Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Networking Tips for the Shy Job Seeker

Networking Tips for the Shy Job SeekerNetworking Tips for the Shy Job SeekerI was asked recently to comment on networking tips for the shy job seeker.Its hard enough to put yourself out there and display your best traits in hopes of an interview.Think about itjob hunting means being on your best behavior, which generally isnt all that hard, but knowing that your behavior is being judged and examined just adds layers and layers of stress.A little nerve-wracking, right?Imagine all this being heaped onto someone who is shyer or reserved by nature.Jobhunting, networking, and interviewing can feel a hundred times worsethan it is when youre mora on the quiet side.The idea, after all, is to talk about yourself.And talking about/marketing/advertising yourself as a promising employee can be tricky for some.So, I decided to share my thoughts on the shy job seeker in the networking world with you.I had the opportunity to speak at several local job-seeking type organizations in Fresno, CA.What I heard the most when talking with them is seekers hesitate to get out of their comfort zone.Bragging about yourself can be easy.But bragging about yourself with skill in the context of job-seeking and networking is a challenge.So, I challenge the shy job seekerwith the questionDo you want comfort or a job?My first tip for the shy job seekerOne of the best things any serious job seeker can do is prepare their responses to potential questions.Some job seekers may think this applies for only official interviews.Not the case.In social networking situations, just about every interaction can be considered an interview of sorts.In these situations, you are showing potential employers your professional best.Your demeanor and presence answer employers questions likeWhat kind of partality does this person have?Does this person interact well with others?Can this person voice their thoughts effectively?A lot of pressure, right?Luckily you can alleviate some of this pressure by anticipating key questions and deciding what you want to learn about different companies.For the shy job seeker, this is a very crucial tool.Which brings us back to the questionDo you want comfort or a job?Its very important you not let your shy or reserved tendencies make you too picky.But its also important that youre capable of being comfortable in the potential job environment youll be in most of your day.Create a description of youridealemployer.This way when youget out of yourcomfort zone and into a networking situation, youcan quickly share youridealemployer story with whomever youre speaking with.I encourage youto go to as many networking events, groups, and organizations as possible and share who youare, why youare there, and what youwant to find.Of course, this takes a bit of time to prepare, practice, and deliver.My best tip for the shy job seekerOne apparent weakness shy and reserved job seekers have is they usually dont want to talk about themselves.It can feel strange to try and convin ce a hiring manager or employer why you would be good for a job.The funny thing is, this isnt really a weakness.Hear me out.Prepare a few killer questions to ask an employer or hiring managerwhen meeting them for the first time so that the other person does all the talking.Youll learn more about the job and youll make a good impression with the employer or hiring manager.Youll be seen asA good listenerSomeone who knows how to ask the right questionsA team player who can listen and learnAll the shy job seeker has to do is ask the next question.Here are the top five questions I think they should ask because it will give the job seeker an insight into whom else they may know.Top 5 questionsWhat company are you with?How long have you been in your current position?Who do you serve (ideal client)?Do you know of any job openings in the (insert job seekers ideal position) industry?Is there anyone here that you could introduce me to who might know of any job openings in the (insert job seeke rs ideal position) industry?In general, people like helping people, and business people seem to know where the jobs are.If you have a friend that is currently looking for work please feel free to share this article.For online networking tips, check out LinkedIn Networking Tips For Job SeekersPreparing for an interviewLike I said, one of the best things you can do is prepare for potential questions.One source you can utilize is our 50 Top Job Interview Questions and Answers.You dont need a scheduled interview as an excuse to check it out.Many of these questions have the potential of popping up in conversation while networking.Whether you are shy or outgoing, the best thing you can do for yourself is to anticipate questions and prepare for themNeed some help?If you still need some extra help preparing for your next big interview, reach out to us at Find My Profession.Our career finder programwill help you successfully navigate your job search.Our goal is to help you find vocational s uccess.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Whos the boss Why strong leaders are servants

