Saturday, May 30, 2020

6 Ways to Stop Procrastination at Work

6 Ways to Stop Procrastination at Work Whether its fear of failing or a simple lack of motivation, procrastination can be a serious problem for many people. But putting things off can have a real negative effect on both you and your workforce. According to a study, people who procrastinate, actually suffer a delay in self development and personal maintenance  (Kanus 1993). The main causes of procrastination are anxiety, low frustration levels and ideas of tolerance and rebellion. But no matter why you are experiencing issues with procrastination, there are always ways to combat the problem.  Ive accumulated a list of my top 6 ways to stop procrastinating: 1) Hang out with people who inspire you: This is my number one way to get rid of feelings of procrastination. Have you ever left a conversation feeling so inspired and invigorated by the people you were conversing with? Then these are the kind of people you should be spending your time with. I always love meeting people who are passionate and excited about what  they do, and its an almost contagious feeling it reminds you of why youre doing what you do. 2) Set achievable goals to hit along the way: Procrastination can be brought on by feelings of anxiety and failure. It can be scary to embark on a new challenge for fear of failing, but the secret to achieving is to set small yet achievable goals. This way youll feel a sense of achievement each time you hit your target, which will egg you on to achieve even more keeping you motivated. 3) To-do lists: This point is similar the previous point, but it works alongside setting small yet achievable goals in order to limit your procrastination. This way youll be able to physically cross off tasks that youve completed. 4) Physically remove distractions: Sometimes procrastination can be caused from distractions. Whether its a colleague or even a website (cough, Facebook, cough), its literally removing them from your view. If you have a task that needs to be completed, why not remove yourself from the bustling office and work in a quiet area or library? If its Facebook thats distracting you why not turn off the internet on your device (if possible), or download a procrastination app. Physically removing these distractions can help reduce procrastination dramatically. 5) Do one task at a time and prioritise: Sometimes it  can feel like youre juggling a million and one things at a time. When youre feeling overwhelmed, its worth separating up all your tasks, correctly prioritising each one and then resuming action. Doing this can clear things up in your mind and leave you feeling less overwhelmed. 6) Clean up your workplace: Procrastination and disorganisation are integrally linked, so it can really make a difference if you decide to reorganise and have a bit of a spring clean. Clear up your files and desktop, have an e-mail spring clean, and clear up your desk. This can make you feel more organised and in turn, more motivated.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

6 Ways To Use LinkedIn To Your Advantage In 2018 - Classy Career Girl

6 Ways To Use LinkedIn To Your Advantage In 2018 Social media has made deep inroads in our everyday lives and hence it is not surprising that it is being used not just to connect with people socially, but also professionally. LinkedIn has become a strong influence in working professionals, recruiters and even young graduates which makes it imperative to have a strong LinkedIn presence. Follow these simple tips to revamp your LinkedIn profile and see the wonder that follows! 6 Ways To Use LinkedIn To Your Advantage In 2018 1. Connect With People You Don’t Know Having been taught all our lives to avoid having any sort of communication with strangers, to connect with unknown people in LinkedIn might seem strange. But here, strangers are a blessing in disguise! It is always advisable to have connections with people in the same field as you are working in because you never know who is willing to collaborate and maybe even offer you an internship/job offer, based on your achievements. 2. Compare LinkedIn Salaries Do you want to know if youre being paid enough for the work you do? Do you want to know what others in your field of work are earning? LinkedIn Salary is your go-to. It has settings which enable you to know the salary of others based on where they work and what position they are in. But to get this information, you must first share your salary details (LinkedIn encrypts this data so you can preserve your anonymity). On the flip side, LinkedIn Salary uses information that is heavily data dependent. Hence, there is no guarantee that people who have shared their salary details are telling the truth. 3. Show Social Validation When you have just finished your pet project, or have given an excellent presentation, it is a good idea to put it up on your LinkedIn profile. Don’t forget to add how people have appreciated your work. This is extremely crucial. If you show that your particular project has likes and/or shares, the more the chances of your LinkedIn audience believing in the credibility of your work. Fret not if you haven’t garnered enough likes or tweets. If someone has appreciated your work greatly, then ask them to write a detailed feedback, mentioning what exactly they liked about your work. Pop in this feedback wherever and whenever you mention that corresponding work. This goes a long way in giving a realistic picture of your work details. [RELATED: LinkedIn Profile: 16-Point Checklist] 4. Jazz Up Your LinkedIn Profile With Multiple Photos According to LinkedIn’s data, a post with images gets 94% more views. So, what kind of images should you use? If you have given a presentation, then put up a picture of you addressing the crowd. If you have developed a working model, then put up a photo of the model or even a short video of the working model. This slowly builds a perception of trust and confidence in your profile as you are showing proof of what you have done. 5. Use LinkedIn’s Connected App To Get Smart Notifications. LinkedIn’s Connected app has a special feature which helps in syncing your calendar with the people you are connected with on LinkedIn. It works roughly like this: suppose you have a meeting scheduled with a person. The Connected app looks into the update history of that person and informs you about their recent work and projects. Now, if you already know what that person is working on, you can direct your conversations in that direction (it might even get you some brownie points for being well informed) 6. Write That Perfect Summary Along with your profile picture, the summary is one of the first things that people will see if they visit your profile. Hence, having an ordinary summary block is out of the question. Start out the summary by stating who you are and what skills you have acquired over the years. Make sure that you not just mention the work you have done, but also your communication and leadership skills. It is crucial here to use relevant keywords from your field of interest. That way, professionals in your area of expertise can relate more to you. LinkedIn is that magic door to a world of splendid opportunities to learn new things, to grow your network or to even get your dream job. Implement the above tips to see some positive changes in your LinkedIn journey.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

