How To Tell If You Are Going To Get Laid Off

How To Tell If You Are Going To Get Laid Off

If you’ve ever been employed at a typical company in corporate America, you know that layoffs are a common phenomenon. How does a company decide who stays and who goes? How do you know if you’re going to get laid off or not? These are important questions you should be asking as an employee, and I can answer them.

It’s All About ROI

@j.t.odonnell How To Tell If You Are Going To Get Laid Off… #jobtok #careertok #job #jobs #career #learntok #edutok #jobtips ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

When a company is restructuring, they’re given an amount of money to cut. And one of the easiest and fastest ways to do that is to decrease the number of employees at the company.

The company figures out the value of each employee, the return on investment (ROI), and decides to lay off the employees who don’t provide the most value, who don’t give the company a desirable ROI.

For example, if a company pays you $10 an hour, it actually costs them $13 to $14 an hour to employ you because there are taxes and other things they have to pay on top of your salary. Then, they ask, “Who is saving or making us more than enough money to justify their cost?”

Now, in a situation where there are multiple employees creating the same value, they ask, “Who is the easiest to get along with?” Personality starts to play a role in the decision, but also aptitude. “Who’s going to be able to adapt when we have less staff and we have to do more with less?”

ROI, personality, and aptitude are considered when a company is deciding who to lay off.

How To Avoid Getting Laid Off

Woman on laptop at work avoids getting laid off

If you want to avoid being cut, you first have to get clear on your value. Can you articulate how you are saving and making your employer enough money to justify the cost of employing you?

Sit down and have a conversation with your boss about it. See what you can do to make sure that you’re creating that value and if you can create additional value on the job.

Sometimes people will come to me and say, “I’ve had perfect performance reviews year after year and got laid off.” Yes, because it’s not about your past performance. It’s about the value you’re creating and where they can make cuts. It always comes down to your current value as an employee. If you want to avoid getting laid off, remember this simple fact.

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Tips For Answering “How Would Your Friends Describe You?”

Tips For Answering “How Would Your Friends Describe You?”

Being able to answer “How would your friends describe you?” is important, because this question gets asked all the time! And even though it sounds pretty straightforward, coming up with a strong response requires a bit of thought. This guide will help you answer this question and make a great impression. The Reason Interviewers Ask […]

The post Tips For Answering “How Would Your Friends Describe You?” appeared first on Career Sherpa.

Executive Spotlight: The Best Time Management Hacks To Use On The Job

Executive Spotlight: The Best Time Management Hacks To Use On The Job

What would we do with more time in the day? Most of us probably think we’d be more productive. But if there’s one thing we want more of but can’t control, it’s time. The secret to being more productive is not more time, but better time management. This is especially true at work.

The most successful professionals have exceptional time management skills. If you don’t have strong time management skills, that’s okay. Like any skill, time management skills can be developed.

We recently asked our leading executives about their best time management hacks.

Here are their responses…

Percy Leon, Digital Media Content Executive

You’ve probably heard of “time hacks” by now if you’re a video creator, a YouTube manager, or just someone who needs to maximize their time while working.

Time-saving techniques are basically ways to be more productive at work and do more tasks faster.

You can utilize a few different tactics to make the most of your time. I do the following things, to name a few.

The first thing I do is make a schedule I can follow. I know I’ll be able to focus and make the most of the time I have if I have a plan of action for each day and know what needs to be done and when.

Over the entire month, I aim to develop and batch my stuff, having enough for LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube long form, and YouTube shorts.

I divide my tasks into manageable portions and complete each one one at a time. This is another crucial time-saving technique.

This enables me to concentrate on each activity and complete it more quickly. I discovered various apps, like Notion, to keep track of what needs to be done so that you don’t forget anything.

Limiting distractions is a third time-saving trick. I mute my phone, turn off notifications, even if I find this to be a challenge, and concentrate on the task at hand. That way, I won’t be seduced by diversions all the time and can accomplish more in less time.

I try to take breaks throughout the day. This helps my mind recharge and I’m able to continue with the task I set out to do.

By creating a schedule, breaking out each task into smaller chunks, limiting distractions, and taking breaks throughout the day, I’m able to get more done in less time and be more productive.

Percy Leon is a digital media content producer specializing in educational technology and entertainment. He is interested in web3, metaverse, and the use of virtual reality for storytelling.

Kathryn Marshburn, Music Program Manager

Professional woman with good time management skills calls someone on the phone

I thought I was a great multi-tasker as a businesswoman until I saw a video on Nick Cannon and Amber Grimes when I saw how they both work in the music industry. They are on time, work like no other, efficiently work, treating the housekeeping staff the same as a client. Always having a positive attitude and always showing up. I borrowed a life hack from Nick, where he has a daily list of his to-dos, but always adds the last item where he makes time to do at least one favor a day for someone. This is one of my favorite topics: how do we share our experiences and mold and guide the next generation?

I value sharing my perspective with Gen Z and millennials about the music industry and how staff should be treated. I have many students and industry folks that reach out to me to ask questions about the industry in LA and connecting with these requests is important to me.

