The Best Ways to Get Great Recommendations on LinkedIn

The Best Ways to Get Great Recommendations on LinkedInThe Best Ways to Get Great Recommendations on LinkedInEmployers are using LinkedIn to research candidates for employment. In some cases, even before you are selected for an interview, a recruiter or hiring manager will check you out on LinkedIn to see what youve accomplished, who you are connected to, and who is recommending you. This means that recommendations are a vital component of an effective LinkedIn profile. When someone views your LinkedIn profile, they will see an online version of your resume, complete with references, if you have recommendations in your profile. Recommendations from supervisors, clients, suppliers, and colleagues affirming your skills, accomplishments and positive work style will bedrngnis only enhance your profile, but they will also show a hiring manager, at a glance, glowing references that attest to your candidacy for employment. Heres advice on how to get LinkedIn recommendations, who to ask for r eferences, and how to manage the recommendations youve received. Tips for Getting Great LinkedIn Recommendations Do take the time to request recommendations from your LinkedIn connections. Recommendations from people you have worked with carries a lot of weight. To a potential employer, a LinkedIn recommendation is an employment reference in advance and can help you secure an interview. Who to Ask A LinkedIn recommendation is a testimony of your professional value written by one of your first-degree connections. So, you will want recommendations that are powerful, weighty, and authoritative. So here is how to receive them Be connected with a current or former manager, colleague, client, or other contactsCompose a request to him or her, including a few accomplishments of which you are most proud, as well as a graceful way to say no. The Best Ways toMake a Request The best way to get recommendations on LinkedIn is to give them. When you recommend a LinkedIn member, you are attesting to their qualifications and people love being recommended. They will probably reciprocate if you take the time to help them out. A first step is to search LinkedIn for staff at your firm, clients, and other professional contacts who are registered with LinkedIn. Dont overlook colleagues at professional organizations with whom you have collaborated. Consider volunteer work, freelance jobs, and other non-employee work experience. Give to Get Next, consider writing a recommendation for any contacts who also might be in a position to write for you (as long as you view them favorably). Doing this service for them will help engender a sense of obligation that they should reciprocate. Once you have completed their recommendation, let them know why youve written for them (because of the specifics underlying your positive view of their work) and ask if they might consider writing a recommendation for you. Ask Directly Or, you can ask for a recommendation. Its easy to requ est a recommendation via LinkedIns messaging system. When you request a recommendation, ask the person to recommend you if they can and if they have the time. This way they have an out if they arent interested in giving you a reference, are precluded by company policy from giving references or dont feel they know you well enough to recommend your work. It can be helpful to include with any request a reminder of the shared experience which might serve as a basis for their recommendation. For example I thought you might be kind enough to write a LinkedIn recommendation for me given our successful collaboration on the Johnson proposal. LinkedIn Recommendation Request Example Dear MargaretI hope youve been doing well It was great running into you again - it brought to mind the fun and crazy times when we worked together, like those all-nighters we pulled to make sure those projections were as accurate as possible.Im in the process of updating my LinkedIn profile, and it would feel incom plete without a Recommendation from you. When we worked together, I felt I really demonstrated my value and skills, especially with the vendor review in which I was able to shave half a million off our year on year expenses by finding alternatives and influencing skills.Because of a new direction, I hope to take professionally, Id like to emphasize my influencing skills. If you could speak to that accomplishment, it would be especially helpful to me.If you arent comfortable making such a statement - obviously its been a little while since we worked together - I certainly would understand that.Either way, have a great day Expand How to Make a Request Click on your connections Profile.Click More and select Request a Recommendation. (Or scroll down to Recommendations and click Ask to Be Recommended.)Personalize your request by following the questions provided, and then add a customized message. Note the form will provide you with a canned script Hi connection, can you write me a rec ommendation? Always delete this message and provide your own. The more personalized you can make your request, the better. Reference common projects and experiences and remind them of your connection and why they might want to recommend you. Better yet, offer to write them a recommendation first. If someone has already written a recommendation for you outside of LinkedIn, you can forward a copy of their document and ask if they might be kind enough to upload one online as part of LinkedIn. How to Manage LinkedIn Recommendations Youll be able to manage recommendations youve received and ask colleagues, clients, managers, employees, and others who can recommend your work for a reference. When you receive a recommendation, youll get notified via emaille and youll be able to view the recommendation and request a revision, if necessary. If for some reason you dont want the recommendation on your profile, you dont have to publish it. One important note dont ask people you dont know for recommendations.

