4 Ways to Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed in Your Job Search

4 Ways to Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed in Your Job Search4 Ways to Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed in Your Job SearchDespite any feel-good commercials, smiling faces on ads, or cheery self-help advice blogs that may gloss over the issue, anyone whos ever been on the career market knows that searching for a new job is nervewracking. If youre currently employed theres a constant worry about whether your current employer will find out about your quest and concerns over just what youll do if you cant land a better gig. If youve been laid off or are otherwise without ideal employment, you can add the stresses of paying your bills and being able to afford to eat to the pressures youll face. In short, rarely has a candidate summed up their job search experience as fun.This doesnt mean, however, that candidate looking to make a move need to suffer needlessly, or alone. While the situation is certainly fraught with hurdles and uncertainty, there are plenty of ways job-seekers can pave a smooth path al ong the way. For SimplyHired readers that are left feeling daunted by the process or even idea of looking for a new gig, here we delve into four simple ways to avoid feeling overwhelmed in your job search.Step 1 Find The Right PartnersOne of the quickest ways to feel overwhelmed in your job search is by mistakenly thinking you need to go it alone. From mentors to professional placement agencies, there are plenty of people out there willing to lend a hand in support of your quest to find employment. Online resources are also handy additions to your job-seeking arsenal. LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, Graph Search or Twellow are all great ideas to help you connect with professionals in your given industry or specific profession. Spend a few hours searching, joining groups, and connecting and youll be well on your way to finding a resource to help ease the burden of job hunting on your own.Step 2 Compartmentalization Gets a Bad WrapHaving a job or career is a huge part of most individuals identity as a human being. Its no coincidence that most polite conversation starts up with some variation of so, what do you do? Because of this, those looking to land a new gig often picture job-hunting as one large mountain to be conquered.In order to reduce stress try,instead, thinking of the application and interview process as separate steps or tasks. Assign target goal dates to small tasks such as freshening up your resume, searching for jobs, applying, and networking. Breaking one large aufgabe into smaller tasks is an easy way to reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed by your job search.Step 3 Make Low Impact ContactIf weve said it once weve said it a million times networking is a vital aspect to finding that job of your dreams. Whether it be a mentor from school or a prior position or professional colleagues in your field, making connections with people can make a huge difference in your job search. This universal truth brings problems of its own for those among us who are less th an comfortable in large groups or social gatherings. If you find yourself hesitant to enter into the networking game, or reluctant to ask for assistance from those in the know, try segueing into the field with some low impact contact first.Inviting a colleague or professional acquaintance out for drinks or dinner or showing up to an industry conference is a great way to break the ice and wont come across too strong. Its a natural part of these types of events to discuss your current work prospects which will lead to genuine conversations about openings or potential referrals. Step 4 Just Make the PitchIf youve ever been the person at a garage sale who has that inability to haggle or ask for a better price, you probably know how overwhelming it can be to ask someone for a job. One of the easiest ways to overcome this fear, however, is to realize that hiring managers and recruiting contacts are in the geschftliches miteinander of, well, getting asked for a job. These individuals not o nly dont look askance at being approached by applicants, its an expectation. Sometimes one of the easiest ways to overcome a sense of being overwhelmed by dread or what ifs is to simply go out on a limb and ask to apply for a job or if there are any openings available in the first place. In the worst case, there wont be a current opportunity, but your initiative just might get you remembered positively when something does come along.Have you ever felt overwhelmed during the job search process? Have tips for de-stressing and moving along towards a career of your dreams? Add in your personal advice and stories in the comment section to help fellow job seekers and your advice may just make it into t future update or blog.

From Lou Adler to Seth Godin the future of a traditional resume

From Lou Adler to Seth Godin the future of a traditional resumeFrom Lou Adler to Seth Godin the future of a traditional resumeYouve probably heard comments like the resume is dead, dying, being transported to the emergency room, or any other variation. It seems to be kind of a trendy topic these days. In a way, its correct the traditional resume has been dying at a slow pace for a while now. Currently, it totenstill remains in the same, outdated format with no significant changes over the past 35 years. After all, its still a simple list of your experience, skills education.About 2 years back, I co-founded a resume building platform . Over those years, Ive seen countless, soulless resumes that pretty much guarantee that youre not getting called up for an interview. In an attempt to shed some light on the topic, Ive gathered seven points of the best resume advice Ive ever heard. Advice that will help you ditch the traditional resume and create something truly special.1. Submit a pro posal not a resume to get a job interview Lou AdlerLou Adler is one of LinkedIns top 20 Influencers. He is currently the CEO of The Adler Group, a consulting firm helping companies implement performance-based hiring.If you look at it from the companys perspective, your traditional resume just doesnt work for them. They want to see who you really are but most importantly what you can do for them. So dont submit a typical resume. Rather, provide a solution for their problems.Before even starting with your resume, think what youre most proud of, and write down 5 of your biggest achievements. It could be anything winning a school competition, speaking three languages, studying abroad, or even living a balanced life. Any major part of your lifestyle or personality is worth to mention.That, coupled with why youd want to work specifically for the company youre applying for and how you can contribute to the company, would hardly ever get you rejected for an interview. For example, here i s Ninas resume for Airbnb. It went viral for a reason the resume says a lot mora than Worked at X company for Y years and did Z. It actually showcases Ninas personality, skills, achievements and directly mentions how she can contribute to the company.Dont be afraid to ditch the old-fashioned way of applying for a job. Call it a resume, cv, lebenslauf, online profile or a summary. But your application should solve someones problem. The resume shouldnt just be a list of experience, education, and skills. What it should be is a proposal a glimpse into your personality, a showcase of your personal achievements, and a unique solution to the companys problems.2. Share a point of view. Invite people into a relationship Michael MargolisMichael Margolis is a TEDx SXSW speaker. He is a founder of Get Storied and author of the most shared resume article on 99U.If you already have a resume, open it up and read it slowly. Ask yourself Does this really describe who I am?.Then google someone e lses resume. Read it and ask yourself again Do I have anything in common with this guy?.Sadly, in most cases, the answer to both questions would be a no. The traditional resume does not show the human being behind the resume, neither does it help to build a relationship with the person reading it.Companies dont employ resumes. They employ people. Yes, they care about your previous experience and education, but what they really want is to hear your story. They want to hear your point of view.Dont be afraid to share mora personal details about yourself. Mentioning your favorite books, for example, shows your interests and passions. In special cases, this may even be a huge boost for your resume. Think about Elon Musk. Before he became the legendary entrepreneur we all know and love today, he welchesnt the best of students. What put him ahead of everyone else, however, is the vast quantity of highly complex books hed read.By mentioning such details in your resume, you will show that y oure more vulnerable. That is more human, approachable and relatable. Yes, your resume would be different from the rest. The person reading it, however, might find something in common with you. And at that point, youve already established some rapport youre no longer a piece of paper.Related articlesSam landed a job at Spotify with Alices resume for a masters scholarshipWhat does your day look like? Share with us and win3. Quantify Your Impact Accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z Laszlo BockLaszlo Bock is the SVP of People Operations and author of Work Rules. During Bocks tenure, Google has been named the Best Company to Work For more than 30 times.There are many reasons why an application can get rejected from not being found on Google to having blatantly lied on the resume. The most common mistake, however, is surprisingly neither one of those. According to Laszlo Bock, the biggest reason resumes get rejected is because theyre filled with responsibilities instead of acco mplishments. Traditional resumes show what people had to do for a certain position which is something that the HR already knows. Rather, you need to show them how exactly you executed your tasks, and what were the results you received. This empirically sets you apart from all the other applicants.For example, if youre a Social Media Marketer, everyone would know that you have to maintain the profiles of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. So, dont waste space on your resume saying something as obvious as that. Instead, write how you improved the social reach and user engagement on either one of the channels, and what results did these metrics bring to the company. Be as specific as possible, including numbers and tangible results.Dont hesitate to rewrite every single sentence on your resume using this formula. Take a look at the following example which one do you think is more believable and useful?Raised engagement on Facebook by 140% over 2 months, by creating team video ads. Or M anaged the companys Facebook pageKeep in mind that finding and then explaining your accomplishments or skills is not an easy task. Most people give up by just adding some buzzwords team player, critical thinking, problem-solving, etc or just completely skipping that part, thinking that theyve achieved nothing.If you cant think of specific accomplishments, or its hard for you to define your Top Skills, go ahead and ask your friends and colleagues. Think about the last time you executed something successfully, the way you did it and the results you drove. Consider what skills helped you make all that happen. In addition to that, when writing about your achievements, make sure to mention the competition. If you won an entrepreneurship challenge, say exactly how many people competed. It sounds a lot better if you were 3 in a competition with 100 participants, as opposed to 1 and keep the number of participants unknown.So now that weve got all that covered, make it all come to life in your traditional resume Mention the competition in your achievements, the results of your actions and the significance of your accomplishments.4. Try to understand the job youre applying for Lily ZhangCareer Development Specialist at GECD and writer at The Muse.Thirty years ago when people looked for a job, they needed only one resume. Today, unless you want to apply for only one company, you need a couple.Dont just make one black and white resume, send it to a couple of companies and then pray to receive an answer. Dont try to cheat and craft 10 resumes, filling each with buzzwords from their respective job descriptions either.Instead, try to understand why you want to work for that specific company. Go ahead and read a bit about the organization, check out the reviews on glassdoor or their profile on Linkedin. If you still dont have much information, focus on the position that you are applying for. Read the job description and ask yourself Am I motivated enough to start working for that company?Most unsuccessful hires are not because they lack the skills, but because they didnt fit the companys culture. If youre not truly motivated to work at either of the companies, dont even bother sending in your resume. It wont be worth it either for you nor the company.In addition to that, a successful job search does not include sending your resume to 10 companies. Its much better if you shortlist 3-4 companies, the ones where you really want to work and concentrate all of your efforts on learning about them and impressing them with your knowledge enthusiasm.5. You dont need to have had good jobs in order to have a good resume Penelope trankPenelope Trunk is an American businesswoman, author, and blogger. Her work focuses on the intersection of work and life.I have seen a lot of skilled people who are too scared to apply for major companies because, having only worked for the smaller organizations, they think that theyre just not good enough. The same applies to co llege students, who dont dare to apply for their dream internships because of the lack of work experience.Ive met Eastern European students who traveled all the way to the United States, worked the jobs no one wanted for over 100 hours a week, just to pay for their tuition. Those same students dont realize how valuable that kind of experience can be for organizations. True, its not directly related to a job as a banker, for example. But then again, how many students have the experience of working in a bank?While the experience may not be as relevant to the job itself, it proves that the student is hardworking and determined. If youve washed dishes for 100+ hours a week, you wouldnt be dismayed by working 80+ hours in an office for a bank. When thinking about your experiences, always ask yourself whether youve learned anything important working a seemingly irrelevant job. If the answer is yes, it definitely belongs to your resume.Most recent graduates dont get their first experience by working in big and famous corporations but through internships, part-time jobs, volunteering experiences and so on.Exactly this type of experience is what employers are looking for. The world has changed having a lower GPA at the university doesnt mean youre a worse hire than someone with a 4.0. The GPA was never a good predictor of career success, to begin with. This also goes for your work experience. Working for three months in a failed start-up can boost your skills way more than three years in a big corporation.Remember you DO have experience, but its up to you how you are going to sell it. Being aware of your own skills and experiences is the first step to success.6. A resume is an excuse to reject you Seth GodinSeth Godin is an American author, entrepreneur, marketer, and public speaker.90% of the resumes get rejected. Theres only one position after all, and unless you can differentiate yourself, it will end up in a trash bin with the rest.If you want to increase your c hances against the statistics, ask yourself Why do I need a resume?. If the answer is I have to show the facts about me, according to Seth Godin that wont show what you HAVE. It will rather show what you MISS. Creating something just to show what you miss is really an excuse to be rejected.According to him, sending a traditional resume like everyone else and pretending that you are remarkable would make people ask themselves Ok if you are that special, why cant I see that through your resume?.That doesnt mean that you shouldnt send a resume at all, nor that you should follow all the standards and requirements you find on the web. It means that a traditional resume doesnt reflect who you really are and why youre special. The requirements tend to restrict you in a lot of ways, making concrete statements on what should and should not be done.The first step is to stop thinking of your resume as just a resume. Dont even call it a resume, when it can be something much more. Your personal story was written down. While there are some best-practices to follow, you should have complete creative control over all the content in the resume. After all, who knows more about your personality than yourself?Feel free to write something creative and against traditional resume standards. Youre not just a bunch of bullet points. Nor are you a combination of work experiences and education. Show people like Seth that you are special, that you are living your eulogy, not your resume.7. The best hire might not have the perfect resume Regina HartleyRegina Hartley is the Director of Human Resources at UPS, the largest logistics company in the world with over 10,000 employees.In 2015, Regina gave a TED talk about the candidates who are not all that good on paper but turn out to be some of the companys best hires.She called such people Scrappers people who dont have the best resume but have grown up constantly faced with adversity, resulting in a life filled with both passion and purpo se.Take this resume. This guys parents give him up for adoption. He never finishes college. He job-hops quite a bit, goes on a sojourn to India for a year, and to top it off, he has dyslexia. Would you hire this guy?His name is Steve Jobs.Some of the most successful people can seem pretty inconsequential on paper. They may have not been the smartest kids in school, some of them have never even attended school. Such trivialities, however, dont stop such people from founding million dollar companies.Ive seen a lot of people who dont apply for the jobs they truly want, just because they dont think they have a good enough resume. Reginas talk proves pretty much the opposite. If youve survived hardships in life such as poverty or violence, you might be more valuable to a company than someone whos life was engineered for success since birth. After all, if youve survived poverty and violence, business challenges are nothing but a minor setback.Regina finished off her talk with a study done by DiversityInc, showing that the top 50 companies for diversity outperform the SP 500 by 25%. So, the next time youre competing with 4.0 Ivy League graduates with near-perfect resumes, stand your ground and prove yourself.To top it all off, if theres one thing you should take away from this article, its this. Even when faced with adversity, focus on being you, focus on telling your story, and youll get the job you deserve.To read next Check out our resume examples section that got people hired at their dream jobs.

