Job Search Strategy Interview Strategies (5)

Job Search Strategy Interview Strategies (5) This is a seven post series describing what a job search strategy looks like. What a Job Search Strategy Looks Like Job Search Strategy: Assessment (1) Job Search Strategy: Research (2) Job Search Strategy: Presenting Yourself (3) Job Search Strategy: Project Management (4) Job Search Strategy: Interview Strategies (5) Job Search Strategy: Project Update (6) The fifth step of Hannah Morgan’s six step job search strategy  is interview strategies.  Interviewing is the concept that brings excitement and fear to every job seeker. This is not something that every job seeker gets to do, and sometimes, by the time they get to do it, they are so tired and worn down that they are desperate for any offer.  The money has dried up and they go in just ready to say yes. Or, to beg and plead.  In this step we are going to be more prepared, and not be so desperate. Thats not to say that we arent going to be ready to take a temporary job (or step job) to make ends meet, while we continue to find the next step in our career, but well be ready and professional. Specific STAR Development: This is similar to what we did in the first Step (Assessment), but now we are hyper-focused on creating these STAR statements (or, as I call them, mini-stories) specifically for This Job + This Company. These are short, but very powerful, and should become central during your interviews. Company and Interviewer Research: This is, again, very focused, and you do it before the specific interview. When you get an interview scheduled, you go as deep as you can. This means online research (fairly easy) and more informational interviews/meetings (not as easy but more fun, and more valuable long-term as you make new connections and nurture relationships). Go into the interview ready to ask really smart questions (multiple Insider Information interviews Ive done talk about the questions an interviewee asks). Prepare for Sticky Wicket Questions: Some interviewers, in my experience, are not very prepared. Some are really prepared. The interview process can be kind of boring, if you are interviewing a lot of people. How will you answer an illegal question? How will you answer a stupid question?  How will you answer a question you dont know the answer to?  These are great questions to think through, and prepare for, before you get into the interview. Negotiations: Ugh salary negotiations. If theres a part of this whole process filled with drama and mind games, its probably this. There are books to read, tactics to study but it just know that this is tricky. There isnt one solid answer because we are dealing with humans and humans are unpredictable and fickle. One person might have a rule of never talking about it until they bring it up, others say present a range, but others say a range really means the lowest value.  Talk to someone who specializes in salary negotiation, and study up so you have some good responses when it comes up. The result of this step is that we go into an interview with confidence, we perform well, we follow-up as a professional and not a needy, desperate leech.  You might get one chance to win the interview the last thing you want is to lose multiple interviews. Job Search Strategy Interview Strategies (5) This is a seven post series describing what a job search strategy looks like. What a Job Search Strategy Looks Like Job Search Strategy: Assessment (1) Job Search Strategy: Research (2) Job Search Strategy: Presenting Yourself (3) Job Search Strategy: Project Management (4) Job Search Strategy: Interview Strategies (5) Job Search Strategy: Project Update (6) The fifth step of Hannah Morgan’s six step job search strategy  is interview strategies.  Interviewing is the concept that brings excitement and fear to every job seeker. This is not something that every job seeker gets to do, and sometimes, by the time they get to do it, they are so tired and worn down that they are desperate for any offer.  The money has dried up and they go in just ready to say yes. Or, to beg and plead.  In this step we are going to be more prepared, and not be so desperate. Thats not to say that we arent going to be ready to take a temporary job (or step job) to make ends meet, while we continue to find the next step in our career, but well be ready and professional. Specific STAR Development: This is similar to what we did in the first Step (Assessment), but now we are hyper-focused on creating these STAR statements (or, as I call them, mini-stories) specifically for This Job + This Company. These are short, but very powerful, and should become central during your interviews. Company and Interviewer Research: This is, again, very focused, and you do it before the specific interview. When you get an interview scheduled, you go as deep as you can. This means online research (fairly easy) and more informational interviews/meetings (not as easy but more fun, and more valuable long-term as you make new connections and nurture relationships). Go into the interview ready to ask really smart questions (multiple Insider Information interviews Ive done talk about the questions an interviewee asks). Prepare for Sticky Wicket Questions: Some interviewers, in my experience, are not very prepared. Some are really prepared. The interview process can be kind of boring, if you are interviewing a lot of people. How will you answer an illegal question? How will you answer a stupid question?  How will you answer a question you dont know the answer to?  These are great questions to think through, and prepare for, before you get into the interview. Negotiations: Ugh salary negotiations. If theres a part of this whole process filled with drama and mind games, its probably this. There are books to read, tactics to study but it just know that this is tricky. There isnt one solid answer because we are dealing with humans and humans are unpredictable and fickle. One person might have a rule of never talking about it until they bring it up, others say present a range, but others say a range really means the lowest value.  Talk to someone who specializes in salary negotiation, and study up so you have some good responses when it comes up. The result of this step is that we go into an interview with confidence, we perform well, we follow-up as a professional and not a needy, desperate leech.  You might get one chance to win the interview the last thing you want is to lose multiple interviews.