How Does Your Resume Stack Up to Other Job Applicants

How Does Your Resume Stack Up to Other Job ApplicantsHow Does Your Resume Stack Up to Other Job ApplicantsDid you know that around 250 candidates apply for every corporate job opening? Of that number, about four to six make the cut and get an interview. With odds like those, you need to ensure your resume is polished and professional. But how does it stack up compared with other job applicants? And what aspects of a resume do hiring managers need to see?Here are a few questions to ask yourself to make sure youre submitting a winning resumeIs it tailored to each opening?If youre submitting the same resume to every opening you apply to, youre doing it wrong. While you dont need to reinvent the wheel every time, you do need to customize it for each opportunity. That means taking the time to read through the job description. Then, revising your resume to ensure the most relevant experience, skills and accomplishments are on it, front and center.Am I focusing enough on achievements?So man y job candidates make the mistake of listing out all their daily tasks and responsibilities and calling it a day. But this is a boring read for a hiring manager and can pretty much guarantee you wont stand out. If, instead, you list one or two big accomplishments most relevant to the job under each job title, youre going a long way in getting noticed. Also, wherever you can, quantify your achievements with hard numbers.Did I include a summary of qualifications?Gone are the days of the resume objective.Instead, todays hiring managers want to see a summary of qualifications listed on your resume. These should be a bullet list of the skills, abilities, and experiences that make you most qualified for the job. We recommend putting them in a Core Competencies section above your experience.Am I taking up valuable real estate with irrelevant information?For instance, if youre stating that references are available upon request or youre including hobbies that have nothing to do with the job youre applying for, then youre wasting space. Hiring managers only scan each resume for a few seconds. So make sure whatever you include on yours is important and relevant to the job.Is my resume properly formatted?This includes using a professional looking font. Skip the garish or bold ones. It also means making sure the font size is big enough and simple to read. Be sure to also include plenty of white space on your resume and to bullet out information so its easy to scan.Remember, when it comes to your resume, less is more. You dont need to include every detail and every past job youve had since high school. Rather, focus on making the case as to why youre the best fit for the job. You can do that through customizing your resume, focusing on accomplishments, and ensuring its all easy to read.Need professional help creating a solid resume that stands out from the competition and gets results? Contact the experts at ResumeSpice today at 832.930.7378. Not only do we know what aspect s of a resume hiring managers need to see, but also how to polish yours so it shines.

