Why Every Woman Should Be Celebrating Small Wins

Why Every Woman Should Be Celebrating Small Wins At this years annual Multicultural Womens Conference, Level Up, Subha Barry, President of Working Mother Media (and a mentor of mine), kicked off the conference by sharing her guiding career principles. Subha spoke to the over 600 attendees at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan, most of who identified as women of color, on how she has able to navigate the corporate landscape and built an incredibly successful career.One of the key guiding principles she shared with us dont forget to celebrate the small wins.From my college days, I had been conditioned to focus on my areas of opportunity where I could improve. Strategic thinking. Public speaking. Stakeholder management. The art of storytelling with data. Negotiating capabilities (Im still behind on this one my 4-year-old and 6-year-old negotiate more Boss Baby time on Netflix almost every other day).I welches always so focused on what I needed to work on instead of stopping and saying, Hey, I am actually really good at a whole bunch of stuff. I am actually doing a bunch of stuff really well and making change.No one ever really asked me what are you really good at? What do your friends and family say you are good at? How are you making an impact? And honestly, I never asked myself.Boastful. Arrogant. Loves the spotlight. Narcissistic. This is what comes to mind when we think of celebrating our own wins. What will others think of us? How we will be perceived? How we will be misjudged, mischaracterized, misunderstood?The women I work with the ones I have grown up with as we have supported each other in our journeys in corporate America they seem hesitant, reluctant and embarrassed to share wins. It doesnt seem ever seem good enough or big enough or important enough.Subhas powerful insight on dont forget to celebrate the small wins can have significant impact on our careers. Celebrating small wins helps build our personal brand. After all, no great brand leid Nike, not Apple, not Google became great overnight. Small wins show the impact we have over time, what we deliver for the organization. Small wins show others the importance of how small wins lead to change, because small wins snowball into a big win. Small wins can inspire us all to do more.No one ever sat me down early on in my career and coached me to understand that I should be celebrating the smalls wins. Its a guiding principal I wish I had discovered early on.Dont forget to celebrate the small wins. This doesnt mean we have to jump up and down on our desks with a megaphone and shout Look at me, Look at me, Look at me Look at how amazing I am. Look at all my wins. Yes, yes, I am amazing. Simply amazing How do we celebrate? Share your wins with your boss, with your peers and with your team. Share your wins in an email, in a team meeting or in a larger community meeting. Celebrate with a cupcake, with a mafiatorte party, with a happy hour. Celebrate visibly. Please dont hide in the corner, covertly eating that cupcake. Celebrate that small win with pride.And celebrate each other. Give each other a boost, give each other a shout out. Share a colleagues win on their behalf. Email their boss, email their leaders, tell people the impact they made. Share it on LinkedIn. Give them a handwritten card. Buy them Starbucks, buy them lunch. Buy them a cupcake. Buy them a balloon. Celebrate that small win visibly.Dont forget to celebrate the small wins. Lets celebrate ourselves. Lets celebrate each other. Take a moment to celebrate the impact no matter how small it is someone has made in your organization today.

A Deadly Mistake Uncovered on Network Engineer Resume Writing and How to Avoid It

