Why You Should Dress Up for a Phone Interview
It’s called power dressing for a reason.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
You may be wondering how clothing affects your ability to communicate. It all starts with that first impression. First impressions mean a lot.
Think about how often we judge people almost immediately based on their appearance. Clothing is a tool that can help you take control of how people see you and manipulate their viewpoint. Do you want to appear as a strong, knowledgeable, and confident individual? Your clothing can help with that!
In Jennifer J. Baumgartner’s book, “You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You,” she explains that, “Our closets are windows into our internal selves. Every one of us attempts to say or hide something in the way we wear our clothes.” Use your clothing to positively affect how you communicate by taking the opportunity to show people who you are and what kind of person you want to be.
Below are some tips to help you dress in a way that communicates authority and demands respect.
Dress for the Job You Want, Not the Job You Have
You’ve probably heard this before, but there’s a reason it keeps coming up. Work hard, be respectful of others, and dress as if you’re the boss. There’s something empowering about dressing "up." It changes your demeanor and studies have shown that it influences the way we think. I often tell clients to dress up for phone interviews because it makes a difference in how you think and how you speak.
We’re often able to think more clearly and efficiently when dressed in workwear because it differentiates us from a more laid-back and social environment in which one would wear casual clothing.
You Will Be Judged on Your Appearance, so Take Advantage of It
Whether or not it’s right, it’s human nature to judge others based on their clothing and appearance. Since this is a known fact (people with straight teeth are considered more successful), take advantage of what you can and dress to impress. This doesn’t mean that you need to spend a lot of money on designer clothing, however, you should be dressing in clothing that is flattering and appropriate.
If you’re going to a meeting, opt for a pair of fitted slacks instead of jeans. It’s a simple switch that will immediately make you appear more professional and more authoritative. Similarly, by switching out a sweater for a blazer, you will make your look more polished and command more respect.
Think About What Your Grandparents Would Say
This sounds silly at first, but when getting dressed for work-related events or meetings, think about how your grandparents would react to the outfit. Everything is a bit more casual (hello, startup life), but that doesn't mean you should be casual in attitude when it comes to your career. If grandma says something's not appropriate, chances are, it's not. You can still dress like yourself and bring individuality to any outfit, but listen to that inner voice. You don't have to dress for the most conservative person in the room but aim somewhere in the middle.
My grandmother has always lived by the motto that you can never be overdressed, and it’s almost always been right. Keep in mind that you want to remain appropriate, however, a suit will almost always be considered appropriate workwear. If you’re in a more casual environment, think of going with bold prints that feel less formal but also polished. Even if others are dressing casually, if you dress to impress, you will be able to communicate more effectively and command more respect than those in jeans and a T-shirt. Plus, studies have shown the dressing to impress enhances people’s ability to engage in abstract thinking.
When you’re wondering how clothing affects your ability to communicate, think about how you want people to see you, how you want to portray yourself to the world, and how efficient you want to be. If you want to be successful, dressing in a polished and professional manner will help you achieve your goal and communicate this objective to others.
About the author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish an individual’s application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.
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This story was originally published on October 5, 2016, and has since been updated.
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How to Gracefully Exit Your Current Job
Burning bridges is never a good idea.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
Leaving a job is never simple, especially when you want to stay on good terms with your boss, which is always a good idea. Burning bridges over the course of your career will only burn you. And chances are, you will quit a job at some point in your career.
In fact, people are quitting their jobs at record rates right now. Nearly 4 million Americans left their jobs this April, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pushing the quitting rate to 24% higher than it was before the pandemic.
So we’re answering your big questions about how to gracefully exit, prima ballerina style.
Give Plenty of Notice
The hiring process is long, arduous, and complicated. Finding the right person to fit into a well-oiled machine is notably one of the hardest parts of running a company. And when a team member leaves, a major wrench is thrown into that machine, no matter how well executed it is.
If you work at a corporate job, two weeks is a standard amount of time to give. However, if you work at a small startup, where your team members will be scrambling to cover your work and tasks, you should plan to give a month. That way, no one on the team is forced to work even longer hours than they already do.
Most employers admit that hiring into a small team takes a finer-toothed comb. And at startups, there aren’t temp employees or people working beneath you who already know your job. 30 days may seem like a lot, but it shows your soon-to-be former boss and colleagues that you respect them. It also gives you enough time to potentially train your replacement.
You don't want to simply leave on good terms, you want to leave a good memory in the minds of your work peers. And what they are required to do post-exit, will color that memory for better or worse.
Let Clients Know You’re Leaving (the Right Way)
Often, especially at larger companies, it is upper management’s responsibility to notify clients of your exit, as they are considered company property. No matter what, you should ask before making contact of any kind.
That said, everything should be brief but positive. If you are resigning and already know your replacement, it is a good idea to introduce clients to the new team member. That way they know the transition is smooth, not messy, and they are still in good hands. The reality is: a client or work colleague’s number one concern isn’t where you’re heading next, but how their account will be handled.
If however, you resign without a replacement, sending a mass email to your client list looks bad and it makes the company look bad. It looks like balls are getting dropped. Even if you’re leaving on good terms, it’s a surefire way to make your boss question your motives.
So, how do you handle leaving if you don’t have someone primed and ready to take over?
Make sure you have a conversation first. Every boss is different, but taking the time to ask them how they would like you to handle, is a professional courtesy that will be appreciated.
If you are unwilling to ask, you should wait two weeks to announce your departure. Hopefully, in that time, the company has found your replacement and assured a smooth transition.
Send the email from your personal, not work email.
Do not discuss the “why” of your exit in depth. Bringing any kind of drama into a mass email is unprofessional, and it doesn't make the company look bad, it makes you look bad.
Define Your Duties Thoroughly
Beyond creating a document that outlines all of your duties, you should also create a document of what you’re currently working on and where those things stand. Your boss will thank you (because you’re saving them the massive headache of sorting through what’s falling through the cracks), but so will the person who follows you. And you never know where that person might end up.
People tend to think of exiting as it applies to the team they already know. But the truth is, the person who fills your job knows EXACTLY what kind of worker you are/were. Use that to your benefit. They see previous correspondence, how you interface with clients, and what you left hanging. If you want to make a good impression, make their transition smooth. You never know where they will end up either.
This story was originally published on January 4, 2019, and has since been updated.
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10 Two-Minute Habits That Will Change Your Life
You haven't a moment to lose.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
For most of us, mornings are rough. We snooze, wake, repeat. Jump out of bed. Java. And then start firing off emails and Slacks. It's no way to greet the day and its disruptive energy that carries into our work. To help you kick-start your day the right way, here are 10 tiny, two-minute switches that are easy to implement and can have a major impact on your day. So, what are you waiting for? It's only your life.
1. CONSCIOUS BREATHING
When you feel anxious, you disrupt the ease and flow of your breath. You might not even notice these slight disruptions in your breathing pattern and how they affect you. But reestablishing normal breathing restores your energy and focus.
How to do it: Breath in through the nose for a count of five. Feel as though there’s a balloon that is filling your entire pelvis and causing it to stretch out in all directions. Hold that inhale for a moment, and when you exhale, contract all the muscles in and up the spine as you exhale for a count of five. Hold the exhale for a moment and repeat 10 times. Do this whenever you feel stressed.
2. CHEW SLOWLY
It’s not just what you eat that matters, it’s also how you eat it. You can eat all the highly nutritious food you desire, but if you don’t chew your food well, it can lead to indigestion, bloating, and lack of nutrient absorption. The more you chew, the more saliva you produce. Saliva coats the particles of food with enzymes that break it down for better nutrient absorption.
How to do it: Chewing 25 times per bite helps cultivate more mindful eating. You eat in a more relaxed state of mind, which aids digestion. Plus, the more slowly you eat, the less you’re likely to consume because you’re giving your body time to let you know you’re full.
“Reestablishing normal breathing restores your energy and focus.”
3. SIP ON WARM LEMON WATER
Skip the ice in your cup and add warm lemon water to your daily routine instead. First thing in the morning your body needs to be rehydrated. Warm lemon water quenches thirst, preps and primes your digestive system, aids in detoxification, and supplies a free-radical-crushing dose of vitamin C. Lemons may taste acidic, but they are actually alkaline forming, helping the body maintain an ideal pH balance and neutralizing free radicals to keep you feeling vivacious and looking vibrant. “Lemon water benefits the enzyme functions in your body, stimulating the liver and flushing out toxins,” says Josh Axe, DNM.
4. TAKE MOVEMENT BREAKS
When it comes to improving your movement, it’s not just about doing your workout for an hour in the morning and checking it off the list. Your body thrives on movement. More movement all throughout the day is highly beneficial for your body and brain. Mobility exercises help lubricate the joints to ward off stiffness, aid in circulation and help boost energy levels and increase focus and productivity. For every hour of sitting, aim for at least a few minutes of mobility drills, such as alternating between arm backstrokes and pelvic circles.
“More movement all throughout the day is highly beneficial for your body and brain.”
5. FIX YOUR POSTURE
Proper posture—with the spine aligned and the joints stacked—puts your body at ease, reduces tension and strain and ensures that muscles and tissues are well oxygenated and receive nutrients for proper function.
How to do it: Katy Bowman, biomechanist and natural-movement expert, recommends first aligning the outside edges of your feet with a straightedge. Then make sure your feet are hip-distance apart. Press all four corners of your feet into the ground. Make sure your pelvis is over your heels. Engage your thighs to lift your kneecaps, squeeze your glutes, keep you chest lifted with the bottom ribs tucked in, and keep your head in a neutral position with chin slightly tucked.
6. TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES
One of the greatest health tools is right under your feet, literally. Earthing, or walking or standing barefoot on the ground, sounds simple enough, but how often are you actually barefoot outside? It may sound a bit hippie, but a 2012 review published in the Journal of Environmental Public Health found that research supports the touted benefits of going barefoot, which include improved mood and sleep and reduced inflammation and chronic pain. Just don’t step on any rusty nails!
“Proper posture—with the spine aligned and the joints stacked—puts your body at ease, reduces tension and strain.”
7. DRY BRUSH YOUR SKIN
Take care of your body’s largest organ: Your skin. Dry brushing is a natural technique that can reveal the beauty of your skin by sloughing off dead skin cells as it stimulates the lymphatic system. Dry brushing has also been credited with giving the skin a natural, luminous glow.
How to do it: Purchase a dry brush with natural bristles. Start at your feet and brush in long, sweeping motions toward your heart (avoiding the face) without applying too much pressure. Don’t dry brush for too long or too often. Try just a few minutes once a week.
8. SET AN INTENTION
When you want to break out of your comfort zone or start a new healthy habit, you must first have a strong intention to do so. As Wayne Dyer, author of “The Power of Intention,” said, “The power of intention is the power to manifest, to create, to live a life of unlimited abundance, and to attract into your life the right people at the right moments.” You can set an intention for every action in your life. Before eating, set an intention to eat mindfully. Before working out, connect to your intention. Ask yourself, “What are you aiming to achieve?”
“Keep your vibe high and light by filtering out the noise and filling yourself up with gratitude throughout each day. ”
9. APPLY SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen isn’t just for summertime. Dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen daily because, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. Yikes! Even if you’re not hanging outdoors for a long period of time, UVA rays that cause wrinkles and premature aging can pass through window glass. Check the ingredients on your sunscreen and look for one with the mineral zinc oxide for UVA protection. If you’re going to be outside for an extended length of time (at least two hours) look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 that’s sweat and water-resistant.
10. EXPRESS GRATITUDE
Western society is constantly telling us we need to be more, do more, have more, and achieve more. It can be depleting and depressing. Keep your vibe high and light by filtering out the noise and filling yourself up with gratitude throughout each day. There have been numerous studies regarding the positive effects a daily gratitude practice has on the mind, body, and spirit.
How to do it: Keep a journal in which you jot down what you’re grateful for each evening before bed or when you wake up in the morning. Try writing affirmations, positive things about yourself and your life. Or write a thank-you note to someone to say how grateful you are to have him or her in your life.
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This story was originally published on May 21, 2018, and has since been updated.
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Don't Live Paycheck to Paycheck—This Is How to Save Money in Your 20s
Is retirement still a thing?
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
A lot of people in their 20s are dealing with large amounts of student loans and credit card debt and living paycheck to paycheck, dreaming of days when they can begin to use their money to reach their financial goals. While it's easy to that think financial planning at this stage in your life is pointless, the truth is there are some basic strategies you can implement, regardless of how much debt you have or how much income you’re earning.
Learning these strategies will help set up the financial foundation you need to move through this challenging time in your life and set the stage for a strong financial future. Read on for eight simple steps to get out of that paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and start saving money ASAP.
1. Create a budget.
Even as a young adult who may not be making that much money yet, budgeting is critical because it allows you to see how much money is coming in and going out every month (it’s all about tracking your spending!). Although most 20-year-olds understand they should budget, the reality is most just don’t do it.
Get a budgeting system as early in place as possible and review how you are spending your money so you can make adjustments, if necessary, to ensure you are living within your means and able to save for your financial goals. There are apps that can help you now too such as YNAB.
The basic budget formula for after-tax income is:
50% for fixed expenses, such as housing (28% or less for housing expenses), basic food, insurance premiums, etc.
20% for financial goals. This would include extra debt payments, your cash cushion, retirement, etc.
30% for variable expenses, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, etc.
2. Set up weekly money dates.
Set up weekly money dates to review your budget and manage and plan out your finances. During your money date, you should pay your bills (although most should be set up as auto-pay), update and review your budget and take care of any other financial concerns. By calling this allocated time with your money a “date,” you can begin to bring a fun, exciting element into your financial life to help you stay committed for the long haul.
3. Open up a savings account and set up automatic contributions.
Most people don’t save because they make it way too difficult for themselves. Instead, review your budget and aim to start saving toward your financial goals by following the “pay yourself first” strategy. Under this method, you set up your savings to be automated every month and you save before you spend money on variable expenses.
The goal is to save 20% of your net income but don’t let that amount scare you. Even if you can only start with $10 a month, that’s better than nothing. Every year, review and see if you can increase your savings amount.
4. Build up a cash cushion.
The goal of a cash cushion is to have three to nine months of your fixed expenses in a savings account to pay for life’s unexpected incidents. Life always throws curveballs—your car breaks down, your computer crashes or you receive an unexpected medical bill—and having money in the bank to cover those expenses will help you maintain your financial peace of mind.
If your fixed expenses are $3,000 per month, you should aim to build a cash cushion of anywhere between $9,000-$18,000, depending on your comfort level, job security, etc. That sounds like a lot, I know. But remember, just start with what you can to build your cash cushion over a few years. Again, even if it’s $10 a week, that’s still one step in the right direction.
5. Keep an eye on your credit score.
Our credit score affects nearly everything in our financial lives. It affects the interest rate on the car loan we apply for, the mortgage loan, the credit cards—and even employers and landlords can reference your credit score when reviewing your application.
By monitoring your credit score, you can see where you stand and what you can do to improve it if necessary. Use websites like creditkarma.com to view your credit score (not your actual FICO) regularly for free and then pay to see your actual credit score at least annually using annualcreditreport.com.
6. Create a debt reduction plan.
The first step is to make a list of all your debts. Get clear about how much you owe, the interest rate of each debt, and the minimum payment due. Then review your budget to determine how much you can realistically add toward extra debt payments and start with the debt with the highest interest rate while paying the minimums on the rest.
This will allow you to save the most in interest payments. Once the debt with the highest interest rate is paid off, move on to the second-highest, and so on.
7. Start saving for long-term goals.
If you have the ability to start investing in your retirement accounts after you’ve allocated some monthly funds toward building your cash cushion and paying off your debts, then set up an automatic contribution into your retirement account. By starting early, you can allow compounding interest to work in your favor on your investment accounts.
If you are new to investing, make sure you do your homework and read investment books so you are clear about what to expect when investing in your future.
8. Focus on building your earning potential.
Income is one of the biggest factors in wealth creation over time. After all, if you don’t make money—or don’t make enough money—it is very difficult to save for your financial future. So if you can’t save as much as you would like to due to your income level, focus on ways to increase your earning potential for the long run. There are a lot of free courses you can take online, and even watching YouTube videos to sharpen your skills is something anyone can do. Also, there are so many ways you can earn extra money on the side. Ramit Sethi teaches this to his community at I Will Teach You To Be Rich.
Think outside the box, and continue to focus on increasing your earning potential every year.
About the Author: Brittney Castro is the founder and CEO of Financially Wise Women, a Los Angeles-based financial planning firm for women. She specializes in working with busy, established professional and entrepreneurial women who are passionate about life and want to finally understand money—how to manage it, save it, invest it, and protect it—in a fun and simple way. Follow Brittney @brittneycastro.
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This story was originally published on June 15, 2017, and has since been updated.
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Here's Why You Should Never Ask a Busy Person to Lunch (and What to Do Instead)
The secret to getting ahead.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
Networking is every successful person’s middle name—but meeting with a busy person is a challenge. Although we can’t give you the secret handshake that will land you a meeting with Sheryl Sandberg (there’s a secret handshake, right?) we can dole out successful networking tips and tricks that will get you in the door with someone high-ranking who has the potential to advance your career.
Just because networking can feel impossible, doesn’t mean it is. Meeting your career heroes isn’t unheard of and landing that crucial meeting can be done, but you’ll have to get creative. Your career crush didn’t make it where they are by taking every lunch meeting they were cold emailed about. So, here are some ways you can stand out and get your foot in the door.
Try Getting in Touch With Their Assistant First
There are some who claim that a cold call or cold email shows bold initiative. And sometimes, when the work powers that be are acting in your favor, a cold email will launch your career in a way you can’t imagine. There are always outliers.
Case in point: Jaclyn Johnson, CEO and founder of Create & Cultivate, cold emailed Garance Doré, and she responded and then spoke at C&C Chicago. You never know what will happen until you put yourself out in the universe. But if after a cold email and a follow-up you’re still not getting anything, you should try a new road before either, a) giving up, or b) hounding someone to the point where they will never meet with you.
When you are just getting started, don’t assume that you are the exception. Assume you are the rule. (That’s not to say you shouldn’t be confident. There is a difference.) Most busy people will not appreciate you clogging up their inbox. It’s not uncommon for a CEO to receive 1000+ emails a day, and wading through those can feel like torture.
Think of the assistant as Saint Peter at The Gates. You’re not getting in unless you make good with Pete. Many CEOs and executives will have their assistants linked to their inboxes. Meeting with them could be a great inroad. Offer to take them to coffee or lunch. Ask for 15 minutes of their time before you try and meet with their boss. Assistants are overworked, overtired, and often under-appreciated. Get on their good side and it just might land you on their employer’s schedule.