My favorite time-saving hack is to follow the Nick Cannon style of working and do favors and serve others. But because there are so many requests, I had to come up with an organizational plan.

I reserve 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm every single Friday to allow for time in my calendar to serve others and share what I know about the music industry. I schedule 30-minute calls, back to back, for anyone who wants to chat on music, needs advice, needs to connect, or is looking for resources. This helps me to plan ahead and group requests together.

I’m a big believer in paying it forward as so many people, especially women, kicked down so many doors for me.

Kathryn Marshburn has spent 12+ years in the music and gaming industries guiding teams on identifying targeted goals with an agile approach resulting in driving revenue and reducing risk.

Mark Taylor, Product & Operations Executive

Professional man with good time management skills talks during a work meeting

Self-prioritisation. Identify the current “axis of power” in your work and align what you are doing with that.

For example, I gave an update every Monday to the CEO on the status of a number of projects that had previously been languishing.

I knew the CEO’s expectations: 1) that everyone involved in the projects was working well together, and 2) that what we said was going to be done was actually being addressed in a timely and accurate manner.

I spent a good amount of my week getting status updates, fact-checking, and thinking ahead for possible questions. I blended these into a truth-based, expectation-meeting story by the time Monday’s meeting arrived.

This is where the “axis of power” comes in. If the CEO thought I was getting things done and doing a good job, it didn’t matter what anyone else thought—and I lived to fight another day…

Mark Taylor has 20+ years of risk, technology, and product management experience working in global and regional financial services firms in the UK and the U.S. He’s managed teams of 40+, successfully addressed 100+ regulatory issues, and has saved companies $15M+.

Carla Biasi, Personal Stylist

Work delegation, time management concept

Delegation! As an executive, we are charged with hiring a highly competent team. Use the highly motivated in your group to assist with tasks and responsibilities. This also helps acclimate them to different skills, and you have the opportunity to discover hidden talents in your staff. Your employees will love the collaborative environment!

Carla Biasi is a personal stylist living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She currently has her own business and works part-time at an upscale women’s boutique and as a virtual and kit stylist for a women’s specialty brand.

What’s the best time management hack you use on the job? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily’s Executive Program.

4 Signs Your Interview Isn’t Going Well (And How To Fix It!)

4 Signs Your Interview Isn’t Going Well (And How To Fix It!)

Scoring a job interview can be hard work, so you don’t want to waste the opportunity. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, sometimes the interview can go off track and before you know it, things didn’t go as well as you had hoped.

It doesn’t have to be this way! Sometimes there are subtle signs during the job interview that things aren’t going well that you can pick up in time to potentially turn things around.

Here are some of the signs you should look for…

The Interviewer Doesn’t Try To Sell You On The Company

A human resources manager presents some facts about the company during a job interview/meeting

Have you ever heard the expression, “An interview is about you trying to get to know the company just as much as they’re trying to get to know you”? It’s true. You should be evaluating the company as they’re evaluating your experience and skills.

But, if you’re doing this and the interviewer isn’t working hard to sell you on the company’s good traits, it’s probably not a good sign.

Companies want their chosen candidate to accept the job offer, so for their top picks, they’ll typically try to mention job perks, company culture, opportunities for growth, and other positives.

You’re Only Asked Easy Questions

This may seem counterintuitive. After all, if the company likes you, why would they ask you challenging questions? But interviewers ask tough questions to candidates they’re considering because they want to see how they think on their feet and will react to tough job situations.

If they aren’t actually considering you, they’ll stick with the easiest questions to answer.

The Interview Never Gets Personal

A job seeker answers questions during an interview

When interviewers are interested in a candidate, they will attempt to get to know them on a deeper level than questions like “What are your strengths?” can accomplish. They will often engage in chit-chat to make sure you’d be a good culture fit and to make sure your personality will mesh well with other team members.

If questions stay surface-level, there aren’t follow-up questions based on your answers, and the interviewer is cut and dried instead of diving into more personal questions, you’re probably not a top candidate.

There’s No Mention Of Next Steps

A recruiter goes over the next steps with a job candidate during a job interview

Typically, at some point in the second half of the interview, the hiring manager will bring up salary expectations, references, or follow-up interviews. Even if they don’t do this, they’ll at least tell you at what point you should hear back about moving forward with your candidacy, or the estimated time by which they’re trying to fill the position.

But if an interview ends without a discussion about what the next steps in the process are, it probably means there won’t be any.

3 Ways To Turn Your Interview Around

Young professional has a positive response to an interview question

So, what can you do if you start seeing some of these signs throughout the interview? There’s a chance that you may not be able to turn it around if the interviewer has already made up their mind—but there are a few tactics you can employ to give yourself the best shot.

Stay positive – Remember that there’s a good chance the interviewer is having a busy day, has a million other things on their mind, or just doesn’t have a very friendly or engaging personality. By projecting confidence and positivity, you have a chance to turn around their first impression.

