Job interviews are an important part of your job search process. So are resumes, LinkedIn, and displaying confidence. These and many other topics are addressed in this week’s Summary Sunday. In this roundup of curated articles, you’ll find: Over the years, I have developed relationships with smart, knowledgeable career professionals. I hope you will follow […]
The post Summary Sunday: Issue #537 appeared first on Career Sherpa.
You're in a meeting at work and would like to suggest an idea, but feel you are too new to the working world or too young to add value at this point. You choose to say nothing and regret it later.
How do you handle this situation in the future? How can you gain confidence at work?
Learning to add your insights and value to the work environment is a process. You are learning the nuances of each situation you are in. Remember, your schooling only allowed you to learn the material within your major. It did not fully prepare you for workplace situations like this. You may have never been in these situations before and you will be constantly learning how to handle and approach them.
It will take time, but you will be able to recognize patterns in your company culture: how meetings are managed, when to speak up, when to be silent, and how to approach your manager, mentor, or senior manager. It will get easier.
In the meantime, here are some suggestions to help you gain confidence at work and make the transition smoother for you:
Emotional intelligence (or EQ) is becoming more and more important to professionals everywhere. Why? Understanding the emotional side of life is just as important as understanding the technical/task side of life.
This is EQ as defined by Daniel Goleman, one of the leaders in this area, on his blog:
"Emotional intelligence (of EI) includes self mastery (self-awareness and self-regulation), plus social intelligence (empathy and social skill). Both are essential: you have to lead yourself before you can lead others. There are sets of leadership competencies that set the best-performers apart from average, that build on these basicsâe.g., self-regulation is the basis for the discipline to achieve goals, to be adaptable, and to remain calm and clear under pressure. These leadership competencies are learnedâand learnable."
In other words, you need to be able to understand yourself emotionally in order to understand and work well with others. Once you do this, you will begin to thrive in your work with others.
To be truly successful in the working environment, you must take your EQ and use it to build solid, compatible, and trusting working relationships. Those relationships will be with your manager, co-workers, and colleagues from across the organization. This is essential in building your "currency" among your colleagues.
As you are seen as a trusted and effective co-worker, you will gain more and more opportunities to shine. One of the most important relationships you can foster is with your direct manager and a mentor. Yes, find yourself a mentor either inside the organization or outside. Finding both is ideal, actually. An inside mentor will help you navigate your company's culture. An outside mentor will be objective and not influenced by the company or their position in the company.
This is one area as a young professional I wished I had latched onto and never let go of. Professional mentors are priceless. Again, it will take time to build strong colleague relationships. Be patient and be authenticâit will pay off in more ways than you can imagine years from now.
Don't go on a political rant or go to the CEO's office to voice a concern. The risk I suggest early in your career is the risk of trying new projects or assignments. Be intentional about the projects you would like to work on. If you see an opportunity to extend your reach, do it, even if it feels uncomfortable; discomfort is a sign you'll learn and grow from the experience.
Be bold enough, especially after you have a feel for the way your organization functions, to ask to take on what you see as an issue and fix it. Take initiative and step up. And when you fail (because at some point we all do), so what? Learn from it and move on. Don't get bitter or curl up and nurse your wounds, and never accuse someone else for your mistakes. Your "currency" within the organization will be lost.
However, if you are bold enough to try something new and it doesn't work out the way you planned, but you hold your head high and learn from the mistake, your stature in the organization will elevate. Your co-workers will take notice and some may even compliment you on your initiative.
As you develop your EQ, use it in building relationships, and become more intentional in your work activity and direction, your confidence as a young professional will skyrocket.
Need more help with your career?
Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
The job interview is an essential part of the screening process for employers. It helps employers dig deep beyond the resume to find out about 1) your experience and skills for the job, 2) whether you're a good fit for its workplace culture, and 3) your career goals and outlook to determine how dedicated and loyal you'll be to the job and continued employment with the company.
Asking questions is essential to helping employers make the right decision on which job applicant to select for the job. So, let's break down some of the typical interview questions you may be asked and what employers are really trying to find out so that you can provide the best response.
When employers ask this question, they are trying to see what you consider important on the job and are also trying to understand your key skill set. The best response is an example that can directly relate back to the job you're applying for.