Skip the Standard Cold Call and Email Vernacular
There is a story in Silicon Valley about Tristan Walker, who recently raised $24 million for personal care products for POC. Before branching out on his own as CEO of Walker and Company, he worked for Foursquare—a job he got from cold emailing the founders eight times. Two years after landing the position, Walker posted the correspondence that landed him a meeting on his blog. You can read it here. There were many, including IA Ventures’ Ben Siscovick who said, “If you are outside StartupLand looking to get in, read this then read it again—this is how it’s done.”
However, despite his success, Walker’s original email is exactly what we would warn against. There is passion in his voice, yes, but he notes nothing concrete that he would bring to the Foursquare team. It worked for Walker, but in most cases, this will not work. Don’t tell a company how awesome they are. Don’t tell someone you’re “hungry.” In a few short sentences, you should be able to explain exactly what you can bring to the table. Be as specific as possible.
For example, if you want to meet with the CEO of a marketing company, convey in two sentences how you’ve helped another company grow, or an idea you had for a client that performed on social well. When applicable, give stats.
If You’re Asking Them for the Meeting, You Go to Them
This is really simple. Don’t ask someone to coffee and then suggest a place to meet. Bring them coffee. Show up where they are and make it easy.
By Failing to Prepare, You Are Preparing to Fail
Come with questions. If person X is giving you 15 minutes of their time, you should be prepared to make use of every. single. second.
I recently had someone tell me, “I have three.” As in minutes. You better believe that I wrote down what I needed and made those three minutes count. If you waste three minutes of someone’s time, you can be sure that they won’t give you ten in the future.
You don’t need to print out your resume. Honestly, it’s a little dated and most people are more interested in getting a read on you, not reading what you print on paper.
While You’re There…
If you shake their hand and walk out of the office thanking them for their time, you’ve biffed it. LEAVE WITH NEXT STEPS. Let’s repeat that. LEAVE WITH NEXT STEPS. Ask for something concrete that you can do that, a) keeps you in contact, and b) is actionable for you. You’re not taking a meeting to schmooze, you’re taking a meeting to move the needle on your career. So move it.
Once You’ve Left…
Don't ghost. Follow up. Send a thank-you email, at the very least. Pro tip: Send a thank you with cupcakes for the office. Or send something that says, I paid attention to what you said, and I’m working to take the next steps.
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This post was published on February 16, 2019, and has since been updated.
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One *Very* Successful CEO's 4 Hacks for Cold Emailing
She built an entire business from it.
Photo: Liza Summer from Pexels
Let’s talk about cold emailing.
Katia Beauchamp, the co-founder of the wildly successful beauty company Birchbox, has said that she and her co-founder started cold emailing CEOs in the beauty industry to get the idea in front of them. Now she's one of them. Beauchamp shared, "I cold emailed several presidents, CEOs, and brand managers in the beauty industry and the majority of people responded!"
So we asked: What are a few things that every cold email should include?
She divulged below.
1. Have a compelling subject line.
“It needs to motivate the reader to open the message. At the very least it should say something more than, ‘Hello,’ or ‘Looking to get in touch.’ I used, ‘Reimagining beauty online.’”
2. Keep the email concise.
“The email should be short enough so that a person can read it without having to scroll down on his or her phone. The less time and energy it takes to read it, the better.”
3. Don't attach a business plan to explain the idea.
“That's asking a lot. Try a one-pager that briefly describes the idea/value proposition. We framed our one-pager by introducing the brands as the stakeholder and how Birchbox could help that brand.”
4. Ask for something that’s easy to say yes to.
“I asked CEOs and brand managers for five minutes of their time to give me advice. Those emails eventually turned into a meeting and the meeting turned into a pitch. Those pitch meetings ultimately led to partnerships with massive brands, early on.”
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This story was originally published on May 25, 2017, and has since been updated.
3 Mistakes You're Probably Making on Your Résumé
It’s all about your accomplishments.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
While writing a résumé is necessary for everyone, it can be an incredibly arduous task. It’s not intuitive and it’s not something broached in school, so many people are forced to make do with what they know. But how do you create a document designed to help you succeed when you've never been taught how?
Whether or not you’ve created your résumé on your own or acquired help, there are three mistakes you’re probably making. Fear not, because they are simple fixes that will instantly make your document more effective.
You Don’t Have a Skills Matrix at the Top
I always say this, but by far one of the most important things to include on your résumé is a skills matrix up at the top. This should land below your headlining statement and above your professional experience, but it is extremely important that it’s toward the top of your document. This is where you’ll include any specialized skills, software knowledge, languages, etc. It’s a surefire way to highlight what you can do for the company and what skills you possess.
One study shows that hiring managers and recruiters look at individual résumés for an average of 7.4 seconds each, so it is essential that you highlight your skills at the top of your document. This way, if they only read one section of your document, they will immediately be able to tell if you qualify for the position, or not. You want to give readers an easy and effective way to see what you can do and what skills you possess. By providing this information at the top of your résumé, readers don’t have to dig through job descriptions to figure it out.
You’re Not Writing Your Résumé WithYour Desired Job Description in Front of You
You need to write (or edit) the document as if you’re applying for a specific position. What does this mean? It means that you need to go through the job descriptions that you’re interested in and integrate keywords and phrases throughout your document.
Perhaps you’re happy with your current role, but you eventually want to further your career within the same industry. Do a bit of research and find industry-specific roles that interest you, and use those job descriptions for inspiration. Do they utilize keywords or phrases which you can utilize in your résumé? Does a job description have a more eloquent way of wording one of your job duties?
If you’re not using current job postings to help you write your résumé, you’re doing yourself a disservice. See how industry professionals talk about jobs and utilize that in your document. Using industry jargon will help you appear more professional and knowledgeable about what you do. Some companies also have bots that "read" résumés before they do, to weed out the ones that don't make sense.
You’re Highlighting Your Job Duties and Not Your Achievements
“Subjective terms and clichés are seen as negative because they don’t convey real information,” says Rosemary Haefner, VP of human resources at CareerBuilder. “For instance, don’t say you are ‘results-driven;’ show the employer your actual results.”
It is absolutely important to highlight the specifics of your role, however, if you’re only highlighting the job description and not your achievements, your résumé will not be as effective as it could be. You want to show potential employers what you have accomplished so they can get a better idea of what you will bring to the company and what you can do for them.
If you only talk about the role you played but don’t show them what you did within that role, your résumé will not serve you well. Include as much data and metrics as possible. Here are some great examples of metrics to include in your résumé:
How many accounts did you manage?
How much in sales volume did you secure (weekly, monthly, or annually)?
Did you reduce cost (either by a percentage or dollar amount)?
How many clients did you interact with (daily, weekly, monthly, or annually)?
Did you surpass a quota?
Did you manage a team? If so, how many team members did you manage?
Did you work with any notable clients or vendors?
You may not have metrics off the top of your head, so go ahead and calculate them. Do some research and figure out your personal statistics! As long as you can prove your work and your numbers, you can include them on your résumé.
If you’re one of the many people making these mistakes, all you have to do is fix them and move forward. Writing a résumé is hard, so don’t dwell on your missteps. Learn from them and continue to improve. If you get really overwhelmed, reach out for help. There are people out there (like me) who are willing and able to help. If you ever get discouraged, remember that there’s a reason why certified professional résumé writers have a job.
About the Author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.
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This story was originally published on June 2, 2018, and has since been updated.
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Guess What? Your Dream Job Exists Right Now
Here's how to find it.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock
As I was networking and meeting with mentors, I kept getting asked the same question over and over again: what’s your dream job? And over and over again, I was stumped because the thing is, I don’t have a dream job. I’m lucky enough to know what I’m interested in but that doesn’t mean I have a singular career in mind. But I learned quickly, that’s totally OK. There are so many expectations about landing your dream job, but here are the most common myths that, we promise, you can totally let go.
1. You need to know what your “dream job” is.
When people did ask me what my dream job was, I found an easy solution was just to tell people, “I’ll do anything,” but as one woman reminded me, that answer can seem unfocused and uninspired. Instead, I learned to tell people I want to work with a creative and curious team that’s passionate about how digital media can enhance storytelling. It’s not a normal “dream job,” but it’s a clearer picture of what I want to do, and it’s that kind of vision that will help lead me to a dream job in the future.
2. Your dream job exists right now.
As technology continues to change and companies’ needs grow and adapt, it’s important to remember your eventual dream job may not exist yet! And that’s totally OK. It would have been impossible 10 years ago to tell YouTube star Justine Ezarik that in the future, her dream job would consist of making video content for a website that at that time wasn’t even around.
As you weave through your first few jobs, make sure to keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities. This might even mean listening to your passions and creating your own dream job. Janet Mock said, “I’ve always said that authenticity is the first pathway to any kind of success. To me, it’s my yellow brick road. Only by living my truth have I been able to achieve any kind of semblance of the dream.”
3. Even if you land your dream job, you won’t be able to make enough money.
I’m sure we’ve all had that one person in our lives that has something negative to say when we tell them our dream job. And a lot of times that negative thing happens to revolve around money. (As a journalism student, this happens to me far too often, and trust me, there’s not enough side-eye in the world for those people.)
Brit Morin, the founder of Brit + Co., knows this all too well. When she was looking to switch careers, she knew she was interested in the creative arts industry. But instead of getting immediately discouraged by a typically difficult field, she did research and found out she could conceivably make money going after what she wanted (turns out the creative arts industry is a $34 billion market!).