A Deadly Mistake Uncovered on Network Engineer Resume Writing and How to Avoid It A lot of networking opportunities are provided by professional organizations, which are excellent for you, whether youre seeking employment or would like to advance your career further in the area of engineering. Specific programs and applications are frequently used as keywords in the event of a technical resume. Opportunely, engineering resumes have an extremely straightforward format. The Network Engineer Resume Writing Game The majority of the times, it usually means that the geschftliches miteinander is serious with you. If youre interested in engineering for a career, you first will need to find out mora about the different alternatives available. Irrespective of the branch you might be interested in, becoming an engineer takes plenty of dedication and hard work. Also, there arent many job opportunities to offer you. New Ideas Into Network Engineer Resume Writing Never Before Revealed A great technical resume should highlight your abilities and experience in short and beneficial way. The keyword for virtually any network engineer CV is dependent on your job target and experience. Check to be sure youre providing all of the info required and clearly define your skill sets with respect to application requirements. Its hard for a writing service to guarantee you a job because there are many variables that will impact the last selection. In some instances, the organization will even give you a money-back guarantee in case you dont become sufficient job interviews. Its possible for you to look at generic resumes, but engineering resume samples will be absolutely the most useful due to their specificity to your area. Network Engineer Resume Writing the Ultimate Convenience Credentials like the Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) may also indicate that a website is legit. If youre a Software Engineer, you may want to have a look at adverts for software plan vacancies. Networking resumes should demonstrate that you find it possible to summarize the info. Opportunely, network engineer resumes have an extremely straightforward format. The Network Engineer Resume Writing Trap Other factors like the job itself also help determine the salary of network engineers. Your network administrator resume must present your education isnt only a bit of paper. So, make sure he resume shows lots of different accomplishments. He has to do that if you want to get the best jobs. The Battle Over Network Engineer Resume Writing and How to Win It Maybe you would like to submit an application for a high paying job or you only want to change companies. You are going to be earning an entry-level network administrator salary in virtually no time. The salary policy differs for many businesses. You may still state that youre capable with the established programs, especially in the event the job posting states theyre required or beneficial. From it, youre going to be in a position to comprehend whats important to the employer for hiring for the engineering position, after which you are able to craft an outstanding objective that meets their needs for the position. You should remain prepared to adjust your resume to fit the position youre applying for. Just ensure the recruiter can get in contact with you as easily as possible. If youve written ten or more resumes which dont elicit a response, then youre doing something wrong.

Whatever They Told You About Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why

Whatever They Told You About Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why Vital Pieces of Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume No, you dont will need to get a perfect GPA, states McDowell. Independent studies have to be initiated by the student so youre advised to begin the procedure early as it may call for several steps before its finalized. Most colleges count only courses which were taken at that particular college. Youll also need to consider continuing your education. The Fight Against Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume Submitting Your Resume Too many men and women stop with a single avenue. Competing in Hackathons is a collaborative approach to find out more skills. A follow-up to The Google Resume, this audiobook delivers new info on what these businesses want and the way to show them you have what is necessary to succeed in the part. Also make sure to read up on the GS levels that you might qualify for in that special job description. In other instances, you are going to take an internet multiple choice coding quiz or use an on-line test site like Interviewstreet. At the peak of the page you might want to briefly summarize your abilities and what you need to provide the employer, this is a critical bit of the resume if not the most significant part, make certain youre brief and right to the point Its a difficult procedure and can receive a bit strenuous at times specially if youre working a complete time job. Where to Find Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume Job aspirants ought to look out for a resume template rather than a programs vitae template. The templates are created in a manner they make the resume be noticeable. You have to use these web sites to acquire the desired web templates to receive a better job. You should use all those sites to acquire the essential templates to get a better job. What Does Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume Mean? Use a color wheel that will allow you to take a peek at and choose possibly the most readable, and easy-on-the-eye colour mixture. The exact same thing goes to the work cover letter you distribute together with the resume. Its very difficult to locate a shirt. This was my very first major hint that something was incorrect. The guys I know who are definitely the most successful with women are people who actually are extremely social friendly, nice, great individuals, but it doesnt signify that theyre weak, she explained. In addition, because there arent many ladies, individuals are somewhat more likely to remember you. Contrary to what most people think, the majority of people do not get jobs through their pals. Discover how to locate passion by putting in the difficult work to develop into excellent. Youll receive detailed advice on the best way to go through an item managers interview. You will discover that each item page on the Web site involves an estimated delivery date sortiment for Saver Delivery, in addition to for Express Delivery if its readily available for that item. Software engineers typically face a double whammy in regards to a work interview. Whether youre acclimating to a different technology stack at work, or youve resolved to grow your skillset through internet resources, theres always room to grow. Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume Help Gayle Laakmann McDowell knows a great deal about it. Happening the offensive will operate to secure you the essential consideration that you deserve. Technical interviews are time-consuming and stressful, and theyre able to make or break your odds for landing work. McDowell claims thats the opportunity to begin. Activities beyond the workplace may show skills that will apply to another career. The employers might have encounter comparable resume styles in their experience, so it is quite important to alter the resume template to ensure it appears distinctive from the usual one. This information proves that youve got a wide selection of interests and techniques, and that y oure an intriguing individual. Graphical resumes are, specifically, terrible. The Awful Side of Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume There are lots of ways for you to contact employers at UWT and closer to home. Potential organisations is likely to be scrutinizing the resume and might notify the kind of person you chance to be with what you consist of and the way prepared it seems to be. These businesses need certain skillsets, but in addition they want an outstanding culture fit. Top businesses, particularly in the techsector, are searching for more. Programming Interviews Exposed This one is a bit more introductory and starts off with advice on what kinds of jobs a person ought to apply for and how to start applying. Candidates must also learn to fix problems. Grades arent everything, experience matters, and a particular type of applicant tends to be successful. Normally, the interviewer and youll share a document in which youre expected to do a little bit of coding. You are aware of what they say you dont truly know it until you may teach it Change career resume examples reveal that you should begin with personal details. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume The career objective statement has to be written exclusively for the job that you are applying to. Quite often the ideal candidate isnt hired due to a bad resume or interview. Find out how to craft the prefect resume and get ready for the interview. Key Pieces of Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume Top businesses, particularly in the tech sector, are searching for more. You dont blend in, and that may make it a lot simpler to create a strong network. An excellent network is full of people who (1) are prepared to assist you and (2) are able to assist you. Concentrate on helping the people that you meet and youll construct your way to quite a strong network. If youre reading this article since you wish to succeed in some upcoming interview, youre already in the proper direction. I strongly advise this talk. Also, you should receive the book. There are a number of books about technical interviews. The New Fuss About Gayle Laakmann Mcdowell Resume Learn what youre worth. That is going to be coming up within the next post. In return, youre going to be given the chance to demonstrate your experience. You may build a fairly meaty project in 1 weekend.

