6 Intangible Skills That Can Get You Hired Today

6 Intangible Skills That Can Get You Hired Today

Want to get hired? Of course you do! Employers are and will be looking for a more holistic group of skill sets in hiring people. The workplace and the world is shifting demographically, socially, and generationally. We’re already seeing this in corporate America with the emergence of women and multi-ethnicity.

It’s not enough to just deliver your core skills. What will make you most valuable and  have the most impact are a combination of your core, personal, and intangible, or soft skills.

Intangible Skills That Can Get You Hired

Here are six intangible skills that can get you hired today and certainly in the future.

1. Adaptability

The “relentlessly changing” world we now live in now requires it’s workers to be able to flow with change, adapt to change and navigate change with a can do it attitude. Those that can adapt the best to personal, policy and leadership change will be valuable assets to their work teams and workplace.

2. Team Player

The most successful sports franchises all have a balance of veteran, experienced and rookies playing together. Working together with people of differing generations, cultures and demographics is a coveted intangible that will become more and more important as our workplace becomes more culturally diverse. Your “human relations” skills be it developing rapport, listening, motivating others or delegating with respect will be what makes you an important part of any team.

3. Leadership

Owning the job you have and making things better and more effective,  instead of just showing up daily to do the same thing is an intangible that will make you stand out. You don’t have to be the “owner,” president, manager or CEO to show leadership. Just look at all the employees honored for their work in the awesome program “Undercover Boss.” Most of these workers just have a strong sense of  personal  pride and work ethic, regardless of their personal lives of showing up to do a great job and making a difference everyday.

4. Multi-Tasker

This is pretty simple. The workplace requires people to do more tasks, jobs and take on more responsibility than ever before. Expect it and get prepared for it. Certainly this should have realistic boundaries.

5. Open-Mindedness

Being open and flexible to learning new skills, approaches and things, interacting with new people, trying new ways of doing things shows a resilience and perseverance to do whatever it takes, to do the job and get it done.

6. Positivity

“Whistle while you work.” Nothing is more attractive and powerful than someone who is a bright spot in anyone’s day and shows up with a positive attitude of gratitude. Leave the personal, heavy stuff at home and come to work ready to greet colleagues and customers and make their day brighter.

You can talk about your intangibles through specific personal stories that demonstrate how you used them. Nothing beats a great, real story that gets people to relate to you. This can be huge competitive advantage in addition to documenting achievement and accomplishment in your core skills.

If you need some help discovering some of your intangibles, think about 3 jobs where you took on a project, made it your own and made it successful. Ask some of your current or past colleagues to tell you what they think your intangible are.

If you need to practice, volunteer outside of work, or ask your boss to give you a small project that can stretch you!

In today’s job seeking world there are your core skills, personal skills and intangible or “soft” skills. More often, if it comes down to you and someone else, the person who has the intangibles usually wins!

Are Your Work Expectations Realistic?

Are Your Work Expectations Realistic?

Expectations. We all have them. Our expectations motivate us and drive us to do things both good and bad. We might expect a great time at a party or expect to get bored at grandmas. We have all sorts of work expectations. We have expectations of our peers, our boss, our company, and even our customers.

Our expectations serve us like a yard stick where we kind of measure people both ahead of time and after an event. We think we know what to expect of others and ourselves, so we check to see if all of that expectation is missed or met.

What happens when our expectations are continuously missed? We turn grouchy, to start with. If our expectations are continually abused, it can become the catalyst of unrest and great unhappiness. Depending on your position in the company, you can bear down on the source of your missed expectations with unrelenting focus.

We hate to be disappointed. The question is – Are your expectations realistic or are you a control freak? It’s good to be good, but it’s annoying to work with someone who wants to be perfect. Besides, it’s just not possible, so you could be unrealistic and also be a real pain in the backside.

Are Your Work Expectations Realistic?

Here are some questions to ask yourself, as well as thoughts to help gauge your expectations:

1. Are You Clear About Your Expectations?

Sometimes we have them, but we can’t exactly pinpoint what they are. If you can get clear first, you can examine them more closely.

