LinkedIn Etiquette Introductions

LinkedIn Etiquette â€" Introductions Ive been noting a few things about social networking that I thought Id bring up, and comment on. This post is on introductions within LinkedIn. The issue that always comes up is, do you use the generic template to do an introduction? The template looks like this (thanks Scott!): Most people say you need to change the template if you want to be effective. Thats probably true if you are sending out tons of invitations to connect, especially to people that dont know you very well. What do I think? It doesnt matter. I dont care. If you invite me to connect, and you use the generic template, it doesnt phase me. I dont change the template when I invite (I dont invite much) and the few times that I have I change it to Yo. Thats because I invite people that I already have a relationship with and they are expecting it (see Jack Yans comment). Shoot, I dont even really read the invitation, I just go and accept (I do scan to see if there is anything different, a request, etc.). But if you want to send something different, or be unique, there is a post by industry expert Scott Allen that is a must read. This is the most clever thing Ive seen on the topic he brings in examples from WorldWIT founder Liz Ryan and career expert Daniel Sweet you have to read the post but here are some teasers: From Liz: VALLEY GIRL I’m like, totally using this LinkedIn thing, and it’s like, everyone’s doing it and if you’re like, not connected, you’re like, so not even ANYONE. So I’m all â€Å"let’s connect,† and you like only have to hit this one button and stuff, so like do it, and let’s GET TO KNOW SOME PEOPLE!! From Scott: SMS (When is LinkedIn Mobile Edition coming out?!?) u hv 2 chk out li gd biz tool 4 u From Daniel: HANS FRANZ I saw you on LinkedIn and you seemed like kind of a Girly Man. But, read my e-mail now, hear my next week, and believe me in a month, if you connect to me, your network will be PUMPED! UP! Click on the link to the right if your pathetic Girly-Man finger can handle it. So now you know where I stand what do you think? Is this going to change how you do invitations? LinkedIn Etiquette â€" Introductions Ive been noting a few things about social networking that I thought Id bring up, and comment on. This post is on introductions within LinkedIn. The issue that always comes up is, do you use the generic template to do an introduction? The template looks like this (thanks Scott!): Most people say you need to change the template if you want to be effective. Thats probably true if you are sending out tons of invitations to connect, especially to people that dont know you very well. What do I think? It doesnt matter. I dont care. If you invite me to connect, and you use the generic template, it doesnt phase me. I dont change the template when I invite (I dont invite much) and the few times that I have I change it to Yo. Thats because I invite people that I already have a relationship with and they are expecting it (see Jack Yans comment). Shoot, I dont even really read the invitation, I just go and accept (I do scan to see if there is anything different, a request, etc.). But if you want to send something different, or be unique, there is a post by industry expert Scott Allen that is a must read. This is the most clever thing Ive seen on the topic he brings in examples from WorldWIT founder Liz Ryan and career expert Daniel Sweet you have to read the post but here are some teasers: From Liz: VALLEY GIRL I’m like, totally using this LinkedIn thing, and it’s like, everyone’s doing it and if you’re like, not connected, you’re like, so not even ANYONE. So I’m all â€Å"let’s connect,† and you like only have to hit this one button and stuff, so like do it, and let’s GET TO KNOW SOME PEOPLE!! From Scott: SMS (When is LinkedIn Mobile Edition coming out?!?) u hv 2 chk out li gd biz tool 4 u From Daniel: HANS FRANZ I saw you on LinkedIn and you seemed like kind of a Girly Man. But, read my e-mail now, hear my next week, and believe me in a month, if you connect to me, your network will be PUMPED! UP! Click on the link to the right if your pathetic Girly-Man finger can handle it. So now you know where I stand what do you think? Is this going to change how you do invitations?

