9 shows to binge watch that may help you with your career too

9 shows to binge watch that may help you with your career too9 shows to binge watch that may help you with your career tooWe are only a few weeks away from the premiere of the highly anticipated Murphy Brown reboot (September 27th on CBS in case you forgot.)Murphy Brown, whichpremiered on the same network in 1988 and nabbed two Outstanding Comedy Series Emmys, welches a seminal show as the protagonist was a blunt, hard-hitting television female news journalist who was described by series creator Diane English as living like a man and making no apologies for it whatsoever. In addition to all the wonderful feminism, it was also just a show about a group of coworkers dealing with their jobs and life as it came at them. Something we can all relate to.The entire Murphy Brown series is available to stream on CBS All Access if you want to be fully caught up before the reboot. Or, there are plenty of great shows you can binge watch right now that will allow you to completely relax and also m ay serve you with a career lesson or two.Parks and Recreation (Netflix)From the always energetic Leslie Knope to Ron Swansons irresistible blunt machismo to Andys slovenly adorableness, this was the group of people we wished we worked with all day (and we want all the waffles.) The lessons from this show are countless when it comes to dealing with your coworkers, office romance and not working when you have the flu unless you are Leslie Knope. littlesebastianforeverThe Mary Tyler Moore Show (Hulu)Similar to Murphy Brown, this was an extremely important show when it came to women in the workplace. And though it debuted in 1970 some of the office situations still feel way too familiar. Moore once explained that her character was breaking new ground for women by going in and bringing up to her babo the fact that the man who had the job before her was making more money and why was that? Plus, its hilariousThe Office (Hulu, Netflix)Though the lessons are buried under so much hilariousnes s that sometimes you cant catch your breath, there is a reason why this show is still constantly referenced to. From dealing with the most annoying and awkward boss ever to making the best of a boring job to finally finding your real passion streaming this show will always put you in a good mood.The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)From the brilliant mind behind Gilmore Girls, Amy Sherman Palladino introduced a to an amazing character last year that was all about reinventing yourself and realizing its never too late to pursue your passion if you just let yourself. When Midge Maisels husband suddenly leaves, the perfect Upper West Side housewife thinks her life is over except it is just beginning because she finally found her voice. The winner of the Golden Globe for Best Comedy Series and a well-deserved win for Rachel Brosnahan who plays the title character stream it now before Season 2 begins this fall.Scrubs (Hulu)If you love a little silly humor then this is the show for you. Yes, they are doctors saving lives but that doesnt mean it cant be funny too You have to find the jokes when you work in a tough industry like that. JD and the gang certainly do.Suits (Amazon Prime, USA Network)Yes (the now) Princess Meghan Markle is no longer on the USA Network show, which has been on for 8 seasons, but it is still good and you can stream all the past seasons. So many great lessons from this show including finding a great mentor, how to be a strong leader and faking it until you make it (however we do not condone lying about going to Harvard Law School and saying you are a lawyer when you are not.)Corporate (Comedy Central)You probably havent heard of it as it only had one season on Comedy Central (but its been renewed for a second one) but the show is truly brilliant in its satirical look at the dark underbelly of corporate life. Written byJake Weisman and Matt Ingebretson, who also star, they work for a giant corporation, Hampton Deville that makes really unnece ssary things, like the worlds largest tablet and possibly some weapons of mass destruction. If youve ever fretted over Casual Fridays or what to do when a coworker asks you for a favor then this is the show for you.Scandal (Netflix, Hulu, ABC.com)Nothing like some good old-fashioned workplace drama. Yes, this one involves the President of the United States and so many outlandish conspiracy theories but at the end of the day we learned that a glass of red wine and a creamy white cashmere sweater can solve anything. Thank you Olivia Pope. Its been handled.