2. Did You Manufacture Your Expectations Without Validation?

Especially with others, we sometimes cook up expectations and fail to communicate to get agreement.

3. Is Someone Being Inconsistent?

One day they do things a certain way and the next day, they do them differently. You’re now confused and don’t know WHAT to expect. Time to ask.

4. How Do Your Standards Compare To Others?

There is a fine line between wanting to be the best and being obsessive. Make sure you know where the bar is set for your peers to see if it is within a reasonable range of your own.

5. Do You Need To Communicate Your Expectations?

We often go about doing our work without really communicating what we need, when we need it and what details go with it. If you haven’t shared those details, you need to have a discussion.

6. Are You Getting Feedback?

You might need to calibrate what your expectations are with someone who can give you some objective feedback and understanding of your environment. Depending on your situation, you could do that with your boss; but if that isn’t an option, consider a respected mentor or peer. Don’t’ seek out your work BFF, as they won’t be objective or candid.

7. Are They Impacting Your Work Or Career?

One sure way to know if your expectations are reasonable is if your work is being negatively impacted by someone else. It’s not unreasonable to expect others to meet quality, quantity and deadlines as it relates to the work you do.

If it turns out you are being unrealistic about your expectations of others, you probably need to lighten up. If you don’t, you risk making yourself continuously unhappy and disappointed with those around you. It’s hard to feel any kind of kinship with the people you work with when you’re disappointed with their behavior. If your work expectations are reasonable, but aren’t being met, then you have some work to do with others. It will be worth it in the long run if you do.

How to prove yourself in a new role

You've jumped through hoops to land a new job, made the leap from your old company, but now comes the biggest hurdle - proving yourself.
 
Will you fit in? Will you deliver on those pre-hire promises? Will you measure up to your seemingly perfect predecessor?

While it’s nerve-racking to be the new guy or girl, being the fresh talent in an organisation is incredibly exciting. Remember, you’re the one they chose to bring on board, so don’t let first-day jitters make you second guess the gusto you showed at interview stage.

The trick is to work hard, but go easy on yourself. And don’t forget to enjoy the adventure.

Go above and beyond

Remember the smart, sharp mover and shaker you showed them at interview? Be that person and more. While the goal isn't to burn yourself by the end of the first week, find out your manager’s priorities and focus on a few quick wins that will establish you as a reliable player.

But give yourself time

Saying that, don’t put pressure on yourself to make an impact on day one. While you need to need to bring your A-game from the outset (and scoring some early points won’t hurt), it takes around 90 days to get to grips with a new role. So pace yourself and use your probation period to learn, understand your goals and show you’re in it for the long haul. If you are having second thoughts, however, give yourself enough time to make an informed decision before you jump back into your job search.

Know what’s expected of you
Give yourself a road map to follow by asking your boss’s short and long term goals – for you, for the team, for the company - and how they’ll be measured. Then follow up for feedback at regular intervals to make sure you’re on the right track.

Do a little DIY
Some companies excel at welcoming new starters, but others don’t. If you’re left hanging during your first few days, be proactive. Introduce yourself to your team, learning what each person does and how you might work together. Then ask them to help you cast the net wider by putting you in touch with other key contacts.

Be part of the buzz
Even if roller-blading or paint-balling or bowling isn't your bag, go along for the ride. There’s nothing like a bit of out-of-work bonding to build camaraderie when you’re back in the office. A few shared social activities could be just the thing to get you feeling like part of the team.

Find out how things are done
Every company has a unique way of working, so sit back and observe the nuances of your new culture. Are face-to-face meetings the norm or are things decided on email or IM? Does your boss prefer a phone call or is a text okay? Are hours of overtime expected when it’s crunch time on a big project? Even learning the tiny details of the tea run can help you fit in far quicker.

Don’t be afraid to ask
If you’re stuck on something, speak up. Team mates will expect questions, but meet them halfway by doing some quick research before you ask. Check out information on the company intranet, make use of shared files and do a little of your own digging so your concern is accompanied by a possible solution.