2 Mantras That Help Me Get Through Tasks I Hate - The Muse

2 Mantras That Help Me Get Through Tasks I Hate - The Muse2 Mantras That Help Me Get Through Tasks I HateHave you ever had something on your to-do list that you just really didnt want to do? If your answer is yes, its OK. Because Ive definitely had those moments. In fact, for the past three months, Ive been actively avoiding two items on my list (like, um, balancing the budget for the grant I manage). Thinking about doing them sounds just as fun as listening to someone scrape their fingernails down a chalkboard for five whole minutes. But, at the end of each day, when I realize I cant cross them out yet again, I sigh and think, Geez, Im the most unproductive and worthless employee theres ever been. I dont have to tell you thats not exactly the healthiest mindset to have. But heres the thing. I have to do them. I cant just keep pretending they dont exist. And Im betting that you cant do that, either. So, Im here to save your day. Whenever I have to do something that I really, really, dont want to, I repeat these two mantras.This Will Eventually Be Over. This Will Eventually Be Over.In high school, I played on the soccer team. Each year, we had to do this drill called 120s. This consisted of sprinting the entire 120-yard field in under 17 seconds and jogging back under 30. 10 times in a row. I absolutely, hands down dreaded them. They were hard. They hurt. They took everything I had. But I knew that, if I wanted to make varsity and play well, I needed to do them. So, I changed my mindset. (Pretty advanced for a 14-year-old, eh?). I realized that, though each second of that drill would suck, it actually only lasted about 15 minutes. And you know what? Thats not a very long time at all. (Unless someone is dragging their nails down a chalkboard.)In the minutes leading up to the start time, Id think, These next 15 minutes are going to suck. But time keeps moving forward and, before I know it, itll be 16 minutes from now. And Ill be d-o-n-e. Id separate myself from ho w hard it was as much as I could, and Id focus on that 16th minute.So, when theres something you dont want to do, remind yourself that, eventually, itll be over. But you have to get started, first.Ill Feel So Much Better When I Get This Done. Ill Feel So Much Better When I Get This Done.When I finished my 120s, I felt like I was on top of the world. If youve ever heard of runners high, its like that, times 10. I felt fast, strong, and, most of all, relieved.While I havent done this drill for 10 years (though maybe I should), I still apply this mentality to certain areas of my life. Like when I want to work out before leaving for the office, but hitting snooze for 30 more minutes is so much more appealing. But I know for a fact that, unless I need the extra rest because Im sick or didnt sleep well, I will fell so much better if I just get my butt out of bed and lace up my sneakers. But this way of thinking isnt only useful for fitness purposes. Think about it- what feels better at th e end of the day? Feeling productive and accomplished or having the same old task hang above your head, taunting you? Im going to take a risk and say the first vorkaufsrechts preferable. You may not get a runners high, but youll probably get a dragging a line through that item once and for all high. So, go on, you. Go tackle that project youve been avoiding forever. Put it to rest for good- itll make you, your boss, and your team a whole lot happier. And just remember This will eventually be over, and, Ill feel so much better about myself when I finish this. You got this. Ill catch you next time- Im going to balance that budget now.