Should Your New Years Resolution Be To Join A Team

Should Your New Years Resolution Be To Join A Team Most people will make new year’s resolutions come December 31st. Many of them will be along the lines of getting fitter and healthier, losing weight, generally being more active â€" and that’s a great resolution to make. Deciding how to go about that, however, is more difficult â€" there are so many options when it comes to fitness. Joining a team is one of them, and it could be exactly what you are looking for.   Here are the reasons why you should join a team. Friendships Joining a sports team means you will automatically meet new people who have at least one thing in common with you; the love of the sport you’ve picked. That’s a great start. The more you play together, the closer you will all become, and these friends can easily become some of the very best you’ll ever have. There is a definite closeness involved in a sporting team that isn’t found elsewhere, most likely because the goal of playing sports is to win, and when you play in a team you all must work together to make it happen. Those friendships become even more cemented when you have team uniforms that include t-shirts, baseball caps, and custom tote bags to put everything in. Having personalized tote bags and more to mark you out as one of the team is certainly something to take pride in. Competition Once you reach a certain level in your team’s training games, you’ll be ready to compete against other teams. That’s exciting for a number of reasons. Firstly, healthy competition is genuinely good for you, both physically and mentally. It’s a good workout because you’ll be pushing harder than you would normally do in practice (you want to win, after all), plus the competition factor gets your heart racing much faster, which is good for short periods of time. Plus, you’ll feel less stressed, with more of the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin released into your body. Sporting fixtures are a natural high. Confidence Joining a sporting team â€" whether that’s volleyball, soccer, swimming, netball or any other of the plethora of sports available â€" will boost your confidence hugely. Even if you start out with no experience of the sport you’re keen on doing, the more you do play, the better you will become. The more your team wins, the happier you will feel. Even if you suffer losses, knowing that you were part of the team and you tried your best for the collective will give you a boost. You’ll feel as though you can do anything you’re asked, anything that is required of you, and you will have learned that through being part of a sporting team. Getting Fit Not everyone enjoys going to the gym and running on a treadmill with no specific purpose. It does work for some people, but others need a little more impetus and reason behind their activity if they’re going to keep it up. That’s why a sporting team can work so well. Not only is there a reason to be moving about (playing, and hopefully winning, the game at hand), but, because you are playing in a team, it’s much more difficult for you to stop because it’s getting hard. People will be relying on you, so you need to keep on going for them, and for you.  

