Six Job Skills to Recruit for in New Hires

Six Job Skills to Recruit for in New HiresSix Job Skills to Recruit for in New HiresSix Job Skills to Recruit for in New Hires Radjou, Jaideep Prabhu and Simone Ahuja, co-authors of Jugaad Innovation Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth (Jossey-Bass, 2012).Definition of jugaad noun A Hindi word meaning an innovative fix an improvised solution born from ingenuity and resurcefulness.When recruiting new hires, HR managers typically scan candidates resumes for signs of smartness as evidenced by high GPA or the eloquence of their cover letter.Smartness is seen as vital to competing and winning in todays knowledge economy.Yet companies need mora than just textbook-smart workers to innovate and succeed today.They need to recruit new hires who are street-smart who can think on their feet and use their passion to improvise creative solutions for the many challenges of a hyper-competitive marketplace.In our book, Jugaad Innovation Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakth rough Growth, we studied the most innovative and the fastest-growing enterprises in emerging markets such as India, China, Brazil, and Africa.We found that these enterprises employ street-smart workers who boast six specific job skills.We believe US companies must cultivate these critical competencies in their own workforce if they are to compete in todays fast-paced and volatile global economy.Here are the six job skills that HR managers in US firms should look for when recruitingfor job competencies1) Resilience Is the candidate able to seek opportunity in adversity? In an increasingly complex business environment that throws all kinds of challenges at companies, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity and turning it to ones advantage is a competence that US firms must urgently develop.When recruiting, look for new hires with a proven ability to reframe the adversity they face not as a debilitating challenge (or risk) but rather a unique opportunity to innovate and grow. 2) Frugality Can the candidate do more with less? Frugal consumers and cost-effective competitors are rewriting the rules of engagement for companies pressing them to develop goods and services that are affordable and eco-friendly.To compete and win in this resource-scarce environment, firms need imaginative employees who can deliver more value using fewer resources.For instance, a candidate applying for the position of manufacturing manager must be able to find clever ways to reduce energy consumption in the factories he or she will be running.3) Flexibility Is the candidate able to think and act flexibly in response to unpredictable outcomes? To thrive in a highly-unpredictable environment, companies need employees who are masters of flexibility.HR managers must check the ability of new hires to challenge conventional thinking, who can think on their feetCome up with entirely new value propositionsExperiment with various ways to achieving their goalsQuickly respond to changing ci rcumstancesImprovise new solutions, and modify their plans as they goAnd your new hires should be able to execute these tasks without supervision.4) Simplicity Can the candidate keep things simple without losing sight of complexity? Tired of complexity, consumers are pressing companies to simplify their products and services to make them more accessible.As a result, firms must look to hire RD engineers who can design good enough but user-friendly products rather than over-engineered products that are too complex to use.Similarly, they need to hire marketing managers who are able to simplify their customer interactions to deliver a superior user experience.5) Empathy Does the candidate have the empathy to include marginal (and marginalized) customers? The American middle class has shrunk significantly, and lower income consumers in the US should not be ignored.Many companies try to convince these marginalized consumers to see the value of their existing products. But these customers have unique needs serving their needs requires whole new products, different marketing strategies and new business models.Companies must understand what value means to these marginalized groups or risk being overtaken by competitors who may not even be in your space.For example, Wal-Mart offers basic financial services like check cashing to the 60 million unbanked/under-banked Americans ignored by traditional banks. If you are hiring a sales or marketing manager, be sure that they know how to serve the needs of marginalized consumers.6) Passion Can the candidate follow the heart rather than just the mind? As Dan Pink argues in A Whole New Mind, the left-brains linear, analytical, computer-like thinking controlled by what we call our mind is insufficient to help us decipher, let alone navigate, our increasingly complex and ambiguous world.The world has become too complex for the mind alone to grasp To succeed in this ambiguous environment, companies should look to hire gutsy employ ees who follow their hearts as much as their minds.These are empathetic candidates who have the courage and the willingness to take risks, trust their intuition, and are passionate about what they do, believing that they are pursuing a higher cause in the process.In our book Jugaad Innovation, we show how companies such as 3M, Facebook, GE, Google, PepsiCo, Procter Gamble, and Renault-Nissan have built innovative organizations that can thrive in todays volatile and complex economy.Their secret? They recruit street-smart employees who boast the six critical job skillsabove.Read an excerpt from the bookJugaad Innovation.Author Bios Co-authors of Jugaad Innovation Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth (Jossey-Bass, 2012)Navi Radjou is an independent innovation and leadership consultant based in Palo Alto, CA, and a fellow at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.Jaideep Prabhu is Jawaharlal Nehru professor of Indian business and enterprise and director of th e Centre for India auf der ganzen welt Business at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.Simone Ahuja is the founder of Blood Orange, a marketing and strategy consultancy with content production capabilities headquartered in Minneapolis and Mumbai.

How leaders can shine in 3 life changing events

How leaders can shine in 3 life changing eventsHow leaders can shine in 3 life changing eventsRecently my father passed away and it gave me the opportunity to reemphasize my commitment to leadership relationships in the office. Sheryl Sandberg reports, in her bookOption B,that after the death of a loved one only 60 percent of private sector workers get paid time off usually just a few days. In the United States alone grief-related losses in productivity may cost companies as much as $75 tausend milliarden annually.

