12 lessons you learn or regret forever

12 lessons you learn or regret forever12 lessons you learn or regret foreverSticking your neck out and taking dienstgrad of your career is no trivial matter. Whether thats switching careers, going back to school, or walking away from a j-o-b to departure your own business, it takes a lot of guts.But guts will only get you so far. Once you build up the nerve and make the leap, youre no mora than 5% of the way there. You still have to succeed in your new endeavor, and trying to succeed is when your worst fears (the ones that made you hesitate in the first distribution policy) will come true.Im going to assume youre like me and dont have a brilliant mentor, a rich uncle, or some other person who is going to show you the ropes and explain each step you need to take to take dienstgrad of your career.You see, its been almost 20 years since I last had a boss. I went from working in a surf shop to striking out on my own, eventually startingTalentSmart(with a partner) before Id finished grad school.When I set out on my own, I had all the gumption and appetite for risk that I needed to take charge of my career. At the time I thought that welches all I needed to succeed.It wasnt. I also needed guidance. Without it, I learned some difficult (and often painful) lessons along the way.Id like to share some of my biggest lessons learned with you so that they can help you as you take charge of your career (in whatever gestalt that takes). As I look back on these lessons, I realize that theyre really great reminders for us all.1. Confidence must come firstSuccessful people often exude confidence - its obvious that they believe in themselves and what theyre doing. It isnt their success that makes them confident, however. The confidence was there first.Think about itDoubt breeds doubt.Why would anyone believe in you, your ideas, or your abilities if you didnt believe in them yourself?It takes confidence to reach for new challenges.People who are fearful or insecure tend to stay w ithin their comfort zones. But comfort zones rarely expand on their own. Thats why people who lack confidence get stuck in dead-end jobs and let valuable opportunities pass them by.Unconfident people often feel at the mercy of external circumstances.Successful people arent deterred by obstacles, which is how they rise up in the first place.Confidence is a crucial building block in a successful career, and embracing it fully will take you places you never thought possible. No one is stopping you from what you want to accomplish but yourself. Its time to remove any barriers created by self-doubt.2. Youre living the life that youve createdYou are not a victim of circumstance. No one can force you to make decisions and take actions that run contrary to your values and aspirations. The circumstances youre living in today are your own - you created them.Likewise, your future is entirely up to you. If youre feeling stuck, its probably because youre afraid to take the risks necessary to ac hieve your goals and live your dreams.When its time to take action, remember that its always better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than at the top of one you dont.3. Being busy does not equal being productiveLook at everyone around you. They all seem so busy - running from meeting to meeting and firing off emails. Yet how many of them are really producing, really succeeding at a high level?Success doesnt come from movement and activity. It comes from focus - from ensuring that your time is used efficiently and productively. You get the saatkorn number of hours in the day as everyone else. Use yours wisely. After all, youre the product of your output, not your effort. Make certain your efforts are dedicated to tasks that get results.4. Youre only as good as those you associate withYou should strive to surround yourself with people who inspire you, people who make you want to be better. And you probably do. But what about the people who drag you down? Why do you allow them to be a part of your life?Anyone who makes you feel worthless, anxious, or uninspired is wasting your time and, quite possibly, making you more like them. Life is too short to associate with people like this. Cut them loose.5. Squash your negative self-talkWhen youre taking charge of your career, you wont always have a cheerleader in your corner. This magnifies the effects of self-doubt. The more you ruminate on negative thoughts, the more power you give them. Most of our negative thoughts are just that - thoughts, not facts.When you find yourself believing the negative and pessimistic things your inner voice says, its time to stop and write them down. Literally stop what youre doing and write down what youre thinking.Once youve taken a moment to slow down the negative momentum of your thoughts, you will be more rational and clear-headed in evaluating their veracity.6. Avoid asking What if?What if? statements throw fuel on the fire of stress and worry, which are detrime ntal to reaching your goals. Things can go in a million different directions, and the more time you spend worrying about the possibilities, the less time youll spend taking action and staying productive. Asking what if? will only take you to a place you dont want - or need - to go. Of course, scenario planning is a necessary and effective planning technique. The key distinction here is to recognize the difference between worry and strategic thinking about your future.7. Schedule exercise and sleepI cant say enough about the importance of quality sleep. When you sleep your brain removes toxic proteins from its neurons that are by-products of neural activity when youre awake. Unfortunately, your brain can remove them adequately only while youre asleep.So when you dont get enough sleep, the toxic proteins remain in your brain cells, wreaking havoc by impairing your ability to think - something no amount of caffeine can fix.Your self-control, attention, and memory are all reduced whe n you dont get enough - or the right kind - of sleep. Sleep deprivation raises stress hormone levels on its own, even without a stressor present, which are a major productivity killer.Ambition often makes you feel as if you must sacrifice sleep to stay productive, but sleep deprivation diminishes your productivity so much throughout the day that youre better off sleeping.A study conducted at the Eastern Ontario Research Institute found that people who exercised twice a week for 10 weeks felt more competent socially, academically, and athletically. They also rated their body image and self-esteem higher.Best of all, rather than the physical changes in their bodies being responsible for the uptick in confidence, it was the immediate, endorphin-fueled positivity from exercise that made all the difference. Schedule your exercise to make certain it happens, or the days will just slip away.8. Seek out small victoriesSmall victories can seem unimportant when youre really after something big, but small victories build new mnnliches sexualhormon receptors in the areas of the brain responsible for reward and motivation.This increase in androgen receptors increases the influence of testosterone, which further increases your confidence and your eagerness to tackle future challenges. When you have a series of small victories, the boost in your confidence can last for months.9. Dont say yes unless you really want toResearch conducted at the University of California in Berkeley shows that the more difficulty that you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression, all of which make it difficult to take charge of your career.Saying no is indeed a major challenge for many people. No is a powerful word that you should not be afraid to wield.When its time to say no, avoid phrases like I dont think I can or Im not certain. Saying no to a new commitment honors your existing commitments and gives you the opportunity to successfully fulf ill them.10. Dont seek perfectionDont set perfection as your target. It doesnt exist. Human beings, by our very nature, are fallible.When perfection is your goal, youre always left with a nagging sense of failure that makes you want to give up or reduce your effort. You end up spending your time lamenting what you failed to accomplish and what you should have done differently instead of moving forward excited about what youve achieved and what you will accomplish in the future.11. Focus on solutionsWhere you focus your attention determines your emotional state. When you fixate on the problems that youre facing, you create and prolong negative emotions which hinder your ability to reach your goals.When you focus on the actions youll take to better yourself and your circumstances, you create a sense of personal efficacy that produces positive emotions and improves performance.12. Forgive yourselfWhen you slip up, it is critical that you forgive yourself and move on. Dont ignore how th e mistake makes you feel just dont wallow in it. Instead, shift your attention to what youre going to do to improve yourself in the future.Failure can erode your self-confidence and make it hard to believe youll achieve a better outcome in the future. Most of the time, failure results from taking risks and trying to achieve something that isnt easy.Success lies in your ability to rise in the face of failure, and you cant do this when youre living in the past. Anything worth achieving is going to require you to take some risks, and you cant allow failure to stop you from believing in your ability to succeed.When you live in the past, that is exactly what happens, and your past becomes your present, preventing you from moving forward.Bringing it all togetherI hope these lessons are as useful to you as they have been to me over the years. As I write them, Im reminded of their power and my desire to use them every day.Travis Bradberry is the coauthor of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and th e cofounder of TalentSmart.This article originally appeared onLinkedIn.12 lessons you learn or regret foreverSticking your neck out and taking charge of your career is no trivial matter. Whether thats switching careers, going back to school, or walking away from a j-o-b to start your own business, it takes a lot of guts.But guts will only get you so far. Once you build up the nerve and make the leap, youre no more than 5% of the way there. You still have to succeed in your new endeavor, and trying to succeed is when your worst fears (the ones that made you hesitate in the first place) will come true.Im going to assume youre like me and dont have a brilliant mentor, a rich uncle, or some other person who is going to show you the ropes and explain each step you need to take to take charge of your career.You see, its been almost 20 years since I last had a boss. I went from working in a surf shop to striking out on my own, eventually startingTalentSmart(with a partner) before Id finish ed grad school.When I set out on my own, I had all the gumption and appetite for risk that I needed to take charge of my career. At the time I thought that was all I needed to succeed.It wasnt. I also needed guidance. Without it, I learned some difficult (and often painful) lessons along the way.Id like to share some of my biggest lessons learned with you so that they can help you as you take charge of your career (in whatever form that takes). As I look back on these lessons, I realize that theyre really great reminders for us all.1. Confidence must come firstSuccessful people often exude confidence - its obvious that they believe in themselves and what theyre doing. It isnt their success that makes them confident, however. The confidence was there first.Think about itDoubt breeds doubt.Why would anyone believe in you, your ideas, or your abilities if you didnt believe in them yourself?It takes confidence to reach for new challenges.People who are fearful or insecure tend to stay within their comfort zones. But comfort zones rarely expand on their own. Thats why people who lack confidence get stuck in dead-end jobs and let valuable opportunities pass them by.Unconfident people often feel at the mercy of external circumstances.Successful people arent deterred by obstacles, which is how they rise up in the first place.Confidence is a crucial building block in a successful career, and embracing it fully will take you places you never thought possible. No one is stopping you from what you want to accomplish but yourself. Its time to remove any barriers created by self-doubt.2. Youre living the life that youve createdYou are not a victim of circumstance. No one can force you to make decisions and take actions that run contrary to your values and aspirations. The circumstances youre living in today are your own - you created them.Likewise, your future is entirely up to you. If youre feeling stuck, its probably because youre afraid to take the risks necessary to a chieve your goals and live your dreams.When its time to take action, remember that its always better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than at the top of one you dont.3. Being busy does not equal being productiveLook at everyone around you. They all seem so busy - running from meeting to meeting and firing off emails. Yet how many of them are really producing, really succeeding at a high level?Success doesnt come from movement and activity. It comes from focus - from ensuring that your time is used efficiently and productively. You get the same number of hours in the day as everyone else. Use yours wisely. After all, youre the product of your output, not your effort. Make certain your efforts are dedicated to tasks that get results.4. Youre only as good as those you associate withYou should strive to surround yourself with people who inspire you, people who make you want to be better. And you probably do. But what about the people who drag you down? Why do you al low them to be a part of your life?Anyone who makes you feel worthless, anxious, or uninspired is wasting your time and, quite possibly, making you more like them. Life is too short to associate with people like this. Cut them loose.5. Squash your negative self-talkWhen youre taking charge of your career, you wont always have a cheerleader in your corner. This magnifies the effects of self-doubt. The more you ruminate on negative thoughts, the more power you give them. Most of our negative thoughts are just that - thoughts, not facts.When you find yourself believing the negative and pessimistic things your inner voice says, its time to stop and write them down. Literally stop what youre doing and write down what youre thinking.Once youve taken a moment to slow down the negative momentum of your thoughts, you will be more rational and clear-headed in evaluating their veracity.6. Avoid asking What if?What if? statements throw fuel on the fire of stress and worry, which are detrimenta l to reaching your goals. Things can go in a million different directions, and the more time you spend worrying about the possibilities, the less time youll spend taking action and staying productive. Asking what if? will only take you to a place you dont want - or need - to go. Of course, scenario planning is a necessary and effective planning technique. The key distinction here is to recognize the difference between worry and strategic thinking about your future.7. Schedule exercise and sleepI cant say enough about the importance of quality sleep. When you sleep your brain removes toxic proteins from its neurons that are by-products of neural activity when youre awake. Unfortunately, your brain can remove them adequately only while youre asleep.So when you dont get enough sleep, the toxic proteins remain in your brain cells, wreaking havoc by impairing your ability to think - something no amount of caffeine can fix.Your self-control, attention, and memory are all reduced when y ou dont get enough - or the right kind - of sleep. Sleep deprivation raises stress hormone levels on its own, even without a stressor present, which are a major productivity killer.Ambition often makes you feel as if you must sacrifice sleep to stay productive, but sleep deprivation diminishes your productivity so much throughout the day that youre better off sleeping.A study conducted at the Eastern Ontario Research Institute found that people who exercised twice a week for 10 weeks felt more competent socially, academically, and athletically. They also rated their body image and self-esteem higher.Best of all, rather than the physical changes in their bodies being responsible for the uptick in confidence, it was the immediate, endorphin-fueled positivity from exercise that made all the difference. Schedule your exercise to make certain it happens, or the days will just slip away.8. Seek out small victoriesSmall victories can seem unimportant when youre really after something big , but small victories build new androgen receptors in the areas of the brain responsible for reward and motivation.This increase in androgen receptors increases the influence of testosterone, which further increases your confidence and your eagerness to tackle future challenges. When you have a series of small victories, the boost in your confidence can last for months.9. Dont say yes unless you really want toResearch conducted at the University of California in Berkeley shows that the more difficulty that you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression, all of which make it difficult to take charge of your career.Saying no is indeed a major challenge for many people. No is a powerful word that you should not be afraid to wield.When its time to say no, avoid phrases like I dont think I can or Im not certain. Saying no to a new commitment honors your existing commitments and gives you the opportunity to successfully fulfill them.10. Dont seek perfectionDont set perfection as your target. It doesnt exist. Human beings, by our very nature, are fallible.When perfection is your goal, youre always left with a nagging sense of failure that makes you want to give up or reduce your effort. You end up spending your time lamenting what you failed to accomplish and what you should have done differently instead of moving forward excited about what youve achieved and what you will accomplish in the future.11. Focus on solutionsWhere you focus your attention determines your emotional state. When you fixate on the problems that youre facing, you create and prolong negative emotions which hinder your ability to reach your goals.When you focus on the actions youll take to better yourself and your circumstances, you create a sense of personal efficacy that produces positive emotions and improves performance.12. Forgive yourselfWhen you slip up, it is critical that you forgive yourself and move on. Dont ignore how the mistake makes y ou feel just dont wallow in it. Instead, shift your attention to what youre going to do to improve yourself in the future.Failure can erode your self-confidence and make it hard to believe youll achieve a better outcome in the future. Most of the time, failure results from taking risks and trying to achieve something that isnt easy.Success lies in your ability to rise in the face of failure, and you cant do this when youre living in the past. Anything worth achieving is going to require you to take some risks, and you cant allow failure to stop you from believing in your ability to succeed.When you live in the past, that is exactly what happens, and your past becomes your present, preventing you from moving forward.Bringing it all togetherI hope these lessons are as useful to you as they have been to me over the years. As I write them, Im reminded of their power and my desire to use them every day.Travis Bradberry is the coauthor of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the cofounder of Ta lentSmart.This article originally appeared onLinkedIn.

