Leading a team of HR staff isn’t easy, and it presents a number of challenges. As a Human Resources leader, you need to make sure that your department operates efficiently and that your services are to a high standard, and these are huge responsibilities to have resting on your shoulders. While there are several different […]
The post Top Tips for HR Team Success appeared first on Jobacle.com.
A business relies heavily on its employees to succeed, so it makes sense that the more productive your employees are, the better your business will perform. Thatâs why, as a business owner, you should always be looking for ways to increase and encourage employee productivity. Of course, how you do this will depend on your […]
The post How to Encourage Employee Productivity: A Guide appeared first on Jobacle.com.
Business travel tips are necessary, because nobody likes travelling for business when their body is sore, their clothes are wrinkled, and they have screaming children wailing in their ears. The fact of the matter is that business travel is a billion dollar industry, and that if you havenât traveled on business yet, there will come […]
The post Business Travel Tips – Winning the Travel Battle appeared first on Jobacle.com.
Crafting a thoughtful and professional vacation request email is absolutely essential. Not only will it help you get your time off approved, it will also help your employer prepare for your absence. This guide goes over how to write a vacation request letter that checks all the boxes. Table of contents The Importance of Writing […]
The post How To Write A Vacation Request Email (Examples Included) appeared first on Career Sherpa.
At Work It Daily, we call our members “Workplace Renegades.” A Workplace Renegade is a person who believes in themselves and joins our community to finally take control of their career. They believe in working to live, NOT living to work. Bharat Kirthivasan is a top member in our community who exemplifies these qualities.
Below, Bharat Kirthivasan answers some questions about his career field and explains why he joined (and continues to participate in) the Work It Daily community.
@workitdaily Thank you Fatima for being the first to join our @tiktok social media campaignâ¥ï¸â¥ï¸â¥ï¸@fatimalhusseiny We can’t wait to share your story with the world! Check out our campaign to learn more! @workitdaily #workitdaily #WhyIWorkItDaily #careertiktok #careertok #jobtok #edutok #mywhy #purpose #passion #worktolive #live #life #love ⬠Epic Music(863502) – Draganov89
I am proud to be a part of the biopharmaceutical realm. We help protect people and improve their quality of life. All our decisions are made with the patient in mind.
In the future, I want to cross-functionally manage every aspect of a product from initiation to commercial output. Using these skills, I would like to intelligently discuss the value of successful projects and the company as a whole.
Work It Daily provides an understanding of how to apply for positions, how best to present yourself in interviews, and how to communicate your insights on interviews and during your career. I have observed another dimension of the hiring process.
A program manager works on some or all stages of drug design, initial clinical trials, drug development, and commercialization. Often, multiple projects are being managed in parallel. You get a bird’s eye view of scenario planning, staying within budget, ensuring departmental collaboration, monitoring progress, and succinct communication with upper management.
The major benefit for me would be an interaction between multiple departments and functions that are all working toward a common goal. I particularly like it because I enjoy working with people, critical thinking, and finding effective solutions to problems.
There is no formula per se. It is important to remember that life comes first and that an unhappy life makes it harder to thrive at work. When a project ends, do a quick retrospective: how good were your initial estimates on time, success metrics, other resources, etc.? Usually, a mad dash to the deadline negatively affects work-life balance; so, plan your work as much as possible (easier said than done).
You contribute to people’s health and quality of life. Also, this field blends biology, chemistry, engineering, numbers, and critical problem-solving. Deadlines are tight and people pull together to meet them.
You should strengthen your people skills, patience, attention to detail, and grit.
We hope you enjoyed hearing from Bharat about his career and experiences inside the Work It Daily community.
Do you want to become a Workplace Renegade?
Join our community to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
Do you know how to never fear getting laid off? Do you know how to make sure that you never have to worry about getting laid off?
It’s actually quite simple…
Twenty years ago, I left the corporate staffing and recruiting world, hopped to the other side, and became an advocate for you, the worker. And that’s because I saw an alarming number of people who didn’t understand that every job is temporary.
@j.t.odonnell @j.t.odonnell HOW TO NOT FEAR GETTING LAID OFF #edutok #learntok #jobtok #careertok #truth #career #jobs ⬠original sound – J.T. O’Donnell
Those full-time jobs with benefits, they’re an illusion. It can change at any time. Ask all the people from the Great Recession of 2008, or better yet, the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their jobs in the last six months. And they’ll tell you it’s all an illusion.
