1. Learn something new
Maybe you have a job where you do something new and different each day. But many of us hold roles that are fairly routinized. You work on the same projects or towards the same set of goals day in and day out. And even if you’re committed to innovating within your workload, you’re still only engaging with your assignments.
As soon as you step outside of your workload and volunteer to help your colleagues, you’re opening up the door to new insights. Maybe you partner with a coworker in the same department, but her experience lends a totally different perspective to the work you’re doing. Even better, maybe you work across departments.
Jonathan Sposato, CEO of PicMonkey, points out how working with people on different teams can help you break free from “a creative rut.” working with people on different teams can help you break free from “a creative rut.” He further states that a “holistic perspective will help you incorporate multiple facets of the company into your own objectives.” In other words, working with someone else can change your understanding of how your work benefits the organization, reengaging you with your job and setting you up to meet even bigger goals.
2. Get help when you need it
You know what it’s like to push up against a deadline with no idea how you’re going to meet it. But if you had a coworker (or two) lend a hand, it would make all the difference.
SEE ALSO: 9 phrases that make you sound less experienced than you are
Now in one scenario, you regularly interact with your colleagues and offer to lend a hand during slow season. Maybe you even stayed an extra hour after work last Tuesday when your teammate lost her battle with the copy machine and had to hand-staple packets before an event. In a parallel universe, you’re cordial, but you pretty much keep to yourself. Your colleagues have never asked for your help, and accordingly, you’ve never extended yourself and offered to lend a hand.
In which of these realities do you see your coworkers coming to your rescue and dropping what they’re working on to help you out? It’s an offshoot of the golden rule: Be there for your coworkers when they need you, and they’ll be there for you the next time you’re in a bind.
3. Grow your teamwork skills
In "The Real Benefits of Being a Team Player", Martin Yate shares the five traits involved in being a “team player.” He suggests you:
Always cooperate.
Always make decisions based on team goals.
Always keep team members informed.
Always keep commitments.
Always share credit, never blame.
Read more at:
http://mashable.com/2015/10/15/coworkers-advance-career/#QXCSUYUt.sqZ//
Monday, October 26, 2015
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Does Resume Formatting Matter? In a word-Yes!
You are putting together your resume in the hopes that it will reflect the awesomeness that is you, your work experience and skill set. That's great!
Let's put the actual content aside and talk strictly about the nuts and bolts of formatting for a moment...
In today's job market if you are in a highly creative career field, the wildly unique is rightfully rewarded. If you are in a more standard line of business or job role, you will want to pull in the creativity just a bit. There is still room to be unique and catch the attention of Hiring Managers, but with the following best practices in mind.
It is good best practice to stay away from the following:
Text boxes with various icons and lots of changes in the fonts and colors.
Fonts that are difficult to read. Too many busy lines, cursive or being too small.
Graphics that over power the resume or distract. One simple line at the top to delineate your name if you must is sufficient.
Too many dots, dashes, roman numerals, and numbering. Bullet points are great for each listed position to highlight accomplishments.
There's no need to label your contact information such as typing out the words "email address". Simply type the email address itself. Applications like Microsoft Word will automatically format an email address if you hit the enter/return key at the end just like it did with this one: janedoe@yahoozi.com . Same with phone numbers. Format them in a standard way i.e. (999)555-1212 and it's clear.
It is good best practice to incorporate the following:
Include your name, address (city & state are sufficient) a contact phone number and email address. I have seen advice out there stating not to list your city and state. Please know that many national companies are looking to find candidates in geographic regions of the U.S. Listing your city and state will let them know where you are. Decide accordingly.
Choose a straightforward streamlined professional format with your contact information at the top. It’s a good idea to make the contact information a bit larger than the remaining resume content so it jumps out at your reader.
There is still plenty of room for individuality in choosing what font(s) you use, how you format the resume content and even how you lay out your contact information. Experiment with different looks and templates, being sure you stay in the guidelines of “clean, straightforward, and easy to read”
I realize some of this advice goes against the long standing “old school” accepted practice of resume design. There was a time when complicated formatting, with extensive and often “flowery” fonts were used. That was all before the introduction of current technology that now changes the way a resume is seen, evaluated and processed. Today, many HR Managers, Hiring Managers and Recruiters are using ATS (applicant tracking systems) so reducing the amount of formatting “fluff” will be greatly appreciated when they are viewing, and trying to upload your resume to their company’s data base.
Bear these things in mind when constructing your resume, and it will be the right reflection you are looking for.
Good Luck to You! Much Success in Your Endeavors!
Let's put the actual content aside and talk strictly about the nuts and bolts of formatting for a moment...
It is good best practice to stay away from the following:
Text boxes with various icons and lots of changes in the fonts and colors.
Fonts that are difficult to read. Too many busy lines, cursive or being too small.
Graphics that over power the resume or distract. One simple line at the top to delineate your name if you must is sufficient.
Too many dots, dashes, roman numerals, and numbering. Bullet points are great for each listed position to highlight accomplishments.
There's no need to label your contact information such as typing out the words "email address". Simply type the email address itself. Applications like Microsoft Word will automatically format an email address if you hit the enter/return key at the end just like it did with this one: janedoe@yahoozi.com . Same with phone numbers. Format them in a standard way i.e. (999)555-1212 and it's clear.
It is good best practice to incorporate the following:
Include your name, address (city & state are sufficient) a contact phone number and email address. I have seen advice out there stating not to list your city and state. Please know that many national companies are looking to find candidates in geographic regions of the U.S. Listing your city and state will let them know where you are. Decide accordingly.
Choose a straightforward streamlined professional format with your contact information at the top. It’s a good idea to make the contact information a bit larger than the remaining resume content so it jumps out at your reader.