The time of day has a significant effect on your productivity

The time of day has a significant effect on your productivityThe time of day has a significant effect on your productivityMore hours does not guarantee peak performance.All times of day are not created equal, says Daniel Pink, author ofWhen The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing.Our performance varies considerably over the course of the day, and what task to do at a certain time really depends on the nature of the task. If we look at the evidence, we can be doing the right work, at the right time, hesaidin an interview.You can pack more into each day if you did everything at the optimal time.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreEveryone aims to do better at work every day but peak performance is a question of time. For personal efficiency, the question iswhen.The philanthropisch body operates in cycles, and they can be influenced by daylight, darkness, food, noise, and silence.Your brain, body and hormone respond to stimuli and the body clock differently.A growing body ofresearch on ultradian rhythmssuggests that our day is driven by cycles that affect how alert and productive we are.The results of this research clearly show that the human body goes through cycles of between 90 and 120 minutes.Through each of these cycles we are taken from an unproductive trough to a productive peak, and then back again.This pattern was first noticed by sleep researcher Nathaniel Kleitman, which caused a mountain of research to be conducted in this area.Another studypublished in Thinking Reasoningfound out that we tend to think more creativity when were tired.A study by Mareike Wieth and Rose Zacks suggested that innovation and creativity are often the greatest in moments of fatigue, based on our circadian rhythms.Fatigue and tiredness have been shown to free up thinking along non-linear paths, leading us to find new solutions to existing problems. So your bodys internal bod y clock is the best clue to how productive you can be.Peak periods of physical and mental energy differ from person to person.Everyone has different energy levels based on external and internal factors. The knowledge of your peak times can help you plan your day better.Brian Tracy calls this yourprime time. Your internal prime time is the time of day, according to your body clock, when you are the fruchtwein alert and productive.The single most important productivity advice you need to follow is this Match your highest priority work to your most productive hours.The peak time for everythingOur body clock is a small group of cells made up of unique body clock genes.unterstellung cells turn on and off and tell other parts of the body what time it is and what to do.Paying attention to the body clock, and its effects on energy and alertness can help pinpoint the different times of day when most of us perform our best at specific tasks.At the beginning of the cycle, we experience heighte ned energy and focus, and at the end, we may feel scatterbrained and fatigued.For many people working in the AM feels effortless, but PMs are always a struggle.If you take note of how your body reacts to work at any time of day, you will be able to figure out when you should focus on getting stuff done, when to brainstorm, and most importantly when you should avoid meetings.When the bodys master clock can synchronize functioning of all its metabolic, cardiovascular and behavioural rhythms in response to light and other natural stimuli, it gives us an edge in daily life, says Steve Kay, a professor of molecular and computational biology at the University of Southern California.But, what is the best day for you (or your team) to be productive?Peak productivity, it seems, happens at the same time during your workday, no matter where you are in the world.A two-year globalstudyconducted by project management software company Redbooth found that productivity among office workers worldwide is at its highest point at 11 a.m., and plummets completely after 4 p.m.John Trougakos, an associate professor of organizational behavior at the University of Toronto in Canada, says about 75% of people tend to be the most mentally alert between 9 a.m and 11 a.m.And a survey that looked into the habits of 2,000 UK workers seems to agree with Trougakos research, showing Tuesday morning as the most productive time for Brits.The findings are consistent with the considerable research on the ebbs and flows of mental acuity, says Don Drummond, economist and adjunct professor at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario.Perhaps its no surprise that we get the least amount of work done on a Friday, with Redbooths survey showing a 20% drop in productivity across the globe.Sleepiness also tends to peak around 2 p.m., making that a good time for a nap, says Martin Moore-Ede, chairman and chief executive of Circadian, a Stoneham, Mass., training and consulting firm.To get a little more precise an d make aya youre really matching your best work to your peak times, try experimenting.Tackle complex projects early in the day, make time for brainstorming, meetings and collaboration in the afternoon.Most people are more easily distracted from noon to 4 p.m., according to recent research led by Robert Matchock, an associate professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University.But guess, what surprisingly, fatigue boost creative powers.Problems that require open-ended thinking are often best tackled in the evening when you are tired, according to a study in the journal Thinking Reasoning.People who work with instead of against their ultradian rhythm perform better. Its critical that you acknowledge your bodys natural rhythms and align your periods of work and relaxation with them to work in a sustainable productive way.It requires a lot of research on yourself and a big time commitment up front, but the personal productivity insights youll get out of it can pay off in the long- run.This simple method can help you organize your days around your energy, not your time.The experiment for better cycleinsights1.Pick a day and abflug tracking how you spend it.2.Eliminate any factors that could mess with your energy?- ?changes in caffeine intake is a big one, staying up late is another.3.Start recording what youre accomplishing once an hour. Rate your energy level, motivation, focus on the process of work, every day.4.Chris Bailey,author of The Productivity Project Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy, took a year off to experiment with productivity.He suggests recording scores for focus, energy, and motivation for three weeks, at the same time each day, to find your sweet spot. The longer you track your productivity, the more reliable your insights will be.You will see trends even after one week of tracking, but the more data you gather, the more reliable your trends will be.5.Take a few minutes each day to reflect on your previous day/ week. Do you notice any patterns? When are you most focused? When do you notice a surge or dip in energy?What times do you reach for coffee in the day? These patterns can reveal when youre at your best and when you should take a break to refresh.6.Write down how you spend your minutes and keep notes on how you felt. Be honest. Sometimes you can identify that you feel on a roll, which is a good sign that youre figuring out something about your productivity.7.The exact details that you record may vary, but to get the most accurate results youll need to be as consistent as possible.Patterns will show themselves if you start tracking it. Time and activity tracking software like Rescue Time and Toggl can be a big help here.8.Youre bound to discover some very interesting things about what drives your productivity. If you can diligently track all three weeks, can you do more at the right time.9.Try a combination of things during this process, including waking up an hour earlier, meditating , exercise, and taking longer breaks to find out if they affect your peak times. Do more of what works. The variables you choose to alter are countless. Have fun with it10.Once you figure out your most productive time of day, rearrange your tasks and put your important, high-concentration tasks in periods where youre highly productive and place less important, low-concentration tasks in periods where youre not very productive.I did this experiment for three months and discovered my energy and capacity for intense deep work diminish after 12 pm.This has changed how I work and write.Closing thoughtsA better understanding of the bodys hidden pattern can allow you to do the right work at the right time.Paying attention to your body clock, and its effects on energy and alertness can help pinpoint the different times of day when you can do your best work.Your internal clocks deserve more respect.Seize the day and do your best work every day.This article first appeared on Medium.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from kleine Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Interview Questions About Full-Time vs. Part-Time Hours

