job & interview

How to Be a Better Communicator in the Workplace

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How to Be a Better Communicator in the Workplace</h1>
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Successfully interacting with others is a key to your professional success.</h2>
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Gain the respect of your co-workers by being a good listener.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Whether you are an aspiring leader or in a support role, developing your communication skills can impact your success. First, let’s take a look at the complexities of communication. It's more than the words you use. It's how and when you choose to share information. It's your</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/05/07/6-body-language-tells-that-ruin-your-job-interviews" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/05/07/6-body-language-tells-that-ruin-your-job-interviews">body language</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">and the tone and quality of your voice.</span></div>
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<i>These are things you should consider as you strive to improve your interactions with others:</i> </div>
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<b>Know the outcome. </b>Before you begin planning what you will say in an upcoming meeting, consider what you want the outcome of your communication to be. What actions do you want others to take? How will you move people? That's the term used in Daniel Pink’s "To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others."<b> </b>Pink contends that we are all in sales today. “Whether we’re employees pitching colleagues on a new idea, entrepreneurs enticing funders to invest or parents and teachers cajoling children to study, we spend our days trying to move others.”</div>
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<b>Build a reputation. </b>In the workplace, other people's perceptions of you don't form based on a single encounter. But never forget how valuable a good first impression is! In order to gain respect and be seen as a trusted authority, eager team member or dedicated employee, you will need to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/11/how-to-build-a-great-professional-reputation" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/11/how-to-build-a-great-professional-reputation">build your reputation</a> over time. Every interaction – from how you greet your co-workers in the morning to how you summarize a status update in an email – contributes to how people view you.</div>
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<b>Avoid flaunting power and intellect. </b>Compelling communicators don’t strong-arm people into paying attention or dazzle listeners by showing off how much they know. Leave your ego at the door when speaking to people. Establish an even playing field, and place yourself at the same level with your listeners. Avoid a condescending tone of voice and terminology your audience will not immediately understand. While you may be the smartest, most knowledgeable person on a particular topic, wait for the invitation to share your expertise.</div>
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<b>Be confident. </b>A wimpy response isn’t going to gain the recognition or support you desire. Confidence is queen when it comes to effective communication. Use strong action verbs, avoid filler words, such as "um"’ or "‘ah," look people in the eye and sit or stand up straight when called on to speak.</div>
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<b>Show awareness of others. </b>Shoving your great ideas or accomplishments down throats of listeners isn’t going to work. Building relationships is part of the communication process and is key to your success in conveying your message. When you deeply understand how your audience thinks and feels and what is important to them, you can use that information to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/01/17/7-steps-to-deliver-your-best-elevator-pitch" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/01/17/7-steps-to-deliver-your-best-elevator-pitch">craft a message</a> that will resonate with your listeners. Your message should imply concern for others. As the saying goes, "walk a mile in their shoes" to understand what's important to the people you are communicating with.</div>
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<b>Consider timing. </b>There is a time and a place for everything. When you are aware of the events or emotional state of those you are communicating with, you can improve the timing of your message. Appropriate timing means you have taken the person and occasion into consideration and know when to share your message.</div>
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<b>Master the art of listening. </b>The most adept communicators are experts at listening and reading between the lines. Mastering the art of listening isn’t easy. You will most likely feel tempted to share your own insights, opinions or assumptions while listening to someone. Avoid commentary or interjecting. Instead, ask open ended follow-up questions. This provides evidence that you are hearing and listening to the person. It shows your respect for the person speaking and for the information they are sharing. Practicing good <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/08/19/7-ways-to-be-a-better-listener-while-interviewing" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/08/19/7-ways-to-be-a-better-listener-while-interviewing">listening skills</a> will help you gain the respect of those you encounter.</div>
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<b>Earn respect and trust. </b>Earning respect and trust from your colleagues, managers and customers doesn’t happen automatically. Your title and role don’t give you any special privileges. If you work hard to exceed expectations and deliver with integrity, you are on your way to establishing the right to be trusted. Consistently repeat these steps to earn the right to be heard.</div>
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All these things probably sound familiar. You’ve read them before. What you really want is concrete help in improving your communication. There are thousands of books on the topic of communication. These self-help books can arm you with more insight and tools to improve your understanding of the intricacies of communication, but there is nothing as powerful as practicing what you learn. </div>
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<i>Here's how to develop your communication skills:</i></div>
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<b>Learn from mentors.</b> Enlist help from managers or leaders you respect. These mentors can provide constructive feedback and real-time coaching.</div>
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<b>Watch TED Talks.</b> Learn how to present by watching <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/04/01/5-ways-innovative-hr-leaders-find-great-talent" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">innovative thinkers</a> featured in TED Talks. In 18 minutes or less, these videos capture presentations of great communicators. Since 2006, TED has been hosting conferences and events centered around science, technology, business, culture, art and design to share – as TED puts it – “Ideas Worth Spreading.”</div>
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<b>Join Toastmasters International</b>. Join a Toastmasters club, and build your skills in a “learn-by-doing” meeting. Toastmasters International has been around 90 years helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills.</div>
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<b>Attend a Dale Carnegie program.</b> Go to one of Dale Carnegie’s well-known leadership development programs, which are based on his legendary book, “How to Win Friends & Influence People.” According to the Dale Carnegie Training website, these programs teach you how to: "strengthen interpersonal relationships, manage stress and handle fast-changing workplace conditions." The description continues: "You'll develop more effective communication skills and be better equipped to perform as a persuasive communicator, problem-solver and focused leader. And you'll develop a take-charge attitude initiated with confidence and enthusiasm.”</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/03/how-to-be-a-better-communicator-in-the-workplace" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

How to Be a Better Communicator in the Workplace

How to Be a Better Communicator in the Workplace Successfully interacting with others is a key to your professional success. Gain the respect of your co-workers by being a good listener. Whether you …