9 Habits of Every Successful Recruiter

9 Habits of Every Successful Recruiter Have you ever wondered why good specialists are sometimes rejected by one company as unprofessional, yet accepted by another as a gem? The “army” of any company hugely depends on its recruiter skills. Some of them have those qualities, others don’t, losing their best candidates without even listening to them. Being a recruiter is a difficult job, as you have to also be psychologists, business planners, market researchers, social studies specialists, etc. Working with people, judging their skills and character, foreseeing their behavior within the company’s team â€" it’s a hard-to-accomplish work. 1. Be responsive. A recruiter that responds openly and clearly to every question is always more valuable. Candidates feel more confident having some information about the company and knowing their inquiries will be answered as quickly as possible. Also, make sure you keep a professional yet friendly tone, to make people feel comfortable. 2. Be patient and listen. The ability to listen is one of the most important recruiter skill, as many candidates have something to say. In many cases, the stories applicants tell can show a lot of their qualities, which may be useful for the company. It’s important to listen to both the candidates and managers who need new employees, and state requirements for them. 3. Involve other employees. Turns out, 52% of content shared by any company’s employees, in persona or online, is trusted by applicants. Let them talk to current employees, ask the latter to post information about the company on social networks, and you will be trusted. It’s logical, as more people would trust a friend who works for the company than its marketing department. 4. Add personal touch. Sometimes recruiters judge candidates by the first impression: their appearance, clothes, way of talking etc. However, when attending  an interview, a person hardly knows what attitude or way of talking is required, not mentioning standard rules. Allow yourself to use your recruiter skills to work on the person, guide them to the right place. Candidates often become the best employees if you add your personal touch, by having a good talk to them and giving them a piece of advice. 5. Foresee the future. Every company must have some plans for the future: new projects, new ways of operating, etc. Look into these plans when talking to a candidate, and see if they fit into the future of the company. The person may be not the best choice for now but could be vital in a couple of months, and you want them to be already used to the companys rules and operations when you need them. 6. Manage your time. Time management is one of the best recruiter skills, as there’s a lot to do. Make sure you manage your time well, and don’t delay reviewing resumes you get. Even a couple of days may determine whether you will get a top candidate or not. 7. Have a modern vision. In the age of online activities, its almost impossible to keep being modern without using the advantages of the internet. A good recruiter will use anything that can potentially improve their search. Use social media to advertise vacancies, find people, and answer simple questions. This will save you much time and effort, give more candidates a chance to interview, and help choose the right person. Only 33% of employers use such an approach, so you have a chance to be in the progressive third. 8. Cooperate with the manager. Get a perfect understanding of what your manager wants by cooperating with them. Update the manager about every candidate that catches your attention and don’t hesitate if you need to update them on any further requirements. This will make the process of choosing the right candidate more productive. 9. Keep top applicants engaged. Don’t make top applicants think you aren’t interested in them anymore, or they will start their search again. Encourage them to contact you with further questions, ask some yourself, invite them for another interview, or give them test assignments. Be loyal and communicate well, give recommendations, and keep candidates engaged in the process. Think about the future of the company and whether the person will fit in, and use modern technologies to get a wider view. The aforementioned recruiter skills are simple and proven to be useful for many companies. About the author:  Bria Pierce is contributor for 123writings with a keen passion in traveling and personal development.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Consider telling the truth when you are fired