Stand tall
It’s so tempting to compare yourself to new colleagues and – if you’re stepping into saintly shoes – your fantastic forerunner. But be kind to yourself and remember that you were top of the list to land this role. In today’s candidate-rich market, that’s something to be very proud of. Be confident in your skills and give yourself the time to showcase them.

What’s your secret to proving yourself in a new role? How have you made the transition into a new company less stressful? Share your new job know how with us.

10 top tips for managing a heavy workload

Work can be a drag, can’t it? A team mate calls in sick, a new project gets the go ahead, the big cheese comes to town, and all of a sudden you’re drowning in deadlines.

When your workload gets too big to handle, it could well be that what you have on your plate is downright unrealistic, but it’s also worth being honest with yourself and asking whether you could be doing more to help yourself. If you’re struggling to manage a mammoth workload, try following our tips (all tried and tested ― we’ve been there too) for pulling yourself out of that professional rut: 1. Make a detailed to-do list Lists make the world go round. Honestly, where would we be without them? At the start of each week, write a list of everything you need to achieve that day, and for the rest of the week. Jotting tasks down on post-it notes is all well and good but they can easily get lost ― and this situation calls for order. 2. Be realistic with your deadlinesIt can be easy to underestimate how long a task will take you, so try to be realistic about what you can achieve in a working day; otherwise, you’ll end up with more work than you can handle, and people chasing you for delivery left right and centre. 3. Expect interruptionsYou know what they say about the best laid plans, and it’s no different when you’re dealing with your workload. You’re bound to have phone calls and emails to deal with throughout the week, so factor in a little response time, but be firm with your priorities. 4. Seek help if you can get itIt’s always worth reviewing your list of priorities to see if there are any tasks or projects you can delegate; even if you’re not a manager with a dedicated team working for you, you may have a colleague with a lighter workload ― or a specific skill in a particular area ― who could take the work on and free you up for other tasks. Speak to your line manager about sharing the burden. 5. Avoid the dip approachDipping in and out of particularly laborious jobs can feel like the best way to balance the work that you enjoy with the tasks that you dread, but you’re only prolonging the agony. When you start a job, get it finished and out of the way; it’ll be a huge weight off your mind.  6. Limit distractionsWhilst you need to allow time to respond to emails, don’t get distracted by every last one that hits your inbox. Allocate five minutes at the end of every hour to check whether there’s anything important that needs your attention, and turn off notifications so you don’t see mail after mail popping up to tempt you. 7. Capture your working weekIf you’ve never really thought about how long something takes you, or what your most common interruptions are, try keeping a written record of your working week. We’re not suggesting you do this every week, but as a one off it can give you ― and your manager ― a real insight into how your week is structured, and if anything needs to change. 8. Don’t neglect yourselfYou’re rushed off your feet, you’ve got a mountain of work, and you’re focused on the task in hand; it’d be unthinkable to take a lunch break now, right? Wrong. While taking time out of your day can feel like a huge set back, having 20 minutes away from your desk to eat a decent lunch can help you to refocus, ready for a more productive afternoon. 9. Call a meetingIf you have a number of conflicting deadlines, arrange a quick meeting with the people involved, explaining that some tasks will need to be prioritised ahead of others; that way, you get to share the responsibility for deciding what gets finished and when. 10. Hold your hands upIf you find that you’ve followed our suggestions to the letter and you’re still up to your ears in unmanageable deadlines, it might be worth sending a few distress flares in the direction of your manager. They might not even realise how busy you are, and may be able to help you prioritise, delegate, or offload some of your work.

LinkedIn: What To Include In Your Work History

LinkedIn: What To Include In Your Work History

It’s amazing to think about the ways LinkedIn has changed the way we interact – not only with each other, but also with our own data.

LinkedIn has become the preeminent professional networking site amassing nearly 260 million users in 200 countries—and accomplishing all of this in just under 11 years (for context, Google, founded in 1998, is older). Most people know by now how important a well-maintained LinkedIn profile can be to their career. Here are some thoughts on what kinds of things you should include when creating the work history section of your LinkedIn profile…

LinkedIn: What To Include In Your Work History

An important thing to keep in mind is that your LinkedIn profile isn’t really written for you. It should be written with the potential audience in mind (i.e. recruiters, hiring managers, and other professionals looking to do business with you).

