6 Secrets of The New Interview + JibberJobber and Job Search Organizing

6 Secrets of The New Interview + JibberJobber and Job Search Organizing Nick Corcodilos, Ask the Headhunter, shared 6 Secrets of the New Interview from his book, The New Interview (an instruction book), on this blog post. Here are his six, with my commentary: 1. Insiders have the best shot at the job.  They also have the best shot at recommending outsiders for the job.  Are you networking with people at your target companies so that you could be recommended by an insider?  This, my friends, is what I would call working the hidden job market.  How do you keep track of all of your networking touch points, and follow-up conversations?  Using JibberJobber, of course. 2. The real matchmaking is done before the interview.  Nick says a headhunter never sends a candidate to an interview unless the headhunter already knows the candidate can do the job.  How do you keep track of which recruiters know what about you?  Use JibberJobber to keep a profile on your recruiters, and when you send them what information, and who you have referred them to. 3. The interview is an invitation to do the job.  Nick says the interview is not an interrogation (even thought it might feel like one, since the stakes for you are so high!). In JibberJobber theres a section called Interview Prep, to help you prepare for your interviews. 4. The employer wants to hire you, and he will help you win the interview. Combine the idea of interviewing well and having insiders network you in and refer you, and youll be ahead more than if you didnt do those two things!  As noted above, JibberJobber helps with both. 5. The boss wants one thing from you: He wants you to solve a problem.  Same as #4 can you, in the interview, prove you can solve the problem?  And, do you have insiders that influence the boss vouching for you?  JibberJobber helps organize and track this. 6. You will win the job by doing it. That is, not talking about it, but somehow assuring them that you know how to do the job, without any doubt.  This, I think, comes down to your personal brand, and how well you have communicated your abilities and success to your contacts.  You can use JibberJobber to keep track of which contacts need to know what about you, and whether you have told them the right stories or not. In Nicks post he shares a link to the interview flow chart this is a complex process, and I can see how JibberJobber could add value to almost every step in the flowchart. 6 Secrets of The New Interview + JibberJobber and Job Search Organizing Nick Corcodilos, Ask the Headhunter, shared 6 Secrets of the New Interview from his book, The New Interview (an instruction book), on this blog post. Here are his six, with my commentary: 1. Insiders have the best shot at the job.  They also have the best shot at recommending outsiders for the job.  Are you networking with people at your target companies so that you could be recommended by an insider?  This, my friends, is what I would call working the hidden job market.  How do you keep track of all of your networking touch points, and follow-up conversations?  Using JibberJobber, of course. 2. The real matchmaking is done before the interview.  Nick says a headhunter never sends a candidate to an interview unless the headhunter already knows the candidate can do the job.  How do you keep track of which recruiters know what about you?  Use JibberJobber to keep a profile on your recruiters, and when you send them what information, and who you have referred them to. 3. The interview is an invitation to do the job.  Nick says the interview is not an interrogation (even thought it might feel like one, since the stakes for you are so high!). In JibberJobber theres a section called Interview Prep, to help you prepare for your interviews. 4. The employer wants to hire you, and he will help you win the interview. Combine the idea of interviewing well and having insiders network you in and refer you, and youll be ahead more than if you didnt do those two things!  As noted above, JibberJobber helps with both. 5. The boss wants one thing from you: He wants you to solve a problem.  Same as #4 can you, in the interview, prove you can solve the problem?  And, do you have insiders that influence the boss vouching for you?  JibberJobber helps organize and track this. 6. You will win the job by doing it. That is, not talking about it, but somehow assuring them that you know how to do the job, without any doubt.  This, I think, comes down to your personal brand, and how well you have communicated your abilities and success to your contacts.  You can use JibberJobber to keep track of which contacts need to know what about you, and whether you have told them the right stories or not. In Nicks post he shares a link to the interview flow chart this is a complex process, and I can see how JibberJobber could add value to almost every step in the flowchart.

