From Law to Digital Product Management

From Law to Digital Product Management Success Story > From: Job To: Job From Law to Digital Product Management “If you really feel stuck... don't wait too long to make the move.” * From Law to Digital Product Management Marc Abraham's MBA was a great opportunity to grow â€" except he felt his new skill set was wasted in his current career. So, with a nudge from his wife, he began to experiment. Here's how he tapped into his network, built up his experience, and finally settled into a new niche. What work were you doing previously? I started my professional career as a corporate lawyer, based in Amsterdam and working on mergers andacquisitions. I then came to the UK to do an MBA, after which I worked in marketing and business development at a large accounting firm. What are you doing now? I'm heading a seven-person digital product management team at a London-based online foreign exchange platform. Why did you change? I moved away from law because I felt that I couldn't apply a lot of the knowledge I'd acquired during my MBA. I didn't want all the new skills and knowledge I'd learned to go to waste. I was also keen to get into the digital sector, first as a project manager, since I was excited about working on digital applications and experiences. When was the moment you decided to make the change? When I was working as a marketing business professional, but still in a professional service environment, I decided that professional services wasn't the right environment for me. It wasn't particularly creative or innovative. It was time for a change. How did you choose your new career? My wife inspired me to think about finding a job in the digital space. She'd been working in this space for a long time and believed it would be a better fit for me. So, I started to explore it for myself. Are you happy with the change? Absolutely! Sometimes I find myself reflecting on my time as a lawyer. It feels so far removed from what I'm doing these days! From the moment I became a product manager, about six years ago now, I felt that I had really found my niche. What do you miss and what don't you miss? The only thing that I sometimes miss about not being a lawyer is the very specific, analytical way of thinking that I used to have to apply as part of my day job. How did you go about making the shift? I started by talking to people working in the digital space and doing pro-bono work, to grow my network, demonstrate my value and learn about digital products. In tandem, I started going to relevant events to learn from experts on topics such as user experience and new technologies, to both learn and network. What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take? During the pro-bono work I did to begin with, some of the companies that I worked with were more appreciative than others. But that was fine. I was just very grateful to get the opportunity to work on digital products and experiences! How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible? I worked pro-bono in the evenings and weekends, which allowed me to keep my day job, while working towards my next move at the same time. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Learning all this new stuff, and having to start from scratch. I had to understand new terminology and new ways of working, as well the bigger picture. What help did you get? There've been a number of different people over the years whom I'd either consider as mentors or who introduced me to great people or businesses. What resources would you recommend to others? Internal: self confidence â€" you're likely to need it, as you'll most probably get rejected a lot when you're looking to change careers. Understanding the reason behind a 'no' and using it to your advantage as you continue to pursue your career change is crucial. External: a mentor â€" see if you can find someone who's got good experience in a role or sector that you want to move to. This person can act as a valuable sounding board and help you along your journey. What have you learnt in the process? Not to give up! What would you advise others to do in the same situation? If you really feel stuck in your current career or environment, please don't wait too long to make the move. You'll hear a lot of voices â€" both your own and others' â€" advising against a shift, but follow your heart and remember that life is short! To read Marc's articles on tech and business, visitwww.marcabraham.com. What lessons could you take from Marc's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