What Is a Performance Improvement Plan, What to Do If Youre On One

What Is a Performance Improvement Plan, What to Do If Youre On OneWhat Is a Performance Improvement Plan, What to Do If Youre On One A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a tool used by managers and HR to help employees identify and create an action plan when therbeie are deficiencies present in your performance . While receiving a PIP can feel scary, they should notlage always be perceived negatively. If you receive a PIP, and it seems your organization is truly interested in helping you improve. To help youturn the situation around, here are a few tipsWork closely with your manager to understand exactly where your performance might be lacking. Once you have those specific measurable behaviors and results targeted, you can work with your boss to create an action plan.What can you do each week to improve? What classes or trainings can you enroll in to upskill yourself? What will success look like? Set out a timeline and agree on target objectives that will hold both you and your boss accountable.Oftentimes, we can become complacent in our roles, thinking we dont have anything more to learn, or that our development has reached a plateau . If you find yourself in this mindset, it could be a good time to get your ego in check and remember that there are always ways we can improve. Consider everything you still have left to learn, and use that to drive your internal motivation. Ask yourself, am I really doing everything I can do to be my best self at work and put my best foot forward?Reflect on your daily practices and behaviors, and consider what you felt went well, and what could be improved. Evaluate your mistakes of the past and seek feedback from friends and colleagues.If there are internal factors that are affecting your work, these should be addressed. For example, you may not get along with your boss. You might not have the necessary training needed to succeed. You may not understand the products youre selling. These are all intern al factors that can be worked through with collaborative efforts and training. Take the time to assess your environment at work to see if there is something blocking your success.There may be external forces impacting your work. Family dynamics, relationship stress, mental health and financial struggles are all realities of our day-to-day lives. If youre experiencing any of the above, your performance at work is bound to suffer. If youre needing extra support, let your boss know. Take advantage of any employee assistance programs offered, and get the help you need.When we first start a new job , we have a desire to prove our success and earn our stripes. As you get more comfortable in a role, on a gruppe and in a company, its easy to lose your sense of gusto and roll on autopilot. When you show up to work each day, try and remember that sense of drive you had at the start. Ask yourself, what can I do to help make my bosss job easier? How can I support my colleagues? How can I spo t and solve for gaps in my organization?View this PIP as a fresh start, and a second chance to show your company what youre worth.It never hurts to have a backup plan in case things with your current job dont work out. If youve never received any negative feedback, and you know your performance is truly where it should be, it could be that pressures for layoffs are coming from above or that your manager might have it out for your termination. While this is an unfortunate worst-case situation, it would be wise to protect yourself by kicking off a discreet job search .Hearing negative feedback about yourself is never easy. However, being able to take criticism and use it to drive improvement is a necessary step in creating a deeper sense of self-awareness at work. Before you freak out and jump to the conclusion that youre getting fired, take a deep breath and focus on what you can improve each dayStacy Pollack is a Learning Specialist with an MA in Educational Technology. She is pass ionate about building leadership programs that engage and contribute to the success of her organization. She loves to share her perspective on workplace development, human resources, career building, and networking for success. Connect with her on LinkedIn , Twitter , or at www.stacypollack.com

Verbal Communication Skills List and Examples

Verbal Communication Skills List and ExamplesVerbal Communication Skills List and ExamplesAlmost every job requires workers to use verbal communication skills. Thats why verbal skills are highly ranked on the candidate evaluation checklists used by many job interviewers. The stronger your communication skills, the better your chances of getting hired regardless of the job for which youre applying. Youll do better during the interview, as well as on the job. What Are Verbal Communication Skills? Effective verbal communication skills include more than just talking. Verbal communication encompasses both how you deliver messages and how you receive them. Communication is asoft skill, and its one that is important to every employer. Workers who can convey information clearly and effectively are highly valued by employers. Employees who can interpret messages and act appropriately on the information that they receive have a better chance of excelling on the job. Verbal Communication Skills in the Workplace What constitutes effective verbal communication on the job depends on the relationships between communication parteners and the work context. Verbal communication in a work setting takes place between many different individuals and groups such as co-workers, bosses and subordinates, employees, customers, clients, teachers and students, and speakers and their audiences. Verbal communication occurs in many different contexts including training sessions, presentations, group meetings, performance appraisals, one-on-one discussions, interviews, disciplinary sessions, sales pitches, and consulting engagements. Examples of Verbal Communication Skills Here are some examples of effective workplace verbal communication skills employed in different workplace contexts. Verbal Communications for Supervisors The best supervisors dont merely tell their subordinates what to do and expect them to listen. Instead, they employ active listening skills to understand employ ee needs and perspectives, engage in verbal negotiation to address and defuse issues, and capitalize upon opportunities to praise individual and team achievement. Advising others regarding an appropriate course of actionAssertivenessConveying feedback in a constructive manner emphasizing specific, changeable behaviorsDisciplining employees in a direct and respectful mannerGiving credit to othersRecognizing and countering objectionsShowing an interest in others, asking about and recognizing their feelingsSpeaking calmly even when youre stressedTerminating staffTraining others to carry out a task or roleUsing affirmative sounds and words like uh-huh, got you, I understand, for sure, I see, and yes to demonstrate understanding Using self-disclosure to encourage sharing Verbal Communications for Team Members Open and constant lines of communication are vital to team success, particularly when completing quality- and deadline-critical projects. One of the most important team-building ski lls, strong verbal communications help to ensure that issues will be spotted and resolved in formative stages, averting costly escalation. Conveying messages conciselyEncouraging reluctant group members to share inputExplaining a difficult situation without getting angryExplaining that you need assistanceParaphrasing to show understandingPosing probing questions to elicit more detail about specific issuesReceiving criticism without defensivenessRefraining from speaking too often or interrupting othersRequesting feedbackStating your needs, wants, or feelings without criticizing or blaming Verbal Communications with Clients If a large part of your work involves one-on-one communications with customers, its helpful to have a gift of gab particularly if you are a sales professional. Keep in mind, though, that your conversations need to be focused upon identifying and addressing your clients needs using your verbal talents to encourage consultative dialogues will ensure positive client relations. Anticipating the concerns of othersAsking for clarificationAsking open-ended questions to stimulate dialogueCalming an agitated customer by recognizing and responding to their complaintsEmphasizing benefits of a product, service, or proposal to persuade an individual or groupNoticing non-verbal cues and responding verbally to verify confusion, defuse anger, etc. Verbal Communications for Presenters Public speaking is a talent that is honed both through practice and through formal training. Speaking articulately and persuasively to a live audience involves Enunciating each word you speak clearlyIntroducing the focus of a topic at the beginning of a presentation or interactionPlanning communications prior to deliveryProjecting your voice to fill the roomProviding concrete examples to illustrate pointsRestating important points towards the end of a talkSelecting language appropriate to the audienceSpeaking at a moderate pace, not too fast or too slowlySpeaking confidently bu t with modestySummarizing key points made by other speakersSupporting statements with facts and evidence Tailoring messages to different audiencesTelling stories to capture an audienceUsing humor to engage an audience Tips to Improve Your Verbal Communications Even if you are a shy introvert who prefers to work independently, there are ways to improve your verbal communications skills so that you can more easily cultivate rapport with others. Practice makes perfect, and so take the time to actively practice these communications skills for workplace success active listening, clarity and conciseness, confidence, empathy, friendliness, open-mindedness, giving and soliciting feedback, confidence, respectfulness, and non-verbal (body language, tone of voice, eye contact) communication.