Consider telling the truth when you are fired Amanda Congdon, co-founder of Rocketboom, got fired last week. Congdon performed a fake daily newscast, which was downloaded by 300,000 people each day. Her audience was bigger than Connie Chungs. Congdon announced the end of her participation in Rocketboom in her last video blog. Her partner, she says, proposed many stories to offer up in place of getting fired. But Congdon declined and said, The Internet is all about being transparent. I dont think its just the Internet, though. Its the post-boomer generation. Authenticity is important in the new workplace not just online. And it comes naturally to most young workers except when it comes to getting fired. But really, getting fired is not that big a deal, and I think we can all take a cue from Congdon and stop being embarrassed about it. In 1950, when you stayed at a company like you were married to it, getting fired was a big deal; it was like getting kicked out of the house by your spouse and having your clothes strewn across the front lawn. But things are different now. People are averaging a new job every three or four years (one or two years if youre under thirty-two) so getting fired is not such a big deal. You were probably going to leave anyway. And now you can take a long vacation. Most people do not lose their jobs because they are incompetent. They lose their jobs because of some sort of personality clash. I have said a million times that you should try to get a long with everyone. But few people can do it all of the time. So it seems to me that the new way to get fired is to let everyone know it. Congdon is not alone. Star Jones, for example, was careful to tell people she did not leave her spot at The View but was fired. Like Congdon, Jones says her boss wanted her to lie. And she thought it would be best for her career if she didnt. The most reliable way to get the kind of job you want next is to let people know what you want. And how can you be honest with people about what youre looking for next if you are pretending to have quit a job you like? How can people help you if they dont know what you want? This is why I like the idea of saying you got fired. And, while Im at it, whats up with saying taking time to be with my family? That is absurd. First of all, only men say it. If women said it, which they dont, people would think, Shell be out of the workforce for fifteen years. When men say it, people think, He got fired. Hes looking for a job. The most recent example of this is Jeff Jordan, who worked for eBay as president of PayPal, until he suddenly felt the urge to spend time with family this month. I am not buying that. And Im not alone. Others are commenting on the credulity of the claim. And Jack Shafer disparages the phrase in his article: More time with the family Right, and the check is in the mail. So consider the bravery and forthrightness of Congdon and Jones. When you get fired, consider the idea that it is not a time to be embarrassed but a time to learn. One of the best indicators of how successful someone will be is how well they bounce back from crisis. So let people know the true you, and they will be more able to help you bounce back with more success the next time around.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Social Media Skills on Resume - 3 Ways to Make Them Stand Out

Social Media Skills on Resume - 3 Ways to Make Them Stand OutMany employers say that they are looking for social media skills on resume. The good news is that there are ways to improve your resume and cover letter so that you are more visible on the internet. The bad news is that there are a lot of things that can go wrong when trying to do this.First, you need to be sure that your resume is complete. This means that you should write the first section of your resume correctly. You want to give your employer everything that they need to know about you. This means that your profile should match your skills. If you can't even write a good letter, how can you expect to fill it out?The next thing that you need to do is make sure that your profile contains all of the important sections. You want to make sure that your cover letter is included so that it does not waste space on your resume. The cover letter should tell the employer why you are the best candidate for the job. It should also be written in a way that will get you noticed on social media.Next, you should use your resume and cover letter to get noticed on other sites as well. When you send your resume out to a lot of different job sites, then the chances of getting noticed increase significantly. You need to send out resumes to jobs that you would be interested in and you also need to be seen on sites that you may not be interested in. The problem with some job sites is that they only allow certain job positions, and they don't allow you to post anywhere else.Another thing that you can do to improve your social media skills on resume is to avoid mentioning the names of your future boss if you aren't. If you really want to be a good social media manager, then you will have to refrain from mentioning your boss' name unless you absolutely have to. Otherwise, avoid mentioning them as much as possible.Also, avoid posting links to your networking sites on your resume. Do not put a link to your LinkedIn profile i n your cover letter. Instead, include a link to your MySpace profile.The last thing that you can do to improve your resume is to make sure that you use keywords correctly. You want to include words that your potential employer is likely to search for. However, you also want to make sure that you don't overdo it. For example, you may want to have the words 'entrepreneur'marketing' as well as the word 'marketing' in the same sentence.These are some tips that you can use to improve your social media skills on resume. Make sure that you know what you are doing before you go any further. Only go too far if you are confident that you can handle it.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The New Royal Navy Interview - Changes For 2013