Exploring practical benefits of CBD

Exploring practical benefits of CBD Cannabidiol (CBD) is a vital non-psychoactive constituent of both cannabis and hemp, and products infused with this compound are flying off the shelves right now. There has been a cannabis renaissance in America and many countries, thanks to the plant’s legalization â€" for medical and/or recreational use â€" in many states, and the emergence of hemp-derived CBD products due to relaxed hemp laws. A lot of the CBD focus has gone on the effectiveness of the cannabinoid at treating rare and life-threatening epilepsy and other serious illnesses. But there’s much more to CBD than that. Endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulation is something that everybody can benefit from, and it’s time that CBD is considered as a supplement, too, similar to vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. It may take years for many of the medical claims about CBD to be proven, but from surveys of medical cannabis users and people’s reports of their experiences, there’s no reason why you cannot incorporate CBD into your daily routine. In addition to being non-intoxicating, there are few side effects from taking CBD. Here’s a closer look at how CBD could benefit you in day-to-day life. Soothing anxiety Even those of us who aren’t troubled by a diagnosed anxiety disorder can suffer from nerves and worries at the most unhelpful times â€" such as prior to an important examination or job interview. Combatting this natural panicking is not easy, and some people turn to unhealthy vices like cigarettes to relax their state of mind. CBD offers a much healthier way to relieve this anxiety â€" the science is really promising, and with the right product, you can be reaping the rewards of a dose in just minutes. A study of social anxiety patients has found that orally-administered CBD helps to improve public speaking performances, and researchers think this may be due to the surge in gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) that the cannabinoid facilitates. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and reduces neuronal excitability, which is known to trigger anxiety. So, before that important situation where you need to perform at your best, try some CBD â€" for the fastest anxiety relief,   select CBD drops. Stress relief Nowadays, everybody seems to be living life in the fast line, especially the most ambitious among us. Yet when we aren’t pushing ourselves to the limit, it’s important to indulge in self-care and properly relax to restore our energy. Tackling stress is often key to this. Stress symptoms can be both physical and mental â€" headaches, aches and pains, colds and infections due to a weakened immune system and insomnia are all indications that you may be suffering from stress. Scientists have discovered that when we are stressed, levels of the steroid hormone cortisol surge. While cortisol is far from useless, constantly high levels of the hormone can leave us feeling fatigued. However, taking CBD helps to reduce cortisol, according to a study conducted in the early 1990s. Have some CBD the next time you want to chill out. You may find that it promotes calmness, enhances your mood, and improves the quality of your sleep to reduce fatigue. Add CBD to your skincare routine CBD works because of its regulatory effect on the ECS, a system consisting of cannabinoid receptors which are found all over the body. These receptors are typically activated by neurotransmitters called endocannabinoid but can also be influenced by cannabinoids in plants â€" most of which come from cannabis. Both of the main cannabinoid receptors are present in the skin, hence why creams, ointments and other infused topical products are making a splash in the cosmetic industry. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties are effective at reducing swelling and treating irritation and redness which may be caused by conditions such as acne. Moreover, the antibacterial qualities of the cannabinoid are useful for managing infections. Many are finding that CBD skin serums have a nourishing effect, leaving their skin blemish free. Also, CBD is an antioxidant, meaning it potentially has anti-aging effects, although the theory of ‘free radical aging’ is disputed. Proponents of the concept say that antioxidants help to slow the aging process by protecting the skin from DNA-degrading free radicals. These pesky molecules are found in household cleaning products, pollutants, cigarette smoke and more. Conclusion CBD has been a revelation, largely because of its relative safety. Patients seeking an alternative to prescription drugs can try a softer alternative, while those looking for a natural remedy can sample CBD sans the psychoactive effects of whole-plant cannabis products.