Employers are always trying to see how you face obstacles at work and your approach to dealing with them. Regardless of the challenge you present, the key is to demonstrate that you were able to overcome it and bring results of success.
Employers want to see how honest you are, and the way you answer can also shed light on if you're able to overcome obstacles. Everyone has a weakness, so provide an honest answer but finish off your response with how you've worked to improve on it so it actually isn't a weakness anymore.
Employers want to find out your long-term goals and how they may fit into their plans. Your response should inform the employer that you're dedicated to the profession and you have a confident outlook to move up in your career with even more experience and skills to succeed on the job. Do not give an answer that indicates you may not stay with the company.
It's important that employers ensure you can fit in culturally and they want to understand the type of worker-boss management relationship desired. Say the person supervising is a micromanager, but you are one who has self-drive and desires empowerment. In such a case, conflict is highly likely.
Do your research ahead of time to understand the employer's workplace culture so you respond accordingly. But it's also important in helping decide whether you should even apply for a job because you want to work in an environment where you'll be happy.
Employers need to find out if you're a serious candidate for the job and if you have a true desire to work for the company and in the specific field you're applying to. If you do your research beforehand, you will have an idea of things you can call out about the employer that impress you. It'll also inform the employer that you're not just randomly applying to any job, but that you have a true desire to work for them.
Employers will ask this question to try to better understand your long-term goals. It's also to ensure that the reason you're leaving is not one that may present itself again on the new job.
If you were fired from your job, the employer wants to ensure the problem or concerns about being fired do not carry over to the new job. Focus on a response that speaks to your desire for more challenge and that will allow you to utilize your experience and skills, and help you to continue to grow them.
When you understand what employers are really trying to find out with the questions they ask, you can tailor your responses so that you come off as the best candidate for the job.
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Quitting without another job lined up can be scary, and for many people itâs not the right move. But there are situations when making this decision can help you advance your career or improve other areas of your life. This guide takes a look at all of them! The Pros of Quitting Without Another Job […]
The post Quitting Without Another Job Lined Up: Here’s What To Do appeared first on Career Sherpa.
As the world constantly evolves, the demand for skilled professionals who can work on a project-to-project basis has grown substantially. This growth can be attributed to businesses looking for expertise without the long-term commitment of a full-time employee. One such profession that stands out is contracting. Being a contractor offers flexibility, potentially higher pay, and […]
The post So You Want To Be A Contractor? Read This First appeared first on Jobacle.com.
You may be asked salary information on an application form, or be faced with a âcurrent salary" or âdesired salary" field on an online application. Or you may be asked the same question by a legal recruiter. The answer you provide may be used in the screening processâanswer too high and you may not be considered for the position at all.
This number will also likely come into play at the interview/offer stage. It can establish the range for the offer the employer makes. And if you're underpaid and undervalued at your current employer, then there's the risk that your low level of pay will follow you when you move on.
On a paper application formâor if the online form allows you to type in whatever you wantâyou can write âNegotiable." This gives you the opportunity to discuss your salary history and expectations later on.
If it's not a required field on an online form, leave it blank. If the "desired salary" field requires you to enter a figure, however, you have a couple of options. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks:
How you answer the salary question on a job application will depend on your situation and what format is allowed on the online form. But if you can, entering a salary range is always the best option.
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Balancing the demands of a career while nurturing a family is a juggling act that countless parents face every day. The modern world presents working parents with a unique set of challenges, from managing time efficiently to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. What can busy working parents do to excel both professionally and personally? How can they effectively balance work and family?
We recently asked our leading executives for their best tips for working parents.
Here are their responses...
Working parents in the digital age face unique challenges, but also have a plethora of opportunities and tools at their disposal. Here are some of the best tips for navigating this landscape:
1. Embrace Technology
2. Set Boundaries
3. Educate Yourself and Your Kids About Digital Safety
4. Prioritize Quality Time
5. Promote a Healthy Tech-Life Balance for Children
6. Stay Connected
7. Self-Care and Mental Health
8. Continuous Learning
9. Outsource When Needed
10. Maintain an Open Dialogue
11. Lead by Example
The digital age certainly presents challenges for working parents, but by leveraging the opportunities it offers and setting boundaries, you can promote a balanced and fulfilling family life.
