Sunday, May 17, 2020

Why Your Boss Probably Hates You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why Your Boss Probably Hates You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career As a career coach specializing in communication, I’m presented with a wide spectrum of work stories. Some end in, “I don’t know why my boss hates me.”   Variations on this are: My supervisor hates me The project manager hates me The recruiter seemed to hate me Everybody at work hates me Of course, hate is an awfully big and painful word. Most often given some details, I realize hate isn’t the appropriate word. It’s more accurate to describe the situation as: I get a weird feeling from her There’s a lot of tension at the office I don’t like the way I’m treated I don’t get recognized for doing my job So it’s not hate, but there are a lot of negative feelings between managers and staff, or business owners and employees. A lot of suspicious, unfriendly recruiters. Where do these negative feelings come from? What could be the origin of so many employees feeling underappreciated and undervalued? You probably have never done anything wrong at work, but consider all the people who have come before you. They trained your boss to be skeptical, distrusting, and irritated by the mistakes, waste, slacking and even outright lies some employees dole out. I got a call on Sunday evening from a business owner as he was getting off the roof of his building, taking care of the endless chores associated with running a physical therapy practice. He had cleaned the exterior of the building, swept out the parking lot, folded towels, put away piles of files that were laying behind the front desk, and was about to take a shower before completing the charts he prepares each evening before he meets clients the next day. “I pay a lot of people,” he said. “When they’re broke or in trouble, they come to me for loans â€" and I always say yes. I accommodate their school schedules, friends’ wedding plans that take them off shift, sick days and everything else they feel free to ask of me. They ask me for advice, and I always make time for them.” “Now, I’m doing maintenance and chores that the cleaning crew left, my staff overlooked and it’s all things my clients see. Some days it’s really clear that no one really cares about me or this company. Maybe a few people do on occasion, but four years is a long time to learn that unless you’re hard on people, they take it easy.” No, this doesn’t mean YOU take it easy at work. It just means people who can’t avoid being held accountable like a manager or business owner may be worn out by the staff who came before you. Getting a weird vibe at work? Make a contract with yourself to do a really good job everyday and to look for one more thing to do, that’s outside your specific duties. Let your boss or the recruiter learn that you are that one in a million, the person who really understands that work is more than a paycheck.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

6 Ways to Find a Career MentorAnd What to Look For

6 Ways to Find a Career Mentorâ€"And What to Look For Photo Credit â€" Flickr.comWorking with a career mentor is an important investment in your future. No matter your professional goals, a great mentor can provide feedback, advice and insight that only comes from experience.While the search for the ideal candidate may seem overwhelming, here are six ways to find the right mentor for you.1. Consider Current ConnectionsA co-worker in a senior role, one you currently work with or have worked with in the past, can make an excellent mentor because his or her advice and experience will be specific to your industry, which is critical to your career success: “Perhaps the most important step in pursuing a dream job is to find someone who already works in that field who can offer guidance and advice as you proceed,” according to Allison Doyle.evalIf you already have a rapport with someone, start there. But, don’t ask right away.Instead, sit down for lunch or coffee to explain your career goals, get a feel for their career values, and deter mine if it would be a good match. Just because you get along, doesn’t mean they’re the right person to mentor you.2. NetworkFace-to-face networking is one of the best ways to find like-minded professionals and potential mentors.Sign up for events where you’ll be able to connect with professionals from your field or an industry you’d like to break into. Before signing up, research to see who will be in attendance If you’re uncomfortable at networking events or you simply haven’t found the right person, there are several online tools you can use in your search. Start with LinkedIn, where you likely already have an accountâ€"along with 500 million other users.Chris Spurvey, a Linkedin Influencer, recommends scanning Linkedin Pulse to find leaders in your niche: “Browse LinkedIn Pulse channels to see who is writing about the areas for which you want mentorship. Most mentors are leaders. Most leaders are readers, and many readers are also writers.”Spurvey suggests followi ng these people before sending a connection request. Comment on their posts and interact with their circles. Once you’ve done this and feel comfortable, you can connect with the person and see if they’re willing to have a one-on-one meeting.Other useful tools include websites like Score.org, Mentoring.org and FindaMentor.4. Ask Your BossevalThis doesn’t mean ask your boss to mentor you. Instead, let your boss or manager know you want to work with someone who can help you learn, grow, and improve and see if he or she can recommend a mentor.Your boss will be happy you took the initiative and he or she can connect you with business professionals who may be of help. Want your boss to mentor you? Read this first: Your Boss? Your Mentor? Why You Should Know the Difference.5. Check With Your SchoolRegardless of how long it’s been since graduating, you can always tap into useful alumni and career resources from your University. Check online or contact your school’s career center. Most school host alumni networking events, seminars and more.Many even have mentorship programs and alumni networks where you can connect with other alumnus who are working in your industry. The best part: as a fellow alumni, you already have a way to break the ice when reaching out to potential mentors.6. Small Business Development CentersSmall Business Development Centers Use these ideas to start your search and don’t settle for someone who doesn’t feel like the right fit. Be clear about your goals and you’ll find the person who can help you get where you want to go.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Resume Preferences Straight From the Mouths of Recruiters