Networking Success Secrets Free Special Report

Networking Success Secrets Free Special Report When it comes to getting what you want in your career, you know that networking is crucial to your future success.   As many as 80% of jobs are found through networking and you know your network is lacking for reaching your future career goals. You know you should be making more time for networking, but life is busy and it is so hard to fit it into your schedule.   As busy professional women, we have children, husbands, hobbies and busy work schedules. Life is already a juggle so how the heck do you add networking to your already busy schedule? A common mistake I have seen so many women make is not building up their tribe of mentors and people that will support them to get ahead in their careers. This will cost you time and money down the road and you will miss out on career opportunities. Because networking has so drastically changed my career and life, I put together a special free report for you to download today.  This is so important to me to share because I am an introvert and networking has always been difficult for me. But, I knew that networking was the only way that I was going to be able to reach my career goals and dreams. And I was right. Click here to access  my FREE report  â€œNetworking Success Secrets: Simple Strategies to Expand Your Network and Advance Your Career in 30 days! Because I now speak to hundreds of corporations, professional associations and universities around the world, many people think that networking and talking to others comes natural for me. Wrong! Throughout college and high school, I was the “shy girl.” I often wondered why it was hard for me to open up to strangers and attend social events. I was so used to being labeled as “shy” that I never thought of changing it â€" it was just my identity. Finally, at my first job, I took the Myers-Briggs personality test and a light bulb went off: I’m an introvert.   Being an introvert makes some things difficult but I knew that networking was the only way that I was going to be able to achieve the career success and goals that I wanted to achieve. So I made a plan to move past my networking barriers and get over my networking fears. And that is when the 30-Day Networking Challenge started.   What happened changed my life and that is why I want to teach you how this networking challenge can change your life as well. Click here to access  my FREE report  â€œNetworking Success Secrets: Simple Strategies to Expand Your Network and Advance Your Career in 30 days! On January 1st, 2011, I made a new year’s resolution to knock down my networking barriers and reach my goals. I was graduating with my MBA and I was majorly stuck in a career rut. I had been so busy going to school and working full-time that I had forgotten to network. With two months left of business school, I was determined to use networking as a way to figure out the next step in my career. I embarked on a 4X4 networking challenge where every month I would meet with four people I already knew but would like to get to know even better. I also made a point of meeting with four new people that I didn’t know. My goal was to learn from each person I talked to and ask questions about how I could get to the next step in my career. At the end of 2011, I added 48 new people to my network and strengthened relationships with 48 friends, co-workers and family members. Throughout my networking challenge, I was blogging about it and hundreds of professional women around the world joined me in the networking challenge to advance their careers and get over their networking barriers as well. Within 30 days of my networking challenge, my life and career began to dramatically change! I realized that it isn’t what you know, but WHO you know that really makes the difference! So let’s dive in! How did my 30-Day Challenge change my life and how can it change your life?  Download my free report and learn the 5 ways that taking the networking challenge will advance your career and change your life. Click here to access  my FREE report  â€œNetworking Success Secrets: Simple Strategies to Expand Your Network and Advance Your Career in 30 days!

