Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Follow NASAs Lead Team Building

Follow NASAs Lead Team Building Follow NASAs Lead Team Building charlottenburger Pellerin knows team-building. He was NASAs director for astrophysics and led the team that built and later repaired the Hubble Space Telescope. Now he is president of his own consulting firm and teaches innovative team-building strategies based on his own experiences with more than 1,000 NASA project, engineering, and management teams.NASA teams, like all project teams, need two complementary abilities, says Pellerin. They generally know they must have hard-side technical knowledge and use project processes. They must also attend, perhaps equally, to the soft-side aspects of efficient teamworkwhich is not so obvious to them.In fact, this soft side can be downright uncomfortable for engineersborderline touchy-feely.Charlie Pellerin led the team that built and later repaired the Hubble Space Telecope.For this reason many engineers avoid the emotional side of team building. Pellerin insists, however, that t he most important determinant of team performance is managing a social or emotional force he calls team social context and that the individual abilities team members worked so hard to master are absolutely secondary.Social context drives performance 75 percent of the time, says Pellerin. Combined individual factors such as knowledge, skills, capacity, and motivation have only about a 25 percent influence on performance.Understanding Social ContextPellerin has learned that engineers are more willing to explore the social/emotional component when it can be presented using technical metaphors. For example, social context drives peoples collective behaviors as surely as bar magnets align iron filings, says Pellerin. Technical people understand coordinate systems, so we use what we call the 4-D Organizing System to reveal and manage social context.To understand how social context influences behavior, consider the following scenarios Making or receiving a marriage proposal Making yo ur first briefing to top management Having dinner for the first time with the family of your spouse-to-be Being at your bachelor or bachelorette partyEach of behauptung represents a social context. Would someone only observing your behavior easily determine which of these contexts you were experiencing? Absolutely.If your behavior is not appropriate to the context, would others sanction you? says Pellerin. Would you receive a kick under the table from your spouse-to-be if you behaved inappropriately? Context can be extremely powerful in shaping human behavior.The 4-D SystemTo manage social context and its impact on teams, Pellerin defined the four key dimensions or mindsets that high-performance teams and effective leaders must address to achieve success cultivating, including, visioning, and directing. These align with core human needs. He then identified the following eight key behaviors that occur within this coordinate system of four dimensions that can be developed to imp rove team social context Express authentic appreciation Address shared interests Appropriately include others Keep all agreements Express reality-based optimism Live 100-percent committed Avoid blaming or complaining Clarify roles, accountability, and authorityThe interplay between behaviors and contexts is critical for team development. Take expressing authentic appreciation, for example. Enhancing this behavior sustains a context of mutual respect and enjoyable work, says Pellerin. People solve difficult problems more easily when they are enjoying their work. This improved context, which influences everyone who interacts with the team, makes it easier to express authentic appreciation, creating a feedback loopbehavior changes the context and modified context enhances the behavior. This can be applied to all behaviors and associated contexts.A dozen distinguished technical team leaders from NASA and industry worked with Pellerin over the past decade to optim ize the 4-D System, an integrated suite of processes that include online developmental (assessment) tools, workshops, and context-shifting worksheets. All processes are designed to enhance the saatkorn eight behaviors and are effective for both team and individual development. Team performance generally improves about 5 percent with each 15-minute online session.Managing team social context is the most powerful team and leader development method in the world because it develops everybody simultaneously, says Pellerin. Our goal is to improve peoples lives, especially during inevitable periods of change, by enhancing performance for teams worldwide.Mark Crawford is an independent writer.Social context drives team performance 75 percent of the time combined individual factors such as knowledge, skills, capacity, and motivation have only about a 25 percent influence on performance.Charlie Pellerin, author of How NASA Builds Teams