Whos the boss Why strong leaders are servantsWhos the boss Why strong leaders are servantsThe best way to get your kollektiv to have your back is to win their hearts and minds. The road to that for leaders is to Serve.The primary role of a leader is servant leadership. It means the leader exists to serve those under him. In contrast, traditional leadership is a top-down pyramid where the leader sits at the top, and subordinates do as the leader commands. Servant leaders turn that pyramid upside down by sharing power with their teams, placing the needs of their team before their own, and helping subordinates develop and grow so they can perform at the highest level possible.Here are seven things that servant leaders DO NOT doThey dont play the I am the boss cardThey do notlage say Do it my wayThey have no visible favoritesThey do not get into frontal conflictsThey do not create silos and fiefdomsThey do not pretend that their door is always open yet they are inaccessibleThey do not ta lk out of both sides of their mouths their word mattersAbove all, walk the talk servant leaders make koranvers their own actions are consistent with what they expect from others.If you say it, mean itToo many senior executives say things they dont really mean. What they often dont realize is that their subordinates and colleagues notice. As a result, they lose credibility. The last thing an executive should want to lose is credibility and the trust of the team.A common one we all hear is, My door is always open. The reality is that its not always open. In fact, the door is shut half the time, and it takes weeks to get any face time. The statement is objectively false, both literally and figuratively.The recent flutter of stories and press coverage have focused on what Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook did not do once the Cambridge Analytics information came to light. Anyone could talk a big game, but true leaders follow through on their promises and commitments with their actions. Mark h as faced the privacy of data question and the consumer protection question for as long as Facebook has existed.Over the recent years, his assurances have been more forthright. Words aside did Mark act sufficiently one should ask over this recent debacle? Did he do everything he could to live up to the promises he made to you and I, with his actions, no matter what? When leaders are faced with a crisis, the authenticity of their leadership always becomes transparent. If words of the past have been superficial - in the face of great adversity or in dark moments that come to haunt.Overcoming fear of failureI have seen corporate executives become crippled by fear of failure. When they face a big obstacle or a tenacious competitor, all they can think about is, What if I lose? Will I still have a job? They become so worried about losing that they cant focus on what they should be doing - executing. In a sense, they end up defeating themselves.Over the course of my career, Ive had those same thoughts and worries. When your entire year comes down to one huge deal or project, its human nature to worry. But you must dismiss those thoughts and execute your plan. Some of the most successful companies and individuals are worth billions because they took risks and executed. Without risk, there is no reward.In times like this, I think of fearful images of curtains of smoke caused by a crash in a Formula One car race. The smoke is so thick that the other drivers cant see whats beyond it. Thats terrifying when youre driving 180 miles per hour. The drivers who win are the ones who trust that everything will be fine on the other side of that smoke - they step on the gas, not the brake. Yes, its a risk, but with that risk comes tremendous reward.Drive fearlessly through the curtain of smoke on lifes racetrack, and victory awaits youThat sums up my philosophy when it comes to fear in the corporate setting. Step on the gas Go bigger and bolder. Embrace the risk involved. Thats t he way to win. If you take your foot off the accelerator and coast when things get scary, youll never win.It may not seem like it at the time, but failure is not always a terrible thing. Failure helps develop grit. I believe my failures have given me fortitude and courage to go forward. Having experienced failure, I know what it feels like, and I know I can bounce back and get through it. I see all failures as nothing more than temporary setbacks, speedbumps on the road to success. This, in turn, fuels a great team and workplace culture. Rising and falling together comes with lifes great learnings experiencing that as a team builds great organizations. One that excelsVishal Agarwal is the bestselling author of Give to Get. As a Senior Leader, he has navigated corporate life for the past 24 years. He has served as a Top Global Executive for General Electric and as a senior leader at Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC).

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Does Your Resume Have These 5 Important Attributes

Does Your Resume Have These 5 Important AttributesDoes Your Resume Have These 5 Important AttributesLets say youve painstakingly poured over every square inch of your resume, analyzing each word to remove errors and typos. That might not be enough to get your resume read if yourdocument is still missing one of theseimportant attributes.In the Career Sherpa article, 5 Things You Need If You Want Your Resume to Be Seen, youll find out the way to get your resume read- and also how to beat the deadly Applicant Tracking ordnungsprinzip (ATS). Find out if your resume has these fiveimportant attributes, and how to modify your resume so it does.Does Your Resume Have These 5 Important Attributes?1. Your resume should be keyword-rich.Yes, it can be hard to get your resume past the Applicant Tracking System- unless you use keywords appropriate for the position youre applying to. Use keywords throughout your resume, but particularly in the skills section where you can stuff it with a lot of them If youre unsure about which keywords to use, you can review the job posting to highlight the words and phrases that are the most important. And above all, make sure to customize your resume and job application for each and every job you apply for. It will be more time-consuming in the short run, but it can possibly shorten your job search by making your resume stand out from among the rest2. Your resume needs a summary of qualifications.In the days of resumes past, job seekers would often include an objective statement. This one-liner summed up the intention of the job hunter (e.g., Im looking for a position where I can use my marketing skills and experience), but didnt really say much about what the job seeker could actually do.In its stead, the objective statement has been replaced in many resumes by a summary of qualifications. Again, meant as a one-line summary of your skills and experience, the summary of qualifications encompasses everything that youre bringing to the position and to the company.3. Be sure to include your technology skills.If you thought the skills section was the wasteland of your resume, think again. The skills section is crucial, particularly if you are looking for flexible work.Within this space, you can (and should) include all of your technology skills, as well as the skills you need to work from home (i.e., being able to work independently, self-manage, strong communication skills, the ability to problem solve, etc.). This can show a potential employer that you have what it takes to telecommute.4. Your resume should have an accomplishments section.Before you write down the duties you performed at each of your jobs, think instead of the accomplishments youve achieved. After all, a potential employer will probably already know some of the duties associated with your various job titles, but what he wont know is what you brought to the table at your jobs.Listing your achievements (rather than responsibilities) can show a hiring manage r that you are goal-focused and go above and beyond the call of your job duties.5. Your resume needs to be edited. When determining what to include on your resume, there are generally two rules of thought either include only whats important, or toss in the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, many job seekers eager to impress a potential boss might favor the latter, and include every single job experience theyve ever had.But being brief is a big bonus when it comes to getting your resume past a hiring manager, so only include whats relevant to the job youre applying for- nothing more, nothing less.When written correctly, your resume should be a one-page synopsis of why you are the perfect candidate for the position. So be sure to use every opportunity within your resume to showcase your accomplishments and make you the candidate to hireLooking for more resume advice? Check out our resume tips category.Readers, do you use these important attributes on your resume to make it the best it can b e? Let us know in the comments below