Myth #4 There arent any jobs out there for graduates in this economic climate. University of Manchester Careers Blog

Myth #4 There arent any jobs out there for graduates in this economic climate. University of Manchester Careers Blog We’ve all heard this statement before, be it from disgruntled friends or the media, and despite the frequency with which it’s uttered, it just isn’t true. There are currently (at the time of writing) 1,020 full-time roles being advertised on CareersLink, and that’s just one vacancy database â€" and, as the graph below shows, employers are looking to recruit graduates throughout the year. As we addressed in Myth #1, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the only jobs available to graduates are graduate schemes. Although for some students these are an ideal destination, many more find fulfilling graduate roles with large companies and SMEs that aren’t part of an official scheme. And as was addressed in Myth #2, don’t restrict yourself by only applying to roles directly related to your degree discipline. Many companies, big and small, will recruit students from any degree discipline, placing more emphasis on your work experience and extracurricular activities than your subject of study. It also pays to think globally rather than just locally when you’re looking for vacancies. You will find great job opportunities all over the UK, not just in London or Manchester, and around the world. Being open to relocating and taking risks could mean you end up in a brilliant job after you graduate. Every year, many jobs go unfilled simply because students don’t always sell themselves effectively in their applications and are therefore presumed to be lacking the skills employers are looking for. However, if you make use of Careers Services resources (whether that’s our online advice or a guidance appointment), you shouldn’t have any problems with making a good application. careers Graduates job hunting job market jobs

Learn to work like a Microsoft millionaire

Learn to work like a Microsoft millionaire The major difference between a millionaire and a working stiff is that the worker uses his job as an excuse for why hes not living his dreams and a millionaire doesnt have that luxury. So if you want to feel like a millionaire, start asking yourself the million-dollar question: What would make me feel fulfilled? In September, Microsoft will end the option grant program that made an estimated 10,000 employees millionaires. While this compensation change signals the end of an era of money, history should prove this time to be the beginning of an era of soul-searching. Typically, Microsoft millionaires cashed out and bought some big-ticket items. But after a year of shopping and travel, most people grew bored and started looking for something else. Few people had planned to be so rich so early in their career. Most people planned to work their whole lives. Without the need to work they had to ask themselves, what now? What is my life about? What makes me tick? In fact, what these millionaires had to do was figure out their priorities. What we can learn from this era of options is that everyone can have the life of a millionaire if you soul-search as seriously as the Microsofties did. Soul-searching is difficult, but it is free to those who can endure the challenges of honesty and self-knowledge. So ask yourself, what would you do if you were a millionaire? Then figure out how to do it now, when you dont have millions. Because it turns out that very few answers to that question really require you to stop working and live among piles of money. I realized this truth when I cashed out of one company and started another and found myself making a salary larger than I ever imagined. To my surprise, not much changed besides my bank statement and the restaurants I went to. Sure, I loved my career, but I would have done the same job for less than half the salary. Once I saw that money didnt change my life, I felt a lot more freedom to make career choices that were financially risky. Later, when I left my corporate life in order to write, I did not create a financial windfall in fact, you could say the change had the opposite effect. But I would write this column even if I were a millionaire. So try thinking about your career as if money werent the goal. There are two kinds of jobs: fulfilling and enabling. If you have a fulfilling job, then you are doing exactly what you want to be doing and it doesnt matter if youre a millionaire or not. You are lucky. (Though not alone: Microsoft has a large contingency of millionaires volunteers who continue working even though they dont need the money.) An enabling job is what you do if your fulfillment comes from something that doesnt pay. This kind of job takes the most discipline. If you work and work and never get to the exciting thing youre going to do on the side, then the only thing you enable is shopping. And dont say you have no energy. If you had an appointment with the President of the United States after work, even if you hate him, youd have enough energy to make it to the meeting. People who are too tired after work are people who dont know what they want to do. Its very tiring to not know what makes you feel fulfilled. One Microsoft millionaire made a mission statement for himself. This is not a bad idea, especially if you cannot figure out what will make you fulfilled. Most of you will find that your mission statement is not about money. His, for example, was about hard work, passion and leaving the world a better place than you found it. Your own mission statement will help you to figure out what you should be doing with your days. We might not all make millions from our job, but we are all equals in the effort to find a fulfilling life. So stop telling yourself that your life would be really different if you had a million dollars. For most of us, the only difference would be a bigger bank account.