3 tips to unleash the creative entrepreneurs in your community

3 tips to unleash the creative entrepreneurs in your community3 tips to unleash the creative entrepreneurs in your communityThe Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us. If you are wondering how to take on the challenges of a shifting global economy, investing in creative industries entrepreneurs tackles economic, civic, and social challenges and is found in every community in every corner of the globe. From Boston to Bangladesh, creative entrepreneurs are building companies at the cutting edge of digital fabrication, augmented reality, design, and entertainment.The creative economy is huge. And growing. It generates close to $3 trillion in economic output annually. Thats mora than the global telecommunications industry. Whats more, creative economy revenues are expanding 8-12% annually, varying by country. In the USA, the creative economy grew straight through the Great Recession, as opposed to all other sectors. Growth will continue as theglobal middle-class rises, expanding demand for entertainment, digital media, and original content and experiences. Consider this Cirque du Soleil was founded by two street performers who grew it into a global phenomenon and sold it for $1.5 billion to investment firm TPG in 2015. Lynda.com, acquired by LinkedIn in 2015, was started by Lynda Weinman, a graphic designer turned educator. Fashionistas, filmmakers, and foodies are launching creative companies that drive value for investors, and create high-wage jobs.However, the creative economy is a sleeping giant because leaders and investors, community and economic developers have mostly left the creative economy on the sidelines, its full potential sitting dormant. Many leaders think only of the arts when they hear the word creative. However, todays creative companies are anchored in technologies and digital innovations. Take for example Embodied Labs, a VR film company whose films help medical providers understand patient experiences, reducing costs and improving health outc omes. Or Beacon Hill VR, a software firm with bewegungsknstlers and gamers on staff who create and bring to life animated AR characters. We suspect leaders overlook the creative economy because they are unfamiliar with its numbers.Creative entrepreneurs are market disruptors building a better and more inclusive future. The innovators behind creative companies are designers, coders, gamers, musicians, and engineers. Akin to tech founders, creative founders are driven by a desire to disrupt a market. Unlike many tech founders, most creative entrepreneurs are also inspired by social outcomes such as engaging disenfranchised communities, providing a living wage, and building culturally connected communities. The creative economy is being built by visionaries who strengthen regional identity, increase livelihoods, and build connected communities.So how can you unleash the creative entrepreneurs and talent in your community? Here are three tips to get you started1.) Find ambitious creativ e entrepreneurs who have been overlookedThey might be building the next Cirque du Soleil but everyone else sees them as clowns. With fresh eyes, you might see a billion-dollar business in the making. I have worked with startups who became extremely successful entrepreneurs who have told us that early on no one took them seriously because they were designers, or filmmakers, or musicians.2.) Host a small gathering with innovative creative founders and investors and ask them to share where they believe your regional creative economy could be more competitiveWhat assets and competitive advantages do you have that entrepreneurs and investors have already discovered? When we do this we find investors who are already working with creative companies. They are usually interested in further building out their portfolio along these lines. And the founders are excited to meet investors who share their vision for the regions future.3.) Assume you just dont get it yetCreatives are disrupting mar kets and they see a future the rest of us dont see. Take for example the story of Meow Wolf, an artist collective based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. When Meow Wolf started out, they sought business support but were told more than once their venture should be a non-profit. They are artists, after all. Today, with over 1 million visitors and $15 million in revenues in less than two years, Meow Wolfs out-of-this-world exhibit helped multiply their first investors funds within three years. They recently close $17 million with a lead investment by Alsop Louie Partners from Silicon Valley.Meow Wolf is not alone in their ability to see a market before it has fully convened. Lee Francis, Founder of Native Realities, launched the worlds first Indigenous Comic Con to give indigenous youth a chance to see themselves as superheroes. Today Indigenous Comic Con and Lees publishing company Native Realities, are leading a global movement to reframe how indigenous youth see themselves in pop culture. 30 0,000,000 indigenous people are eager to move with them. Ivonette Albuquerque, Founder of Galpo Aplauso, in So Paulo, Brazil, believed she could build a world class theatre company employing youth living in So Paulos favelas. Today, she has trained over 10,000 youth, nearly all of whom go on to find well paying jobs after the program.The Fourth Industrial Revolution, like all good revolutions, is disrupting social and economic structures, forcing leaders to rethink old strategies and adapt to new realities. Relentless creativity and imagination will win the day. Fortunately, a giant ally is waiting in the wings. All you need to do is wake it up.Alice Loy is CEO and Co-Founder of Creative Startups and author of Creative Economy Entrepreneurs, From Start Up to Success How Entrepreneurs in the Creative Industries are Transforming the Global Economy. For more information, please visit, Creative Startups.