Ask great questions – This approach has two potential benefits. One is that you can ask the interviewer outright if they think you’d be a good fit for the role—that way, if they bring up a specific concern they have with you or your experience, you have the chance to address it. Second, many recruiters and interviewers find that the type of questions a candidate asks says a lot about them. By asking insightful, thought-provoking questions, you may be able to increase the interviewer’s positive perception of you.

Think of it as practice – Even if you feel pretty confident that you won’t get the job based on these signs, you can at least view the interview as good practice for a job that’s a better fit for you. Try your best, and make a mental note of what you can improve next time.

Interviews are difficult, and no one likes knowing that their conversation isn’t going as well as they’d like. But by employing these tactics, you can have a better sense of what your interviewer is thinking and attempt to course-correct to get the job.

Need more help with your job search?

Join our community 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.

Top Brand Marketing Trends Leaders Must Incorporate

Top Brand Marketing Trends Leaders Must Incorporate

Marketers today are constantly trying to stay ahead of the curve with their brands in this fast-paced world, maintaining a sense of relevance with their audience. As a result, it’s critical to build competitive marketing strategies.

Here are five brand marketing trends that marketing leaders must incorporate into their strategies to drive results.

Focus On Video & Live Stream Content

Short-form video is a popular and highly effective marketing tool that is here to stay due to its virality. Of all the video formats, short-form has the highest ROI and is also #1 for lead generation and engagement. Source. With constrained budgets, short-form videos can be produced quickly, easily repurposed into other content, and cost-effective. This format is a great way to grab people’s short attention spans and communicate your message quickly. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Snapchat Spotlight, and Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram Stories prioritize short-form content in their algorithms, making it easier for brands to reach a wider audience.

In addition, the global live stream market will reach more than $247 billion by 2027. Source. Live streaming is gaining significant traction and gives brands unique opportunities to engage with their audiences in real time. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok have integrated live streaming into their platforms, allowing brands to reach their followers easily. Additionally, live streams can be recorded and shared after the fact, allowing brands to continue to reach new audiences even after the live stream has ended.

Here are several short-form videos and live-stream options to grow your business:

  • User-Generated Content Videos: Created by customers or fans of a brand and are more likely to be trusted than other forms of marketing.
  • Behind the Scenes Videos/Livestream: Provide a glimpse into the inner workings of your brand or company by showing off your culture, highlighting your employees, giving a day in the life, providing insights into your process, and fun bloopers.
  • Explainer, Informational, or Education Videos: Great for explaining complex concepts or ideas and encouraging customers to learn more about your brand.
  • FAQs Videos: Answering commonly asked questions makes the customer buying journey easier.
  • Testimonial Videos: Powerful marketing tools where customers share how much they love your brand.
  • How-to Videos: These are booming with the rise of “TikTok Taught Me” videos and are simple step-by-step guides for “how-to” to accomplish a specific task.
  • Expert Interview Videos: Interviewing subject matter experts.
  • Series Videos: A series of videos that have a particular theme, topic, or story and are released sequentially.
  • Q&A Livestream: Allows viewers to ask questions in real time, bringing a sense of closeness. As you provide answers, you show that you value their input.
  • Webinar Livestream: This live conference or presentation typically consists of one or more speakers who provide valuable information, insights, and knowledge while taking questions from viewers to drive interactivity.
  • Influencer Takeover Livestream: Partner with an influencer who discusses your brand, showcases your products/services, and engages with their followers.
  • Product Launch Livestream: Showcase your product in action, demonstrate key features, benefits, and functionality in real time, explain the problems it solves, answer questions, and build hype for new product launches.

Focus On Social Media Marketing

Over four billion people are using social media, which is expected to increase to six billion by 2027. People spend more than 2 ½ hours per day on social media. This should be a key part of your marketing strategy as it allows you to connect with your audience on a personal level authentically. Many people, especially Gen Z, use social media for everything from connecting with family and friends, filling their spare time, learning something, getting advice, seeing what’s trending, searching for jobs, finding what to buy, and answering life’s big questions. Source. Social media platforms allow brands to reach consumers in the medium of their choice. Here are three ways to use social media:

  1. Social Commerce Expanding: Virtual shopping has boomed and is expected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2024. Eighty percent of Gen Z and millennial shoppers have bought a product they’ve seen on social media feeds. Consumers have many options today: Instagram Shopping, Facebook Shops, and TikTok have been testing their “Shops.” Brands today can provide customers with a direct way to purchase without leaving the app, providing a virtual storefront.
  2. Social Media for Customer Service: Social media has evolved into a customer service platform. Twenty percent of Gen Z and nearly 25% of millennials have contacted a brand on social media for customer service. Source. People increasingly expect brands to offer social media customer service support. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
    1. Set up a dedicated handle for social media customer support
    2. Create social media guidelines
    3. Monitor brand and business conversations
    4. Be proactive and manage customer expectations
    5. Respond timely and always respond
    6. Go the extra mile
    7. Take public conversations private
    8. Try a chatbot for common customer service requests
    9. Use a social media management tool for efficiency
  3. Social Media Influencers Will Continue to Influence: We are seeing a shift in brands building longer-term, authentic partnerships with creators who can develop and maintain trust with their audience, promoting the same brand over time, leaving behind influencers who will partner with any brand that pays. For constrained budgets, micro- and nano-influencers (creators with fewer than 10K followers) are an excellent option for driving awareness and engagement. While influencers require more personalized management and relationship building, they can target niche audiences with a greater ROI. Sixty percent of marketers say influencer marketing has a higher ROI than traditional advertising. Sixty-one percent of consumers trust influencers’ recommendations, and more than 38% trust branded social media content. Here are the top influencer trends to watch:
    1. Live Shopping With Influencer Campaigns
    2. Marketers Spending More on TikTok
    3. Emphasis on Creators Across Multiple Platforms
    4. Performance-Based Deals
    5. Influencers & Professionals Will Become More Specialized
    6. Increased Influencer Collaborations
    7. Influencers Changing Affiliate Marketing
    8. Employee-Driven Content Will Increase

Focus On The Customer Experience

Every year, $1.6 trillion is lost in the U.S. due to consumers switching brands after receiving lousy customer service. Over a third of customers say they will leave a brand they love after one unpleasant encounter, while 92% will walk away after two to three negative interactions. And 76% of customers expect consistent interactions across departments they interact with; however, 54% say it feels like sales, service, and marketing teams don’t share information. The great news is that increasing customer retention by 5% can boost profits by 25% to 95%.

Here are several trends to consider for your customer experience strategy:

  • Understand the Customer’s Perspective: Create a customer journey map, a visual representation of the customer’s experience with your company. This can provide valuable insights into every stage of the customer journey, the factors that directly or indirectly motivate them, and what’s needed to create a cohesive experience. You’ll need to connect with all the departments interacting with your customers, gathering data such as customer touchpoints, needs, barriers to customer service, attitudes, motivations, perspectives, emotions, pain points, and problems your products/services need to solve for your customers.
  • Hyper-Personalized Experience: Customers want hyper-personalized, tailored experiences that speak directly to them. Ninety-one percent of consumers are likelier to shop with brands that recognize them, remember past transactions, and provide relevant offerings and recommendations. Personalization now means that customers want us to know them, anticipate their needs, remind them of what to purchase next, consider their best interests, and create a branded experience that feels special. This can be achieved by using data analytics to provide behavioral insights that help you make that personalized experience that keeps customers returning for more.
  • Chatbots to Aid Customer Service: Chatbots have a greater impact on the consumer experience, with 90% of businesses reporting larger improvements in the speed of complaint resolution. Seventy-four percent of consumers prefer using chatbots when looking for answers to simple questions. Incorporating a chatbot feature can help you take your customer service to the next level. Here are five chatbot trends to consider:
    • Voice Assistant Chatbots Gaining Momentum
    • AI-Powered Chatbots
    • Conversational Commerce
    • Chatbots Will Automate Payments

Focus On AI Technologies

Artificial Intelligence means a machine to accomplish any task that requires “intelligence.” Today, AIs are just statistical models that make good predictions using probabilities and math. ChatGPT and Bing AI are the latest in the line of AI technology blowing up in the news lately.

ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, was thrust into the news recently with Microsoft’s announcement of its multibillion-dollar investment in the company. Microsoft then unveiled a new version, Bing AI, that ChatGPT powers. It works by typing in a question, and it will respond, laying out the answer and providing context. It is simple to use and provides results in an instant that look like a human produced them. It has its shortcomings. It’s still learning, which means it can give wrong answers, is not a human expert, and has its bias, to name a few. You need to understand the limitations and use it as a co-editing tool, helping to train it while fact-checking your work. Here are seven ways you can incorporate ChatGPT and Bing AI into your business:

  • Blogs/Podcasts
  • Social Media Posts
  • Video Scripts
  • Research
  • Content Creation
  • Ad Copy
  • Keyword Targeting Suggestions

Focus On Social Responsibility

Consumers today are loyal to brands that practice social responsibility. As a result, 90% of shoppers worldwide will likely switch to brands supporting a good cause. Social responsibility is no longer an option but a commitment, and that’s why businesses are shifting the way they think about marketing (89% of marketers in 2023 plan to invest in social responsibility content vs. 45% in 2022). It’s not about generating leads; it’s about building trust with consumers so that they feel comfortable supporting your brand. Here are key trends that have emerged:

  • Increased Transparency: Consumers are no longer satisfied with shady business dealings and are demanding to know more. As a result, companies are more transparent with their social responsibility. Marketers are highlighting the following social responsibility efforts in their marketing campaigns:
    • Recyclable packaging
    • Societal issue awareness through promotions/campaigns
    • Advocating for social justice
    • Directing portions of purchases or profits to charity
    • Running one-for-one campaigns to donate products to those in need
    • Company-sponsored community services or activities
    • Promoting fair trade
  • Focus on Sustainability: Corporate sustainability is more important today than ever. Although 90% of business leaders think sustainability is necessary, only 60% of companies have a sustainability strategy. The good news is that 67% of companies have started using more sustainable materials, such as recycled materials and lower-emitting products. Here is some example of approaches you can take in your marketing initiatives to be more sustainable:
    • Donating profits to sustainable causes
    • Sourcing sustainable materials and packaging
    • Creating a product/service that focuses on sustainability
  • Think Global, Act Local: Acting locally involves making an impact within local communities where a company’s footprint resides and where employees live, work, and play, elevating the wellness of everyone. How does this impact your marketing initiatives? Consider the global implications of your product launches to your marketing campaigns while also considering the needs of your local target market. Think about how your product/service or marketing campaign will be received by people in different cultures around the world and the impact on the environment.

The key is staying on top of these trends, being flexible, and being open to change so your business doesn’t become a dinosaur. Start building your brand leadership today. You’ve got this.

21 Coworker Farewell Messages That Stand Out From The Pack

21 Coworker Farewell Messages That Stand Out From The Pack

Writing a farewell message to a coworker is something that many people struggle with. Even if it’s someone you’ve worked with for years, it can be hard to know what to say! This guide will teach you how to craft an excellent farewell message to a coworker who is departing, no matter who the colleague […]

The post 21 Coworker Farewell Messages That Stand Out From The Pack appeared first on Career Sherpa.

How To Choose The Right Internship

How To Choose The Right Internship

Are you a student nearing graduation, or someone looking to gain valuable experience? An internship can be an invaluable experience that helps you gain much-needed skill sets and grow professionally. The only problem is you may not be exactly sure of what you want to do for a career.

So, how do you choose the right internship?

Displaying relevant work experience should be your primary goal. Those with internships on their resume can sometimes land jobs quicker and earn higher salaries. This is because an internship can be a gateway to gaining skills, marketing those skills, and leveraging those skills to find the right career.

Here are some things to consider when chasing the right internship…

Don’t Base The Decision On Money

Professional man/intern counts his money

An unpaid internship can lead to a great return down the road, not to mention a lucrative job offer. Focus your internship selection on companies that are looking to grow and expand, and possibly bring you in after graduation to advance their company to the next level.

Be A Self-Starter

A self-starting intern looks at her watch at work

Finding the right internship is very much like a traditional job search. It’s important to have an idea about some of the jobs you may want to pursue, then make a bucket list of companies that you are interested in interning at.

Perhaps the company you want to intern for does not generally accept interns or advertise internship opportunities. Sending a cover letter that expresses your keen interest in interning for the company or offering to volunteer 10-20 hours a week can go a long way. Show initiative, passion, dedication, and pursuit of success to the prospective company.

This is also a great networking strategy because even if you don’t get an immediate opportunity, you begin to start to a conversation with people at these companies, and they may keep you in mind whenever an opportunity comes up.

Select An Internship That Will Allow You To Build Essential Skills

A young professional/intern takes an online course to develop her skill sets

There are certain essential skills that matter in the workforce when looking to grow your career. Leadership, collaboration, project management, and relationship building are among some of those intricate skills. When looking into internships, research the types of skills that you will obtain during that internship.

Having a list of skills that you want to build upon will allow you to find out during the application and interview process whether those skills can be accentuated while serving as an intern. During the interview, ask about the mentoring program for interns, training and support, projects and assignments, and the performance criteria for feedback. Strong internship programs will provide all of these objectives.

Attend Networking Events To Meet Executives And Business Leaders

A group of professionals/interns take part in an online networking event

Meeting local business leaders and executives at virtual and in-person networking events can allow you to leverage your impact and can also provide you with great insight into the companies they work for. Don’t forget to connect with these important persons on LinkedIn, and always follow up with a personalized email or phone call to reaffirm your gratitude for meeting them.

Overall, choosing the right internship for you can bring forth a future working opportunity that leads to full-time commitment and advancement with introductory training and experience.

Need more help finding the right internship for you?

Join our community to learn how to find an internship and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.


3 Ways To Convey Quantifiable Information On A Resume

3 Ways To Convey Quantifiable Information On A Resume

The words you choose to use and how you present information on your resume can dramatically impact the results you get. As a job seeker, you have to remember that your goal with your resume is to make an immediate impact by impressing hiring managers and recruiters with something you have that they want. One of the best ways to do that is to offer quantifiable information.

Quantifiable information allows hiring managers and recruiters to measure the degree of knowledge and skills you have to offer. It is a way to inform them about what and how much you can bring to the table.

To make an immediate impact with your resume, try these methods:

1. Provide Context And Scale To Your Information

Happy woman quantifies information on her resume

When you think of quantifiable information, the immediate thought is to go to the results you’ve garnered. But on the resume, there’s more that can be quantified.

Don’t leave out the subject matter. You can talk about how many clients you managed, how many people on the team you had to oversee, or how many products you were involved in marketing across Europe. Putting a number against the subject matter can say a lot.