6 Desk Must-Haves to Keep You Happy and Productive

6 Desk Must-Haves to Keep You Happy and Productive If you work in an office, chances are you spend a large amount of your time sat at a desk. Now whether you love it loathe it, there are ways and means to brighten up the area and make it much nicer place to be. So what are the top things you need on your desk to keep it productive? Read on to find out! 1. A plant Did you know that having a plant or shrub on your desk can significantly improve your happiness? If youve not already invested in a little bundle of shrubbery to take care of, what are you waiting for?  Plants can also improve air quality (you can even get specific species that are really good at this, such as an Aloe plant!) They can also brighten up the look of a typically boring work desk, so choose something colourful! I just watered my desk plant â€" likely because Im a millennial. Mikah Sargent (@mikahsargent) March 19, 2016 Best plants for offices: Spider plant Philodendron Mini cactus 2. Snacks Eating small amounts of food at regular intervals can dramatically improve concentration levels throughout the day. Make sure you keep a selection of healthy snacks on your desk to munch on throughout the day. Healthy snack ideas: Carrot sticks and hummus Cereal Bar Yogurt Almonds I ran out of desk snacks. The horror The Surly Librarian (@SurlyLibrarian) March 18, 2016 3. Water Dehydration can really stunt your energy throughout the day. Make sure you have water on-hand at your desk so that you stay hydrated and energised throughout the day. If you get the infamous 3pm slump then  drinking a large glass of water can perk you up and get you going again. https://twitter.com/LnnPtrck/status/642745891661737984 4. Headphones music Music is a great motivator. It can perk you up when youre feeling less than perky, as well as creating a feeling of privacy, rid of distractions. So if you have a task that needs all your concentration, why not grab your headphones, stick on some tunes and get going? Youll mask the distractions in the office and your mind will be focused on the task at hand. Tips: Get your favourite movie soundtrack up on YouTube and listen to that. Sometimes lyrics can be distracting. Download the Spotify app and stream your music hassle free. If you prefer more ambient sounds (and no music) give Rainy Mood a go! Bought some good headphones into work, and now I can hear all of my @sysomos colleagues gloriously rich vocal tones on Webex conferences. concannon (@concannon) March 17, 2016 5. Umbrella Theres nothing worse than making your way to an important meeting and  getting caught in the rain. Turning up looking like a drowned rat is not a good look, so making sure you keep an umbrella handy will mean youll never have this problem. Listened to forecast? Check. Took brolly to work? Check. Left for meeting without it? Check. Caught in rain? Check. Irritated? Let me check. Alex Deane (@ajcdeane) October 3, 2013 6. Lint Roller Keeping a lint roller in your drawer will keep you looking smart and fresh even if a meeting is sprung on you spontaneously at 4pm on a Friday afternoon. Took my lint roller to work and it was used up in a matter of 2days ?chelsea? (@chelsdeer) March 17, 2016 7. A work jumper Something that can really effect motivation in an office is the temperature of your surroundings. In every office theres always that one colleague who is eternally freezing if thats you its worth bringing in a jumper to leave in the office to combat the cold. This way you wont get distracted by the office surroundings and be more productive overall. Wearing all the layers and still freezing. This office is the worst. pic.twitter.com/g6Q363eoEV Dr. Amanda (@DrAmandaMay) March 16, 2016 Main image credit: Shutterstock

Which of These Is Not Suggested For Writing a Resume?