When to Say No (or Yes) to Additional Responsibilities at Work

When to Say No (or Yes) to Additional Responsibilities at WorkWhen to Say No (or Yes) to Additional Responsibilities at WorkThink about your average work week How many of your daily tasks fit into the original job description you were hired to do? Chances are that, over time, out of an eagerness to prove yourself, youve taken on a number of responsibilities that fall well outside the realm of your core role. But how much of this newfound accountability is contributing to your professional advancement- and how much of it is just running you ragged?Top performers can be a prime target for additional requests because they enjoy challenge and frequently seek out new ways to demonstrate their skills. But do you find yourself saying yes every time your boss asks you to take a stab at a project thats in no way related to your core competencies simply because you want to look like a gruppe player? If you do, you may find yourself on the brink of burnout, living at work, and unable to find ti me for yourself or friends. And whats worse, you may be moving through every day with a cloud of dread hovering over your head, wondering, How on earth will I ever get all this done? Often, we say yes to additional projects because we think that it may pay off with a promotion, raise, or other reward. We adopt the mentality of I just need to bust my butt for the next couple of months then I can relax. Too often, those couple of months come and go, but the promotion never comes. You grow increasingly frustrated, but dont slow down because maybe, just maybe, this month your boss will recognize all the hard work youre putting in and itll pay off. It can turn into a never-ending cycle. While theres elendhing wrong with taking on additional responsibilities, if youre not careful to draw the line somewhere, it can become a problem. When you have too much on your plate, not only can the quality of your work start to suffer, but your relationships and commitments outside of work may take a blow as well.Does this mean you should stop saying yes to additional responsibilities altogether? Absolutely not But its up to you to make aya youre agreeing for the right reasons. If youre someone who tends to agree to every additional request that comes your way, heres how to gauge when its appropriate to push back. When Your Primary Job Responsibilities Will SufferIt can be dangerous to agree to mora if it impacts your ability to satisfy the job requirements that you were hired to do. For example, say you work in HR, but youve been asked to attend some marketing-related conferences because that team is short-staffed. You may soon find yourself spending so much time away from your desk at events (which, truthfully, should be done by someone who has direct client contact and knows the ins and outs of marketing- not you) that your primary job responsibilities, like training new employees and interviewing potential hires, starts to suffer. If its an assignment that will detract from your core responsibilities, overwhelm you, and compromise your ability to consistently deliver a high quality of work- all without any significant upside- its best to decline and focus on whats already on your plate. When its Someone Elses WorkIs your boss asking you to do the job of an intern and change the printer ink, even though youre a manager? No matter your role, its easy to get sucked into doing tasks that arent your job- like a sale rep who finds him- or herself constantly fielding customer service calls. And theres something to be said for adopting an all-hands-on-deck working style, but if you let it go too far, your willingness to pitch in can be abused. How do you spot these time-sucking tasks? Ask yourself Is this contributing to my professional development in a strategic way? If the assignment doesnt link back to your career growth somehow, dont be afraid to say no and shift the responsibility off your plate. (But its still a good idea to offer a proactive solution, l ike coaching another team member to do the task.) When Theres No Exit StrategyDont take on additional responsibilities until you understand the full scope of whats involved, how long it will take, who youll be working with, and how long the project will last. You want to avoid miscommunication down the road, and most importantly, you dont want it to be an open-ended arrangement. You may be happy to be a team player, but at the end of the day you have core responsibilities- and those should be your top priorities. For example, if your boss delivers a fairly vague request, like asking you to oversee a new initiative and provide strategic guidance, get the specifics about what exactly that means. How long will you be needed on the project? Will you be expected to attend certain meetings or be on weekly calls? Make sure you have a crystal clear picture of whats involved before saying yes in order to shield yourself from becoming embroiled in an open-ended, never-ending situation. When i t Wont Contribute to Your Skill Set, Growth, or NetworkEven an additional responsibility that doesnt exactly fit your job description can be the opportunity to get in front of important people. For example, being asked to help create a sales deck for a company meeting is a great opportunity to get your work in front of senior management.On the other hand, a solo project like filing old reports for your manager offers zero chance to expand your network in a meaningful way. Since it has little relationship-building potential and is essentially busy work, its better to pass on it in favor of stretch assignments that will help you grow. If you do decide to decline a request, keep the conversation emotionally neutral. Focus on how it might affect the companys goals, not your stress levels. And if you agree to take on new work, clearly outline what you expect the new responsibility will result in- e.g., better assignments in the future, a move toward a promotion, or a mention at the board meeting- so that you dont end up in a dead-end situation. Learning to say yes to the right types of opportunities- and say no to others- is an exercise in setting healthy boundaries at work. Speaking up for yourself will not only save you from the anxiety of taking on more than you can handle, but it will display maturity, confidence, and strong self-management skills to your boss and others in the office. Remember, setting boundaries and sticking to them doesnt show you lack drive or ambition- it shows that youre an employee of high value who prioritizes doing the job at hand. Photo courtesy of Jacob Btter.