How to Find the Right Internship

How to Find the Right InternshipHow to Find the Right InternshipGetting a paid internship over the summer is the dream of many college students, but it doesnt have to be just wishful thinking if you take the right approach, engage in some networking, and start your search early. In addition to paid internships, you may want to look into ways to fund your internship (check your colleges career services office, various organizations, and foundations). Some students are able to do an unpaid internship in their field of interest by supplementing their internship with a part-time job. Defining a Good Internship Good, successful internships typically offer benefits such as the following Teaches the basic knowledge and skills required to get hired for a full-time job (either in the company where you interned or by one of its competitors)Provides experiences that will positively enhance your resumeHelps you develop professional networking contacts that can assist you in your future job s earch Speak with academic advisors, school career counselors, and professors to discover which companies in your target industry offer worthwhile internships where youll receive real, value-added experience. Prospecting for Internships Some of the best internships are landed as a result of prospecting. This means identifying companies or organizations that you want to work for and contacting them directly which can result in some of the best internships around for a number of reasons By identifying companies that dont actually advertise their internships, you will avoid competing with thousands of other applicants who also found the internship listing online.When contacting a company directly, you will often get an opportunity to help create the type of experience you are seeking and may be allowed to have some input into what the internship involves. For students from smaller cities and towns, prospecting is often the only way to find potential internships. Its important to fol low some simple strategies in order to increase your chances of landing the internships of your dreams. Of course, the career field or industry you are pursuing will largely determine if paid internships are available. Even with prospecting, theres no guarantee that students will be able to land a paid internship. Employers have seen a significant rise in the number of students seeking internships. Part of this increase is due to the fact that more students are realizing that employers are looking for students with relevant experience required to hire on for future full-time jobs. Another reason a number of seniors (and post-graduates) are also interested in finding an internship is that they currently cannot find a job in their area of interest. In a 2018 study that analyzed the resumes of four million college graduates, the results showed that over 40 percent of new graduates had taken entry-level jobs that didnt require a college degree, and one out of five students were still wo rking non-degree-requiring jobs 10 years later.Employers have become increasingly demanding, and they expect college graduates to come on board with specific skill sets and experience that the candidates have acquired during internships or through other means. Paid Internships and Programs According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)s 2019 Internship Co-op Report, the average hourly wage for an intern is $19.05 in 2019. Many companies hire interns as a way of previewing them to see if they would fit as full-time employees, and about 56 percent of interns were converted to full-time hires. The good news for employers is that over 70 percent of interns who were hired on as full-time workers were still at the company one year later. Whether you take a paid or unpaid internship matters to potential employers. According to the NACE 2019 study, 66.4 percent of 2019 graduates who had worked paid internships received at least one job offer. This contrasts with only 43.7 percent of unpaid interns receiving at least one job offer. If youre looking for an internship that pays well, youll have the best luck with companies in the technology industry. Glassdoor.coms annual survey of highest-paying internships shows that in 2019, Facebook is paying interns the highest salary at $8,000 per month, and Amazon is second at $7,725. Other companies high on the list include Google, Microsoft, Bloomberg, Capital One, and Apple. You can also pay a fee to participate in an internship program that includes an einstellungsgesprch and resume coaching, guaranteed placement, and a choice of domestic or international locations. Some of behauptung internship programs also offer excellent salaries, although the upfront fees are often expensive and required in order to participate in the program. In general, it pays to be wary of programs with fees, but for the right student who can afford to pay a fee for their internship, some excellent opportunities exist in s pecific industries and career fields, and you can find them through companies that match you with internship opportunities based on certain characteristics. The fee you pay is considered a sort of tuition, and the program resembles a semester-abroad type of program. Choose the city and industry in which you want to have your internship, and the company guarantees placement in a top-quality internship. Examples of Paid Internship Program Companies The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad) has been around for over 60 years, bringing its first group of students to study abroad in Vienna, Austria in 1950. Today, the company offers internships abroad for full-time summer placement, full-time semester internships, or part-time programs. While these internships come with guaranteed placement in your industry of interest, they are non-paid. Some programs may be eligible for financial aid or scholarships to cover the costs of program fees, room and board.Dream Ca reers was founded in February 2000 to help students enhance their academic experience by offering competitive internships at both college and high school levels. The company operates in 11 cities across the globe, working with about 5,000 different employers, and has served more than 17,000 students looking to develop their career ambitions.Another similar company is The Washington Center for Internships, which is an independent, non-profit organization that provides immersive internships and seminars to college-level students and young professionals. The company operates in the U.S. and has offices in 25 other countries. It helps students find internships in public, private and non-profit sectors, in a wide variety of fields including law, medicine, journalism, business, and politics, among others. Helpful Tips for Students Some statistics say that up to 80 percent of job opportunities, including internships, are never advertised, and instead, get filled through personal networ ks and referrals. It pays to talk to anyone and everyone who might have some sort of connection to your target industry or internship. You can also take other steps to uncover leads to potential internships Network with family, friends, acquaintances, previous employers, faculty, and your colleges alumni to seek out people who are currently doing the type of work you want to do. You never know who your parents know until you ask, or if you have well-connected neighbors in your target industry.Volunteer experiences and part-time jobs can often turn into full-time jobs after graduation.Research organizations so you can include that information in your cover letter or introduction email as you reach out to employers through websites or when prospecting for internships online. Create well-crafted, targeted resumes and cover letters that focus on the organization and position to which you are applying. Keep in mind that just one typo can put you out of the running.Have a methodical proce ss to log your interviews, and set dates to follow-up with employers via email or phone. Dont forget the importance of thank notes in the interviewing process. Oftentimes students feel that they are being a pest but many companies see this behavior as gauging a motivated student as well as someone who really wants to come and work for their particular company.

Objective Section of Resume Features

Objective Section of Resume Features Objective Section of Resume - Is it a Scam? A well built objective statement creates a great impression by communicating that you understand just what you wish to do with your abilities and expertise. If youre not certain how to phrase your skills, or in case you desire examples of objective statements, see some job websites for ideas. Because there are just a few topics more difficult for the majority of people to write about than themselves. In many organizations interns do not even bother to get paid, for them it gets absolutely essential to project a keen awareness of inquisitiveness and learning. The Meaning of Objective Section of Resume If you realize that you are struggling with the writing, you might want to call on the help of a professional resume writer to jump start your work search. Thus, you have to be somewhat alert and careful when writing. Resume writing is an intimidating job for everybody. Resume writing doesnt have to be a challenging approach. The Hidden Gem of Objective Section of Resume Your resume objectives should highlight the abilities and abilities that allow you to execute such duties, together with mention the name of the company for which you want to work. Although objective statements are optional elements of resumes, theyve increased in popularity over recent years. Landing a huge job can frequently be a challenging undertaking. For instance, it might state some of your previous accomplishments, then move on to the types of accomplishments you would like to achieve in the future (ideally, accomplishments you wish to achieve for the organization youre applying to work for). Objective Section of Resume - the Conspiracy Make certain that your resume contains keywords. Your resume objective lets an employer know the sort of position youre seeking and why youre qualified for that kind of position. Thus, a resume must be appealing enough with good content that is likely to mak e the recruiter to experience the entire resume. While preparing the resume the candidate should think of all of the words, phrases, and key strength which will help make a great impression on the prospective employer. Top Objective Section of Resume Secrets Your resume objective is a significant portion of your resume, but there are different sections youll want to consider about as well, like your Education, Skills, and Work History sections. To compose the objection section of a customer service resume, you want to discover the important tasks to be carried out at work. When you compose the objective section in your resume, do not write what youre looking for in work. The expert experience section expands on the info supplied in the summary. Write the Experience Summary part of your job resume for each particular position you are looking for. If your Objective says youre searching for a full-time job and youre asking for a part-time internship, you will probably be disq ualified immediately. The Career Objective offers you a chance to allow the hiring manager know that youve got the relevant skills and abilities theyre searching for in a new hire. Every employer is running a business and they search for freshers to determine if they have what it requires to be in their organization and give the services they require. If you decide not to incorporate an objective, thats fine, but you need to give thought about whether it may support you in receiving the hiring managers interest. Its usually hard to find jobs at such stage in the event you take an excellent salary, especially in something like warehouse administration. The work market appears to get tougher. 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 kind of career youre searching for. Acting, part of the entertainment sector is a field that is ruled by presentation and sell-abili ty. Dont neglect to include things like a career objective simply because you lack experience. Employers like to realize that you have work experience of some sort, at least. In most instances, a resume objective is simply a couple of sentences long. You must have five objective statements. Objective statements are available in many varieties. They need to be specific and should rely on the applicants experience as well as skills. Resume objective is an essential characteristic of any resume. Finally, stating an objective is optional, but it might help convince employers that you understand what you want and understand the business. It is like a two-part sentence, one part expressing your interest in the specific field, company or position and the other part stating what you have to offer in the capacity. The absolute most efficient objective is one which is tailored to the job youre applying for. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Objective Section of R esume Resume formatting is crucial, whatever kind of resume you use. Presentation is among the more important constraints with the resume.

