. At face value, consistency means that your rent check is due each month and you have to go to work every day.At work it means you have to take care of your clients consistently. Yes, even if you are in a bad mood, even if you dont feel well, and even if your mind is not there. Why do we love McDonalds, Starbucks and Good Morning America? Because they are consistently there for us with the same product and there are no surprises. Think about why most attempts at dieting, starting a business and paying down debt fail: they lack consistency. In each of these examples, the person attempting to overcome a hurdle shoots themselves in the foot by constantly re-inventing the wheel just as things get going. First its the Atkins diet, then its going Vegan, then yoga, then running the Chicago marathonAll good efforts but none that are likely to stick if you change up your plan every week. I dont believe there is any kind of magic formula behind achieving great things in life, but I do think the simple and boring concept of consistency is greatly overlooked in those great achievements. I love the chapter in Malcolm Gladwells book Outliers called The 10,000 Hour Rule. The chapter gives examples, including Bill Gates and The Beatles, of those who have achieved great things due to putting in thousands of hours of practice. Think about the great athlete who practiced for thousands of hours before he got to play pro. Bill Gates spent countless hours a day programming before the thought of starting Microsoft ever crossed his mind. The couple that stays married for 35 years and is able to retire with plenty of money in the bank and with no mortgage payment practiced consistency. Im sure the people in each of these examples didnt always have fun, but over time their consistency paid off. In todays world things are fast paced. We are used to instant gratification through technology and many of us enjoy the luxury of constant entertainment without even realizing it. It seems like these two things have also handicapped our sense of reality. If you want to lose 20 pounds its not going to happen today. If you have lots of debt, that wont be paid off today either. So when it comes to your career or reaching any of your long-term goals, keep in mind that consistency is key. Even though consistency can be boring at times, it separates the average person from the great person over time.

The Only 5 Time Management Tricks Youll ever Need - CareerMetis.com

The Only 5 Time Management Tricks You’ll ever Need Do you struggle to get the most out of your day? Are you finding it hard to work within given parameters? Are you always running late? If time management isn’t your forte, it just makes everything harder. But it doesn’t have to be that way.Take a look at these 5 different approaches.evalEach one is designed to help you get more productive in the time you have available. None of them is particularly new and neither do you need to be a rocket scientist to master any of the techniques, but find one that works for you and your work rate could go through the roof!In many instances, new technologies can be implemented to improve productivity and job satisfactionâ€" but in some, it’s just good old-fashioned concentration, hard work and even a pen paper.1. Conquer your distractionsFor this technique to work, you need to be ruthless and self-disciplined, with a single minded determination not to be led astray by all the usual workplace distractions. You WILL complete the task at hand a nd nothing in the world Put all your ‘favourite’ websites on a blacklist and password block themso you can’t get in. Mute email and social media notifications on your phone or, better still, switch it off while at work. Your tendency to procrastinate should reduce noticeably.Of course, there are likely to be other distractions that have nothing to do with the internet. Chatty colleagues, phones ringing, visitors arriving, background noise â€" these can all take your focus away from the job you’re meant to be concentrating on.Find a quiet space away from the office hubbub, get comfy in an ergonomic chair and invest in some noise cancelling headphones to minimise any disturbances. Then put your head down and get on with it.2. Make a To Do List and stick to itPretty obvious when you think about it, but when your head is all over the place and you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the things you have to do, it can be really helpful to make a good old To Do list. There’s a reason why this old school time management tool is still around â€" it works.evalWriting your tasks down means there’s no chance that you’ll forget, without having to strain your brain cells remembering what to do next. Break up larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks and keep them in order of priority. You could have a label system for urgent and less urgent jobs.Once you get good at list making, you’ll be creating separate lists for each day, week, month and year, using this handy organisational tool to shape your working day. Tick each task off when complete and make sure you finish your daily To Do list so you can start the next day with a clean slate.Enlist the help of software tools such as Basecamp, Remember The Milkor the mighty Evernoteto professionalise your list making technique.3. Try the Pomodoro TechniqueYou may not have heard of the software developer and entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo, but he has been credited with the invention of the Pomodoro technique, named after his tomato In fact, recent research has shown that the more you multitask, the more you’re used to responding to distractions, and the less efficient your time management.Instead, return to the tried and tested technique of doing one thing at a time. Look straight at the task ahead and tackle it, without any sideways glances to see what else you could/should be doing. Whenever you’ve fully completed a task, take a proper break before you embark on the next job. Ideally, you should start the next project in a different location too.Finally, if you can, schedule projects to run consecutively, not concurrently. Don’t start on another project until the one you’re currently working on is finished.5. Follow the Pareto PrincipleSurely you’ve heard of the 80/20 principle? The idea was first developed by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto back in 1906 who used the formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in society, arguing that 20% of the people owned 80% of the wealth.Since then, variations of the same principle have been applied to all sorts of fields, and it’s become a powerful time management tool.evalThe general idea is that 80% of your output is produced by 20% of your efforts. (And that it takes the other 80% of your efforts to produce the remaining 20% of output).If you’re not convinced, just take a look at what you accomplished last week, how long each of the jobs took and with what result. Chances are that only a small fraction of your tasks actually brought you substantially closer to your business goals.Applying the 80/20 principle ruthlessly will allow you to focus on the really crucial jobs that produce 80% of the value â€" the rest are ‘nice to haves’. It makes the best use of your precious time and energy, deploying it where it really counts.