Boat Design Open Sea Engineers

Boat Design Open Sea Engineers Boat Design Open Sea Engineers Boat Design An Open Sea for Mechanical EngineersMechanical engineers can visualize themselves easily in a buzzing power plant or by an old boiler, but how about flying in a sailboat or powerboat, ripping through gorgeous strands of blue sea? Boat entwurf offers adventurous opportunities for those with a natural affinity for the water, to go along with critical thinking skills. William Lasher, prof of mechanical engineering at Pennsylvania State University, who has spent the last decade focused on sail dynamics, says this is a field that becomes passion as much as career.Yacht entwurf, for example, puts you up against the structural issues of racing boats, focusing on incredibly complex loading conditions, Lasher explains. Show even a couple percent improvement in the speed and its a major difference. Lasher utilizes finite element analysis, looking at areas such as hydrodynamic resistance of the boat in flat water versus p erformance in waves, or, for powerboats, the design of the propeller to correspond with the engine.When it comes to finite analysis, especially at the higher end of racing boats for structure, one of the places used a lot is in the design of keels, he says. They hang on the bottom of the boat and it serves the purpose of keeping it from slipping sideways but is made out of lead. Some more recent boats are using canting keels to swing the boat sidewise, shifting from one side to the other to get better stability while dealing with the loads on them. When youre doing that with tens of thousands of pounds, you need to get pretty exact.Where It BeginsLasher says design can often departure with a blank sheet of paper. Youre writing down the basic parameters of the boat how long, wide, weight, how much sailing are you putting on it, what conditions are you sailing in, he says. A velocity prediction program is used to take these parameters and find an equilibrium balance between the forces on the sails and the forces on the hull.Professor Lasher says that boat design can often start with a blank sheet of paper.The sails are trying to push it forward and sideways and the hull offers resistance, he says. And thats the most interesting thing about ithow a very complex system interacts with everything else and its hard to change one thing and not have it affect something else. Its the tradeoffs of constantly putting more sail on it, then needing more stability, he adds, or making the boat wider but then affecting the center of gravity. Youre trying to improve the performance but dealing with the penalty of improvement.For cargo ships, Lasher says designing is adjusted more to the economic impact, trying to carry as much cargo as you can safely for the lifespan of the ship and safety of the passengers. These ships have tremendous loads and need to design a structure to support them thats whats driving you when you consider the cost if your design is off, he says. I rememb er when I was a student we went to a Society of Naval Architects meeting and toured an SL7 (sealand ship) and went down below. Youd be just amazed by the six inch-thick metal plates, how much material goes into it its a lot to manage.Where Do I Sign?But how do you get involved? Lasher says a good way is to get a Masters degree in naval architecture as he did, feeling that combining this with a Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering would give someone a good chance to pick up what boat designing requires. But you must also be committed to continuing to educate yourself long after the diplomas. There are a number of good books out that outline processes and techniques at various levels, he says. But the Bible is really Skenes Elements of Yacht Design revised by Kinney.Finally, Lasher says youll need one more thing patience. Someone once said to design a large ship you have to take the Empire State Buildings structural issues, turn it on its side and run it through waves of 25 kno ts, he laughs. Now thats not an easy challengeEric Butterman is an independent writer.Someone once said to design a large ship you have to take the Empire State Buildings structural issues, turn it on its side and run it through waves of 25 knots. Now thats not an easy challengeWilliam Lasher, professor of mechanical engineering, Penn State University