There is still plenty of room for individuality in choosing what font(s) you use, how you format the resume content and even how you lay out your contact information. Experiment with different looks and templates, being sure you stay in the guidelines of “clean, straightforward, and easy to read”
I realize some of this advice goes against the long standing “old school” accepted practice of resume design. There was a time when complicated formatting, with extensive and often “flowery” fonts were used. That was all before the introduction of current technology that now changes the way a resume is seen, evaluated and processed. Today, many HR Managers, Hiring Managers and Recruiters are using ATS (applicant tracking systems) so reducing the amount of formatting “fluff” will be greatly appreciated when they are viewing, and trying to upload your resume to their company’s data base.
Bear these things in mind when constructing your resume, and it will be the right reflection you are looking for.
Good Luck to You! Much Success in Your Endeavors!
Friday, May 22, 2015
Two Reasons NOT to Feel Guilty for Moving On...
1. Professionals are expected to develop and grow
Your colleagues are not unlike you. They aspire to grow, develop, and in many cases, also climb into positions with new challenges and responsibilities. This is human nature, and it's expected. Even if your peers or supervisors act pouty or irritated when you announce you're leaving, realize that this is probably just them thinking about the pain in the rear your departure may create for them short-term (or wishing that they were you right about now).
2. If the tables were turned, the company probably wouldn't feel guilty
Think about it. If your employer were facing budget cuts or layoffs, and your job was going to be among those impacted, do you think that your managers or the HR director would spend endless hours wringing their hands with guilt before they alerted you of the layoff? Probably not. Sure, on a personal level they may feel badly. We're all human, after all. But they'd surely realize that this is business, and in business, difficult decisions sometimes need to be made.
Excerpted from 4 reasons to stop feeling guilty about leaving your job:
http://mashable.com/2015/05/22/stop-guilt-leaving-job//
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
3 Tips to Be Interesting During an Interview
We know that the more you make me talk, the more interesting I’ll think you are. Humans are funny like that. Use this knowledge to your advantage, and immediately engage all the people you meet in conversation – about them. Whether it’s the receptionist, the HR manager, or your future boss, ask people questions about themselves, and do as much as you can to draw them out. At the end of your interview, they’ll have a much more positive impression of you.
2. Be Prepared With Interesting Questions
Don’t ask the same old tired questions as every other candidate. You can combine this strategy with #1 and ask your interviewer about his experience at the company or perspective about a hot new product or service. You can also use this as an opportunity to flex your creative powers and ask questions that show you’ve not only done your homework, but that you went above and beyond to creating solutions.
3. Be Prepared With Interesting Answers
Most people will answer situational & behavioral questions with straightforward examples from their careers. Differentiate yourself by being prepared to share stories from other areas of your life that are equally impressive. Did you survive a solo ride on your motorcycle to the Arctic Circle? Create a hip-hop website that gets hundreds of thousands of unique visitors per month? Create a non-profit to save a historic building in your hometown? Share those tales in ways that highlight your problem solving skills, internal motivation, and unique style.
Excerpt for "6 Ways to be Interesting During Your Interview". Read entire article here: http://careerealism.com/ways-be-interesting-interview/
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Eliminate These 15 Words TODAY and Sound Smarter
People don't have the time or the attention span to read any more words than necessary. You want your readers to hear you out, understand your 
message, and perhaps be entertained, right? Here's a list of words to eliminate to help you write more succinctly.
1. That
It's superfluous most of the time. Open any document you've got drafted on your desktop, and find a sentence with "that" in it. Read it out loud. Now read it again without "that." If the sentence works without it, delete it. Also? Don't use "that" when you refer to people. "I have several friends that live in the neighborhood." No. No, you don't. You have friends who. Not friends that.
2. Went
I went to school. Or the store, or to church, or to a conference, to Vegas, wherever it is you're inclined to go. Instead of "went," consider drove, skated, walked, ran, flew. There are any number of ways to move from here to there. Pick one. Don't be lazy and miss the chance to add to your story.
3. Honestly
People use "honestly" to add emphasis. The problem is, the minute you tell your reader this particular statement is honest, you've implied the rest of your words were not. #Awkward
4. Absolutely
Adding this word to most sentences is redundant. Something is either necessary, or it isn't. Absolutely necessary doesn't make it more necessary. If you recommend an essential course to your new employees, it's essential. Coincidentally, the definition of essential is absolutely necessary. Chicken or egg, eh?
5. Very
Accurate adjectives don't need qualifiers. If you need to qualify it? Replace it. "Very" is intended to magnify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. What it does is makes your statement less specific. If you're very happy? Be ecstatic. If you're very sad, perhaps you're melancholy or depressed. Woebegone, even. Very sad is a lazy way of making your point. Another pitfall of using very as a modifier? It's subjective. Very cold and very tall mean different things to different people. Be specific. She's 6'3" and it's 13 degrees below freezing? These make your story better while also ensuring the reader understands the point you're making.
6. Really
Unless you're a Valley Girl, visiting from 1985, there's no need to use "really" to modify an adjective. Or a verb. Or an adverb. Pick a different word to make your point. And never repeat "really," or "very" for that matter. That's really, really bad writing.
If you are visiting from 1985? Please bring the birth certificate for my Cabbage Patch Doll on your next visit. Thanks.
7. Amazing
The word means "causing great surprise or sudden wonder." It's synonymous with wonderful, incredible, startling, marvelous, astonishing, astounding, remarkable, miraculous, surprising, mind-blowing, and staggering. You get the point, right? It's everywhere. It's in corporate slogans. It dominated the Academy Awards acceptance speeches. It's all over social media. It's discussed in pre-game shows and post-game shows.
Newsflash: If everything is amazing, nothing is.
8. Always
Absolutes lock the writer into a position, sound conceited and close-minded, and often open the door to criticism regarding inaccuracies. Always is rarely true. Unless you're giving written commands or instruction, find another word.
9. Never
See: Always.