Interview Questions About Full-Time vs. Part-Time Hours Interview Questions About Full-Time vs. Part-Time Hours If you interview for a  temporary  or  part-time job, the interviewer might ask if you’d ever considered a permanent or full-time position. He or she might ask because a full-time position is opening up soon or to see how interested you really are in working for the company. Here’s how to answer interview questions about working a full-time job versus a part-time job. Whether you would want a full-time job or not, you should at least say you would consider it, unless you are absolutely sure you never would. You should also speak positively about the job you are applying for, and the company. What to Say When You're Asked About a Full-Time Job Would you prefer full-time employment to  part-time  if a job were available? can be a tricky  interview question. On the one hand, if you are hoping that the job will turn into a full-time position, you want your prospective employer to consider you first should the opportunity arise.On the other hand, you dont want to raise the doubt that should a full-time position present itself, you would walk out of your  part-time  commitment. Be cautious when you respond and keep your answer general, so youre not committing to one type of employment or the other. If you know you don’t want a full-time job, explain why you prefer a  part-time  or temporary job. Keep your answer brief. Focus on what you like about the job you’re applying for and unless you know you would never want a permanent job, explain that you might be interested in a permanent job in the future. You never know when your opinion might change, so you should always keep that door open. If you know you’d like a full-time job, express your interest enthusiastically. Briefly explain why you’re qualified for a full-time position. Sample Answers About Full-Time vs Part-Time Employment The following answers would work well â€" be sure to tailor them to your particular situation: “Right now, my education/family/children prevent me from considering full-time employment, but I wouldnt rule it out at some point in the future.”“What’s important to me is that I enjoy the work and the people Im working with. I have many interests, and having a part-time job allows me the time to pursue them.”  â€œI’m interested in this position at your company because (give the aspects of the job that interest you most). Im available to work part-time but Im interested in exploring opportunities at your company.” In addition, you can discuss your flexibility for hours, days of the week, and shifts you are available. This will show the interviewer how you could be a good fit for their needs. Sample Answers for When You Prefer to Work Full-Time and the Job is Part-Time Employers may post jobs as part-time or temporary, so they can assess whether new employees would make a good full-time employee. If you know anyone at the company, do a little research with current employees to see whether this is the tactic used by the company. If you can find out this key bit of information, you will be able to craft your answer better. Take a look at these possible answers: “I’m available for part-time work now and I am interested in working for your company. In the coming months, I will be available to work more hours.” (You can give a reason if you have one, such as family schedule, education schedule, etc.)  â€œI would love the opportunity to become a full-time employee. I am very excited at the prospect of this part-time job, but I would gladly accept a full-time position if it were ever available. I believe my organizational and time management skills would make me a very strong full-time employee.” “I’ve wanted to work for your company for years because of your consistent success in the industry. I would definitely like to become a permanent employee for such a terrific organization. I’m a quick learner with a passion for the work you do.” If you discover that the company rarely promotes part-time staff to full-time, you should focus on why you are interested in working for the company in the offered position. You dont want to raise a red flag that you are looking to move on to a full-time position elsewhere. How to Respond If You Only Can Work Part-Time Hours Do as much research as possible before the interview as to the hours, shifts, and days of the week that the job requires. See if you’re a good match considering your availability based on child care, education schedule, commuting logistics, etc. You can use this as the basis for your answer: “Im interested in working in the position for your company because (give reasons) and I am available (give the hours/days/shifts).”“I enjoy the flexibility of part-time work and am excited for the chance to give my undivided attention to your company three days a week. If my schedule changes in the future and allows me the time to do my best work for you full time, I would love the opportunity for a permanent job.”“At this time, temp work is best for my family and I. I think I will fit in very well with your company culture, and for now, I think I can do that best in a temp position.” Stay Positive No matter what your answer is, be sure to stay positive about the job for which you’re applying. Express your enthusiasm for the company and the job when asked why you want to work there. Be sure to focus on how you can benefit the company rather than how the job or company will benefit you.

