How to Zip It in Job Interviews

How to Zip It in Job Interviews I had a client see me last week because she was concerned she would go off on a tangent in her job interview. She said she talked so much she was afraid she would lose the interviewer or shoot herself in the foot with something she said. She’d done it before and blown her chances. Talking hind legs off donkeys? This is not uncommon in an interview. Many people talk too much when they want to be believed. And a job interview is a real scenario where your faith in yourself is being challenged. My client said she talked too much because she thought that the interviewer was asking her for “more information” when they were looking at her blankly, so she felt she needed to keep going and going. She’d eventually forget the question she was answering. She also said that she was trying to cover all points, because often she didn’t quite understand what the interviewer was asking her. My thoughts on this are, that if you are a chronic over-talker, to stop yourself talking and change your natural style will make you uncomfortable, so don’t try to be something you’re not in interview. What you can do though, is help the interviewer help you manage it. Have I confused you? Good communication is in how the message is received. There are some interviewers who like bullet points and some who like detail. If you’re a detail person, and your interviewer is a bullet pointer, you have a problem. You’ll not know this from the outset, so ask: “would you like me to give you detail or would you like the bullet points?” If you know this, you can work with this, and you’re more likely to stick with bullet points, if that’s what the interviewer prefers. You’re less likely to go off on a tangent at that point you see the interviewer’s eyes glaze over and you suddenly want to be believed. Try these three tips next time: Clarify:  If you don’t understand the point of the question clarify it at the start. Good questions to ask are “I’m not sure I quite understand the question” or “are you asking me about ‘a’ or ‘b’?” Once you get the point of the question, you can concentrate better on answering it. I know I am making this sound more complicated than it is, but think of what you naturally might do in a non interview conversation. Ask in chunks:  If the interview question is complicated and in two or three parts it is also easy to lose track of what you’re talking about. You can ask the interviewer to ask you that question in parts if it sounds like you might not remember it. For some reason long multi-part questions seem to be really common in the public sector interviews. I have no idea why! The body speaks:  Watch the interviewer’s body language. If you do see the “poker face/eyes glaze over” that’s a good indication that you’ve lost your audience. Whatever you do, don’t keep going. Keep it light and keep it real. There’s nothing wrong with saying something along the lines of â€" I don’t think I’ve answered your question here, can you ask me it again? Final word of advice: Make your weakness your strength. One of the things interviewers want to see is that you are self-aware. I am a detail person. I talk a lot and fast when I need to be believed. So one of the things that has worked well for me and my clients is saying “when I get excited about a topic I tend to give a lot of detail. Please stop me if you’ve heard enough.” Further reading: Are You Making These 5 Common Interview Mistakes?

5 Different Ways to Ask for a Raise

5 Different Ways to Ask for a Raise Even though you might have been happy with your position and your salary when you first took your current job, you might be ready to move up the ladder.Perhaps you have put in a lot of hard work and feel that you deserve a little bit of financial compensation for it, or you might just feel as if your wages have stagnated even though the cost of living hasn’t.evalRegardless, even though you might want to ask your boss for a raise, you might be a bit nervous about doing so. This is totally natural, but you should know that there are various ways that you can ask for an increase in pay.These are a few options that you can try if you’d like to try to increase your salary.1) Find Out About What Others are MakingevalIt’s not a good idea to ask your co-workers what they are making when you’re all standing around the water cooler. However, it’s never a bad idea to do your research about what others in a similar position as yours are making throughout your city and the rest of the c ountry.If you find that a raise would make sense and would help put you more in line with what others in your position and with your experience are making, bringing this up to your boss can be a good way to get the raise that you deserve.2) Talk to Your Boss About Your Career GoalsNot all raise-related conversations actually have to be about money. If you have real goals of moving up the ladder, it’s always a good idea to talk to your boss about it.He or she might be impressed by your drive to be successful, and you might get some real guidance about how to get a better If that someone is you, you might find that you will be well-compensated for it financially. If you see a need within your company and talk to your boss about taking on that added job, he or she might just offer you a pay raise when you least expect it.4) Mention it at Your Next Performance ReviewMany companies do an executive assessment of their employees and their performance on a periodic basis. If you do well a t your next performance review, you might find that it’s a good time to bring up the idea of getting a raise as well as to talk about other things related to your job.Some employers actually also automatically give raises to employees who have been with the company a certain length of time and who do well on their reviews.5) Bring Up Your SuccessesevalYour boss might be busy, and he or she might not really realize just how much you do for the company. This means that you might not get the automatic raise that you deserve, even if you have been doing good things.evalThere is nothing wrong with sitting down with your boss to discuss all of the positive things that you have been doing for the business since you have been in your position. This can help you ensure that you get credit for being a good employee, and it can help increase your chances of getting a raise as well.Asking for an increase in pay can be tough, but there are a few ways that you can go about doing it.If you try o ne or more of these strategies, you might just find that you will finally get the pay increase that you have been hoping for.Plus, it could help you achieve your other work-related goals as well, such as potentially moving up within the company.