31 Oct 2014

The 7-Step Interview Playbook

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he 7-Step Interview Playbook</h1>
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Here's what to do before, during and after the interview to come out a winner.</h2>
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You got this. The morning of your interview, mentally prepare by getting in a professional and upbeat mindset.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Whether you’re a recent graduate new to the job search or a veteran desk jockey looking for a career change, getting an interview is only half the battle. Without knowing the basics of what leads to an offer and what tanks one, your time spent enhancing your</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/03/04/5-steps-to-enhance-your-online-job-search" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/03/04/5-steps-to-enhance-your-online-job-search">online job search</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">and networking may be wasted.</span></div>
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Need a crash course in job interviewing 101? Try these seven steps explain exactly what you need to do before, during and after meeting with a potential employer.</div>
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<i>The Week Before Your Interview</i></div>
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Getting an offer begins long before you’re seated across the table from the hiring manager.</div>
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<b>Prepare for tough questions.</b> If you lack conviction when responding to a hard interview question, you may kill your momentum and cause the hiring manager to decide against you. Avoid getting thrown off by anticipating typical toughies and thinking through your responses in advance. One topic that rattles many candidates is being asked to describe failure. “The key to this story is to demonstrate that you have the resilience and insight to utilize failure as an opportunity for learning and personal-professional growth,” says Susan Jewkes Allen, a career counselor.</div>
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<b>Understand the players.</b> Social media has raised the bar for job seekers, increasing expectations of <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/30/3-types-of-recruiters-and-how-to-impress-them" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/30/3-types-of-recruiters-and-how-to-impress-them">recruiters</a> and hiring managers that you’ve done ample due diligence. Therefore, it’s crucial during the week before your interview to thoroughly research the position, company and your interviewers. Author and consultant Brad Harker suggests seeking answers to the following questions before your interview:</div>
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<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;">What does the company do?</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"> How has the company performed?</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"> Who are the interviewers?</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"> What are they looking for?</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"> What can you learn about the job?</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"> What have you done that is similar?</li>
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Find out everything you can from the job listing, but check other online sources as well, including LinkedIn and the company’s Facebook page.</div>
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<i>The Morning of Your Interview</i></div>
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How you spend the hours before your interview can set the tone for your performance.</div>
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<b>Prepare physically.</b> Interview morning is the time to gather your materials, dress the part and put on your game face. Belinda Plutz, president of Career Mentors Inc., advises packing several clean copies of your résumé, your portfolio, pen and notebook before you head to your meeting. Selecting your<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-wardrobe-musts-for-your-next-interview" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">interview outfit</a> is also important, because first impressions are powerful. “You must look as if you will fit into the organization. But if they are very casual, you need to dress up and not be too casual,” Plutz says. “Be well-groomed and businesslike.”</div>
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<b>Prepare mentally.</b> Don’t wing it when it comes to the attitude you bring to your interview. Take time before you leave the house to regroup mentally and get into a professional mindset. “You should be upbeat, enthusiastic, positive, eager and factual,” Plutz says. “If you believe that you are the ideal person for the job, you have a good chance of convincing the interviewer. An interview is the primary opportunity to sell yourself.”</div>
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<i>During Your Interview</i></div>
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You’ve done everything right leading up to the interview – now it’s show time. To avoid blowing your moment of truth:</div>
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<b>Treat your interview as a conversation.</b> While conventional wisdom dictates that a job interview puts the candidate on the hot seat to be grilled by a potential employer, effective interviews should really be a two-way street. “Try not to just sell yourself, but find out if the position and company you’re applying for are the right fit for you,” says Heidi Baldwin, account supervisor at J Public Relations. “Ask about the culture, what qualities are needed in an ideal candidate, what a typical day in this position would look like and the manager’s expectations.”</div>
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<b>Connect with the interviewers.</b> Research has shown that differing too much from your interviewer can backfire when it comes to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/04/finding-landing-and-loving-a-hard-to-fill-job" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">landing a job</a>. Instead, demonstrating similarity to the hiring team can help create alignment with the decision-makers. If you did your research the week before the interview, this step should be easier. “Quite often, when it comes down between choosing Candidate A or Candidate B, it’s a matter of how well the candidate connected with those interviewing,” says leadership coach and author Keith Wyche. “In the back of their minds, they are all asking the question: How well will this candidate fit within our company’s culture?”</div>
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<i>After Your Interview</i><b><br /></b>You think you’ve nailed it – but you’re not done yet.</div>
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<b>Send thank-you emails to every interviewer.</b> A well-timed and thoughtfully crafted thank-you message can help seal the deal for a candidate who interviewed well. There’s no need to send thank-you cards via snail mail; emailing thanks is common practice today. Elizabeth Famiglietti, senior vice president of human resources at PAN Communications, emphasizes the importance of sending a personally targeted message to each person who interviewed you.</div>
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“Do <i>not</i> send the same email to each person (yes, we share this info)," Famiglietti says. “Show you are a <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/08/19/7-ways-to-be-a-better-listener-while-interviewing" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">good listener</a> and call out at least one thing that was specific to that interview with that person in your thank-you note. Show your enthusiasm for the company and joining the team, and offer to provide any additional info if needed.”</div>
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Acing the interview is a job in itself. But approaching the interview process in stages of actions to take before, during and after your meeting can raise you above your competitors and help you win the job you want.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/19/the-7-step-interview-playbook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

The 7-Step Interview Playbook

he 7-Step Interview Playbook Here's what to do before, during and after the interview to come out a winner. You got this. The morning of your interview, mentally prepare by getting in a professional …

31 Oct 2014

Veterans Do This When Re-Entering the Workforce. We All Need to Try It.