Whispered Resume Follow up Emails Secrets

Whispered Resume Follow up Emails Secrets The schmelzglas should incorporate the pertinent questions and data you wish to highlight. Youve determined you truly do need to compose a follow-up email. Follow-up emails are also a great place to ask about next actions or even request to attach with the recruiter on LinkedIn. A follow-up email could be sent for assorted purposes. Some messages are so imperative that you will need to make sure that they arent missed. Many email signatures also include things like social networking connections too. You should currently be prepared to send your own follow-up emails. A Startling Fact about Resume Follow up Emails Uncovered If your follow-up efforts fail, do not forget that email isnt the only means to get hold of people. Furthermore, you wish to help to make your personenname stick out from the remainder of the pile. Bear in mind that the very first email you send needs to be personalized, relatively short and offer a simple way for a coach to swiftly make a determination on whether he or shes interested in responding to you. If you can just get an email address, follow up that way and place the name of the open place in the subject. You should also supply an alternate contact number with your principal number, just in case. Be certain that the body of the email includes all the questions that you would like answered and all the information which you wish to convey. A follow-up email is a great approach to imparting information that might have been missed. A Secret Weapon for Resume Follow up Emails In different situations, the precise response date is supplied in the work ad. There are all types of reasons a customer may not respond in a timely method. In addition, the time period can change depending on the circumstance, the company, the market, and countless different things. As you mentioned in our interview, you need people who may think and act quickly in tight conditions and who can deal with a number of different kinds of personnel. Most clients appreciate when you follow up and receive the correct answers so that you may do your very best work. You may also ask questions about what things to expect as the business moves toward a choice. To achieve such sort of letter, here are tips you are able to follow. Any question by which youre seeking their opinion is a great question. You can cut the range of times you should return and forth with a client above your sales quote by taking the opportunity to ensure it addresses their wants and answers their qualifikation questions before you send it. For instance, it could be an interview email in pdf wherein one would love to request an interview following a work application an individual has sent a day or two before. Calls to action are likewise a good method to encourage extra conversation. Among the situations you need to show us is that you understand how to follow directions. Interviews are a fantastic opportunity to speak about your talents, skills, and accomplishments. Use common sense to find out what is appropriate. A good deal of job seekers just blast their resume all over the area, including for jobs theyre not a great fit for. For a couple reasons, you should wait about every week to follow up on work application. When you make an application for work, among the most important things you should do is to follow up with the hiring manager. Call the organization directly to discover who the hiring manager for the job which youre applying for is. Whats more, a suitable follow-up can dramatically boost your odds of landing the job. It was great to meet up with you and learn more concerning the position. The choice to move a candidate forward is based on the size of the organization and how aggressive its hiring timeline is. Fortunately, there are a number of tested methods for following up on a work application. The 5-Minute Rule for Resume Follow up Emails Its difficult to kno w exactly when you should follow up in the event that you havent heard from a customer. Email is a great means to follow up because you may resubmit your resume as an attachment. Begin with the name of the individual who interviewed you. The New Fuss About Resume Follow up Emails There are several available email tracking computer software programs out there to select from. You can deal with your leads along with your email templates in one tool, based on the CRM you select. To assist you in getting the absolute most from the email for a customer follow-up channel, weve prepared 5 easy-to-use templates you could copy and get started using in your organization today, including an example from Apple. If you only have a few follow-up emails to track, a spreadsheet might be sufficient.

How to Attract Ideal Candidates with Better Job Descriptions - Spark Hire

Howto AttractIdealCandidateswith BetterJob Descriptions - Spark HireHiring is made easiest when the only applicants who apply for a position are actually qualified for that position. More often than not, we see job descriptions that are fairly basic and somewhat boring. Job posts that are generically written act to drive away top talent. This goes against the goal of hiring the best candidate. Job posts that are written poorly actually increase the number of applications from the inexperienced and less skilled masses. This can make the hiring process mora time consuming.To make the hiring process easier and attract the perfect job candidate, dont write depressing job posts that send the wrong message about the company. Optimize your job posts to entice top level talent, here are 3 ways to do thatKeep the job posting simple. Dont fill the job description with tons of obvious responsibilities and required skills. Cut out as much meaningless filler content as possible. Identify the top 2 or 3 requirements matter most. Indicate that the candidate must meet those requirements to get an interview.Clearly describe the companys corporate culture. The better you describe the workplace setting the more aligned your applications become with the role meant to be filled. What makes your company culture attractive? Highlight company perks like the option to work remotely from home or a company car. Do not build up the company to be something it is not however, this could lead to hiring the wrong qualified applicant.Top level candidates want more than a paycheck. They wont join a company unless they know that companys culture is a right fit. People want to be proud of and identify with the company that they work for. A great corporate culture will increase your employee retention.As you write the job description, compose it as if the ideal person for the job is sitting across the table from you. Make your language resonate with that candidate. The goal is to get them to ident ify with the job description and become excited about the job opening. Utilizing reason alone can only get you so far. Go further by appealing to the emotions which are what really drive the decision making process.Sorting through a stack of resumes is very time consuming, we all know how big those stacks can get. Dont start off with extra work by writing basic job descriptions that open yourself up to mediocrity. Hire outstanding candidates with clearly stated and compelling job descriptions.About the AuthorKimberly Schenk is a recruitment coach and mentor. She trains both headhunters and corporate hiring managers. Kimberly has an updated book that demystifies the full cycle recruitment process called Top Recruiter Secrets which is currently available online www.toprecruitersecrets.com.

Twitter shows us that blending in at the office isnt always good

Twitter shows us that blending in at the office isnt always goodTwitter shows us that blending in at the office isnt always goodA tweet that went viral this week showed us what its like to come to work and find out that your outfit has somecompany of its own. User ilonacatherine shared the evidence on Twitter, prompting a slew of other users to chime in.Twitter has spokenUsers showed Ilona that shes definitely not alone - this has happened to other people at work, too.We all know that this can happen anywhereNot just in the workplace.https//twitter.com/izzienaylor/position/1004873913640333312

20 Action Verbs for Your Resume

20 Action Verbs for Your Resume20 Action Verbs for Your ResumeUsing powerful verbs in your resume shows that you know how to action and know the right words to use when describing your accomplishments. Action verbs make your resume stand out, catch the employers eye and keep your resume from sounding like a part who just did things.Read these 20 action verbs for your resume to make it stand out. Make yourself look like a hero while you are at itThe Visionary1. Devised2. Formulated3. Implemented4. Created5. PioneeredAs the Visionary, you are the person who knows how to see into the future and you have the skill to create plans and implement them with successThe Frugal One6. Conserved7. Consolidated8. Decreased9. Deducted10. LessenedAs the Frugal One, you seem to have a knack for knowing how to save time and money better than anyone. You know how to help teams operate more efficiently. You always know how to show the ways you saved money and time along the way.The Project Leader11. Con trolled12. Executed13. Headed14. Orchestrated15. OversawThe Project Leader is the certifiable person who gets things done. Using words like Led, you know justice. Use the words that leave no doubt you are the person to hire for project management roles.The Improvement Specialist16. Modified17. Centralized18. Clarified19. Customized20. RemodeledSo, everyone is happy with the way things are, and you are not. You know things can always be better. You have a way of getting everyone on board, too, and spotting things others do not.In closingThere are many more action verbs you can try to show that you are a leader in your industry. One of the things you can try right away to upgrade your resume Stop using words that sound cliche or get used in every resume out there. Leaders make up only 2% of the worlds workforce. So, you can be a little different and creative.