Friday, December 27, 2019

How to Find the Right Mentor to Advance Your Career

How to Find the Right Mentor to Advance Your CareerHow to Find the Right Mentor to Advance Your CareerThe right mentor can take your career to new heights. Heres how to find the right one for you.The right mentor can be a powerful tool in your career arsenal, whether youre new to the working world or already well-established in your industry. In fact, Sheila Wellington, former president of Catalyst Foundation and author of Be Your Own Mentor, believes its one of the main reasons why men tend to rise higher than women in the workplace men are more likely to find career mentorship throughout their careers than women.Mentors can propel your career in innumerable ways. They can help shape your professional skills, teach you the ins and outs of your industry, help you navigate corporate politics, overcome adversity, and introduce you to the right people and resources to advance your career. Check out these five different types of mentorship below to find out how you can reap the benefits of professional guidance throughout your entire career.Seek a SenseiSome of you may think youve outgrown the need for a mentor, but that simply isnt true. As your career evolves, so will your requirements for a mentor. Consider what type of guidance youre looking for, given what stage you are at in your career. Do you want a veteran of your industry to help you clarify your career path, or are you looking for a leader to help you tackle the challenges you face in upper management?Look to senior executives in your company whom you admire, or well-known industry leaders who inspire you. Youll uncover a number of potential role models by getting involved in relevant professional associations. These groups provide countless development and networking opportunities for professionals of all ages and stages of their careers. Take a look at WEDDLEs Association Directory to find the right association for you.Enlist an Entrepreneur ExpertMentors arent reserved for your typical corporate prof essional. If youre an aspiring entrepreneur, there are many organizations designed with your needs in mind. From building business plans to raising capital, these groups provide mentorship opportunities to help you become a successful business owner.If you want to abflug your own business, get a mentor who understands your specific challenges. Check out MicroMentor, a group whichspecializes in pairing entrepreneurs with business mentors for free. Additionally, the organization Krash aims to help founders, entrepreneurs and innovators rapidly build the supportive personal and professional networks they need to be successful.Partner with a Peer MentorBefore you reach out to a senior colleague, consider the benefits of a peer mentor. These relationships work especially well when youre joining a new company, or if youre considering a career transition. In both cases, identify someone at the same career stage as you who knows the lay of the land and can get you up to speed quickly.Peer m entors can be especially helpful when youre looking for a job. Approach a fellow job seeker whos in the same line of work and join forces. By checking in with one another on a weekly basis and sharing information, youre automatically doubling your job-search efforts and resources. Concerned about the competition? Its unlikely that both of you will have identical goals and be perfect for the exact same job.Procure a ProtgYou dont have to be the mentee in the relationship to reap the benefits of a mentorship. If youre looking to gain management experience before your first management job, supervision others is a great place to start. Find out if there are opportunities to mentor your organizations interns or approach a more junior colleague and show him the ropes.The perks of mentorships only grow as your career progresses. Not only do many find the experience rewarding, but chances are, youll also learn a thing or two from your mentees. These relationships come in handy later in your career, too. Should you decide to look for a new opportunity, your former apprentices are great resources for job leads and likely to be enthusiastic advocates.Tap into Non-Traditional TeachersIt takes time to find the right person to be your mentor, and even more time to build a meaningful connection with that person. But that doesnt mean you need to wait to cash in on valuable guidance There are a number of alternative ways you can get advice to advance your career. Pick up a copy of Steven Coveys book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, or one of John C. Maxwells books such as The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership , and start reading.Use your laptop or mobile device to watch a TED Talk, a session of Levo Leagues Office Hours, or one of Lean Ins online lectures to continue learning while on the go.Mentors come in all shapes and sizes, each offering different types and levels of support throughout your career. Consider the mentors in your life to be your own personal board of directors, helping you learn and make the best decisions when it comes to your job search and professional development. Remember, mentorship isnt handed to you you have to ask for what you need. Dont be afraid to approach someone you meet and ask the questions you really want to know youll be amazed at what may happen

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Hiring discrimination against African-Americans has not changed since 89

Hiring discrimination against African-Americans has not changed since 89Hiring discrimination against African-Americans has not changed since 89When you send out a job application, getting a callback may, unfortunately, depend mora on who you are than what you can do. Racism in hiring continues to persist, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds. The newmeta-analysis of all available field experiments related to racial hiring discrimination found a sobering fact across decades that hiring discrimination has not declined against African Americans in 25 years.Since 1989, whites receive on average 36% more callbacks than African Americans, and 24% more callbacks than Latinos, the researchers from Northwestern University, Harvard, and the Institute for Social Research in Norway concluded. We observe no change in the level of hiring discrimination against African Americans over the past 25 years, although we find modest evidence of a decline in d iscrimination against Latinos.How hiring bias continues to persistTo test bias, the researchers analyzed experiments that used rsum and in-person audits. Inrsum audits, researcherssend out fake applications with equivalent qualifications and different ethnically identifiable names. For in-person audits, researchers recruit people of different races to apply for jobs and measure bias based on which applicants get callbacks.Even controlling for factors like geography, gender, education levels, and unemployment rates where the experiments took place, the researchers still found that progress in fighting hiring bias has been stalled since 1989 for African-Americans. For Latinos, the news does not get much better. The researchers found a possible decline in discrimination for Latinos but also noted that the trend is not statistically conclusive.Names have long been known to be the difference in whether or not you will get a response in your career. Gatekeepers can make decisions on wheth er you merit networking advice based on the name you put down in an email. One study found that professors were more likely to answer unsolicited requests for advice from fictional Brad Andersons than any other race.How you sound like can also be a deciding factor. Linguistics professor John Baugh got people with different ethnic dialects to answer a job advertisement in English, and found that those who sounded white were most likely to be told the job was still available.Hiring discrimination is an insidious practice because its victims may never realize what exactly caused the hiring managers silence. Why did this person never answer me back? The job process is not structured to provide this feedback. The meta-analysis into racial hiring discrimination is an illuminating look into how bias excludes qualified candidates before they even have a chance to make their case.To end hiring bias, the researchers recommend stronger oversight into how hiring decisions get made. Our results provide a strong rationale for affirmative action policies, the researchers told Harvard Business Review. Whether conscious or not, bias continues to affect decision making, and we find little evidence that this pattern will diminish on its own.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Customize this Outstanding Sample Pharmaceutical Sales Resume 1 Sample