Sadness The surprising emotion that improves focus

Sadness The surprising emotion that improves focusSadness The surprising emotion that improves focusEverything youre about to read stspeciesed from a fractured tooth. Seriously. Its a bit embarrassing to share, but then, we all have our weak moments.Last year, a tooth in my upper jaw started to go south on me. It began as a slow ache and lind sensitivity to cold.I gutted it out, because I welches in the middle of moving my family from California to Nevada. In January, I finally saw the dentist. X-rays revealed a cracked filling.My dentist removed the old amalgam and fashioned a spiffy new crown, right there in his office. I paid my bill and whistled out the door. Problem solved.Until a month later. Suddenly, there welches pain again, and a sharp sensitivity to cold. So, back to the dentist. More X-rays, but no sign of a problem.X-rays dont pick up everything, John. Im referring you to an endodontist. He can drill through your new crown and do a root canal, my dentist said with a smil e.Great. It was all I could say.Its too unstableThe endodontist was a kind man with a gentle touch. He also figured out what was going on. Turns out, the problem was not my new crown but the tooth behind it. It had a fracture.An hour into the subsequent root canal, the endodontist said, John, I just found a second fracture in this tooth. I dont think its a candidate for a crown. Its too unstable. Im going to refer you to an oral surgeon for extraction.Swell, I mumbled, as the assistant provided mora suction.A week later, I was getting generous amounts of novocaine speared into my jaw by the smiling oral surgeon. Okay, it wasnt a spear, but it was a substantial needle.The oral surgeon explained that hed drill apart the tooth, and then extract each of the three roots.I know, doesnt that just sound special?My creativity intensifiedI should add that during all of this, I was still getting over a bad head cold. My ears were plugged up, and I wasnt feeling my best.At one point, the drilli ng got intense. Even though there was no pain, the rattling in my head was magnified by my plugged up ears. And then the surgeon gripped part of the tooth and I could hear him cracking away at it.This didnt really happen, but it felt like it.I had to hold my hand up and gesture for him to stop. It was totally weird. I felt this wave of anxiety and sadness. I started thinking about the fact that this tooth has been with me all my life. And now, its getting ripped out of my jaw.Its silly, I know. I think the fact I wasnt feeling well amplified my emotions. You know how sometimes, when youre home with the flu, it seems like Hallmark movies can just destroy you? Perhaps illness brings our feelings closer to the surface?Eventually, I calmed down and waived the surgeon on. He finished in short order, they stuffed gauze in my mouth, I paid the bill, and that was that.The surgeon called me that night to ask how I was doing. I said fine because there was no pain. But strangely, a little part of me was still down. Like I was mourning my lost tooth, or lamenting the aging process.The unexpected part in all of this is that my creativity intensified. Somehow, this mild melancholy fueled a lot of creative ideas. I jotted them down in my journal, pleased with the flow of thoughts and epiphanies.It feels so good to hurt so badWe live in a culture enamored with happiness. We read blog posts on how to be happier. We watch movies and long for happy endings.Theres nothing wrong with happiness. We all long for well-being and relief from lifes challenges and hardships. None of us want to suffer with prolonged sadness.But sometimes, we want a little sadness. A bit of melancholy in a movie. A sad, touching novel. A song that conjures past emotions of loss, or a breakup, or lingering emotions.Elton John sang about sadness in his song Sad Songs (Say So Much).The song lyrics contain the followingIf someone else is suffering enough oh to write it downWhen every single word makes senseThe n its easier to have those songs aroundThe sto inside is in the line that finally gets to youAnd it feels so good to hurt so badAnd suffer just enough to sing the bluesSadness is a universal emotion. When writers, musicians, artists and actors invoke sadness in their work, it helps us connect with our own feelings.Sometimes, we just need to take a break and have a good cry. Let out the pent up frustration and unhappiness. Sad movies, books and songs help us do that. Its like we need that time out, to purge our demons. Afterward, we usually start feeling better.The unexpected thing about sadness is that it benefits us in several ways, not the least of which is improved focus.The