Applicant Tracking System Uncovered SmartRecruiters

Applicant Tracking System Uncovered SmartRecruiters Applicant Tracking System Uncovered SmartRecruiters An applicant tracking system, or ATS, is a software application used by recruiters and hiring managers to store, sort, and search through resumes.  There are numerous applicant tracking systems on the market, and they all function a bit differently. This post offers  an in-depth look at one specific  ATS: SmartRecruiters.  SmartRecruiters, headquartered in San Francisco, was founded by Jerome Ternynck in 2010. Its used by more than 70,000 companies, including General Mills, Booking.com, OfficeMax, 1-800-FLOWERS, PRG, Goodwill, and even The Onion. I used  10 sample resumes to run through the recruiting process for one job  and discovered several things that job seekers should do, plus a few things to avoid. To start: Avoid using periods in place of dashes when formatting numerical information. The system didnt recognize phone numbers written as 555.555.5555, or employment dates written as 9.27.2014. For more details and advice, read on: Parsed information SmartRecruiters  supports numerous file types, including some that cannot be read by other applicant tracking systems: DOC, RTF, PPT, ODT, TXT, PDF, PDF with image inside, and TIFF. An  ATS scans a resume in the format in which it was submitted, then takes the relevant information and plugs it into the right categories in its database (that is, it puts the applicants contact information in the systems spot for contact information, the applicants education details in the systems slot for education, and so on). At least, thats the idea. In practice, this doesnt happen perfectly. This is how the header of a candidate profile appears in SmartRecruiters (identifying information removed). There seemed to be two main things that threw off SmartRecruiters ability to recognize relevant information and assign it to the right space in the system. One was the terms used for section headers, and one was the order of information within each section. Section headers include things such as Work Experience and Education. But many of the resumes submitted used  non-standard section headers, including: Further Training Skills Expertise Technology Summary Technology Snapshot IT Experience Presentations Projects Unique Skills and Interests While these section headers might be intuitive to a human reader, they are unlikely to be recognized by an ATS. As a result, SmartRecruiters lumped the information in these sections into the Work Experience and Education sections, seemingly at random. Some of the candidates who used the above section headers wound up having crucial information from their resumes completely omitted from their profiles in the ATS. Using a quirky section header can throw off an ATS and result in a muddled or incomplete candidate profile. One candidate included a brief company description after the name of the company he worked at, with his job title and details of his role following the company description. The ATS showed the company name in the right place, but instead of prominently displaying the job title next to the company name- as the system is supposed to do- the job title was lumped in with the company description and details of the role. Company descriptions can be quite useful, both as an opportunity to use relevant resume keywords and to give recruiters a sense of the settings a candidate has worked in (for example, an employer might want candidates with previous start-up or non-profit experience). Just remember to include them after listing the company name, your job title, and your employment dates. Use Jobscan for an analysis of how well your resume uses targeted keywords. The second role here is missing the job title header because the candidate listed it after a company description. SmartRecruiters was not able to recognize any phone numbers written with periods in place of parentheses or dashes- that is, the ATS could identify (555) 555-5555 and 555-555-5555 as phone numbers, but not 555.555.5555. Similarly, it did not recognize dates when written as 1.1.2014. Writing out numerical information using periods is common in Europe, and others do so for aesthetic purposes. But because contact information and employment dates are are two of the most important pieces of information on a resume, its crucial to format them in a way the ATS will recognize. Search function and filters The search tool is as simple as any other search tool online, though the results are not always predictable. The search tool is what allows the employer to look for candidates whose resumes contain particular keywords. Bachelor’s and BS returned different batches of candidates. BBA returned no results, even though one candidate abbreviated his degree in that format on his resume. Project manager and project management returned different batches of candidates. Customer and client returned different batches of candidates. Product and products returned different batches of candidates.  On the other hand, “develop,” “developer” and “development” all returned the same candidates. The results of a search for project management (identifying information removed). Punctuation didn’t seem to matter; “masters” and “master’s” returned the same results. (Keep in mind that  it’s not safe to assume that recruiters will type in the correct form of every term.) In addition to entering search terms, the system also has several filters. Applicants can be sorted by location, by rating, by status, and by tags. The rating is a simple one-star to five-star scale, with ratings for each candidate manually entered by a SmartRecruiters user. There are no concrete guidelines for choosing a rating, though presumably each recruiter comes up with their own rubric for rating candidates. Once a candidate is rated, others involved in hiring for that job can weigh in by agreeing or disagreeing with the rating. With each rating, there is space for a note of explanation. Status simply refers to how far along in the hiring pipeline a given candidate is. SmartRecruiters divides it into eight categories: lead, new, in-review, interview, offered, hired, rejected, and withdrawn. Tags are optional; recruiters can create any tags they want, and apply them to the candidate of their choice. These tags can be used as custom filters, allowing recruiters to group candidat es together by skill, status, or other criteria. Recruiters can choose between friendly and formal templates when sending rejection emails. If a candidate applies to more than one position within a company, SmartRecruiters only considers them for one job at a time. They are added to the candidate pool for the first job they apply to, and the system alerts the recruiter when they apply to other positions at the company. The recruiter must manually re-assign the candidate to another job. So if you are considering more than one role at a company, the safest bet is to apply first to the role that interests you most. For recruiters From SmartRecruiters, recruiters can choose which job boards to post to; there is list of dozens. Most will post jobs for 30, 45, or 60 days. The cost ranges from free (for the first time a recruiters posts on a particular site) up to $495. Some also offer the option to create a featured or sponsored job.  The job boards listed range from the big ones everyone knows (Craigslist,  LinkedIn, Monster, and CareerBuilder) to niche boards (VeteranCareer.org, FlexJobs, and iCrunchData, among others). The various job boards are ranked according to the number of candidates received per posting, and by ratings from other recruiters. One job board that charges among the highest fees per job posting- Dice, at $495 for one 30-day post- has a one-star rating (on a scale of one to five stars, one being low and five being high). In contrast, Indeed is one of the most highly-rated job boards (“Expect a lot of volume. Good reach,” according to one review), while only charging $150 for a sponsored job listing. Takeaways After trying SmartRecruiters, these are the main takeaways I discovered for job seekers: Use straightforward formatting.  Arrange information based on function, not stylistic choices or emphasis. In order for an ATS to correctly parse the information in your resume, it needs to be able to find key information- such as job titles and contact information- in the expected places. Choose standard or traditional section headers. If you dont, your profile within the ATS is likely to be full of blanks, or to have crucial information lumped in with other things. That could lead to the system or the recruiter passing over your resume. Use synonyms throughout your resume. Uniformity is a virtue in many instances, especially when it comes to resumes, but not when dealing with  applicant tracking systems. Including similar or synonymous terms such as  Registered Nurse and RN will increase your chances of getting noticed. Plan carefully when applying to more than one position within a company. SmartRecruiters only allows applicants to be considered for one job at a time, and automatically enters applicants into the candidate pool for the first job they apply for. To be considered for another position, the employer must manually move you to the candidate pool for another job.   Finally, you can boost  your chances of landing an interview by testing your resume with Jobscan before you apply. Jobscan will analyze your resume and the job description side by side and rate how well your resume is tailored for the job, and  suggest improvements you can make. See also: 8 Things You Need to Know About Applicant Tracking Systems

This brain hack will help you attract good luck

This brain hack will help you attract good luck This brain hack will help you attract good luck Things like good and bad luck are actually just in our minds. We have a tremendous amount of control over our own realities. It’s all a matter of the lens that our brains filter experiences through, and how we use those interpretations to confirm our core beliefs. There is a new method to help reverse harmful or negative belief systems. It’s called Flow Consciousness, and its primary goal is to replace “limiting core beliefs” with those that are, in essence, limitless. “It’s a new operating system for our consciousness,” says Justin Faerman, cofounder of the  Flow Consciousness Institute, a Santa Barbara-based coaching and research organization. “Flow Consciousness is really a set of internal and external shifts that people need to make in order to shift their trajectory in life from one of struggle and suffering and hardship toward more of an effortless, nonlinear, intuition-based way of operating.” Since merging practices to found the Flow Consciousness Institute in 2015, Faerman and his cofounder Jackie Knechtel have refined various strategies for rebooting that internal operating system. The pair has since coached CEOs, professional athletes, Ivy League professors, venture capitalists, acclaimed musicians, and screenwriters in 10 countries on how to reframe their interpretation of reality to achieve consciousness flow. How limiting core beliefs get reinforced Whether we’re aware of it or not, Faerman says that everyone sees the world through their own filter; a lens that reframes our experiences to align with our core beliefs. As a result, those core beliefs can have a significant impact on our emotional state, which ultimately influence our decisions and actions. For example, if one believes that the world is inherently a scary place, their emotional state will remain defensive and on edge as they walk down the street. In that state, should a passing stranger give them an innocent look, one is more likely to interpret that look to be threatening. That interpretation in turn confirms and reinforces their core belief about the world, perhaps inspiring them not to travel down that road again. “If you believe the world is a dangerous place, you won’t go to certain places, and that will limit what’s available to you and what’s possible for you,” says Knechtel, demonstrating how core beliefs can serve to limit our real-world actions and opportunities. Unlocking your potential by changing your core beliefs Identifying these core beliefs and working to replace them with non-limiting ones, says Knechtel, is key to opening new possibilities. For example, a limiting core belief the founder pair often encounter when working with entrepreneurs and executives is that they’re somehow not worthy or deserving. “If you think you’re not good enough, you’ll have a stream of constant negative self-thought and a lower emotional state, which will absolutely affect your performance,” says Faerman. “There will be more fear of failure, fear of being seen or putting yourself out there or doing things that can help grow your business because you have that deep fear of failure or need for approval,” adds Knechtel.In other words, core beliefs become self-fulfilling prophecies, as those that believe they’re not worthy will inevitably act accordingly. Through studying fields ranging from neuroscience to psychology to quantum physics to Zen philosophy, Faerman and Knechtel have developed a variety of methodologies designed to help clients evolve their thinking away from those self-limiting belief systems. Using instinct as a data point The key to unlocking that potential is an understanding of where those core beliefs originate. Some of the typical sources are society, religion, family, the media, culture, and even DNA, each forcing their own filter on how we see the world and by extension how we behave. As a result, Faerman explains that we often experience discrepancies between our thoughts and our instincts, because instinct isn’t subject to the same filters. “You can actually gain a lot of really useful data about what to do in a given situation from how you feel about it,” says Faerman. “If a deal looks good on paper but your stomach is in a knot over it, that’s valuable data that can help you make better decisions.” Reorienting the linear perception of time Another guiding principal of Flow Consciousness is a reorientation of time itself. Faerman explains that while we naturally perceive time in a linear progression, Flow Consciousness teaches how to look backwards from an imagined, desirable future. “Play more in the state of what would reality look like if the thing I’m working toward has already happened, occupying and speaking from that place, and reverse engineering your life from there,” he suggests. Faerman points to the most decorated coach in NBA history as an example. Those who have played for Phil Jackson have  saidthat the hall of fame coach, who led 11 teams to victory, encouraged his players to first believe they had already won the title, and then play the season accordingly.“We know the brain can’t tell the difference between what we’re imagining and what’s actually happening,” adds Faerman. “It actually lights up the same neural pathways in our brain, it activates a lot of the same systems in our body, and so by staying in this place of acting and thinking and envisioning that it’s already happened, you start to build capacity to think and live in that way.” Toward a more effortless life Those who shift their core beliefs and thinking in line with the flow methodology are able to experience more emotional freedom and inner peace, according to Faerman and Knechtel. That is because core beliefs that had long served to create roadblocks in their thoughts and actions are replaced by instinct and a more optimistic, limitless view of what’s possible. “You no longer have to battle your willpower, everything just kind of falls into alignment in this place of peace and calm,” says Knechtel. “Everything is inherently neutral until we assign it a meaning, so we get to choose what perceptional frame we’re operating from; the one that causes struggle and burnout and stress, or the one that results in a state of peace and calm and joy and flow. You get to choose.” This article originally appeared on Fast Company.   More from Fast Company: This Is The Mind-Set You’ll Need In Order To Thrive In The Future Of Work 5 Habits To Get Over Self-Limiting Beliefs How The Most Successful People Constantly Question Their Strongest Beliefs

This Language Will Help You Land (More) IT Jobs

This Language Will Help You Land (More) IT Jobs This Language Will Help You Land (More) IT Jobs If you’re a programmer, you’re probably always looking to improve your skillset and beef up your resume.  IT recruiters certainly see programmers who inadvertently limit their job search options by focusing on the same languages, year after year. If you’re thinking about learning a new language soon, a good bet would be Python.   Here’s why Python would be the best investment in your career right now. Learning Python widens your job search options because it’s a language that many companies want to use across various industries.  This might be at least partially because it’s free and lowers overhead costs.  Python isn’t just big in the tech space (which is, of course, huge in itself), though.  It’s also used in hot job sectors like Science, Medicine, Finance (Fintech), Retail, and Entertainment. Python works for so many of the trends employers want to participate in right now.  It’s a language that works for Scrum and Agile development, which is much more popular than Waterfall.  It’s also a language that works better for open-source technologies, which many innovative, progressive employers want to use.  Lastly, Python is a trendy language among employers because it gets frequent updates.  Employers never see it as a stale, archaic language. Employers, especially in the tech space where it’s a job seeker’s market, want to pick languages that attract top talent.  Make yourself a more viable job candidate by playing into this trend and adding Python to your arsenal.   Python attracts programmers right now for a few reasons.  Firstly, it’s easy to learn (partially because it’s so readableâ€" it includes English words). It’s also being taught more and more frequently in universities and colleges.  Secondly, it’s popular among programmers who want an alternative to the highly corporate, controlled .NET, as it’s open source.  Lastly, IT staffing companies find that Python appeals to programmers because it’s a craftsmen’s language.  It allows programmers to really show off their skills and demonstrate a deep mastery that other, less flexible languages don’t allow. Samantha Keefe is an Interactive Marketing Manager  at   AVID Technical Resources .  AVID Technical Resources is a leading information technology recruiting company with offices around the country.

