âA lawyerâs duty is to read the law well himself, then tell the people what it is, and let them act upon it.â â Brigham Young. Legal careers can offer an individual a wide range of possibilities for personal success and professional growth. There are different areas in which one can specialize, from Cybersecurity and […]
The post <strong>Passion Meets Profession: Crafting Your Legal Career</strong> appeared first on Jobacle.com.
There’s a lot of great job search tips and advice out there! There’s also a lot of not-so-good advice. At the end of the day, it’s better to take action than do nothing. Start today! This week’s summary features good information from sources I trust and value (and I think you should too). Be sure […]
The post Summary Sunday: Issue 541 appeared first on Career Sherpa.
Halloween is here! The chill is in the air. The leaves are turning on the trees. Bags of candy of every description practically fall off the shelves into your basket as you wind your way through the grocery store. And everyoneâespecially the kidsâhas their Halloween costumes picked out.
Halloween isn’t just for children, though.
Many adults enjoy having the opportunity to dress up in costume and celebrate âAll Hallows’ Eve.” Many businesses feel obligatedâor enjoy, as the case may beâdecorating for Halloween the same way they decorate for Christmas.
A dilemma a working professional could face as Halloween approaches is what sort of activity and what type of âcostume” to consider wearing to work. While you want to have fun, you also need to display good judgment.
So, when it comes to celebrating Halloween at work, remember to keep these five rules of thumb in mind:
If you are new to the company, check out what the policy is around celebrating Halloween at work. It may not even be allowed, and you don’t want to show up as the only one in costume looking foolish (or worse, having to go home to change!).
If costumes are allowed or even encouraged, use good taste. Be clever, but not ghoulish. Be original. Think of something you can put together from things you have at home. You don’t need to spend a fortune to have a clever costume.
If you can add to the festivities by decorating your office (or your desk) with something that is seasonally appropriate, do that as long as it falls within your workplace policy. This gets your office more into the holiday spirit, and it gives you the chance to show off your personality!
Make sure you aren’t the one who goes “too far” in celebrating Halloween. Use good judgment around everything you say and do around the holiday.
If you are in a position to have candy on your desk or in an area where people can help themselves, it might be appreciated. Make sure the candy is the type that is individually wrapped, though. Also, make sure you’re cautious of any food allergies in the office.
Putting candy out helps you celebrate Halloween, but it could also help you get to know your co-workers better. They could stop by your desk, have a piece of candy, and chat for a minute or two.
At the end of the day, Halloween is one of those holidays that some people enjoy and appreciate, and others do not. Do your homework ahead of time to make sure you’re celebrating within the company’s guidelines. The last thing you need is to be called to the boss’s office because you used poor judgment or displayed poor taste over a holiday.
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.
Whatâs the one piece of advice given over and over to interviewees? Prepare. Research the company, research the role, take time to analyze whatâs going to be required of you, and take time to assess your own abilities.
Thatâs the advice that Direct Line Group Careers gives to its applicants on their insurance jobs site. So, what do you do when you take this sound advice, but mid-way through a promising interview situation youâre thrown a question that you couldnât possibly have prepared for?
Tough interview questions are becoming more popular for interviewers to gauge how adept a candidate is at thinking on their feet. Without their prepared answers to fall back on, how an interviewee reacts to a question that seems utterly random can be revealing.
The good news? If youâre applying for a role that you have a lot of passion for, in an area where youâre naturally talented or well-practiced (without necessarily having direct working experience), these questions are a great way to show off your abilities. The bad news? Thereâs not much you can do to practice for a question thatâs deliberately obscure. But thatâs not to say itâs completely impossibleâafter all, the purpose of any interview is to see how good a fit you are for the role and the company.
So, however wacky the question is, the recruiter will probably be hoping for you to consider the context in which itâs being asked when it comes to your answer. That means if youâve researched the role youâre applying for and know what is going to be expected of you, chances are youâll have a good idea of the type of logic and thought process theyâre looking for when you make your reply.
Below are a few genuine curveball questions that have been asked in interview situations; while none of them have a necessarily right or wrong response, theyâll often fit into fields of purpose. One way to prepare for curveball interview questions is to get used to looking for what the intention is behind the weirdness!
What theyâre really asking: Are you creative? Can you see the bigger picture, or are you focused on the detail? Are you happy to improvise, and are you a good communicator?
What theyâre really asking: Are you logical? Do you have a good knowledge of probability and equations? Can you figure out an effective method for solving problems and assess its viability?