power of sadnessAccording to an article by marriage and family therapist Betty TulliusStudies have shown that, contrary to being a useless emotion, sadness is beneficial to us in ways that actually enhance our well-being. Joseph Paul Forgas, Ph.D., has discovered that when we are sad, we can remember details more accurately, have better judgment, and have more motivation than when we are happy. This seems to be due in part to sadness functioning as a signal that something is not right, making us more attentive to detail, more alert to social cues, and/or more motivated to make changes.I know theres truth to this, because when my father passed away, I had to handle everything. The life insurance, notifications, obituary, memorial, burial, finances, his estate, and more. Throughout the whole ordeal, despite my sadness, I was razor focussed.Another time, a former mentor of mine passed away. He was a retired police chief I used to work for. When he died, I was serving as police chief, and responsible for arranging his entire memorial service.The auffhrung required weeks of planning, including bagpipes, honor guard, flag ceremony, speakers, parking, family coordination and more. Despite my sadness, I was on top of my game in every aspect. I had complete focus.Betty Tullius notesEmbracing sad ness, on the other hand, helps us identify what is wrong and promotes thinking of ways to cope with and heal from difficult experiences. It allows us to know ourselves better and increases our empathy for others. Talking about the feeling connects us, elicits support, and brings more meaning to our relationships. We do not have to do anything to begin this process because when we experience difficulties, sadness prompts us to slow down and feel, which is exactly what we need to do to heal.In the article Four Ways Sadness May Be Good for You, psychologist Joseph P. Forgas notesSad people are more focused on external cues and will not rely solely on their first impressions, which happy people are more inclined to trust.Forgas goes on to writeSad people are less prone to judgmental errors, are more resistant to eye-witness distortions, are sometimes more motivated, and are more sensitive to social norms. They can act with more generosity, too.Who knew that sadness enhanced focus, menta l acuity, greater sensitivity and even generosity? Maybe sadness temporarily interrupts the ebullient chatter in our brains, thus settling into a calmer (albeit sadder) state.Its important to draw a distinction between occasional sadness and prolonged depression. The latter requires the right care and treatment.Forgas sums up the benefits of occasional sadness with the following observationPerhaps that is why, even though feeling sad can be hard, many of the greatest achievements of Western art, music, and literature explore the landscape of sadness. In everyday life, too, people often seek ways to experience sadness, at least from time to time - by listening to sad songs, watching sad movies, or reading sad books.A lighter heartYears ago, I came across a slender novel in a bookstore. It was The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks. It was the book that launched Nicholas Sparks writing career.I read a bit of the beginning, and ended up purchasing the book. I found the entire story very mov ing. Heres an excerpt from the novelI am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and Ive led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but Ive loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.. ?Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook)Reading The Notebook tapped my emotions. It made me feel moments of sadness. It made me reflect on the nature of relationships and love. The sadness it brought out in me informed some of my creative projects.Not everyone cares for sad novels or Hallmark movies. Sometimes they can become excessively sentimental. But when a novel, song, piece of art or movie gets it right with sadness, it can truly connect with us. It can change our lives.The next time sadness alights on your shoulders, take heart. It happens to all of us from time to time. Heck, it happened to me during a tooth extractionThe good news is that sadness can sharpen your focus. Maybe eve n lead you to creative breakthroughs with your work.So go ahead, read that sad novel. Listen to that mournful song. Bawl your eyes out to that melancholy movie. Your focus will improve, youll purge those bad feelings, and eventually emerge with a lighter heart.- - - One last thingIm John P. Weiss. I paint landscapes, draw cartoons and write about life. Get on my free email listherefor the latest cartoons and blog posts.Thisarticlefirst appeared on Medium.