The five paths to becoming your best at anything

The five paths to becoming your best at anythingThe five paths to becoming your best at anythingIve posted a lot aboutbecoming the bestin your field.Looking back, what are the most successful methods for getting there?1. Work 10,000 hoursLets get the most famous one out of the way firstHard work pays off.Malcolm Gladwell popularized the theory inOutliersapproximately 10,000 hours of deliberate practice at something can turn you into an expert.ViaUngifted Intelligence Redefinedthe most elite violinists accumulated about the same number of hours of deliberate practice (about 7,410 hours) by the age of 18 as professional middle-aged violinists belonging to international-level orchestras (about 7,336 hours)By the age of 20, the most accomplished musicians estimated they spent over 10,000 hours in deliberate practice, which is 2,500 and 5,000 hours more than two less accomplished groups of expert musicians or 8,000 hours more than amateur pianists of the same age.That said, 10,000 hours i s anaverage. And deliberate practice is not just going through the motions.Youve spent more than 10,000 hours driving but that doesnt make you ready for NASCAR or Formula One.Deliberate practicemeansgetting feedback and always pushing to improve. Its notflowand itsnot fun.But itiswhat molds champions.(More on how you can become an experthere.)2. Have great geneticsI wont lie to youbeing a member of the lucky sperm club certainly has its advantages.ViaThe Sports Gene Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic PerformanceEven in this age of hyperspecialization in sports,some rare individuals become world-class athletes, and even world champions, in sports from running to rowing with less than a year or two of training.As with Gobets chess players, in all sports and skills, the only real rule is that there is a tremendous natural range.There are also genetic advantages in the area of music, math and writing.ViaThe Complexity of Greatness Beyond Talent or PracticeHeritability coeffici ents were strongest in music (.92), math (.87), sports (.85), and writing (.83) of the explained variance.This is usually cause for many to throw up their arms and surrender. (These people do not have muchgrit, mind you.)But the existence of genetic advantages doesnt mean you should give up. Id ask you two questionsHave you tried a wide variety of things to see if you possess genetic advantages at any of them?Have you tried aligning your efforts with the areas where you show a level of natural talent?As David Epstein explains, the model is no longer good at sports or not good at sports - its which sport welches your body designed for?ViaThe Sports Gene Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic PerformanceBut, as Norton and Olds saw,as winner-take-all markets emerged, the early-twentieth-century paradigm of the singular, perfect athletic body faded in favor of more rare and highly specialized bodies that fit like finches beaks into their athletic niches.When Norton and Olds plott ed the heights and weights of modern world-class high steckbrckes and shot putters, they saw that the athletes had become stunningly dissimilar. The average elite shot putter is now 2.5 inches taller and 130 pounds heavier than the average international high jumperJust as the galaxies are hurtling apart, so are the body types required for success in a given sport speeding away from one another toward their respective highly specialized and lonely corners of the athletic physique universe.Tall and thin? Try basketball. Short and thick? Weightlifting. Mom and dad are successful engineers? Give math a whirl.Taking advantage of genetic gifts is a matter of finding what your body and mind might have been designed to excel at and aligning your efforts appropriately.(More on genetic advantages - and how I had my own DNA analyzed - here.)3. Be part of a great teamWorking 10K hours and having naturally steady hands can be a great advantage to a doctor butsurgeons only get better at theirhom e hospital.Why? Thats where they know the team best and develop strong working relationships.ViaGive and Take A Revolutionary Approach to SuccessOverall, the surgeons didnt get better with practice. They only got better at thespecific hospitalwhere they practiced.For every procedure they handled at a given hospital, the risk of patient mortality dropped by 1 percent. But the risk of mortality stayed the same at other hospitals.The surgeons couldnt take their performance with them.They werent getting better at performing coronary artery bypass grafts. They were becoming more familiar with particular nurses and anesthesiologists, learning about their strengths and weaknesses, habits and styles.Star analysts on Wall Street? Same thing.ViaGive and Take A Revolutionary Approach to SuccessEven though they were supposed to be individual stars, their performance wasnt portable.When star analysts moved to a different firm, their performance dropped, and it stayed lower for at least five year s.What about for artists? Yeah, baby.ViaGive and Take A Revolutionary Approach to SuccessFrank Lloyd Wrights drought lasted until he gave up on independence and began to work interdependently again with talented collaborators.It wasnt his own idea his wife Olgivanna convinced him to start a fellowship for apprentices to help him with his work.When apprentices joined him in 1932, his productivity soared, and he was soon working on the Fallingwater house, which would be seen by many as the greatest work of architecture in modern history.(More on how your friends can make you a better personhere.)4. Be a giverResearchers who hog the credit on scientific papers are less likely to win a Nobel prize.Those who give younger academics a bit of the spotlight are more likely to have a trip to Stockholm in their future.ViaThe Half-life of Facts Why Everything We Know Has an Expiration DateOne striking finding was the beneficence of Nobel laureates, or as Zuckerman termed it, noblesse oblige.In general, when a scientific paper is published, the author who did the most is listed first.There are exceptions to this, and this can vary from field to field, but Zuckerman took it as a useful rule of thumb.What she found was that Nobel laureates are first authors of numerous publications early in their careers, but quickly begin to give their junior colleagues first authorship. And this happens far before they receive the Nobel PrizeBy their forties, Nobel laureates are first authors on only 26 percent of their papers, as compared to their less accomplished contemporaries, who are first authors 56 percent of the time. Nicer people are indeed more creative, more successful, and even more likely to win Nobel prizes.We think of givers as getting exploited or walked on. And that definitely happens.Wharton ProfessorAdam Grant explained in our interviewWhat I find across various industries, and various studies is theGivers are most likely to end up at the bottom.Thats primarily because they end up putting other people first in ways that either burn them out, or will allow them to get taken advantage of and exploited by Takers.But thats not the end of the story.If giversresist being martyrs, or have a circle of matchers who protect them,they end up on topThen I looked at the other end of the spectrum and said if Givers are at the bottom,whos at the top? Actually, I was really surprised to discover, its the Givers again. The people who consistently are looking for ways to help others are over-represented not only at the bottom, but also at the top of most success metrics.(More on balancing nice with toughhere.)5. Combine themOnly got 5,000 hours and pretty good genetics?Combining these methods can provide powerful results.You dont need to work endlessly or be born brilliant. Theres a very simple formula we can all use to get a benefit from this informationAlways work hard to improve.When choosing tasks and strategies, consider your natural gifts.Pick a great team an d get familiar with them.Within reason, always help others.All other things being equal, I cant imagine how this combination would not lead to an impressive level of success. Can you?Join 45K+ readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhereThis article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