Customize this Outstanding Sample Pharmaceutical Sales Resume 1 SampleCustomize this Outstanding Sample Pharmaceutical Sales Resume 1 SampleCreate Resume Sales Representative PharmaceuticalCareer Focus Pharmaceutical abverkauf position with a research-driven organization committed to developing and marketing products that preserve and improve the quality of life.Professional Profile Experience 14 years schlussverkauf experience, including national key accounts management, product launches, territory management, and training of national and retail sale associates.Technical Skills Good grasp of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, systems and disease processes, as well as managed care, the formulary system, and cost issues facing practitioners.Sales And Buisness Experience XYZ BEST CO., INC., Fullerton, California 1990-1997Cofounded construction company that specialized in fabrication of marble and granite, as well as installation of exterior finishes for commercial structure s. Developed marketing strategies for public and private-sector accounts. Served as primary contact regarding contracts, fees, billing, and project scheduling.Sales Built annual sales from start-up to $500,000. Identified niche market that delivered above-average returns, in many cases adding more than 20% to profit margin.Account Service Developed relationships with decision-makers that led to major contracts (e.g., Well-Known Theatre restoration, State of California prison, numerous medical office buildings).Expense Management Negotiated supplier discounts on purchases of raw materials implemented quality control system to control labor expenses at well-below industry average.ART IMPORTS, Los Angeles, California 1983-1990 Negotiated exclusivity agreement as sole U.S. importer and distributor of Sabattini, a premier collection of silver object dart and household implements.Event Management Organized promotional exhibits at major U.S. museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago and Museum of verwesen Art in New York.Education Diplomatic History University of Connecticut, Storrs CT.Bachelor of Arts in U.S. History Awarded Departmental DistinctionRutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.Languages American English, Fluent Spanish speaker,working knowledge Spanish reading and writing.Customize ResumePharmaceutical Sales Resume Questions1. What is the best design for a pharmaceutical sales resume?Adopt the formatting of our pharmaceutical sales resume sample by using a standard chronological format for your own application. This formatting is great for both experienced and entry-level jobseekers. Start with a summary statement, and then delve into your core qualifications. Work history should take up the most space on the page. Allow enough space to have a detailed description of each previous place of employment. Finally, you will end with your education. Applicants with less than 10 years of work experience should only have a one-page document while applicant s with more than 10 years can have resumes that are two pages.2. What goes in the qualifications section of a pharmaceutical sales resume?Some of the best skills to include on a sales resume include physical stamina, customer service, interpersonal skills, and self-confidence. Additional skills you will find on a pharmaceutical sales resume sample will relate to working with others and displaying digital prowess. Get specific when you can. Mentioning a particular software you worked with will help immensely, especially if the hiring manager uses an Applicant Tracking System, which scans numerous documents in a short amount of time to see which ones include desired keywords.3. What should you include about your accomplishments on your pharmaceutical sales resume?Before writing your resume, you should create a list of everything you have accomplished. This includes actual awards but should also entail promotions, problems you solved, and ways in which you aided your employer. If you h ave at least three points to discuss, then include them on your resume in their own section.4. What should your education section look in a pharmaceutical sales resume?You will see that a separate accomplishments section is optional, and the pharmaceutical sales resume sample may not have one. Our resume builder provides step-by-step guidelines for how to develop each section of your application. Our pharmaceutical sales resume sample puts the education section at the end, and you should do the same. You can put it more toward the top if you recently graduated from a prestigious university.5. Whats the best way to show you work well in a team on a pharmaceutical sales resume?Putting Team player in your resumes skills section is not enough. You want to include specific instances of where you led a team to success. Recount a story where your team faced challenges and met a goal. It is acceptable to toot your own horn on a resume, so feel free to shine a spotlight on yourself. The work experience section should be longest on your resume, as you can see from our pharmaceutical sales resume sample, so you have plenty of space to go into detailed anecdotes.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Learn What Employers Expect in the Workplace