Why universal basic income costs far less than you think

Why universal basic income costs far less than you thinkWhy universal basic income costs far less than you thinkWant to get rid of poverty, lessen inequality and provide financial stability in a world of precarious work? Well, why not simply give everyone enough money to ensure basic sustenance?This is the deceptively simple solution proposed by advocates of universal basic income (UBI). Just transfer enough money to everyone, every month, to guarantee a basic livelihood. The policy is universal and unconditional (you get it no matter who you are or what you do).This means no bulky bureaucracy to administer the program or onerous reporting requirements on the poor. Nor do you have to wait to file paperwork to benefit whether you lose your job, decide to strike out on a new career path or take time away from work to care for a family member, the money is already there.But the UBI movement has a major problem both critics and even many supporters dont understand how much the programme would really cost. To calculate the cost, most people just multiply the size of the monthly income (say, $1,000) by the bevlkerung (its universal, after all) and voil a number that seems impossibly expensive.But this is not how much UBI costs. The real cost the amount of money that actually needs to be taken from someone and redistributed to someone else is just a small fraction of these estimates.The key to understanding the real cost of UBI is understanding the difference between the gross (or upfront) and net (or real) cost. Heres a simple example imagine a room with 15 people who want to set up a UBI for the room of $2 per person. The upfront cost of the policy would be $30. The ten richest people in the room are asked to contribute $3 each towards funding it. After they each put in $3, raising the total $30 needed, every person in the room gets their $2 universal basic income. But because the ten richest people in the room contributed $3, and then got $2 back as the UBI, th eir real, net contribution is, in fact, $1 each. So the real cost of the UBI is $10.Estimates that just multiply the size of the UBI by the population of a country do the equivalent of claiming that the cost of UBI in the room above is a whopping $30. But the real cost in this scenario the money redistributed from the wealthy is only $10.The billionaires dilemmaIts important to understand who will be gaining money through a UBI and who will be contributing to it. The common mistake is to double count the net contributors. Yes, they get a UBI, but in contributing to the UBI pot they first return their UBI, and then throw in some money on top of that. So its incorrect to count them when calculating the true UBI cost.This is a fundamental point that often gets missed those that are taxed to pay for the UBI will get some of that cost back by getting their UBI. You can also think about it in reverse while the UBI goes to everyone, the rich in effect give it back in the first chunk of taxes they pay, so you dont need to count their UBI in cost estimates.This also resolves UBIs billionaires dilemma why give someone like Bill Gates a basic income? The answer is that Gates would simply return that UBI through his taxes and help pay for others. But if Gates becomes suddenly destitute, the UBI will totenstill be showing up for him to use every month. And since his tax bill will drop, hell become a net beneficiary rather than contributor.True costsAny UBI estimate that just multiplies the size of the UBI by the population is a red flag that the cost has been over-inflated. A true cost estimate will always discuss who the net beneficiaries will be, who the net contributors will be, and the rate at which we gradually switch people over from being beneficiaries to being contributors as they get richer (this is sometimes called the claw-back rate, the withdrawal rate or the marginal tax rate which is not an overall tax, but simply the rate at which people start to retur n their UBI to the communal pot as they earn more).Cost estimates that consider the difference between upfront and real cost are a fraction of inflated gross cost estimates. For instance, economist and philosopher Karl Widerquist has shown that to fund a UBI of US $12,000 per adult and US $6,000 per child every year (while keeping all other spending the same) the US would have to raise an additional US $539 billion a year less than 3% of its GDP. This is a small fraction of the figures that get thrown around of over US $3 trillion (the gross cost of this policy). Karls simplified scheme has people slowly start contributing back their UBI in taxes to the common pot as they earn, with net beneficiaries being anyone individually earning less than US $24,000 a year.This point still holds if youre raising money for UBI from other sources than income or wealth taxes. If you use a corporate or data tax, or a natural resource or carbon tax to finance a UBI, you are still redistributing mon ey that would otherwise ultimately be profits that go to Google shareholders or BP executives. And youre taking less away from them than you would think because they too get a UBI. So the money they end up losing through the new tax is offset by the UBI they receive. The same holds if youre paying for a UBI by reshuffling your budget.Some people get confused and question whether UBI is really universal if only a portion of the population actually ends up with extra income, while another portion pays for it. But any policy that is universal yet redistributory works this way. Public transit, roads and schools are all universal benefits, but some people pay a lot for their funding through their taxes, while others enjoy them for free or at a lower cost.In light of the huge benefits available from a UBI, its a waste of time to argue over wildly inflated cost estimates. The numbers are out there we can pay for a basic income.Elizaveta Fouksman, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Universit y of OxfordThis article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