Morin shows it’s worth really researching and looking into your dream job because often what you find may surprise you. There’s more than meets the eye, and if you’re willing to put in the hustle, you can probably find a way to do what you love and make it work.
The original version of this article appeared on Levo written by Madison Feller.
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This story was originally published on April 1, 2017, and has since been updated.
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Be Prepared—6 Tough Interview Questions (and How to Answer Them)
You’ve got this.
Photo: Altea Alessandroni for Pexels
So you've landed an interview—congratulations! Standing out in a sea of resumes is no easy feat, but the hiring process is far from over.
Now it's time to knock your interviewer's socks off. If you really want to wow, you’ve got to do your homework and be as prepared as possible. You’ve picked out the perfect outfit, researched all there is to know about the company, and printed your resume, but you can’t stop there. What will really get you hired is your stellar answers to the interviewer’s questions—not that super cute blazer (sorry!). We’re here to help and make sure you don’t go into the interview blind!
While the process can be long and nerve-wracking—these are questions that potentially alter your future after all—there are some difficult interview questions you can bet on being asked. Read on, practice, and go crush that interview!
1. Tell me about yourself.
This is a little like the "What do you do?" question that can be so stressful. It's asking you to sum yourself up in a succinct but engaging way. You want to grab your interviewer's attention without delving into your life story.
What the interviewer really wants to know is a little about your personality, but also what about you will add to this particular company. Do not have a scripted response. This should be tailored for each interview and you should talk about where you are professionally.
DO talk about why you got into your particular field and how it relates to your background. What it is about your line of work and experience that is specifically "you." When and where you adopted your dog is cute, but save it for after you get hired.
2. What is your biggest weakness?
I'm a workaholic. A perfectionist. Type A. I never give up, to a fault. None of these answers the question. Using this question as an opportunity to #humblebrag is not the way to go. Instead, they show that your biggest weakness is an inability to address where you're lacking and you come off cocky. Everyone has weaknesses, including the person sitting across the table from you, and self-awareness is a good trait.
3. What would your previous employer say about you?
This question needs to be answered based on how you left your last company. If you were fired, and you've still listed that position on your resume, don't try to hide it. Instead, use this question as an opportunity to explain where you went wrong and what you learned.
If you left your last job on good terms and your former boss is willing to be a reference, this is a great way to back up what you say.
If you had an exit interview, you can pull directly from that conversation, and is a reason to ask for an exit interview if your employer doesn't offer one upfront. However, a resume doesn't have to include every job you've ever had.
That said, be prepared for this one:
4. Are there any jobs you've omitted from your resume?
This is a particularly tough one. If you've left a job off your employment history there are usually two reasons: it was a short, contract position (90 days or less) that didn't add anything but a few extra lines to your resume, or you left on really bridges burned, bad blood, terms.
There are certain jobs we take that are fillers or contract jobs that give us the ability to pay our rent, or brush up on skills (a great point to highlight). Feel free to mention jobs that you took as "in-betweeners." Even if it's a job that you think is beneath you and your skills, tell your potential employer about it. The willingness to work while you're "not working" highlights an ethic to stay on the grind even if you aren't employed full time.
If there really is bad blood between you and a former employer, and an interviewer point-blank asks you this question, you don't want to start a new work relationship off by lying. You can talk about what happened in more vague terms without mentioning the name of the company. As scary as it can be, this is a great opportunity to show your humanity, own your failures, and end on a high note by explaining what you learned.
5. What are these gaps in your employment history?
This piggybacks on question #4. Sometimes gaps are omissions and sometimes they are simply times when you were unemployed. If there are gaps, be prepared to explain what you were doing during this time.
If you don't have an answer because you used your fun-employment time as just that, let this be a lesson: Don't sit and wait for the job to come to you. The harder you hustle the greater the reward. There's a good chance that if the job comes down to you and someone who took a class or another job during their unemployment, you're probably not getting that position.
The hustle never sleeps or stops—even if you're not getting paid. You are responsible for your future, no one else.
6. Is there anything you want to ask me?
If you say, "No, I think I've got it," be prepared to kiss that job goodbye. You just spent 30 minutes with the person in charge of hiring you and if you don't have any questions, you haven't done your research. Show that you are willing to go the extra mile (hell, block) for the company. These questions should NOT be about salary, benefits like vacation days, or how long you have to wait for your first performance review and promotion. Climb the ladder sure, but wait until you get hired to take a step up the rung.
Look into clients they've worked with, their greatest successes, and figure out a question or two that shows that your battery is fully charged up for them i.e. not questions that show you're only looking out for you. These are questions that show you are also willing to go outside of your job "description" and get involved in multiple verticals.
Good luck and be your best-prepared self. This is your year if you want it.
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This post was originally published on January 20, 2016, and has since been updated.
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This Little Trick Will Double Your Productivity ASAP
Hack your motivation.
Photo: Smith House Photo
If you are an entrepreneur, you likely spend your time feeling like a cocktail of inspired and deflated, generative and stuck, or focused and scattered. Sound about right? You may be familiar with the reality that being busy is different than being productive, yes? You want to work smarter, not harder.
So, whether you work for yourself at home in your sweatpants or are part of a high-profile startup hustle (or both!), here is a great way to maximize your productivity and clarity. Time batching. It’s an über-simple technique that can change the way you work. It can help you get more done by helping prevent you from spending twenty minutes deciding what to focus on!
Here are four easy steps to set yourself up for success.
“Time batching is an uber simple technique that can change the way you work.”
1. Time Batch
Sit down with your week’s commitments, deadlines, tasks, and errands. Use small pieces of paper, and write only one task per paper. Write down everything you can think of. No task is too small. Include everything that you want and need to have happen in your workweek. Once you’ve gathered them, sort them into these three popular categories of work themes (or, make up your own!):
Marketing & Managerial Mondays: This would include writing emails, scheduling meetings, all marketing and PR tasks, event planning, anything sales related, purchasing plane tickets, submitting applications to events and jobs, strategizing business development, continuing education, making phone calls, managing mailing lists, scheduling social media for the week, printing for the week, preping for clients and meetings.
Word & Website Wednesdays: Write blog posts and all content for the week, update classes and events on website, write and send newsletter, draft/complete all writing commitments, graphic design for all materials, track last week’s web analytics, reading and research for clients and obligations, create content on all upcoming projects, branding tweaks, anything that involves writing!
Financial & Follow-Up Fridays: Follow-up on all relationships, emails, projects, and events, tie up any loose ends before the weekend, send out thank-you cards, send invoices, accounting and book-keeping, track PayPal and bank accounts, log all tax-related expenses, pay quarterly estimated taxes, tally mileage from the week for deductions, manage investments and debt, pay credit card, deposit all checks.
2. Track It
Now that you have three thematic piles of work tasks, automate and log them. Apps are a great way to keep track of your to-do lists, and have them with you and synced throughout all devices. Create the three main lists (M, W, F) and then fill in all tasks from your paper piles. Once you’ve logged everything, look at each item and set deadlines for those that have them. Also, some things are one-offs, while others happen weekly. Set the appropriate repeat settings for weekly tasks.
3. Schedule Time Blocks
Schedule blocks of time to get your batches in. Most successful productivity experts agree that unless it’s on your calendar, it’s basically imaginary and it’s not happening! Ideally, find at least two to three-hour chunks when you can focus on one list. Some choose to batch every day, some prefer a few non-batch workdays. Your other days without time batching can be more organic, perhaps you take the day off, or you let your schedule be more fluid and muse-honoring.
4. Work It
When you sit down to start your batch session, review your list and pick the three most urgent and important tasks. Don’t get distracted by urgent things, important is the key word here. Begin with those. If you have a super-session and power through all three tasks, you can always revisit your list, or go do a handstand and call your mom. Regardless, the feeling of completing your focused three-task list will encourage continued focus wizardry on your next session.
Truth: A massive part of working with time batching is remembering something that is “off-topic” when you are in “batch mode” and adding it to the necessary list, instead of completely switching gears to blog your magical new matcha donut recipe when you should be updating spreadsheets. (Just make sure to post your matcha donut recipe, because that sounds delish.)
An original version of this article appeared Darling magazine, written by Abbi Miller.
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This story was originally published on April 22, 2018, and has since been updated.
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9 Things No One Tells You When You're Starting a Business
In this case, ignorance is not bliss.
Photo: Smith House Photo
The one common thread that ties all entrepreneurs and founders together is that there is no rule book, especially if your company is developing an entirely new category or business model. There is no path to follow or leadership style to mimic. It can be a daunting experience but if you’re up for the challenge, it will be one that undoubtedly changes your life, for the better.
But if you’re a new founder or about to start a company and reading this in despair, then don’t stress, because there are a few things everyone should do when starting a business. Think you can cut it on your own but wondering how to start a business? Here are nine things to consider before you take that leap of faith and start your own business.
1. Begin with revenue.
It’s nice that you have a dream, but the reality is that you will need to make money. Whether you are planning on pitching to investors or building a customer-funded business, you will need cash flow. Cash flow is the heartbeat of your business. Author and entrepreneur Seth Godin says, “It pays to have big dreams but low overhead.” Overhead are things such as rent, payroll, and other monthly expenses. Make a plan and write specific goals for how you are going to make money.
2. Protect your IP.
IP stands for intellectual property. Trademark your work and spend time on your privacy policies from the beginning. Talk to a trademark lawyer and make sure you are covering all your bases in the legal sense. Have a designated spot for organizing all paperwork, legal documents, and trademarks. Trust me, you will get a lot of paperwork mailed to you and you want to make sure you don’t throw away something important because you thought it was spam.