Learn What Employers Expect in the WorkplaceLearn What Employers Expect in the WorkplaceIdentifying workplace etiquette is a lot more confusing nowadays than it was ever in the past. Although we all probably know what constitutes good etiquette while working with other people, we may not binnensee how the lines may get blurred when we take into consideration all that technology has to offer and how that may play into what can be seen as rude, inconsiderate, or unprofessional behavior by management and co-workers. One of the first things you should do at the start of your internship is to find what the companys policies and procedures are when it comes to the internet and electronic devices. Unlike college, many companies monitor internet use and strongly frown on using personal devices during work hours. Since you are supposed to be working during company hours, companies have every right to monitor your internet use and check your company email. Since students are not used to being monitored, many feel that its a violation of their privacy to have employers who place strict controls during their time on the job. What Do Employers Expect? Its best to be diligent up front rather than be identified for violating company policy when you log onto unauthorized sites or programs. Of course, each work environment sets its own rules regarding personal time and employees use of technology. Companies who make a practice of letting interns and new employees know their policies prior to starting employment usually have the fewest problems, but it is the employees responsibility to find out about these policies beforehand since they may be spelled out in fine print on any forms or contracts completed as a condition of employment. What Is Considered Professional Behavior? Being professional on the job is easy to recognize when it comes to dress code or getting to work on time, but can become blurred when new rules are set that have not been encountered before startin g a professional job. When you think of it, most students are pretty lucky as to the freedom they experience as a college student. Look on any college universittsgelnde and you will encounter students who are constantly using their cell phones. In addition, checking out websites for personal and college use is expected along with the ability to email anyone that you wish to be in contact with even if its during class. Remember that not all companies are alike but the following tips should help you stay out of trouble in your new internship or job. Be prompt in responding to all company email while on the job. Managers may wonder what youre doing if it takes a day or two for you to respond to important emails. If you are working on finding an answer before answering an email, it may be wise to let the person know this so that they dont think that youre not responding or that you didnt receive the email in the first place.Make it a point to find out your companys policies and procedur es when it comes to what is expected of its employees. You can check with the companys Human Resources Office which should be able to provide you with the necessary information. If not, check with your supervisor or check out the companys website. Its easiest to do this at the beginning of employment to avoid any embarrassing moments. Be mindful that any communications you send via email may be monitored by the company. Never send personal messages via company email. Your email history may be periodically checked and this can adversely affect you on the job. Its best to have a personal email account and use that for personal use while leaving your business account for all company email only.Some companies have strict policies on what employees may download on computers at work. Dont make the mistake of web surfing on the job because this could end up causing you to lose a job even though you may feel that you are not doing anything wrong. Be mindful of what you deutsche bundespost o n social networking sites. It may not be a good idea to boast about getting drunk at last nights party. Once you have a full-time job you are not only representing yourself, but you are also representing your company. Imagine having someone managing your hard earned money only to find that they are frequently engaging in immature and irresponsible behavior.?If you accidentally log onto a site thats prohibited, log off, and report it to the appropriate person such as the IT Department or your manager. Find out the companies policy on personal phone calls and personal cell phone use. Policies vary and can be anything from no personal phone calls while working to keeping personal phone calls to a minimum and use only when absolutely necessary. These tips may seem like no-brainers but can be easily overlooked by new professionals who have never encountered in the past monitoring of their personal use of technology and electronic devices.

Saturday, December 7, 2019

The Top Secret Truth About Customer Service Supervisor Resume Exposed

The Top Secret Truth About Customer Service Supervisor Resume Exposed A Secret Weapon for Customer Service Supervisor Resume When youre asking for a customer service position, consider the work description to find out what kinds of skills and go through the provider wants. If youre looking for a customer service management job, you will need to tweak your resume to fulfill the employers demands. Before you complete a work application, write your resume or walk in the interview space, find out mora about the organization and the position youre applying for. Your company will gain from my administrative and supervisorial management abilities. By offering a very clear and direct overview of your key skills, you are going to encourage them to carry on reading your resume. Candidates with good customer-service abilities and who have experience utilizing computer computer software applications should have the very best job prospects. With some research its possible to learn to appr opriately utilize them. Not targeting relevant keywords from the job might lead to your possible employer assuming that youre sending resumes at random to a good deal of jobs. Whatever They Told You About Customer Service Supervisor Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why Writing a perfect resume is never a simple task. Expressing such excellent qualities through Resume Formats available for the exact saatkorn gives you an opportunity to express yourself. In a resume the choice of a layout is vital. Customer support resumes typically include things like basic info in the resume header. Show respect Make certain you hear everything the customer must say without interruption. Customers will leid see the remedy to an issue, no matter how often you explain it to them.List up to 10 and select the ones which youre great at. Keep in mind that individuals differ, and not everybody wants the very same thing in the very same situation, so for your empathy to work, you will need to mai ntain an open mind and carefully observe others signals. There are lots of things to consider and most importantly, is the trustworthiness of the service you decide to use. If youre applying for work, any answer you give will be kept private and wont be used against you in any manner. Then ask how you are able to be of service, without assuming that theres a problem to start with. If you previously do the job for us, your answer wont be used against you in any manner. If you trained other employees, it indicates you have management ability, and a lot of experience. There are various tactics to come up with customer service abilities. It is an impossible task to supply decent customer service and have bad communication skills at the exact same moment. Even if youre not able to present your customer what he wants, by establishing rapport hell truly feel a degree of satisfaction with the experience. The Hidden Truth About Customer Service Supervisor Resume Thus, theres no need t o attempt to build one resume profile or write a single profile title that fits every position you need to submit an application for. If do not have any prior work experiences, you ought to compose a persuasive cover letter. Ally you must do is to correctly submit your order instructions and produce the payment. If you discover you cannot honor a deadline for some reason, get in touch with your customer before the deadline and say so. If youve ever worked in customer support, you are aware that it is a job which might not be glamorous, but is totally needed. Since youre going to learn how to earn a kickass customer service resume. Sometimes its going to be tempting to fight back, especially once you know the customer isnt right. A happy customer is a lot more likely to return and buy.Energetic Cafe Supervisor call has supervised customer in a number of the busiest cafes in the area. A customer service supervisor is going to have to deal with upset customers and frustrated em ployees. Resolved complaints as it is related to the Call Center.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Job interview question and answer Can you describe a time when you have taken initiative What was the result