Ana Smith helps people & organizations achieve their full talent potential by developing and co-creating people strategies and customized solutions, and turning them into impactful outcomes and collaborative relationships, using coaching as the "red thread."
The NFL has always been committed to fostering a workplace that encourages work-life balance and supports the unique challenges faced by working parents. Here are some compassionate suggestions for navigating the demands of our dynamic industry while ensuring a healthy family life:
1. Flexible Scheduling: Encourage managers to embrace flexible work arrangements that allow parents to adjust their schedules when needed. This can significantly assist with managing family responsibilities and job commitments.
2. Parental Leave Policies: Ensure our policies are comprehensive and accommodating. Offering ample time off for new parents is vital in helping them transition into their new roles.
3. Remote Work Options: Consider allowing parents to work remotely, at least part of the time, as it can provide the flexibility they need to effectively balance their family and professional lives.
4. Childcare Support: Explore partnerships with local childcare providers to offer discounts or on-site daycare options. This can ease the burden on working parents and provide peace of mind.
5. Mentorship and Networking: Facilitate mentorship programs and networking opportunities for working parents within the organization. Connecting with colleagues who have faced similar challenges can be invaluable.
6. Employee Resource Groups: Promote and support employee resource groups (ERGs) focused on working parents. These groups can provide a sense of community and a platform to discuss shared experiences and solutions.
7. Wellness Initiatives: Emphasize the importance of mental and physical well-being by offering wellness programs, stress-management resources, and counseling services for parents dealing with the juggling act.
8. Clear Communication: Encourage open and transparent communication between employees and supervisors. This helps in setting realistic expectations and finding mutually beneficial solutions.
9. Professional Development: Ensure that career growth and development opportunities are accessible to all employees, regardless of their parental status. This encourages retention and motivation.
10. Recognition and Appreciation: Recognize working parents' hard work and dedication within the organization. Simple gestures of appreciation can go a long way in boosting morale.
Incorporating these strategies into our workplace culture demonstrates our commitment to supporting working parents and contributes to a more inclusive, empathetic, and motivated workforce. Together, we can create an environment where all employees, including working parents, can thrive in the fast-paced sports business industry.
Michael Willis has 18+ years of experience working with accounting & sports organizations and has managed P&Ls of $10M - $125M+ with budgets of $3M-$50M+. He worked for the NFL for 22 1/2 years, mainly with the game officials working on the financial/accounting side of the business.
As a mother of two girls and a brand marketing executive, I know the intricacies of balancing work and family and the numerous challenges it brings. âBalanceâ often felt like an elusive concept as I constantly made sacrifices, for work, family time, or personal well-being. Iâve been through the extremesâworking relentlessly, traveling extensively, and grappling with the guilt of being away from my children to declining work commitments to ensure Iâm present for girlsâ milestones and bedtime routines. Achieving harmonious work-life balance was a perpetual battle.
If you are a working parent, here are some tips that Iâve used that can help you make the balancing act a little easier:
Finding the right balance between work and family life is an ongoing journey. Adjustments are okay as your familyâs needs and work responsibilities change. If youâre eager to delve deeper into effective strategies, I invite you to explore my book How to Develop a Brand Strategy. Within its pages, youâll discover a comprehensive step-by-step guide to crafting a robust brand strategy that aligns seamlessly with your business objectives.
Remember, youâre not alone! With the right strategies and mindset, you can navigate the challenges of being a working parent while fostering a fulfilling life for yourself and your family.
Lisa Perry helps companies drive revenue by using consumer trends, insights, and data analytics to innovate their approach to marketing.
What are your best tips for working parents? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily's Executive Program.
Recalling your past accomplishments is an important first step during the job search process. These stories are the proof you need to show future employers. If you are just starting your job search, recalling your past accomplishments is a great way to identify your strengths and transferrable skills plus this will help you pinpoint what […]
The post Recalling Past Accomplishments appeared first on Career Sherpa.
You've polished your resume to no end, especially after finding a job posting that precisely fits your skills. But did your cover letter merit the same attention?