When to Say No (or Yes) to Additional Responsibilities at Work

When to Say No (or Yes) to Additional Responsibilities at WorkWhen to Say No (or Yes) to Additional Responsibilities at WorkThink about your average work week How many of your daily tasks fit into the original job description you were hired to do? Chances are that, over time, out of an eagerness to prove yourself, youve taken on a number of responsibilities that fall well outside the realm of your core role. But how much of this newfound accountability is contributing to your professional advancement- and how much of it is just running you ragged?Top performers can be a prime target for additional requests because they enjoy challenge and frequently seek out new ways to demonstrate their skills. But do you find yourself saying yes every time your boss asks you to take a stab at a project thats in no way related to your core competencies simply because you want to look like a kollektiv player? If you do, you may find yourself on the brink of burnout, living at work, and unable to find time for yourself or friends. And whats worse, you may be moving through every day with a wolke of dread hovering over your head, wondering, How on earth will I ever get all this done? Often, we say yes to additional projects because we think that it may pay off with a promotion, raise, or other reward. We adopt the mentality of I just need to bust my butt for the next couple of months then I can relax. Too often, those couple of months come and go, but the promotion never comes. You grow increasingly frustrated, but dont slow down because maybe, just maybe, this month your boss will recognize all the hard work youre putting in and itll pay off. It can turn into a never-ending cycle. While theres nothing wrong with taking on additional responsibilities, if youre not careful to draw the line somewhere, it can become a problem. When you have too much on your plate, not only can the quality of your work start to suffer, but your relationships and commitments outside of work may take a blow as well.Does this mean you should stop saying yes to additional responsibilities altogether? Absolutely not But its up to you to make sure youre agreeing for the right reasons. If youre someone who tends to agree to every additional request that comes your way, heres how to gauge when its appropriate to push back. When Your Primary Job Responsibilities Will SufferIt can be dangerous to agree to more if it impacts your ability to satisfy the job requirements that you were hired to do. For example, say you work in HR, but youve been asked to attend some marketing-related conferences because that team is short-staffed. You may soon find yourself spending so much time away from your desk at events (which, truthfully, should be done by someone who has direct client contact and knows the ins and outs of marketing- not you) that your primary job responsibilities, like training new employees and interviewing potential hires, starts to suffer. If its an assignment that will detract fro m your core responsibilities, overwhelm you, and compromise your ability to consistently deliver a high quality of work- all without any significant upside- its best to decline and focus on whats already on your plate. When its Someone Elses WorkIs your boss asking you to do the job of an intern and change the printer ink, even though youre a manager? No matter your role, its easy to get sucked into doing tasks that arent your job- like a sales rep who finds him- or herself constantly fielding customer service calls. And theres something to be said for adopting an all-hands-on-deck working style, but if you let it go too far, your willingness to pitch in can be abused. How do you spot these time-sucking tasks? Ask yourself Is this contributing to my professional development in a strategic way? If the assignment doesnt link back to your career growth somehow, dont be afraid to say no and shift the responsibility off your plate. (But its still a good idea to offer a proactive solution , like coaching another team member to do the task.) When Theres No Exit StrategyDont take on additional responsibilities until you understand the full scope of whats involved, how long it will take, who youll be working with, and how long the project will last. You want to avoid miscommunication down the road, and most importantly, you dont want it to be an open-ended arrangement. You may be happy to be a team player, but at the end of the day you have core responsibilities- and those should be your top priorities. For example, if your boss delivers a fairly vague request, like asking you to oversee a new initiative and provide strategic guidance, get the specifics about what exactly that means. How long will you be needed on the project? Will you be expected to attend certain meetings or be on weekly calls? Make sure you have a crystal clear picture of whats involved before saying yes in order to shield yourself from becoming embroiled in an open-ended, never-ending situation. Whe n it Wont Contribute to Your Skill Set, Growth, or NetworkEven an additional responsibility that doesnt exactly fit your job description can be the opportunity to get in front of important people. For example, being asked to help create a sales deck for a company meeting is a great opportunity to get your work in front of senior management.On the other hand, a solo project like filing old reports for your manager offers zero chance to expand your network in a meaningful way. Since it has little relationship-building potential and is essentially busy work, its better to pass on it in favor of stretch assignments that will help you grow. If you do decide to decline a request, keep the conversation emotionally neutral. Focus on how it might affect the companys goals, not your stress levels. And if you agree to take on new work, clearly outline what you expect the new responsibility will result in- e.g., better assignments in the future, a move toward a promotion, or a mention at the ha uptplatine meeting- so that you dont end up in a dead-end situation. Learning to say yes to the right types of opportunities- and say no to others- is an exercise in setting healthy boundaries at work. Speaking up for yourself will not only save you from the anxiety of taking on more than you can handle, but it will display maturity, confidence, and strong self-management skills to your boss and others in the office. Remember, setting boundaries and sticking to them doesnt show you lack drive or ambition- it shows that youre an employee of high value who prioritizes doing the job at hand. Photo courtesy of Jacob Btter.