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Veterans Do This When Re-Entering the Workforce. We All Need to Try It.</h1>
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Learn to rebrand yourself. You'd be surprised how many experiences are transferable for a new career.</h2>
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It's important to connect the dots from your former skills to the ones you're pursuing currently.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">Maybe you’re a stay-at-home mom looking to reboot your career, maybe you’re</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs">returning to employment</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">after completing your Ph.D. or maybe you’re among the thousands of veterans returning home every year. When it comes to connecting the dots from your former skills and experiences to the ones you’re pursuing currently, there are several ways to build your confidence with a meaningful story to convince prospective employers your background isn’t only relevant, it’s an asset to the potential role and organization.</span></div>
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According to Dorie Clark, author of "Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future," the most important step involves creating your narrative so you can explain your past and how it adds value to the new role you’re aiming for. “Your past experiences – whether it’s dismantling explosives for the army or caring for preschoolers – have taught you powerful lessons, from keeping cool under pressure to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/05/27/learning-to-manage-yourself-and-not-your-time" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/05/27/learning-to-manage-yourself-and-not-your-time">time management</a>,” she says. </div>
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Clark adds that unless you make the connection clear, the hiring manager may be unsure how your past relates to the corporate world. "They’re used to linear paths, so if your experience deviates, you need to create a narrative that shows what you learned and why it’s valuable.”</div>
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Just ask Alex Hooper, Army Special Forces veteran and consultant at AKF Partners. He learned to create that narrative by attending the Career Opportunity Redefinition & Exploration (CORE) Leadership Program at Deloitte University. His biggest a-ha moment? Learning what he had to say and why he needed to say it. “For me, the special forces regimen motto is ‘quiet professional’ so any time anyone bragged about themselves, it was off-putting and not part of the culture," Hooper says. "It’s like, do your job and get over yourself.”</div>
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At first, his most challenging hurdle was getting over that uncomfortable feeling of <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-interviewing" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-interviewing">talking to a potential employer</a>. Hooper learned to think about what to say, why he was different from others and why he’d be good for this position. Not only that, but he learned why this was so important. “You have to be able to tell your story and appreciate the necessity to tell your story,” he explains.</div>
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This point is critical, says Christie Smith, managing principal at Deloitte University Leadership Center for Inclusion. “They have confidence that they have something to say. That’s what companies are looking for in hires – it’s that confidence. That comfort in who you are in your own skin,” she says.</div>
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For veterans, that comfort is gained through leveraging resources. For Hooper, it meant applying for and participating in the CORE Leadership Program, experiencing a safe, supportive environment, honing personal branding and his elevator pitch creation and practicing informational interviews and networking. “When you leave our door, it’s easy to have a cup of coffee with you,” Smith says. "That’s certainly something for rebooters to think about – the ease with which to tell their story, which comes from practice."</div>
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Whether you’re going from battlefield to boardroom or carpools to conference calls, there’s the issue of translating words to make then relevant. “We even tell them you don’t need to use corporate speak just like you don’t need to use military terminology just be authentic," says Terry Bickham, talent leader, dean of the CORE Leadership Program and U.S. Coast Guard veteran. "They’re extremely specialized, they’re used to taking orders, being given a task to accomplish and achieving that task.” The good news? Bickham says most organizations are <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/02/21/7-key-skills-you-need-to-get-hired-right-now" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/02/21/7-key-skills-you-need-to-get-hired-right-now">looking for people</a> who are very adaptable, can innovate, can look at a challenge, figure out how to overcome obstacles and be agile.</div>
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Chris Robinette, also a veteran of the Army Special Forces, says this agility is a change in mindset. “You never really had to think about how to get from point A to point B, it’s how do I excel at point B?" he notes. "Here, you have to evaluate, 'well maybe I’m not going to point B, maybe I’m going to point C or D or G, and what do I have to do to communicate that I have the aptitude and skills to do that and what are the mechanisms to build connections to explore those options?'” Outside of a structured, defined environment networking is critical for career navigation. “That’s how you explore ideas and fill gaps with information,” he adds.</div>
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Not only is that exploration critical, but the confidence around exploration is key. Smith says: “What is their story? What are the elements of that story, what are the elements of what they’re good at? They have to think about that in the context also of who they are. That’s the equation that we play – who are you, how does that perform/what kind of leader or manager you’ve been [in the armed forces], what are you good at, now how do you package and tell that story?”</div>
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<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/12/11/if-you-want-a-great-job-tell-a-great-story" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/12/11/if-you-want-a-great-job-tell-a-great-story">Telling the story</a> with confidence and conviction is one part, and as for the other? It's connecting with people. “Build your network,” Smith says. “I’m a people collector and I encourage people to just collect as many people as you can, you never know how it’s all going to come together.”</div>
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Robinette concurs. “And a number of jobs are never posted – it’s all internal or through that network not so much who you know but we didn’t know you were out there, you didn’t know this job existed but it’s a great marriage once you find each other.”</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/03/veterans-do-this-when-re-entering-the-workforce-we-all-need-to-try-it" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Veterans Do This When Re-Entering the Workforce. We All Need to Try It.

Veterans Do This When Re-Entering the Workforce. We All Need to Try It. Learn to rebrand yourself. You'd be surprised how many experiences are transferable for a new career. It's important to connect…

31 Oct 2014

Avoid These Pitfalls of Entrepreneurship

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Avoid These Pitfalls of Entrepreneurship</h1>
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How the entrepreneurial spirit itself can disrupt your business' success.</h2>
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Entrepreneurs should be attuned to the latest industry trends to stay one step ahead of competitors.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Either by choice or by circumstance, entrepreneurs launch into their businesses determined to make a living. They're then often accosted by fear, uncertainty, time demands,</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/05/01/preparing-for-the-financial-roller-coaster-of-entrepreneurship" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;">cash flow concerns</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">and a barrage of advertisers eager for them to spend their money for reach and visibility in the marketplace. All of that is just on the business front. On the personal side, there are also concerns about disappointment and their responsibilities to their families.</span></div>
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When someone becomes an entrepreneur and launches into a business venture, his or her frame of mind is often to start fresh. It’s out with the old and in with the new. Plus, best practices learned at corporations are thrown out as old, outdated forms of themselves. It’s in that freeing feeling of striking out on your own that entrepreneurs' mindsets fail them.</div>
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<b>What got you there will get you here</b></div>
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A common saying among entrepreneurial circles is: “What got you here won’t get you there.” In the case of a newly developing entrepreneur, a better decision is to make use of that wisdom that you put the time in for.</div>
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Here's what likely got an entrepreneur to this point in his or her career: being on time, <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/30/do-you-know-how-to-run-a-meeting" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">scheduling events</a>, creating and following systems and processes, taking notes and honing project management skills. That valuable wisdom that can be applied to this new venture.</div>
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The allure of the brave new entrepreneurial world leaves people wondering what to do next. Often, home-based entrepreneurs find themselves busy with daily tasks and chores related to the household, the children or the yard. Or they’re lured into being in constant weekend mode, filling their days with volunteer, sports and church activities.</div>
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Entrepreneur must employ themselves – much like their past employers expected them to start work on time, deliver and contribute to the company during working hours and diligently follow through with commitments. Entrepreneurs must do all of this for the hardest and most demanding boss they’ll ever work for – themselves.</div>
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Compound that with no guarantee of a paycheck or a sure climb up the corporate ladder, and many entrepreneurs abandon what rewarded them with success in the corporate world. They're not giving their own business the schedule and <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/03/20/5-soft-skills-to-showcase-in-an-interview" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/03/20/5-soft-skills-to-showcase-in-an-interview">work ethic</a> they once gave to previous employers. Successful entrepreneurs benefit from what they learned doing corporate time and apply that same commitment, dedication and structure to their own endeavor.</div>
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<b>Networking matters even more</b></div>
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In the corporate world, networking and focusing efforts on influencers and a high-return individuals is quite common. New entrepreneurs are often all too ready to dismiss this business practice. Even more prevalent in the entrepreneurial world is the practical belief that people do business with people they know, like and trust. The only way that trust can be built is through relationships and communication. The only way communication and visibility can happen is through connections and introductions. And those happen through networking. Identifying a couple key events with a clear plan of what the desired outcome is helps entrepreneurs rationalize and plan networking events with precision and focus.</div>
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To this date, Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” still applies and provides insights and structure into beginning and <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/24/10-ways-to-nurture-your-network" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/24/10-ways-to-nurture-your-network">developing lasting relationships</a> that yield great results on the personal and business landscapes.</div>
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<b>Focus on learning your industry</b></div>
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Entrepreneurs often wait a long time for their businesses to come to fruition, and when they do, the focus is on building and developing the business. At that point, education in the industry often takes a back seat. This mistake often goes undetected until a competitor creates momentum and overtakes them.</div>
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Successful entrepreneurs stay focused on learning their craft or industry. Their appetites for cutting-edge information about their industry is voracious and serves them by positioning them as people who stay current and connected in their field. The most successful take advantage of industry and<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/dont-be-that-guy-or-gal-8-networking-turn-offs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/dont-be-that-guy-or-gal-8-networking-turn-offs">networking events</a>, as well as opportunities to learn about their industry.</div>
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The most successful entrepreneurs bring with them best practices they honed on the job, a drive for networking and a clear understanding that people do business with and through the assistance of others. They also understand that staying at the forefront of their industry is vital to their entrepreneurial success.</div>
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<b>Maria Elena Duron</b> is a brand relationship trainer, national presenter, author and small business marketing coach specializing in helping individuals, teams, businesses and organizations apply the concepts of the book “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace” in their daily business and interactions with customers. She is editor-in-chief of the <a class="" href="http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/author/mduron/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/author/mduron/">Personal Branding Blog</a><a href="http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/author/mduron/)" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/author/mduron/)"></a>.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/10/09/avoid-these-pitfalls-of-entrepreneurship" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Avoid These Pitfalls of Entrepreneurship