Job interview question and answer Can you describe a time when you have taken aktion What was the result Job interview question and answer Can you describe a time when you have taken initiative? What was the result?Posted October 13, 2011, by Elissa Collier This is an important one No matter what industry you work in, the employer wants to know that you have the motivation and ability to take action when your job requires you to do so. They also want to see that you can think independently, generate ideas and make suggestions associated with the geschftliches miteinander. Give one example of a time when you have come up with an idea and how you went about seeing it through to completion. Talk about the challenges you faced along the way and how you overcame these to succeed. Maybe you came up with an idea for a new project, which would cost the company minimal overhead, but create maximum profits. You presented a proposal to the boss, persuaded them to take it on board and then succe ssfully carried it out. This shows that you can bring valuable skills to the job such as leadership, motivation and problem solving. Also, try to emphasise the importance of teamwork. For example, While I have the ability to take direction and work on my own, I am also an excellent team player and I firmly believe in working together to obtain the best possible results as a group. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesforensic psychologist interview questions and answershr business partner interview questionscover letter for cleaning job no experiencesample interview questions and answernursing interview questions and answers new grad CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineElissa CollierRelated ArticlesBrowse moreCAREER INSPIRATIONNew skillsThe 5 hour ruleIt takes hard work to become a success but it isnt all about the hours you put in. From 1 hour to 10,000, we give you the lowdown on how to improve your performance so you go beyond productive and into the big leagues.Career inspoOnline studyJustin a firm belieber in the value of educationDistance education is increasingly becoming the go-to for time-poor celebs like Justin Bieber and James Franco. Find out what all of the fuss is about.CAREER INSPIRATIONCareer inspoCareer In Focus - Social WorkConsidering a career in social work? We break down everything you need to know from qualifications and career prospects to salary range and why self-care is critical in this important profession.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