10. Literally
"Literally" means literal. Actually happening as stated. Without exaggeration. More often than not, when the term is used, the writer means "figuratively." Whatever is happening is being described metaphorically. No one actually "waits on pins and needles." How uncomfortable would that be?
11. Just
It's a filler word and it makes your sentence weaker, not stronger. Unless you're using it as a synonym for equitable, fair, even-handed, or impartial, don't use it at all.
12. Maybe
This makes you sound uninformed, unsure of the facts you're presenting. Regardless of the topic, do the legwork, be sure, write an informed piece. The only thing you communicate when you include these words is uncertainty.
13. Stuff
This word is casual, generic even. It serves as a placeholder for something better. If the details of the stuff aren't important enough to be included in the piece? Don't reference it at all. If you tell your reader to take your course because they'll learn a lot of stuff? They're likely to tell you to stuff it.
14. Things
See: Stuff.
15. Irregardless
This doesn't mean what you think it means, jefe. It means regardless. It is literally (see what I did there?) defined as: regardless. Don't use it. Save yourself the embarrassment.
Excerpted from http://mashable.com/2015/05/03/words-eliminate-vocabulary/
1. That
It's superfluous most of the time. Open any document you've got drafted on your desktop, and find a sentence with "that" in it. Read it out loud. Now read it again without "that." If the sentence works without it, delete it. Also? Don't use "that" when you refer to people. "I have several friends that live in the neighborhood." No. No, you don't. You have friends who. Not friends that.
2. Went
I went to school. Or the store, or to church, or to a conference, to Vegas, wherever it is you're inclined to go. Instead of "went," consider drove, skated, walked, ran, flew. There are any number of ways to move from here to there. Pick one. Don't be lazy and miss the chance to add to your story.
3. Honestly
People use "honestly" to add emphasis. The problem is, the minute you tell your reader this particular statement is honest, you've implied the rest of your words were not. #Awkward
4. Absolutely
Adding this word to most sentences is redundant. Something is either necessary, or it isn't. Absolutely necessary doesn't make it more necessary. If you recommend an essential course to your new employees, it's essential. Coincidentally, the definition of essential is absolutely necessary. Chicken or egg, eh?
5. Very
Accurate adjectives don't need qualifiers. If you need to qualify it? Replace it. "Very" is intended to magnify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. What it does is makes your statement less specific. If you're very happy? Be ecstatic. If you're very sad, perhaps you're melancholy or depressed. Woebegone, even. Very sad is a lazy way of making your point. Another pitfall of using very as a modifier? It's subjective. Very cold and very tall mean different things to different people. Be specific. She's 6'3" and it's 13 degrees below freezing? These make your story better while also ensuring the reader understands the point you're making.
6. Really
Unless you're a Valley Girl, visiting from 1985, there's no need to use "really" to modify an adjective. Or a verb. Or an adverb. Pick a different word to make your point. And never repeat "really," or "very" for that matter. That's really, really bad writing.
If you are visiting from 1985? Please bring the birth certificate for my Cabbage Patch Doll on your next visit. Thanks.
7. Amazing
The word means "causing great surprise or sudden wonder." It's synonymous with wonderful, incredible, startling, marvelous, astonishing, astounding, remarkable, miraculous, surprising, mind-blowing, and staggering. You get the point, right? It's everywhere. It's in corporate slogans. It dominated the Academy Awards acceptance speeches. It's all over social media. It's discussed in pre-game shows and post-game shows.
Newsflash: If everything is amazing, nothing is.
8. Always
Absolutes lock the writer into a position, sound conceited and close-minded, and often open the door to criticism regarding inaccuracies. Always is rarely true. Unless you're giving written commands or instruction, find another word.
9. Never
See: Always.
10. Literally
"Literally" means literal. Actually happening as stated. Without exaggeration. More often than not, when the term is used, the writer means "figuratively." Whatever is happening is being described metaphorically. No one actually "waits on pins and needles." How uncomfortable would that be?
11. Just
It's a filler word and it makes your sentence weaker, not stronger. Unless you're using it as a synonym for equitable, fair, even-handed, or impartial, don't use it at all.
12. Maybe
This makes you sound uninformed, unsure of the facts you're presenting. Regardless of the topic, do the legwork, be sure, write an informed piece. The only thing you communicate when you include these words is uncertainty.
13. Stuff
This word is casual, generic even. It serves as a placeholder for something better. If the details of the stuff aren't important enough to be included in the piece? Don't reference it at all. If you tell your reader to take your course because they'll learn a lot of stuff? They're likely to tell you to stuff it.
14. Things
See: Stuff.
15. Irregardless
This doesn't mean what you think it means, jefe. It means regardless. It is literally (see what I did there?) defined as: regardless. Don't use it. Save yourself the embarrassment.
Excerpted from http://mashable.com/2015/05/03/words-eliminate-vocabulary/
Monday, April 20, 2015
One Way to Mitigate the Monotony of Your Job Search
Make the boring stuff easy
In general, searching for a job isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. The repetitive tasks can make you go crazy. It's a seemingly never-ending process of finding new jobs to apply to, updating your resume for every application, tracking your progress for each position, attending networking events and sending follow-up notes.
Here are some tools to make the boring stuff a little easier:
Use VisualCV.com to easily create multiple versions of your resume
Use a free spreadsheet template to keep track of your application progress
Use a free/affordable CRM to manage your contacts
Use Yesware to track your email responses
Attend more interesting industry-related events you find on Meetup
Excerpted from "Creative ways to mitigate the monotony of the job search" http://mashable.com/2015/04/20/mitigate-monotony-job-search/
In general, searching for a job isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. The repetitive tasks can make you go crazy. It's a seemingly never-ending process of finding new jobs to apply to, updating your resume for every application, tracking your progress for each position, attending networking events and sending follow-up notes.