Fraud, Deceptions, and Downright Lies About What Does Resume Mean Exposed

Fraud, Deceptions, and Downright Lies About What Does Resume Mean Exposed Facts, Fiction and What Does Resume Mean The company is searching for somebody who has just the skill set they will need to acquire the best out of that position and you must use your resume skills section in addition to the remainder of the resume to show them that you are that part. Its possible for you to set the emphasis on the info that shows you are the ideal person for the job. When creating an effective resume, you will need to understand how to compose a skills section since it is but one of the very first things a possible employer will search for to find a fundamental comprehension of what you, as a possible employee, can bring to their company. If it is a highly competitive industry then every small thing which you can do, like stating that you are able to prove your history in an industry without being requested to accomplish this, might be the thing that sets you apart from different people an employer may be studying. The rule is if the kind of work is comparable, show both job titles. Whether or not you take advantage of a CV or resume, you must thoroughly edit your document. Resume definition can equally be ascertained based on the particular resume style used. There are two things which are important to remember. You must find out your references well and be certain they can give an excellent feedback, to anybody asking questions regarding your past. There are a few things that dont belong on a resume for work. Otherwise, then theres something wrong. A Startling Fact about What Does Resume Mean Uncovered 1 advantage for employers to internet resumes is the considerable cost saving in contrast to traditional hiring methods. You are going to need a traditional resume to comply with a few employers requirements. In different instances, employers may need a hybrid between chronological and functional resume. Write each objective to appeal to the requirements of certain employers. Also, you are able to easily make your resume stand out by utilizing an online resume builder that will help you with the simple formatting and provide you with great examples of skills to include on your resume to acquire the employers interest. Consequently, job seekers should comprehend a few of the mechanics behind resume parsing to get a competitive edge. The Resume field is also recalculated when the remaining part of a job is moved to some other date. Writing a resume can be an intimidating task unless you take advantage of a template to build one. The Fight Against What Does Resume Mean In different parts of the Earth, the expression CV keeps its American meaning. Resume CV is a little bit of a misnomer. In america and Canada, theres a huge difference between a CV and a resume. In america, the primary difference between a CV and a resume is the function of the documents. Want to Know More About What Does Resume Mean? Forbes has a whole coll ection of those. At nearly all jobs in the United States of america, youre an at-will employee. Generally, last two degrees ought to be sufficient. In a CV, by way of example, if youre asking for work in education, you may want to place your teaching experience at the very top of your CV. If youre looking for any position available that satisfies your qualifications, provide a minumum of one job title in which youd be interested. If your very last position was Director of Software Development, then this is probably the Job Title you wish to use. Its great for staffing providers, recruitment agencies to streamline their recruitment approach. From the work description, you will likely find mora than only the technical qualifications necessary to finish the job. Or you may use a Job Title that is more general and not as specific. The further duties clause in many job descriptions is a critical one.