10 Jobs With the Biggest Pay Raises

10 Jobs With the Biggest Pay Raises10 Jobs With the Biggest Pay Raises Heres the bad news in the last year, the U.S. median base pay has bedrngnis exactly grown by leaps and bounds. In fact, according to Glassdoors Local Pay Reports , median pay saw a small 2.8 percent increase year-over-year as of September 2018. Of course, as you know, thats not even enough to keep up with inflation. But dont despair theres good news too. That good news is this there are several jobs that are outpacing that small pay growth- with some more than doubling it. So if youre looking for a job that will help you get a pay raise each year that outpaces most other jobs, be sure to check out these 10 positions. What They Do In addition to handling money- from accepting deposits to dispensing withdrawals- bank tellers are responsible for greeting customers, solving account issues, performing account maintenance, and more. They also need to have a deep knowledge of operating procedures.What T hey Do As a bartender, you do more than mix drinks and serve them to customers you must work quickly, efficiently, and provide excellent customer service. (As you know, you often play therapist, too)What They Do Working in a pharmacy or hospital setting, a pharmacy technician will give prescription medicines to patients- as well as advise them on over-the-counter options- prepare medications to be issued, and manage medicine supply areas. What They Do Whether you work for an apartment building, housing development, or other property, as a maintenance worker, youre responsible for repairs and other fixes throughout the property, such as plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling systems. What They Do A property manager, as the title implies, manages a property- or multiple properties- by speaking with prospective tenants and active tenants, collecting rent, dealing with maintenance complaints, and pursuing evictions, when necessary. What They Do They have investment questions , and you have answers. As a financial advisor, its your job to guide private clients and business in financial decisions- as well as assess the stock market.What They Do In addition to actually cooking food, restaurant cooks have a lot of responsibilities they clean up the kitchen and prep areas, prepare ingredients for later use, and keep the kitchen a safe place for the entire staff. What They Do More commonly known as EMTs, emergency medical technicians attend to the sick or injured in emergency situations, offering medical care and transportation. What They Do As a programmer analyst, you design, develop, and implement computer programs. That means youve got an in-depth knowledge of new tech and tech trends, and often work in teams to get things done.What They Do An attorney, or lawyer, counsels and advocates for clients in a variety of sectors- and represents them in criminal and civil sectors. An attorney has to have a deep understanding of the law, and how to apply it to real-life situations for their clients.

The Run Down on Objective Example for Resume Exposed

The Run Down on Objective Example for Resume Exposed What Everybody Dislikes About Objective Example for Resume and Why Theres a lengthy field of career objective examples that can be put in on entry level resumes. The position that you are searching for and your career goals ought to be mentioned clearly. Possessing a career objective is an extremely crucial portion of a resume. Whenever you wish to emphasize that youre ambitious, that you understand what you want in a career, or you have the skills for the particular job, you could benefit from a resume objective. The Foolproof Objective Example for Resume Strategy If you are searching for a kind of job that may be discovered in many diverse industries, think about notlageing a particular industry in your job objective. Whenever your job fits into many distinct industries (for example, administrative assistant), by noting the industry thats of interest to you, you communicate to the employer that you arent just any adminis trative assistant, youre an administrative assistant who already has a superb comprehension of that geschftslebens industry. Whether youre searching for your very first job or your next one, you require a resume that shows employers that youre a skilled professional. Searching for a management job in a challenging atmosphere. All About Objective Example for Resume An objective statement defines your professional objectives and sets the tone for the remainder of your resume. A resume objective that could apply to anybody or any job isnt valuable. Finally, make sure to compose a new statement for each job you apply for, so the employer sees what makes you an excellent fit for that particular job. Evidently, you cannot understand precisely what your prospective employer is believing but by placing just a little idea to it you will need in order to decide what the perfect candidate could lead to a company within a particular position. It is essential that jobseekers incorporate a well-composed beginning statement to supply the hiring manager with a succinct introduction to the application. When you submit an application for work in person, you could be requested to complete a paper application. As stated previously should pick skills that have some relevance to the job which youre applying for. If you submit your application online, its also advisable to have a chance to attach your resume. Rather than mentioning ways to help your organization succeed, state directly that it is possible to help XYZ Company to succeed. Make certain its tailored to not merely the position, but the business too. While this objective statement is a bit on the lengthy side, its well executed because it shows your experience on specific programs that the business uses and targets the business directly. Sales position where my abilities and experience can effectively be utilized to raise sales revenue. Objective Example for Resume Explained To work as professional manager applying exceptional ability to produce and implement a great work culture in an organization which will assist in fulfilling the overall mission or target of the business. Instead, tailor your objective particularly for the organization and position youre applying for. The use of job specific resume objective is only going to be targeting the job that you have indicated in the statement. In the majority of instances, a resume objective is merely a couple of sentences long. Sometimes Resume objective can appear to be a little statement but it has an extremely enormous message to convey. You might not know where to start in regards to writing a resume objective. Your resume objective needs to be relevant and targeted to every different job prospect. As a result, while your resume objective should incorporate information on the career you want, you also need to spell out why you are the perfect candidate for the job. If youre changing careers, you wont have an abundance of ex perience in your preferred field, therefore its great to draw upon your prior experience and your urge to transfer that knowledge. A creative problem-solver whos energized by managing a selection of challenges in a fast-paced atmosphere. In a lot of ways, an objective replaces a lot of the detail you would set in your professional experience section. A clearly defined career objective will convey skills, training and experiences which you will bring to a particular organization if youre given the opportunity. Entry-level objectives can be particularly hard to write since you likely dont have loads of work experience, but you do want to solidify that you know the sort of career youre searching for. Exceptional communication skills with the ability to stay calm and convincing in negative conditions. Secure an accountable career opportunity to completely utilize my training and techniques, while making a substantial contribution to the success of the business.