Resume Preferences Straight From the Mouths of Recruiters Last week when I was in Annapolis at the NRWA conference, I listened to a panel discussion with five recruiters representing the corporate, not-for-profit, and government sectors who shared their preferences regarding resumes. Their preferences are consistent with those of other recruiters I talk to. Here are the key takeaways:1. Include both months and years of employment for any positions that you held for less than 2 years. 2. Use bulleted lists to show accomplishments rather than blocky paragraphs of text. 3. Create a brief paragraph under each job title to explain the position responsibilities. 4. If listing multiple roles in one company, only list the company name and full employment dates once and list the individual position titles underneath. 5. Include embedded links such as LinkedIn url or other links if relevant. 6. Keep the resume to one or two pages unless applying for a federal job where a longer resume may be needed. 7. Explain any employment gaps on the resume. 8. Pa ste your cover letter into the body of the email rather than as a separate attachment. 9. Make sure all company names, job titles, and keywords are easy to spot on a quick scan. 10. Use a chronological format whenever possible; alternative formats can raise suspicion with some recruiters.

Friday, May 8, 2020

What Does Cum Laude On Resume Mean?

What Does Cum Laude On Resume Mean?A lot of people may wonder what does Cum Laude on resume mean. While it is not a common job title, it is nonetheless very much in demand as employers in the corporate world are always keen to choose a highly qualified individual for the post of executive secretary. Most of the senior executives may have encountered this sort of job on the job and they may have to face challenges when they were first appointed with the job description. A C-grade executive secretary may have many bosses and may have to face situations that require him to look up for a solution.When you look for a job application, make sure that you use your skills as well as learning with the final grade. This will help you get higher positions and avoid any further revisions when you receive a rejection. In order to land a job, one has to be committed and this means that you must be ready for the whole process. If you get rejected from any of the jobs, do not fret because you can alw ays go in search of the very next job. If you have the right job descriptions, you can easily land your dream job.All the companies will have an easy time in hiring a highly committed employee and you may have to face a difficult job in applying for the jobs. However, make sure that you do not put forth the application to more than a single company. Make sure that you have a few simple but direct questions regarding the company and make sure that you are properly prepared to answer the queries. You should not just use your knowledge on the job but also your communication skills.When you have all the right questions ready, you should ask the specific details about the company so that you can also get information. As soon as you start getting the answers, you can contact the company and provide them all the necessary information. You should also include in your application details regarding the number of years you have worked in the company.Your data would help you get a better positi on and would help you land that job that you have been dreaming of. You have to keep a few things in mind when you are preparing your application. Make sure that you are properly prepared before you submit the application.You should never rush into making the decision and only remember that you need to be prepared and also a leader. You should be able to come up with a plan that could turn out to be successful. Since you may have to keep all the candidates and the companies to look into, it is also important that you select the most suitable candidate and give your best to get that job.It is because you know that there are going to be few companies that may reject you, but this is why you have to make sure that you are prepared for every aspect of the job. It will help you in the long run and you will be able to land the job that you have always dreamed of. It is true that a C-grade executive secretary may have to face tough times but there are still opportunities in the market and if you learn and work hard, then you will surely be able to land the job that you have always dreamt of.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Writing a Resume With No Experience