How to Build an Online Business without Sacrificing Your Studies

How to Build an Online Business without Sacrificing Your Studies I got hooked on to the idea of starting a business when I was just 16 years old. As a result, I started my first teenage venture as a very young “entrepreneur”. After I got started, it took only a short while to realize that working for myself and keeping up with my high school and university studies wouldn’t fit together seamlessly. If you’re a teenage business owner and you’re still in school or college, you must know what I’m talking about. It can be a real challenge to balance these two sides of your life if you don’t want to sacrifice one for the other. It can be a daunting task to find enough time to pursue both, especially if you want to be happy at other aspects of your live as well. SEE ALSO:  5 ‘What The Heck’ Business Ideas That Made Millions In my case, it has always been my parents who insisted on me continuing my university studies, and I was the one who wanted to focus solely on becoming an online entrepreneur. Since there was only one reasonable compromise to this problem, I was forced to find a way to balance running a business and preforming well at university, too. Some of the few strategies I came up with after years of living this Starting a business whilst studying without affecting studies. Possible? lifestyle are what I’d like to share with you below. Who knows? If you’re walking in the same shoes, my advice may offer you the perfect solution. Step 1 â€" Prioritize No matter what, you can’t avoid prioritization. You have to decide which is more important for you: your studies or your teenage business. And you have to decide this for yourself, without letting anyone else decide it for you. Remember what Frank Zappa said: “If you end up with a boring miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest, or some guy on television telling you how to lead your life, then you deserve it.” Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying you have to sacrifice one for the other. However, it’s vital to know which means more to you so that you can make the right decision when it’s necessary, for example when you’ll only be able to work on one project at a time. Editor:  Another good solution that you might want to consider is taking online classes. Many programs have been created to help students to manage get their degree while having a part or full time job. If you have some difficulties prioritizing, this could be a good solution for you. Plus you could graduate with a  master of science in cybersecurity, which will open doors for amazing career opportunities in the World Wide Web sector. You could use these classes to help you build your online business and get an overview of the most recent techniques used online, in a matter of security but also in intelligence and computer forensics. Step 2 â€" Focus on ONE Business Model This is a vital step for young and elder entrepreneurs alike. If you keep chasing dozens of different business ideas, you’ll end up nowhere. Actually, the worst thing you can do is bounce from one idea to the next. Even doing no business at all is better than wasting your time and money like this. Instead, you have to choose one proven, reasonable business idea and focus all your energy on that. How do you know what is a proven business model? First of all, you shouldn’t rely on those clichéd “earnings screenshots” and “lifestyle photos” with red Porsches and beach-side houses in them. You have to look for a company that offers real proof that you can verify by yourself. By focusing only on one, proven-to-work business model, you’ll guarantee that you’ll achieve results sooner rather than later. This is the most secure way to grow a viable and thriving business online. Step 3 â€" Find the Right Teachers This step is just as important as the previous one. Don’t waste time following bad or mediocre advice. Find a “teacher” you can trust, follow their advice and stick with them. For example, the Career Geek Blog offers lots of great advice for free  and they look like an experienced and honest team who’ll do everything they can to help you. You’ll surely succeed if you follow people like them as your guide and stay away from shady gurus and self-proclaimed experts who offer get-rich-quick opportunities. Bonus Step â€" Take Action Of course all the steps above won’t do you any good if you don’t take the last, but probably most important, step: taking action on what you learned. What Napoleon said a long time ago still holds true: “Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action comes, stop thinking and go in.” And once you’ve gone through Step 1, 2 and 3 above, I think you’ve deliberated enough. Now it’s time for action! And don’t worry if things don’t go as you planned from the beginning. They rarely do. What’s important is to keep going, no matter how many times you fail, and get back up again. Remember that every failure brings you one step closer to your dream. And finally, if you ever get stuck or need some personal guidance, you can always reach me via my site. Besides, I’m sure the Career Geek team will be just as happy to help you.