Avoid These Pitfalls of Entrepreneurship How the entrepreneurial spirit itself can disrupt your business' success. Entrepreneurs should be attuned to the latest industry trends to stay one step ahead…

30 Oct 2014

What New Grads Should Know Before Accepting That First Job Offer

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What New Grads Should Know Before Accepting That First Job Offer</h1>
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There are a number of red flags to look for before accepting a position.</h2>
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<span class="item drawer_paddingTop" style="display: block; float: left; padding-top: 8px;"><a href="http://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/843593f/2147483647/thumbnail/300x270/quality/85/?url=%2Fcmsmedia%2Fe2%2F22d0afc24714e07ca3d3ea8201fe86%2Fresizes%2F500%2F50222WideModern_EmployeeRelief_131125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The 22 Best Business Jobs of 2014" border="0" src="http://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/843593f/2147483647/thumbnail/300x270/quality/85/?url=%2Fcmsmedia%2Fe2%2F22d0afc24714e07ca3d3ea8201fe86%2Fresizes%2F500%2F50222WideModern_EmployeeRelief_131125.jpg" style="line-height: 1.5;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">A long-anticipated</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs">job offer</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">can give feelings of security and relief to fresh graduates. But just because a company wants you doesn’t mean you should say yes to the first employer that extends an offer. There are a number of red flags that prospective candidates should look for when deciding whether to accept a position.</span></span></div>
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<b>Instability.</b> It’s no secret that many young employees job hop – and some experts think this is good. While changing employers frequently and by choice has become more common, having your first job pulled out from under you will be much less appealing to most new employees. That’s why it’s important to look for signs of an organization’s ability to withstand market pressure <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/02/how-to-evaluate-a-job-offer" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/02/how-to-evaluate-a-job-offer">before you join</a> it.</div>
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Rona Borre, CEO and founder of the tech staffing firm Instant Technology, notes that in the digital age, new companies are popping up rapidly in many industries – particularly in technology. Unfortunately, this means that not all of them will have the longevity to make it long-term. “Though the innovation, hard work and ‘bet big, win big’ mentality of a startup can be an incredible match for some newcomers, it is something to keep in mind for those seeking stability in their career choice,” she says.</div>
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<b>Poor reputation</b><b>.</b> One advantage for today’s graduates is technology allows greater access to information about specific companies than was available before. Borre points out that there is a wealth of information on nearly every company available online, including reviews from CareerBuilder, Glassdoor and other career sites, where current and former employees can discuss how they feel about their organization and its management and culture.</div>
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Researching companies using these tools, as well as social media sites like <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/16-things-youre-doing-all-wrong-on-linkedin" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/16-things-youre-doing-all-wrong-on-linkedin">LinkedIn</a>, can help you identify potentially problematic work environments. If a large number of employees have taken the time to vent about their dissatisfaction, it could be a red flag. However, Borre advises against letting online reviews sway you completely. “It’s important to take these reviews with a grain of salt, as often times the most vocal employees are the most dissatisfied,” she says. “If there are consistent issues among the reviews, it may be important to keep in mind.”</div>
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<b>Lowball salary. </b>As a new employee, you may feel grateful for whatever starting salary is offered, since even a lower salary will likely be more than you’ve ever made in your life. What’s more, many graduates (<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/05/29/how-to-negotiate-salary-like-a-man" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/05/29/how-to-negotiate-salary-like-a-man">particularly women</a><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/04/08/300290240/why-women-dont-ask-for-more-money" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/04/08/300290240/why-women-dont-ask-for-more-money"></a>) may feel reluctant to push for more pay given their lack of experience, concern about seeming pushy and the tougher job market.</div>
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Think twice before accepting the first number offered. According to Lisa Kaess, economist and producer and founder of the consulting firm Feminomics, negotiating for a few thousand dollars more in salary at the outset not only can help students pay down their loans faster, but it can add up to $1 million more in earnings over the course of your career. If you’re not sure what the market rate is for your position in your location, check sites like PayScale.com and Salary.com for averages.</div>
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“This is particularly crucial for young women, who typically earn less to begin with, and are reluctant to<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/02/21/the-exact-words-to-use-when-negotiating-salary" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/02/21/the-exact-words-to-use-when-negotiating-salary">ask for more</a>,” Kaess says. “When negotiating, be ready to discuss your skills and align yourself with a company’s goals.” She adds that even if the employer doesn’t come up with extra cash, they might be willing to sweeten the deal with more paid vacation, personal days and other benefits.</div>
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<b>Unhappy people.</b> The interview stage provides a great opportunity to observe employees in their element. Be observant during your limited time at the job site to notice whatever you can about its culture and environment. Your interviewers may certainly provide some signs, whether subtle or overt, into how they feel about their own jobs. But other people you see in the office as you walk through may also offer clues. “Arrive to a job interview appointment about 15 minutes early (so you can do all <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-interviewing" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-interviewing">pre-interview</a> prep such as using the bathroom, calming yourself, etc.) and sit and observe how the people in the office interact with each other,” suggests Randall Hansen, webmaster and publisher of Quintessential Careers. “If people seem cold and uncommunicative and you are accustomed to a happy/friendly work environment, then this place may not be for you.”</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/24/what-new-grads-should-know-before-accepting-that-first-job-offer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