41 Unusual Career Tips From a Recruiter

41 Unusual Career Tips From a Recruiter There is no opening act. Lets just get started1. Dont Ask HowDont ask how you can help. Do your research and figure out a way to help.When people email and ask how they can help, it creates mora work for me. Now I have to think of how they can help. I dont know them or what they are good at.Ive emailed senior people before with the same question. The web holds more information now thanit did the day before. Do your research, figure out what is valuable, and then email and deliver.2. Work for FreeYes, you must work for free. Its notlage popular or scalable. I dont care. You have to be willing to do what others wont to get what others cannot. Ryan Holiday followed a similar strategy when he started working for Tucker Max, Robert Greene, and Tim Ferriss.You wont always have to give your work away, but you may need to sometimes in order to get ahead.3. Do Your ResearchBefore any career move, you need to research the company, product, and founders extensively. Great opportunities wont fall into your lap (unless a quality recruiter finds you).Dont take a job because you applied and they made an offer. Research the company. Learn about their industry, competitors, and unique advantages. Are they a commodity geschftsleben that the bottom will soon fall out of?4. Research Includes Checking Out the Team, TooIf you are invited in for an interview, it is not a meet and greet it is a trial. Come prepared with a story and well-thought-out questions, like a lawyer would.You need to see how strong the companys/departements team is. Ask qualifying questions that get the information you need to make your decision. The skill level of the team is more important than the compensation package. You can learn invaluable lessons from an experienced team of peers and leaders.5.Research Also Includes the Leadership TeamThis is critical. Businesses become extensions of their founders and executive teams.Are the lead ers of this company experienced in this field? Do they know how to recruit strong team members? Have they exited before? What incubator selected them? How are their egos?These are all questions I ask before joining a company. You should know the leadership teamsbackground from college forward.6. Determine Your Ideal Company SizeSome love to work in the hectic environments of startups, wearing many hats at once, whereas others like to focus their efforts on specialized niches in larger companies. Company size determines the kind of work you do and the things you learn.7. Learn About Your ManagerYou dont always interview with your future manager. Find out who your manager is going to be. Find out if you will be interviewing with them. Do not accept a role without knowing who you will be working for and what they will be like as a manager.8. Steal From the BestLearn what everyone around you does. Listen to them in meetings. Listen to how they interact with customers on the phone. Pay a ttention to how managers get their employees to do work. Steal the top performers best techniques and strategies. Practice them until they become your own.9. Be a Person, Not a BrandEveryone is worried about becoming a brand. That comes later if you are lucky. Focus on being a person and connecting with other people. Say Hello and Thank you. Call people by their names. Treat people like people. Treat them how you want to be treated. Work on your skills. You are not a brand you are human.10. Follow the 40 Percent RuleIm tired. I have done enough for one day. This is a lie. You just lied to yourself.We all do it. Just adopt the 40 percent rule When you think youve reached your limit, youre only 40 percent of the way done. When you believe you are too tired to go on and have given it your all, recognize this is not true. Your mind set that limit. It is a self-imposed limit, and you can surpass it. Strive for another 40 percent. You can do it.11. Solicit FeedbackFind someone you can tr ust who will give you candid feedback. In some companies, people hide bad news or sugarcoat the truth to keep from hurting others. fruchtwein people only tell you the things you do well.I once worked with the vice president of a company on an app I was developing. At one point, he told me Your user interface looks like crap. I wrote down his exact words and thanked him for his feedback. He was the only customer who told us the truth.Find someone who will give you honest even if harsh feedback. If you want to grow, you need this valuable perspective.12. Follow UpEveryone sends emails, takes notes, and does work but no one follows up. Ive received my share of emails from recruiters and founders asking me to join their companies, but only a handful ever actually follow up. Talk to these people. Some have hired me. It can happen to you, too.13. During Interviews, Ask Open-Ended QuestionsAsk open-ended how and what questions e.g., What were you hired to do here? or How will you measu re the success of the candidate who accepts this role?These questions are powerful because they require more than a simple yes or no. People often reveal details about their thought processes, values, and beliefs when answering open-endedquestions.14. Leave When You Have ToMost people dont learn this until late in their careers, but you must leave jobs to continue to grow and earn more.But I have a good job, and they treat me okayIt depends on what you want. If you have been at the same company in the same role for a long time, you cannot complain about feeling stagnate orthat you arent compensated fairly.15. Connect the DotsIts good to have goals and an ideal destination in mind. However, things change. That ideal destination no longer shines. You learn something that spins you off into a newcareer direction. Pay attention to these moments.You cant connect the dots looking forward you can only connect them looking backward. Steve Jobs16. Only Work on Things That Interest YouYou ca n always make more money as an investment banker but does the money really interest you? Spend time defining your interests.Focus your workon them.17. Drink Coffee Three CupsIf you dont like coffee, thats fine. You can drink other things that have caffeine.No caffeine = no energy and no creativity. Drink three cups, then get to it18. Improve Your Cold Email SkillsCold-emailing is a superpower. Cold emails give you access to people you normally cannot reach. They also open doors for jobs and business deals.19. Market YourselfYou could be the best person at your job, but does anyone know it? You must market yourself for people to find you and recognize your accomplishments. Is your LinkedIn up to date? Does it describe what you do?You dont have to be a writer. Hire someone on Fiverr to help you write your resume or LinkedIn bio.20. Move Jobs Every 18-24 MonthsWe dont live in the same worldas our parents did. Two years at a job is, for us, equivalent to 20 years at a job for them.Thi nk strategically about your companys competitors that may want to hire you. What company would you love to work for? Send a cold email, find