2019 Career Pivot Annual Reader Survey and Updates - Career Pivot

2019 Career Pivot Annual Reader Survey and Updates - Career Pivot 3rd Annual Career Pivot Reader Survey Copyright: andreypopov / 123RF Stock Photo As the Career Pivot brand and website approaches its 7th anniversary, I thought it would be a good time to run our 3rd reader survey. The website traffic grew from 189,000 visits in 2016 to 240,000 visits in 2017 to 300,000 visits in 2018 which was a 25% increase in traffic. Traffic from email and LinkedIn stayed relatively steady but traffic continued to drop coming from social media platforms Facebookand Twitter. Most marketers are experiencing drops in traffic coming from all of the social media platforms. Reader Survey Sections Demographics I want to know who you are: Gender Age range Employment status Location by continent In my career, where I have traveled the world, the one thing I can honestly say I have learned, is no matter who I think the audience is … it is always different. How You Use the Website I want to know: How frequently do you come to the website? Are you asubscriber via e-mail? What are your favorite topics? How do you reach the website? LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, E-mail… Is there anythingyou would like me to address? Please take a moment andtake the survey. Changes Made in 2018 As many of my regular readers know, my wife and I have relocated to Ajijic, Mexico. We are simplifyingour lives and you will see that reflected in the Career Pivot website. If you are interested in following our journey, check out theHow to Move Abroad and Take Your Job With You Series. Over the last few months, you may notice some of the following changes: BoomerJobTips posts have been moved to the Career Pivot Insights Email but the BoomerJobTips page lives on. New or updated blog posts are only published on Mondays Start Here Page was created Portal Pages are available and you can find these in the sidebar to the right or at the bottom of this page. The search box was moved to the header to make it easier to search the website on mobile devices Blog content has been recategorized and made easier to traverse (check out the menu bar at top of this page) Podcast content has been recategorized and made easier to traverse(check out the menu bar at top of this page) Career Pivot Community website page was created but is not easily found and this is by design Ads on the website have increased All of these changes have been made to make the website easier to traverse and increase revenue to cover costs. As traffic has grown, so have the hosting costs to over $100/month. We have also crossed the 50% mobile users threshold. Over half of the visitorsto Career Pivot are now using either their smartphone or tablet. Given the age demographic of the readers of this website, we are late in crossing this threshold. Listen to the most recent episode This is no longer a little personal website anymore. Plans for 2019 My plans are to update as much content, as creating new content. You will know if the post has been updated by the [Updated] signifier in the title. I typically increase the length of the content by 50% which means I will bring the post up to date and go deeper into the topic. I am currently updating the entire Multi-Generational Workplace series and you can look for a podcast series based on my Multi-Generational Workplace workshop in the coming weeks. Community Website The Career Pivot community website is currently in the beta phase with approximately 50 members. This will continue to evolve and where I am putting my entire emphasis and focus on for 2019. I am no longer taking on individual coaching clients with the exception of delivering the CareerPivot Evaluation. I am currently interviewing people from a waiting list to judge their eligibility to join the community.My plans are to formally launch the community in the 2nd half of 2019. If you would like to learn more and possibly participate in the beta program, please go to the CareerPivot Community website page and put your name on the waiting list. Suggestions If there are any topics that you would like to see addressed on this blog or where you would like me to go deeper please either comment below or contact me via the contact form. I am always open to your input! Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Surviving Tough Times Moving Forward Despite the Obstacles - Kathy Caprino

Surviving Tough Times Moving Forward Despite the Obstacles Many clients have asked about how to keep moving  forward in their lives when whats appearing in life is crushingly challenging.   I know how this feels, and have experienced it countless times.   The tips below will help you stay focused and energized, and keep you on your way to your future life visions, despite the bumps and pitfalls that emerge in the present situation.   Dont Let What Appears in the Present Fool You We often forget that whats appearing in our lives today will not last.   One thing is certain in life â€"change is a constant.   What’s occurring in your life and work now is a confluence of many factors (your beliefs and patterns of behaving, the lessons our world and humanity need to learn, etc.).   But your future will look very different if you embrace that possibility.   For instance, if youre struggling terribly with money now, this doesnt necessarily mean you are doomed to battle with money your entire lifetime.     Begin now to see whats happening today as information evidence of what is working well, and what is not.   Use this information to guide you to make some vital changes in your thinking and actions  so that what you dream of can indeed become your reality.   For me, these times have led me to learn the hard way what it means to be a better communicator, marketer, and promoter of my own services, and to be a creator of  useful products that are relevant to the changing times.   I’ve always found it distasteful to “hawk my wares.”   But there’s a vast difference between “hawking” and getting the word out widely so others know what you offer and do.   I’m getting “hip to my trip” about being shy regarding promoting my services.   I know now that I’ve got to get over it if I want to help others in a big way.   What habit do you need to let go of today that’s holding you back?   Appreciate What You Have While Being Excited for What is Coming  When were facing hardship or struggle, its very difficult to achieve a state of appreciation.   But appreciating where you are is essential to bringing into your life  more positive events and circumstances.     Appreciating where you  are means you understand that in some critical ways youve signed up for these challenges co-created them, one could say â€" for your own expansion.   Not on a conscious level, but on a higher dimension.   Embrace what your life is giving you as a way to grow into what you want more of.   Raging against where you are in life is like rolling a ball uphill over and over, and being angry that it keeps rolling back down at you.    Either change how and where you roll the ball, or stop feeling resentful at what is (or better yet, do both)!   Take time each day to appreciate the good that youve created in your life thus far.   More of it will surely come.   Dont Listen to the Naysayers When youre feeling down about your tough times, you sometimes experience negative people who think they know best and more than you.   These naysayers often say,I told you so! or I knew that would fail,” or “What were you thinking?”   My best advice is to turn a deaf ear to the naysayers, and focus instead on those who are   compassionate, encouraging, and uplifting to you.   Seek out those who believe in you 3000%, who trust in your capabilities without reservation.     Sure, we sometimes need to hear difficult counsel, but make sure the advice you heed is from an empowering, positive, knowing source.   Ignore advice that feels wrong, diminishing, or negative, or is based on someone elses limitations or agenda.   Surround yourself instead with those who want you to be all you can be in life and work.   Ask for Help Finally, in tough times, we need to ask for help.   Let go of your need to be perfect, right, or invincible.   Ask for assistance and support to get you through.     An encouraging friend, mentor, family member, or coach can be of great help when times are hard.   He/she can help you see beyond what youre experiencing, make sense of it in terms that are meaningful to you, and connect you to the realization that youre not alone.   Ive found too that the best kind of support comes from your higher self the dimension of you that experiences life from a broader perspective than your ego-mind is capable of.   You can access insight from your higher self by forging a relationship with it, connecting with your higher insight and knowledge by asking yourself questions each day, and listening for the answers.   When you get these answers, trust them, and act on them.   Your higher self wont steer you wrong.   Check it out for yourself.    *         *         *          *         * Tough times are rampant right now in our world.   The question to ask is, How may I use this trying situation to inform, uplift, and expand me as I continue on the path that compels me?   Remember: You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt You Learn by Living, 1960  