How to change a habit

How to change a habit If you want to make a change in your life you need to change something in your routine. Gretchen Rubin writes a lot about this in her book about habits, which  I read to figure out how to stop eating when Im anxious. When curing anxious eating  seemed hopeless, I thought at least I could figure out how to stop reading articles and magazines and go back to reading books. But the only book I got through is The Sports Gene. And, really, I didnt even finish that one. Couples therapy taught me that no one can change someone elses habits (which is pretty much the only goal anyone has when they go to couples therapy,) but you can shake things up for the other person. Just change what you do yourselfits like a system of inter-locking gears. If you turn one gear, all the gears respond. Small changes you make to one habit ripple through to others in unexpected ways. Which brings me to the mattress company that paid me to write about them. Its Purple. And a reader who Ive known for a long time asked me to write about this mattress company shes working for. She sent me a link to a video where someone sits on an egg and it doesnt squash on the mattress. The only time I watch videos is on Tuesday night. My sons last cello class ends at 9:30 pm. (Really!) So we get home around 1:30 am. I dont drive. Carla, my driver does. But I cant sleep in the car. I had a fantasy life planned where Id read all the way home. But car reading made me dizzy. Then I thought we could listen to books but I missed seeing the words. So now when Im too tired to work, I watch funny videos and give her a play-by-play. Its sort of weird, I think, sometimes, that I am paying her to listen to me entertain her. But then I think, I was so incredibly lonely and going crazy when I was doing the drive myself. So maybe I am paying her to drive because I stink at it.  But maybe I am also paying her to be my friend; its hard to tell if you have a friend. Anyway, one Tuesday night I watched the egg video. And we mostly couldnt believe how stupid it was. Carla said, I hope theyre paying you a lot to write about the mattress. Then I  interrupted piano practice because the UPS guy brought a huge purple thing that looked a lot like a rug. And I have been on a rug binge lately so I got excited that maybe I forgot I had one more rug coming. But it was the mattress. It ships like a carpet. So there it was, unfolding in our dining room. Partly under the table. And it looked so cozy that I put the whole thing under the table. We could have a really cool fort for one day and then we could throw it out or give it away or whatever people do with a mattress they get paid to write about. My son crawled under the table, and he said, Mom, this is the best mattress in the world. Can I have it? This is not normal for a ten-year-old boy to say. So I crawled under the table and spread my arms. And I loved the mattress. I said, No. You cant have it. Its for me and Dad. Carla walked into the house and laughed when she saw us on the mattress. I said, You have to try it out. Its great, and I kicked my son off. She loved the  soft outside, and how the inner squishy-ness is not memory foam, and not really anything weve ever felt. Carla said, This company is the Apple of mattresses. And then she didnt get up. So we laid there together, talking, and she wasnt even driving, and I had a moment of mattress gratitude because thats when I knew she likes me even without the car. The mattress is heavy so I kept it on the dining room floor for a while. I started reading on it. I had a stack of books about the Holocaust that I move all around the house, trying to get myself to put aside time to read. I moved the pile next to the mattress. And I found myself laying there for longer and longer stints reading. I read  A Woman in Berlin,  by Anonymous. Ive been excited  to read the book because the author refused to have it published until she died, and she recently died. The book is about the days between when the Russians got to East Berlin and the war ended. The Russians were the only army not to give soldiers leave, ever, so they had not seen any women in years, until they got to Berlin. Nearly every woman in East Berlin was raped during those five days. The story is incredible and I learned more about human nature from that book than Ive learned in a long time. Then I read White Walls. A memoir by Judy Batalion, whose mom is a hoarder. The book is in the Holocaust pile because the most interesting part of hoarding is what causes the person to hoard. The mom was born to Holocaust survivors in Europe right after World War II. Favorite part: Batalion  is mellifluous with the Holocaust jokes, which you can only be if you are the child of (a child of) a survivor. I read Wave, by Sonali Deraniyagala, in one day. Its by a woman who lost her two children and husband and parents in the 2004 tsunami. Favorite part: her family did a year-long vigil by her bedside, not leaving her alone ever, so she wouldnt kill herself. I kept trying to figure out if I would kill myself. I knew I would think about that, which is why this book seemed right for my Holocaust pile. After those three  books, the boys moved the mattress into their room, in one last attempt to make it theirs. Then I moved the mattress to my bedroom. And the Farmer and I have  been sleeping on it ever since. But also, Ive been getting through my reading pile regularly now. Because once you change a habit, it sticks.