The Ultimate Resume Writing in Microsoft Office Trick

The Ultimate Resume Writing in Microsoft Office Trick The majority of the bigger companies have computer training computer software. To begin with, create a master list of all of the MS Office skills you believe you have. Get used to the characteristics of each Office program that youve noted. If you understand how to use all the programs in Microsoft Office and its listed as a necessary skill in the work description then you may include it. Your ability to discover jobs as an office manager, or another portion of the country, will largely depend on your willingness to take the appropriate actions. As soon as you spot a job that you like, go right to the work opening on LinkedIn to find out more regarding the chance and apply. Each job will call for various abilities and experiences, so make certain you read the work description carefully and center on the appropriate job skills listed by the employer. The most suitable job for you is closer than you might imagine. Temp a gencies additionally help to educate and prepare you to be an employee in a practical way that most colleges dont. The good thing is that in the event you do even a moderately excellent job of writing your resume you have a fairly good probability of standing out from your competition. You may also execute an internet job search or earn a price of living comparison through its online offerings. Also letting anyone and everyone know that youre looking for employment is extremely beneficial. portable document format documents look the exact same on every computer, which means you wont have to be worried about any formatting inconsistencies. If youve got an earlier version of Word, you merely want to visit FILE and New and you will have the ability to hunt for resume or hunt for templates. PowerPoint is presentation program. No PowerPoint like Word is fairly easy to use and doesnt need advanced understanding. What You Need to Do About Resume Writing in Microsoft Office Before You Miss Your Chance Resume writing services offer you various packages and some also provide more mentoring or other job search and interviewing information that someone may benefit from to raise your professionalism and dependability. Possessing a plan will drastically lessen your stress levels and allow you to locate a job faster. The best office assistant resume will exhibit quite a few talents, such as managerial abilities, organizational abilities and data analysis and processing abilities. On the other hand, it uses that may be closely associated with the work you are seeking should be listed first in the skills or strengths section of your resume. If your office manager resume earns a reduced match percentage, youll be transferred by for a different candidate. Event planning courses can become your flugschein to receive there Fortunately, however, if youve got an impressive office skills list, you are going to leave that competition far behind. Job-specific skills vary depending on the position. Theres no use in listing items merely to list them or since you believe thats what should be there. Notice also that the business name is in italics. As soon as its only a page or more in proportion, a resume is among the most important elements of a work application. In some instances, you may benefit from using the specific jargon preferred by the business youre applying at.

Skills For Resume in 2019 [+100 Examples & Infographic]