Questions To Extract Candidate Skills And Capabilities

Questions To Extract Candidate Skills And Capabilities Questions To Extract Candidate Skills And Capabilities Questions To Extract Candidate Skills And Capabilities Falcone The success of your small business recruiting strategy depends on many factors, but one is key: your ability to accurately assess the candidate’s awareness of their accomplishments and achievements during the interview process. Given the volume of applicants chasing the few job openings that exist out there as the economy strives to find its new footing, it’s critical that small business owners learn to differentiate between those who clearly stand out among their peers versus those who just get by or otherwise “struggle to the minimums.” Power interviewing thus takes on a new meaning for those business owners with little time to prepare and conduct an interview  and few resources such as formal testing, background checks and drug screens to aid their hiring decision. Interview Questions that Focus on Achievement We all know that the right hire can drive excitement and productivity among team members, just as easily as a hiring mistake can quickly undo much of the employee productivity  that you’ve developed over the years, so the stakes in this game are high. Focusing on achievements and accomplishments comes in a number of forms, but particular interview questions get to the bottom line more efficiently than others. Terry Comp, principal of LTC Performance Strategies, a boutique performance consulting firm in Valencia, California, recommends doing away with the traditional “Tell me about yourself” interview question and asking instead, “Walk me through your career progression, leading me up to what you do now in your current role at XYZ Company.” The logic? Focus on progression through the ranks and the assumption of greater responsibilities. “People who promote and build their careers think beyond their basic job duties and fit the generalist role that every small company needs. They also often have a greater ‘achievement awareness’ that translates into higher productivity, creativity, and employee engagement,” according to Comp. An introductory interview question to ask such as, “What makes you stand out among your peers?” is an excellent litmus test in probing for an individual’s level of self-esteem and awareness of accomplishments. If the job candidate stumbles in coming up with an answer, you could gently lead them to a similar interview question, “Why would your former bosses say you’re special?   What do you think they would remember most about you?”  Anyone could answer the question, but not everyone could answer it in a sincere and open way. Be sure and watch interview body language  and eye contact while a candidate responds. And don’t forget the traditional queries, “Tell me about your greatest strength and greatest weakness: Approach this as objectively as you can in terms of what your most respected critic might say about you.” Yes, this combo might seem a bit worn because it’s been used for so long but, according to Comp, “I’m still surprised at the answers I get to these very simple questions in terms of shedding light on the individual’s personality, work ethic and common sense, especially among earlier career candidates.” Quantifying Candidate Skills Depending on the type of hire you’re making, you could easily step up this strength/weakness question by asking, “What have you done at your present/last company to increase revenues, reduce costs, or save time?” This query will give you insights into how well candidates can quantify their achievements.  And don’t forget that junior staffers should still be able to answer that question in terms of saving time. Sonny Falcone, founding partner of Falcone’s Cookie Land bakery in Brooklyn, New York, feels that when it comes to hiring bakers and truck drivers, qualifications are what count most. In an industry known for high employee turnover  (bakers tend to move around often), “it’s best to turn lemons into lemonade by capitalizing on new hires’ experiences at other bakeries.” Falcone learns tricks and shortcuts from new hires that show him how to do things better and work more effectively. “We’re all for it,” he says. So how does a baker actually interview a job candidate? Via live action! Falcone likes to invite finalist candidates to work on his team for one or two days to get a feel for their style, work ethic and baking capabilities before making a job offer.  What our people will find out in that time is ‘What do you know about us and why would you want to work here?’” According to Falcone, “There’s not necessarily a right or wrong answer. But we want to get a feel for candidates’ commitment levels and about how serious they take their work.” The Results-Driven Candidate If there’s one quality that many small business owners wish they could find, it’s employee motivation. After all, smarts, prior experience and credentials don’t mean all that much unless new hires are willing to apply themselves to the new job. An excellent interview question to learn more about a candidate’s initiative is, “What’s the one achievement that you’re proudest of in your career and that helped you garner the most kudos and recognition at work?” People who focus on achievements and accomplishments tend to cut through the clutter and get to the bottom line faster. It’s just how they think, and as a small business owner, you could capitalize on their results orientation. No, these aren’t necessarily easy interview questions and they may take some self-critical insight and soul searching on the candidate’s part. But your company is certainly worth it. This investment of time also benefits the candidate who may be thinking, Wow - these people take this all pretty seriously. It sounds like they know what they want and have high expectations. And that’s the type of company culture  that you’ll want to create and sustain for all your employees. There’s no better time to cement that expectation than during the initial candidate interview.

Funding Support

Funding Support Funding Support Funding Support If you haven't looked into it before, you may be surprised at the number of government agencies that make grants to entrepreneurs, or otherwise collaborate with businesses, in projects judged to be in the public interest. Funds are available at both the federal and state levels; as you'll see below, the emphasis is on innovation and technology. Federal Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E's mission is to improve energy efficiency across all sectors of the U.S. economy, and to ensure the U.S. maintains leadership in advanced energy technologies. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA's mission is to maintain the U.S. military's technological superiority through research by businesses (large and small), universities, nonprofits, government laboratories and other research organizations. Department of Energy (DOE) Technology Commercialization Portal. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has more than 200 marketing summaries on its Technology Commercialization Portal to help investors, entrepreneurs and companies that seek cutting-edge energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies available for licensing. The Technology Commercialization Portal is an online tool that identifies opportunities to invest in the work of DOE laboratories and participating research institutions. The tool also helps speed moving laboratory discoveries into the private sector. Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Locator. For industry and other technology seekers, the FLC Locator Network is a point of entry to federal laboratory expertise and technology. Through its network of representatives, the FLC matches potential partners with federal laboratories working in specific areas of interest. Once the FLC identifies contacts, arrangements for technical exchanges are between users and the labs. GRANTS.GOV Portal. Grants.gov is a central U.S. government information storehouse that currently holds more than 1,000 grant programs and provides access to about $500 billion in annual awards. National Institute of Standards and Technology - Technology Innovation Program (TIP). TIP supports and accelerates innovation in the U.S. through high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need. National Innovation Marketplace (NIM). NIM is a service of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a national network with hundreds of specialists who understand the needs of small and medium-size manufacturers. The partnership has worked with thousands of manufacturers. They helped save $1.44 billion in annual costs and create $10.5 billion in increased or retained sales in their first year of operation. National Science Foundation (NSF). Created by Congress in 1950, the NSF is the only federal agency whose mission includes supporting fundamental science and engineering. The agency also supports high-risk, high-payoff ideas, novel collaborations and numerous like projects. Educators, researchers, and small businesses may find funding here. Small Business Innovation Research Program. This program provides essential seed funding for technology-based small businesses to complete vital but costly product development. Phase I of the program establishes a project's technical merit and potential for commercialization. Phase II awards larger grants for continued product development, contingent on achievements in Phase I. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA's mission is to fund, counsel and protect the interests of small businesses. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA's rural development initiative primarily supports loans for improving economies and quality of life in rural America. Funding opportunities exist for rural individuals and small businesses. Typically, rural is defined as an area other than city or town with a population of 50,000 plus and not located directly adjacent to a city or town of this size. State State governments often step up to help sustain the state's business environment. Over the last decade, state economic development strategies have shifted from focusing solely on attracting new businesses into the state to fostering home-grown businesses through innovation and entrepreneurship. A state government will frequently look to collaborate with the state's most competitive and innovative assets: universities, private and federal research and development laboratories and concentrations of specialized workers. Seed capital funding. Seed capital often resembles early venture capital. The state takes equity or debt positions in high-tech companies to help grow and retain them in the state. Two examples: Oklahoma Seed Capital Fund (OSCF), a $7.025 million venture capital fund, provides seed and startup equity financing to small, technology-based Oklahoma companies. OSCF operates like a conventional venture fund, boosting state economic activity by bridging the early-stage funding gap between personal and traditional sources of venture capital. Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) makes convertible debt investments in early-stage companies and equity investments in later-stage companies. Any Vermont-based startup, emerging growth firm, or team seeking to relocate or expand into Vermont is eligible for consideration. The company must be a high-tech, high- growth concept with up to $3 million in revenue. Proof-of-concept funding. Proof-of-concept funding helps establish the feasibility of new commercial technologies. In general, selected technologies are refined at local institutions with an eye toward an ultimate transfer to business settings. The Edison Innovation R&D Fund New Jersey (EIRDFNJ) is one example. In partnership with a New Jersey research university, company or institution, Edison provides funding to in-state technology companies for proof-of-concept R&D needed to commercialize technologies. Awards range from $100,000 to $500,000. Edison Innovation R&D funding promotes collaboration between universities and the private sector, increases the amount and value of intellectual property, provides early-stage financing and commercialization support and helps grow technology businesses in New Jersey. Accelerator funding. The accelerator concept creates supportive environments for young companies. Best results are often achieved with mission-oriented support around similar emerging technologies or market applications. For example, the Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Business and Technology Accelerator Program (BTAP) is a university-based economic development enterprise that focuses EKU's energy, skills and intellectual capital on enterprise creation and expansion. Specializing in small business services, entrepreneurship, technology and high-tech ventures, BTAP offers programs and resources to enhance the regional economy through new business formation. Funds of funds. Funds of funds use state funding to invest with private investment firms that in turn provide leveraged capital for private investment in selected areas. A case in point is the Utah Fund of Funds (UFF), a $300 million economic development program that gives Utah entrepreneurs access to alternative or nontraditional capital. The UFF invests in venture capital and private equity funds that commit to investing in qualifying companies and to working with the UFF and the state's startup and business communities. Economic gardening funding. Economic gardening grows existing second-stage businesses. It's an innovative, entrepreneur-centered strategy that helps balance the traditional practice of business recruitment â€" often referred to as economic hunting. GrowFL, for example, provides high-end, high-speed technical business tools to companies that have grown beyond startup. Typically, these companies need information and decision-making resources: database research, search engine optimization, geographic information systems, network mapping, social media, strategic analysis, management-team assessment, capital or labor referrals. University seed funding. Some universities advance technologies and spinoff companies through early-stage seed funding. At Indiana University, the Innovate Indiana Fund (IIF) invests in technologies developed at IU and helps bring them to market. The IIF will help translate technologies into innovative commercial products, services and treatments, and set up new technology-based companies to further develop them. Venture associations. Local venture and business associations can bring together the financial players needed to grow new businesses. One such association is the Connecticut Venture Group (CVG), which encourages investment in high-growth companies through technology-focused seminars and expositions, updates on financing and market trends and an annual Venture Show. Other state-based resources include: AMT: State by State Resource Guide for Government Funding, a state-by-state guide to a variety of business assistance programs Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy & Efficiency, a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), a national nonprofit organization that leads and strengthens efforts to improve state and regional economies through science, technology and innovation SSTI's State Venture Capital Dashboard, which presents historical data on venture capital investments by state National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF), an international organization of innovation-capital lenders â€" private, public and non-profit organizations committed to building their local economies by investing in local entrepreneurs. NASVF has more than 650 members and 150 member organizations.