What New Grads Should Know Before Accepting That First Job Offer

What New Grads Should Know Before Accepting That First Job Offer There are a number of red flags to look for before accepting a position. A long-anticipated job offer can give feelings of security an…

29 Oct 2014

How to Get the Job by Thinking Like a Hiring Manager

How to Get the Job by Thinking Like a Hiring Manager

How to Get the Job by Thinking Like a Hiring Manager Consider the perspectives of recruiters and employers while applying to jobs. When you apply for jobs, in your haste to show what you want the emp…

29 Oct 2014

How to Stand Out in the Eleventh Hour of the Hiring Process

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How to Stand Out in the Eleventh Hour of the Hiring Process</h1>
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You don't have the job just yet. Here's how to follow up after a productive interview.</h2>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">What can you do to stand out during</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-interviewing" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-abcs-of-interviewing">the interview process</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">? First, you want to stand out for the right reasons. Consider the results of a CareerBuilder and Harris Interactive survey from 2013, involving more than 2,000 hiring managers and HR professionals who were asked which factors would make them more likely to favor one candidate over another. Twenty-seven percent of respondents would favor the candidate with the better sense of humor, 26 percent would consider the candidate who is involved in his or her community, 22 percent would favor the better-dressed candidate and 21 percent would like the candidate with whom they had more in common.</span></div>
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Here are some ways to be a standout candidate.</div>
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<b></b><b></b><b>Use mutual professional and personal interests.</b> <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/10/02/you-know-your-interview-was-a-flop-if" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">Instead of testing new jokes</a> out on your interviewer, look to build rapport by asking questions about his or her professional interests. Also, watch the body language of your interviewer to gauge level of interest in your responses, especially to questions about community activities and professional interests, like conferences, books, publications or professional associations. If the conversation and body language is positive, you should be sure to reference that topic in your follow-up with him or her.</div>
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<b></b><b>Follow up is in your court.</b> Should you follow up again after you send your thank you? Yes, you want to stay in front of the hiring decision-makers as they interview and consider more candidates. <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/09/21/why-is-it-taking-so-long-to-hear-back-after-your-job-interview" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/09/21/why-is-it-taking-so-long-to-hear-back-after-your-job-interview">The hiring process will take longer</a> than either of you expect. About two weeks after you send your thank you, plan on touching base with the recruiter again. Liz Ryan, CEO and founder of the publishing firm, think tank and coaching and consulting business Human Workplace, wrote a Forbes article on writing a post thank you follow-up, where she <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2014/07/07/1132/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2014/07/07/1132/"></a> recommends you ask a friend to debrief the interview with you. The logic is that in recounting blow by blow with someone else you may reveal things you missed. “You’ll be amazed how your friend, simply by virtue of not being you, can call your attention to issues that deserve your attention," Ryan writes. "They could be odd or concerning things that happened at the interview.” Use these insights when you write your next email to the interviewer.</div>
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<b></b><b>Connect with interviewers on LinkedIn.</b> Once you have interviewed with someone, is it all right to send an invite to connect on LinkedIn? The jury is still out on this question, but most recruiters agree that you should ask your interviewer during the interview if he or she would be willing to accept your initiation to connect. Provide the interviewer with a reason you'd like to build a relationship and stay connected. Some recruiters say it may be awkward if the candidate is no longer in the running, but others suggest you base your decision on how well the interview went and the level of rapport established. The worst thing he or she could say is no, so why not ask? With more recruiters <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/16-things-youre-doing-all-wrong-on-linkedin" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">relying on LinkedIn</a> to source candidates, it is no longer wise to assume an answer.</div>
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<b></b><b>Build your 30/60/90-day plan. </b>What is this? It's a written document explaining how you will transition and excel and provide value to your future employer within those periods. It can be as specific or general as you want. When shared during a second or third interview, it is one way to differentiate yourself and show interest in the company and job.</div>
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Peggy McGee of Career Confidential is an advocate of a 30/60/90 day plan. She says it serves two purposes: It's an outline of your intentions for the first three months at work, plus “it's also a goal-setting document that shows you understand the job and you know what it takes to be successful at it. It covers everything from your training to your efforts to help grow the business.”<br /><a href="http://careerconfidential.com/how-to-find-information-for-your-306090-day-plan/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://careerconfidential.com/how-to-find-information-for-your-306090-day-plan/"></a><br /><b><i>The 30-day section</i> </b>of your plan is usually about how you will learn the company's systems, procedures, people, customers/clients and overall culture.</div>
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<b><i>The 60-day section</i> </b>outlines how you plan to continue to assess the company and begin to use your strengths.</div>
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<b><i>The 90-day section</i> </b>shows how you will take what you've learned and begin to put it into action. How will you meet some of the goals stated in the job description?</div>
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If you can't answer these questions, you will need to get the information, either through <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/07/26/what-is-an-informational-interview-anyway" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">informational meetings</a> with company insiders or during your next interview. Another reason to think about creating a plan is that it will help you envision your first 90 days for a better job match.</div>
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<b></b><b>Take some risks to stand out. </b>Standing out requires you take calculated risks. Use your best judgment and remember, if you play by the same rules as every other job seeker, you’ll look the same</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/16/how-to-stand-out-in-the-eleventh-hour-of-the-hiring-process" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

How to Stand Out in the Eleventh Hour of the Hiring Process

How to Stand Out in the Eleventh Hour of the Hiring Process You don't have the job just yet. Here's how to follow up after a productive interview. What can you do to stand out during the interview pr…