What is Your Threshold for Change

What is Your Threshold for Change We have a fixed capacity for change.   Change, whether good or bad (wanted our unwanted) adds up like water in a glass.   Each person can only handle a certain level,  because the glass can only hold so much.   Once it reaches the top, it overflows and kablooie, and we flip/tilt/explode/blow. This why resiliency is important.   The more resilient, the higher the threshold for change or the taller the glass of water. I attended a presentation, Change for Change Agents, in which Karen Barrow discussed the complexities of implementing change within an organization.   Karen has significant experience in OD (organization development) and corporate change consulting. What I walked away from her presentation with was that more than ever before we are our own business.   The term Me Inc has been around awhile.   Everytime a reference was made to the company or organization, I replaced it with Me Inc.   It all worked. Me Inc needs to find a way to make change acceptable. This means Me Inc needs a plan.   Here are the things that  need to be considered by Me Incs plan. Perceptions of the change Because we avoid abiguity, we need to provide  ways of implementing direct and indirect control of the uncertainty. Motivation toward change Resistance is a multi-step process.   Each step leads closer to acceptance of change and when that happens, there is motivation. Commitment to change This too, is a process.   Preparation, acceptance and committment. If you want to understand more about organization change, Managing at the Speed of Change, by Darryl Connor is an good source of information and an easy read. If you want to read more about Me, Inc concepts, youll  want to read Tom Peters  early article on the Brand called You.

How To Create Your Perfect Resume

How To Create Your Perfect ResumeOnline programs like MyPerfectResume Com can help you land your dream job faster than you ever imagined. This site is especially designed for people who are looking to hire someone, whether it's to work at home or for a part-time business. Here is how this great site helps you achieve a dream job:You will need to build up your perfect resume before you even visit the site. This is a special layout for people who need to build their resume from scratch, and it can be a bit difficult to figure out what needs to be added to your resume. The problem is that, depending on how many pages you have to add, some online programs can be a bit confusing. This means that if you only want a few points added to your resume, MyPerfectResume Com might not be the best option for you.Once you have created your resume, you will start to see the changes in your resume. Most people will start by adding in any relevant work experience they may have. This is where a lot of p eople struggle because they can't always remember what they have done when they start creating their resume. This is where MyPerfectResume Com comes in handy, because it will give you the option to add in additional work experience and even complete your college degree. This way, you will be able to keep track of everything.After you have gotten all the work experience, you will be ready to go into more detail when creating your perfect resume. By this time, you will also want to include in your resume any special skills that you have. Sometimes, these skills will be really valuable to your future employer, and they might be able to point you to jobs. If you can get a few points for these, they might be all you need to land that dream job.Once you have had some practice working on your resume, you will want to write down your thoughts. When you are doing this, keep in mind that the goal is to make your resume look clean and crisp. The only way to do this is to write out the content in a straight line, so it looks much easier to read. Try to get every point in your resume, without having to scroll back and forth, so it is easy to read.To make your resume stand out, you will want to use an online application program like MyPerfectResume Com. You should also include all the information you have included in your resume and add in all the extra ones you might have forgotten. Just make sure that you use the same fonts, colors, and layout for your resume. If you have plenty of free space on your hard drive, this will make your resume look great. If you do not have enough space, then you will need to use a different program to print your resume.You may even decide to buy a printed resume for people to mail to employers, if you don't feel like creating your own. Online programs can give you a pretty nice look, but printing is definitely the way to go. Of course, you will want to make sure that you don't send your resume through an online program that only costs $35. A printable resume is still a great idea, because many employers will check their company's website to see if you might be available for an interview. If you create a printable resume, you will save yourself a lot of time.The bottom line is that if you want to make your perfect resume, you will need to practice to make it look as professional as possible. MyPerfectResume Com is a great program to use if you want to get a jump start on creating your perfect resume, and it can help you land your dream job.

How to Write a Persuasive Resume - Make Your Resume Spellbound

How to Write a Persuasive Resume - Make Your Resume SpellboundWriting a persuasive resume is a relatively simple task. But when writing a resume, one must also be concerned about the details and information that the recruiter needs to know about you. If there is no mention of the details required by the recruiter, then the resume may not reach its intended audience. Here are some tips on how to make a persuasive resume.There are many areas that should be given enough attention on the basics of your basic information. You have to be confident and focus on your skills and talent. You can take the help of these related guides, which can help you in writing a persuasive resume. These guides also give you easy-to-follow step-by-step instruction to write the resume effectively.The main skill and talent area is one that needs to be emphasized most on the resume. A good and focused explanation of the main skills, talents and experiences will be a huge plus for the recruiter.It will help in e xplaining the reason for the hiring of a person in the company. By writing concise and strong paragraphs you can list the reasons and the benefits of that hiring.Time should be included in the cover letter. It is supposed to state what the applicant can do for the organization and what the reason for the hire is. You can say the following: 'I am sure that your organization will be more successful if I join your team', 'I have spent a considerable amount of time in seeking employment opportunities with you organization. I feel as if this will help me solve the biggest problem facing our company' etc.Persuasive letters are written in the same manner as a persuasive resume. All the details should be mentioned in the letters. So, if you are going to write a resume it is very important to write the letters in the same manner. The letter should contain the basic information about the hiring process and explain why you are the best candidate for the position.Persuasive resumes can be obtai ned from an online resource or from a corporate employer. In order to write a convincing and persuasive resume, just follow the simple instructions and you will get the desired results.