Focus on making sure that the information that is most relevant to your audience is available, well organized, and close to the top of your profile. Making this information easy to find increases the odds that you’ll get the call for that job or that business opportunity you’ve always wanted. Consider including the following when filling out your LinkedIn work history section:

Professional Positions

This is the most obvious suggestion, since this is what this section is primarily intended for. Be sure to include company names, dates, titles, locations, and also consider providing an update if a company name changes due to acquisition or merger. Include a brief description of your responsibilities along with a bulleted list of 3-4 accomplishments—just as you would on your resume.

Volunteer Roles

LinkedIn now has a section devoted exclusively to volunteer information, but you can and may want to consider incorporating volunteer positions into your main profile, particularly those that showcase leadership skills (especially if you are in transition and actively engaged in a search).

Internships

Make sure to include internship positions, especially if you’re early in your career and they are relevant either to the field you’re in or the field you hope to enter.

Contract/Temporary Positions

Don’t overlook the value of including temporary or contract roles, particularly if you are an active job seeker. For one thing, they show recruiters and potential employers that you are active and keeping your skills sharp.

A best practice is to focus on the most recent 10-15 years of your career, since this is the information that is most relevant to who you are now in a professional sense, and also the information that employers will be most interested in. Because you’re not limited in length, however, you have a little more latitude to include a few details that you’ve dropped from your resume do to space concerns. The caveat is that these elements still have to add value.

Also, don’t overlook the value of keywords. You want to include the keywords that are relevant to your work history and career, but resist the temptation to ‘overstuff’ your profile with keywords—use them where they make sense.  The most effective LinkedIn profiles do a good job of showcasing your traditional resume while also supplementing that with the most relevant additional content.

5 body language tips to secure that job

5 body language tips to secure that job

You’re ready to take the next step in your career and have your first interview confirmed! You’ve done your preparation on the company’s background, know your CV inside-out and have practiced common interview questions.

What’s left to take in to account to win over your potential future employer? It is something so simple that we almost never think about but use it every waking moment…the answer is your body language.

Your body language and the way you present yourself are just as important as what you say.

These tips will assist you on making a great first impression:

1. Eye contact: Always maintain eye contact with the interviewer. If there is more then one person interviewing you, ensure to address both with your gaze and return to the person asking you the question.
2. Don’t cross your arms: It can give the impression of being guarded and ill at ease. This is a defensive position, by keeping your arms open and using hand gestures while speaking (moderately) will display that you are open, honest and willing to converse.
3. Good posture: Sit up straight and nod in agreement to the interviewer to show you are listening and agree with what they are saying. If it is a more relaxed setting, slightly tilting your head shows you are interested in the conversation.
4. Mirroring: If it’s possible, mirror your interviewee. If they are leaning in, follow suit and lean in. This will put the interviewer at ease as they will feel more relaxed and in control of an environment in which they are most comfortable in. Be careful not to be too overt or exaggerated in doing this, you don’t want them to realise what you are doing or feel like they are in front of an actual mirror. A good tip is to practice with someone first.
5. Smile: Smiling is contagious and creates an immediate positive reaction in the person you smile at. They will smile back and feel welcome in your presence. However, there is no need to smile throughout the whole interview; you don’t want to look like Jack Nicholson in the 1989 Batman. Smiling from time to time demonstrates that you are friendly and social.

- See more at: http://www.morganmckinley.ie/article/5-body-language-tips-secure-job?goback=%2Egde_2430760_member_5810703626116571139#%21

10 Tips To Staying Positive While Looking For A Job

10 Tips To Staying Positive While Looking For A Job

Don’t let the media and the news put you down. No matter how bad they say it is companies are always looking to hire the best available staff. If you have the right skills and passion, there will be a job waiting for right around the corner.

How To Stay Positive While Looking For A Job

The key is to remain upbeat. Here are 10 tips to help you stay positive while looking for a job.

1. Keep A Routine

Don’t get into the bad habits of waking up late, sleeping in the afternoons or procrastinating around the house.