28 Oct 2014

Job Seekers: How to Follow Up Like You Mean It

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Job Seekers: How to Follow Up Like You Mean It</h1>
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A 100-word email can help you get the job.</h2>
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Just finished a job application? Don't just sit around twiddling your thumbs! Stand out from the crowd by taking the initiative to contact employers.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Networking. Writing cover letters. Tweaking and retweaking and burning your résumé and starting all over. You did the hard stuff. But job seekers sometimes shoot themselves in the feet by forgetting one of the simplest tasks – writing a 100-word email after applying to jobs and interviewing.</span></div>
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Here's your guide to perfecting the follow-up:</div>
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<i>You applied for the job and now want to check on the hiring process and your materials.</i></div>
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<b>Reach out to your contact, if you have one.</b> Ideally<b>, </b>you had a contact inside the organization through whom you learned about the job, says Jenny Foss, founder of the career blog JobJenny.com. In that case, email him or her to ask about the hiring progress. Foss points out that something unrelated to hiring – a conference, project or vacation – could prevent you and other candidates from hearing back about the job for a month. That kind of inside intel will ease anxieties and (maybe) stop you from checking your email every other minute.</div>
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<b>[See: </b><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-25-best-jobs-of-2014" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-25-best-jobs-of-2014"><b>The 25 Best Jobs of 2014</b></a><b>.]</b></div>
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<b>Contact human resources or the hiring manager.</b> Foss says that for larger companies, candidates should track down someone in human resources who is involved in hiring for your prospective department. An email or phone call would do, she says, to get an idea of the hiring timeline.</div>
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Say you applied to a smaller company, or to an actual person. Mary Ellen Slayter, Monster's career advice expert and founder of the marketing company Reputation Capital Media Services, suggests emailing that week to say something along the lines of, “I sent over my résumé and wanted to know if you have any questions. I’m very interested in the position.” Foss adds that in emails, you should always thank this person for his or her time in responding to you.</div>
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<b>Email a few – not 10 – more times.</b> “It’s a fine line between being assertive and being a stalker,” Slayter says of following up. After that initial email, she says, “up to three messages spread over a period of weeks or months is totally reasonable.”</div>
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No word after those messages? Slayter likens the interaction to dating and says to take a hint and “lay off.” “What you don’t want to be is that person who applies for a job on the website, then sends emails over and over and over again and clogs up the system,” she says. “You think it’s showing that you have an initiative, but that level of persistence is actually not attractive.”</div>
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<b>[See: </b><b><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/8-tacky-job-search-faux-pas" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/8-tacky-job-search-faux-pas">8 Tacky Job Search Faux Pas</a>.</b><b>]</b></div>
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<i>Your following up paid off, and you landed an interview! Now that you’ve met with the team, reach out again to send a thank you.</i></div>
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<b>Follow up fast – like now. </b>Foss advocates for emailing the interviewers as soon as you can, as in, from the parking lot of the employer if you have your laptop and a wireless connection. "Thank yous matter a lot, and I think it's unexpectedly impressive if, an hour after you left the building, they've got a thank-you note that's genuine and specific sitting right in front of their face," she says.</div>
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<b>Email every person with whom you interviewed. </b>Say you meet with four interviewers. You need to send four emails. “Each of those people is going to have some say-so in whether or not you get the job,” Slayter says. “Those are also the same people who – if you don’t get the job – will know about other jobs within the company.”</div>
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<b>Individualize each email.</b> A mass “thanks for your time” message won’t cut it. Copying, pasting and sending the same email to each person won’t impress anyone, either.</div>
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Foss and Slayter each stress the importance of sending an individualized email to every person, so be sure to take notes on everyone and grab business cards after the interview.</div>
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In each email, thank the interviewer for his or her time, Slayter says, and then “add value and move the conversation forward.” Say you and this person spoke about the company’s venture into search-optimizing its website. Mention this conversation, and point to an example of your experience with that topic. As for length, Slayter suggests keeping the message to a paragraph or two.</div>
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<b>Consider sending a snail mail thank-you note, too. </b>Experts vary in their opinions on handwritten notes. Archaic or charming? Depends on whom you ask. Diane Gottsman, <i></i>a national etiquette expert and owner of The Protocol School of Texas, recommends sending an email and then a paper note. Of the latter, she says, "I don't think it's outdated at all. I think it sets you apart."</div>
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Slayter and Foss are of the camp that the individualized message and quick delivery of an email typically trump cards, which are well-meaning but sometimes impractical.</div>
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Consider the timing of the hiring decision. If the interviewer says he or she will make a decision within a week, your thoughtful card may still be in transit come D Day. As Slayter puts it: “I don’t work at the speed of the U.S. Postal Service.”</div>
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<a href="http://www.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/09/24/job-seekers-how-to-follow-up-like-you-mean-it/*" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Job Seekers: How to Follow Up Like You Mean It

Job Seekers: How to Follow Up Like You Mean It A 100-word email can help you get the job. Just finished a job application? Don't just sit around twiddling your thumbs! Stand out from the crowd by tak…

28 Oct 2014

5 Hidden Costs of a New Job

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5 Hidden Costs of a New Job</h1>
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Commuting expenses, insurance changes and other factors may take a bite out of that new salary.</h2>
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Check for these unexpected expenses when considering a new job. Otherwise, you may have to part a chunk of your paycheck.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">If you’ve accepted a</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/18/8-things-new-employees-should-never-do" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/18/8-things-new-employees-should-never-do">new job</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">, you’re probably thinking about what you you’ll do with your new paycheck. But did you realize that sometimes a new job can</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">cost</i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">you money?</span></div>
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Before you mentally account for all that freshly flowing cash, make sure you’ve factored in these five possible expenses that can come along with new employment:</div>
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<b>1. Commuting expenses</b>. If your old job was 10 minutes away, and your new one involves an hour commute, you’ll be facing higher costs for gas and maintenance. Public transportation costs can add up too. If you pay $5 each way on public transportation, that's more than $2,500 over the course of a year. Make sure that when you’re <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/02/how-to-evaluate-a-job-offer" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/02/how-to-evaluate-a-job-offer">assessing a job offer</a>, you factor in your transportation costs, which may can be significant.</div>
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In fact, a personal finance blogger known as Mr. Money Mustache – who anonymously runs a wildly popular money management website – noted in a May Reuters article: “The IRS allows you to deduct your business driving at about 55 cents per mile, and this is based on a realistic addition of costs … So if you have a 20-mile commute to work, multiply it out: 40 miles each workday times 50 cents a mile. And there are 2,500 of those workdays in every decade, so that 'not too bad' commute is burning at least $50,000 every ten years."</div>
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<b>2. Insurance premiums or deductibles.</b> <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/01/15/dont-make-these-8-mistakes-when-negotiating-salary" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/01/15/dont-make-these-8-mistakes-when-negotiating-salary">Before accepting any offer</a>, make sure you fully understand what you’ll be paying for health insurance and what those premiums will get you. If you previously had a plan in which your employer covered most or all of the monthly premium costs, you might be in for sticker shock when you see what it costs to shoulder more of those yourself. Depending on your employer’s plan and what they pay for, you could end up seeing a significant portion of your salary eaten up in insurance premiums.</div>
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You should also look at what the plan covers, what deductibles you might have and what your copays will look like. There can be vast differences from one plan to another, and if you end up having to pay out of pocket more often on a lower-quality plan, that can take a big bite out of <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/02/20/16-great-jobs-that-pay-90k-or-more" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/02/20/16-great-jobs-that-pay-90k-or-more">your paycheck</a>.</div>
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<b>3. COBRA coverage for any uninsured period between when your old insurance stops and when your new coverage begins.</b> Many companies won’t start your insurance coverage until you’ve worked 30 days, which means you can find yourself with a month of lapsed coverage. You can generally keep your old coverage going through COBRA, or the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act health benefit provisions program. But you’ll pay the full cost that was previously borne by your employer, which can be expensive. However, keep in mind that you can apply for COBRA retroactively, so one money-saving option is to apply only if you end up needing the coverage during that period.</div>
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<b>4. Professional clothes.</b> New <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-wardrobe-musts-for-your-next-interview" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">wardrobe expectations</a> can be an unanticipated expense for people who are either new to the work world altogether, like recent graduates, or those moving from a job with a casual dress code to one where suits are expected. If you’re used to spending your days in jeans, and your new office requires business attire, you might find that you need to buy an entirely new wardrobe for work. Business clothes aren’t cheap, but keep in mind that you can often find well-made suits for low prices at consignment shops and secondhand stores.</div>
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<b>5. Lunch and other extras.</b> How you handle lunch can determine whether or not that ends up being a cost working for or against you. Eating out every day will quickly add up. Even if you kept to a relatively frugal budget of $5 a day for lunch, you could spend more than $1,000 over the course of a year – just on lunch. There are significant savings to be had just by bringing in food from home most days. Food expenses can pop up at work in other ways, too, so watch out. For example, buying coffee each morning and heading out for regular happy hours with co-workers may be extra expenses.</div>
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/08/5-hidden-costs-of-a-new-job" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