What theyâre really asking: How creative are you when it comes to problem-solving? Do you have an eye for important details? How do you improvise under pressure?
Theyâre all challenges: challenges to normal interview structure, challenges to your ability to think on your feet, and logical challenges that reveal your thought process. Most importantly, donât see a curveball question as an attempt to trip you up: see it as an opportunity to show that you relish a challenge.
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.
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. healthcare industry was experiencing a shortage of workers at every level, and since the pandemic, the demand for trained healthcare workers is louder and even more desperate. Hospitals, clinics, hospices, long-term care facilities, private practices and more need help, and if you are looking to pivot your career, […]
The post Non-Medical Healthcare Jobs That Need Your Help appeared first on Jobacle.com.
You just got a new LinkedIn connectionâwoo-hoo! Okay, now what? How can you start building your professional relationship with this person so you add value to each other’s network?
Here are some tips for getting a dialogue started with new LinkedIn connections…
If you’re having trouble thinking of what to say in your initial message to your new LinkedIn connection, start with your subject line and then elaborate.
You can say something as simple as “Thanks for connecting!” or even “It’s great to meet you!” If you enjoyed an article they wrote or shared, you can say something like, “Loved your article!” or “Thanks for sharing your insight!”
If you met your new LinkedIn connection in person at a networking event, mention something specific like, “It was great to meet you yesterday at the ABC Event!” or “Wanted to continue our conversation from yesterday.”
Send your new connections a brief message to introduce yourself, or reintroduce yourself if you’ve previously met. This will give them a refresher and will help jog their memory from when you last spoke.
Take a look at your new LinkedIn connection’s profile and see what you have in common. Do you share a similar skill set? Do you volunteer for the same organization?
Find something you share and start a conversation around it. It will make it easier for you to break into a real dialogue. Plus, it will help build a stronger personal connection between the two of you.
In order to have a strong network, you need to constantly offer value to it. When you meet a new connection, make it clear that you’ll be a valuable contributor to his or her network.
You can say something like, “Please let me know how I can help you achieve your goals,” or “I’d be happy to support you in any way I can.”
Don’t ask for anything right off the bat. It makes you look greedy.
It’s important to build a relationship with this person before you ask for any favors. They’ll be more likely to help you out once they know who you are and that you’ll return the favor.
Don’t be afraid to start a conversation with a LinkedIn connection ever again. Use these tips, and you’ll successfully grow your professional network.
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.
Whether you’re a seasoned manager looking to hone your leadership skills or an aspiring leader focused on developing a strong foundation, the journey to becoming a more effective and empathetic boss is a continuous process of self-improvement. Being a better boss is not only about increasing productivity and profitability; it’s about fostering a positive and productive work environment, nurturing the growth of your team, and, ultimately, achieving success collectively. So what strategies can help you become the kind of boss your team looks up to and respects?
We recently asked our leading executives for their best tips on how to be a better boss.
Here are their responses…
Being a better boss isn’t just about holding a position of authority; it’s about inspiring and guiding your team towards success. Effective leadership is a skill that can be developed over time, and it’s essential for creating a positive work environment and achieving outstanding results. If you want to become a better boss, consider implementing these 10 strategies:
1. Lead by Example:
Great leaders set the standard for their team. Demonstrate the work ethic, attitude, and behavior you expect from your employees. If you want your team to be punctual, dedicated, and collaborative, show them that you are all those things and more.
2. Communicate Effectively:
Open, honest, and clear communication is at the heart of good leadership. Be approachable and listen actively to your employees. Share your expectations, provide feedback, and keep your team informed about company goals and progress.
3. Empower Your Team:
Trust your team to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Encourage creativity and problem-solving. When employees feel empowered, they become more engaged and committed to their tasks.
4. Provide Constructive Feedback:
Offer both praise and constructive criticism. Acknowledge your employees’ achievements and, when necessary, offer guidance for improvement. A balance of positive and negative feedback fosters growth and development.
5. Set Clear Expectations:
Ensure that your team understands their roles and responsibilities. Clearly define goals, objectives, and performance metrics. Clarity in expectations reduces confusion and enhances productivity.
6. Foster a Positive Work Environment:
Create a workplace culture that values respect, inclusivity, and teamwork. Recognize and celebrate individual and team achievements, and encourage a healthy work-life balance.
7. Lead with Empathy:
Understand your employees’ needs and challenges. Be empathetic to their personal and professional situations. This will build trust and strengthen your relationships.
8. Develop Your Team:
Invest in your employees’ professional development. Offer training opportunities, mentorship, and guidance to help them grow and advance in their careers. When your team thrives, your organization does too.