6 culinary gift ideas for a coworker who made you shine this year

6 culinary gift ideas for a coworker who made you shine this year6 culinary gift ideas for a coworker who made you shine this yearGift cards can be impersonal and sweaters and scarfs can be so been there, done that. Why not send your coworker a thoughtful foodie gift they can enjoy during the holiday season or even into the New Year?Whether its for entertaining or using for a casual dinner at home, unterstellung six culinary picks express your appreciation and gratitude in a delicious and thoughtful way.Tates Bake Shops holiday basketTo send a decadent gesture of thanks to an awesome coworker, send Tates Bake Shops North Sea Farm Holiday Basket. This basket comes in the form of a reusable holiday-themed crate filled with Tates baked goods. Stocked with signature chocolate chip cookies, coconut crisp cookies, and the brands newest cookie flavor, butter crunch Additionally, the basket includes one seasonal pumpkin loaf, peppermint cookie bark, and a sleeve of dark chocolate nonpareils from David Bradley Chocolatiers. There is also a gluten-free version for coworkers with dietary restrictions. Priced at $50.Hello, wineHelloFresh Wine is a monthly subscription comprised of six full-size 750ML bottles with the option of all red, all white, or mixed cases. Something like a wine subscription is the perfect gift for a coworker because its neutral, personalized, and something anyone can appreciate. Its also on the affordable side so you can show appreciation for a boss, acquaintance, or your closest work buddy. Just like the HelloFresh meal subscription, customers choose their preferred delivery day and can pause or cancel at any time. You also dont need to be a HelloFresh meal customer to subscribe to HelloFresh Wine. An added bonus, every box comes with pairings that correspond to each months HelloFresh recipes. Monthly price is $79 and can be easily canceled.Delicious, perfectly baked macaroonsYour helpful work squad sure would love decadent sweet confections. Miche lles Maccs from FreshBakedNY are the perfect baked goodie to satisfy any sweet tooth. An eggless, flourless, naturally gluten-free coconut macaroon enrobed in Belgian chocolate with no added sugars, Michelles Maccs are baked to order in the heart of New York City and shipped nationwide daily. Available in 13 flavors like orange zest, banana walnut, mango, simple milk, crunchy, chewy, chocolate, cherry and coconut heaven. Bonus points theyre also very freezer friendly. Maccs come range in price from $16 for four and $44 per dozen and come in individual, boxed and party packs, making them ideal for any budget and gift.Personalized Lazy SusanIf a coworker has helped you have a successful year, help them relax with this easy entertaining item. Carved with their personenname, this nifty Lazy Susan from The Grommet, spins to serve snacks, drinks and more with a personalized flair. Natural maple or cherry wood is hand-cut to feature a customized saying or name of your choice. It makes for a truly unique (and useful) gift or hostess item. Price is $194, personalized with free shipping.Olive oil 5-pack gift setCurated by TRE Olive, this olive oil gift set also from The Grommet retailer, lets your deserving colleague enjoy pure, delicious cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil delivered straight from the grove. The extra virgin olive oil is made in Italy with Carolea olives that are grown, cold-pressed, and poured at the same location to ensure its always fresh and never diluted. This thoughtful gift includes five 500 ml tins of each oil flavor Primo, Early Harvest, Signature Estate, Lemon Infused, Chili Pepper Infused. Price is $89.95 with free shipping.Omaha Steaks gift setGourmet favorites are the name of the game with this gift for a coworker who made you shine this year. In total, there are three meals for a lucky friend and their plus one. Featuring Omaha Steaks creamy, hand-prepared Stuffed Sole with Scallops and Crabmeat, ultra-savory Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignons, and hearty Boneless Pork Chops, this collection offers a multitude of ways for your recipient to enjoy a premium gourmet meal any night of the week especially those weeks when they were working too late to make it to the grocery store. Priced at $54.99 with free shipping.