3. Market yourself.
Free marketing on social media is the key to growing your start-up with low overhead. Research social media marketing ideas, and do your homework. Study businesses that are doing what you do. Know your target audience and study CRM (customer relationship management) within your company. Where is your ideal customer currently spending their money if not on you? Connect with like-minded small business owners, and learn from each other. I am currently in a mastermind group with seven female, small business leaders in Nashville. We get together every other week to discuss various aspects of running a small business. Be proactive and curious. Ask questions.
4. Know your “why.”
If cash flow is the heartbeat of your business, then why is the actual heart. If you can’t write down the internal, external, or philosophical problem your company is working to solve, your business won’t have a backbone. As Frederick Nietzsche said, “He who has a why can endure any how.”
5. Understand yourself so that you can make great hires.
“Organizations are never limited by their opportunity. They are limited by their leader,” according to Dave Ramsey. You are the leader. You need passion, integrity, humility, courage, and self-discipline. Know your strengths, weaknesses, and leadership capabilities so that when the time comes to make a hire or seek support, you know where you are lacking. Become self-aware and discern in what areas you need to improve.
Start by taking personality tests that give you insight into your tendencies. My go-to test for myself and my team members is the DISC profile. Every interviewee that we are seriously considering hiring takes this test before we offer a position. Your interview process should be extensive. Turnover can kill a start-up.
6. You are NOT the boss.
Your customers are the boss. Your customers are the hero. It’s ALL about your customers. The story about how and why you started your company isn’t as important as how and why your customers need your product. Learn how to serve your customers, but know that once in a while your customer might be wrong. Remember that you have the freedom to occasionally “fire” a customer. Embrace the concept that your product is not for everyone.
7. Build structure and find balance.
Professionals show up and do the work when they don’t feel like it. Become obsessed with time management or you will begin drowning in chaos. Build a structure for your business so that you can find a healthy work-life balance. Read time management books and find a routine.
8. Build a tax savings account and an emergency savings fund.
Finances and managing cash flow are two of the biggest distractions for any business. If you don’t have a CFO from the start, hire an accountant and/or bookkeeper, and build your savings. An emergency fund for your business can be anywhere from three months to a year of overhead expenses you have saved in the case of sudden disaster. Move money into your tax savings account every month and don’t touch it. Every quarter, while millions of business owners are scrambling to move around money for taxes, you’ll be able to stay hyper-focused on developing your business.
9. Embrace change and challenges.
“Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between the obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both into their advantage,” notes Seth Godin. You will face many obstacles, ups, and downs. I could spend all day telling you about all of the bumps I’ve experienced in the last three years, but then I would be talking the problem—not the solution. Godin says, “You’re going to do your best work, and it’s not going to work. Taking it personally will cripple you.” It’s ok to be unprepared when you start. There are many variables you cannot control no matter how organized you feel. You will be much more stress-free if you learn to embrace change and don’t grip your business by the throat.
About the Author: Emily Howard, founder, creative director, and CEO of Consider the Wldflwrs, a jewelry company based out of Nashville, Tennessee. An original version of this article appeared on Darling.
This post was originally published on May 3, 2019, and has since been updated.
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Together Forever? How to Choose the Right Business Partner
It's like a marriage, for your brains.
Photo: Smith House Photo
It’s said that two heads are better than one. Albeit usually true, sometimes it depends on which two heads. Having the right partner is the foundation for a successful business. However, finding that partner may be the hardest part of starting your business.
There’s no better teacher than time and personal experience. There are, however, certain lessons we can learn from others who have lived through similar experiences. And so I offer the following.
Have Common Goals
In the most literal sense, this means you should both understand the goals of the business and what milestones the entity is trying to reach and at what points. On a deeper level, it is important to understand the bigger picture behind reaching those goals and what expectations each partner has for the future.
One partner may want fortune while the other wants fame, one may want to help the world, while the other wants notoriety. While having goals that are aligned makes it easier, it is also acceptable to have different goals so long as they complement each other. For example say one partner is not interested in the money only in helping the community, while the other feels that making a fortune is the ultimate goal, in making certain decisions regarding the direction of the business: prices, events to attend, clientele to cater to, and so forth, this may cause an issue.
This shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, however, if your goals are not aligned then the business itself cannot achieve those goals simultaneously. This should be a conversation prior to the commencement of the business.
Have Respect for One Another
Respect is not only fundamental for how you treat each other but also for the success of your business. You should respect the person as a human and also as a professional.
Respect achieves three main things: First, it makes your working environment pleasant and efficient. Next, if you truly respect your partner you likely also trust him or her. Lastly, your clients will trust and respect them as well.
The day you lose respect for your partner, the partnership and likely the business, will crumble. The respect should be mutual; your partner should appreciate what you bring to the team as well. Having mutual respect will go a long way when days get tough.
“For better or worse partnerships are tested in the real world in ways that no amount of preparation can guarantee survival.”
Find Someone Who Complements Your Strengths and Weaknesses
More often than not finding a partner seems like it’s about the other person. However, the best way to find the perfect match is to do some introspection. Analyzing your strengths is usually the easier of the two tasks, and while important to know and value what you contribute to the team, it is equally, if not more important to know your weaknesses.
Finding someone who not only complements your weaknesses with their strengths but also knows how to properly handle your shortcomings is fundamental to a long-term partnership. Recognize your flaws and appreciate someone who can handle them.
Know What You Value Most
Some value charisma, others honesty, and others willingness to take risks. Whatever, qualities you feel are going to contribute most to the success of your business and achieving your goals those are the qualities you should find in your partner. While ideally we find a partner that has it all, it’s slightly unrealistic, and so having certain priorities when making a decision can facilitate that process.
Personality Matters
Yes, having an attractive, funny, and witty partner is a dream, however, this isn’t about finding a date. It’s about finding the perfect complement to boost your chances at success. And so in general, yes, you should enjoy their company. However, attributes of their personality regarding how they solve problems, how they deal with a crisis, what makes them happy or satisfied, and their attitude towards different situations is what matters when choosing your partner.
While these tips should be used as a guide or thoughts to keep in mind, there truly is no way to ensure that a partnership will succeed. For better or worse partnerships are tested in the real world in ways that no amount of preparation can guarantee survival. But if you’re lucky enough to find that perfect partner, your business is sure to reap the benefits.
“Recognize your flaws and appreciate someone who can handle them.”
—Brenda Schamy, DiSchino & Schamy, PLLC
About the author: Brenda Schamy has a multi-faceted background in criminal defense, immigration, corporate counsel, and entertainment law. Due to her extensive entrepreneurial experience, Brenda is particularly skilled in business management, taking on the role of a forward-thinker who actively anticipates the needs, concerns, and opportunities of our corporate clients. Brenda excels at looking beyond the legal scope of business and works closely with our clients to actualize their goals.
Prior to founding Erickson & Schamy (now DiSchino & Schamy, PLLC), Brenda was a Miami Dade Public Defender. With over sixty trials taken to verdict, she is especially comfortable in a courtroom and is always ready to fight for her clients’ interests. Throughout her legal career, Brenda has also been heavily exposed to immigration, music, and the entertainment industry.
This story was originally published on April 8, 2019, and has since been updated.
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5 Tips to Have the Most Productive Day Ever
Don’t panic, but it involves turning off WiFi.
Photo: Andrea Piacquadio for Pexels
Time waits for no woman, but who says you’ve got the hours to hang around and wait for time? We’ve all got meetings to take, conference calls to make, places to be, and deals to close. But mastering the art of time management in order to cross everything off your to-do list every day is easier said than done.
In fact, studies show that business leaders waste an average of 21.8 hours a week. We repeat: A WEEK. Instead of getting consumed by the hours in the day, or the lack thereof, here are five ways to watch the clock and have your most productive day ever. Here’s how to make every minute count, from the time you wake up to the time you log off.
1. Pick a Realistic Time to Wake Up
You know your body and you know how much sleep you need to feel rested and ready to take on the day. And yet, we all tend to get a little overzealous when it comes to setting our alarms the night before. If I set my alarm an hour early, we rationalize, I will get a jump on my day.
Call it wishful thinking or good intentions, setting our alarms earlier than needed has the opposite effect than intended. When the early am hits, we hit snooze, falling in and out of that interrupted sleep until the moment we dash out of bed in a hurry. It’s a terrible way to start the day.
One, it makes us feel like we already missed our mark. That even though we didn’t need to wake up early, we should have. This mentality creeps into the rest of our day and doesn’t allow us to be our most productive or confident selves. When you start the day disappointed in yourself, it’s that much harder to recover.
Two, alarm-hitting snooze sleep is almost worse than no sleep at all. You’re groggy and multiple studies have shown that this kind of sleep inertia reduces productivity and focus.
So be realistic about what time you need to get up. Pretending you’re going to rise at 6 am is not useful when you could sleep until 7 am and wake up bright-eyed and ready to get after it.
“We’ve become so concerned with rapid-fire quick responses that our emails are lacking in quality.”
2. Turn Your Internet Off for 45 Minutes Each Morning
Scroll through your emails on your phone quickly to make sure there is no pressing emergency, but once your computer comes to life, switch the internet off.
Give yourself 45 minutes to respond to emails in a thoughtful and valuable manner. We’ve become so concerned with rapid-fire quick responses that our emails are lacking in quality. If you’re the type to email the way you text, this pause will prove productive.