9. Manage Conflict Effectively:
Conflict is a natural part of any workplace. A better boss can manage conflict by addressing issues promptly, remaining neutral, and facilitating constructive resolutions.
10. Be Adaptable:
In today’s ever-changing world, adaptability is a vital trait for leaders. Be open to new ideas, technologies, and approaches. Embrace change and guide your team through transitions with confidence.
Being a better boss is an ongoing journey that involves continuous self-improvement and a commitment to creating a positive and productive work environment. By leading by example, communicating effectively, empowering your team, and fostering a positive culture, you can become a leader that inspires and motivates others to reach their full potential.
Remember, leadership is not just about the title you hold; it’s about the impact you have on the people you lead. By applying these strategies, you can become the kind of boss that people respect, admire, and are eager to follow.
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.”
Here are some ways to embrace being a better boss.
1. Lead by Example: The most effective leaders are those who don’t just talk but walk the walk. Be the change you want to see in your team. Demonstrate the qualities you expect from your employees, such as dedication, punctuality, and a strong work ethic. Your actions will inspire others to follow suit.
2. Effective Communication: Communication is the cornerstone of effective leadership. Make an effort to be a better communicator. Listen actively to your team members, provide clear instructions, and offer constructive feedback. When your team feels heard and understood, they’ll be more motivated to perform at their best.
3. Empower Your Team: Great bosses empower their employees. Trust your team to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Provide opportunities for growth and development and encourage them to take on new challenges. When your team feels valued and trusted, they’ll be more engaged and motivated.
4. Recognition and Appreciation: Never underestimate the power of appreciation. Recognize and celebrate the achievements and efforts of your team members. A simple “thank you” or a public acknowledgment can significantly boost morale and motivation.
5. Continuous Learning: A better boss is one who never stops learning. Stay updated on industry trends, leadership best practices, and management techniques. Invest in your personal development, and your commitment to growth will inspire others to do the same.
6. Conflict Resolution: Conflicts are inevitable in any workplace. As a better boss, learn to handle conflicts with tact and empathy. Encourage open and respectful communication among your team members. Use conflicts as opportunities for growth and improvement.
7. Work-Life Balance: Show that you care about your team’s well-being by promoting work-life balance. Encourage employees to take breaks, use their vacation days, and maintain a healthy work-life equilibrium. When your team is well-rested and happy, they’ll be more productive and motivated.
8. Set Clear Goals: Ensure your team understands their roles and responsibilities by setting achievable goals. When your team knows what’s expected of them and sees a clear path forward, they’ll be more motivated to work towards those goals.
9. Lead with Empathy: Understand that your team members have their own needs, ambitions, and challenges. Show empathy and compassion towards their personal and professional struggles. Your empathy will foster a supportive and motivating work environment.
10. Inspire a Shared Vision: Paint a compelling picture of the future for your team. Share your vision and goals, and rally your team around a common purpose. When your team believes in the mission and sees how they contribute, their motivation and dedication will soar.
In conclusion, becoming a better boss is not just about managing people; it’s about inspiring and motivating them to reach their full potential. Committing to being a better boss creates a positive and empowering work environment where everyone can thrive. Remember, leadership is not about being in charge; it’s about caring for those in your account.
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.
I worked for a company where, upon joining, I swiftly realized that my direct reports were experiencing profound frustration. They expressed a strong sense of being undervalued, not only by the previous boss but also throughout the marketing organization and with senior leadership. To be an effective leader and align efforts with business objectives, I recognized the need to identify and rectify the underlying issues swiftly. Here are five key strategies I used to enhance my leadership and become a better boss for my team:
Employees value bosses who are generous with information, time, praise, and coaching to help them excel at their jobs. Itâs about fostering a supportive and motivating work environment.
Lisa Perry helps companies drive revenue by using consumer trends, insights, and data analytics to innovate their approach to marketing.
You’ve certainly heard that using a powerful personal brand message will make your executive resume a compelling readâand help you gain traction in your job search. But how do you go about defining and capturing your brand?
Intensive processes, such as the 360 Reach Personal Branding exercise, can often help pinpoint your brand elements and strengths. However, you can conduct your own research and analysis to create a compelling message suitable for your executive resume.
While pinpointing your own personal brand (and writing a compelling executive resume from it) may seem daunting, you can break the process into these manageable steps:
One of the easiest ways to encapsulate your message of ROI is by taking stock of how you solve problems and deal with obstacles at an executive level. If you’re having difficulty expressing your value proposition, try creating a list of your top 10 career achievementsâthe ones that have become your signature accomplishments over the years. (Think of it as your top 10 hitsâthe ones you’ve always thought of as defining your career and its trajectory.)