Here are some tools to make the boring stuff a little easier:
Use VisualCV.com to easily create multiple versions of your resume
Use a free spreadsheet template to keep track of your application progress
Use a free/affordable CRM to manage your contacts
Use Yesware to track your email responses
Attend more interesting industry-related events you find on Meetup
Excerpted from "Creative ways to mitigate the monotony of the job search" http://mashable.com/2015/04/20/mitigate-monotony-job-search/
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Stop Obsessing after a Job Interview
Have you ever worried that you're no longer in contention because a job was reposted? It's true that sometimes a hiring process is reopened because there aren't any strong matches. However, that's not the only reason.
Most hiring managers don't want one awesome applicant per job opening: They want several. Why? Because not every candidate who receives an offer will accept it. So, companies want to know that if they invest the time in a hiring process, there will be more than one viable candidate for a given role. Not to mention how common it is for jobs to be reposted throughout a rolling deadline — you could be on the short list for a follow-up interview, but in the meantime the company also wants the posting to catch the attention of new applicants, so that there will be a few final round candidates.
How you can tell
Generally, if a hiring manager is reposting a position simply to cover his bases, he'll continue to be in touch with the top candidate. So, if you are on the short list for a second interview, you'll get an email regarding scheduling. And if you're a top candidate after a final interview, you'll likely get some other form of positive reinforcement in the interim, perhaps an effusive response to your thank you note. On the flipside, if the position is reposted and you haven't heard anything after two weeks, it's advisable to redouble your job searching efforts elsewhere.
2. It could be company culture
You know that there are many ways to deduce company culture in an interview. But some companies want to remove the guesswork — aiming to show every candidate how much he or she would enjoy the office environment.
Let's say your formal day of interviewing ended with a meeting, but then, your prospective colleagues invited you to join them for a drink, a meal, or a round of ping-pong. This is it, you think, I'm in.
You are in — a brand new portion of the interview, that is. Yes, it's really nice that you're being made to feel like a part of the team, but this is a still a try-out. Odds are that all candidates enjoy (a.k.a. are tested via) the same social component so the interviewer can gain a new perspective on their people skills and how they'll fit in with current employees.
How you can tell
Until you are formally extended an offer, consider all social invitations to be a part of the interview process. Yes, even if it includes throwing back beers, you're being tested on how well you can bond — and stay professional — over alcohol. Wait until after you're hired to read into what it means to hang out with your colleagues socially.
3. It could be company protocol
In the interest of fairness, many companies try to standardize the interview process as much as possible. So, it might be mandated that the hiring manager stick to a neutral script. Meaning, she won't give a stellar candidate a broad smile or positive feedback, and she won't ask an applicant giving half-answers if he'd like to expand.
Conversely, some companies encourage interviewers to individualize the process to get a clearer sense of a candidate's potential. For example, I was once in a position in which I was interviewing candidates with varied experience for fellowship programs. I was always toughest on the very best applicants. They wanted to be referred to the renowned, super-competitive organizations, and if they were in the running, I wanted to be sure they could hack it. So I'd push on harder questions and look less impressed with major (even mind-blowing) accomplishments. It was part of our system for narrowing the 12 best applicants down to the three best applicants.
How you can tell
In my case, whenever I was hard on an applicant because she was one of the best, I'd switch gears before the interview ended. I'd tell her that I put her through an especially hard interview to see if she'd rise to the occasion, and that I thought she was amazing. But not all interviewers will do this, particularly if it's protocol to test the best applicants — and not tell them it's a tactic. A good rule of thumb here is to try to distinguish between whether your interviewer is being tough (e.g., not smiling or laughing at a humorous story, asking really hard questions) or is aggravated by something you did (think: faux pas like taking a phone call, rambling, or interrupting).
It's totally understandable that you want to know if you'll be hired, preferably as soon as possible. But trying to decipher the signs — which holds real benefits early in the job search process — will only serve to drive you crazy after you interview. So, listen to those well-meaning friends: Remember the advice above and stop obsessing.
Read more at: http://mashable.com/2015/04/01/misreading-job-search-signals/
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Revive that Job Search!
Tunnel vision makes you believe that you must land a specific position, with particular specs and hours, in the industry that you originally targeted. In reality, though, the current job landscape or your skill set may not be conducive to an easy match.
If you've received denial after denial — especially at the same stage of the process (i.e., no one has contacted you to set up an interview) — it's time to step back and re-evaluate. Assess any feedback you've received, and examine whether or not you still feel like you're a strong contender at this particular level or in this specific industry. Perhaps you'll pinpoint that your level of experience is lacking and decide that a course or internship would be helpful before you continue applying to similar roles. In the meantime, you could pivot your existing skill set to another department or industry.
Alternatively, maybe you're hearing from companies, but you're hesitant to commit. Instead of boxing yourself in and feeling like your new job must look a certain way, consider piecing together other types of jobs to give yourself more flexibility.
For example, a "bridge job" — one that pays the bills while you figure out what you really want to do — is a great option for someone who needs financial stability but wants the bandwidth to change careers or build a side business. Bridge jobs may not sound glamorous to your friends and family, but they allow you to pursue your goals in a way you wouldn't be able to if you were working a demanding corporate position.
Expanding your personal vision for your next job — with an eye toward what will best fit your particular needs and long-term goals — will help you discover interesting opportunities that may not have been in your line of sight before.
2. Are you offline?
If your job search keeps you tethered to your computer day and night, you need to evaluate your in-person job search strategy (that is, if you have one at all). The fact is, the vast majority of jobs aren't listed online, they're filled through referrals from existing employees — so if you shift from being job-focused to people-focused, you'll likely notice a change.
If you feel like you've exhausted your current network, start creating new contacts by checking out local meetups, professional organizations, or projects that need someone with your skill set. Go to industry events, meet like-minded folks, and put yourself in a position to collaborate with new and interesting people.