Skills For Resume in 2019 +100 Examples & InfographicSkills For Resume in 2019 Most Important Skills to Put on Your Resume in 2019We get asked all the time, What is the fruchtwein important section of a resume? And, to be honest, the answer isnt so simple. So, lets just say its a toss-up between Work Experience and Skills.Twenty years ago, it was unusual to have a dedicated skills section on a resume. Instead, the trend was to simply list ones education and previous jobs. But nowadays this approach will probably leave you on the job hunt or a long time.If you ask todays recruiters, theyll tell you that one of the first things they look for on a resume is a clear sign that an applicant has the exact skills demanded in a job description.Because recruiters, or Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), are tasked with combing through hundreds, if not thousands, of applications, the more obvious a person can make his/her skill set, the better the chances a resume will get noticed.In the modern, s kills-based economy, having a dedicated skills section on your resume is a must. You need to treat this section with great care. That means making sure you highlight skills that will be more valuable to an employer based on a job description and what you know of the companys needs and work culture.The following guide and infographic will help you navigate the sometimes-complex landscape of resume skills. Well coverThe Difference Between Hard Skills (Technical) and Soft SkillsWhat Are the Best Skills to Put On Your ResumeHow to Match Your Skills to a Job AdThe Most Important and Demanded Categories of Skills for a ResumeHow to List Skills on a Resume1) What is the difference between Hard Skills and Soft Skills?What are Hard Skills?Hard skills are the teachable skills, the ones you can learn in a classroom or through training courses and materials. These are the skills you will need to perform a particular job, and usually they are not transferable to other industries/jobs. Hard skill s are usually measurable and quantifiable.For example, if you are a certified and professional Accountant and wish to switch your career to Marketing, your hard skills for an accountant will not add value to your application since a Marketer is not expected to be proficient in bookkeeping and tax returns, etc.The majority of hard skills are learned through formal education, such as university/college instruction, online courses (Examples coursera.org, khanacademy.org, udemy.com, etc.), internships, apprenticeships, graduate programs or also during the onboarding period.Top 15 Hard Skills to Put on a ResumeAccountingComputer ProgrammingLanguagesDrivers LicenseBookkeepingData AnalysisMathematicsProject ManagementTeachingEngineeringResearch (Qualitative Quantitative)Graphic DesignSearch Engine OptimizationDatabase ManagementTechnical WritingWhat are Soft Skills?Soft skills are a combination of interpersonal skills, social skills, character traits, social intelligence, and emotional in telligence (among many others) that enable you to navigate your work and social environment and work well with other people. They complement your hard skills for most jobs.Its a mistake to dismiss soft skills as secondary to hard skills. In fact, soft skills are what allow you to execute your hard skills with efficiency, accuracy and in collaboration with others.Most jobs nowadays require working in teams towards a certain goal, so soft skills are extremely important for almost every job/industry you will apply to.This has been highlighted in one of our recent interviews with an employer who explained ...then the next step is that we meet in person for an interview, and its quite important for us that the people working here have a very good understanding of TEAMWORK, we dont say I - we say WE and we create together in a cooperative environment and of course everybody says they can do that but actually there are some people that are not confident with us, and that often shows in t he interview. So if you come to an interview, the lack of Soft Skills can be one reason you were not chosen for the job. And then we look for very nice people, thats also really important, maybe thats the most important actually - nice people. Thats because the most important thing about working here, is that you work with talented people that inspire you and that you like. You can be the most talented at what you do, but if you cant behave then it makes no sense for us to hire you.Top 15 Soft Skills to Put on a ResumeCommunication (e.g. written and oral communication)LeadershipHardworking (e.g. strong work ethic, initiative)Organization SkillsFlexibility (e.g. adaptability, willing to change)Integrity (e.g. honest, ethical)Teamwork (e.g. cooperative, supportive)Professionalism (e.g. proper dressed)Interpersonal Skills (e.g. patience, empathy)CreativeCritical-thinkingResponsibility (e.g. reliable, self-disciplined)Positive Attitude (e.g. optimism, confident)Attention to DetailPersua sive (e.g. for sales roles)2) What Are the Good Skills to Put On Your ResumeGeneral Skills to Put on a Resume - Top 15TeamworkProblem SolvingInitiativeLeadershipAttention to DetailContinuous LearningAdaptabilitySelf-motivationSelf-managementPresentation SkillsComputer Skills (Especially Microsoft Office)OrganizationCreativeWritingCritical-thinkingResearch3) How to Match Your Skills to the Job AdWhich skills you should include on your resume depends on the job you are applying for. The best resumes are customized to specific industries and opportunities.As an example, the following skills have been identified for someone applying for a position as a Marketing Manager Email Marketing, Analytical Thinking, Creativity, Negotiation, Public Speaking, Stress Management, Cutting Costs, Brainstorming, Data Analysis, Benchmarking Anaylsis, Social Media Marketing, Leadership, Hubspot, Google Analytics, Organizational Skills, Verbal and Written Communication, Proactive, Flexibility, Teamwork, G oogle Ads, Spreadsheets, Quantitative Research, Storytelling. After identifying your skills, you will need to analyze the job ad for the position you are applying for and highlight the keywords/skills/qualifications/main expectations the ad demands. Take a look at this exampleSource https//us-amazon.icims.com/jobs/Now we can easily match the initial skill set of a Marketing Manager with those from a job ad description. Then, when writing the skills for resume the focus will fall on the skills that appear in the job ad.