Any of the following can make your top 10 hits:
Next, write STAR (Situation or Task, Action, Result) stories for each top achievement, remembering to set the stage for each story by looking at the situation first, then your actions, and lastly, the outcome. J.T. O’Donnell, founder and CEO of Work It DAILY, also recommends the “Experience + Learn + Grow” model to formulate stories for employers. While tedious work, you’ll benefit from having this collection of powerful anecdotes in your job search.
Consider your reputation at work, influence on others, and leadership style (all critical components of an effective executive resume). Are you known as the go-to leader who builds consensus when negotiations are at a standstill? Have you become a turnaround leader capable of righting the ship? Chances are that you’ve carved out a unique nicheâand prospective employers need to know this about you!
Take the time to gather information from those affected by your work:
Now, assemble testimonials and feedback from credible sources, such as performance reviews, LinkedIn recommendations, letters of reference, or other kudos (even informal email messages). Create STAR stories from this data, and consider including a snippet or quote in your executive resume for additional reinforcement.
Executive resumes aren’t just high-level lists of achievements. To be truly compelling, the scope and reference points from your work need to be included as supporting details.
Consider pulling in specifics from among the following components of each job:
What these details will do for your executive resume is help round out your story, showing how your authority and impact have increased at each progressive step of your career. It’s all about the numbers!
You may have started to look at the data for your executive resume with a critical eye. What if it isn’t good enough to vault you to the next level in your career? How will employers know you’ve led significant change if there are minimal cost or profit results to report?
One of the best ways to distinguish yourself from the competition is to look precisely at them and gauge the difference based on context.
Here’s how to weigh your competitive differentiators:
These sure signs of effectiveness will help add a twist to your STAR storiesâemphasizing your ability to take on and overcome challenges that others failed to achieve.
Now that you’ve collected all this data, what’s the next step? Pulling it together into a cohesive story, of course.
Here’s where the stories you’ve built will serve as key components of your brand message and can be used in various places within your executive resume:
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.
If you’re still dressing like you did in the 80s, it’s time to retire that hair, makeup, or outfitâ¦and instead embrace some new style inspiration.
Fashion Challenge: Older professionals who don’t realize when it’s definitely time to update their look and have a major style makeover. Example: someone who is clinging to a hairstyle or fashion trend that was fashionable fifteen years ago, thinking it still looks good.
Don’t make an office fashion flubâknow when it’s time to update your look. Anything older than 10 years, unless it’s a gorgeous, classic Chanel suit, is outdatedâand it’s absolutely time to refresh your look.
Good example: The classic comedy Nine to Five, released in 1980, starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton, and tells the tale of three working women with diverse skills and personalities who rally together to change a dysfunctional business.
While the hilarious subject matter will never get old, and this is an entertaining film that should be watched over and over again, the styles these actresses wore in this 1980s classic are definitely outmoded, and should not be replicated today. Instead, gain inspiration from how these big stars are dressing now:
We’ll also look at some of our favorite television characters for added style inspiration:
TV Inspiration:
Like any other conversation, a job interview is a two-way street. It’s as much about how well you listen as it is about what you say. And there’s more to listening than simply hearing another person’s words.
How interviewers sit, how they ask their questions, and what they do while listening to your answers can tell you an awful lot about the direction the interview is taking.
Of course, during a job interview, the hiring manager is in the driver’s seat, so it’s critical that you’re able to read their cues. There are some general ways to figure out whether someone’s paying attention to you or not. Are they making eye contact? Leaning forward as you speak? Nodding their head? All good things. But often the message someone conveys is contained in ways that are more subtle.
Here are three things to “listen” for during the job interview…
No job interview question is simple. In every case, the employer is looking not only for insights into your skills and experience, but also for hints about how your thought process works, how committed you’ll be to your job, and how well you’ll fit into the company’s culture. Keep that in mind as you listen to each question.
If a hiring manager asks you to describe a time you met an aggressive deadline, for instance, they’re also trying to get a feel for how well you work under pressure and how you work with others under less-than-ideal circumstances. It’s not simply a question about nuts and bolts.
So, don’t limit your answer to the obvious. Remember that during job interviews, explaining how you got to a particular point can be as important as showing that you got there in the first place.
Obviously, you want to keep the manager’s attention during the job interview. Even if they’re one of those people who constantly check their cell phone while they talk, you can pick up hints about whether they’re engaged in the conversation.