10+ Second Interview Questions Answers - Algrim.co

10+ Second Interview Questions Answers - Algrim.co

Five Reasons Women Tend to Make Better Bosses than Men Â

Five Reasons Women Tend to Make Better Bosses than Men   Generalisations can be dangerous in the world of work, and stereotyping by gender particularly so.   That said, research carried out over the past few years has regularly reached the conclusion that women make better bosses than their male counterparts.   So what makes women better in leading roles?   Here are just five reasons women tend to make better bosses… Women are Better Listeners  An ability to listen is vital in an employer/employee relationship, and women are naturally better at letting people have their say and listening to what is said.   All members of staff want to feel that their views and concerns are heard and acted upon, and women tend to be more discussion-focused when men prefer to take swift, decisive action.   There are advantages to both approaches, but creating a culture where employees feel their voices are heard and valued leads to a happier workplace all round. Women Like to Encourage Development  Women often have a harder time getting into senior positions, but that often means they’re less inclined to pull the drawbridge up behind them.   In a 2015 Gallup report entitled The State of the American Manager, researchers found that those working for a female boss were around one and a quarter times more likely to feel they were encouraged to develop than those working for a male supervisor.   Female managers, it seems, were more likely to give their employees space for trial and error and better at finding ways to stretch them. Women are Better Engaged  On the whole, women are better engaged than their male counterparts and that filters down to their employees.   A more engaged boss means a more engaged workforce, and the same Gallup study found that those working for a female supervisor were almost 6% more engaged than those working for a male leader.   Women working for a female boss were found to be the most engaged and productive at 35%, while men working for a male boss came in at just 25%. Women are Better at Offering Praise  In any business, there needs to be a degree of both carrot and stick if you want to get the best out of your employees.   Women are almost always better at giving credit where it’s due.   Giving praise can be interpreted by some as a sign of ‘weakness’, and while men prefer to portray themselves as in control and authoritative, women are generally much more relaxed about offering praise.   Research has shown that employees who feel valued and are recognised for their contribution are more productive, so words of encouragement now and then really can have a positive impact on the whole team. Women are Better at Building Consensus  Debate and discussion are good, no matter what business you are in.   So too is consensus building.   Letting everyone have their say and then finding a course of action all can agree on is vital for cultivating a strong team ethic and loyalty between your employees, and women tend to prefer building bridges and finding consensus than men.   By listening and letting everyone have their say, women allow everyone to feel equally valued and people are more likely to make concessions for the wider good of the team. Sweeping generalisations are often unhelpful, but in this case it seems that gender really can have a huge impact on the employer/employee relationship.   While women in senior company roles are still the minority, it’s clear that those in managerial positions are as successful (if not more so) than their male equivalents.   As companies strive to get more women into the top jobs, employing more female bosses really could make a big difference to the success of your business. About The Author Lizzie Exton writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in finding candidates their perfect  internship. To browse our graduate jobs, visit our website.

The number one tip to work smarter (and leave work on time.)

The number one tip to work smarter (and leave work on time.) How many of you love ticking things off your to-do list? Feels great, doesnt it! With each tick, your brain gets a dopamine hit and this encourages you to strive for this again. Ive even caught myself adding tasks to the list that Ive just completed, in order to instantly tick them off. The temptation to multitask and try to get more done each day is huge, especially with our constant connectedness. The average day often consists of responding to emails while sitting in meetings or on conference calls, replying to instant messages  and notifications every 30-minutes, working over a laptop while eating lunch. Sound familiar? This constant multitasking means that were rarely fully present and is actually harming our productivity. Research into neuroscience and psychology  shows that when we try to work on two tasks simultaneously, we force our left and right brains to split. Returning to a focused stream of thought, therefore, takes time as our brain needs to reconfigure. Over the course of a day, the effect of these constant interruptions adds up. No wonder we feel drained. Work Smarter Luckily, theres a solution that takes a little getting used to but will dramatically increase your productivity.  Heres how: Choose a one-hour time slot that you have free each work day to go find some quiet time sticking to the same time each day is best. Block off this time in your calendar and set a notification to remind you. If one hour seems too difficult, then start with committing 30 minutes. Let your team know about your  quiet hour. You can explain that youre scheduling time to work undisturbed on your most important projects and would really appreciate some space for this short time period. You may want to let line managers know too. When the time comes around, remove all distractions. Turn off your phone notifications and log off email and slack. If possible, book a meeting room to have some physical distance or noise canceling headphone can work if you have to stay put. Then commit to working on your most important task for this hour until the time is up. Knowing you have this time allocated, you can start to get smarter about planning your week. Consider your most important projects the work that will provide most value and map out your quiet time to knock these out of the park. The critical element in sticking to this new technique is to never allow yourself to cancel or move your quiet hour unless its a genuine emergency. It will take a few weeks but soon your new routine will become an unconscious habit. You may even convert some co-workers and be able to make it a broader team effort. . Images via pexels and pixabay.