Which of These Is Not Suggested For Writing a Resume?A lot of people are confused with which of these is not suggested for writing a resume. Many people hire a professional resume writer to do the job for them but still have difficulty in writing it themselves. Before you hire someone to do the job for you, take some time to study what they do and why they do it the way they do.First, you need to know that there is no way to write an impressive resume without good grammar. Most people who do not use the proper grammar and spelling may put you on their resume, so make sure that you learn how to use the proper spelling and grammar. Also, if you are putting together a resume for an online employer, make sure that your grammar and spelling are acceptable as well.Second, online resume submission can be done through online applications, which can be done by anyone regardless of their age. If you have a great job experience and are well qualified for the position, that will show your employ ers that you can work without having to sit in the office all day. When you are looking for a resume writer, make sure that they specialize in online resume submission.Third, many people forget that getting references for your resume can be a hard task. There are many ways to get references for your resume, and you just need to research different methods of getting references for your resume. In order to remember all the steps you need to take, make a list of things you need to do and write it down. You need to start the research and get references by taking the phone book or making a detailed search in the internet.Fourth, one of the hardest parts of a resume to write is determining which information to put on your resume and that you should leave out. This is why you need to read all the terms and keywords that appear on the job advertisement or resume paper. Knowing these terms and key words can help you determine the content that is important. Try to use a few keywords when comp osing your resume, which is best left to the professionals. If you need more ideas, make a list of terms and key words that you need to research so that you can use them for your resume.Fifth, writing a resume is hard because of the many features that a resume can have. In order to make your resume stand out from all the others, you need to be creative. You can include bullet points, which may be written on the resume paper, but make sure that you make them yourself or hire a professional to write them for you.Sixth, when you are looking for a resume writer, ask about what sort of writing resumes require. Some of the services offer templates for resume writing and you can change the template to fit your needs. Other services allow you to write a resume on your own and they will customize it for you. Make sure that you understand what each service offers before you choose one or two services over another.So now you know what a resume is and what is not suggested for writing a resume. The next time you are in the job market, make sure that you are prepared and can write a resume for your job application.

Why You Should Adopt a Career Survivor Mindset - Hire Imaging

Why You Should Adopt a Career Survivor Mindset - Hire Imaging Never suppose you’ll be safe at work. From my human resources background and 30 years as a career coach and strategist, I have learned that often those who survive hard times are inevitably those who anticipate and feel they are next in line to be laid off. I think the “why” of that is fairly simple. If you regularly assume you’ll be let go, the more likely you’ll be thinking about new opportunities â€" either within your company or externally. Then, when changes occur, you’re prepared for next steps. Adopting a survivor mentality is not defeatist; rather, it will serve you well as part of your ongoing career management strategy. After all, you are CEO of your career. Never suppose you’ll be safe at work. Over the years, I’ve seen people who, seemingly effortlessly, land on their feet time and again. Many of these folks have been clients and as such, I’ve noted what many others did not. I’ve witnessed the hard work, time, preparation and sweat equity these people have invested. Take for example, my client, Trina. She worked as a business analyst for a large manufacturer, and saw budgets being cut in her department. Her colleagues wore blinders, unaware of any potential, impending change. Trina, on the other hand, spent most of her free time talking to people in other parts of the company, networking and discovering where other internal openings existed. She landed a new job in another department just in time. Two-thirds of her former team co-workers were laid off. Who stays? Recently the retailer Target, headquartered in my city, had some well-publicized layoffs at its corporate offices. Before they were announced, it was assumed that the employees who would most likely get pink slips, would be those there the shortest amount of time, or those weaker performers. It did not turn out that way. The idea that top performers or “good people” dodge the bullet is false. Today’s companies are striving to make numbers, clean house, reorganize and restructure â€" to eliminate mistakes and build on successes. Doing business often means reduction in workforce and people out the door. It can be a shock for those top performers who felt safe. High-potential folks quite frankly, can reel from the shock for months. It’s not conducive to starting a strong job search campaign. How do you think like a survivor? Listen and pay attention. If you’re currently employed, listen to the water-cooler talk; to what the administrative support and ancillary staff are saying. Pick up on clues from your colleagues or supervisors. Grasp obscure messages; read between the lines. Marge heard an enlightening tidbit from the young woman who brought mail each morning. The woman told Marge that the address for her employer was set to change in three weeks. The woman shared more information freely, into discussion around the company’s relocation within the same city. Marge checked out the building with the address â€" three times smaller than the current. She inferred that there was going to a reduction in force; and she was right. When her layoff notice came nearly two months later, Marge was ready. She had already revised her resume and LinkedIn profile, and had started a discreet job search. The benefits of a plan. If you have a hint of change on the horizon, create a plan of action. Even if there is nothing to indicate that change, it serves you well to proactively have a Plan B. Work with “what if” scenarios. If your business unit is moved overseas, where would you look for a new job? If your employer were acquired and merged with another company, what functions would be kept? Elements of your plan might include revising your resume and LinkedIn profile, reconnecting with your network, researching industries and companies, and practicing your interviewing skills. Think like a project manager; set goals with timelines, and stick to them. I’m not telling you to be paranoid! If nothing happens and you deliriously remain where you’re at, great! But if something happens, you’re ready. Nothing happens in your workplace; it’s still there, and so are you. The gold nugget is that in your preparation, you stumbled into a window of opportunity with a new software startup when you reached out to Bill at your daughter’ soccer practice. Or in the case of my client, Jake, his proactive search led him in an entire new career direction from paralegal to mediator. He discovered his love for the latter while still employed. And he was able to get the training he needed before making the transition. Think “oh no” scenario. One of my favorite questions is, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Suppose the worst occurs regarding where this post started. You’re laid off. Well, if the first part of this post resonated with you, you will have proactively planned for the situation. The news may initially jolt you, but it will not be a total shock, because you did your own counter intelligence work. You’re ready. You have a plan of action and communications. You’re ready to move forward. Your colleagues, who are now in reactive mode, may not be as fortunate. You are one step ahead of everyone else, because you kept a survivor mentality. How do you think or model “survivor” behavior in your workplace? I’d love to hear from you. Photo: Craig