Many hiring managers use your cover letter to gauge your interest in the company, as well as your aptitude for the job. Therefore, when you resort to "Dear Sir, I'm interested in your open job, here's my resume," you're missing out on a critical chance to persuade employers to take you seriously.
Here are five of the most crucial mistakes made in cover lettersâthose that can quickly knock you out of the running for a leadership job:
"I am an operations director with 18 years of experience" or "In response to your ad for a CEO, I have enclosed my resume" really aren't compelling enough to use as opening statements. Instead, try a hook that makes the hiring manager sit up straight in his or her chair, as in these examples:
"Would a sales vice president who consistently pushes teams past quota (up to 52%) make a difference in your national rankings?"
"As a CIO for global company ABC Consulting, I've increased customer satisfaction to 97% in 3 outsourcing engagementsâpushing our revenue growth to its peak despite the recession. I'm interested in creating the same results for you."
The idea is to speak precisely to the employer's pain points while describing the performance impact you've had in previous roles. Note each of these sentences contains metrics, a targeted job title, and a career-defining achievement that is framed in context and laid out quickly for the reader to absorb.
At Work It DAILY, we advise members to follow our disruptive cover letter format and use storytelling to hook the hiring manager. The key is to show a connection between you and the company. Your opening line should also leverage the research you've done on the company, per the next point.
Rattling off a list of competencies isn't strong enough to distinguish you from other candidates, but speaking directly to the company's needs will do the trick.
You have to dig into the company's history, press releases, annual reports, social media accounts, and other news to figure out their pain points. What type of expansion is planned? Were earnings down in previous quarters? What do industry analysts say about the company's future and business strategy?
Armed with this information, you're able to connect your leadership skills to the employer's needs much more succinctly:
"My ability to produce business development results (30% rise in cloud-based solution sales during Q4 2022) can address any struggles you've had in breaking into this market. Can we talk?"
Like resumes, cover letters must be precise and direct the reader. It should keep them attentive to the reasons they should hire you and the edge your work can give them.
While you're writing, put the job description in front of you to remind yourself what the employer is seeking. Then, look for ways to point out how you can surpass these expectations. The following paragraph is taken from an IT director's cover letter:
"Your ad noted that you require a leader in service delivery and customer satisfaction. My career includes 3 years of 97% satisfaction ratings, achieved by improving infrastructure and network capacity, and I hold responsive service as my #1 priority."
Finding a contact name inside the company has never been easier. First, you can use LinkedIn to search for the employer. Then, navigate to the "People" tab on the company page and find the name of the hiring manager or department head. For example, a business development manager might look for keywords such as "VP Sales" or "COO" to identify the next-level manager contact, while an IT product director can try to find the CIO's name.
If you don't find a name through LinkedIn, be sure to check Zoominfo.com or the company's About Us page. If you have access to Dun & Bradstreet, you can also use that resource to locate company insiders. In addition, Data Axle is a free contact name database available through many public libraries and requires only your library card for access.
Taking the time to locate a name (vs. resorting to "Dear Hiring Manager") will help your letter create more impact at a target employer.
This is especially important if you're pursuing an executive or senior-level role. Employers like to see a take-charge style (the same one you'll use to deal with vendors or your new team).
If your closing line isn't strong, you run the risk of looking too passive. "Thank you in advance for reviewing my credentials" is certainly polite and professionally stated. However, "I plan to exceed your requirements as your next Vice President of Finance" and "I am confident that I can demonstrate the leadership you look for in your next CIO" are both stronger.
Even more intense, "I will follow up with you next Tuesday" shows definite intent on your part to influence the hiring audience, and gives them advance notice of the proactive steps you'll take to secure the interview.
To summarize, there's no reason to settle for a bland, one-size-fits-all cover letter that blends in with the others. Your job search will fare better when you zero in on the hiring audience with an unforgettable openingâespecially when it draws a parallel between employer needs and your unique value.
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
New grads with limited work experience are some of my favorite people to coach. And here's why...
You have no bad habits yet. You have no preconceived notions. You don't have a long list of demands that you want from a job. If anything, you're just trying to figure out what kind of work would work for you.