out what the organization needs, and see what lines up for you.21. Spend Time With Your BossesThe problem with networking is people do it wrong and with the wrong people. I dont like the term networking because it suggestshappy hours where you pass business cards around and leave without building relationships. A week later, a sales guy contacts you about buying his product.Spend time with your customers. Better yet, spend time with your bosses and future bosses. Invite them to work out with you or to a social event that matches their interests.22. Never Eat AloneIt may be common for people to eat their lunch in front of their computers, alone. Dont do it. Invite someone to have lunch with you in the break room. Get to know the people you work with. Invite new people to join you for lunch. Be the person who gets people together. Be the person w ho makes work fun.23. Stay lateOne of my managers didnt come to life until 630 p.m. My peers never got to see him in his element. They left the office at 5 p.m. Stay late. Stay at least an hour or two after fruchtwein people leave. You can accomplish many tasks in this time and build the best relationships.24. Come in EarlyGet into the office an hour or two before the standard. This gives you an edgeand it gives you undistracted time to practice your craft. The rest of the week will look effortless on your part if you come in early a few times each week.25. Find a Plus, a Minus, and an EqualIn your friendship and professional circles, work to make connections with at least one of each(+) Plus Someone a level or two above you who from whom you can learn.(-) Minus Someone a level or two junior to you whom you can help and teach.(=) Equal Someone at your level.26. Ask for $12,000 MoreNever accept a companys first job offer. Ask for $12,000 more than the initial offer. Ive seen too many candidates negotiate for $3,000 extra. That comes out to an extra $250 per month before taxes. If you are going to negotiate, make sure it is worth the effort. An additional $1,000 per month can make a big difference.27.Track Your AccomplishmentsWrite down two accomplishments you areproud of each week. At the end of each month, youll have a list of eight things you are proud of, maybe more. When its time for your performance review,make sure to call attention to these items.28. Choose YourselfJobs can choose you, but you can choose yourself at any time. Never apply to only one job. Hedge your bets by applying to a few roles or favorite companies at a time. Power comes from having options. You may find the company you wanted to work for does not want you. You can choose another role.Or you can choose yourself. You can always do your own thing. People tie too much self-worth to companies they work for or titles they hold. You are valuable beyond measure. You can always choose yoursel f.29. Negotiate the PercentageWere thrilled to offer you a 6 percent raise That might be okay if your performance is average, but if you are a star performer, thats not a fair raise.Take time to review and consider each raise offer. Then, ask for a few percentage points more. Demonstrate the value you create. Most employers do whatever they can to keep top performers.30. Break Up When You Need toIts okay to break up with your coworkers and friends if you have to. Maybe your career is going in a different direction. Are your peers a good influence on you and your family? If not, break up. Think carefully about the influences you allow into your life.31. Consider the SourceFriends, family, and coworkers will always give free career advice. Im giving you advice, and we dont even know each other. Always consider the source of the information you receive. You wouldnttake financial advice from someone who is broke, so why take career advice from someone who is career poor or who is unfami liar with your role/industry?32. Show, Dont TellWhen you have an idea, create a rough draft or mockup of what the ideal might look like. Take a screenshot of a similar app or site, then annotate it to communicate your spin on it.Showing is powerful. Your boss can see your idea come to lifeand make a more informed decision. No one reads business plans. Show potential customers what you mean. Create a prototype and get it into peopleshands. Watch how they interact with it. Listen for their questions and feedback.33. Go Into HidingIf you decide to leave your job tostart a company or develop a product, its okay to hide for a little while youwork on it. Thats part of ideation. Protect your idea as if itwere a newborn child.Dont let people discourage you or keep you from working on what is important to you but dont hide in the dark for too long, either. You might end up creating something that only you want to buy.34. Ask for Dirty JobsYoure probably familiar with Mike Rowe and his show, Dirty Jobs.He has fun, cracks jokes, and looks good doing the dirtiest jobs. If you can look good doing the worst jobs, you can do anything.Dont ask for the glamorous jobs or projects while you are coming up. Do the jobs no one wants. These jobs keep your ego in check while you develop your skills and work ethic.35. Dont Worry About What Other People ThinkIf the people closest to you dont quite see your vision or understand it, that is okay. Dont be afraid of them or of what they will say about you. Remember, they cant kill or eat you.36.Throw Everything Away and Start OverI learned this from the comedian Louis C.K. One of the things he does that makes him successful is that every year or two, he scraps his entire show. New year, new material.Dont be afraid to start over and create new material.37. Be AuthenticTo be authentic, you have to tell the truth. Be authentic at work, with your boss, at home. Always tell the truth. If you believe something is low quality, say so. Dont be a yes-man.38. Have an OpinionIf all ten people in a meeting agree and say the same thing, I should fire nine of them. I do not hire for agreement. I need people to challenge my perspective and come up with fresh ideas. I hire people who are smarter thanI am, people who are passionate and have opinions they are not afraid to share.Be different. Be opinionated. Stand out.39. Deliver ValueThere are things you have to do at work, andthere are things you do to add value. Deliver value with every keystroke. Dont focus on busywork.40. Get Eight Hours of SleepPeople brag about working 12+ hours a day and sleeping for three before doing it again. Research shows 7-8 hours is optimal. Find what works for you.41. Set Deadlines for YourselfA goal is a dream with a deadline. Napoleon HillGet the most out of your performance by setting a deadline for yourself. If you are new to ahabit or skill, set a realistic deadline for mastering it. If you are good at meeting deadlines, try setting a hard, unre alistic deadline for yourself. You may not be able to accomplish the task within the deadline, but growth occurs when you accept challenges. Or you may find a new path that allows you to accomplish more with much, much less.Clinton Buelter is the founder of ColdEmailForRecruiters.