Not only will you think through your answers with more clarity, but you won’t be distracted by other incoming messages, emails, or lose yourself to a Facebook news feed.
3. Time Batch It Out
Time batching is a simple way to approach the day that reduces clutter and increases focus. Group activities together (emails, phone calls, blogging—i.e. writing multiple posts at one time) and see how it improves your product.
By batching out the tasks in your day, you can see exactly where your hours (like your money) are going. Productivity breeds productivity.
“If time was an app, it’d be Postmates. We use it without realizing how much we’re spending.”
4. Think About What “Time Well Spent” Means to You
If time was an app, it would be Postmates: We use it without realizing how much we’re spending.
You can’t purchase more time. Taking stock of your day and looking at how you spend your time will move you into the following days with confidence. If you’re really spending your time “well”—which is different for everyone—it’s infectious.
We don’t want to know how much time we’ve wasted scrolling social media for “research” or texting a colleague.
Watching the clock doesn’t have to be a negative. In fact, watching the clock can help you, professionally speaking. Keeping track of your time worked and just how much you’ve accomplished in a day can be helpful in assessing where you are losing valuable hours.
5. Stop Watching the Clock
OK. Disregard *for a second* what we said above.
Time batching and keeping track of your hours is important, but only to a point. Within the time that you’ve allocated for yourself, don’t check the clock like a kid waiting for the lunch bell to ring.
Being productive is more important than checking to make sure you’re being productive. If you’re in the swing of it, by all means, keep rolling.
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This story was originally published on February 3, 2019, and has since been updated.
Up next: This Little Trick Will Double Your Productivity ASAP
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Stop Competing With Your Co-Workers, It's Not Healthy
Because there is an “I” in competition.
Photo: Angelica Marie Photography for Create & Cultivate
A bout of healthy competition can be used to keep us on track and maintain our motivation, but how do we recognize when this feeling is no longer beneficial? We are all individuals with a unique skill set trying to advance in our careers, but when is competition no longer healthy? When our personal goals start to become greater than the goals of the company, or when our progress starts to be at the expense of a colleague, we have to reevaluate our motives us. What can we do when we start spelling TEAM with an “I?”
Below are four simple ways we can be better at using our competitive energy to benefit everyone on the team.
“I may excel at X, but I need to work on Y.”
As much as many type-A individuals may not like to admit it, we all have a set of weaknesses in addition to our strengths. Gasp! Jot down in your phone or notebook the skills you rock at and the tasks you could use an extra hand. Seek out a colleague who complements your skillset and work together on a project that requires both of your unique talents. It’s important to be honest with this task as the more truthful you are the more likely you will find a perfect match. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts!
“Where have you been all my life?”
In addition to discovering a complementary skillset amongst our colleagues, it can also be helpful to find a match from a social perspective. The more we get to know our co-workers personally, the less “threatening” they are. Discover common interests by grabbing a latte together on break or a glass of rosé after work… you never know, you may just meet a new friend. When we become friendly with our colleagues, their success will often become our own. Find your partner in crime!
“#Squad”
Now that you and your previous nemesis have become friendly and have complemented each other on a recent work project, it’s time to unite together long term! Discover each other’s personal goals within the company and unite together on common long-term business goals. This unity doesn’t only have to be with one other colleague but can include an entire #squad. There truly is strength in numbers.
“Let's celebrate.”
When we accomplish a goal or finally submit a project we have been working on for months, celebrating is part of the journey! As much as it’s enjoyable to celebrate our own personal success, the party is so much better when we can share the moment with an entire team. Following your next submission with your #squad, plan a special night at your favorite restaurant and soak in all the success that has been accomplished together. No such thing as a party for one!
About the Author: Blare June is a lifestyle blogger from Halifax, Nova Scotia. What makes Blare June's blog unique is that in addition to fashion she writes about mental illness, empowerment, and overall wellness. When Blare June isn't blogging, she is working as a physician specializing in psychiatry in Halifax. You can find Blare June on Instagram: @blarejune.
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This story was originally published on April 12, 2016, and has since been updated.
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5 Signs You're Not Being Paid What You're Worth
And what to do about it.
Photo: Christina Jones Photography
Make no mistake, trying to figure out how your salary stacks up against others in your field is a challenge. The unavoidable fact is: people get cagey when it comes to talking money. (Personally, I believe that being more open about these things will only help us close the pay gap, but that's an article for another day.)
If you suspect you're being underpaid, getting a free salary report from Comparably or PayScale and scouring Glassdoor is a great start. But that's all it is—a start. To figure out whether you're being underpaid, you need to pay attention to the signs. Or, as career expert, bestselling author, and former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan (oh, and four other magazines), Kate White says, "You need to be a mercenary for information."
Here are the top five signs you're not getting paid what you deserve.
1. You Never Negotiated Your Pay
I know this is difficult to hear because a large percentage of women don’t. But accepting this fact is the first step. "That's your first clue," says White. "It's a sign that you probably are being underpaid because often if you don't negotiate, you're leaving money on the table." Now, if you didn't negotiate, all is not lost! Make a commitment to yourself to never take a job without negotiating again.
2. You’re Doing More, But Not Being Paid More
This one might sound obvious, but employees let it slide all too often. Just recently a friend's workload was effectively doubled without a plan for a salary increase or title change. When she went to her manager to make a case for a salary bump, he threatened to simply take away her increased responsibility. Don't fall for this. If you're doing significantly more than the role you were hired to do, you deserve appropriately increased compensation. And if you can't get it at your current company, go get it elsewhere.
3. It’s Been Two or More Years Since You Got a Raise
"Here's the problem: the market rate increases faster than the rate within a company where people may be getting 3% raises," says White. "I saw it happen to people who worked for me at different times, and as the boss, you felt bad, but often the company tied your hands.”
“When the new person was coming in and was able to negotiate for a certain salary, sometimes it was better than people on the same level,” she explains. “But again, a company won't necessarily let you say, ‘Hey if I bring this person in at X, I hate the fact that this other person is only making Y.’ So if you've been at a company for awhile, you can practically bank on the fact that you are not doing as well as people coming in from the outside."
4. You Find Out the Salary of Someone in a Comparable Position
This is less a "sign" than a fact, but it's worth mentioning. Again, talking to people about salaries can be tough, but there are ways to get the information you need.
"You could ask a mentor or someone who used to work at your company and has since moved on," says White. "And maybe you could say it in a bit of a cheeky way, like 'If I told you my salary, what amount would make you think, 'Oh my God, she's an idiot?’ You're never going to get someone who left, especially in a lateral move, to tell you what their salary was. But I think if you ask in that way, sometimes people like to answer those types of questions."
"Or find people who have comparable jobs in similar companies,” suggests White. “Without asking what they make, you can say something to them like, 'Would you mind me asking you the range of X position at your company? I love my company but I'm just curious what the range is elsewhere.' I think people will often answer that as well."
However, proceed with caution.
"I've been in situations where people found out salaries by snooping around or having conversations about it in the office, but if your boss finds out it really makes you look small," says White. "So I would say that's something to avoid."
5. You Have a Gut Feeling
I have found this to be true in my own experience, and White confirms to trust your gut. If after a few months of watching and listening, you have the sneaking suspicion you're being underpaid, you probably are.
"I think a lot of times our gut feelings about things like this are absolutely accurate," says White. "It's almost as if you're picking up clues on a lot of different subliminal levels. Maybe a guy on your same level invited people from the office over for drinks and you saw his apartment and realized, 'Wow, that's pretty nice.' Or you notice the vacations he takes. And sure, maybe he's got a trust fund. But all those little things that happen—the way your boss might be evasive, the spending habits of people on your level—all those things end up being almost imperceptible clues that on some subliminal level make your stomach twist a little bit. And you just sort of know.”
"It could be from things people inadvertently say, but the point is that it's not just one thing—it's a combination of those various, vague little things, and what they add up to that speak to you on a subliminal level,” says White. “And a lot of what they say about intuition is connecting the dots and I think you should connect the dots in this case and listen to your gut."
For more advice from Kate White on negotiating and more, pick up a copy of her tell-all career bible, “I Shouldn't Be Telling You This: How to Ask for the Money, Snag the Promotion, and Create the Career You Deserve.”
Written by Kelsey Manning for Levo.
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This story was originally published on April 19, 2017, and has since been updated.
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You Need to Ditch This If You Want to Be a Better Leader—Here's How
It’s time to get your boss on.
Photo: Create & Cultivate
Millennials are not only taking over the workforce, they’re quickly stepping into more and more leadership roles. In fact, a 2017 study found that the millennial leadership trajectory is as follows:
2.6 years: Entry-level to mid-level
5.3 years: Higher mid-level to senior
6.9 years: Senior level to c-suite
8.4 years: C-suite to CEO
More millennials are moving into leadership roles where they can finally execute on visionary ideas and implement change that they wished those who came before them would. Despite the value millennials bring to the workforce, we’re all a work in progress, and becoming a better leader is necessary for many of the millennials who are new to the role.
Keep these ideas in mind as you grow into your leadership position, which bodes well for your career and the organization. You may find that you garner greater respect and get more done as you learn and develop the skills necessary to manage an organization. Read on to find out what you need to do (and ditch) to become a better leader.
Let Go of Fears
Be better: Stop second-guessing yourself.