More importantly, for each position you apply to online, find a person — at the company, in the field, or somehow related to the work you hope to do — and introduce yourself to via LinkedIn, Twitter, or email (here's how). Explain your goals, and ask that person if he is available to connect so you could learn more about his experience.
By extending your job search beyond your computer screen (with real-life conversations and new communities), you'll gain access into circles that are otherwise out of reach. Take the initiative to show people your value beyond an online resume and email correspondence.
3. Are you spending enough time doing other things?
Before you protest, let me explain. What I mean is: Do you set aside time every week to do something you love, build out a skill, or feed a creative outlet? As you well know, job searching is tiring and stressful. One day, you could have what feels like a great interview, and the next day, a rejection email arrives from that same company. In order to keep your spirits strong and stay focused, it's vital that you prioritize time for projects that recharge you and give you a sense of achievement.
Read more at: http://mashable.com/2015/04/02/reinvigorate-job-search/
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Prepare for Success on That Upcoming Interview
Check out the Decision Maker and Interviewer.
You should always get as much information about the decision maker and interviewer through LinkedIn. It will tell you how long they’ve been there, where they came from, and – if you look at the groups and discussions they participate in – their areas of interest. It will also tell you if someone else had this job and whether they left or got promoted.
I know a sales guy who turned an interview with a sour hiring manager into an instant job offer by researching his background and discovering his long military career. So, when he related his own military career to his disciplined approach to sales, he built instant rapport and differentiated himself from other candidates.
Prepare supporting points to demonstrate how you will benefit the employer.
Prepare supporting points to demonstrate how your experience, skills, and strengths are relevant and will benefit the employer. An interview is a chance for you to learn about the opportunity as well as for the employer to further determine if you are the best candidate for the job. Start by identifying the five top skills that are the most important to the job and then focus on how you have demonstrated them successfully in your career.
Some employers may ask for a rundown of your resume while others may poke at specific experiences on your resume and dig deeper for more information or examples to demonstrate your skills and success.
Go over your resume and make sure you know what you will say about each experience to make yourself shine. Be aware of what you have written on your resume so that your talking points match up and enhance the messages you’ve projected from the resume. Be ready to provide case examples to help demonstrate specific points and achievements.
Be prepared with questions for the employer.
Each interview takes on a different format, but somewhere along the way, an employer will likely ask if you have any questions. Even if the interview was packed with information, always have questions prepared to ask the employer that have not been touched on or that you can benefit from by having more information. Asking questions expresses to an employer that you are serious and sincerely interested in the company and position.
Asking the “right” questions can also help solidify a positive impression. For instance, if you have done the proper research on the company before the interview, you may have knowledge of developments happening at the company or within the industry that may have an impact on the job you apply for.
Asking questions that express you are thinking ahead about the job and how certain developments may impact the business demonstrates to an employer that you are a “smart” candidate. You are already thinking like you belong in the position and looking ahead at how to address possible challenges. These types of questions can also help the employer see how you fit right in.
Make a list of references.
Many employers ask candidates to complete an application form upon arrival. Applications often ask you to list references. Come prepared with two to three contacts you have recently been in contact with who are aware of your job search and who can provide positive feedback. You will need the references’ business information (company, title, phone number, and e-mail address).
Many employers do not resort to contacting references until they have come down to one or two candidates to choose from. Make sure you have properly obtained permission from your contacts to list their information as your reference. They should also be briefed on the position you are applying for so that they are well-informed should the employer take action to contact them.
Preparing for an interview is about having the right state of mind, but there are also other common things you must have prepared that may be overlooked. Make sure you have extra copies of your resume and pen and paper to take down important notes that allow you to personalize the thank you follow-up note after the interview. For those applying for a position such as art or writing, make sure to have a portfolio of your work to leave behind or to show to the employer.
Excerpted from : http://www.careerealism.com/information-before-interview/
You should always get as much information about the decision maker and interviewer through LinkedIn. It will tell you how long they’ve been there, where they came from, and – if you look at the groups and discussions they participate in – their areas of interest. It will also tell you if someone else had this job and whether they left or got promoted.
I know a sales guy who turned an interview with a sour hiring manager into an instant job offer by researching his background and discovering his long military career. So, when he related his own military career to his disciplined approach to sales, he built instant rapport and differentiated himself from other candidates.
Prepare supporting points to demonstrate how you will benefit the employer.
Prepare supporting points to demonstrate how your experience, skills, and strengths are relevant and will benefit the employer. An interview is a chance for you to learn about the opportunity as well as for the employer to further determine if you are the best candidate for the job. Start by identifying the five top skills that are the most important to the job and then focus on how you have demonstrated them successfully in your career.
Some employers may ask for a rundown of your resume while others may poke at specific experiences on your resume and dig deeper for more information or examples to demonstrate your skills and success.
Go over your resume and make sure you know what you will say about each experience to make yourself shine. Be aware of what you have written on your resume so that your talking points match up and enhance the messages you’ve projected from the resume. Be ready to provide case examples to help demonstrate specific points and achievements.
Be prepared with questions for the employer.
Each interview takes on a different format, but somewhere along the way, an employer will likely ask if you have any questions. Even if the interview was packed with information, always have questions prepared to ask the employer that have not been touched on or that you can benefit from by having more information. Asking questions expresses to an employer that you are serious and sincerely interested in the company and position.
Asking the “right” questions can also help solidify a positive impression. For instance, if you have done the proper research on the company before the interview, you may have knowledge of developments happening at the company or within the industry that may have an impact on the job you apply for.
Asking questions that express you are thinking ahead about the job and how certain developments may impact the business demonstrates to an employer that you are a “smart” candidate. You are already thinking like you belong in the position and looking ahead at how to address possible challenges. These types of questions can also help the employer see how you fit right in.
Make a list of references.
Many employers ask candidates to complete an application form upon arrival. Applications often ask you to list references. Come prepared with two to three contacts you have recently been in contact with who are aware of your job search and who can provide positive feedback. You will need the references’ business information (company, title, phone number, and e-mail address).