Why You Should Have Work Friends - The Muse

Why You Should Have Work Friends - The MuseWhy You Should Have Work Friends Im not here to make friends.Youve probably encountered at least one person in the office who holds this ideology when it comes to work. Hey, some people are just there to clock in their hours and get out. But did you know that making friends at work can be extremely beneficial to both your career and your life?Check out the infographic below for 11 statistics that prove work friends are totally worth it.Infographic courtesy of Office Vibe. Photo of friends brainstorming courtesy of Shutterstock.

3 questions I ask before making decisions

3 questions I ask before making decisions3 questions I ask before making decisions1. Whats the worst that can happen?When it comes to creating worst case scenarios, my imagination is particularly vivid. My creativity kicks into high gear as I think about all the awful consequences that can follow from a simple decision gone wrong. I can visualize, in intricate detail, how life as I know it will come to a swift end from a bad blog post, a botched podcast episode, or a dumb question I asked.

Be Aware of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Be Aware of Sexual Harassment in the WorkplaceBe Aware of Sexual Harassment in the WorkplaceBe Aware of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Berkowitz, Esq.The 2011 Supreme Court ruling sent a message to geschftliches miteinanderes of all sizes, including small business owners. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukesshould be a reminder that it only takes one upset employee to bring a lawsuit no class action needed.For small businesses, workplace discriminationin the form of sexual harassment can be a particular problem.This is often due to the close and often family-owned small businessenvironment that makes them attractive places to work such an environment can sometimes encourage unethical behavior.And when a busy bossis in dienstgrad of hiring, human resources and most managerial decisions, it can be difficult to discover and correct workplace harassment after the fact, so workplace harassment prevention is vital.Training and knowledge is key to preventing sexual harassment. Educate your w orkers (and yourself) with a vision statement that outlines workplace ethicsas well as behaviors that are not okay in the workplace.Workplace Harassment Status Quo Might be Status NoIn a small business where many of the employees have been around for a long time and are comfortable with each other, inappropriate behaviors around sexual harassment can become engrained as part of the culture. But it only takes one new hire who doesnt understand the joke to turn a workplace bad habit into a legal headache.Just because no one has complained yet doesnt make the behavior okay, says Julie Taylor, President of small business consulting firm Taylor Management Group.She regularly counsels clients that they need to stop seemingly minor, but inappropriate, practices that have always been done that way.Things like calling female employees girls or sharing sexist cartoons or jokes I have clients who have been accepting behavior like that for years, says Taylor.And the next new employee may be th e one who complains. So it needs to stop now.Not all harassment in the workplace is as obvious as the classic groping in the break room or boss offering a promotion in return for a date, explains Burt Garland, shareholder at labor and employment law firm Ogletree Deakins.And harassment is hard to avoid if you and your employees dont know what it looks like. He suggests working with one of the many law firms or private companies that offer in-house harassment prevention training. It is an expense that is well worth the cost, notes Garland. Better to learn now and put an end to unlawful practices before they cost you.Workplace Behavior Setting GuidelinesIn the tafelgeschirr industry, high employee turnoverand relatively young hourly workerscan create its own problems, particularly when many employees know each other from outside work.Former restaurant owner and current Director of Restaurants and Hospitality for Kaplan Real Estate Co., Inc. Kent Hirschfelder recalls the difficulties he had managing the behaviors of a teenaged workforce where the majority of the servers came from two high schools, and often brought their school and personal problems to work.The rule was to be professional and show respect to every co-worker or face termination, he says. Employees might date each other or hate each other on their own time, but none of that could come with them to work.Managing the Generational WorkforceAnother concern for small businesses, particularly those in the service industry, is differences in the generational workforce.This might include a high ratio of young, hourly workers to a few older managers can lead to an abuse of power, if managers are not carefully hired and trained.A problem manager could make the high employee turnover rate for teenaged employees even higher because young workers are more likely to quit than complain, notes Hirschfelder. As a business owner, you need to keep an eye out for inappropriate behaviors things like sexist jokes, as king younger workers on dates or touching in a personal way and put a stop to them immediately, he says.Find out more Three Steps to Help Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Workplace