Tips on How to Provide a Better New Employee Orientation

Tips on How to Provide a Better New Employee Orientation Tips on How to Provide a Better New Employee Orientation Your new employee orientation is a make em or  break  em experience, for a new employee. At its best, the process of new employee orientation solidifies the new employees relationship with your organization. It fuels their enthusiasm and guides their steps into a long-term positive relationship with you. It helps you retain the employees that you most want to keep. Done poorly, your new employee orientation will leave your new employees wondering why on earth they walked through your door. This lays the foundation for a negative employee experience of your job and organization- why go there when the war for excellent talent is escalating? Picture this scenario, which plays out every day in organizations. Your company’s new employee orientation program has slick, pre-printed handouts. The program’s savvy, friendly presenter uses good visuals such as overhead transparencies and a white marker board. Participants receive a guided tour of the facility. The hundred-page employee handbook  is safely tucked under their arms. Yet the average employee feels bewildered, overwhelmed, and far from welcome. Not your intention at all! What’s missing? How can you take your program from simply orienting to integrating your new hire? Remember That Your New Hires Are Human Many new hires question their decision to change companies by the end of their first day. Their anxieties are fueled by mistakes that companies often make during that first-day new employee orientation program. These common mistakes include: Overwhelming the new hire with facts, figures, names and faces packed into one eight-hour day;Showing boring orientation videos;Providing lengthy front-of-the-room lectures; andFailing to prepare for the new hire by providing appropriate equipment such as a laptop and adequate assignments so the new employee feels as if they have jumped right into the work of the new job.Before you completely revamp your present new employee orientation  process, ask yourself the following question: What do you want to achieve during new employee orientation? What  first impression do you want to make? A company’s positive first impressions can cement the deal for a newly recruited employee. Those positive strokes can also speed integration and productivity. Research shows that good orientation programs can  improve employee retention  by 25 percent. The Ideal Orientation for Your New Hires Dr. John Sullivan, head of the Human Resource Management Program at San Francisco State University, concludes that several elements contribute to a world-class new employee orientation program. The best new employee orientation: Targets goals and meets them,Makes the first day a celebration,Involves family as well as coworkers,Makes new hires productive on the first day,Is not boring, rushed or ineffective, andUses feedback to continuously improve. Make Employees Say During NEO: I Am Welcomed, Therefore, I Belong Most organizations are great at celebrating the departure of a beloved coworker. Why are organizations often so awful at welcoming a new employee? Think about arranging a party to welcome the new employee. Celebrations produce enthusiasm. Have you experienced starting a new job only to have your coworkers and supervisor ignore you during the first week? If so, you understand the effectiveness of even a little enthusiasm. Some simple celebration methods might include a letter of welcome signed by the CEO, a company t-shirt signed by all department members, and a cake with candles on the employee’s first day. Involve families in the celebration. Schedule a welcome luncheon or dinner for spouses and families during the employee’s first month. Old-fashioned welcome wagons were once used to deliver goodies to new members of a community. You can establish your own welcome wagon. Freebies that aid the new hire in his job will reinforce the belief that company employees are glad he is there and want him to succeed. As an example, a map showing nearby eateries is helpful and appreciated. (An invitation to lunch from coworkers each day during the employee’s first week is even more welcoming.) Go one step further than providing a map of the facility and the parking lot. Provide your new person with a photo of himself in the parking lot, in front of the company sign. Visuals have a great impact. Prepare for Instant Productivity From Your New Hire Employers frequently overlook the most fundamental question of the new recruit. He wants to know how his work impacts his department and ultimately, the company. Your new employee orientation should include an overview of each department’s function. Include information about what specifically goes into each department (inputs) and what comes out (products). Provide examples of how these functions relate to the employee’s job. Spend some time during the new employee orientation allowing each person to examine how his new job and its responsibilities fit in. Discuss the expected contributions and how they will help the company. Be sure to point out how new employees can offer feedback for making improvements. Examine your new employee orientation program from the perspective of the new employees. Anticipate their anxieties, as well as their questions. Provide a glossary of company acronyms, buzzwords, and FAQs so they don’t have to ask the most basic questions. Distribute a help source card that provides the names and email addresses of people who are pre-designated for questions. You may also want to assign a departmental mentor to assist with questions and the new employee orientation process during the employee’s first month. Manage the Integration of Your New Hire Ideally, the new hire’s immediate manager will participate in part of the new employee orientation. A fun way to incorporate the supervisor is in the style of the old Newlywed Game. The supervisor has to guess how he thinks his new employee will answer questions. If answers match, points are awarded for prizes. For an effective new employee orientation process, many companies expect the supervisor to provide the departmental, and work-specific orientation. The Human Resources department handles the company overview, the handbooks, the benefits, and other basic information. But, then, the supervisor takes over. On the first day, a new employee should meet with his new supervisor. The meeting should include a plan for specific training. Both the supervisor and the new employee are encouraged to share their expectations for the job, including fears or reservations each may have. The manager keeps the meeting positive and adjourns with the new hire started on a meaningful assignment. Avoid the mistake of allowing the new employee to sit idle. (In some organizations, the Human Resources group helps with the design of a checklist, which assists supervisors to provide a thorough orientation.) Evaluate the Success of the New Employee Orientation Good training programs  ask for participant evaluations. At the end of your new employee orientation, offer a brief,  five-question  survey focused on the presentation. Follow up with a survey that focuses on content in ten days or so. Encourage feedback about what information the new employee would have liked to have received during the new employee orientation program. Find out what information was overload or unneeded. Incorporate the suggestions to improve your new employee orientation program. First impressions of your organization, both good and bad, are made the first day. Decide the objectives of your new employee orientation program. Meet those objectives honestly and positively. Successful integration will happen only if your new employee decides he has made a wise decision to join your organization. Your effective new employee orientation can help make or break that decision. A Positive Example of a Successful New Hire Orientation The best new employee orientation was instituted at Edgewood Tool and Manufacturing, a small stamping plant near Detroit. Every manager who hired a new employee was required to write a 120-day  orientation plan for the new employee. It involved one action a day. Actions included meeting the Director of Quality, calling on a customer and having lunch with the CEO. You can bet that the new employee was thoroughly welcomed and integrated into the organization after 120 different orientation events.