5 Ways Your Boss Could Respond to Your Two Weeks Notice - The Muse

5 Ways Your Boss Could Respond to Your Two Weeks Notice - The Muse5 Ways Your Boss Could Respond to Your Two Weeks NoticeTurning in your two weeks notice can be terrifying- because no matter how well you think you know your supervisor, you can never be 100% koranvers of his or her reaction. Will he be furious and insist on walking you out the door immediately? Will she beg you to stay, enticing you with an enormous raise? Or will he be completely civil and wish you the best of luck? However, if you know the right signs to look for, theres a good chance you can figure out what kind of reaction to expect- and that can make the conversation go much mora smoothly. Here are a few common reactions and how to anticipate which one youll receive. Reaction 1 Tempting You to StayIts a reaction thats both good and bad Your boss values you so much that he or she offers you a raise or promotion to stay. But it can leave you feeling conflicted You have another great job lined up- but now that there s more money on the table, do you really want to leave your current position?Spot the SignsYou may receive this reaction if youre a high-ranking executive or director. These positions can be difficult to replace quickly, so it may be worth it to your company to tempt you to stay rather than letting you go without a fight. It can also happen if you have extremely specialized knowledge that would make it challenging to replace you. On the other hand, if youre in an entry- or mid-level position, and someone could be hired into your position without much trouble, its less likely your boss will put up a fight- and a counteroffer. Prepare for ItThe best way to prepare for this reaction is to simply know your stance ahead of time by determining if you would even consider a counteroffer. Yes, it may be more money or a better title, but theres more to consider- including your career goals, level of job satisfaction in your current role, and the opportunities that your new role offers. Reacti on 2 Asking You to Stay Beyond Your NoticeIn this situation, you wont necessarily get the promise of more money or a better title- but your manager will ask you, perhaps as a personal favor, to stay a few additional weeks or months until the company is able to hire and train a replacement.Spot the SignsAgain, you may receive this response if you have specialized knowledge that would make it difficult or time-consuming to hire your replacement- or if it would be helpful for you to be actively involved in that search. However, it could also be the reaction if your company is approaching or is currently in a busy season and needs the additional staff, or its experiencing unusual circumstances, like a hiring freeze, which would prevent it from replacing you entirely.Prepare for ItLike the situation above, you should go into the conversation knowing how youll respond if your boss asks you to extend your notice. If youve landed another job offer and have already set a start date, this may not be possible- so practice sticking to your guns Because I have a new opportunity lined up, my last day here is firm. However, Im happy to help out however I can in the next two weeks.If you havent landed a new gig yet or your new start date is negotiable, know your limits. If youre willing to stay an additional three weeks, for example, dont let your manager talk you into staying three more months. Reaction 3 Refusing to Let You Work Out Your NoticeThis is perhaps the most dreaded reaction- that youll hand over your two weeks notice, and your manager will insist on walking you out the door immediately. Spot the SignsAccording to Alison Green, who writes the blog Ask a Manager, this is common practice for some industries, especially if youre leaving to work for a direct competitor. However, in those situations, youll likely know its coming and can prepare accordingly.Otherwise, look to the history of your company. How have your boss and other managers handled employees resignatio ns? If you see a pattern of upper management refusing to let the team members work out their notice, you can likely expect the same. Also think about your relationship with your manager. Would he or she have reason to think that youll waste your last two weeks or distract your co-workers instead of doing what you can to make the transition seamless? If so, you may be asked to cut your two weeks short. Prepare for ItYour best option in this scenario is to accept it with dignity and make sure youre ready to leave the office for good when you turn in your resignation letter, whether that means gathering up your personal items or making sure youve collected the names and contact information for the teammates and clients youd like to stay in touch with. Then, steel yourself for your managers reaction and react with grace.Reaction 4 Acceptance With DispleasureIts possible that your boss wont take immediate action like the reaction above- but will make it clear that he or she isnt exactly happy about your resignation.Maybe, for example, shell mutter a curt, Thank you for letting me know, followed by two weeks of obvious displeasure or denial that youre leaving- through gruff comments (You know, youre really leaving us in the lurch) or a refusal to interact with you more than absolutely necessary.Spot the SignsThe most obvious sign that youll receive this reaction is if you havent had a healthy relationship with your manager in the past. Maybe you continually challenged his ideas, and he took that as a sign of disrespect. Or, maybe she always made unreasonable demands, and you were never able to see eye-to-eye on your to-do list. Or perhaps his moods were completely unpredictable. In any case, if your relationship has been strained, you may receive a less-than-ideal response to your two weeks notice.Prepare for ItIn this case, all you can do is politely deliver your resignation, then strive to make the transition as easy as possible for your team. Your manager may not have the ideal reaction to your news- and your workplace may not be the most pleasant environment for the next two weeks- but to avoid burning bridges, its best to work through it with a positive attitude. Reaction 5 Acceptance With GraceThe best-case scenario- and honestly, the most common reaction- is that your boss will accept your resignation with understanding and sincere congratulations. Your manager will be happy to see that youre advancing your career and moving on to something bigger and better. Spot the SignsDo you have a good relationship with your manager? Is he or she relatively reasonable? Do you have regular one-on-ones where you talk about your career goals and growth? If so, its likely that your boss will accept your resignation with grace, help develop a plan of action for your last two weeks, and maybe even attend your farewell happy hour. Prepare for ItThis one is easy. All you have to do is smile and say Thank you so much for your support. Ive enjoyed my time h ere and Ive learned a lot from you. Let me know what I can do to make the transition easier. Are you always going to get reaction number five? Probably not. But if you look for the signs, you can likely anticipate your boss response, go into the conversation prepared, and come out stronger on the other side. Then, you can breathe a sign of relief and start looking forward to starting your new position.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Why #8216;Be Yourself#8217; Is Both the Best and Worst Advice You Can Get