Things You Should Know About Writing Resume for Graduate School

Things You Should Know About Writing Resume for Graduate School Writing Resume for Graduate School - the Conspiracy Graduate admissions faculty members will discover that it's simpler to scan. Look at these student resume samples, in addition to the sample below. It is necessary for candidates to get the most out of resume samples and practical guidance when producing their student resume to be able to ensure they highlight their abilities and potential in lieu of deficiency of experience. For instance, if you tutored other students as an undergrad and think which will help show you can teach nicely as a graduate assistant, you can incorporate that. Writing Resume for Graduate School - the Story Think of the time spent outside of work or school. You've got to list out all of the critical specifics and information which you must place in your SoP. Besides chalking out important information about yourself, it is vital you do complete research about the college you're likely to apply for and the appropriate course it gives. A SoP is the sole way through which you can secure admission in their dream university. If you search for the best opening and delay writing till you find just the proper angle, phrasing, or metaphor you might never write your graduate admissions essay. You don't need to summarize every idea presented in your graduate school essay in actuality, it's much better to avoid doing this. Great writing skills are always valued so that your language should be on point. Try everything you can to reflect your nature and motivation behind taking up the training course. On occasion a grad school cover letter may be compulsory much like a graduate school resume. Graduate school resume differs from a professional resume because it doesn't adhere to the typical structure. Your grad school resume is among the important facets in your grad school application procedure. Before you commence writing your graduate school resume, you have to go t hrough the needs of the program you're applying to. Some graduate schools might request your complete work experience, though others could recommend that you concentrate on the things closely about the program. As stated above, you wish to highlight your accomplishments in your resume, and that should assume the better part of the space. Like many companies, grad programs are given a lot of applications, so they require a fast and very clear way to observe why you'd be a very good fit for their program. Some programs would like you to include only experience related to the program, others wish to list all of your work experiences. Writing Resume for Graduate School Options If you're thinking about attending grad school, you will likely must take the GRE. If you wish to be a teacher, you are going to write a CV, and should you need work professionally, you are going to write a resume. Students often find it useful to review resumes from graduate students who got their very f irst job beyond academe. It's therefore ideal for students to highlight different attributes they're in a position to bring to the position available, like their abilities or academic achievements, very similar to entry-level resume candidates. An individual can refer on the internet for a sample statement of purpose for graduate school, so they may have a very clear picture how it's written. In case the college provided question prompts for you to select from when writing the essay, make sure that you answer or tackle all prompts appropriately. Employing a student resume template can help you save you time and effort along with offer you ideas on which sections to include and the way to complete them as a way to draw the ideal employers. Another component that may determine whether you enter a program is the caliber of your graduate school essay. For the reason, it's a superb notion to take time to reflect on and celebrate what you've done prior to, during and following the resume-writing approach. It could be rather monotonous trying to make the resume from scratch.

Unearned Confidence and Twitter Famous - Work It Daily

Unearned Confidence and Twitter Famous - Work It Daily I recently saw this Saturday Night Live clip on a plane. I was laughing so hard, people were staring at me. Let me just stress: I know plenty of talented young people who don’t fall into this stereo-type. (Greg, Lindsay and Ariella, the three 20-something staff members at CAREEREALISM, you aren’t at all like this video!) That being said, my favorite phrases in this video clip are: The only show that celebrates the incredibly high self-esteem of the YouTube generation. Because today... it doesn’t matter if you have skills, training, or years of experience, you can do it. Hi everyone, I’m Liam Terry from LiamTerry.com. You are so self-promotional - and everyone enjoys that. Because I have no shame or self-awareness! You can leave or stay, which ever you’d like. I’ll stay, because I’m full of unearned confidence. I’m what you would call, “Twitter famous.” My self-esteem is through the roof because nobody has ever been really honest with me about how mediocre I am. What if someone were honest with you? I would immediately cry. And that’s accepted now. The world needs more singer/songwriters and fewer doctors and engineers. I posted a video on-line and 1,000 people have watched it. Therefore, I assumed that everyone admires my work. Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% getting your name out there. I’ll be combining my two life’s passions: Irish Dancing and Chinese Caligraphy. I majored in poetry and clowning - which cost my parents about $45,000 per year. I went to a school with no grades. I tried, and therefore no one should criticize me. Here’s the thing though... it’s not just the young folks acting this way! The ugly “E” word (entitled) is something workers of all ages are displaying these days. Tons of folks have the, “I deserve it because I deserve it” attitude. And, it’s hurting their careers. What kind of entitled behavior are you seeing at work? Share in the comments below the most annoying acts - I want to prove it’s not just the younger generation acting entitled. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!