So what do you do? Because you want to feel safe, right? You want to feel secure. How do you get that security?
Well, it comes down to changing your mindset.
You need to stop thinking like an employee. Instead, start thinking like a business-of-one. Your job as a business-of-one is to sell and market your services to employers. For a business to stay in business (for you to stay employed or employable), it has to stay relevant in the marketplace. When you are confident in your skills and relevance as a professional, you don’t fear getting laid off. You know that every job is temporary, and if you get laid off, you can and will find another job.
This is just one of the seven mindsets that you now need in order to take control of your career and win as a Workplace Renegade. And when you truly feel in control of your career, you will never fear getting laid off again.
Need more help with your career?
Join our community to learn how to change your mindset and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
There are a lot of moving parts to a job search. Organization, follow-up, communication, and confidence are almost as important as having a good LinkedIn profile and resume. Do you have all the pieces in place? This week’s summary has information to help you become a smarter job seeker. You’ll learn about: If you enjoy […]
The post Summary Sunday: Issue #510 appeared first on Career Sherpa.
You don’t have to work in customer service to work with difficult customers. In the business world, a customer is anyone (an individual or business) that purchases your goods or services. Some might be your “clients,” but no matter what you call them, they have the potential to give you headaches on the job. Fortunately, there are many strategies and philosophies you can use to handle those difficult customers.
We recently asked our leading executives how they handle working with difficult customers.
Here are their responses…
Customers come in all shapes and sizes and what may be a difficult relationship for one executive might be in the charm zone for another. However, as a consultant, I sometimes struggle with clients who come to me because they have a problem that they could not solve but then do not give me the autonomy to solve it if this means that new strategies/systems proposed run counter to how the client had tried to solve their pain point in the past (and was unsuccessful).
This is an issue of control that often comes down to fear. So, to ease my client’s fears, I will communicate much more often and during each step of the process/service being providedâi.e., the creation of the initial work plan, ongoing impact/milestone reports, and a checklist of next steps/desired impact based on interim milestones/results of our work together. Some folks just like to have the road map out while they are driving down the road.
John Schembari is a current K-12 teacher/school leader academic improvement coach and former school building and district administrator. He loves to draw, travel, swing dance, and read nonfiction.
In our pressurized world, frustration and raw emotion can lurk beneath the surface. When triggered by unmet expectations, these are eight tips I’ve used to disarm and preserve goodwill throughout the buyer journey:
1. Seek to understand by interpreting their words and body language then reflecting back the thoughts and feelings heard.
2. Remember the affect heuristic mental shortcut that influences decisions and judgments based on views or past experience vs. the actual situation.
3. Begin with an âI donât knowâ mindset vs. prejudging them or their situation.
4. Focus on listening, understanding, and discerning the next steps vs. forcing an insta-solution.
5. Break a big problem into bits to solve one at a time.
6. Expect anger, donât personalize it, and realize they’re merely feeling misunderstood or undervalued and attempting to gain control.
7. Give them calm as an emotional signal to mirror.
8. Leverage available resources like a strategic pause to de-escalate, a screenshot to better explain, or a colleagueâs confirmation about the solution.
Lynn Holland is a business development executive with 18+ years of experience taking operational, IoT & retail technologies, products, & consumer engagement to market with a focus in petroleum & convenience retail.
âI am currently being a difficult customer with a professional services company.
Iâm a âreasonable person.â They have driven me to being difficult by losing my trust. I now question whether they are addressing my needs and doing their work correctly.
Firstly, they are unable to proactively and clearly communicate that the work is being done in a timely, accurate, and complete manner.
Secondly, Iâve had to chase them up over 1) not hearing from them as deadlines approach, 2) finding simple errors in their submissions, and 3) not having a crystal clear sense that they have considered âeverything.â
So, to answer the original question:
Win and keep the customerâs trust by doing the work. Make sure it is timely, accurate, and complete.
Most importantly, PROACTIVELY communicate this timeliness, accuracy, and completeness in a crystal-clear manner. Rinse and repeat on a regular basis and in a consistent format.
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+.
âOne of the amazing benefits of working for a marquee music artist is you get to travel on tour and see shows (like at Wembley Stadium – Summertime Ball) from a different perspective. Iâll never forget watching Flo Rida perform for HP and their top sales achievers meeting at a small awards dinner in Anaheim, California at the House of Blues. Flo Rida is known amongst booking agents as a professional, warm act that performs at a very high level for small and large branded events for C-Suite executives. Pure acts of kindness are always a part of his show, including jumping into the crowd. People touch him and hug him. (He holds toddlers too.) Most artists never engage like this; they pick up their check, perform, and fly out.