Get up at your normal time, eat properly and get some exercise (walking is free)!

2. Volunteer

You can do this at a church, hospital, homeless shelter or non-profit organization will open your eyes to people who are less off than you and give you a sense of contribution.

There is no greater reward than helping people who are less fortunate than us.

3. Stay Up To Date With What’s Happening In Your Industry

Don’t let yourself fall behind just because you’re not working. The best approach is to learn more about your particular industry.

This way you will be ahead of your competition when it comes time to interview.

4. Explore Potential New Careers

It’s never too late to try to learn a foreign language or a new piece of computer software.

I remember working with a senior archaeologist of 10 years experience who came to me wanting a change in his life direction.

After six months of learning Spanish and then travelling through Spain for another six months, the senior archaeologist is now a junior English/Spanish translator!

5. Positive Thinking

Do not focus on the negatives – you need to be able to bounce back. Concentrate on the skills and knowledge you have. Sitting around saying “what if” all the time is only going to further depress you.

6. Support Group

You may feel as though you’re the only person in your situation without a job, but guess what – you’re not. Reach out to people for support. There are many groups that provide excellent assistance in the areas of resume writing, interviewing, and job hunting.

Aside from the secular groups, there are also many faith groups ready to offer you a supporting hand. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. Let people help you change your life.

7. Avoid Negative People

Negative thinking is of no value to you. You need to be around positive people and people who can have a positive impact on your life.

8. Network

Maintain contacts and stay in touch with people. Make sure you network with positive people!! Again, avoid negativity. Negative thinking does nothing to help your situation.

Last but not least…

9. Manage Your Expectations

Not every job you apply for will be a success. Don’t be put off by this. Instead, concentrate on the positives and look at what you achieve each day.

For example, you could have applied to three great jobs, connected with two people who are great resources, or found a course or book that will help improve your skills.

10. Don’t Give Up!

Jobs don’t find you, you find them!

How To Turn Your Internship Into Full-Time Employment

How To Turn Your Internship Into Full-Time Employment

Your internship can be a great way to gain experience, meet networking contacts and prove your worth to an employer. It can also be the necessary foot in the door to land a full-time position at the organization.

Turn Your Internship Into Full-Time Employment

Wondering how you can turn your internship into a full-time gig? Here’s how:

Ask For Feedback On A Regular Basis

Although you don’t want to cross the line into being annoying, it’s important to have a grasp on your strengths and weaknesses by getting feedback from your boss.

Go Above And Beyond Your Job Description

Show that you’re always thinking ahead by anticipating others’ questions and needs. Do more than is expected of you to stand out among other intern candidates. Volunteer for additional projects when you can, and be flexible with your schedule for a chance to impress the team by staying late or coming in early.

Taking on additional tasks, being flexible, and thinking ahead shows your dedication to your role and helps your supervisor and co-workers view you as an integral part of the team.

Be Consistent

Always maintain focus and discipline while at work – and avoid distractions such as text messaging or checking social networks.

Record Your Accomplishments

After you’ve finished a task or a project, write down any accomplishments you’ve had. Showing that you can produce results is a great way to move up at the company.

Act Like You’re A Full-Timer

Show up with an eager, positive attitude each day. Come in early and be the last intern to leave. Dress at least one step above your current position. Take pride in each project you are assigned and ensure it’s your best work before handing it in.

Secure A Mentor Within The Organization

Moving up is much easier if you have someone to lean on for advice and insight.

Have A Solid Grasp On The Company

Know what the organization needs and how you can fill those needs. Understand each product or service. Get to know the clients and customers the best you can. Learning this vital information will not only make you do your job better – you’ll have a clear understanding of how you can move up in the organization, too.

The Best Interview Follow Up Checklist

The Best Interview Follow Up Checklist

Knowing how to follow up after one or more interviews can be confusing even for the most savvy job seeker.

Interview Follow Up Checklist

Here is a checklist of things you can do to leverage your post-interview activities and interest from potential employers.