Writing a Cover Letter to Control Your Message

Writing a Cover Letter to Control Your Message Writing a Cover Letter to Control Your Message Stop calling it a cover letter. You’re missing the point. You’re not covering; you’re opening.It’s an introduction letter, a quick summation of what you bring to the table, and an invitation to read more details of your senior-level background and experience. And just like your resume, it needs to be focused on accomplishments and results.Tell them what you are going to tell them“Your core message needs to be in your introduction letter,” said professional resume writer Andrew Pearl, who works with Ladders. “Like a good opening of a speech, you tell your audience what you are going to tell them…. You boil down what a reader will see in the resume in a quick, organized way.”The whole point is to get the reader’s attention by touching on key results that you’ll expand on in your resume.“Both the intro letter and the resume need to be emphasizing what you can do for an employer,” Pearl said. “And the best way to accomplish this is by reinforcing the main acco mplishments as bullets in your intro letter, using an economy of language and respecting your reader.”Pearl uses four to six bullets in the intro letter with only a few paragraphs surrounding them; this formatting makes it easy for a reader to scan the page for key terms and language.“Bullets are hooks,” Pearl said. “Use them to sustain a reader, but balance them with easy-to-follow, short paragraphs.”Pearl recently rewrote the resume and cover letter of sales vice president Patricia K., who agreed the finished version caught her eye.“I was really impressed with the intro letter Andrew wrote for me,” said Patricia, who chose not to use her full name for this article. “It blew me away how strong this letter was as a way of leading in to my resume…. The words he chose to use and the items he chose to use from my resume really stood out to me.”Patricia has risen through the ranks quickly for a senior-level salesperson. She had risen to the VP level in the past three years, and had been with the same financial company for the past eight years. Her new resume, while impressive for its accomplishments, is a one-page document.But it grabs the reader and doesn’t skirt around the issue of age.Show some respect“Experience is progressive,” Pearl said. “It makes age secondary. If you focus on the tangible results and you are succinct about it, then you are showing the hiring manager or human-resources person who reads hundreds of resumes in a few days some respect.”“I had been with the same company for the last eight years,” said Patricia, who splits living in both Birmingham, Ala., and New Orleans. “So I hadn’t needed a new resume. But my old one had a format that was essentially copied from a book I found when I had finished college.”That format was the old objective-and-statement-of-qualifications format, which includes a whole lot of bullet points.“Her old resume was littered with bullets that were not really focused on accomp lishments,” Pearl said. “They weren’t explaining the outcome of the results, and there were too many of them. The eye couldn’t breathe.”Pearl said he encourages his resume clients to control the experience of reading your resume.“There is so much that is out of your control in a job search,” Pearl said. “But you can control that intro letter and resume by being smart and focused on the decision makers reading your resume. Every bullet point matters, so use them wisely. Not all things are equal. Some people place in their resume that they have competency in Microsoft Word right after a bullet on some major accomplishment. On some level, it can be read that these bullets right next to each other are of equal value.”The new resume for Patricia is already paying dividends.She has gotten word of two openings via friends and former co-workers to whom she gave her new resume.The results? “I was told my resume was at the top of the list which makes me feel very confident ,” Patricia said. “My friend said his boss was really impressed.”With that knowledge, Patricia expects to have the interviews begin soon.

11 Things to Never Say During Your Performance Review

11 Things to Never Say During Your Performance Review 11 Things to Never Say During Your Performance Review Between the feeling of being thrust into the spotlight, the one-on-one setting with your manager and the gravity of what’s at stake, performance reviews can feel pretty uncomfortable. And when you’re made to feel uncomfortable, sometimes you aren’t always the most conscious of (or careful with) your words. But if there’s one time that you want to communicate effectively , it’s then. After all, your performance review is often the one chance you get to push for a raise, secure a promotion or even save your job. To make sure that you don’t unintentionally sabotage yourself, we’ve put together a list of things that you’ll want to avoid saying. Steer clear of these words, and you’ll be that much closer to passing your performance review with flying colors. It’s human nature to defend yourself. But when it comes to your performance review, check your ego at the door. “Now is not the time to go into a long explanation about why a mistake wasn’t your fault… Even if it’s the truth, it makes you look unprofessional, vindictive and lacking self-awareness,” says career coach Jena Viviano . “Instead of saying it wasn’t your fault say, ‘I appreciate the feedback and that is definitely something I’m working on for the future… Now probably isn’t the time, but perhaps we can schedule another time to discuss.’ This gives you the opportunity to collect your thoughts, come to the table calmly and pragmatically explain the incident.” While you don’t want to dismiss your manager’s feedback , being too quick to say yes isn’t the right move either. “‘Yessing’ your manager to death might seem like a good way to appear agreeable, but nothing could be further from the truth. True leaders are not yes people nor do they like to surround themselves with yes people,” says Scott Stenzler, founding partner of recruiting firm Atlas Search . “Research shows that yes people tend not to think independently, can be intellectually dishonest, lack sincerity and often add little to no value to the organization.” Instead of simply “yessing,” show your manager that you understand and acknowledge their feedback . “Let your manager finish their thought. Don’t eagerly chime in before they finish speaking - instead, pause momentarily to make sure they’re done, which has the double benefit of indicating that you’re carefully considering their point, and only then let them know you agree,” Stenzler recommends. “But most importantly, be sure to follow it up with all the reasons why you agree.” It’s communication 101 - when discussing a sensitive topic, never lead with “you” statements. In a performance review, this might include statements like “you said I was going to get a raise ,” “you didn’t clearly outline expectations,” etc. “’You’ statements can come across as accusatory and blame ridden,” says Jen Brown, Founder + Director, The Engaging Educator . “Instead of ‘you,’ focus on ‘I’ - I understood, I’m confused, I’d like to discuss.” Going one step further, adding a “but” can be even more antagonizing. “When you couple a ‘you’ statement with the word ‘but,’ you’ve created an argument,” Brown says. “For example, if you said… ‘You said [x], but I think [y],’ you’ve elevated your own opinion above the other, leading to a confrontational situation” - the last thing you want during a performance review. To get your point across in a non-confrontational manner, you only need to make a small tweak. “Instead of ‘but,’ the word ‘and’ works just as well,” Brown says. “Taking the above example again, the conversation could sound like: ‘I heard you say [x] and I’ve been thinking [y], can we discuss this further?’ [This] will open conversation instead of elevating one opinion above another.” Lots of people have trouble taking a compliment . But if there’s one time you don’t want that to happen, it’s during your performance review - your number one moment to prove the value that you bring to your company. “Although it’s important to give credit where credit is due, it’s equally important not to deflect your personal accomplishments to other people,” says April Klimkiewicz, career coach and owner of bliss evolution . “If your supervisor is congratulating you on a job well done, say ‘Thank you! With the help of the team, I was able to accomplish the goals we set forth. I’m very proud of this accomplishment.'” This phrase is better suited for the elementary school playground than the office. “Aside from sounding like a child, the idea of something being ‘fair’ in the workplace is pretty subjective and emotional ,” Brown says. “Think about why you feel it isn’t fair. Use specific language to define what isn’t fair - and if you keep getting back to ‘It isn’t fair,’ maybe you have hurt feelings.” “These are valid - just be sure to temper the emotional response with facts, especially in a review,” Brown continues. Let me be clear - your performance review is absolutely a great time to make your case for a raise , but asking for it point-blank like this is probably not going to convince anyone. “Now is not the time to say you need a raise. Now is the time to prove and show you deserve a raise. There is a big difference,” Viviano says. “Come to your performance review with a clear understanding of your accomplishments and how they’ve provided results for the company. Then when it comes for you to speak during your review, talk about the things you’ve accomplished that you’d like to highlight.” Once you’ve proven your value, you can talk about why you deserve a raise. It might not be written in your job description , but if you want to be seen as a top performer, going above and beyond to help from time to time never hurt. “Almost every job description ends with, ‘and other duties as assigned.’ Stating that some function is not part of your job description can make it look like you’re trying to shirk work,” Klimkiewicz says. “Instead, be a team player and let your supervisor know you were not clear that particular duty was expected of you, but now that you know, you’ll be taking it on.” There’s a time and a place to bring up concerns about a colleague to your manager, but your performance review isn’t it. “When you talk about people who aren’t there, you’re avoiding the relationship in front of you. It’s really easy to talk about another person when they aren’t there,” Brown says. “Instead of deflecting, think about why you are bringing someone else up. Are you apprehensive? Are you trying to avoid the real meat of the situation? Reflect on the why  and address the real issue.” Again, recognizing the feedback that your manager gives you is crucial, but a statement like “I know” can come off the wrong way. “This can sound defensive to your supervisor when they are trying to give you constructive feedback,” Klimkiewicz says. “Keep in mind that ‘I know’ can be heard as ‘so what.’ And if you say ‘I know’ enough, then you run the risk of sounding like a know-it-all, which is not a good look,” Stenzler adds. In addition, “if you recognize there’s an area where you can improve, but acknowledge it by only saying ‘I know,’ then all you have accomplished is making it clear that you see there’s a problem but don’t care enough to find a solution,” he says. Instead, Stenzler suggests “[coming] to your performance review prepared with a clear set of actions which you have implemented, or plan to implement to remediate that weakness. Be prepared to explain why some things worked and why others didn’t. Your manager took the time to prepare for the review, you should, too.” Performance reviews are all about growth, and phrases like this show an unwillingness to change and develop. “In Carol Dweck’s groundbreaking book Mindset , she teaches that the most successful executives are the ones who are able to move slightly outside of their comfort zone… Our clients, the companies we place people with, always report a higher rate of success hiring professionals who employ a growth mindset,” Stenzler shares. “Let your manager know that you are willing to take on new responsibilities and are prepared to put in the hard work to grow into increasingly challenging roles within your organization.”