Why 8216Be Yourself8217 Is Both the Best and Worst Advice You Can Get Why 8216Be Yourself8217 Is Both the Best and Worst Advice You Can Get Article by Isa AdneyA few years ago, I applied to Harvards doctoral program in education leadership (Ed.L.D.).I applied at the encouragement of a friend I figured I had notlagehing to lose.To start the process, I did what I usually do when Im doing something that terrifies me I reached out to people who were already doing the terrifying thing to ask for their advice.I welches amazed at how many current Harvard Ed.L.D. students were willing to help me. I usually just ask for a word of advice via email, but most of them talked to me on the phone and offered to read my essays and share feedback. It turns out they werent Elite-Snob-Way-Smarter-Than-Me-Robots, as I had perhaps subconsciously imagined.They were nice.In one of those preparation phone calls, one current student gave me this final bit of advice I know this may sound trite, but when it c omes to your application, really be yourself.Be yourself.Id heard it so many times. And honestly? I thought I knew what that meant. But this time, when he said it, something clicked. I knew exactly what he welches trying to say Dont be what you think Harvard wants you to be. Be you and see if Harvard wants that.Easier said than done.And especially hard to do for a straight-A student who is good at playing the game, learning the rules, and getting the A. Oh, you like flowery language? Done. You prefer essays that are more succinct? I can do that. Oh, you like when I show my work on the math test? Got it. You prefer I just write the answers? Done.In my first drafts of my application essays, I welches indeed trying to be what I thought a Harvard student was supposed to be. Not because I thought that would work (it usually doesnt), but because the real truth is that I didnt think I was good enough. I didnt think I was what a Harvard student should be.But since the guy giving me this adv ice was in the program, I took his advice and rewrote my essays to reflect who I really was. I sent in my Harvard application with the real me spilling out all over the pages.And then the strangest thing happened.I got an email from Harvard inviting me to the interview phase.My application had wasone of the top 50. Me and 49 other people would be flown out to Cambridge to interview in person, and then a month later, 25 of those people would be accepted.Being myself actually worked. I was going to Harvard for an interview.TheHarvardI decided to keep this whole being myselfexperiment going and take it a step further for the interview.I knew how interviews worked and how the game was played. Even when youre interviewing for a job and you simply need to pay your bills, you dont say Ill seriously do anything. I just need the money. Give me the job. Wheres the money?? Even if thats the truth.Instead, you say This company is the best company of all the companies, and Id practically do this job for free Hooray Yay you and your company And this is all Ive ever wanted to do with my liiiifffeeeeInterviewing for Harvard isnt quite like interviewing for a job, I had a gut sense of what I might need to do to get past this phase. I knew this program and its goals and what they were looking for backwards and forwards. I knew it was a program meant to train people who would transform K-12 education at a systemic level they were looking for people who would start innovative schools and become high-level administrators who could help make big, positive changes in the public school system.I didnt ever imagine getting asked to interview, because all my experience was in the community college world, not K-12. And also, I didnt have any career goals of being in administration. My heart was in writing, teaching, storytelling inspiring students on an individual level.But somehow, my passion for college access got me to an interview.I decided, though, not to pretend that I wanted the kinds of jobs I knew the program was preparing people for. I told the truth in the interview. I wasmyselfin a way I probably never have been before. And it felt great in the moment. I had a wonderful time. I made new friends. I felt like I had nailed it.A few weeks later, I got an email saying I did not get in.It was not a good time. The part no one tells you about being yourself is that, while eventually you can say,See, it wasnt the right program for me, initially all you feel isYep, I was right.I am an imposter,and Harvard saw me for who I really am and probably laughed their faces off. HA She thought she was Harvard material? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Now I know the truth Who I really am is not good enough.My heart was broken into sharp, little, Ivy League-crimson pieces. I wished Id never applied. I wished Id never been asked to interview. I wished Id never stepped on the campus or bought that stupid Harvard T-shirt or imagined myself studying in that library.I had many current H arvard students encourage me to apply again (one guy said he had a friend who applied three times before he got in). A few months later, I attended a Harvard Institute on the achievement gap and met the Ed.L.D. program director, who also encouraged me to apply again.Deep down though, I knew it wasnt right for me being a systems-level leader wasnt really my goal. Going to Harvard TheHarvard would have been so awesome for all the reasons youd expect. But the program itself? It was close, but not quite me.I decided not to apply again.But very recently, I did start applying to other graduate programs, and one alumnus from one of those programs an author and lecturer at Stanford University said this to me as parting application adviceIf youre a rhino, be a rhino. Even if you think theyre giraffes, dont be a giraffe, because then you might end up with a bunch of giraffes and youre a rhinoNow, dont get me wrong. The giraffes in the Ed.L.D. were awesome people. I am still Facebook frien ds with the current students who helped me and the amazing ones I met in the group interview. They rock and are doing amazing things to improve K-12 education at a systemic level.But if youre a rhino with rhino dreams, being in a graduate program structured to help giraffes reach their dreams might not help you all that much.Applying for graduate schools and jobs isbrutal. In applications, youre forced to put your worth to words, and, for me at least, it often makes me start to question how much worth I have at all.But somehow, I keep applying for things. I keep trying, charging my big stubborn rhino horn against all ansicht doors, hoping maybe one day Ill crash through.I still wear the Harvard T-shirt I bought the day before the interview. Oddly, I just realized Im wearing it right now. Ill admit, it still makes me sad. But it also reminds me that I tried. It reminds me that, sometimes, Im brave. And maybe thats good enough.A version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.c om.Isa Adney is an author and T.V. host named by GOOD magazine as one of the Top 100 People Moving the World Forward. She is currently writing a book about dreams. Follow her on Twitter or learn more at IsaAdney.com.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

10 things you should never do in an interview (and how to avoid it)