Resume En Ingles - the Conspiracy

Resume En Ingles - the Conspiracy Always make certain you examine your letter for any errors as soon as youre done writing your letter. Theres likely a whole lot of excellent data in your bad continue. The very first page of your job application is easily the most significant. In the event that you possess plenty of practical experience that you are trying to fit to a single page afterward its acceptable to cut back to the margins. Choosing Good Resume En Ingles All our resume templates are in Microsoft Word, that is the simplest program to use. There are a couple dozen different resume templates readily available online, but the majority of them suck. Resumes are extremely estimated in features and info, however, several choices will need to get manufactured. RESUME STYLES There are lots of styles of resumes together with different variations. In our site, you are going to find distinctive examples and templates to download and get started working on them. Great visual sty le could be considered a positive addition for the proper folks. You can discover the appropriate template and design your resume pertaining to the particular job. A superb event flyer template serves the purpose of presenting every one of the details in a well-organized and intriguing way. What to Expect From Resume En Ingles? To point out, you will have the opportunity to help the most expert resume writers, thats the very best alternative if you want to acquire your most wished job. If you are looking for work, you may be short on cash. Perhaps you will see you will want to get an excellent part-time job to strengthen your self as you go following your fantasy livelihood. It is going to most likely be anywhere from 8 weeks to six months or perhaps a couple of years dependent on the amount of time the list is likely to continue being energetic before you even get that initial interview.Make sure you customize your letter to have the ability to make it appear more personal. Youre asking for a specific work. Whats more, the attitude inside her letter is quite arrogant. Instead of stating that youre searching for employment, be certain to include examples of what you could offer. Picking the correct job application framework is crucial to must appropriate approach to make app properly. If youre unhappy using your present job and are contemplating quitting, it might be a smart choice with an updated resume to send out before you stop. Your teeth-whitening procedure could possibly be painful. The perfect technique is to study the whole procedure of earning resumes that are perfect. If youre purchasing a work and dont want your present employer to comprehend, its certainly not among the most discreet alternative. If you are only likely to proceed, you might speak to your present dental practitioner to establish whether he can indicate a dental practitioner on your new site. The path to getting your ideal desire job is definitely achievable and def initely possible particularly whenever you have an outstanding job application around. The best way to compose a resume when you have zero job expertise 10 ways. Introducing Resume En Ingles Teachers also have to do the same if they wish to get hired for a teaching job. Employers will likely pick a candidate with a sense of direction and motivation. They love candidates with the right skills but if you have a wide variety of skills to offer, it can be hard to choose which ones make the cut They often review candidates in terms of what they have to offer. How to Choose Resume En Ingles When you truly wish to have that job, then you have to send them a targeted resume. Considering all the extreme growth in competition, it might be difficult to run into a project that you truly want. A work program is simply a promotion with the very important objective to get the candidate a work conference. Browsing for work at the incredibly suited spots is vital to receiving the perfect career. Your chance of locating the job might become very slim precisely because it happens. Be sure you adhere into the right educational course and so are acquiring needed abilities to encounter an assisting job in the area of allergy and immunology. Many events the ideal job candidate is screened out due to a poor continue. Fantastic jobs could be hard to find, particularly in the huge case that you have a felony conviction on your record.

Finding the Right Career Choice Test for You

Finding the Right Career Choice Test for You A career choice test is designed to help you learn about how your interests and skills relate to different types of careers for which you may have an aptitude. Career aptitude tests assess your answers to specific questions and offer direction as to which careers may suit you best. As you decide which career options to pursue, you have many different factors to consider. The right career test can help you to narrow down those options. Because career aptitude tests are designed to pinpoint your interests, a career test may feel similar to a personality test when you take it. The questions in each test measure not only your preferences, but also how likely you are to be capable within certain positions. Career tests also examine your work values and your various skill sets. Your natural abilities, once identified, can point you in the direction of very sp ecific careers.Although each career aptitude test basically narrows down to the same information, there are a wide variety of test types. Some measure aptitude primarily, while other career tests focus more on career interest or how your personality fits with each job description. If your answers are honest, you should get the same types of results no matter which sort of career test you take. You may prefer, however, one method of questioning over another which can help to influence which career choice test most appeals to you.CareerPathfound here offers a free career path test in which you select the statement which best applies to you out of twenty-four pairs of options. Some questions will ask you to select between two professions, and some statements involve personality traits. In order to receive your results, they ask you to provide your personenname and address.At ColorQuiz you are able to take a very different kind of career aptitude test. You are asked to select from a gro up of colored tiles according to your preferences. At the end, you are given a list of criteria to help you in your career search. You are not asked to give any personal information to receive your results.The Jung Typology Test gives you results according to Carl Jungs research and the Myers Briggs personality inventory. This career test is a lengthy test, so give yourself plenty of time to answer all of the questions thoroughly.Be sure to check carefully before taking a career test online. While there are many free career choice tests available, some may require a fee.