5 Hidden Costs of a New Job

5 Hidden Costs of a New Job Commuting expenses, insurance changes and other factors may take a bite out of that new salary. Check for these unexpected expenses when considering a new job. Otherwise, …

28 Oct 2014

7 Reasons Job Seekers Should Volunteer

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7 Reasons Job Seekers Should Volunteer</h1>
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Plus, the best websites for finding local volunteer opportunities.</h2>
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Help your job search by helping others.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">When it comes to searching for a new job, almost everyone thinks about</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/26/how-long-is-too-long-for-a-resume" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/26/how-long-is-too-long-for-a-resume">building a résumé</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> and LinkedIn profile, networking in person and online and responding to advertised positions. Of course, these are all critical elements of your job hunt.</span></div>
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There is another, less obvious thing you should be doing: volunteering for an organization, group or cause in which you believe. Here’s why:</div>
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<b>1. </b><b>Volunteering can multiply your networking opportunities. </b>You will come in contact with people you’ve never met, and yet you'll immediately have something in common with them. As you build personal relationships, there will be a natural inclination to share information about your individual circumstances and aspirations. You may well be surprised to learn who else your newfound friend knows, or ways in which you may be able and willing to help each other.</div>
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<b>2. </b><b>Volunteering provides opportunities for you to use your skills and gain new ones. </b>When you align your volunteer activities with the things you normally do in the workplace, you can apply your talents in new areas. This can prevent you from becoming rusty – especially <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/03/how-to-find-support-when-job-searching-while-unemployed" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/03/how-to-find-support-when-job-searching-while-unemployed">if you're unemployed</a>. And when you take on new challenges, you will have the ability to turn your weaknesses into strengths as you build new skills and gain experience.</div>
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<b>3. </b><b>Volunteering can help build your </b><b>résumé</b><b>. </b>If you are employed, your résumé should have a section toward the bottom titled “Volunteer Activities.” If you are unemployed, and you volunteer at a given organization for a reasonable number of hours per week or month, it is fair to put that organization at the top of your “Professional Experience” section. Your job title can include the word "volunteer" to make clear what you do and that your compensation is nonmonetary. For example: “Volunteer Webmaster" and “Volunteer Bookkeeper."</div>
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<b>4. </b><b>Volunteering can defeat your sense of isolation.</b> If you are like many others, the need to <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings">get a job</a> – and therefore the search itself – can come to dominate your life. If you are new to a community, the sense of not knowing anyone, or not knowing your way around (literally and figuratively) can be overpowering. Plus, money can be scarce, particularly if you're unemployed and searching, and you may pull back from many of your normal activities. If you’ve been job hunting for a long period of time, you may feel that you’ve exhausted your normal set of contacts, your mood may darken and you may feel isolated and depressed. Whatever the reason is that you find yourself at home alone all day, by volunteering some of your time, you will have a place to go and an opportunity to cast off your sense of overwhelming isolation.</div>
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<b>5. </b><b>Volunteering says something positive about you as a person. </b>When you volunteer, you project yourself as someone concerned with a cause greater than your own personal needs. You are seen to be a person who gives back to your community, profession or cause. And, most of all, you are seen as a person who goes above and beyond what is required of you. If you are unemployed, your volunteer activities can show you aren’t <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/04/17/the-psychology-of-being-fired" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/04/17/the-psychology-of-being-fired">just vegetating</a>. Instead, those activities become the answer to the question, “What have you been doing since you lost your job?” These traits are all highly valued by employers.</div>
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<b>6. </b><b>Volunteering enables you to make a difference in the lives of others. </b>Our busy schedules rarely permit us to do what we'd like to further the work of the organizations or causes we care about. Yet when you take the time to volunteer, you impact the lives of so many people who are benefited by the group you serve. Your time and talent count!</div>
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<b>7. </b><b>Volunteering can lead to full-time work at the place where you’ve demonstrated your skills and commitment. </b>As a volunteer in an organization, you get to know who’s who and what’s what. You can develop a relationship with the leaders and staff, and you are often among the first to know of – and be considered for – paid opportunities as they arise. After all, when your work and commitment to the cause are known and respected, what else does a hiring authority have to know before thinking of you as that ideal “fit” candidate?</div>
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It's worth seriously thinking about what you want to do and what volunteer opportunities are available to you. Consider how you can align your volunteer work with your “real” work activities. When looking for options, it is worth searching these sites:</div>
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<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"><b>VolunteerMatch </b>(volunteermatch.org): This site asks you about areas in which you are interested, such as advocacy and human rights, animals, arts and culture and more. Enter your city and state, and the site will provide a list of volunteering opportunities that are relevant to you.</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"><b>LinkedIn</b> (volunteer.linkedin.com):<b> </b>In addition to listing <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/04/how-to-become-a-networking-superstar" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">networking opportunities</a> and job posts, LinkedIn also displays volunteer opportunities. In the advanced search, you can simply fill in your zip code and specify a geographic radius within which you are willing to travel.</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"><b>Idealist </b>(idealist.org):<b> </b>This is an excellent site for the nonprofit community for both paid and volunteer activities. You input keywords for things you might be interested in, such as teaching, arts or computer aided design. For location, you can enter your metro area, supply your city and state or give your zip code.</li>
<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9em; text-indent: -0.9em;"><b>SimplyHired</b> (simplyhired.com): This site aggregates both jobs and volunteer opportunities from all over the internet. For the keywords, simply enter “volunteer jobs,” and then fill in your location. Once again, a variety opportunities will present themselves.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/05/7-reasons-job-seekers-should-volunteer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