How to Write a Resume

How to Write a Resume The word resume gives some people the shivers when they think about having to write one. This reaction is truly not necessaryâ€"all it takes to write a resume is a little bit of effort, and some thought. The following are some basic tips on how to write your resume. While the actual writing process takes a lot of thought, planning and strategy, having a to do list like this will keep you on track. Knowing what will go into a resume is the most important thing. In other words, your very first step is to plan out what will go into the resumeâ€"sort of like the term papers you wrote for school, or a shopping list. Think about what jobs you have done, the time spans each of them have covered, and the job duties included. Don’t put them in a specific order yet, unless it’s easier for you to work that way. Begin at the top of the resume, and decide the format that you want to create it in. List your name and contact information first. After that will be the career summary, your job experiences, and follow them up with education/credentials/professional development. Start out writing each job description, in a loose, easy manner. Whether you choose for that to be just a few words for the description, or a list of words done as bullet points, it doesn’t really matter. Whatever works for you is what counts. Look at the jobs that you have in front of you. Some people prefer to take the paper that they’ve used to jot these descriptions out on, and cut it up to rearrange the jobs into the correct chronological order. Others just use circles and arrows. Once you have decided the order in which you want to put the jobs, look at the descriptions again. Put the words into a coherent, thoughtful description of that particular job. See? You are already writing a quality resumeâ€"its that easy. Refining the job descriptions so that they make sense, don’t run on, and will put you into a positive light are the next step. There are some other things to consider now, in addition to the job descriptions. Education is an important thing to list on your resume. With that in mind, list whatever college or technical/trade school experience you may have. Remember to keep it reverse chronological (the preferred choice), listing the most recent position first. List things like the GPA that you had, any school-related leadership positions you may have had, and extra-curricular activities as well, but ONLY if you are a new grad. Now, create a career objective or career summary (I always do mine last, after I get a strong familiarity with the clients history). What do you want to do in your career? What do you want the reader to know about you, your strengths and what you can contribute? You should remain very clear and focused in this area. Think of your brand. Do you have one? Learning how to write a resume isnt difficult as long as you devote the time, thought and planning into it.