Proper Job Search Etiquette Starts During the Holidays

Proper Job Search Etiquette Starts During the HolidaysProper Job Search Etiquette Starts During the HolidaysContrary to popular belief, the holidays are actually a golden time to look for a job.How would you like to wake up on the morning of January 2 with a solid job offer in hand, while the rest of the job seekers are just getting started on their search? Do you think its too late for that? If so, youre alfruchtwein right. But if you get started immediately, you can get your foot squarely in the door while everyone else is out shopping, drinking egg nog or worse yet, lamenting the layoffs, the Stock Market and whatever doom and gloom news that gets circulated. Contrary to the popular refrain, the holidays are a golden time to look for a job, and a number of opportunities will be gone if you wait until after the New Year.But attitude means just about everything too. This is true if you are working or if youve been laid off and are seeking new opportunities. Remember that for most jo b seekers its bad etiquette to appear desperate or needy to any contact or employers. Wendy Calson, an executive in transition says, When I stopped acting so needy and pestering people for employment opportunities and just found out employers needs and ways to fill them, my search style yielded more return emails and phone calls. Consider adopting this holiday attitude and core commitment its never too early to develop a positive relationship, renew relationships or build new ones. Matt Zelman, an independent executive recruiter confirms, fruchtwein job seekers during the holidays come across anxious, upset and glum. I dont want to hire or consider them based on their bad attitude. So change your attitude before the holidays are over. Focus on developing new relationships, and starting and keeping outstanding communication habits.Perhaps it is true that timing is everything, and at any given time of the year, a window of opportunity opens and closes. How do you know the holidays wo nt open the key relationship, contact or zugreifbar/ offline lead that results in an interview for you?In fact, the year-end crunch may offer significantly more opportunities than other times of the year depending on your industry, where you are looking and hiring trends. Recruiter Matt Zelman notes, You hear the headlines of layoffs, but there is a but here. Buthiring managers are often under pressure to fill job requisitions by the end of the year, knowing that their window will close after the first of the year. Companies may have an overt freeze that will cease. Recruiters, like other salespeople, are under pressure to fill their quotas. So are you developing relationships with key hiring managers or just demonstrating through email, online and offline networking how frustrated you are? Now is the time to stay connected, in touch and focusedIf you look at the kind of group think that is out there, what do you suppose most job seekers are doing or saying? Ask them. Most job seeke rs have already called it quits for the year, resolving to get serious about looking for a job after the holidays. Media facts back them up. Read any headline X Company Announces Layoffs. Who could argue with the headlines? So my advice? Stop looking at the macro headlines. Its the micro-economy that matters YoursWhen the masses of job seekers back off its an opportunity. This narrows the playing field considerably, and it increases the amount of pressure on hiring managers who know that they need to fill positions during December. Also, most people who are out looking for jobs are easily discouraged by the holiday slowdown myth. If you have a solid plan of attack, you can keep your head above the water and attract people to you. This will give you an advantage over the majority of other job seekers. So, the time to hit the job market is now.However, to pull this off, you must effectively invest your time. Continue to customize your resumes versus spraying resumes everywhere. You w ill need to hone in and narrow your focus to the particular types of employers most likely to urgently need you. Link to them. Develop relationships. Dialogue with them. Youll also need to find a back door, or a quick avenue to accessing a decision maker directly. And you had better have something to say that helps them accomplish their goals. Finally, youll need a way to find out about advertised and perhaps even under-advertised job vacancies.There are a few simple strategies you can use to accomplish these goals.Have a plan.Identify your long-term goals and short-term requirements. What are the must-haves about any job offer you will accept? Where do you want this job to lead you? What type of company do you want to work for? How would you like to put your skills to work?Exude happiness despite negative headlines.Maintain a positive attitude and demeanor online and offline. Confidence is attractive being in a slump isnt. Get excited about the opportunity youre going to land. That excitement will rub off on the people around you so refine your communication skills online and offline. Itll make the job search process fun and using proper, professional etiquette makes you stand out amongst the desperate masses.Develop an online presence.If appropriate for your level of search confidentiality, create a Ladders, LinkedIn and association profile if you dont have one already and make sure that all of your information is up to date, appropriate and professional. Any time you learn the name of a hiring manager, look to see if anyone in your LinkedIn network knows that person, and if so, ask for an introduction. Research companies that you apply to on sites like Ladders and develop a gameplan to research each and every one.Attend networking events, open houses and holiday parties.Not just any networking events, and not every networking event. Youll need to figure out which events will be well attended by people who can connect you with decision makers (or, better yet , events attended by decision makers themselves). But dont carry a sandwich board with your resume on it (unless appropriate) If you choose to attend any career fairs, be sure to research the names of the companies represented, and find out as much as possible about those companies and their current needs. Social events are times to interview. December is the month for them.Find the connectors and properly communicate with them.These are the people who know the decision makers, and who have an incentive for connecting you with them. These may be recruiters, or they may be other employees in the same company. You wont know who they are at first, but theyll identify themselves to you if you network effectively. Find proper and appropriate ways to develop relationships.To act on the time-critical window that opens during the holidays, you need to be fully focused on getting to the decision makers directly. You dont have any time to waste. This is why its so critical to narrow your focu s and figure out which types of employers you need to talk to. Its also why youll need to target your elevator pitch to a very specific audience. If you do this, the wrong people will quickly lose interest, and the right peoples ears will perk up.Finally, dont fill out a job application with a company who hasnt heard of you. By the time you fill out a job application, this step should be a formality after the decision to bring you on board has already been made. You dont have time to sort through online job postings, in the hopes of finding the urgent ones. There are just too many postings and not enough time. And the kind of opportunity youre looking for is unlikely to be publicly posted anyway. The front door approach takes a long time. The trick to getting a great job during the holidays is to squeeze in through the back door with proper communication etiquette only.The job market is ripe with opportunity during the holiday season so work on the micro economy YOURS.