Many employers do not resort to contacting references until they have come down to one or two candidates to choose from. Make sure you have properly obtained permission from your contacts to list their information as your reference. They should also be briefed on the position you are applying for so that they are well-informed should the employer take action to contact them.
Preparing for an interview is about having the right state of mind, but there are also other common things you must have prepared that may be overlooked. Make sure you have extra copies of your resume and pen and paper to take down important notes that allow you to personalize the thank you follow-up note after the interview. For those applying for a position such as art or writing, make sure to have a portfolio of your work to leave behind or to show to the employer.
Excerpted from : http://www.careerealism.com/information-before-interview/
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Five Quick Tips to Creating an Online Searchable Resume
2) NOT TOO MUCH INFORMATION: Resumes with too much information or too much "fanciness" get passed over quicker. The pertinent information is too hard to find. Keep it simple, straight forward and easy to pinpoint your experience and strengths. Refrain from fancy fonts, lines, headers and too many additional nonessential things.
3) SIMPLE FORMATTING: When you submit your resume through a website or ATS/RTS (applicant/resume tracking system), that fancy formatting is often removed or altered. This means that your resume doesn't look at all like what you intended. If it doesn’t get altered on the site you upload to it is likely to get altered when recruiter and hiring managers upload it to their company’s tracking site like Sales Force. Be sure you are looking at it from that perspective. The more straightforward you make it initially, the more intact it will stay as it travels through the screening process. In today’s hiring landscape it is best to stay streamlined, bullet pointed and easy to follow.
4) AVOID ALL CAPS & CATCHY TITLES: Catchy titles and placing your name in ALL CAPS were both “best practices” at one point in the hiring game. Today it is best to instead use the same size (not all caps) font and save your resume with a title that is just your name or even the year or something similar such as “Christy McDonald Resume” or “Christy McDonald 2015 Resume”. Eliminate catchy titles when using career websites. Instead of “dynamic sales professional” opt for something that is concise such as “Licensed Multi-state Health/Life Agent”. That way you are already ahead of the game on using keywords and giving hiring managers/recruiters a heads up as to exactly what type of sales you are in.
5) BE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT SKILLS PERTINENT TO YOUR DESIRED POSITION: It is really important to list out specific skills that are pertinent to the position you desire. For example if you are in healthcare claims processing and have used three different claims processing systems you will want to be sure to list them on the resume. I would suggest a targeted “Skills/Systems Experience” section on your resume that would bullet point them out. That way they are easy to find when someone is quickly looking over the resume and when hiring manager and recruiters are doing keyword searches on large sites like LinkedIn, CareerBuilder or Monster.
Here are two great FREE resources that will aid you in creating a great resume:
http://resume.monster.com/
http://advice.careerbuilder.com/?categories=Resumes
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
5 Steps for a Sucessful Job Search
1. Determine your goals & priorities.
What do you want to achieve in your life AND career? What kinds of jobs will allow you to achieve those goals?
2. Analyze your options.
Research companies of interest and create a company bucket list. What companies can you see yourself working for?
Once you’ve created your company bucket list, set up informational interviews with employees from those companies to learn more about the culture, hiring process, and anything else you’re curious about.
Also, do a little research on salary. Would you need to take a pay cut if you were to take a job at your dream company?
Once you gather those numbers, determine your “walk away rate.” What is the absolute lowest amount of money you’re willing to accept without having to eat Ramen noodles every day? If the company can’t at least offer you that number, then you know it’s not worth pursuing.
3. Recognize your strengths.
Determine the problem you solve. We’re all fixers – what do YOU fix? Make a list of your previous accomplishments, hard and soft skills, and unique selling points (what do you offer that other candidates can’t?)
Highlight your strengths – If you’ve worked at the same company for 15 years, showcase your longevity at the company, emphasize your extensive experience/skills in the area you worked in.
4. Establish your brand.
Now that you know what you want and what you offer, it’s time to brand yourself. Remember, everyone has a brand, but it’s up to you on how much you want to control it (brand or BE branded!).
Here are some things you can do to establish a bomb-ass brand:
Create a unique branding statement that showcases your unique selling points.
Update your job search materials (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, etc) with appropriate content and keywords.
Build an online brand (update social media profiles regularly, create an industry-specific blog, etc).
5. Demonstrate your value.
Show employers that you’ll be a valuable asset to the company, don’t just tell them.
You can do this by…
Sharing accomplishment stories
Quantifying your accomplishments
Demonstrating how you can solve their problem
Showing enthusiasm for both the job AND the company
Read more at: http://www.careerealism.com/successful-job-search-approach
What do you want to achieve in your life AND career? What kinds of jobs will allow you to achieve those goals?
2. Analyze your options.
Research companies of interest and create a company bucket list. What companies can you see yourself working for?
Once you’ve created your company bucket list, set up informational interviews with employees from those companies to learn more about the culture, hiring process, and anything else you’re curious about.
Also, do a little research on salary. Would you need to take a pay cut if you were to take a job at your dream company?
Once you gather those numbers, determine your “walk away rate.” What is the absolute lowest amount of money you’re willing to accept without having to eat Ramen noodles every day? If the company can’t at least offer you that number, then you know it’s not worth pursuing.
3. Recognize your strengths.
Determine the problem you solve. We’re all fixers – what do YOU fix? Make a list of your previous accomplishments, hard and soft skills, and unique selling points (what do you offer that other candidates can’t?)
Highlight your strengths – If you’ve worked at the same company for 15 years, showcase your longevity at the company, emphasize your extensive experience/skills in the area you worked in.
4. Establish your brand.
Now that you know what you want and what you offer, it’s time to brand yourself. Remember, everyone has a brand, but it’s up to you on how much you want to control it (brand or BE branded!).