For example, when you say, “Managed the launch of products across Europe,” it tells a bit of information.

When you start to add in numbers like, “Formed 6 new partnerships within a year to support the marketing of 5 new products across 10 markets in Europe, which resulted in an increased of revenue by 90%,” it says a lot more.

Some other words to help you along the way include “doubled,” “tripled,” and “reduced by.” We recommend you add at least one number to each bullet point on your resume. If you can’t quantify something in that bullet point, it probably doesn’t belong on your resume.

2. Use Numbers And Figures

Job seeker on phone and laptop quantifies information on his resume

When you talk about results on your resume, you need to find a way to make it stand out. Putting it in a bullet point helps, but just as important is applying numbers and figures to the statement. When you add numbers and figures, it’s easier for the eyes looking over your resume to catch these bits of information.

For example, when you write, “Reduced time lag by eighty percent,” it’s not as easy to take notice of it.

When you show the actual numbers and figures like, “Reduced time lag by 80%,” it catches the eye much more quickly.

The general rule here is to show it when you can—don’t spell it!

3. Toss Out Fluff Words & Talk About Real Achievement

Woman on laptop writes her resume with quantifiable information

Anyone can say they’re a go-getter, strategic thinker, results-driven… yadda yadda yadda. But why should the employer believe you? What proof do you have to back up those statements?

The point is to prove your abilities and skills as a professional on your resume. Work with words like “on time,” “under budget,” “improved,” “saved,” and “negotiated” while also applying appropriate numbers and figures (as discussed above) to help you make your point.

It’s about time you turn that resume fluff into quantifiable information! Once you see the difference it makes in your job search, you’ll never go back to the old way of writing resumes.

Today’s hiring managers and recruiters go through enough resumes each day to know when they have a candidate who’s a real winner and one that’s simply all talk on the resume.

When you put your experience in context and scale the subject matter, as well as apply numbers and figures with some of the suggested power words, your resume will come across with impact and results hiring managers and recruiters can’t deny as impressive.

Need more help with your resume?

Join our community to learn how to write an effective resume and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

How To Work For Yourself & Become Self-Employed (In 5 Easy Steps)

How To Work For Yourself & Become Self-Employed (In 5 Easy Steps)

Are you tired of working for other people? Do you want to break free from the “golden handcuffs” that have held you hostage in your career up to this point? If so, you’ve probably considered self-employment.

Sure, you can imagine what it would be like to work for yourself, but it’s a lot harder to actually make the jump from traditional employment to self-employment. If you think you’re ready to become self-employed, you might be wondering how you can successfully freelance and make money doing what you love and only what you love.

Follow these five steps to become self-employed so you can start working for yourself instead of an employer:

5 Steps To Becoming Self-Employed & Working For Yourself

1. Identify Your Workplace Persona

Your Workplace Persona is essentially how you like to create value as a professional. You can take Work It Daily’s Career Decoder Quiz to find out what your Workplace Persona is. Once you discover your Workplace Persona, it will show you how to determine your value.

Some examples of what your Workplace Persona could be are Visionary, Optimizer, Builder, or Educator.

Which one are you? Your results will reveal your value as a business-of-one—the first step you need to take to become self-employed!

2. Analyze Your Experience

Once you identify how you add value as a professional, you should analyze your experience to showcase the specific ways in which you create value on the job. What have you accomplished in your career so far? What skills have you developed? Where is the bulk of your expertise?

Quantify your work experience and accomplishments. Add these numbers to your resume. As a freelancer, you need to have examples of your work and the results you get customers (employers) so you can land paying gigs.

3. Research Other Self-Employed Professionals

When you finally embark on your self-employment journey, the easiest way to learn the ropes is to research how other self-employed freelancers with the same skills market themselves. For example, if you have great writing and editing skills and want to get into freelance writing, research how other freelance writers market themselves to companies and clients.

An excellent tool to use for this research is Contra, a commission-free freelancer site and community for independents where professionals can create portfolios to showcase their personal brands. Use Contra to research how other portfolio users (freelancers) are showcasing themselves, and take notes. How can you replicate what other freelancers are doing in your freelance journey?

4. Set Up A Portfolio

After researching freelancers’ portfolios, it’s time to set up your own freelance portfolio. Create a portfolio using a site like Contra that showcases your ability to create value for employers.

It’s not enough to just have an optimized LinkedIn profile as a freelancer. You need to have a portfolio. A profile gives clients information about your skills and experience and usually lists your entire work history. A portfolio allows you to take personal branding to the next level by showcasing your best work and detailing your abilities as a professional.

A good portfolio can open many doors for you in the self-employed world.

5. Publish & Promote Your Career Story

The final step in becoming self-employed and working for yourself is to publish and promote your career story, another great method to strengthen your personal brand and stand out to potential clients.

An easy way to promote your career story is to share your expertise and success stories on social media and attach your Contra portfolio URL to it. For example, if you are a graphic designer, share the story of the first time you fell in love with graphic design so that people can understand where your passion for your work originated. Then, include the link to your Contra portfolio so they can go see examples of projects you’ve completed.