Flo Rida takes the time to learn the CEO’s name of the company or brand, prepares and repeats the product name in his mouth several times before he goes on stage, and includes the C-Suite spouses on stage to dance with him for his hit “Low.” If there are kids in the room he always brings them on stage and takes off his $20,000 diamond solitaire necklace and puts it on the child to make them feel special. (One show at a state fair someone accidentally walked off with it.)
I think Iâve watched the show 50 times and I am almost in tears every single time because itâs so good heâs such a great entertainer.
His mindset for customer service could and should be very arrogant based on his huge catalog of number one hits and gold records that heâs developed over his 30 years in the business, but heâs not. He doesnât operate that way. His mindset is always humble, and to not only meet but exceed his customers’ expectations, and to do that he makes his show very personal. His mindset is to make sure that he connects with the audience and with the VIPs in the room and recognizes the brand in his performance, by name, in his shoutouts. He extends random acts of kindness in this way, giving his fans, new corporate friends, and others a really close visibility into who he is, almost as though he provides a show that no one expected. He thinks through who would be in the audience, what would make an impression, and how could he make sure to re-book.
To me dealing with difficult customers starts with the mindset of including daily random acts of kindness and personalization in your daily routine as part of great customer service. Providing a personalized style of connecting with difficult customers in a different way and recognizing their personal interests. For example, for the customer that is upset over late shipping could a personal call or handwritten note with an extra product change the dynamic? Could a quick search on social media provide that the customer is located in Florida and loves football and, in addition to an apology and correction of the mistake, you try connecting with them by sending a custom Bucs flag from eBay? These random acts of kindness can offer a surprising result and create a snowball effect into other positive results beyond great customer service. Those word-of-mouth stories about receiving something personal are the key to managing difficult customers.
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.
Having difficult customers is really harsh, right?
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Taking prompt steps to turn difficult customers into ideal ones does not involve changing their personalities or getting them to see things only from your point of view.
It just takes a little bit of empathy and knowing how to approach the situation. Here’s what has helped me in the past:
1. Find the common ground
The first step is to determine what you and your difficult customer have in common. What are their goals? What do they want out of this situation? Once you’ve identified that, it will be easier for both of you to come up with solutions that will satisfy everyone involved.
2. Communicate effectively
Next up, make sure that everyone knows exactly where they stand. If there are any miscommunication issues or unclear expectations, it’s important to address these problems ASAP and make sure everyone understands the situation before moving forward with any plan or solution development process (or else we risk falling back into those same old patterns!).
3. Be flexible but firm
Once everything has been clearly communicated and agreed upon by all parties involved (and make sure that if/as needed things are in black and white).
The bottom line, I think it all comes down to communication. Let’s not forget that in addition, in this day and age, we have:
If we can communicate effectively and openly with our customers, we can figure out what their needs are and how we can meet them. If there is any misalignment or misunderstanding between us and our customers, this is where it will occur. If there’s no clear understanding of what they need from us and why they’re buying from us (or not), then we’ll have trouble getting through to them. We need to be able to answer questions like:
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.”
As a content creator and also doing sales and marketing, it’s important to know how to handle difficult customers.
I do want my customers to be happy and satisfied with the product or service that I provide. But, when that doesn’t happen, I need to know what steps to take next.
Here are some tips for dealing with those tough customer conversations:
1. Stay Calm: During a difficult conversation, it’s important to keep my cool and not get too emotional. If I can remain calm during the exchange and remain professional, then Iâm more likely to find a resolution that is agreeable to both parties.
2. Listen Carefully: Difficult customers are often the ones who are the most vocal. Instead of trying to talk over them, I take a step back and really listen to what they are saying. This gives me an opportunity to understand their point of view and come up with a solution that works for both parties.
3. Be Proactive: If I can anticipate the customer’s needs, then it’s easier to provide resolution or possible solutions. I try to communicate as much as possible and offer solutions before my customers have a chance to bring this up, as this shows that Iâm on top of the situation and willing to work together to find a suitable solution.
4. Be Understanding: No one wants their problem to go unresolved and customers are no different. If there is a problem with the way the content is shot or lit, or something else, I show understanding and empathizing with their situation will help them feel like they’re not alone in their struggle.