The most obvious clue is whether they’re doing more than simply asking questions. A true dialogue is more than a Q&A. It involves stories, comments, and answersâfrom both sides.
If the hiring manager seems to be following a script, break up his or her routine by asking questions yourself. For example, after answering that query about meeting deadlines, ask if the hiring manager’s ever been in a similar situation, or whether you can expect to face tight deadlines as a part of the job at his company. If they ask for your opinion on a recent industry news event, inquire about their views after you’ve given them your own.
You want the interview to be a true conversation. A hiring manager is more apt to remember the candidate they engaged with than those who simply allowed themselves to be led through their checklist of questions.
Pay attention to signs that you’re losing your audience whenever you need more than a few sentences to answer a question. Some clues are obvious. The hiring manager’s eyes may wander, for example. Others are more subtle. Someone who’s been sitting forward may shift and begin rubbing the arm of their chair with their fingers.
Picking up on someone’s wandering attention will depend a lot on how well you read them. People differ, after all. A hiring manager who’s comfortable multitasking may be carrying on an engaged conversation even if they’re checking their email while they talk.
The trick is to look for signs that the rhythm has been broken. For example, if the multitasker allows pauses to creep into the conversation while they absorb an email message, chances are you need to refocus their attention.
Though the hiring manager asks the questions during an interview, the job seeker has plenty of opportunities to direct the conversation. Always be on the lookout for hints about the interviewer’s interests and engagement. You’ll find them in what they do, as well as in what they say.
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.
Someone once told me a corporation was a nasty thing to fall in love withâbecause it will NEVER love you back. This is something every job seeker should realize.
The rules of loyalty in the workforce are changing. No one can deny that. However, knowing this doesnât change the pain of getting laid off or let go. It hurts. It can wound. Each of us reacts in one of two ways: either by getting mad and hating the company we used to love, or by blaming ourselves in what can be called a state of numbness.
These wounds deserve every bit of healing we have. However, because our financial situation may depend on sweeping the pain aside and getting another job as quickly as possible, we might need a strategy for getting past this stage.
For those of you who canât afford to wait three months to regroup, lick the wounds, and find your emotional footing again, I offer these simple speed coping tips for the unemployed job seeker…
Stop replaying the day you got the pink slip. Stop repeating the story that is upsetting you. Instead, replace it with what you need to do right now.
Calm down. You can never get anywhere if your mind is still in fighting mode or if you are numb. Wake up in the morning and count 10 breaths. Allow your mind to come back down.
Allow the part of you that is angry to be angryâon the weekend when you can afford it. Allow that part of you that is sad or afraid to feel that way, after 5:00 pm when youâve completed your job search tasks for the day.
Find new ways to channel the emotion. If you punch, then punch a punching bag. If you shout, then shout in the car on the highway. If you cry, then give yourself space to do that. And when you are done, leave the emotion there.
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.
If your position gets terminated, should you mention that in your next interview? Many job seekers face this dilemma in their job search when they’re newly unemployed. First, you need to determine what type of termination occurred.
There are two types of termination: voluntary and involuntary. If you quit, that’s called voluntary termination. If it’s involuntary termination, there are two types of that: you got fired or you got laid off. And those are also very different. Fired means you did something wrong and they couldn’t keep you. Laid off means you did nothing wrong. They were in financial trouble and they couldn’t keep you. So as you go down that decision tree, you’ll have to clarify what type of termination happenedâwhat “terminated” means in your case.
My personal advice as a 20-year career coaching veteran is if you quit a job, make sure you tell the employer that information and explain why you quit. If you got fired from a job, you want to try to explain that as objectively as you can without making any excusesâowning your mistakes. And if you got laid off, tell them you got laid off. It was beyond your control.
I wouldn’t use the word “terminated” at all. Instead, I’d get very clear on what happened and I would use the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model to answer the “Why did you leave your job?” question in a way that’s very factual and succinct, that has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and is structured.
That kind of structured response is the most important thing to do in this situation because it shows that you’ve really thought about what happened and want to make sure they properly understand.
This is how you score points in a job interview. I see people every single day who have been fired or laid off from jobs using the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model to answer difficult interview questions. And then the recruiter and hiring manager say, “Great answer,” and move on because these things happen. They’re out of our control sometimes, or they’re in our control and we learn from them.
You need a better response. So don’t use the word “terminated.” Get really clear and remember the “Experience + Learn = Grow” model. You can do this.
Good luck, and go get ’em!
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!