5 Ways to be Tech Savvy for the Next Generation

5 Ways to be Tech Savvy for the Next Generation Everybody likes to work in nice plush offices with state-of-the-art technology and the latest gadgets and gizmos, but it seems the next generations take it for granted that their future employers will have it all in place before they start and know how to use it confidently. Universum, INSEAD Emerging Markets Institute, The HEAD Foundation and MIT Leadership Center has carried out a study into what the  rising student cohorts of Gen Y and Gen Z look for in a future employer. It found that 72% of Generation X and Y respondents think employers digital capabilities are important but only 40% think employers digital capabilities are high. Henrik Bresman, professor at  INSEAD, said: Technological innovations are reshaping just about everything in our world today and the workplace is no exception. Cloud-based collaboration tools, workplace messaging platforms, wearable technologies, virtual reality, and so on, have changed the meaning of going to work. More and more, employees expect work applications to function as effortlessly and effectively as the applications they use in their personal lives, and even while working professionals say their employer’s digital capabilities are important, our collaborative research shows that less than half believe their current employer’s capabilities rank highly. So how can you make sure your company is digitally-ready for the next generation? 1. Training for managers One of the biggest barriers to introducing new technology into the workplace can be the supervisor or manager. If they are not tech literate then they will never feel comfortable around new systems. It could be that they fear technology until they begin to learn how to use it. Once the manager or supervisor is confident  in using technology, they will be more comfortable with using it and wont feel embarrassed when a young employee boasts about how tech-savvy they are. 2. Help or hindrance There are lots of different types of technology out there which can help boost your business and workflow. But theres no point in buying the latest software if it doubles your workload or it constantly needs updating and therefore slows your workforce down. Make sure you invest in the best type of technology that is going to add benefit to your company and your employees, and not because its being used by your biggest competitor. What works for them may not work for you and vice versa. 3. Remote working Things like cloud storage and mobile “smart” devices, now allow employees to take their work with them, wherever they go. This gives employees  the ability to work from places like home, hotels, cafes, and even airports. A number of surveys have shown that millenials want flexible work options and especially the ability to work remotely.  Managers  should be thinking about developing a mobility strategy that not only gives their employees freedom but has good security and risk management to make this possible. 4. Mobile access to computers Most people  can pretty much access a virtual workspace from mobile devices including tablets and smartphones. This means companies can introduce a single technology so that remote users can have a seamless, consistent experience regardless of what device they are using or where. This could save companies a lot of time, work space and money. 5. Rise of virtual teams As mentioned in point no.3, with the rise in remote working among the next generation, companies will need to focus more on not only how they can help their employees manage themselves and their work, but how they can share tasks using online platforms. It would be worth managers getting to know which platforms are available and what they can offer in terms of functionality. Once this has been implemented then its important for managers to train individuals and teams  so they can fully benefit from it. Craig Fisher is Head of Employer Branding at CA Technologies. He says: Digital natives crave collaboration. It is in every aspect of their social lives and has been part of their classroom environments for the past several years. The tools and processes that support collaboration, both onsite and remotely, are key to helping helping younger workers feel they have the proper resources to do great work. Ensuring hiring managers are well-versed in the latest tools can show job seekers that the organization is committed to the collaborative culture they seek. No employer wants his or her company  to be left behind when it comes to technology. Those companies who dont  embrace new technology are not only missing out on tools and systems that can let their employees achieve better outcomes than ever before, but they could also alienate the best talent among the next generation. And once youve introduced the new technological systems in the workplace dont take your eye off the ball as there are always new and emerging technologies which will help you  to keep up-to-date.

#53 Personal Branding Expert Series Time Management and Personal Branding with Aaron Watson

#53 â€" Personal Branding Expert Series Time Management and Personal Branding with Aaron Watson The Career Insider Podcast Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSSForEpisode 53of The CareerMetis Podcast, we will be hearing fromAaron Watsonwho shares his insights on improving your personal branding, and also how to effectively network to grow your career or business.evalThis interview is part of the “Personal Branding Expert Series“.Guest IntroductionevalAaron Watson has a multi-faceted career, from being a professional athlete for the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds Ultimate Frisbee team to taking the reigns as the Vice President of sales for the software company Top Score.Episode Summary1. Aaron describes his career and explains the various roles he plays within each position.2. He also talks about the importance of time management, the struggle surrounding it, and the role it plays in his day to day.3. He also talks about networking, and making valuable connections for people, and what that has done for his own personal brand, which he explains as well.4. Aaron shares a massively actionable trick that you can use in your own branding, to improve your relationships.5. He also gives a few time management tips to ease the process for people who struggle.eval6. He talks about a strategy he uses involving listing tasks and prioritizing tasks.Quotes“ABCD, Always Be Connecting the Dots”“There are people using these different tactics or doing these different activities that don’t necessarily have the best intentions at heart.”“If you’re going to wear a lot of hats and go above and beyond, it really takes a high degree of organization.”“Your brand at the end of the day is what people say about you when you’re not around”eval“Everyone you need to know is already in your network”“Everyone is pursuing something”LinksTo learn more about Aaron Watson and for additional resources, you can visit hiswebsite.You can also connect with him or follow him onTwitter,FacebookorYouTube.His podcast â€"Going Deep with Aaronis a forum for having meaningful, deep conversations about the passions, fears and problems of people from all walks of life. Guests talk about entrepreneurship, sports, finance, comedy and lifestyle design.Intro Music provided courtesy ofAccelerated Ideas(www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€"Siren KickbackEnding Music provided courtesy ofAccelerated Ideas(www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€"No Need to Rush

Get A Job You Will Love (Special Online Bootcamp)