5 Networking Tips to Connect With Your Current Colleagues

5 Networking Tips to Connect With Your Current Colleagues5 Networking Tips to Connect With Your Current Colleagues5 Ways to Network With Your Current ColleaguesNetworking Some people truly enjoy it, while others dread the prospect of small talk with strangers.Like it or not, networking is essential in todays professional world if you want to continue to grow your career.Its not what you know, its who you know.I bet youve heard that a million times, and its true, but maybe not in the way you might think. The who you know doesnt necessarily mean knowing a bigwig with all the right connections. It might just mean knowing someone who happens to be aware of an open opportunity or a great person for you to meet. Yet, where do you find these great connections?Before you strain your nerves building networks with hundreds of strangers, think about your workplace. How many of the people in your company do you really know? mora importantly, how many of them know who you are, and what kind of sk ills you bring to the table?Here are a few networking tips to use where you work for great new connections.1. Be friendlyThat seems obvious, right? Isnt that the point of networking? In reality, its very easy to get caught up in work and walk around on your daily missions without paying much attention your surroundings, including other people. Whether its in a hallway, an elevator, or you happen to notice someone youve never talked to at work, just say Hi and introduce yourself.Networking Tip Dont forget to smile. Many of us dont realize how stern, or even grumpy, we look while going about our daily business. Take a moment to consciously smile before saying hi to someone. It makes a big difference, especially when youre building networks.2. Take advantage of lunchAre you the person who eats lunch at their desk, goes home every day to eat, or maybe heads somewhere quiet with a book? Theres nothing wrong with that Its your time and you are entitled to it. Yet, if youd like to build yo ur business network where you work, its a good idea to occasionally put yourself out there during that midday meal.Simply take your lunch and head to the common break room. If there are already people there, avoid the temptation to grab a seat in the corner. Ask someone if you can sit with them and strike up a conversation. Even if you already know these people, it is a good opportunity to talk in a less formal capacity.Is there an ongoing lunch group that goes out? Recommend a good place to them and see if you get invited into the group. You may not want to go out with the group every time, but it is a good way to talk to co-workers when they are a little mora relaxed.Networking Tip Read the signs. If you head to the lunch room and someone is sitting at a table with their nose in a book, thats probably their private time. If you sit next to someone and start to chat, read their response. Youll know quickly if they welcome the conversation or not.3. Welcome newcomersThis might be th e easiest networking tip of all. New co-workers are typically excited to meet others and get some guidance. Right off the bat, you have the expertise that can help them simply by being there longer. It may be nothing more than telling them which floor has the best coffee, or what quirks the copy machine has, but its expertise nonetheless. You could even go the extra mile and offer to take them out to lunch someday soon.While your new co-worker may be new to your office, remember that they also have valuable experiences. Thats why they got hired, right? Be sure to ask them about their background. You may discover common interests, or that your new colleague has expertise in an area you really want to learn more about.Networking Tip Try to think of a couple of simple, but helpful, tips to give the new person when you meet. Keep it harmless and useful, like handy parking tips for the office lot. Let them know that youre open to questions should they have any. Dont speak negatively abou t any other co-workers. Let the new person draw their own conclusions there.Related How to Make Friends at Work and Avoid Drama4. Pay attention to office invitesEvery office has email blasts that invite you to the third floor for a going away party, invitations to be on a volunteer committee, or something along those lines. Its very easy to roll your eyes and think, Ugh. No thank you, but if you really want to meet people in your office and connect with them, tell yourself that youll accept the next email invite that comes through.Why? It may be an opportunity to attend something in a completely different department where you dont know a lot of people. If its volunteering, it may be a chance to show off skills that you dont use in your daily job, like organizing a catered event.What about the after-work happy hour? You may not want to deal with co-workers after work, but this can be a great opportunity to really get to know people. Outside the office, theyre more likely to talk abou t what they really like and dont like, about their careers. The key is to stop looking at office invites as unwanted obligations and look at them, instead, as opportunities.Networking Tip Want to dial it up a notch? Think about the volunteering and charity events that your office participates in on a regular basis. Suggest one that you are familiar with and offer to head up the effort. Youll have to recruit some new people (making new connections) while coming across as a helpful person and a leader.5. Take advantage of LinkedInYoure on LinkedIn, right? Of course you are. So are fruchtwein of your colleagues. LinkedIn is a great way to learn more about your co-workers without crossing that line into personal life (i.e. dont stalk their Facebook page). Youll get to see where else theyve worked, projects theyve accomplished, and skills that they have mastered. Theres a good chance that youll learn something interesting about each and every one of your colleagues when you dive into the ir LinkedIn page. Its a no-brainer, and yes, connect with them to start building networks.Networking Tip When you look at their page, scroll down and look at the right-hand side where it says In Common with Jane Doe. This tips you off to the people and skills that the two of you share. Sometimes the connections will surprise you.Networking is a lot more than just shaking hands, making introductions, and handing out business cards to strangers. Its making real connections to people, a lot of people. So doesnt it make sense to have strong connections to the people within your own organization? Whether youre looking to get ahead within your company or keeping your eyes open for opportunities outside your current employer, you have the most valuable resources surrounding you on a daily basis. Take a few moments to help yourself by saying hi and networking with your current co-workers.Click on the following link for more networking tips.Does your resume need a brush up before your next n etworking event? Request a free resume critique todayRecommended ReadingNetwork Like an Expert Networking Tips From the Industrys Finest6 Unconventional Networking Icebreakers for Your Next vorstellungSmall Networking Event Tips 5 Faux Pas to Avoid