Benefits Of Self-Employment

For many professionals, self-employment is the dream. This is due to the benefits associated with self-employment that you may not have with a traditional job. If you can land one of the many self-employed jobs out there, you’ll likely reap these benefits:

Independence

No boss, no problem! As a freelancer or independent contractor, you won’t have to answer or report to anybody but yourself and your customers. You’re in charge. If you prefer to work alone and like to be independent on the job, being self-employed would probably make you happy. But it’s important to remember that being independent doesn’t mean you can’t collaborate and work well with others. Collaboration, teamwork, and good communication skills are essential in every job, no matter if you’re self-employed or working a traditional job.

Control

Being self-employed is a great way to regain control of your career. You get to control your pay rates/salary, the jobs/projects you work on, and when you sit down at the computer and get the work done. When you work for an employer, you have limited control over these things. It’s easy to feel powerless when working for a company. If this bothers you, self-employment is the answer.

Flexibility

Life is unpredictable. If work-life balance and flexibility are important to you, you’ll likely enjoy one of the best benefits of being self-employed: having the ability to structure your workday how you want to. While some people might like the structure of a 9-to-5 job, you do lose out on flexibility where it matters most. The beauty of being self-employed is that you can create a routine that works best for you and structure your day around more important things in your life (family and friends, hobbies, exercise, etc.) because we all know you should work to live not live to work.

Satisfaction

When you’re a freelancer or independent contractor, you can pick and choose which jobs you take, eliminating the work you don’t find inspiring or meaningful so you can focus on the work that does inspire you and align with your passions. Job burnout is real, and it happens quicker and more frequently if you’re working on things that drain you and don’t really matter to you or have any real impact or importance. Ultimately, being self-employed can eliminate the “busy work” common in 9-to-5 jobs. The work you do as a freelancer is often a better reflection of who you are—your values, beliefs, and goals. It is more satisfying work because, in your eyes, it has a purpose. There’s a good chance you’ll feel more satisfied in your career because the work you do ignites your passions instead of extinguishing them.

Freedom

We all need to make money but we don’t want to sell our souls working for a bad employer. With self-employment, you’re free from the “golden handcuffs” that have held you hostage in your career up to this point. When you start to feel like you’re a slave to your job, that’s when you know you need more freedom in your career. Being self-employed can give you that freedom. There is something so liberating about making your own decisions about work.

As you can see, there are many benefits of being self-employed. Self-employment has a lot to offer professionals who are self-disciplined, responsible, good at time management, and self-motivated. If this sounds like you, and you’re willing to give up traditional employment for the chance to be more in control of your career, why not give self-employment a try?

How To Tell If Working For Yourself Is Right For You

Self-employment concept

Working for yourself gives you more control over your career, but that may not be right for you. Just because you’re unhappy in your current job and want to experience the benefits of self-employment doesn’t mean you’d thrive as a freelancer.

The decision to work for yourself shouldn’t be impulsive. It deserves to be made with careful deliberation. It also requires a lot of self-reflection.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering if working for yourself is right for you…

Am I Self-Disciplined?

  • Can you rely on yourself to get things done no matter how you’re feeling?
  • Do you push yourself to reach your goals even in the face of adversity?
  • Are you able to consistently control your actions, feelings, and emotions?

Am I Responsible?

  • Can other people rely on you?
  • Do people believe you when you say you’ll get something done?
  • Are you usually the person in charge?

Am I Good At Managing My Time?

  • Can you effectively organize and plan out your day to get all of your tasks done?
  • Do you always meet deadlines?
  • Are you able to prioritize work to maximize productivity and efficiency?

Am I Self-Motivated?

  • Can you get things done without external motivation (money, fame, etc.)?
  • Do you frequently reach goals without pressure from others?
  • Are you someone who lets their enthusiasm and interest drive their achievements?

If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, there’s a good chance you’d thrive working for yourself (or even just working a side hustle).

Now that you know becoming self-employed is right for you, let’s look at some self-employment job ideas.

Self-Employment Job Ideas

If you want to make money as a self-employed professional, it might be difficult knowing where to start. Check out these job ideas if you’re serious about working for yourself:

Freelancer

The most common job title you might have if you’re working for yourself is “freelancer.” Freelancing is not limited to writing, social media management, or graphic design. You can also get freelance jobs editing content (written, video, etc.) for a website, recruiting for a company or agency, or being a virtual assistant or project manager for a client.

Online Tutor

If you’re knowledgeable about math, science, writing, or language, consider tutoring to help educate students. You don’t need formal training to be an online educator or tutor, but it might help to gain a license or certification. No matter if you prefer to work with students in person or online, there’s always the potential to start your own business!

Personal Trainer

Although you’ll likely need to complete a certification program to be a personal trainer, it’s a great way to make money if working for yourself is a priority. This self-employment job idea is perfect for people who love staying active and are passionate about helping others reach their health and fitness goals. As a personal trainer, you can work with a gym or start your own personal fitness business.