Here are some things you can do to establish a bomb-ass brand:
Create a unique branding statement that showcases your unique selling points.
Update your job search materials (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, etc) with appropriate content and keywords.
Build an online brand (update social media profiles regularly, create an industry-specific blog, etc).
5. Demonstrate your value.
Show employers that you’ll be a valuable asset to the company, don’t just tell them.
You can do this by…
Sharing accomplishment stories
Quantifying your accomplishments
Demonstrating how you can solve their problem
Showing enthusiasm for both the job AND the company
Read more at: http://www.careerealism.com/successful-job-search-approach
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Time To Shine!
One word = Don't.
We have all become so accustomed to the shorthand and "quick speak" of our current technology. It is perfectly fine to answer a friend who is inviting you to coffee with a quick, short hand response. Answering the representative of a potential employer this way can all but ruin your chances of further contact. Let me give an example: You receive a well-crafted email laying out a fantastic job opportunity that has been targeted to you specifically, because you are a match to the experience and skill set they are looking for. You answer the email quickly from a mobile device with something like this: "how much does it pay? where are u located?" and instead of "Sincerely, Jane Candidate (999) 999-9999" there is just a tag "sent from my iPhone" at the bottom of your email response.--- Oh boy, you have just answered a great opportunity with the short hand equivalent of "No thank you, I am not nearly serious enough to respond properly." Remember who you are talking to. This is your time to shine! You want to take the time to answer the email with an equally well-crafted response, and at the end, respectfully ask to advance the conversation to the next step. Follow that at the very end with your name and contact phone number as a closing signature to your email. This will assure you of being considered for what you can really offer, and not immediately passed over due to not putting your best foot forward from the start.
This is your time to shine…Make it a positive, memorable first impression!
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Your Dream Role May be Closer than You Think
Job hunting? Your dream role may be closer than you think
1. Leave your frustration behind
Chances are, if you’re in the market for a new job, things aren’t exactly perfect in your current situation. Whether it’s the company, the manager or the role, most job seekers are on the hunt for something better, and frustration with salary or title is often a key motivator. Today, over 50% of Americans are unhappy at work — but in today’s high-turnover job market, the "why" matters more than ever. If your dissatisfaction isn’t fixable, you’re better off trying out something new. But for those (many) of us whose frustration lies in management, duties or even internal communication, keeping an open mind is the first step to finding an alternative.
Start by doing some internal research on positions, departments or teams that intrigue you — keeping in mind that, while new interests are often commendable, the likelihood of a complete career 180 is slim; so eliminate the less-than-logical choices. Then, consider the true pain points of your current position, and how those would translate to a new one. Knowing yourself, your skills and your company gives you the advantage: You know how you potentially fit with the goals and objectives of the team, which already puts you one step ahead of other hopeful applicants.
2. Recruit your allies
Once you have an idea of what your ideal transition would look like, landing a new opportunity within your own company requires some support. Naturally, doing research and investigating your options ignites a bit of fear — if you confide in someone about how you’re feeling, will your manager get angry? Could this affect your experience at the company, and the work you’ve put in?
It likely won’t, as long as you’ve got a supportive team by your side. Of course, fostering a strong relationship with your manager is high priority — as long as he or she is not the reason you’re ready to move on. As they know your work, motivations and personality, your superiors have the potential to be your biggest advocate throughout the job hunting process. Additionally, work on the relationships you have with people outside of your department. Talk to different managers about growth opportunities and what they value in a team member. Not only will you find out precious information about your company’s philosophy, but you’re also building a team of advocates to help smooth your transition.
3. Don’t get pigeonholed
As you continue further down your career journey, it’s natural to get a little bit pigeonholed. Today, as a CMO, most people know me as solely a marketer. But years ago, at a past company, I moved from marketing to the product team, and people still came to me for campaign strategy. I’ll admit it: It was hard to get people to see me in a different role.
Being firm and strong in your new role is essential to making a smooth transition. Being firm and strong in your new role is essential to making a smooth transition. No one is asking you to leave behind your former self — I certainly didn’t. Assert your new position and the knowledge that comes with it, whether that’s learning a new skill or going to meet-ups that support your career change. Don’t let your colleagues forget why you made the move: Because you’re the best person for the job. Plus, there's little harm in taking on a project or accepting advice from your old department — just think of it as diversifying your skills.
The bottom line: Taking control of your career means being strategic about the journey. The modern job seeker has no room for passivity. Landing your next opportunity means being dedicated to making the right choice, and if that choice lies within your own company, you owe it to yourself to at least try. You never know: Maybe the grass isn’t greener after all.
Excerpted from:
mashable.com internal job hunting
1. Leave your frustration behind
Chances are, if you’re in the market for a new job, things aren’t exactly perfect in your current situation. Whether it’s the company, the manager or the role, most job seekers are on the hunt for something better, and frustration with salary or title is often a key motivator. Today, over 50% of Americans are unhappy at work — but in today’s high-turnover job market, the "why" matters more than ever. If your dissatisfaction isn’t fixable, you’re better off trying out something new. But for those (many) of us whose frustration lies in management, duties or even internal communication, keeping an open mind is the first step to finding an alternative.
Start by doing some internal research on positions, departments or teams that intrigue you — keeping in mind that, while new interests are often commendable, the likelihood of a complete career 180 is slim; so eliminate the less-than-logical choices. Then, consider the true pain points of your current position, and how those would translate to a new one. Knowing yourself, your skills and your company gives you the advantage: You know how you potentially fit with the goals and objectives of the team, which already puts you one step ahead of other hopeful applicants.
2. Recruit your allies
Once you have an idea of what your ideal transition would look like, landing a new opportunity within your own company requires some support. Naturally, doing research and investigating your options ignites a bit of fear — if you confide in someone about how you’re feeling, will your manager get angry? Could this affect your experience at the company, and the work you’ve put in?