How to Find, Approach, and Engage Mentors

How to Find, Approach, and Engage MentorsHow to Find, Approach, and Engage MentorsLife is full of advice on how to go it alone or tips for making it as a lone wolf or for generally reducing your reliance on anything and everyone on the outside. While this questionable advice may be all fine and dandy for building a strong character and for helping develop independence, in the career world it can be problematic.Whether youre just starting out or a seasoned pro, having a mentor in your career of choice can be a huge boost towards professional and personal growth. From CEOs to assistant level positions, there is a ton to be gained from regularly speaking to someone whos been there, done that. Just how do you go about not only developing a mentorship relationship but also maintaining and nurtureif it to success? Read on to find out.Set Your Mentorship GoalsAnother overused saying with a solid ring of truth goes something like time is money. Dont waste this most valuable resource by putti ng the cart before the horse and seeking out a mentor before youve established your purpose in doing so. Do you want to learn more about an industry? Maybe there are skills that you feel like developing such as leadership or networking? Each of these are areas where a mentor in your field may come in handy. Identify a list of goals before you find a career mentor and youll not only maximize your benefit from the relationship but youll also be respecting the knowledge and insights of the individual youll be communicating with.Identify a Good MentorWhen it comes to valuable advice and insights, not all mentors are created equal. The person you choose to ask for guidance should be someone you respect with a great verstndigung im strafverfahren of experience you think you can benefit from. Obvious choices for mentors are prior managers, teachers or coworkers or individuals you have become familiar with via networking events. There are also plenty of local organizations set up solely for the purpose of connecting mentors with those ready, willing and able to learn. Use resources such as church groups, community organizations or industry mailing lists. Your college alumni office may also maintain a list of previous graduates who have offered to be mentors to those in need.Developing a Relationship with Your MentorThe next step towards getting the most out of your mentor/mentee arrangement is to build up a solid relationship with your chosen career guide. Depending on the industry and your prior familiarity with your mentor, this process can take many forms and have particular hurdles.If your mentor is a friend or family member or someone that youve had a social relationship with, in the past, it may be important to help set the tones for your mentoring get-togethers. If you schedule a dinner, try to avoid happy hour spots where you commiserate over drinks. Focus on quick coffee breaks or communication via email until youve set a routine and have redefined the times you discuss work. If you remain in a social relationship with the person, schedule separate friend events and get-togethers to keep both relationships strong and differentiate between work and play.If you werent previously acquainted with your mentor, spend a little bit of time getting to know them before delving into the serious questions. Engaging and learning about your mentor is not only a sign of respect, but it will also help develop a personal connection and sense of trust, both of which are critical when it comes to the expert professional career advice. Express admiration for your mentors accomplishments as a way of letting them know you value their achievements and advice. This may involve performing basic internet or industry research ahead of your first meeting or spending the majority of your first meeting delving into their history and career trajectory.Being a Worthy MenteeAfter youve picked a mentor and have settled on the when, where and how details for your regular meetings, it isnt the time to sit back and rest on your laurels. Mentees should be appreciative and respectful of their mentors time. This means showing up on time and prepared with questions and loose agendas of what youd like to accomplish both in your career and over the course of the mentor relationship.Discuss with your mentor topics that youd like to cover, keeping the individual meeting agendas to one or two key points. Ask questions and engage with the answers. Remember that your mentee is honoring you with their willingness to share information and help you along in your career and treat the mentorship experience as such.Be sure to thank your mentor for their time. A little appreciation is not only deserved but goes a long way towards furthering the relationship and trust. If youre gaining ground in your career or have experienced progress in small ways over the course of your mentorship, feel free to share. A quality mentor will appreciate knowing that their guidance has had a positive impact and will enjoy sharing in your successes.Paying it ForwardAs a final note of advice, while mentorships are generally free and out of the kindness of your mentors heart, monetary compensation isnt the only way to pay someone back for their time and commitment. Consider paying the deed forward by mentoring someone junior to yourself, either now or in the future. Keep in touch with your mentor and share both your personal stories and your mentorship stories to help continue the legacy of providing a helping hand up in the career department.Have a positive mentorship story youd like to share? Be sure to drop us a comment on how being a mentor or mentee has helped you grow and any tips you have for how to make the most of the process.