The New Royal Navy Interview - Changes For 2013 During 2013 the Royal Navy changed the manner in which it assesses candidates for the interview element of the assessment process. The below will provide you with some useful tips and guidance on how to prepare for the interview questions, and Royal Navy application, including advice on what types of selection interview question to expect when attending. Teamworking The Royal Navy clearly prides itself on effective teamwork. During Royal Navy application, you need to be able to provide details of when you have previously worked as part of a team to achieve a task or common goal. Q. Have you ever worked as part of a team to achieve a goal? If so, what part did you play? Q. What do you understand about the term ‘teamwork’? Q. What would you do if a member of your team was struggling with his or her role? Resilience Resilience is in relation to having a positive and determined state of mind. It is also about how you keep yourself fit. Here are a few sample interview questions for yo u: Q. Give an example of where you have persevered with a task or project? What did you do and why? Q. How do you keep yourself fit and motivated? Problem solving Solving problems is all part and parcel of Royal Navy life, either be it as an Officer or a Rating. Try preparing for these: Q. Give an example of when you have solved a difficult problem on your own. Q. If you were struggling to solve a difficult problem, what would you do? Planning and organising As a Royal Navy rating or Officer you will have to plan ahead and also be very organised. Here are a few examples of questions asked in the past: Q. Give an example of a situation where you have planned or organised something or an event/project? What did you do and why? Q. How have you been preparing for the Royal Navy selection process and also life within the Armed Forces?Learning and developing Sample questions in relation to this area include: Q. Give a situation in the past when you have learnt a new skill? How did you ap proach the learning or development?Discipline Naturally, when you join the Armed Forces you will have to be self-discipline3d. Try preparing for these questions: Q. Give an example of when you have been self-disciplined or shown discipline in a work/educational situation? Q. What do you understand by the term ‘discipline’? Communication skills This will generally throughout the interview and will be assessed in the manner in which you communicate at the interview. You may also get asked a question relating to ‘comunication’, such as: Q. Give a situation when you had to deliver a message to a group of people â€" how did you go about communicating the message? (make sure it was clear, concise, easily-understood, in a style appropriate to the audience and always confirm they understand the message) This entry was posted in Armed Forces, Interviews. Bookmark the permalink. Richard Top Tips For Aspiring Games DesignersUnderstanding the New Train Driver Recruitment Tests

Friday, May 8, 2020

Network for a Job Ask for Help with a Clear Purpose

Network for a Job â€" Ask for Help with a Clear Purpose Network for a Job Ask for Help with a Clear Purpose Get over the guilt, the shyness, and the embarrassment about asking for help in your job search. Change the way you ask for help, as well. Let’s break it down: Your embarrassment and guilt comes across as lacking confidence. Elizabeth secured a meeting with Frank for help on her job search, needing his help in introducing her to some executives. She came to Frank’s office door and didn’t knock or let him know she was there, so they lost 5 minutes since Frank just kept working, unaware she was on time. Then, her very first words were “I’m so sorry, Frank, I know you are very busy and don’t have time to meet with me.” Elizabeth continued with “I won’t take much of your time and if you can’t help me I understand.” What is Frank’s first impression? That she would be afraid of collaborating in a business environment, she is lacking confidence, and we just lost 5 minutes of our 30 minutes for her apologies. I’m probably not going to refer her to people I know. Harsh, eh? Well, Frank will never tell Elizabeth any of that, and he’ll be cordial. However, he may not become a raving fan of Elizabeth’s going forward. Have a clear job-search goal and be excited about it! The meeting continued and Frank asked “So, Elizabeth, what are you looking for?” . Elizabeth responded “Well, I’m not sure, which is why I’m here.” Not good. Your network is ideally suited to help you reach a goal, not being a career counselor. Yes, there are a few who may enjoy this level of discussion, but, during my 30+ years in Fortune 500 companies, most networking is best when you have narrowed this down yourself. There are many resources to help you and see my blogs on goal-setting. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse. In front of a mirror, in your mind, or with a job search buddy, practice what you will do and say from the minute you enter the doorway through your closing summary of the meeting. From the strong hand-shake and eye contact, the first words out of your mouth, all the way to the closing hand-shake and smile. If Elizabeth had done this, her valuable 30 minutes with Frank would have resulted in an entirely different set of “help”. Raise the bar, job-seekers. Think before connecting. Plan and prepare before asking. Cut the Crap, Get a Job. “Crap” comes in the form of the excuses you make and the mistakes you are making that sabotage your odds of success in this new job search era. You can do this and Im here to help.