Writing a Resume With No ExperienceThere are many advantages to learning how to write a resume with no experience background. A resume is the first thing a potential employer will see when reviewing your resume. If you show them a resume without any experience or with previous work experience that doesn't match the requirements, they are going to pass you over and most likely ask for a second resume.However, you should be aware that being inexperienced does not mean you should be afraid to write a resume with no experience. In fact, it is a great opportunity to demonstrate to a potential employer that you have not only taken the time to learn the skills necessary for the job, but also that you have put in the effort to get your foot in the door. With this, you can show them a resume that has a full history of your accomplishments and shows that you are prepared to take on this position. A resume that shows such consistency with your past work history and how well you perform in a pro fessional position can greatly enhance your chances of success.First, you should consider putting on your current job and show what a great job you have done there. This can show an employer that you have a great history of reliability and professionalism, and that your interests in this job are relevant to the position you are applying for.Next, consider including any personal information that may be helpful to the job you are applying for. If you have children, use the children's name as the person to whom you would like to send your resume. Also, include your hobbies and any awards you may have received. This personal information will show the employer that you care about this job and the position you are applying for and gives the employer something to think about in reading your resume.Last, consider including any work history that will show how well you perform in a professional environment. Do your best to match what your current or past employers say you have done to your ow n experiences. You can do this by saying how much experience you have with this particular job or project, or by providing references to back up what your employers say. There are some companies that allow you to put in your own personal references to help prove that you have what it takes for the job.In order to write a resume with no experience, you will need to prepare the same basic information for each resume. That includes your name, phone number, and email address. You can also include your contact information for companies where you have worked previously, and links to your personal website.Remember, each resume should be your experience. After you have put together each resume, look for one that you are interested in that is similar to what you wrote. It can help to use a sample resume with no experience as an example of the style of resume you should include.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

The One Thing to Do for What Should My Resume Look like

The One Thing to Do for What Should My Resume Look like Don't forget, your resume should always emphasize the skills, experience, and accomplishments which are most relevant to your job targets. Your resume ought to be focused, concise and emphasize achievements and techniques that fit the job which you're applying for. No 2 resumes should look the same. When it has to do with finding work, it can be difficult to understand where to begin. If you're like most job seekers that are looking for work, you're most likely to turn to the web or Microsoft Word when it has to do with writing your resume. Many job seekers go overboard and pick the incorrect template. No two job seekers are the exact same. New Step by Step Roadmap for What Should My Resume Look like Employing a custom resume instead of a generic one is going to greatly increase your probability of an interview, as you'll be a better match in the view of the reader. There aren't categories you must utilize in resume writingmake up your own to fulfill your requirements. The tighter the work market gets, the more important it's to maximize your probability for each and every opportunity. With the correct tools in hand, you can get rid of a great deal of the strain of searching for a new job. Then select the sort of resume that's perfect for you or which is the very best fo r the work concerned. As painful as it might be, you need to use your own words. Your resume has an objective rather than an expert summary Objective statements describe your requirements, rather than how you will meet the requirements of an employer. You are able to come across several very good examples on the internet that can help you produce an effective objective statement that specifically says the kind of job that you would like. You have just one time to create the proper FIRST impression. The very first person to really examine your resume (and decide whether to keep it) may not be of your special world. Understanding how to search for and take part in a loving relationship comes from that which we learn as children. Whether the love relationship is all about friends, loved ones, or lovers, the fundamental tenets are the exact same.