It likely won’t, as long as you’ve got a supportive team by your side. Of course, fostering a strong relationship with your manager is high priority — as long as he or she is not the reason you’re ready to move on. As they know your work, motivations and personality, your superiors have the potential to be your biggest advocate throughout the job hunting process. Additionally, work on the relationships you have with people outside of your department. Talk to different managers about growth opportunities and what they value in a team member. Not only will you find out precious information about your company’s philosophy, but you’re also building a team of advocates to help smooth your transition.
3. Don’t get pigeonholed
As you continue further down your career journey, it’s natural to get a little bit pigeonholed. Today, as a CMO, most people know me as solely a marketer. But years ago, at a past company, I moved from marketing to the product team, and people still came to me for campaign strategy. I’ll admit it: It was hard to get people to see me in a different role.
Being firm and strong in your new role is essential to making a smooth transition. Being firm and strong in your new role is essential to making a smooth transition. No one is asking you to leave behind your former self — I certainly didn’t. Assert your new position and the knowledge that comes with it, whether that’s learning a new skill or going to meet-ups that support your career change. Don’t let your colleagues forget why you made the move: Because you’re the best person for the job. Plus, there's little harm in taking on a project or accepting advice from your old department — just think of it as diversifying your skills.
The bottom line: Taking control of your career means being strategic about the journey. The modern job seeker has no room for passivity. Landing your next opportunity means being dedicated to making the right choice, and if that choice lies within your own company, you owe it to yourself to at least try. You never know: Maybe the grass isn’t greener after all.
Excerpted from:
mashable.com internal job hunting
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Speak Up! It May Just Get You the Job!
When you're searching for a job, it's critical to make your voice heard, new research finds.
While an impressive résumé is important, it's your voice that may help you land the job, according to a study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
The study's authors said this result held true even when the words that are spoken and read are exactly the same. They did find, however, that the addition of video does not influence evaluations beyond hearing the candidate's voice.
"In addition to communicating the contents of one's mind, like specific thoughts and beliefs, a person's speech conveys their fundamental capacity to think — the capacity for reasoning, thoughtfulness and intellect," Nicholas Epley, one of the study's authors and a University of Chicago business professor, said in a statement.
For the study, researchers asked a group of MBA student job candidates to develop a short pitch for the business they would like to work for most. They created written pitches and were videotaped reading the same pitch. [12 Best Job Search Apps ]
In one experiment, a group of evaluators judged the spoken pitches by watching and listening to the video recording, listening to the audio only or reading a transcript of the pitch. Those who heard the pitch rated the candidate as more intelligent, thoughtful and competent than the evaluators who read only a transcript of it, while those who watched the video did not rate it any differently than those who heard the pitch.
In a second experiment, evaluators listened to trained actors reading job candidates' written pitches out loud. The study's authors found that the evaluators believed those candidates were more intelligent and wanted to hire them more than the evaluators who only read the candidates' written pitches.
In addition to the evaluators used in the experiments, professional recruiters were found to be more likely to hire the candidates whose pitches they could hear.
"When conveying intelligence, it's important for one's voice to be heard — literally," Epley said.
Read more at: business news daily job search voice
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Factors in Job Happiness
http://www.thefutureorganization.com/new-research-top-10-factors-employee-happiness-job/
Do You Need to Change Jobs to Find Happiness??
For me, David’s comment about “making a difference” is the key to most employee engagement issues on the planet. No matter where you live or who you are, people need to feel they are adding value to something bigger than themselves. If they don’t, a lack of self-worth will quickly lead to depression and disengagement.
In Dan Ariely’s Ted Talk, “What makes us feel good about our work?,” he describes several experiments where people were paid to do a simple task with decreasing amounts of compensation. The groups were divided into three categories: those that had their work acknowledged; those that had their work ignored; and those that had their work destroyed after completion. In all the experiments, work that was ignored and destroyed were held in basically the same regard.
Additionally, those that felt their work had no meaning or offered no value were more likely to produce lower quality work or cheat, despite the money they were making. Those that had their work acknowledged did more for less compensation, at a higher quality and a greater level of care. The basic human need to feel that their work mattered had a massive impact on how engaged they were in their job and the results they delivered.
If you speak to any motivational speaker or self-help guru, they will tell you that self-worth — knowing that you matter — must come before you can truly care for anything else in life. Not surprisingly, this equally applies to the workplace.
To solve our American job engagement problem, each and every employee must ask himself or herself one question: “Am I adding value in my job?” If the answer is “no,” do something about it.
Speak To Your Boss
The first place to go whenever you are not feeling connected to the mission and purpose of your organization is your boss. If they can’t explain and help you understand how your work adds value to your organization’s overall objectives, you will have to seek your answer elsewhere in the company. If no one can connect the dots for you, then it may be time for a job or company change.
Research has consistently shown that a lack of job connection to a company’s mission and purpose has a significant impact on employee engagement. If your current employer can’t help you make that connection, it’s time for a change. But remember that moving on isn’t the same as moving forward.
Seek A Positive Change
When I was directing plays in NYC I would coach my actors not to make a move on stage to get away from something, but rather to go to something — to make a positive choice. This same principle applies to your job and career. If you don’t feel you are adding value in your current job or at your company, you will never jump out of bed each morning and deliver the potential you have in life.
Start looking for that connection elsewhere either in your current company in a different job or at another company in the same job. When you identify your target, make the move to get it.
You don’t need to change jobs to find happiness if you feel you are adding value to your organization and those around you. If other working conditions are not quite right, it is worth talking to your manager or HR to try to get them resolved before quitting. However, no matter how great everything else is, if you can’t see the value you bring to your company, you will never be truly happy or engaged in your work and you need to move to a better place for the sake of everyone — most importantly you!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/louisefron/2014/01/16/do-you-have-to-change-jobs-to-find-happiness/ (This article was originally published on Huffington Post)
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