79 Odelle Brown - Executive Director Evolve People - Jane Jackson Career

79 Odelle Brown - Executive Director Evolve People - Jane Jackson Career Odelle’s early career path was as a dancer. A star within a UK performing arts school, dance and drama were her passion. Odelle’s career path is a varied and fascinating one. From dancing to her dreams of becoming a journalist in the UK, to joining the Automotive industry, writing processes and procedures to put in an ISO 9001 system for a company that manufactured windscreen wipers, her career path has been eclectic! She also has a passion for cars, loved car shows and fast cars … at the age of 22 set up her first business manufacturing windscreen wipers starting in a garage in her back garden! From this young age, tenacious Odelle was able to make a success of her business in a highly male dominated industry.She ran this business for 8 years before making the move to Australia. With her incredible flair for sales and developing strong working relationships and connections, in Sydney Odelle secured a role as a recruitment consultant as an interim measure while travelling aroun d the country. Able to make a success out of everything she touches, Odelle has grown Evolve People into the valuable business it is today within a very competitive industry.Listen to her success story and her top tips for success!Where to find Odelle:Website: www.evolvepeople.com.auTwitter: @evolvepeople

Non Traditional Resume Writing Examples For Job Seekers

Non Traditional Resume Writing Examples For Job SeekersNon traditional resume writing examples for job seekers are the most necessary tools to get an interview. Unfortunately most job seekers do not realize how much time, money and effort it takes to write a resume because they often concentrate more on writing for themselves than on their writing for the company.The idea of having non traditional resume writing examples for job seekers may be easy for some but many also see it as impractical. But this need not be so because many websites offer simple and easy examples of resume writers who were not so famous in the past. In order to find a good example of resume writing, you just have to search the internet and find a free resume writing sample for your needs.The resume writer should be able to state your main characteristics and give a brief account of your experiences. The resume should also mention any special skills that the candidate is best at and other related details. This i s a great chance for the resume writer to state some of the main areas where the applicant excels. On a resume, it is important to provide all information about the job that you will be performing at a company.If the applicant has more experience or skills that were not mentioned on the resume, he or she can still be included in the resume and can mention these areas. All information is important and it should always be mentioned. If the applicant does not mention it, the resume writer will have to rewrite the resume to make it more realistic.Resume examples are often for simple resumes which have only one name on it. This makes it easier for most people to write such a resume. Also, an example is a good way to get a good look at what the resume writer is going to write. If the writer decides to keep this resume, it will definitely be more believable.A personal resume is not considered nontraditional since it describes the person as a whole. This is why resumes have more of a profes sional feel to them. Writing a personal resume helps one create a more individualized statement.Many people will find it easier to write a non traditional resume by having a professional with whom they already know. They can talk to the writer about what they like to do and what the writer can expect from a resume. There are also very good resume writing examples for job seekers online that are offered for free. You just have to find a website that provides sample resumes.If you want to be noticed by an employer, the resume writer should include a good blend of personal and professional. It is the resume writer's responsibility to make the resume unique and to make it easier for the employer to read. If you are determined to find a good example of resume writing, you can simply start with a free resume sample.