The Dos and Donts of Having Notes at a Job Interview

The Do's and Don'ts of Having Notes at a Job Interview The Do's and Don'ts of Having Notes at a Job Interview Ask Amanda: Is It Alright to Bring Notes to a Job Interview? Each week, TopResume's career advice expert, Amanda Augustine, answers user questions like the one below from Quora and the Ask Amanda form. A certified professional career coach (CPCC) and resume writer (CPRW), Amanda has been helping professionals improve their careers for over 10 years. Have a question for Amanda?Submit it here. Q: Is it alright to bring notes with me to a job interview? Is it acceptable to bring notes into an interview? Mike S. Yes and no. It is 100 percent acceptable to bring notes to a job interview if those notes contain a list of questions you've prepared in advance to ask your interviewers. In fact, bringing this type of information to an interview demonstrates to the recruiter your genuine interest in the job opportunity. Also, if you've done some research on the organization, I don't think it's wrong to have that information on hand, in case you'd like to reference it during your discussion. However, it is not a good idea to bring notes on how you plan to respond to certain interview questions. For instance, if you've prepared short stories using the STAR method in anticipation of a behavioral-based interview, you can't bring your talking points with you. The same goes for any bullets you may have brainstormed to answer the interview questions that make nervous, such as Tell me about yourself or Why were you fired from your last job? while it's perfectly acceptable to write out talking points when you're practicing for an interview, it is not appropriate to bring those notes to the actual interview. If you'd like to take notes during the interview, ask your interviewer if he or she minds before you break out the notebook or iPad. Again, jotting down a few notes during the interview will not only help you decide if the job opportunity is right for you, but it will also show the hiring manager that you care about the position and are taking the interview process seriously. Whatever you do, make sure you write down each interviewer's name and email address so you can send a proper thank-you note afterward. Want to feel more confident during your next interview? Let TopInterview help. Recommended Reading: 13 of the Smartest Questions to Ask the Interviewer The Importance of Saying Thank You After an Interview How to Prepare for the 3 Most Common Interview Questions Related Articles:

6 Job Interview Stories From Hell

6 Job Interview Stories From Hell 6 Job Interview Stories From Hell With job interviews being so stressful, today we take a lighthearted look at the job interviews where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Both hiring managers and employees alike share stories of their job interviews from hell. Learn why you are not the only job candidate who had dealt with a crazy job interview or two. Negative Storiesfrom Hiring Managers 1. Bringing your mom to an interview An HR manager for a market research firm had an awkward interview worthy of a television sitcom. A 19-year old seeking a position in customer service brought his mother to the interview. When the HR manager questioned why he brought mom along, the mother spoke up and offered this logic: “I am just making sure this is the right company for my son and that you are asking fair questions.” The HR manager decided to play along. It was the most interesting thing that happened for a while. The HR manager asked the son another interview question. Once again, the mom answered for him. When the HR manager politely asked the mom to leave she responded, “I am not going anywhere.” As expected, this ended the interview. After all, the job required critical thinking and problem-solving skills, none of which the son had shown. When the mom and son are told the interview was over, the mother told the HR manager to “f*** off” and expressed a lawsuit was coming. 2. Giving way too much information During an interview with an employer, a job candidate is asked the interview question, “Why did you leave your last job?” The question sounds simple enough. Then, the job candidate replies, “I shot my last boss.” The job candidate was on parole and told by his parole officer it is important to be honest.Honesty is a great policy, but so is discretion. 3. Nudity during a job interview As many jobs require when someone is looking to relocate for a job, a boss is interviewing a job candidate via Skype. All seems normal, at first. The job candidate is well-dressed and polite. He is answering questions and doing very well. Suddenly, a woman in her bathrobe appears in the background completely unaware that this boss can see her. She had just woken up, looked disheveled, and was drinking a cup of coffee while sitting on the sofa. The boss made light of this and asked the job candidate, “Is that your wife in the background?” The woman hears the question and becomes incredibly upset and embarrassed. Not knowing it is a job interview, she proceeds to yell at her husband occasionally slapping him on the head. As the boss asked, “Is this a good time?”the wife begins to yell at the boss, “Keep your mouth shut! I’ll deal with you later!” The job candidate ended the Skype call, and neither the boss nor the company ever heard from him again. Negative Stories from Employees 4. Insulting your colleague during an interview While interviewing to work for a company that created an app to help people balance their budget, an employee is asked to figure out a not-so-simple math problem involving return on investment (ROI). Unbeknownst to the job candidate, the founders of the company were a married couple and one of them (the husband) was not very good with numbers. The job candidate solved the math problem given to him. After giving his answer, the wife says, “Finally. No one has answered this correctly all week and...”. The husband quickly jumps in and disagrees, “No. He got the answer wrong. The answer is $4500.” The wife fires back, “You must be stupid. How did you ever arrive at that number!?” The husband gets even louder, “YOU must be stupid! Don’t you know the formula for figuring out ROI or should I explain it again?” This comment set the wife off. A rather loud argument ensued between the husband and wife for the next five minutes while the job candidate sat there wishing he was on another planet. This argument abruptly led to the wife walking out of the interview and the husband following after her. Eventually, the job candidate became nervous, got up and left, letting the receptionist know that he had to leave. Later that day, the wife called the job candidate and apologized for putting the job candidate in that situation. The wife offered another chance to interview. The job candidate politely declined. 5. Too much heat to handle A job candidate goes to an interview and all seemed as if this would be a great place to work. The people were nice, the commute was reasonable, and the salary was fair. This job candidate is answering questions like a pro! Suddenly, the fire alarm goes off. The receptionist pops her head in the room and says, “It’s a fire drill. We have to leave.” The interview continues as they leave the building and the job candidate thinks she is earning points for dealing with adversity as cool as a cucumber. Then, as everyone stands outside waiting to go back in, they find out the building is really on fire. The job candidate agrees to come back later in the week. Unfortunately, the next day she gets a call from the employer that the building had burned down and the office was being relocated to another state. Everyone who could not relocate lost their jobs and were given severance packages. The job was scrapped. 6. Do you really want to work here? A job candidate sat down to interview, and the employer asked the common interview question, “So, tell me...why do you want to work here?” The job candidate began to give his best-rehearsed answer when suddenly the interviewer stops him. The interviewer asks, “No. Really. Why in the world would you want to work here? What possessed you to apply for this position?” Before the job candidate has a chance to speak, he receives a lecture from a supervisor explaining how he feels about the company. And it is not good. The last thing the job candidate remembers hearing is, “You seem like a good person. After hearing what I told you I ask again why you want to work here.” The job candidate thanked the interviewer for the information and said, “That’s ok. I don’t want to anymore.” At the end of the day Regardless of all the job interview advice out there, both job candidates and employers are imperfect human beings. There is no reason a person should walk into an interview without confidence. Everyone at some point deals with something crazy in an interview. Treat every interview as if it were two professionals talking business; a friendly conversation you have nothing to be worried about.