Fear of personal failure was the number one fear in a 2016 poll of Americans. And for millennials, this fear is often masked as “imposter syndrome.” Imposter syndrome can be defined as the feeling of being inadequate, despite continued success. A whopping 70% of millennials experience this, in both work and life, but why?
“Millennials might feel impostor syndrome more as they’ve entered the workforce at a time of outrageous technological advancements and constant comparison on social media,” says Breena Kerr of The Hustle.
She continues, “Technology is growing so fast that most of us are learning something new on almost every project we work on. And that can make you feel like you don’t have the expertise you should.”
To be a better millennial leader, you must ditch the fear and find confidence in what you do, and channel that when managing employees and making decisions. Trust your intuition and your skills—this is a requirement for leaders who want to see growth and success in their position.
Strategize Effectively
Be better: Find solutions that are effective—not just fast or easy.
A McKinsey and Company study of 80 organizations around the world, of varying sizes and industries, found that effectiveness was one of the top four attributes of a great leader.
When you focus on being effective, rather than making decisions or problem solving based on what’s easiest or fastest, you become a stronger leader. “Often leaders assume that as long as they have ideas, a vision, and a sense of purpose, that will be enough to lead the way forward,” says David Grossman, CEO of Grossman Group. “If only it were that easy. In truth, good leaders know the importance of planning and clearly spelling out the path ahead.”
Find the best brainstorming style for you and use that to flesh out ideas fully and effectively. A simple pros and cons list may be all you need to shake out the best solutions.
Communicate
Be better: Be authoritative and flexible.
Being a leader requires great communication skills, which can be challenging for some millennials. “The real reason millennial leaders struggle to communicate doesn’t lie in their ability to have reasoned, productive exchanges with other people,” explains Kimberly Fries, a millennial communication and leadership coach. “Instead, it lies in their circumstance, the very style of their leadership, and their personality.”
She breaks it down further, explaining that this struggle with communication comes down to three things:
Their disposition to be diplomatic and non-confrontational
Differences in generational preferences with communication
A credibility problem
To combat these innate issues, focus on communicating clearly and effectively while embracing the strengths of your employees and maintaining your authority. Be flexible and willing to adapt communication skills as employees need, especially when working with a mixed generational team. For example, some employees will do better with emails and chat, while others need more in-person time; adjust for both to be a better millennial leader.
Be Authentic
Be better: Listen attentively.
In a world filled with social media, where we’re surrounded by the perception of who someone is, it’s easy to be inauthentic. Especially in a role of authority, where you want to command the respect that a leadership role commands. Yet, authenticity is critical in business.
When you’re hyper-focused on the image you’re portraying to others, it’s hard to build true and lasting relationships that you need to be successful in business—relationships with mentors, financial advisors, and most importantly, with employees:
“Authenticity—both in business and in networking—is important for establishing reciprocal relationships with others,” says Ted Rollins, entrepreneur and founder of Valeo Groupe. “Long-term, rewarding professional partnerships don’t begin with a selfish attitude.”
When you listen and remain authentic in both your decision-making and interactions with others, you’ll be better at driving the ship.
Start Leading
Keep these ideas in mind as you grow into your role and take steps in your career. Authenticity, effectiveness, communication, and confidence are all critical for all high-level roles—both getting and keeping them. When you work toward becoming a better leader, you boost both your career and your position within your current role.
About the Author: Jessica Thiefels has been writing for more than 10 years and is currently a full-time writer, content marketing consultant, and business owner. She’s been featured in Forbes and Business Insider and has written for Manta, StartupNation, Glassdoor, Lifehack, and more. Follow her on Twitter @Jlsander07 and connect on LinkedIn.
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This story was published on August 29, 2017, and has since been updated.
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13 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Accepting a Job Offer
You deserve the job, but does the job deserve you?
Photo: Ekaterina Bolovtsova for Pexels
The New York Times published a piece titled "13 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Getting Married." And since a job is a marriage of sorts, we started thinking about 13 questions you should really ask yourself before accepting a job. We aren't talking first jobs, but career makers. The kind you stick with for the long-haul, through thick, through thin, through sickness and in health; marriage material kind of jobs. It's a mistake to accept a position with the intention of leaving.
In the same way that hiring mistakes can be very costly, the same can be said for accepting the wrong offer. If the position is not the right fit, you are going to end up on job boards and sending out résumés all over again. While landing a job is tough, accepting the wrong position can be detrimental to your career. We're thinking long distance, not sprints.
1. Started from the bottom, now you’re where?
Is there room for growth? If for instance, you're starting as an assistant, is the company prone to promote from within? Before accepting, make sure there is a "here" to get to.
A good way to figure this out is to check out the following:
2. What’s the turnover rate for employees?
With a little research, it's easy to find how long the oldest employee has been at the company. If the turnover rate is incredibly high, or the oldest employee has only been working there a year, consider why this might be the case.
Are there employees who started in your current offered position? Where are they now?
3. Do you want your boss’s job?
This is a tricky question to answer.
Because sure, the idea of being the boss might seem illustriously tempting to you, but taking your boss’s job should not be the end goal. Excel at your position and work to be promoted, sure, but your takeover strategy shouldn't revolve around taking over someone else’s position.
4. Are you willing to work weekends? Nights? Early AMs?
What kind of hours are you willing to clock? For most of us, the 40-hour workweek myth is just that. So think about how you're going to feel when you get an email from your boss on a Sunday.
Do you need a position that has a clear clock-in and clock-out, or are you comfortable with stress-related rapid-fire texts from your boss on the weekend? (They happen. They're real.) Your heart needs to be in it, in order to win it.
5. Could your boss double as a mentor?
Is your potential boss someone you admire and respect? At least from the outside. Unlike a relationship or marriage, it's impossible to predict how well you will work with someone—especially during crunch time or in high-stress, high-pressure situations, before you work with them.
So do the research. What kind of reputation does your boss have? How do the current employees seem to feel about their jobs? When you went in for your interview, what did the office environment feel like? Was it sunshine and butterflies and rainbows or were there grumpy cat rainclouds above everyone’s desk?
Working well with someone who is "bossing" you is a major factor to consider.
6. Will you be challenged?
Forget a cushy job. At this point in your career, you should desire a position that grows your skills and expands your offerings as an employee—just in case you wind up having to divorce this position.
If you know you'll be able to set goals to outperform yourself, you will not only make yourself invaluable to the company, but you'll also be making an investment in your future that will pay in dividends.
7. Will you resent your salary in six months?
It's very rare to be head-over-heels in love with your salary from the start, but around 40% of women report being unsatisfied with their current pay. It's one thing to accept a salary or wage that is below asking, it's another to accept a wage that is well beneath you.
You'll end up angry, frustrated, and ultimately, less productive.
8. Are there benefits?
Health care costs add up, and they are something you should factor into your decision. Don't get blind-sighted by the salary without considering other costs you may incur on your own.
Most companies that offer benefits do so after 90 days. Be sure to ask what the company policy is, and if they don't have benefits, check out our post on how to negotiate benefits.
9. Is it corporate, startup, or freelance? And is the environment right for you?
You know you best. So when it comes to choosing the right office culture, think hard. The corporate job might pay more, but are you going to become frustrated and disillusioned when every idea you have has to be vetted by ten people up the ladder? Are you willing to commit to the kind of hours a startup requires?
If you're accepting a freelance job make sure to set parameters before committing. Don't accept a job where the expectations are so high, you're primed for failure.
10. What’s your commute?
The average U.S. worker commutes approximately 26 minutes to work each day. Could you imagine commuting more than that?
Here's the rub. Most employees are spending much more on commuting than they realize. From gas to maintenance, it's an important factor to consider in the long-run.
A nasty commute can contribute to a nasty attitude. If you're spending over an hour in the car in the AM, you're not going to arrive at the office bright, cheery, and ready to put in work.
11. What are the potential problems?
As with any relationship, there will be issues. Outline what you think they will be—from long hours to travel complications to communication issues, and be honest with yourself if they are problems you can accept.
Once you accept them, don't moan and groan when they crop up.
12. Have you checked out Glassdoor?
With a database of millions of company reviews, CEO-approval ratings, and salary reports, you can do a bit of online shopping before you buy into the company.
13. Is this your dream J-O-B?
By all means, what are you waiting for? Sign that offer letter and get ready for a lifetime of career happiness. (But also remember, that it's when the dream becomes a reality, the real work starts.)
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This story was originally published on April 4, 2016, and has since been updated.
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The Answers to These Two Questions Might Make or Break Your Interview
No pressure.
Photo: Edmond Dantès for Pexels
Transition time in between jobs is common and isn’t necessarily bad, however, it is important to figure out how to handle time in between jobs so it benefits you and doesn’t reflect negatively on your career.
Whatever the reason is for your temporary unemployment, you’re not alone; there’s at least one person out there in the same or a similar position as you. People will often be understanding about temporary employment gaps as long as you explain yourself.
Having a break in employment is okay.
But be prepared for hiring managers and/or recruiters to ask you two questions…
Why do you have a break in employment?
What have you been doing/what did you do during this time?
The answers you provide to these two simple questions could make or break you in an interview. A recruiter for a nationally recognized company recently told me a story about a candidate the company interviewed. They initially thought she would be a great fit for the position because she had the qualifications, but she had a six-month gap in employment. The employment gap wasn’t the deal-breaker, however, her answer to the question about what she did during those six months was. She gave a very vague answer that she hung out and relaxed with friends. That doesn’t sound like a bad way to spend six months, but it also isn’t a good answer to give in an interview. The company ended up going with another candidate who seemed to be more motivated and goal-oriented.