How to Format For Writing Your First Resume

How to Format For Writing Your First ResumeIf you've been on the job hunt for a long time and have applied for a job once, you know that it is a good idea to get to writing your first resume in order to maximize your chances of getting hired. When applying for jobs, employers always want to see your full application. It is very important that you have taken time to write your resume. Here are some things you can do to help get started on writing your first resume.As a general rule, if you have a high school diploma or equivalent, you are already prepared to begin writing your first resume. However, if you still have your GED, it is advisable to take some time to improve your education. Take a few courses at your local community college or make an effort to read a few books that will help you better understand the requirements of a job.Once you have taken some time to work on your education, you can start by outlining all of your relevant work experience. This will include all of the relevant experience, such as volunteer work, internships, and volunteer work. You should also list the roles you have had in the past. If you have been working in several different fields, list them all in one section. It is also a good idea to list your awards and recognitions along with your work experience.Use bold type to highlight your accomplishments and use underlined text to show employers the reason why you should be hired. Be sure to include a note about any major accomplishments. It is always a good idea to include several references. In addition, this will prove that you have met the minimum requirements and are ready to apply for a job.Describe the skills you possess. A list of your strengths is going to show employers that you have the required skills for the job. This can help you get hired quicker than if you don't write your resume with the skills in mind. However, if you do not really know what skills you possess, you should choose a format that is going to show yo u the skills that are required. Try to include some talents that you enjoy using as well as some personal achievements.It is a good idea to list your probable skills in order of how likely they are to be needed. If you are a book reader, you should list the skills you have for that. Similarly, if you are known for being organized, write down the skills that are relevant. You should also list skills that you think you may not be needed for, but could be helpful if they are ever needed.After you have listed the possible skills, you can then list them in the order that they are most likely to be needed. It is important to list every skill that you possess. This will give employers a good idea of the skills that are needed for the job.One important thing to remember when writing your first resume is to make sure that you do not use the same format for writing your job description as you use for your work experience. For example, if you are a teacher, you should list your teaching qualif ications in the next paragraph. There is nothing wrong with trying something different each time you write your resume. Although it can be overwhelming at first, the more work you put into your resume, the better you will be able to understand and use it.

Career Moves - Going Out with a Bang - CareerAlley

Career Moves - Going Out with a Bang - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. John Quincy Adams Independence Day! Fireworks, Barbeques, Hot Dogs Summer is here. Do you remember the last time you switched jobs on your own? You know, had a job, did a job search, found a new job and gave your notice. Then, there is that freedom and independence that begins at the end of your last minute on your old job and ends the first minute you start your new job. For a short period of time, you dont work for anyone. And, you have no worries because your new job starts soon. There are many reasons that lead us to, what I like to call, proactive career moves (you are in control). Very unlike reactive career moves (lost your job for whatever reason). Arguably, the best time to switch jobs is when you at the top (well liked, will be missed, they will be really upset when you leave). But the vast majority of us change jobs because we are either unhappy (for one reason or another) or our boss is unhappy with us (yes, you are not the only one that this happens to). Now, when I say going out with a bang, I dont mean wreak the furniture and yell at your boss on the way out. This is about being in control of your destiny and making a move on your terms because you want to, not because you have to. The answer to the question how do I know when its the right time to make a career change is different for all of us. Not Sure if its Time to Switch? Leaving your job This is a very good article from Spencer Stuart (Executive Recruiters) that provides information about leaving your job. Topics such as knowing when to leave (tell-tale signs) as well as No dramatic exits and Finish like a professional. If you are considering leaving your job (or not sure when you should consider a move), this is the article for you. Related articles are offered at the bottom of the page and additional topics are included on the top left hand side of the page. While you are there, visit their main page as well. Why its Easier to Get a Job When You Already Have a Job And Why It Isnt The age old saying (to the left), this article (from careerchange.com) gives 5 reasons why it is easier to look while you work.This is then contrasted with the flip side of the question. The article covers five problems in depth (like My confidence is Shot and Im Out of the Loop) and provides some great advise to solving those problems. There are a number of articles listed on the top right hand side of the page. Switching Jobs in Bad Times: Should You Make the Leap? From BeBetterGuys.com, some great advice about switching jobs in these (still) uncertain times. Advice like looking for opportunities in your own company before looking externally is included. The leap before you look suggests if you must get out NOW and can afford to survive without a paycheck to just go for it. You will, of course, have to answer the question why are you unemployed? and the answer will be (I believe) hard to justify without an amazing answer. The declaration of independence mentioned at the end of the article is along the same lines as my intro. Made the decision, now what? Ten Steps to Find a New Job This article is by Alison Doyle from About.com and provides a step by step list of how to go about finding a new job. Leading with Build Your Brand, which is similar to my Job Search Marketing theme, and including all of the important steps between (connecting with contacts, creating a list of companies and more) right through to Accept or Decline the offer (oh happy days). All of the steps have embedded links to additional detail. There is a wealth of information on this page and the linked pages, so take a long review of this site. How to Make Sure the New Job is the Right Job This is a great article posted on Dice.com and written in the form of a story. The moment you start reading you will get hooked and want to read it straight through. So what is it about? The tale of someone who falls in love with a company (where they are interviewing) for all of the wrong reasons. Sometimes you need to take that step back and re-evaluate the situation. Definitely worth a read. While you are there, take a look at the latest Tech jobs. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook

Interview with a German Personnel Director Tips on International CVs - Pathfinder Careers

Interview with a German Personnel Director Tips on International CVs - Pathfinder Careers Interview with a German Personnel Director: Tips on International CVs Author’s note: This week’s blog was delayed a bit; I had a good friend visiting from Germany and of course, this meant taking her around to experience some of the many incredible sights here in Oregon during her short time here! As it turns out, she is a personnel director for large company in Germany, so I took the opportunity to interview her in-depth about the job application process in Germany. Specifically, I wanted to share information to American audiences about what U.S. applicants should know when applying for jobs in European Union countries. Here’s my interview with Sabine List, Personnel Director for Berker GmbH Co KG, in Lüdensheid, Germany: ________________________________________________ Question: What are some important things that Americans should know about the application process in European countries? Answer: Obviously, be aware of the language requirements of the job. If the company has an international Web site that is in English, you can apply in English through that portal, but be aware of specific job requirements that include language ability. You may be asked for a CV (curriculum vitae â€" European-style resume which is different than U.S. documents) and application letter in that country’s language later as part of the application process. Also, it is important that in the first part of the interview, candidates are able to clearly summarize their CV background within five minutes, providing a concise career overview mentioning your career highlights with specific examples. Be prepared to discuss why these are important to your career. Finally, you should be aware that you also need to talk about how you have enriched your work environment and taken actions to grow your responsibilities in order to show a fit with the potential employer’s needs and interests. Question: What are the top 5 things an applicant looking for work in Europe should never do? Answer: Don’t assume that you can submit any document in English unless the position announcement says that English CVs are welcome. Stay with the local language first, otherwise. Also, never lie on the CV document. In the U.S., many people try to work around non-completion of educational diplomas by simply including the school name, leaving it open to assumption by the employer that the degree was completed. Not so in Europe. Here, it is standard practice to include copies of your transcripts and diplomas in the application process to verify your educational background, in addition to listing it on your CV. Additionally, you need a letter from EACH of your employers, which is included in your application, and specifically states your dates of employment, your title, tasks involved, and an evaluation of your job performance while at that company. Be careful, of course, of bad grammar and any mistakes in your CV, and be careful of gaps of employment too… you can explain this in your work history. [Authors note: read here about how some British job applicants who lied on the CVs are having to pay large sums back to the employer that hired them based on the false information: http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2009/12/21/53497/nhs-hr-manager-who-lied-on-cv-ordered-to-pay-9600-in.html ] Question: What would your company specifically look for in American CVs? Answer: The applicant clearly must have the knowledge and degrees to what we are looking for, and also have held similar tasks and responsibilities in their former positions. We also look for personal skills and how that person might adapt to the European culture, as well as a demonstration of proper business etiquette/cultural customs. Obviously, where needed, appropriate language skills are also required. Question: What are the top 5 things you LIKE to see in an application? Answer: Provide me exactly what I am asking for in the position announcement. Send complete documents. It is also customary in Europe to include a professional photo along with the introductory letter, CV and support documents. I appreciate seeing good structure in the introduction letter as well as the CV, and want to see strong career progression without gaps. Just like in the U.S., it is a tight job market, and creativity sometimes is what it takes to stand out from other applicants â€" we as personnel directors read hundreds of applications for each position. One time, I had someone send me some hay, and attached to it was their CV with a needle taped to the paper. A note said that “Finding the right job applicant is like finding a needle in a haystack…” â€" I enjoyed that application very much and it definitely got my attention! _______________________________________________________ Sabine’s answers were very interesting, and enlightening. If anything, if you are based in the U.S. and are considering pursuing work overseas, it is very important to take the time to research and understand the unique application processes for each country. There are variations (the British CV is more like the American résumé), and you need to make sure that all the pieces fit together in the way that match the expectations and requirements of the position within that organization.