7 Reasons Job Seekers Should Volunteer

7 Reasons Job Seekers Should Volunteer Plus, the best websites for finding local volunteer opportunities. Help your job search by helping others. When it comes to searching for a new job, almost ever…

27 Oct 2014

How to Avoid the Résumé Black Hole

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How to Avoid the Résumé Black Hole</h1>
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What you should know about applicant tracking systems, and how to get them to work in your favor.</h2>
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Where did it go? Keep your online application in orbit – not lost in space.</div>
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<i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">I’ve applied online to numerous positions, and I never get a response. My résumé just gets swallowed up in some black hole, and it never even gets seen by a recruiter or </i><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/27/court-a-hiring-manager-without-seeming-like-a-creep" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/27/court-a-hiring-manager-without-seeming-like-a-creep"><i>hiring manager</i></a><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">.</i></div>
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This a common complaint from frustrated job seekers.</div>
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Imagine, however, that you are on the other side of the hiring desk. You advertise a job and receive anywhere from 50 to 200 or more applicants. Each submits a two-page résumé with dense prose depicting complex sets of skills and experiences. That’s easily 100 to 400 pages to sift through in order to find an initial set of 10 or 15 candidates who you might want to contact. Then, remember that every human resources staffing person typically deals with 15 to 30 job requisitions at any given time, so he or she needs to contend with literally thousands of pages of résumés.</div>
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That's a daunting task, which is made even more complex with the need to document Equal Employment Opportunity Commission compliance and to track candidates' interactions with various HR staff, hiring managers and department personnel.</div>
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The solution is known as an applicant tracking system, or ATS. This kind of software has become integral to the hiring process for companies of all sizes, as well as for external executive <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/30/3-types-of-recruiters-and-how-to-impress-them" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/30/3-types-of-recruiters-and-how-to-impress-them">recruiters and headhunters</a>. Say you're applying for a job on the company website. There's a good chance you're actually accessing the outward-facing portion of an externally run ATS site that's branded to look just like the company site.</div>
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There are many companies that provide hundreds of competing of ATS software products for employers. Some are simple and stand alone, while others are far more complex with greater abilities. One of the significant players in this arena is iCIMS, with more than 2,000 corporate clients. Susan Vitale, the iCIMS chief marketing officer, spoke with this author to debunk myths that surround the supposed "résumé black holes.” She also provides valuable tips for job seekers about how to best gain the attention of internal HR personnel and external recruiters.</div>
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Vitale contends that ATS companies like iCIMS make every effort to meet candidates’ needs for convenience. For example, they often allow one to submit information using their login from social media sites, such as Facebook, Google Plus and LinkedIn.</div>
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This way, she points out, “a candidate doesn’t have to create yet another username and password.” She provides the assurance that logging in using social media credentials does not give the ATS the ability to search one’s timeline or other posts.</div>
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When asked if <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/18/7-tips-to-ace-a-phone-interview" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">screening questions</a> posed by ATS systems automatically knock out certain candidates, here's how she replied: “Absolutely not! It totally varies. Some companies use the screening questions as knockout questions, and some do not.” Vitale points out that – particularly in regard to EEOC compliance – companies have to define requirements of positions and show that they didn't pick a candidate because he or she didn’t meet the minimum qualifications.</div>
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For example, perhaps a job requires a certain certification. If a candidate doesn’t indicate that he or she has that certification, he or she could automatically be put in a "doesn't meet minimum qualifications" category.</div>
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Vitale acknowledges that it is “uncomfortable” for applicants when companies require an answer to the salary question in order to submit a résumé. She understands that people, “don’t want to go higher than they should or lower than they need to.” Industry best practice today is for companies to provide an option for candidates to decline to answer any screening question, but each company decides for itself what questions to pose and whether or not answers are mandatory for a candidate to be considered.</div>
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According to Vitale, these points are key to making the ATS system best understand candidates' résumés as intended.</div>
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<b>1. Any ATS system these days can easily work with Word or PDF file types</b>. It will parse out key pieces of information and populate the database with your name, address, skills, <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/18/5-red-flags-in-your-job-history--and-how-to-combat-them" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/18/5-red-flags-in-your-job-history--and-how-to-combat-them">employment history</a>and relevant keywords. It will also preserve the résumé in the form you submit to be viewed by the recruiter.</div>
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<b>2.</b> <b>Lines, text boxes and color can be be handled by almost every ATS today</b>. Use these elements judiciously.</div>
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<b>3.</b> <b>Be careful about using graphics.</b> Different ATS systems vary in their abilities to deal with images. Regardless, words embedded in graphics won’t be recognized or parsed out. If you submit a graphic-heavy résumé, it may lose the visual appeal for which you strive. Instead, it may be seen as gibberish on the other side.</div>
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<b>4. ATS systems look for certain items to be in particular places on your</b> <b>résumé.</b> For example, your name and contact information should be at the top – not placed in a vertical text box along the side of the page. Use appropriate headings for the various sections of your résumé and have them formatted logically.</div>
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<b>5.</b> <b>Don’t try to game the system</b>. For example, don’t needlessly repeat the same <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/11/05/why-you-dont-want-to-pack-your-resume-with-keywords" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/11/05/why-you-dont-want-to-pack-your-resume-with-keywords">keywords in your résumé</a> just to get a better keyword-scoring match. It doesn’t work that way. It may be noticed, but recruiters generally take a negative view of this practice.</div>
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<b>6.</b> <b>Make sure your </b><b>résumé</b><b> demonstrates that you are well suited for the positions for which you are applying</b>. It is not the fault of the ATS if you are continually rejected for positions for which you don’t qualify.</div>
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<b>7. Use common sense</b>. Don’t apply for widely different positions within the same company. And don't go for positions at significantly different expertise or experience levels within the same company, either. Keep in mind that your entire profile will be seen by anyone in the company who is looking at your résumé.</div>
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Happy hunting!</div>
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<br />
<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/12/how-to-avoid-the-resume-black-hole" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

How to Avoid the Résumé Black Hole

How to Avoid the Résumé Black Hole What you should know about applicant tracking systems, and how to get them to work in your favor. Where did it go? Keep your online application in orbit – not lost …

27 Oct 2014

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