Get A Job You Will Love (Special Online Bootcamp) 8 Flares 8 Flares As most of you are aware, I wont promote a product on Corn on the Job unless Im certain its something that adds value to the COTJ community.  Today Im promoting a new 100% online bootcamp that Im POSITIVE will help you land the job youve been waiting for! How am I so sure? Well, one big fat reason is because Ive signed up to be part of the boot camp!  Yes, I will be a featured resume reviewer in the program!  And If Im involved, then you know its good! Heres some more info for you! The fine folks over at Brazen Careerist are bringing you the How to Get a Job You Will Love Bootcamp.  The bootcamp kicks off on February 6th and runs through the 17th.  This bootcamp will be ENTIRELY ONLINE  and the amount of information included in the course is just ridiculous. WHAT YOU GET IN THE COURSE: 7hrs of LIVE web conferences with  top job search experts 1hr of LIVE QA with  recruiters  on interviewing 1hr of  online speed resume review  and personalized career coaching 2hrs of  online networking  events to build your network 2  exclusive  job search strategy videos from career experts Access to all course materials for  one year See that 1 hour of online speed resume review?  Yeah, thats where Ill be! YOUR KEY TAKEAWAYS: Three concrete ways to make sure  your resume stays out of the dreaded black hole The  top mistakes job seekers make online, and how to avoid them How to  ace   or fail â€" the interview  from three recruiters at top companies The  one thing  you must do in your first  90 days on a a new job How to find  insider job leads  on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter And more. Please note that all the sessions are  recorded  and  transcribed. If you can’t make a session, you can catch up at anytime and you’ll have access to the materials for  one year  on the private program website. Bootcamp Dates: February 6th 17th Cost:  $95 on January 31st, $125 starting February 1st through February 6th. To put the cost into perspective, I charge 49.99 for a resume review.  If you sign up for this bootcamp, youll receive not only a resume review from multiple career experts, but youll also be receiving behind the scenes info from experts in a number of career related areas.  Its just insane how much you are getting for the admission fee! I hope youll join us for the How to Get a Job You Will Love Online Bootcamp!

Best Tips on How to Write a Resume That Will Stand Out From the Rest

Best Tips on How to Write a Resume That Will Stand Out From the RestIf you are looking for tips on how to write a resume that will attract the attention of the prospective employer, then you need to find out how to write an exceptional resume. This type of resume is one that will stand out from the rest and allow you to get a job interview. While you will probably be surprised at what you can do with your resume, you will also find out that there are some techniques that you can employ. If you follow these techniques, you can ensure that you will find that the person that reads your resume has no idea of what it is about.The first tip to follow when you are writing a resume is to make sure that you take the time to practice what you have written out to the letter. There is no point in creating a masterpiece that will fail to impress a potential employer because you have failed to practice what you have written out. If you want to see what it is that will work, then you will need to t ake the time to practice it out.The second tip is to make sure that you hone your writing skills. You will want to make sure that you use the same techniques and methods that you would use if you were writing a resume for an employer. There are no shortcuts when it comes to writing effective resumes. If you know that you will not be able to get all of the information down then you may want to keep some notes of the areas that need more information. When you are writing a resume, you want to make sure that the information is presented in a manner that will attract the reader's attention.The third tip is to make sure that you leave room for any statements that are pertinent to the position that you are applying for and this can include where you attended school and how long you have been in the profession. You should always state any special skills that you have in writing your resume. In this way, the reader can be sure that you have done your homework before they look at your resume . By providing a reason why you are the best person for the job, the reader will be interested in knowing why you are qualified for the position.The fourth tip to follow is to make sure that you hone your writing skills. There are no shortcuts when it comes to getting a prospective employer to take notice of you. When you are trying to communicate your strengths and abilities, you want to make sure that you give them your best chance to listen to you. It is only through your enthusiasm that you will be able to get the reader to take you seriously.The fifth tip is to use the appropriate fonts for the format of your resume. You should never use something like Times New Roman, unless you have to. You want to make sure that your writing is easy to read. However, if you are trying to impress a prospective employer with your ability to speak Spanish, then you want to use that skill.The sixth tip is to use the correct format for your writing skills. You need to keep the writing crisp and c lear. The best way to do this is to make sure that your sentences are longer than those that you usually use. When the reader is able to keep up with your sentences, they will be able to see your capability and you will be able to get that potential employer to take you seriously.The seventh tip is to make sure that you use the proper spelling and grammar when it comes to your writing skills. You do not want to end up with a resume that does not reflect your writing skills. If you do not know how to write a resume that will stand out from the rest, then you need to practice the skills that you have learned through experience.