How to See Who Viewed Your LinkedIn Profile

How to See Who Viewed Your LinkedIn ProfileHow to See Who Viewed Your LinkedIn ProfileLinkedIn has become one of the most popular online platforms for social, career and job-related networking. Are you interested in knowing who has been checking you out on LinkedIn? The information you can find out depends on whether you have a free membership account or a paid, premium membership that comes with certain features. In either case, you must set your privacy settings to make your profile visible so that viewers can binnensee your name and headline. This also allows the site to track information regarding people that have viewed your posted information. Heres how to adjust your settings to see who has viewed your LinkedIn profile. Free LinkedIn Accounts If you have a free account and elect to display your name and headline, youll be able to see up to five results of who has viewed your profile, the number of visits to your profile, and the number of times youve appeared in search res ults. The information you can see regarding people whove viewed you depends on how they have designated their own privacy settings. If they have set name and headline you should see their name, job title, and employer. If they have elected to stay partially anonymous then you can see limited information like title and industry, or company only. In cases where they have elected to be totally anonymous, you will see only LinkedIn Member or Someone from the United States. Premium LinkedIn Accounts Premium users get to see an unlimited number of people who have visited their profile and other information like trends in viewership and industry representation. However, premier users will still not see any additional information about viewers who have restricted access via their own privacy settings. Where to See Your Profile Views The information about who has viewed your profile appears in the section called Your Dashboard on your profile page. Up to 5 results of who has viewed y our profileNumber of visits to your profileNumber of times youve appeared in search results You may start wondering who has checked you out on LinkedIn and what to do when someone views your profile. Should you message them or connect with them, or not? What, if anything, can you do to capitalize on those who have looked at your profile? It could be a hiring manager youd be thrilled to hear from, someone who could help you network your way to a new job at a desirable company, or an old colleague youd love to get back in touch with. When you see the connection and understand why they viewed yo or how they found your profile, youll have mora information to help you decide if or how to respond. Should You Contact Someone Who Views Your Profile? Reaching out to viewers with whom you have a logical connection seems more natural than responding to a random person who has no obvious reason to look at your profile. For example, you might have graduated from the saatkorn college in the s ame time period or with a similar major. Maybe you shared a previous employer, although at different times or in different locations, lived in the same area, have lots of common contacts or belong to the same professional organization. If you reach out, you dont necessarily have to mention that they viewed your profile, and they may not even remember doing so, in your outreach communication. You can focus on your common bond and why you would like to connect with them. When Youre Not Sure Why They Were Looking Keep in mind the fact that viewers without an obvious connection may have accidentally clicked on your profile. Sometimes, as people search for someone, they may click on the profile of someone else with that same name, for example. Thus, if you have absolutely no professional or personal connection with the person, you might simply want to ignore them. However, if you see that they work for a company for which you have an interest, or if you find some other point of conne ction, you might want to message them. After all, typically the worst outcome is that they ignore you, so you have little to lose except maybe some of your allotted messages, depending on your LinkedIn account level. In your communication, make it clear why youd like to connect, including how you might be helpful to them. You can either reference their viewing of your profile or simply state your reason for reaching out based on their background. When to Reach Out You dont want it to seem like youre stalking people who check you out on LinkedIn, so take a breather and dont reach out immediately after a person views your profile. Waiting a day or two makes sense. If the person contacted you accidentally, they probably wont remember. If its a recruiter or hiring manager, you dont want to give the impression that youre desperate and immediately pouncing on everyone who views your profile. What to Say in Your LinkedIn Message If you do mention that the viewer has visited your pr ofile, you might state something like, I noticed that you had stumbled upon my profile and as I checked out your profile I was intrigued to see that our careers have some interesting parallels. I would love to chat with you about This way, you acknowledge a common interest between the two of you and provide a reason for possibly furthering the connection. If you do decide to reach out, review these tips for sending LinkedIn messages and invitations before you connect.