The power of the post-interview thank you email

The power of the post-interview thank you emailThe power of the post-interview thank you emailYour resume isnt the only marketing tool you should be concerned with when interviewing. Dont forget about the interview thank you email.Just as resumes have undergone a dramatic change over the past 20 years, so too have post-interview thank-you letter. Twenty years ago, a resume was typically a one-page document that briefly listed a candidates overall work experience and academic credentials. As the employment market became more competitive, so did the resume. Today, resumes are powerful marketing tools designed to sell a candidates skills, accomplishments and expertise in order to give a job seeker a competitive edge over other candidates. The same changes can be said for cover letters.These changes also apply to the post-interview thank you email. In the past, if such a letter was actually sent, it simply stated, Thank you for your time Im very interested in this position. In todays mar ket, however, simply saying thank you is not enough. Candidates need to take this same concept of selling their skills and accomplishments and integrate it into their thank-you emails. A well-written and convincing thank-you email should be a powerful document designed to continue selling a candidate long after the interview is over.So, how can you create interview thank you emails that present compelling reasons to further your candidacy?First, in order to create an interview thank you email with the most impact, it must be customized to each partie with whom you interviewed. It also should focus on the issue that is most significant to that particular person and the company as a whole. What you include in your thank-you letter will depend on your specific interview situation and what you discussed with each interviewer.Here is a list of sections you should include in your interview thank-you emailsReinforce points from the interviewIts difficult for a hiring manager to remember ev ery detail of every interview they conduct with candidates. To stand out from your competition, emphasize the important points of your background, as they relate to the company and the specific position for which you are applying. Even if your specific skills and qualifications were discussed in the interview, take this opportunity to reiterate and further expand upon these experiences as they directly relate to the companys operations, current needs and future goals.Address specific challenges and problemsIf the hiring manager shared some of the challenges or problems facing his organization, relate how your experience fills their needs, and reiterate the skills you have to help them solve these problems.Suppose he indicated that morale is slipping within the department and that its speeding turnover. Your thank-you email can describe how you leuchtdiode several key initiatives to re-engage members of your department.Or, perhaps he/she discussed a work flow challenge the department is facing. Share your past experiences designing and implementing work flow changes that have led to greater efficiencies and increased productivity.Communicate new informationEveryone walks out of an interview at one time or another realizing there was something really important about their background or qualifications that wasnt covered during the initial discussion. Perhaps there wasnt enough time, or the interviewers agenda didnt lend itself to discussing that topic or you just plain forgot. Heres where the thank you email comes in. Its precisely the tool to use to bring those achievements, experiences, project highlights and qualifications to their attention.Respond to objections from the interviewerIf the hiring manager communicated an objection to hiring you, address it in the interview thank you email. For example, lets say the hiring manager was concerned that youve never worked in Atlanta, and therefore dont have any professional contacts in that area. Use the thank-you l etter to explain how you previously entered new markets and immediately developed strong networks. Thats one of the reasons youve been so successful in your previous positions.Using the thank-you email as a competitive marketing tool means that they might sometimes be longer than one page. Thats perfectly ok. There are no thank-you letter rules that dictate these documents must be just one page long. What should dictate their length is the amount of valuable information you want to include. If the company has already extended you the opportunity for an interview, theyre already interested in you. And in most cases they will carefully read any and all material you subsequently forward to them - including a powerful, well-worded and compelling post-interview thank-you email