1. Find Out The Next Step

You must always ask what the next step is. One of the most discouraging situations is to believe an interview went well – only to hear nothing back from the company. One way to hedge against this is to get a verbal commitment as to the next steps. If the company says they will contact you no later than next Wednesday – you know you can safely follow up on Thursday if you have not heard back from them.

2. Don’t Think The Worst

If you have not heard back from the company you interviewed with, please don’t assume they are not interested in you and never ever act annoyed or defensive. Leave short, friendly, professional messages confirming your continued interest.

3. Use Your Common Sense

Don’t pester – but be persistent. Try to use your intuition based on the people and the corporate culture you are dealing with to know how aggressively to follow up after a job interview. Some companies love aggressive post-interview follow up, as it is part of their culture. Other companies might find it off putting.

4. Leave A Great Follow Up Voicemail

You can say something like: “Hi Mr. Brown, this is Mary Elizabeth Bradford. It’s Wednesday morning and I am following up on our initial meeting, and I’m very excited to connect back with you. I will be in the office all day today; my number is 212-555-1212. Thanks and I really look forward to speaking with you again.” Don’t tell them you will call again if you don’t hear back from them. They may wait for you to do just that!

5. Send A Thank You Letter

I find that hard mail is much preferred over email for thank you letters. The best way I have found to write powerful thank you/after-interview letters is to mirror, match, and repeat back a summary of key points you discussed in the interview. To do this right, you will want to be taking short notes during your interview. The primary things you want to pick up include their main challenges, the kind of person they are looking for and anything positive they shared about you and your potential candidacy. Keep your letter short – under 200 words. Yes, you read that right!

6. Include A ‘P.S.’ In Your Follow Up Letter

Do you know what always gets read in a letter? The P.S. or post script. If you have occasion to write one, it’s a good idea. Just be sure what your P.S. says is meaningful enough. No soft statements like, “P.S.: Did I mention I am a team player?”

7. Send A Follow Up List Of Short Testimonials

References, endorsements, and testimonials almost always have a greater impact than any other piece of information we can give a potential employer. That’s because they come from a third party perspective, which legitimizes you and authenticates what you are probably communicating with them yourself.

It builds trust very rapidly—more rapidly than any other way I know. Suffice it to say—having a page of testimonials you can use as a “leave behind” or attach with a post-interview thank-you letter is one of THE WISEST moves you can make in your job search. It will “seal the deal,” so to speak.

These tips have helped thousands of job seekers reach their career goals easier and quicker and I know they will help you too. I wish you every success in your job search.

What Happens If You Lie On Your Job Application?

What Happens If You Lie On Your Job Application?

When preparing your resume, you might find yourself coming face-to-face with some issues from your past. Perhaps you will then find yourself trying to figure out how to fix those issues so your resume looks cleaner and more professional. I mean, it’s just a resume to help you get a job interview… It’s not a legal document of any sort, right?

What happens if you lie on your job application?

Maybe you are eight credits short of graduating from college, but you dropped out for some reason. What are eight little credits? It probably would just look better if you go ahead and say you have a degree. Or, what if you have an associates degree, but the job requires a bachelors degree? A degree is a degree, it doesn’t really matter what kind of a degree, does it?

Maybe you have a big gap in your work history or maybe you don’t want to include a job where you were fired. Well, you are trying to make your resume look as good as possible, so why not just fudge the dates a bit and make all your past work experience run back to back from each other. Good idea?

Think again!

When you are in a job search, you will almost always have to complete a job application as the process moves along and you are officially considered a “candidate.” What you write on your job application will make or break your chances of getting the job.

What’s So Important About A Job Application?

Most employers want candidates to complete a job application because, yes, your resume is not any sort of legal document where you have sworn on your life that everything you wrote is true. A job application is and companies run background checks off them.

In reality, you can fudge your resume all you like, but what happens when you have to complete a job application? At the end of your job application, you sign away your life attesting to the truth of everything you have written on that document.

Quite honestly, you can’t write different things on the application than you wrote on your resume. That creates a serious integrity issue that will quickly bounce you out of the job candidate pool. What you write on your job application is going to have to exactly match what you write on your resume.