Real Estate Agent/Investor

There are always people buying and selling homes. If you want to help people buy their starter homes, dream homes, or anything in between, a real estate agent might be the right job for you. A real estate license is all you need to become a self-employed real estate agent.

Becoming a real estate investor might be more lucrative, or it could be an excellent source of passive income, depending on your focus. As a real estate investor, you’ll buy property and either resell it or manage it as a rental.

Photographer/Videographer

Have a passion for photography and/or videography? If you have the skills and a strong portfolio, you can definitely make a living capturing moments for others. This is another lucrative job, especially if you provide services for big events like weddings, graduations, and various types of corporate events. The best part is that you can choose your specialty and combine your interests. Whether you’re passionate about nature, travel, or food, your camera is ready to make you money!

These are just some job ideas to consider if you’re looking to become self-employed. As shown above, there are many different types of opportunities to work for yourself. You just have to pick a direction and go!

And remember to follow these five steps:

  1. Identify your Workplace Persona
  2. Analyze your experience
  3. Research other self-employed professionals
  4. Set up a portfolio
  5. Publish and promote your career story

Working for yourself isn’t for everyone. But if you like the benefits associated with self-employment, have determined that working for yourself is right for you, and are ready to become self-employed, follow the five steps I’ve outlined above. With tools like Work It Daily and Contra, you’ll easily transition from traditional employment to self-employment and finally enjoy the freelancing lifestyle!

4 Phrases Your Boss LOVES To Hear

4 Phrases Your Boss LOVES To Hear

If you want to put yourself in a position to build a strong professional relationship with your boss, while growing your career and managing up, you have to prove yourself as a reliable employee. Taking the right kind of initiative can go a long way toward strengthening your relationship with your boss.

It’s important to keep in mind that managers are not only responsible for your role and responsibilities and to a degree your career; they’re also responsible for their duties as well.

If you really want to prove yourself to your boss, think of ways to work these four phrases into your work vocabulary:

“Here’s A Potential Solution”

A boss listens while his employee shares an idea with him during a work meeting

Bosses hear A LOT of problems. And more often than not, they are expected to come up with a solution. The thing is, if it isn’t their problem, they are not going to actively seek out solutions. Therefore, when you come to the boss with a problem, immediately follow it up with a proposed solution.

This accomplishes two things. First, it shows your manager that you are solution-oriented. You took the time to examine the problem and think about ways to address it. Second, your solutions are essentially saving the boss time and energy and those are both gifts to your manager. This approach is a huge win for you and the boss.

“Here’s An Idea”

Two co-workers go over some ideas with their boss during a meeting

You should be a student of your company. You should be very familiar with the company’s goals, mission, and vision. You should also have a very good understanding of the company’s challenges. When you know these challenges, you should spend some time each week working on ideas to solve those challenges that the company faces.

When you go to your manager to say you have an idea that will positively impact the company’s bottom line, everyone wins. Bosses should love to hear ideas on how to make things more efficient and profitable. Look for these ideas whenever you have downtime at work.

“Let Me Show You”

An employee graphs out an idea in front of his boss during a work meeting

On time-strapped days, it is so much easier to show someone something than it is to tell them. When pitching something to a boss or sharing an idea or even solving a problem, show him/her what you are talking about. Sketch it out, give them a flow chart, or show them anything visual and talk them through it. If you can, make a quick prototype. It is so much easier than using just your words when the chances are good that the boss is distracted.

Think about it. When you show people what you are saying, you have captured two of their senses: hearing and seeing. If you give them something to hold—even better (three senses). This gets their attention and allows them to truly evaluate what you are trying to do for the boss or the company.

Always try to show people what you are talking about. It allows them to react to your idea in a more connected way.

“I Could Use A Little Mentoring”

Bosses are not solely responsible for your career. This is your responsibility.

If you need new challenges or want new opportunities, it is up to you to scope those out and present them to your boss. If you don’t know how to do something or think that you could develop your skills even further, it is up to you to ask for mentorship.

As the protégé, you must take an active role in carving out time for the relationship. When you seek mentorship from your boss, know that it may not be the boss who becomes your mentor. Your boss may not even be the right mentor. However, they can be the one who facilitates an introduction. When you ask for this type of guidance, your boss knows that you own your experience and will work to support you.

Building a solid relationship with your boss is the key to getting where you want to go in your career. These relationships will follow you throughout your career. These bosses will likely one day be the person you call on to be a reference. And when it comes time to be a reference for you, you want them to say that you were solution-oriented, respectful of their time, and full of an entrepreneurial spirit.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Thank You Email After A Phone Interview: Tips & Examples

Thank You Email After A Phone Interview: Tips & Examples

Sending a thank you email after a phone interview is something that all serious job seekers should do. But unfortunately, many people aren’t sure where to start and what to include. This guide will teach you how to write a great thank you letter to send after a phone interview, helping you make a strong […]

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