This may be the key to making your next meeting tolerable

This may be the key to making yur next meeting tolerableThis may be the key to making your next meeting tolerableYou get to work and start going over the days schedule and there it is in big, bold letters. You have a meeting. A long one. And then you have anotlageher one. Your week is actually chock-full of meetings.Though you know they are necessary sometimes they seem absolute counterproductive as people can just not get on the same page and there is too much you are trying to cover.Researchshows that 67% of workers say that fewer than half the meetings they attend seem to be worth their time.Though banishing all meetings sounds like a nice solution, its just not realistic. But if you really want to try to bring the focus level up in a meeting, whether you are leading it or just participating, you may actually want to consider incorporating some meditation practices.Justyn Comer, author of Meditation for Life andthe co-founder of RWM Education, Inc., a non-profit organization dedic ated to making meditation available to as many people as possible, has found that meditation can have tremendous benefits for the working mind, including focus. However, trying to get even a small group of people in the middle of the workday to do a full meditation session seems rather implausible but Comer says even a really, powerful karenz can make an impact.Comer spoke with Ladders on what hes learned over two decades of teachingmeditationMeditation shows us how hard focusing isThe first way meditation helps is to start by showing us just how hard it is to focus. We sit down, close our eyes and try to hold our attention on our breathing. Only for a few seconds does that work, and then the mind is off thinking about other things. When we notice that we are distracted we return the focus back to the breath but once again, after a few seconds, the mind is off thinking about something else.This recognition about the distracted nature of our mind is huge. It helps us see how difficul t it can be to hold focus, but we also learn a few other key lessons. First we are training ourselves to notice when we are no longer focused. Second we are training ourselves to return our focus back to the thing we want to be focused on. And third over time we learn some of the tricks and techniques for holding focus for longer periods of time such as using curiosity, setting the right intention, and raising the stakes for the mind.The power of the pauseA meditation session is probably not realistic for fruchtwein organizations (although it would be fascinating to see the impact if it happened). However, a pause makes eminent sense. When we try to sit and meditate we are usually surprised at just how much is going on in our mind. Work aufgabes, deadlines, office politics, as well as personal issues with our relationships, finances, health, and kids are all trying to get attention in our minds, all the time.One of the benefits of meditation is that we become fully aware of how m uch is weighing on us. When people walk into a meeting they are all walking in with all these issues on their mind. They are also processing whatever just came up in the meeting theyre coming from, as well as all the most recent requests theyve just seen on their email or messages.A pause at the beginning invites people to reset. It acknowledges that they are under these enormous pressures. Then it gives them an opportunity to be fully aware of that, and to make the intention to put it all on pause. None of it is going away, but everyone will be better served if they can at least give this meeting their attention.Eileen Fisher has said that her external consultants were pretty cynical about it when she introduced this practice of having a purposeful pause before each meeting. But now those same consultants are introducing the concept to their other clients as part of the consulting package.Stress lessYes, meditation does help with stress, which is a huge problem in the workplace.It is helpful to recognize that stress is a physiological response to a perceived threat. When we start to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope, or just afraid we will not be able to succeed as well as we want to, the body reacts as though our very survival is threatened. We feel uncomfortable, nauseous, and shaky because adrenaline is being released and blood is diverted away from our stomach and towards our big muscles. We want to run, hide, or fight because that is the bodys prehistoric response to a threat.One of the other side effects of this perceived threat is that our thinking gets cloudy. Historically action was prioritized as the best response for our survival, hence the blood going to the big muscles, but cognitive function wasnt the priority. Yet in the modern world, in the face of the stress, we feel in response to the overwhelming pressure of our professional and personal lives we need to think mora clearly, not less. This is why meditation helps. The act of pausing, takin g a few intentional breaths and slowing things down, even if just for a minute, counteracts the stress response and helps the body start to relax. The adrenal response decreases which will make us feel better and think more clearly.Additionally, by slowing down the relentless thinking and worrying in our mind we give our mind a breather, from which we can then make better decisions.In addition to helping manage stress, meditation also helps improve other useful attributes for the workplace such as focus, concentration, creativity, self-awareness, emotional regulation, confidence, self-esteem, and improved interactions with colleagues.Meditation everywhereMeditation rooms are nice, but the truth is that meditation can be done anywhere it can be done on the bus, in a crowded room, or at a desk in the middle of a trading floor. In my experience meditation is easy to learn, but hard to remember to do. So I think nudges are really helpful to consistently remind people to take a moment he re and there to pause.Ideally, an organization would host periodic classes allow people to check in, such as having 45-minute sessions once a week at lunchtime. But then supplement that with several reminders such as sending a daily email reminder to take a breath at a different time every day, or having the lead article on the Intranet be mindfulness related at least once a week.Using PowerPoint to make your pointThe first thing we learn in meditation is that minds like to wander. Everyones mind likes to wander. Once we realize this we can craft far better presentations. Most people spend all the time on a presentation worrying about what they are going to say.They focus on making the slides accurate, concise, and comprehensive. The problem is that only half of communication is about delivery, and the other half is about the receipt of that information. If peoples minds are distracted then they are not receiving the information being delivered.One of the most useful things we learn in meditation is the power of curiosity. Holding attention on breathing is hard at first because the mind gets bored and wanders off to something else. When we apply curiosity to the breath, noticing the texture of the air in the nose, or noticing how far you can feel the breath as it travels into the lungs it becomes easier to hold our attention. We can use this curiosity as a powerful trick when presenting.One simple technique is to put up a photograph of something apparently unrelated to what youre going to talk about. Maybe youre talking about budgets (everyones least favorite subject), and your first slide is of a child on a sandy beach with a bucket and spade. Immediately the audience is hooked. They are curious as to what the heck this has to do with a budget. They want to see where youre going with this. For the next few minutes at least you have their focus. It doesnt even matter how well you tie the photo to the point the key is that you have their attention for a while.