6 Real-Life Examples of Age Discrimination

6 Real-Life Examples of Age Discrimination 6 Reals of Age Discrimination Age discrimination is alive and well in America. And it’s affecting more than the community of retirees who want to re-enter the workforce. Ageism is rearing it’s ugly head in interviews and recruiting conversations amongst 40- and 50-year-olds. Neither could we, at first. When we published   “5 Ways Older Workers Can Combat Age Discrimination” , we thought we were speaking to the 60+ crowd, those who were looking to repackage their skills for a new career chapter. However, when we read the comments on that article, we realized the issue wasn’t as simple as we thought. Heightening tech skills and showing enthusiasm were only so helpful for mature job seekers. The stories of discrimination and implicit bias that older candidates said they had faced were shocking and disheartening. Here are a few of the most eye-opening revelations of age discrimination and  companies who are specifically hiring mature talent. “I met with a recruiter this week. After getting through the look of disappointment when she saw how old I am, she told me that many of their requests are for “a recent college graduate because they haven’t developed bad habits yet”. What a slap in the face. I guess checking your phone constantly, instead of working, is not considered a bad habit. If I am willing to work for entry-level wages, why wouldn’t you want my years of experience? I am sick of hearing older workers haven’t kept up with technology. I have been through MS-DOS, the many variations of Windows, WordPerfect, Dbase, Access, Word, Excel, and on and on. Each time I have had to learn and adapt. Give me a break.” - Adrienne Lake “I have taken all dates off of my resume, and I have shortened it to only include my work history after 2000. I am considered by others to be at the very top of my field. I don’t have young children, so I don’t ever miss work because of sick children. Having lost my job when our clinic was closed, I have spent over a year looking for work. Agree with Deborah below. There is basically nothing you can do to combat age discrimination, and it is rampant. Illegal, but it is definitely out there. And yes, Jerry. The online applications, with hiring managers that aren’t familiar with the actual work being done, is not helpful.” - Barbara Jennings “In my mid-40s, I think this issue of ageism starts quite early, as far back for me as my late 30s. Getting that interview is almost impossible, which makes me ponder about what to omit in terms of work history and years of service. Disconcerting. But it’s good to have a community to share best practices and experiences.” - Giovanna Aguilar “I have been a “bridesmaid” 4 times in the last 3 months of job searching and interviews thru all of these online sites. I don’t look a day over 43 (I’m almost 51). I’m smart, assertive, good in a room, adaptable, sense of humor…I could go on. But I feel like today’s employers think it’s normal to expect 50+ hours /week, low pay, and employees who are desperate-hungry like they’re just out of college. If you’re at all laid back, confident, relaxed, employers are turned off. Everybody wants a workhorse, but with no hay as a reward. I remember my first job at a big law firm in L.A. I had my review, asked for my small raise, and the COO (woman) looked at me and said, “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t get the best person for the least amount. Do you want to keep your job, or not?” 25 years later, I feel like nothing’s changed. It sucks because I’m statistically slated to live another 30 years! I’m not gonna sit around, get lazy and encourage Alzh eimer’s to set in. I plan on working for another 15-20 years, but where?” - Laurie Nelson Altenbern “This is an issue I’ve been reading more and more about every day from all over the world. I think most of us over 50 understand the necessity of keeping up with the latest trends, technology, etc etc. Afterall, we were using the first version of Windows and had to continually update our skills to keep up with the multiple versions that were to follow. And that’s only one small example, there are so many. Think about all your work experiences, no matter how insignificant you think they are, incorporate all those learnings in a resume. Trying to prove age discrimination from a legal perspective is virtually impossible unless a hiring person blurts it out â€" “you’re too old, and because of that we’re not hiring you.” Every article I read says the same thing, that’s because there is no real solution to the problem. The only way out of it is to: keep looking for that job, start a business - after all, all that knowledge has to be worth something to someone, and network your butt off.” - Lois Brown “I never thought I was going to be in this situation, having to deal with age discrimination. I was let go after 8 hard working years, the company personnel was restructured and I was the oldest & [highest paid] in my department, they did not consider the fact that I was the hardest worker there, I can beat any twenty-year-old when it comes to stamina! I have been thru so many interviews that when they see me I notice the look on their faces as”oh, she is older” even though I don’t look 53! I am beginning to doubt my skills and wonder if I chose the wrong career. I am a Technical Designer in the fashion industry and there is a lot of competition. So I am thinking on reinventing myself, so I will try to start something on my own and work my butt off networking.” - Dari Roldan 5  Companies Hiring Mature Talent or Have Returnship Programs Details:   The Goldman Sachs Returnship program was specifically designed for those who left the workforce for two or more years and are ready to return. This paid, ten-week program offers opportunities in a variety of divisions and the chance to experience the vast network of resources at Goldman Sachs. In the same way that an internship offers a guided period of exploration, a “returnship” provides individuals with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in a work environment that may have changed significantly since their last experience as an employee. Details:   Barclay’s offers real skills and training, fair pay and real career option through their Apprenticeship program. Sometimes it takes a long time to find the role that’s right for you. You might have been made redundant and need to learn new skills. Whatever your situation, if you want to change careers, Barclay’s will help you find the right direction.  Anyone can be a Foundation Apprentice. 18 or 85. A parent, a school leaver, ex-military, unemployed. Whoever you are, whatever your life stage, this program is the chance to move forward and achieve your ambitions. Details: The gig economy has embraced retiree workers perhaps more than any other industry. In a 2016 article in the New York Times , the writer interviewed senior drivers and noted, “Ms. Johnson is among a growing number of older Americans who are driving for Uber or its competitor Lyft to augment their retirement income. Some drivers say it is a great chance to be independent and earn extra cash on their own schedule. But others, including some drivers, say it is exploitation of older people who work as independent contractors, without any benefits, because their age means they have a harder time finding full-time employment.” Details:   A frequent honoree in AARP’s Best Employers for Workers Over 50, NIH nurtures and respects its mature employees. As of 2013, forty-three percent of NIH employees are age 50 or over , with an average employee tenure of 15.25 years. Employees at all stages of their careers have opportunities to receive training, and some are mandatory. These include tuition reimbursement, certification classes, in-house classroom training, online training, commercial training, professional conferences, and student loan repayment programs. AARP noted that 100 percent of employees had participated in at least one of these opportunities. Details:   H&R Block is one of the largest tax return preparers in the US, where it has approximately 11,000 company-owned and franchised retail locations. H&R hires a ton of former accountants, CPA’s, tax people who have retired but who are looking for a seasonal tax gig. Plus,   Time has compiled a list of the jobs people work the longest, based on the percentage of workers over 65, and at the top of the list is tax preparers.

How to Fly a General Aviation Traffic Pattern

How to Fly a General Aviation Traffic Pattern How to Fly a General Aviation Traffic Pattern Curious how airplanes get in and out of airports when theres no control tower? The short story is that they use a rectangular traffic pattern, entering and departing at common areas in the pattern and otherwise flying a predictable path through the air at a known altitude while making radio calls. Thats it. It works, most of the time. Now, heres the longer version. Light aircraft are expected to fly a traffic pattern around an airport. At small, non-towered fields, airports are allowed to enter and depart pretty much however theyd like to. Technically, they can fly circles instead of rectangles, and they can fly to and from while doing barrel rolls if they so desire (except the FAA make take issue with that and invoke Part 91.13, which says that nobody can act in a way that endangers others). But there is a standard pattern that (most) pilots fly in and out of airports, and its a rectangle with six different parts, or legs. Direction A standard traffic pattern is flown to the left, meaning the aircraft makes left turns in the pattern. Non-standard, or right-turn, patterns do exist to avoid terrain or obstacles, or for noise abatement procedures, but the standard pattern is to the left.   Altitude The pattern is flown at approximately 1,000 feet AGL, or above ground level, or at the recommended altitude found in the airport/facility directory published by the FAA. This altitude may vary depending on obstacle clearance, terrain, and noise abatement procedures. For an airport at sea level, the traffic pattern altitude would be 1,000 feet MSL. For an airport with an elevation of 5,500 feet, the traffic pattern altitude would be about 6,500 feet MSL (as read on the aircrafts altimeter).   Airspeed All pilots are required to comply with speed restrictions of not more than 200 knots in traffic patterns and should adjust speed to match other aircraft in the pattern as able. The traffic pattern can be divided into 6 parts: The departure leg, crosswind leg, downwind leg, base leg, final, and upwind. Departure Leg As one might assume, the departure leg is the path that the airplane flies right after departure. During the departure leg, the pilot climbs the airplane in a straight path out from the runway centerline, either visually means - looking outside to maintain an extended centerline - or by maintaining runway heading on the heading indicator. The pilot will maintain this extended runway centerline until reaching at least 300 feet below the traffic pattern altitude. For a traffic pattern altitude of 1,000 feet MSL, the pilot might begin his turn to the crosswind leg of the pattern at approximately 700 feet, continuing to climb throughout the turn and   Crosswind Leg The crosswind leg occurs after the first 90-degree turn is made upon reaching about 300 feet below pattern altitude during the departure leg to a position perpendicular to the runway. The pilot should continue the climb to pattern altitude during the crosswind leg. This leg lasts just a few seconds for most light aircraft; at approximately one-half mile distance from the runway, the pilot will make another turn to the downwind leg of the pattern.  ?? Downwind Leg About one-half mile away horizontal distance from the runway in use, the pilot should turn to the downwind leg, which parallels the runway and is flown opposite the landing direction. The aircraft will be heading with the wind or in the direction that the wind is blowing. The pilot flies the length of the runway at the specified pattern altitude and begins to configure for a landing, perhaps completing a before landing checklist, adding flaps and/or ensuring that the gear is down and locked during this phase. Abeam (90 degrees perpendicular to) the landing point, or the departure end of the runway on downwind, the pilot will likely reduce power and begin a gradual descent.   Base Leg At a position on downwind, beyond and at about a 45-degree point from the approach end of the runway, the pilot should begin a medium bank turn to the base leg, again perpendicular to the landing runway. The pilot continues his descent at a normal rate of descent while adding flaps if necessary. When at a 90-degree point from the landing runway, the pilot will turn to the final leg of the pattern.   Final Leg The final leg of the pattern should be spent finalizing the approach, taking note of the aircrafts configuration, airspeed, altitude, and descent rate. When on the appropriate glide path, the pilot will be at the recommended airspeed for the specific aircraft, descending at a moderate rate and in a normal position to land with flaps and gear extended as necessary. During the final leg of the pattern, the pilot descends all the way to the runway for landing.   Upwind Leg During the approach, many things can happen that can cause a pilot to go around or execute a missed approach. Another aircraft on the runway, an unstable approach or the presence of wake turbulence can mean that a pilot will choose not to land, but will execute a missed approach or a go-around, in which case the pilot adds full (or takeoff) power, climbs away from the ground, and reconfigures the aircraft for the climb. During this time, the pilot should join the upwind part of the pattern, which is offset to the right side of the runway (for a standard left pattern) slightly. The upwind leg would then be flown until in a position to turn to the crosswind leg.   Entry to the Pattern The entry into a traffic pattern should, when possible, be made from a 45-degree point to the downwind leg, joining the downwind leg of the pattern around the mid-field point, or with at least enough time for the pilot to configure the aircraft for a normal approach.   Exiting the Pattern Departures from the pattern should, when possible, be flown from the departure or upwind leg, either straight out or at a 45-degree angle in the direction of the pattern on the crosswind leg.   NOTE: These are guidelines only. Arrivals at non-towered airports often come from all directions, and departures often depart to any direction the pilot chooses. Care should be taken to remain vigilant in positively identifying traffic inbound and outbound in all cases. Exercise caution and make timely radio calls at all times.   Source: FAA Airplane Flying Handbook

NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs show superstitions are linked to success

NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs show superstitions are linked to success NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs show superstitions are linked to success We are in the midst of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and hockey newbies like me are  catching up on decades of rivalries, but as I learn about what a puck going where means, I also need to  educate myself  on the equally important rituals.In 1980, the New York Islanders grew beards  during their playoff run and won four straight championships with their facial hair, so now naturally, all players won’t shave off their playoff beards until their season ends. Every team wants to know the winning formula to another team’s success, and they will do anything, even growing some scraggly fuzz, to get there.Above all, you won’t catch any NHL player touching the Stanley Cup, the holy grail for every team, until they’ve actually won the Stanley Cup. Some captains  won’t even touch or lift the lesser conference trophies like the Prince of Wales Trophy or the Clarence Campbell Bowl out of superstitious fear that to do so would seem presumptuous. It’s gotta be Stanley Cup or bust.Any ritua l around success gets our attention, so we took a look at some of the more popular ones in sports - but we urge caution if you try these at work.Fan superstitions include throwing an octopusAs a fan, you start to pour your hopes and anxieties onto these players. When they win, you say “we won.” If you tie enough of your identity into these games, you’ll start participating  in player superstitions too. That’s why many hockey fans won’t touch the Stanley Cup either until their team has won the championship.  Game-day rituals can include wearing the same unwashed  jersey to keep your  team’s winning streak going, and donning whatever apparel that will make you feel like you have some control over the game’s outcome.Some rituals can be more bizarre.In 1952, two  Detroit Red Wings fans started an enduring tradition after they tossed  an octopus onto the ice rink. The octopus’ eight tentacles represented the eight wins Detroit needed to win the Stanley Cup that year. (Th is season, the power of the octopus failed - the Red Wings missed the playoffs for the first time in 26 seasons.)Superstitions prevail in every sport with demanding performance tasks. With the 2007-08 Celtics, Kevin Garnett started playing well after he had a hankering for a peanut, butter and jelly sandwich.Now, the whole NBA league is engaging in elaborate pregame PBJ  rituals as if the cafeteria snack was a  performance-enhancing Gatorade. During the Kansas City Royals 2016 playoff run, a praying mantis showed up in their dugout. That night, the Royals won, and maintaining the newly dubbed Rally Mantis became outfielder Billy Burns’ duty, who would kiss the insect’s  plastic home for good luck.With all of these rituals, you’re searching for positive meaning in an industry filled with  unfair breaks and daily heartbreaks.The science behind superstitions - should you indulge them at work?Is believing in superstitions helpful or not?Critics would say believing in them is a sig n of an irrational mind. But a 2010 study found that when participants did  superstitious rituals  like saying “break a leg” or crossing their fingers, their “subsequent performance in golfing, motor dexterity, memory, and anagram games” would improve.By knowing that the odds were in their favor, people’s self-confidence would get  boosted and they increased their “belief in their ability to master a task.”The participants who did rituals were also more persistent with their tasks than those who didn’t engage in the rituals. The more people believed in their good luck, the more optimistic and hopeful they would act. Success  became a self-fulfilling prophecy.As long as you aren’t hurting yourself or others to maintain your superstition, it’s fine to believe in these higher powers. Keep eating your peanut butter and jelly sandwich before every game. Throw a dead octopus onto a hockey rink. Wear your rally beard and faux mohawk. Whatever external force is keeping t he belief in yourself going, keep at it. This world and these games are built for heartbreak; superstitions can ease the burn.Just remember that the clock will reset, and we  will all begin anew tomorrow.

Tips for Students and Grads Starting a Law Career

Tips for Students and Grads Starting a Law Career Tips for Students and Grads Starting a Law Career Are you a college student interested in a law career? Maybe you love watching reruns of “Law and Order” or “The Practice,” or maybe you want a professional degree to stand out in today’s competitive job market. As a college student, there are things you can do now to set the stage for a future career as an attorney. Read these tips on preparing for a law degree, and check out the list of skills you need to succeed in a law career. Tip #1: Focus on Your Academic Record Study hard and compile a record of academic excellence while in college. However, don’t worry if you are not at the top of your class. There are law schools for students of nearly all academic backgrounds since there is a wide range of competitiveness for admission to different schools. Law schools look at more than just your grades as well â€" they care about your LSAT scores, your skill sets, your extracurricular and work history, and your reasons for applying to law school. Tip #2: Get a Jump on Law Courses Take a couple of law courses  if they are offered at your school to experiment with the type of study required and to test your interest. Tip #3: Choose a Challenging Major An academically challenging major will help you to develop a strong work ethic. A challenging major will also help you practice important skills that will be necessary for a law career, like critical thinking, argumentation, and writing. If you already know what kind of law you are interested in, you can use that to help decide your major. Political science or history are great majors for those interested in government or politics. Economics and business are ideal for those interested in corporate law, psychology for criminal law, biology for health law and computer science or engineering for technology or patent law. English is also a great major for a future legal career because it helps you develop your writing and argumentation skills. Tip #4: Choose Appropriate Clubs and Groups Investigate opportunities through your school  to participate in moot court and other debate activities. Law schools will see this engagement as evidence of your genuine interest in the law; this can help separate you from the many applicants who choose law as a default career option. Tip #5: Join Student Government Consider participating in student government  since you will gain experience in drafting legislation for your campus. This is another terrific experience to mention in your law school applications. Tip #6: Volunteer With Community-Based Organizations Most law schools are interested in attorneys who will spend some of their time advancing the public good. Some volunteer positions might even involve writing memos, campaigning, or other skills that will be valuable in a future legal career. Tip #7: Demonstrate Your Writing Skills   Law is a writing-intensive profession. Strengthen your writing skills and demonstrate these skills by doing a senior project or independent study, working for your campus newspaper, taking a couple of English courses, creating a blog, or choosing a writing-intensive major. Tip #8: Conduct  Informational Interviews   Line up interviews with as many attorneys as possible through alumni and family connections. Try to speak with attorneys in different fields of law to get a rich sense of the many areas of legal practice. This is a good way for you to learn what fields of law you are most interested in. Tip #9:  Job Shadow   Job shadow a few attorneys  in interesting fields to see what it is like to be in their shoes for a few days. It can be fun to go to court and observe proceedings! Talk to someone in your college career services office or your alumni office, or speak with a family friend in law to arrange a job shadow experience. Tip #10: Intern in the Law Field Gain some legal experience by  interning  at a local law firm or legal aid society, or interning with a public defender or district attorney. Working side by side with attorneys can help you verify your interest in the field and make valuable contacts. If you have a good experience at a law firm as a college student, the internship might become a summer job while at law school. Tips for College Graduates If you have already graduated or arent ready to attend law school right after graduation, consider working as a legal assistant (also known as a paralegal) for a couple of years prior to law school. The pay isnt bad and you will be able to meet many different lawyers and observe their work (even though you may be performing very basic tasks). Try to work at a law firm you are interested in or a firm that practices a type of law you are curious about. This will also help you decide what kind of law career you might want to have. If you follow these steps in the years prior to law school, you will be more likely to make a sound decision about your legal career and amass an impressive array of credentials for your law school applications. Legal Skills List and Examples From environmental law to criminal law to property law, every legal career requires a different skill set. However, there are a few skills that are necessary for anyone in law. While in college, look for opportunities to develop some of these skills. You can work on these skills in your classes, extracurriculars, and volunteer activities. For example, you can develop your research skills while working on a thesis paper, or practice your leadership and teamwork skills by participating in student government. When you apply for law school, use some of the skills keywords below in your applications. In your application, highlight the experiences that helped you develop these skills. This will help you stand out from the competition. Analytical skills: Lawyers need to be able to use sound judgment to assess complex cases. They have to review large volumes of documents and make sense of them. All of this requires analytical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Other skills related to analytical abilities include: Critical thinkingLogical thinkingProblem-solvingSound judgment Communication skills: Communication is critical for lawyers. Lawyers do a lot of writing; they compose briefs, resolutions, memos, and more. They need to be able to write clearly and without error. Lawyers also need strong verbal communication skills â€" they have to be able to convince others of their arguments. They also need to be good listeners in order to understand their clients. Other communication skills necessary for lawyers include: Explaining complex ideas clearlyListeningMediationNegotiationNonverbal communicationPersuasive skillsPresentation skillsVerbal communicationWritten communication Interpersonal skills: Lawyers have to interact well with a number of people, including clients, clerks, and judges. They have to be able to maintain positive relationships with their clients and listen carefully to their clients’ needs. They also need to be able to resolve conflicts and mediate disputes. All of this requires the ability to work well with and get along with others. Lawyers also have to be able to work with a team. Many law firms have lawyers work in pairs or in teams for large, complex cases. They need to be able to share tasks with others to complete a job. Client careCollaborationConflict managementConflict resolutionCounselingCustomer service skillsEmotional intelligencePeople skillsWorking with others Research skills: A lot of legal jobs require the ability to research legal statutes, case law, judicial opinions, and other legal concepts. Lawyers need to be able to quickly and efficiently find the information they are looking for to support their cases. Some skills related to research include: InvestigationLegal researchPosing research questions Work ethic: Being a lawyer requires a strong work ethic. You have to be able to carefully manage your time since clients pay you for every minute that you work. You need to be organized, dedicated, and able to complete multiple tasks at once. Some skills related to a strong work ethic include: AmbitionAttention to detailDedicationDeterminationEnthusiasmMotivationMultitaskingOrganizationProactivityProfessional developmentTime management Other skills: There are many other skills needed to make a strong lawyer. These range from leadership and management skills to technology skills. Check out some of these other important skills: IntegrityConfidenceCommercial acumenFinancial literacyLeadershipManagementSupervisionTechnology