6 Tips for a Perfect LinkedIn Profile Photo

6 Tips for a Perfect LinkedIn Profile Photo 6 Tips for a Perfect LinkedIn Profile Photo Having a LinkedIn profile pictureis by far one of the most important elements in having an attractive LinkedIn. From personal experience, I can tell you that your LinkedIn profile is about 10 times more likely to receive a clickif you have a LinkedIn profile picturewhencompared to the person without one. Don’t worry. This shouldn’t cost you a penny. You can either browse through your existing photos with the below recommendations in mind or take a new picture. A friend or family member can take the perfect LinkedIn photofor you in just a couple minutes. Before you go find your cameraman/woman, there are a few things that you need to know. 1. Sanity within your smile Please do not have a frown or angry expression. No recruiter will call you if you look like scary or mean person to talk toin your LinkedIn profile picture. This is also true for overly happy people or someone who is laughing in their LinkedIn photo. Studies have proven that people with too large of a smile either come off as fake or deranged. Please don’t look like the Joker. No one wants to hire someone who looks angry, insane, or dishonest. Take way deep breath and relax. An upward slanting, moderately happy smile will do. 2. Dress for the job Find out what the average person in your industry wears to workand dress accordingly. If you know that you will need to wear a suit to work, then don’t wear a t-shirt in your LinkedIn profile photo. Remember, it is better to overdress than underdress. To put it another way, it is better to show a lot of effort than none at all. Even if you are in a startup environment with casual dress attire, it can’t hurt to throw on a button-up for your LinkedIn photo. It’s good to rememberthatthis is a professional network and you never know what opportunities might find you. 3. Shoulders up Men and women,respect yourselves and crop your LinkedIn profile photoappropriately. The photo should focus on your face, above the chest line but wedefinitely recommended to include the shoulders. A straight shot of your face can be a little bit overwhelming. You want to have the camera positioned far enough where there is some space to see the background. I would recommend your face taking up about 60-70% of the entire frame. Speaking of background... 4. Subtle background Your background should either have a reallybasic surface or be unfocused. If too much is going on behind you, it could cause adistraction to the viewers. Why would you let your profile picture background steal your thunder, anyways? Recruiters and hiring managers are going to be looking at your LinkedIn profile for more about you! The focus should be on your face! 5. Let there be light You can have the right posture, the right clothes, the right angle, but bad lighting can ruin it all. Different lighting can present different problems: Not enough light and no one can see your face. Using a flash in a dark room will make your face look plain strange. Too much light and all of the color is washed out from the picture all together. Our suggestion? If at all possible, use natural lighting. Some advantages to natural lighting include: No unnecessary shadows. Will add natural color to your skin. Unlike artificial lighting, natural light requires no adjusting. 6. Choose a recent photo Make sure to set realistic expectations for whoever is viewing your profile. If you are looking for a job and you are in your mid forties, don’tadd a photo of yourself from your twenties. Youcan guarantee that you will losetrust with the interviewer and you will not get the job. Be honest andupfront. Find a recent picture or take a new one. Some things to remember You act differently with your friends and at home than you do at work, right? (Well,we hope you do.) This isn’t any different. Remeber, your LinkedIn profile isn’t the same as your Facebook profile or most other social media for that matter. Your LinkedIn profile picture isn’t the space to how yourself partying, swimming, or your usual wacky personality. This is where you show recruiters and hiring managers your best professional self. It’s as easy as having good lighting, good posture, the right clothes, and a nice smile. Keep these tips in mind, and there’s no reason you can’t set your best foot forward. Now that you know the sixmost important tips for a great LinkedIn photo, grab your camera or go through your pictures and get started. You are going to notice an immediate increase in profile views once you do this. Good luck! Bonus: keep improving your LinkedIn profile A well-shot LinkedIn profile picturewill definietly leave anyone who views your LinkedIn profile with a good first impression. However, a good profile picture can only get you so far. The content on your profile also needs to do some heavy lifting. For more ways to improve your LinkedIn profile, check out the19 Essential LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job Seekers. 6 Tips for a Perfect LinkedIn Profile Photo Having a LinkedIn profile pictureis by far one of the most important elements in having an attractive LinkedIn. From personal experience, I can tell you that your LinkedIn profile is about 10 times more likely to receive a clickif you have a LinkedIn profile picturewhencompared to the person without one. Don’t worry. This shouldn’t cost you a penny. You can either browse through your existing photos with the below recommendations in mind or take a new picture. A friend or family member can take the perfect LinkedIn photofor you in just a couple minutes. Before you go find your cameraman/woman, there are a few things that you need to know. 1. Sanity within your smile Please do not have a frown or angry expression. No recruiter will call you if you look like scary or mean person to talk toin your LinkedIn profile picture. This is also true for overly happy people or someone who is laughing in their LinkedIn photo. Studies have proven that people with too large of a smile either come off as fake or deranged. Please don’t look like the Joker. No one wants to hire someone who looks angry, insane, or dishonest. Take way deep breath and relax. An upward slanting, moderately happy smile will do. 2. Dress for the job Find out what the average person in your industry wears to workand dress accordingly. If you know that you will need to wear a suit to work, then don’t wear a t-shirt in your LinkedIn profile photo. Remember, it is better to overdress than underdress. To put it another way, it is better to show a lot of effort than none at all. Even if you are in a startup environment with casual dress attire, it can’t hurt to throw on a button-up for your LinkedIn photo. It’s good to rememberthatthis is a professional network and you never know what opportunities might find you. 3. Shoulders up Men and women,respect yourselves and crop your LinkedIn profile photoappropriately. The photo should focus on your face, above the chest line but wedefinitely recommended to include the shoulders. A straight shot of your face can be a little bit overwhelming. You want to have the camera positioned far enough where there is some space to see the background. I would recommend your face taking up about 60-70% of the entire frame. Speaking of background... 4. Subtle background Your background should either have a reallybasic surface or be unfocused. If too much is going on behind you, it could cause adistraction to the viewers. Why would you let your profile picture background steal your thunder, anyways? Recruiters and hiring managers are going to be looking at your LinkedIn profile for more about you! The focus should be on your face! 5. Let there be light You can have the right posture, the right clothes, the right angle, but bad lighting can ruin it all. Different lighting can present different problems: Not enough light and no one can see your face. Using a flash in a dark room will make your face look plain strange. Too much light and all of the color is washed out from the picture all together. Our suggestion? If at all possible, use natural lighting. Some advantages to natural lighting include: No unnecessary shadows. Will add natural color to your skin. Unlike artificial lighting, natural light requires no adjusting. 6. Choose a recent photo Make sure to set realistic expectations for whoever is viewing your profile. If you are looking for a job and you are in your mid forties, don’tadd a photo of yourself from your twenties. Youcan guarantee that you will losetrust with the interviewer and you will not get the job. Be honest andupfront. Find a recent picture or take a new one. Some things to remember You act differently with your friends and at home than you do at work, right? (Well,we hope you do.) This isn’t any different. Remeber, your LinkedIn profile isn’t the same as your Facebook profile or most other social media for that matter. Your LinkedIn profile picture isn’t the space to how yourself partying, swimming, or your usual wacky personality. This is where you show recruiters and hiring managers your best professional self. It’s as easy as having good lighting, good posture, the right clothes, and a nice smile. Keep these tips in mind, and there’s no reason you can’t set your best foot forward. Now that you know the sixmost important tips for a great LinkedIn photo, grab your camera or go through your pictures and get started. You are going to notice an immediate increase in profile views once you do this. Good luck! Bonus: keep improving your LinkedIn profile A well-shot LinkedIn profile picturewill definietly leave anyone who views your LinkedIn profile with a good first impression. However, a good profile picture can only get you so far. The content on your profile also needs to do some heavy lifting. For more ways to improve your LinkedIn profile, check out the19 Essential LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job Seekers.

4 Reasons Youre Not Getting Promoted at Work - The Muse

4 Reasons Youre Not Getting Promoted at Work - The Muse 4 Reasons Youre Not Getting Promoted at Work You’ve heard all the advice about how working hard means good things will come your way. You’ve been doing that. Long days, nights, and even some weekends. You’re getting it done and going above and beyond, which is, what you heard you have to do to succeed in this hyper-competitive career world. When you look around, though, you notice something awry. You’re not getting promoted or even praised. You’re not  introduced to the managers upstairs or given an opportunity to present to the team. But that colleague of yours, the one who was hired two weeks after you, is getting acknowledged left and right, and the last you heard, he’s up for a promotion. Sure, he’s a fine employee and a hard worker too, but he’s not better or smarter than you. So what’s going on ? What’s he got that you don’t? The answer might be simple: emotional intelligence. EI, as it’s often called now that it’s an official buzzword, is the ability to distinguish your own and others’ emotions so that you can manage yourself and your relationships with others effectively. In fact, it’s been said that possessing emotional intelligence is so important that even if you did everything perfectly in your job, you couldn’t be considered a top performer without it. The challenge is that we’re never really taught this soft skill in school. It’s not too late, though, especially if you want to have a thriving and successful career. Here are four key components to emotional intelligence. See which ones you may need to work on. 1. You’re Clueless About You You’re in a one-on-one with your boss, and she’s asking about your career aspirations. You’re not sure. You don’t really know where you’re headed, or even (gulp) how your skill set can be an asset to the team. In short, you’re failing in the self-awareness department. One of your most powerful career tools is exactly that. Knowing who you are, what you’re good at, what you need to work on, and how you will use your talents to create success is essential to your professional growth. High levels of self-awareness are correlated to successful performance. In Travis Bradberry’s Leadership 2.0, the author notes that 83% of people who rated high in levels of self-awareness are also rated as top performers. What’s more: Your overall satisfaction with life increases the more self-aware you are. Think about how empowering it would be to have a productive and insightful conversation with your manager about your key strengths and how you’re going to leverage them to help make the whole team successful. An easy way to start building self-awareness is with three simple assessments. Get started by learning about your strengths with the help of Strengths Finder 2.0, your personality type through this online assessment, and your emotional intelligence quotient, explained in Bradberry’s popular Emotional Intelligence 2.0. In short order, you’ll soon be an expert on you. 2. Your Emotions Run Amok You’re having a rough day on the job as it is when a stressful situation pops up. That 5 PM deadline is looming and you haven’t heard back from the guy in shipping as to whether or not you can commit to the client. You are literally seeing red when your phone call to him goes to voicemail. Beyond frustrated, you explode. It isn’t pretty. Your co-workers run for cover. Your boss silently questions your judgment. Instead of managing emotions that crop up in the workplace- like your frustration with shipping- your emotions manage you. That’s going to be a problem come promotion time. When you aren’t good at managing your emotions in times of stress, you’re a liability. If others can’t predict how you’ll respond to provocative situations, it’ll be hard to recommend you for an advancement. Your boss may not be willing to risk his hard-won reputation in the process. The solution lies within you: Tame your inner emotional tyrant. One very simple way is to use the ol’ “count to 10” technique. When you’re tempted to explode, take a deep breath, and count before you say anything. In that short amount of time, you’ll reverse the grip your emotions have on you- or at least lessen it- and you’ll be able to respond in a calm, professional manner. 3. You Can’t Read the Room In a project meeting you’re excited to talk about a new idea you have. But not everyone’s on board with you. Several people present just don’t get what you’re saying. Yet, those who try to interject are steamrolled by your presentation. It’s clear you’re not interested in their ideas. As you press onward, one colleague’s brow starts to furrow. Another slouches in her chair and grabs her phone. Others are staring out the window. You’re so deep into what you’re saying that you can’t even see you’ve lost the room, that no one is hearing you. If you’ve ever been in a situation like this, you have some work to do. You aren’t very good at reading the room. Maybe you’ve been told at some point that you’re not a great listener. Or that you’re not open to ideas different from yours. If so, your social awareness muscles need work. You must learn to pick up on and respond to the spoken or unspoken cues that give you feedback in the moment. Without this important skill, people are bound to see you as uncaring, emotionally distant, dismissive of their input, perhaps even unapproachable. And if this is the case, no one’s going to want to work with you. To up your social-awareness quotient, start with two very simple actions. First, observe. Go to your next meeting with a new outlook. Instead of pushing your agenda and ideas, simply observe. Notice how others respond to what’s being said. Work at reading the body language you see in response. Secondly, really listen. Rather than waiting for your turn to speak, focus on what others are saying. Thoughtfully consider their comments before you respond. Ask for clarification when you’re not sure. Once you get better at observing, and listening, you’ll improve your interactions, and your reputation, with the team. 4. You Struggle with Managing Relationships The only way you get work done is through your relationships with other people. If you think about any part of your job, you’ll quickly see how much you need others to totally kill it at work. Research shows that 85% of your success will come from your ability to manage relationships, communicate effectively, negotiate conflict, and influence others. People will even buy things from you if they know, like and trust you even if a competitor they don’t like is offering a better product at a lower price. Relationships matter! Building good relationship skills isn’t hard, but it does require awareness and intention on your part. And one very simple step is to be open with and curious about others. In other words, ask people questions that show you care about them and that you want to get to know them. Tell them why you do things they way you do. Allow them to get to know you and hear part of your story. Devote a few minutes each day to connecting with others, and you’ll wonder how you ever managed before. If you’re performing at a high level and are seeing results, but you’re not seeing opportunities you think you deserve, take a look at your emotional intelligence capabilities- and your colleague who’s getting all the great attention and praise. Are yours lacking and his obviously apparent now that you know what to look for? Don’t let your weak EI hurt your chances of getting ahead and getting noticed. Photo of two men talking courtesy of Milton Brown/Getty Images.