5. Follow Up: After the conversation is over, I feel it’s important to follow up with the customer and make sure that their issue was resolved correctly. This will help build trust and show them that you value their business this also adds repeat customers.
By following these tips, I can ensure that my customers are happy and that their issues are taken care of in a timely manner. Handling difficult customers can be tough. It does take practice and a lot of empathy, but with the right approach, I can ensure every party is happy.
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.
We can all relate to dealing with a difficult customer at some point. As a brand marketer, I donât interact with the typical customer. My direct customer interaction tends to be with internal customers, influencers, and strategic partners. Some of my most difficult customer interactions have been dealing with an internal customer who doesnât respect my team or me, which results in the challenge of getting anything done. Here are several tips on effectively handling working with a difficult internal customer:
Remember that dealing with difficult customers is difficult, but it’s important to remain professional and not take their behavior personally. By remaining calm and working with the customer to find a solution, you can turn a difficult situation into a positive experience.
Lisa Perry helps companies build leadership brands, driving loyal customers & delivering profitability. She does this through a process that builds brands consumers love. Her goal is to help companies develop, monetize, and grow their brands.
How do you handle working with difficult customers? Join the conversation inside Work It Daily’s Executive Program.
The difference between most areas of life and the job search process is that, in most areas of life, you know who your competition is. You can analyze the competition’s strengths, capitalize on their weaknesses, and prepare accordingly to give yourself the best chance to win.
The job search process is different: you don’t know who you are competing against.
Dozens, sometimes hundreds of applicants are competing for a single role within a company. And you never quite know how you stack up against them. So, how do give yourself the best chance to win?
The key is connection. When we connect with others (in this case, an interviewer), it is going to be harder for them to forget your name. Don’t make it easy for them to forget you. You have to focus on what makes you unique, and what makes you unique in relation to your interviewer.
Here are three ways you can connect with your interviewer:
When you are given the name of the person conducting your interview, the first thing you should do is research their role within the company. Find out as much as you can about their professional life: where they went to school, what roles they held before this one, and what big projects they’ve had the opportunity to work on.
This not only demonstrates your curiosity but also opens up a space where you can ask questions and connect with the interviewer on a deeper level (in a deeper way than you would if your questions were primarily focused on the job and company as a whole).
The goal is to find something you and the interviewer have in common. No matter how different your professional paths have been, there are commonalities. You just have to do the work to find them.
In some cases, it’s probably not the best idea to compliment your interviewer on their outfit. While it might be genuine or innocent, it can come off as insincere, even flirtatiousâand you likely won’t receive any “brownie points” for it.
Complimenting (the right way) is an art. For an interview, it comes down to research (again!) and specificity. Avoid complimenting your interviewer on their appearance. Instead, focus on their career accomplishments.
For example, if in your research you come across a project your interviewer worked on, don’t be afraid to bring it up. You can say something like: “I noticed you worked on X project last year. The solutions you proposed to deal with Y problem were really creative and original. How did completing this project change your role?”
By complimenting your interviewer in this way, you are focusing on the interviewer as a productive and valuable employee. They will remember how you made them feel long after the interview
Nothing engages an audience like a story. During an interview, you should think of your interviewer as your audience. Storytelling has the power to connect anyone. It can also help you ace those tough interview questions.
When asked about an obstacle you’ve overcome recently, don’t just go over the facts. Tell them a story. You might find the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model used for answering behavioral interview questions to be helpful.
But remember, every story should end with you on top. What did overcoming that obstacle teach you? What skills did you develop by overcoming it? How did it change your outlook on work? Life?
Don’t be afraid to get personal. That is, after all, how we connect with others.
Doing these three things in your next job interview will help you connect with your interviewer, therefore helping you stand out in the hiring process. Connection is the key to making your interview unforgettable.
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.
No matter what position youâre applying for, youâll probably have to answer âHow do you handle conflict?â at some point. And thereâs a reason for that! This question tells interviewers a lot about you, and they put serious weight on your response. Read this guide to learn how to answer it. Table of contents Why […]
The post “How Do You Handle Conflict?” How To Answer Effectively appeared first on Career Sherpa.
Before you start your new job, you have to take care of business at your current one. Depending on your relationship with your employer, this can be a difficult conversation. But, it doesn’t have to be.
Here’s how you can leave your job without burning any bridges:
We all would like to have a good relationship with our boss. That’s not always the reality, though.