If she had said something about how she wasn’t happy at her old position so she decided to take time to figure out what she really wanted from her career, things might have gone differently for her.
Perfect your elevator pitch.
Elevator pitches are often used for companies and brands, but having a personal elevator pitch is also important. If you do have a gap in employment, come up with an elevator pitch to explain your situation.
A good example of an elevator pitch is something like this:
“I always thought I wanted to be in [industry], but when I got the position I wanted it wasn’t the right fit for me. I did learn a lot about myself and decided to take some time off to figure out what I really want from my career. I did a lot of research, and I’m ready to take on new challenges with this role.”
An answer like this shows that you made a conscious decision to leave your job for your long-term benefit and have since taken steps to ensure you’re moving towards the right career path. This answer shows thought, confidence and ambition to reach your goal.
When you’re thinking about how to handle time in between jobs, answer the following questions…
Is there something you could do during this time that would benefit your career in any way?
Could you volunteer somewhere?
Could you take a class?
Could you learn a new skill?
Is this downtime worth it to you?
The point of answering these questions is to put a value on your time and make it useful. Volunteering, taking classes, or taking up a hobby will not only help you make use of your time, but it will also help you give a good answer about your time off when asked in an interview.
Stay active.
While you may not be working for profit, one of the most important things to do when you’re in between jobs is to stay active. Start volunteering for a local charity or at local businesses/community centers.
When you have a large employment gap and you’re looking for a job, the worst thing you could do is sit around. Staying active in your community will give you something to put on your résumé and it will help you network. You never know who you’ll meet and who will notice your work ethic. A recent government study found that volunteering is associated with 27% higher odds of employment.
Volunteering isn’t only about networking, but it gives you something current to put on your résumé. If the first thing someone sees is a large employment gap, your résumé may get overlooked simply because of the fact that there is nothing current on it. However, if you start volunteering, you can use that to fill in the time where you weren’t working.
If you haven’t done anything in your transition time, come up with a good reason why.
If you have just been sitting around, you better come up with a good explanation for it, or you can kiss your chances of landing that great job goodbye.
An example of a good answer as to why you didn't do much during your transition time is this:
“While I learned a lot at my last job, it wasn’t the right fit for me, and it became draining. I made the decision to leave that position, take time for myself, recharge, and figure out my next career move. Over the last few months, I have really focused in on what I’m looking for in a job, and that is x, y, and z. Now that I’ve had the time to recharge, I’m ready to get back into the swing of things and follow my passion of ___.”
If you’re going to take time off, make it worth it and clearly explain your reasoning in an interview.
About the author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.
This story was originally published on March 7, 2018, and has since been updated.
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How to Negotiate Benefits at Work
You landed the job, now sweeten the deal.
Photo: Christina Jones Photography
We all know that job hunting can feel like a full-time job. So when you finally get that offer letter? You start celebrating.
But as exciting and enticing as it can be to just sign on the dotted line and go buy yourself something nice, this is actually exactly the moment you need to take a step back. Before you reply to that offer letter, you have to make sure it’s the job you really want. And to do that, you need to take a hard look at the fine print.
Considering a company's offer is like dating—it’s all too easy to focus on whether they like you and want you while losing sight of whether you like them and want them, and just as importantly, whether this could be a partnership that's reflective of your goals and philosophies. That's where communication (in the form of negotiation) is fundamental.
When you open an offer letter, the salary jumps off the page, but what about the benefits? The thing many of us don’t realize is that a company’s standard benefits package is usually negotiable. Perks play a surprisingly powerful role in how you'll feel about the job—in the end, they can make a seemingly average salary offer quite tantalizing.
It’s crucial to take the time to understand the scope of benefits and then to tackle negotiating them wisely and strategically. Here are some tips to help you better negotiate benefits to your advantage.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask
Here’s a simple tenet but one you should never forget: It never hurts to ask. When you’ve received an offer, you have the upper hand. While you may not get the requests you make, this is the one time that your prospective employer is ripe for negotiating. Plus, you may find that while there’s no leeway for negotiating a higher salary, benefits adjustments are easier to accommodate.
Think Outside the Box
Benefits are more than just health insurance and 401K plans. These days, they include perks like extra vacation days and the opportunity to work remotely. Now’s the time to get creative.
When I negotiated my benefits package, I landed a complimentary gym membership and a cell phone. Apparently, I was the first employee prospect to negotiate a free gym membership, but because wellness is important to me, I thought it was a reasonable benefit to request. Interestingly, within a year, my company started offering complimentary gym memberships to all employees. A little part of me hopes I paved the way for others.
“Benefits are more than just health insurance and 401K plans. These days, they include perks like extra vacation days and the opportunity to work remotely. Now’s the time to get creative.”
Also, look closely at your paid time off. Whether it’s vacation, personal, or sick time, you might be in for a surprise if the offer includes fewer days than what you’d expect. Make sure to ask for more if you know that downtime is essential to your mental and professional well-being. No one likes taking a vacation day to cover strep throat.
Make It Titillating With a Better Title
If you really want the job but there's a salary cap, how about asking for a better title? It may be a perk you can’t really quantify, but it can help you in many ways. Having a more marketable and impressive title means you’ll have something to lean on when the time comes to ask for a promotion or when you’re moving onto your next company.
Seek Out Learning Opportunities
Asking about educational opportunities not only makes you look intellectually aware and motivated to your future employer, but it also opens the door for potential opportunities for personal career growth, like conferences, seminars, certifications, and even degree programs that you may not otherwise have access to. If there's a specific conference you want to attend the first year you start, call it out specifically as a negotiation tactic. You'll be surprised at how much asking for professional development will garner you respect and also incredible career and travel opportunities—an education on both fronts.
Get It in Writing
When all is said and done, make sure to take the time to read and understand the offer and agreed-upon negotiations. To that end, save all communications, including emails. This will avoid any after-the-fact misunderstandings and ensure that you're able to enjoy the benefits you worked so hard to negotiate.
By putting aside fears of rejection, negotiating benefits can be an enlightening and fruitful process. Armed with these tactics, you should be able to negotiate the kind of job package that you feel comfortable knowing that you sought out the kind of benefits that will serve you and your future.
An original version of this article appeared on Career Contessa.
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This story was originally published on April 29, 2019, and has since been updated.
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You Made a Mistake at Work, Now What?
Everyone makes mistakes. Here’s how to handle yours with professionalism and poise.
Photo: Christina Jones Photography
We've all been there. That moment when you realize you've made a huge mistake and get that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.
Everyone makes mistakes. It's human nature. what matters isn’t that you made a mistake, but how you handle it. If you are perpetually making errors because of a lack of attention to detail or carelessness, that is a separate issue that should be addressed. However, making a rare mistake is totally normal as long as you handle it properly. What does that mean?
Handling a mistake properly means taking the high road, taking responsibility, and making the situation right. Below is a list of steps to take to ensure that you handle your mistake professionally and with poise.
You made a mistake, now what?
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY
The moment you realize that you've made a mistake is the moment you need to take action. Sitting around and dwelling on your error won't make it better, and depending on what the mistake is, moving slowly could make it worse.
In some instances, taking immediate action could actually help you reverse the mistake. For instance, if you realize that you just sent something to print with a typo in it, call the printing press or whoever is in charge and explain the situation immediately. If you get to the right people in time, you may be able to stop the problem before it starts and get them the correct information before anything gets printed incorrectly.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ERRORS AND FESS UP TO THEM
There's nothing worse than a person who won't take responsibility for their error and instead tries to place blame on someone else. When you don’t take responsibility and try to blame the problem on others, it becomes a bigger deal, involves others, and can turn into an office-wide issue.
If you handle your mistake appropriately, you will often be recognized for your quick thinking and your ability to jump on a situation. In this case, the mistake could end up working in your favor in the long run. Most people understand that mistakes happen, so they pay more attention to the aftermath than the mistake itself. Make your mitigation process memorable, and people will remember how you remedied the situation instead of created it.
WORK QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY
It’s important to get things sorted out as soon as possible, but if you're not working strategically and efficiently, it's not worth it. No one will care that you're working fast to remedy the situation if your fast work is riddled with errors and carelessness. Quality trumps everything in business, so make sure that your work is efficient and free of errors, especially when you’re trying to fix a mistake that you made.
This is the moment to make sure your next steps are near perfect. That means triple-checking the information you’re putting out and taking note of everything you do. Document your process so you have it on file should it ever come out in the future. That way, if someone does question the mistake you made, you can easily outline the process you took to fix it.
MAKE NOTE OF WHAT WENT WRONG AND TAKE PRECAUTIONS SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN
Part of making mistakes is learning from them, so it’s important that you assess the situation to figure out exactly what went wrong. After you’ve taken care of all of the cleanup and have gotten everything smoothed out, take a few minutes to reflect on what happened. Go through the steps in your head to see what went wrong, where it went wrong, and note how to combat this in the future.
MOVE ON
Take a deep breath and move on. Once you’ve cleaned up the aftermath there is nothing else you can do. Try not to dwell on it, and do your best to move forward. This may be easier said than done, but it’s the truth. Take the high road, take responsibility, work efficiently, document your work, and make sure you don’t make the same mistake twice. After you’ve done this, you’ve done your part. Once it’s over and done, let it go. You’ll live longer.
About the Author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish an individual’s application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.
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This story was originally published on August 17, 2016, and has since been updated.