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Fixing These Mistakes Tripled My Phone Interview Success Rate - Work It Daily

Fixing These Mistakes Tripled My Phone Interview Success Rate - Work It Daily A while back, I went through a brief period of unemployment. After fixing up my resume to stand out from all the other job seekers, I started getting a lot of calls back from potential employers. The thing is, I ran into another problem - less than one in four phone interviews led to an in-person interview. Related: 6 Tips To Ace Your Phone Interview I knew I had a problem, so I started studying everything I could about interviewing, as well as conducting mock phone interviews with my friends and asking for honest feedback. Within a week, I was able to identify five issues that were holding me back, and after fixing each of them, my success rate tripled - five of the next seven phone interviews resulted in an invitation to interview on-site. Since then, many people I’ve worked with have had similar results. By addressing the following five issues, you too can double, triple, or even quadruple your callback rate. 1. Not dressing well Initially, I realized that I was projecting a lack of confidence and professionalism. I spoke too quietly, with a bit of a quaver in my voice. I wasn’t assertive, and was overly modest in describing my accomplishments. At first, I tried to address this set of issues directly, but with little success - after all, you can’t just force yourself to be confident. Everything changed when I remembered a little piece of advice that a college professor once gave me: dress up for phone interviews just as you would for an in-person. Because your appearance feeds back into your mental state, dressing for success will make you feel as though you’re bound for success. Dressing well fixed 80% of my confidence issues; the next item on the list fixed the rest. 2. Bad posture Your posture affects your phone interviewing in a few different ways. First off, like your clothing, it affects your mentality - confident posture will make you feel more confident, and speak more confidently. Second, your posture affects your breathing - slouching actually forces you to sound wheezy and lethargic, while standing up straight will cause you to sound more powerful, regardless of how you feel. Third, your posture affects your energy level and how quickly you process information. Almost everyone should stand while interviewing - the one exception is people who are extremely high-string, who might benefit from reclining to calm themselves down. Stand up straight to get the most of your voice, breathe properly, and feel confident. Make sure you breathe through your belly rather than heaving your chest. If possible, stand in front of a full-length mirror so you can spot-correct your posture as needed. 3. Going in unprepared Your ability to interview well is closely tied to knowing what you’re talking about, and having a deep understanding of who you’re talking to and what their pains are. 80% of the interview is decided before it even happens- by how well you’ve researched your target company, strategized for how you’re going to present yourself, and prepared talking points. First off, read everything you can about the company, and the part of it you’ll be working in. If possible, talk to a current or former employee in that department - former employees will be more honest and maybe easier to talk to, but current ones can help you get the job. You should also have answers prepared for the interviewer’s questions. This is easy to do, since you know you’ll be asked about what’s on your resume and cover letter. However, answering questions isn’t everything... 4. Passively answering questions The single biggest misconception people have about job interviewing is that it consists solely of an interviewer asking questions, and an interviewee answering them. Now, of course you should answer the interviewer’s questions, but you should also be showing that you’ve done your research, and asking some questions of your own. The interview as a whole should be more of a conversation. After researching the company, your next step should be to prepare a set of questions to ask the employer, as well as 2-3 talking points you want to bring up. Rehearse these until you know them by heart and sound good saying them. 5. Interrupting Interrupting people is an extremely aggravating habit, and unfortunately, you’re more likely to do it once you’re confident, well-prepared, and planning to drive the conversation yourself. This is an insidious problem that people can go their entire lives without recognizing. The best way to fix it is, first, to video record a mock interview, or just a normal conversation, with a friend. Second, before speaking, pause for two second to make sure the other person is done speaking. This is a guest post. Related Posts Top 3 Tips For Phone Interviews What To Do On A Phone Interview The Biggest Mistake You Can Make In A Phone Interview   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!