The Differences Between a Man and Womans Perspective on Happiness - Kathy Caprino

The Differences Between a Man and Woman’s Perspective on Happiness “9 out of 10 women studied are experiencing at least one of the 12 crises working women face today, and over half don’t know what to do about it. On average, working women are experiencing three crises at the same time.”   These 12 emotionally-devastating crises stand in the way of happiness, are not the same for women as for men. If “happiness” is an experience of living well, liking yourself and what you’re doing, feeling excitement, joy and fulfillment during many of the days of your life, and feeling “in the flow,” the truth is this: the 12 hidden crises are preventing women from achieving happiness, and it won’t get better unless women take strong and focused action.    As one who works with women all day every day, and as a woman, mother, and high-level professional myself, I have very solid views on what women think and experience in terms of happiness.   Women’s definition of happiness and their challenges in achieving happiness, are very different from men’s.   Here are some key differences between men and women’s experience of happiness: 1) Work-Life Balance â€" The Number One Crisis for Women, not for Men   Women need to experience a sense of balance between their professional and personal identities to feel happy. Because so many women work both inside the home and outside of it, these two colliding roles (and yes, they crash together powerfully in women more so then men) â€" and doing them well with a feeling of empowerment are vitally important to women’s sense of success and happiness.   In Marcus Buckingham’s stimulating column on the Huffington Post about Women’s Happiness, he talks about women believing that there’s no such thing as balance anymore. He writes that, according to the women he interviewed, “They didnt talk about balance much at all. They seemed to realize that not only was a perfect equilibrium nigh on impossible to achieve, but also that even if they did manage to achieve it, it wouldnt necessarily fulfill them anywaywhen you are balanced, you are stationary, holding your breath, trying not to let any sudden twitch or jerk pull you too far one way or the other. You are at a standstill. Balance is the wrong life goal.   I, and the women I speak with, see it very differently. Women are struggling and deeply longing for balance, in ways men can’t relate to. Why? Because women are still shouldering the majority of domestic responsibility, including child and elder care, while holding down jobs. They are handling much more of the work inside the home, and they are connected viscerally and emotionally to their success (and perfectionism) as caregiver in different ways than men are.   Women feel more angst and guilt about what they are doing or not doing. Women are chronic “overfunctioners” â€" and men are not. They beat themselves up for what they are not doing well enough, and for focusing on themselves and their careers rather than their family life. Why is this? I believe it’s about cultural training, expectations, role modeling, and a bit about hardwiring when it comes to women’s emotions, brain functioning, values, needs, and instincts around caring for their children.   Balance for women doesn’t mean inertia â€" it means knowing what you love, doing it, and not eating yourself alive with guilt about what you are aren’t accomplishing when you’re focus on one thing (work), not the other (family) and vice versa.   Lack of balance is the most severe crisis of the 12 hidden crises women are facing. The balance women striving for is not “a pie in the sky” dream â€" it’s an essential component of a happy life â€" a sense of empowered equilibrium in which women are standing strong and stable on equal footing, giving priority to what they care about and love, without falling apart in the process. If women have given up on that, then they’ll fail at being happy.   2) “White Male Competitive Career” Model Is Breaking Women   Further, at the risk of alienating some of my male readers, as a women’s advocate I must state this well-researched phenomenon women’s inability to achieve balance is made more challenging by the existing “white male competitive career model” in place today in corporate America.   