Cashing In at Dow Jones

Cashing In at Dow JonesCashing In at Dow JonesA software developer focuses his job search on financial services and lands a job at Dow Jones.Sameer Kohli knew it was time for a change when his former employer, digital marketing company 24/7 Real Media, was acquired by communications-services firm WPP in May 2007.You just know when your company is taken over by a larger firm that theyre going to make lots of changes, Kohli said, and that was one of the main reasons I decided to leave.Kohli, 35, had been working on multiplatform digital-marketing and search tools as a software developer for 24/7 Real Media. He said hed always known hed pursue a career in software development, and has been working in the field for about 11 years.The Ewing, N.J., resident began his search for a new punkt in a fairly traditional way networking with colleagues and registering on Internet job search sites like Monster.com and Dice.com.Kohli said while his resume generated sporadic interest from these sites, he knew he had to jumpstart his search. He decided to focus his efforts on opportunities in the financial-services market and signed up at a site called eFinancialCareers.com to pursue lucrative financial-services software opportunities. But he said despite these efforts, he wasnt getting far.My search was going OK, I guess. But I knew I needed to have more focus if I wanted to move into a career in the finance industry, he said.Doubling down on financial servicesKohli signed up as a member of TechnologyLadder to hone his search. He said perseverance and his focus only on software and financial services really made a difference, and he began to notice an increase in the number of responses his resume generated.I knew where my career path was going, and I knew I just needed to get more focused on this area, he said.That intensity paid off, and Kohli landed a job with Dow Jones, headquartered in New York. The company also has an amtsstube in South Brunswick, N.J. close to Kohlis home .Thriving in a troubled industryKohli has now been in his position as an application development consultant with Dow Jones for about a year. Despite the recent economic turbulence, he said he sees incredible opportunity in a market some may write off as doomed.Whatever your area of expertise is in software, the sector is going to keep growing, he said. Even as companies are laying off personnel and shuttering projects in non-business-critical areas, he said new opportunities are opening up for developers who can bring cutting-edge software to market and help businesses create efficiencies and save money.Kohli cites as an example a former Dow Jones colleague in fact, the very person whod hired him who was laid off recently. He said that colleague was let go after a 15-year tenure at Dow Jones but was able to land a higher-paying, higher-level position as vice president of software development for PR Newswire.Because of his skills, that layoff was a great thing for him, since he was able to move up the ladder and get a better position for himself, Kohli said.Predicting a demand for skills and specialtiesAnalysts predict heavy declines in IT spending in the financial services industry for 2009 as firms slash budgets for costly projects including infrastructure and software. Despite projections of spending drops between 4 percent and 15 percent, analysts say there are some growth areas in outsourcing and integration services and for companies serving smaller commercial banks.Most financial-services firms will remain focused on cost-cutting while putting off or eliminating projects like enterprise risk-management systems or upgrades to customer management systems, according to analysis from The Tower Group, a Massachusetts-based analyst firm.Financial-services companies will seek technologies that enhance their ability to predict market conditions and mitigate risk, and analysts also predict that as the megabanks fail, mergers and acquisitions will spur greater d emand for integration services and related software.Outsourcing, too, may see a resurgence as banks look for other ways to cut personnel costs, according to a November 2008 report by Financial Insights, a subsidiary of IDC research focused on the financial-services industry.Software is a pretty safe market, despite the economy, even in financial services, Kohli said. While layoffs in the industry were widespread and even affected his new company, Kohli said hes confident in his position and his skills.