What to Expect From How to List Study Abroad on Resume?

What to Expect From How to List Study Abroad on Resume? If you've participated in various social activities with friends and family then you may describe it to employers that you're capable of making new connections with distinct personalities. People of this nation are extremely progressive and are rather friendly with Indians. Plenty of such prospective students lose their chance of being a true doctor just enjoy that and they at last choose paramedical course and wind up wasting their valuable moment. Also, it's more of a necessity for having the ability to live there for 6 decades. There are a couple vital points that have to be considered whilst drafting a resume like the content, format and finally the period of the resume. Otherwise, you might wish to compose References available on request. You wish to use an example for a guide so you may begin writing your own covering letter (also called a motivation letter). What's more, there's a normal format which an academic resume follows which you ought to keep in mind. In the past twenty decades, China has positioned itself to be an important player in virtually every business. Returning from your study abroad experience can be hard, but nonetheless, it also marks the start of your new and improved life at home. Maybe you're a a couple of years into your career with only a few jobs below your belt. Approach your study abroad experience like it's a preceding job. How to List Study Abroad on Resume and How to List Study Abroad on Resume - The Perfect Combination Undoubtedly you may have learnt hands-on skill when studying in abroad yet additionally, it gives you a good deal of soft skills. It's not sufficient to say that you developed strong communication skills, you ought to be in a position to back this up. Communication skills are another crucial area study abroaders have a tendency to rapidly build proficiency in. You gained skills, skills that are really applicable to a lot of professiona l positions that may interest you later on. Adapting to any multicultural communication is crucial skill to correct in international work atmosphere. Reentry can be equally as difficult as adjusting to a different culture once you went abroad, and for some students it could be even more challenging. The standard of education is good and a huge number of Indian students decide to study in China though it's on the pricey side. You are going to have the benefits of European Standards at a price of Asian Country. There are 3 different kinds of universities national, state and the personal universities. The student becomes global exposure and receives the chance to practice in a few of the most developed nations in the world like the US and the United Kingdom. Whispered How to List Study Abroad on Resume Secrets Award amounts are dependent on the plan of study. Thus, make certain you adequately emphasize you could successfully address problems and produce resultsthat's impressive, irrespective of industry or position. The goal of this exercise is to list the actual challenges together with your targets. On any one you observe, you should not locate an objective which is too vague. There's a means to make your studies a valuable add-on to your resume. Top Choices of How to List Study Abroad on Resume At this stage, you are prepared to describe the way your background matches the employer's needs. You're able to incorporate these precise details in your CV for making better influence on the hiring managers. To make certain that your resume properly captures the gist of your study-abroad experience, you must understand how to effectively incorporate that info. There are plenty of options about how to incorporate this in your resume. It is possible to also incorporate your qualities and techniques which were fundamental for ordinary interactions. It's possible for you to add the overview of technical skills in your CV to provide clear idea about your present skills. Focusing on your capacity to talk to people will let prospective employers know you're comfortable in a wide variety of situations. For instance, if during your job roles in abroad, you've used this global language then it ought to be added in your work experience'. Most Noticeable How to List Study Abroad on Resume It's always best to include two to three references at the base of your resume. Our list below is a superb method to start searching for opportunities and data about working abroad. List particular examples as frequently as possible. Be attentive when making a list such as this. If cost is a problem for your dreams of studying abroad, have a look at our partial collection of available scholarships. There's no need of entrance t ests or competitive exams since there are enough seats out there. There's rarely any problem where the student is not able to chance upon a suitable accommodation. Make the most of those worldwide connections!

The Rise of Performance Resume

The Rise of Performance Resume Lesson Summary Customer service goals are specific objectives and guidelines a business puts into place to make sure each and every customer is content with the services the business provides. Detailed instructions are offered on the program's website. Nowadays you have all the information that you want to create your Best Performance Resume! Understanding of theater performance. Even the best managers discover that it's tricky to break away from their routines to examine the potency of their staff in meeting targets and priorities. Becoming in a position to properly work and stick to schedules are also rather important matters. In case you have any questions, don't hesitate to email us! You may have a foundational resume that compellingly articulates the most significant info, states Heifetz, but you need to alter it for each opportunity. Resume action verbs may have a beneficial and memorable influence on the reader's memory. For instance, the summary section needs to be written in the very first individual. A fast breakdown of the chapters in a business plan Now that we've got the rules of writing a business plan from the way, lets dive into the specifics of building. If you want, don't hesitate to go to my site to look at my resume as a reference point. The Fundamentals of Performance Resume Revealed Following are the very best templates that y ou're able to use. Providentially, the Berklee Career Center is here to assist you with your resume. Importance of Resume wording Resume wording is a significant aspect to take into account when constructing a resume. The resume wording ought to be employer-oriented so he knows what you could do for him. Resume Wording Keyword Tips Resume keywords can be exceedingly important and are a crucial part of expert quality resume wording. It's also advisable to list wow content below a distinct category, like an Honors and Awards or Media Mentions subhead. You may also see Proofreader Resume. Integrate critical keywords and phrases. The Hidden Truth on Performance Resume If you're one of the persons with the mentality that his resume won't win him an interview, change your perspective and make certain your resume reads well. Since your resume is your very first introduction to a prospective employer, it's important you make a fantastic first impression. After their resume writing strategy will allow you to land more auditions. Try to remember you need to only include your high school if you didn't attend college. Frequently, if you're a tough worker you'll be hired after only a few auditions. If you're a rising sophomore or junior you most likely don't yet understand where you intend to apply. Picking the most suitable words to describe job performance is really important. If you're asking for a job, any job, make the very first information which you provide the most relevant to the job which you want. The objective of your resume is to secure you a job interview with your intended employer. In various ways, your resume will be much more straightforward and easy to write. During an interview, an employer is most likely likely to ask you why you feel you're the very best for the job. Our program's part-time solution is geared toward students that are already professionally active but want to better their knowledge base in the area. You've got to recognize that the single best way to discover a new career position is to network with the people that you already know. If you're thinking of writing a resume to submit an application for an elementary school principal position, you're going to be happy to know that it's not really that different from writing any other kind of resume. Understand how to resolve each customer service problem and who to contact if the employee is not able to repair the problem. A customer service department and its employees represent the organization and help to come up with the public's perception of the organization. Actually, if you'd like to occupy in work in the health care field, you'll have to use different action words than a man who is aims at work in the sales sector. Just take a peek at what you think are your critical job skills which are important to prospective employers.