Basically, the model has been constructed with underlying assumptions that successful professionals must adhere to the following rules: 1) follow a linear career path (no off-ramping and on-ramping), 2) focus on “full time” and “face time”, 3) commit most intensively to their career development in their 30s and 40s (when many women are having babies), and 4) feel motivated best and most by power and money.   These are generalizations, yes, but overall, there is strong evidence that the male competitive career model in American today is a complete misfit and damaging for women, and it needs to be shifted to embrace and honor women’s needs and values (click here for suggested employer initiatives that will address this ill-fitted model for women).   What can women do to address these crises, and experience more happiness?   This is not a quick fix â€" it’s a breakthrough process that takes time, energy, and commitment, but it works. When women take the following actions, they experience more happiness and fulfillment in their lives and work:   1) Grow stronger in identifying what really matters to you, uniquely and specifically   2) Tune out what others tell you (men and women) about how to live your life â€" be your own expert on your happiness. Trust yourself.   3) Honor your values and needs from an empowered stance at work and at home â€" step up and take charge of yourself. Stop making excuses.   4) Evaluate your family situation realistically. Ask for (demand, if necessary) a more fair distribution of the domestic responsibility.   5) Stop overfunctioning and let go of perfectionism â€" focus hard on want you care about deeply, and let go of perfectionism in what you don’t care as much about.   6) Speak up and take action to bring about shifts at home and at your place of work and in the existing career model, so that they embrace and honor your needs and values   7) Identify what your “ideal” life looks and feels like. Get empowered outside help to create a success action plan, with concrete goals and outcomes, to achieve your life visions.   Say Yes! to your happiness. You can do it!   There are 11 more crises women face today that men do not experience in the same way as women. Crises for women are characterized by “I can’t do this” thinking â€" a negative mantra that keeps them sad, sick and stuck. While men experience some of these same crises, women internalize and process them differently, and each of these crises prevents women’s happiness.   Here is a sampling of the 12 hidden crises of women today:   Suffering from chronic health problems Failing healthâ€"a chronic illness or ailmentâ€"that won’t respond to treatment The mantra: “I can’t resolve my health problems.”    Losing your “voice” Contending with a crippling inability to speak upâ€"unable to be an advocate for yourself or others, for fear of criticism, rejection, or punishment The mantra: “I can’t speak up without being punished.”    Facing abuse or mistreatment Being treated badly, even intolerably, at workâ€"and choosing to stay The mantra: “I can’t stop this cycle of mistreatment.”   Feeling trapped by financial fears Remaining in a negative situation solely because of money The mantra: “I can’t get out of this financial trap.”   Wasting your real talents Realizing your work no longer fits and desperately wanting to use your natural talents and abilities The mantra: “I can’t use my real talents.”   Doing work you hate Longing to reconnect with the “real you”â€"and do work you love The mantra: “I can’t do work that I love.”   Be Your Own Happiness Expert Take My Breakthrough Challenge!   Please take my challenge this month Ask yourself, then 10 women and 10 men you know the following questions: 1) How do you define “happiness?” 2) Are you experiencing happiness, by and large? 3) If not, what gets in the way? 4) If you are experiencing happiness on a regular basis, how do you achieve it?   Compare the answers between men and women, and let me know what you learn.   Key questions for the week â€" What do YOU think are the differences between men’s and women’s views and experiences of happiness? How are men and women different in achieving happiness as they define it, and what does that difference mean to you? Finally, how can women achieve more happiness in their lives?   Please share your views!! A diverse, open, and supportive dialogue is the first step to breakthrough.