10 things you should never do in an bewerberinterview (and how to avoid it)10 things you should never do in an interview (and how to avoid it)Did you know that it takes the human brain less than one second to pass judgment on someones character? This means that within a tenth of a second of you walking into your interview, the hiring manager has already conducted an evaluation of your initial character based on your presence and appearance alone.Your interviewer has been trained to identify key signals to help them determine if you have the skill set and appropriate temperament to fit in with the organization and execute your job. The company will most likely have several other applicants interviewing for the role, and limited time to fill the position, so its essential for them to take all things into consideration during the interview process.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTh ats why, if it comes down to you and another candidate, one thing as minuscule as a buzzing phone can hurt your chances of securing the role. While you are prepping with mock interviews and researching the company, Career Group Companies president and founder, Susan Levine recommends these top 10 things you should avoid during the interview.1. Never Fail to PrepareReading the about me section on the company website while youre on the way to the interview will not give you the full scope of what the company does. Now, almost every company has multiple social media pages, an official website, and a LinkedIn profile. Check them out.How to avoid it Insta-stalking isnt just for snooping on exes. Do your research on the company, its founders, and your department.2. Never Be LateShowing up late to your interview sets a bad precedent before your potential new job even starts. If you cant make it on time to your first meeting with your prospective employer, how can they be confident that you ll show up on time once you get the job? More importantly, being late shows a lack of respect and consideration for others time regardless of the reason.How to avoid it Take a trip to the interview drehort if you can to calculate traffic and timing. If you cant make the trip, type the address into Waze or Google Maps at the approximate time youll be traveling over the course of a few days to get a sense of traffic and how long it will take you to arrive. Always give yourself a 15-minute cushion in case of any unusual traffic.3. Never Forget Your Resume (Bring Extra Copies)Your interviewer may already have a printed version of your resume on hand when you arrive, but you mucksmuschenstill need to be prepared in the event they ask you for a copy. Often, employers will ask you for a copy as a test.If they dont have a resume printed before your arrival, rather than have them comb through a sea of digital applications or stacks of resumes on their desk, you can easily hand over a copy to them. Youll also be prepared if you have to meet with any other department team members.How to avoid it Place your resumes neatly in a folder and pack it the night before your interview.4. Never Interrupt Your InterviewerInterviews can be nerve-wracking causing some people to appear and become overly enthusiastic. Regardless of how excited you are to list off your accomplishments and ideas for the company- which you should do at some point- its important to listen intently and pay close attention to what your interviewer is saying.How to avoid it The best kinds of interviews flow naturally. In order for this to occur, its critical for you to listen carefully. Take a moment to process his or her words before answering so you can craft a meaningful response. When its your turn, feel free to share any ideas, or revisit any of the points the interviewer brought up that will help position you as the perfect candidate.5. Never Dress CasuallyNever judge a book by its cover? Your book cove r is most likely always being judged as you walk into an interview. Thats why dressing professional no matter the organizations dress code ensures a better safe than sorry approach. Yes, even dressing casually for an interview at a company with an informal dress code can still be frowned upon. Your interviewer may be wearing sneakers and leggings, but he or she already has the job- you do notHow to avoid it For companies with a strict dress code, you cant go wrong with slacks/skirt, a button-down, and a blazer. If the companies a bit more on the casual side, opt for business casual. Utilize Who What Wear and Refinery29 for appropriate outfit ideas ahead of the big day.6. Never Wear Sunglasses on Top of Your HeadNow that summer is in full effect, you might be sporting shades every day. Out of natural habit, most people subconsciously push their glasses on top of their heads when they come out of the sun. Dont make this mistake. Similar to dressing casually it will give off the impres sion that youre not well-polished or taking this interview seriously.How to avoid it Keep your sunglasses at home or leave them in your car.7. Never Forget to Turn Off Your Phone and SmartWatch (Because its 2019)Putting your phone or smartwatch on vibrate will not suffice because a buzzing device can be distracting. Youll have to excuse yourself while you dig in your bag to silence your phone, or constantly look down at your watch as the notifications roll in. Any type of unnecessary interruption is distracting and can make you come across as unprofessional and unprepared. When choosing between two nearly perfect candidates, this type of incident could be the reason you dont make the cut.How to avoid Turn your phone or watch completely off before you enter the bro and leave it in your bag.8. Never Lose Eye ContactMaintaining consistent eye contact during an interview makes you appear confident, in-tuned and trustworthy. It is widely believed that avoiding eye contact during a conver sation can be an indication that you are disconnected or uninterested in the conversation, or could potentially be lying. You may have the usual interview jitters, but your actions could be perceived otherwise if youre staring up at the ceiling, out the window, or down at the floor.How to avoid it Practice mock interviews with friends or family members. Ask them to take notice of how often your eyes drift during the conversation. Record yourself with a camera so you can find and correct any bad interviewing habits.9. Never Walk in With a BeverageUnless your interview is in a coffee shop, dont walk into it with a beverage. It shows a lack of business etiquette, it can be a distraction, and it may give off the wrong impression.How to avoid it Hydrate beforehand.10. Never Project NegativityWhether youre having a bad day due to something out of your control or youre suffering from imposter syndrome, leave it at the door. Everyone has occasional bouts of negative self-talk but dont sabot age your own success. A negative attitude can be easily detected and everyone from the receptionist to the CEO will be evaluating your performance during the pre-hiring phase.How to avoid You landed the interview, right? So, youve clearly already impressed them. Use that confidence and take a few minutes to meditate and clear your head before you go in, if needed. Replace the negative thoughts with positive affirmations. You got this- be your true, confident self.Now that you are well-prepared on what to avoid, remember that you received an interview request for a reason. Your prospective employer is confident that youre just as impressive in person as you are on paper, but youll need to prove them right. Its easy for an eager candidate to overlook the aforementioned gaffes but no amount of experience or education can make up for these critical mistakes. Be sure to double-check our list before your interview and remain positive.Good luckThis article first appeared on Create and Cult ivate.