Sometimes, we just have bad managers (which can sometimes explain the job change). But that doesn’t mean you can give them anything less than two weeks’ notice. Not only is it the polite thing to do but it might also be part of the company policy. And, even if you had a bad boss, maybe you loved your team and co-workers, so you should also consider them when deciding how much notice you give your employer.
For those who’ve been fortunate to have a respectful and trusting relationship with their boss, two weeks’ notice probably isn’t enough. It’s important that you maintain that foundation of trust and respect even when you’re leaving the job.
Unless your new job needs you to start in two weeks, it’s probably best to let your boss know you’re leaving a month in advance. If you have to start in two weeks, clearly explain your situation to your bossâand make sure you apologize for the short notice.
Honesty is the best policy when you’re breaking the news to your boss that you found another job. Walk them through your thought process to reduce the amount of misunderstandings. Have a good, open conversation. Communication is key here, like in so many other aspects of your professional and personal life.
Frame your conversation like a story to help your boss understand the situation. Talk about your career goals and how your next job is giving you an opportunity you can’t pass up. If they’re a good manager, they’ll respect your decision without giving you any grief or uncomfortably trying to persuade you to stay.
One of the most powerful forces in the universe is gratitude. Use it to your advantage when you’re having this tough conversation with your boss. Communicate your appreciation for your boss’s leadership and support. Make sure you say the words “thank you.”
Also, communicate your appreciation for your colleagues. Remember, these people are a part of your professional network. Your kind words might reach the ear of the person you’re complimenting, and they’ll remember how you made them feel. When leaving, it’s a good idea to be kinder than necessary.
And, most of all, thank your boss for the opportunity to work there! Without your boss, you wouldn’t be where you are now.
If you don’t really care how you leave your current job, it’s important to realize that it’s a very small world. Your actions at your current job could impact your job opportunities down the road. Word travels fast in an industry. You never know who your boss knows.
Don’t go out with a bang unless you want your quitting story to be told in other places of employmentâwhere you may one day apply for a job. Brand or be branded!
When an employee leaves, it’s a big transition for everyone involved. If you had a good experience working for your current employer, despite any difficulties with a boss or co-worker, it’s in your best interest to do whatever you can to make the transition as smooth as possible.
And if you decide to go out with a bang, make it a positive one.
Need more help with your career?
Join our community to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Every resume should be accompanied by the five parts of a cover letter. In this article, I am going to demonstrate the mechanics of a well written cover letter. I hope this provides some knowledge about the parts of a cover letter, and enables you to generate interest from a hiring manager.
A great cover letter has five parts: the salutation, the opening, the hook, the paragraph of knowledge, and the close.
Before writing your cover letter, you should research the company you’re applying to. This includes finding the name of the hiring manager who will be reading your resume and cover letter. Get a name, any name. By hook or by crook try to get a name. Sometimes you can’tâthen try Dear hiring manager.
The opening paragraph of your cover letter is your introduction and presents the reader with some immediate and focused information about your connection to the company. Don’t just reiterate what you say in your resume. Explain what you admire about the company you’re applying to. Essentially, you need to tell a story about why you want to work for them. It should “grab” the hiring manager and disrupt them in some way (hence a disruptive cover letter).
This paragraph should define some examples of the work performed and the results achieved. It should be connected to your resume. This does not mean you should copy verbatim what is in the resume. Rather, cover some key competencies that you feel define your success. Provide the hiring manager with some added context about your unique background, blending those facts with language from the job description. Set the stage for how you are qualified for the role you are applying to. But, don’t overdo it.
In the event you are highlighting some information not contained in the resume (if you are switching careers, or have a unique value proposition), this is the perfect place to cover that information.
Next, demonstrate something you know about the company (its goals, recent achievements, etc.) that prompted you to write. Then, select a couple of examples from your resume that you believe will impress recruiters and hiring managers. Reword these achievements and frame them in a way that shows the employers what you can do for them. This shows the reader that you did some preliminary homework and understand the company’s drivers and goals.
Try to include quantifiable examples wherever possible since numbers usually resonate more than words.
In the closing paragraph, quickly summarize what you offer, ask for the interview, and close by thanking the hiring manager for taking the time to read your cover letter.
It’s important to help the reader connect the dots to show them why you are a great job candidate, a business-of-one who can provide a service they need with a personal connection to the company that is invaluable.
That’s it!
Your cover letter should not include:
Need more help with your job search?
âJoin our community to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.