Does that sound familiar?
This is why I love working with new grads. And if you're a new grad looking for your first job out of college, these are the best job search tips I give all my clients who are in the same boat as you...
@j.t.odonnell Replying to @swoopchirp New Grads Job Search Tips! ððâ¤ï¸ if you are a new grad then you have a competitive advantage in that you have no bad habits. however at the same time you haven't been taught how to position yourself with employers. you need to leverage your intrinsic motivation. that is what will get you up every day to go do the job. the best thing to do is to identify companies where you feel a deep connection to the work that they do and then you want to leverage your unique skill sets to match them to jobs there. companies love hiring people that they can mold into high performing employees. that's one of the advantages of hiring a new grad. so you want to make the most of that by being able to Showcase how your personality and your workplace personas will be a great fit for their organization. the first place to start is to take the two free quizzes linked in my bio and then if you want help decoding the results I've got an awesome new tiktok series here that you can purchase where you can listen to me explain the results. but most importantly if you'd like to get some career coaching to help you with all of this I hope you'll head over to workitdaily.com where we help new grads all the time just like you. we've got a great 7 Day free trial! #newgrad #collegegrad #collegegraduate #newgradjobs #howto #jobsearch #howtofindajob #findmeajob #jobsearchtips #jobsearch #jobsearching #jobsearchhelp #careeradvice #careercoach #careercoachontiktok #careerhelp #careerquiz #careerdecoder #workplacepersonas #personalityquiz #communicationstyles ⬠original sound - J.T. O'Donnell
1. Understand Your Unique Combination of Professional Strengths (Communication Style & Workplace Persona)
My first piece of advice for you is to understand two major components of your professional strengths. The first is your communication style (how you interact with others in the workplace). This plays a huge role in the type of jobs you'd be a good fit for. For example, if you're a contemplator, you're more introverted. You're not going to want a job that requires you to be really extroverted with a lot of people. Whereas if you were an energizer, you would actually feed off the energy of others.
The second thing you need to learn about yourself is your workplace personas. This is how you create value on the job. Companies pay you to create value, right? You need to save or make them enough money to justify the cost of hiring you. This is something they never teach us in school. So, there are eight workplace personas, and you should find out what your top three workplace personas are. Are you a builder, mentor, super connector, educator, visionary, optimizer, or researcher?
Take my free quizzes below to discover your unique combination of professional strengths:
2. Use The Information In Step 1 to Create an Interview Bucket List
Once you know your communication style and top workplace personas, you can weed out a whole bunch of jobs that aren't a fit for you and dial in on the kinds of roles that would be a fit for you. Then, we can teach you how to take that information and use it to reach out to employers and introduce yourself to them. This is a technique called an interview bucket list where you come up with a list of companies that you feel connected to. It's called intrinsic motivation. That's the fancy term. And when you are a recent grad, that's all you got, my friend.
As a new grad, you don't have a lot of experience to share. But companies love recent grads who have an intrinsic motivation to work for them and who understand their personality (their communication style and workplace personas) and how they'll create value for them. That shows a self-aware recent grad, and that's the kind they love to hire and mold, which will help catapult your career.
It's a really great time for you to be looking for work if you understand your unique combination of professional strengths and how to create an interview bucket list.
If you would like us to coach you on all of the things I've discussed, sign up for Work It DAILY's seven-day free trial of our career coaching platform that is literally going to teach you everything you need to know to land your first dream job.
Good luck, and go get 'em!
Losing your job can be absolutely devastating and send you into a complete spiral. While its natural to freak out a little, letting your emotions overwhelm you during tumultuous time can lead you to make some serious mistakes that might make matters worse for you in the long run. Very few people handle getting laid […]
The post Don’t Make These 5 Mistakes When You’ve Been Laid Off appeared first on Jobacle.com.
In this era of digital advancement, there has been significant growth in online employment opportunities. As the gig economy flourishes and the internet presents numerous professional avenues, many students are now considering the potential of securing online roles to further their career aspirations. Why Students Seek Online Jobs Students are increasingly turning to online jobs, […]
The post Is it Possible for a Student to Find a Job Online? appeared first on Jobacle.com.