The background check employers run will likely verify your education, your past work experience, and your criminal background. Companies might run credit reports on you if you work in the financial field or motor vehicle record checks if you will be required to drive for your job. Many companies run those on everyone regardless of the position for which you have applied.

Being Honest And Direct

When you are filling out your job application, you need to be 100% truthful. You will need to be very specific about the details as they will be verified. You can’t win if you lie. And although it doesn’t happen often, you can even be prosecuted for misrepresenting yourself. This would typically happen if it wasn’t discovered until after you started the job and it caused harm to the company.

If you have a job gap, explain it. If you want to leave a job off your resume and application, you can. Just don’t extend the dates of other jobs to cover that time period.

So many candidates, when completing job applications, will come to me and say, “I wasn’t sure of some of those dates of my past jobs so I looked them up and the ones on here are more accurate than the ones on my resume.”

Maybe that is true, but it raises a red flag to me. At best, it indicates that you didn’t take great care when you put your resume together. At worst, it means you fudged the dates on your resume and you fixed them on your application because you knew you had to tell the truth.

It would be much easier if you just did it right the first time, on your resume.

Do You Have Any Skeletons In Your Closet?

On the job application you will likely be asked if you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony. This includes DUIs which, in my experience, is the most common charge that shows up on background checks.

It is my guesstimate that 75% of people who have a criminal record or a DUI do not disclose it on the job application. They answer the question, “No.” This is a lie and you’ll unlikely get the job if a company learns your falsified your job application.

The truth is: if you have a criminal record or a DUI, you could very well get hired anyway, if you disclose it. If you don’t disclose it, it doesn’t matter what it is, you will not likely get hired just based on the fact that you lied on your application.

Whether or not a criminal record is overlooked depends entirely on what it is that you did, how long ago it happened, and your explanation of the incident. I have overlooked many types of convictions, especially DUIs. Recent convictions and felony convictions are not easy to overlook, but it’s possible if you are honest and forthright about the details.

Finally, I would advise anyone with a charge on his or her record to try to get it expunged. I have seen many very dated charges come up on candidate’s background checks that caused them to lose the job when it could have been avoided altogether if the candidate would just have had it expunged off his/her record.

What you write on your job application is critical to your success in getting a job. Hiring managers know people are human. Things happen. People make mistakes. Don’t make another mistake by misrepresenting yourself on your application!

How To Write Your Resume Like An Online Dating Profile

How To Write Your Resume Like An Online Dating Profile

Do you like someone tall with a good sense of humor? Or perhaps you are more focused on finding a good dancer with curly hair? I know, it’s not deep, but just like people have certain preferences when it comes to the type of romantic partner they are looking for (and admit it, we all do), the same holds true for your job search.

Write Your Resume Like An Online Dating Profile

Do you like an energetic start-up where everyone dresses casually and works in an open space? Or do you prefer a more buttoned-up environment with a deeply-ingrained reporting structure and big offices for the executives?

Think about the past jobs you’ve had and identify the ones where you felt most at home. And if you haven’t had many jobs – or haven’t had any jobs where you felt all that comfortable in the environment – think about other types of places you have visited- homes, stores, and restaurants. When you walk into some of them, you want to stay. What are those like?

If nothing comes to mind, consider the work environments you have seen depicted on TV or in the movies. Just like identifying an actor or actress you are attracted to in determining your “type” in the dating world, you can get clues as to your perfect work environment by recalling your favorite work spaces on the small or big screen. You may have to adjust your expectations to fit into the “real world,” but you can still get some valuable clues.

How do you translate this into resume content? In the profile at the top of your resume, and wherever possible throughout the resume, you use the language of the type of place you want to work. An energetic start up? Describe yourself as “entrepreneurial” or say you are passionate about “growing innovative new organizations.” (And yes, using the word “energetic” would also be a good idea.)

Prefer the buttoned-up place? Maybe mention “hierarchy” in some way and being an “executive.” You might even be able to work in the word “traditional.” The bottom line is there are ways to subtly clue the reader into your ideal work environment, thus establishing yourself as a match for positions at those type of places.

What Do You Like To Do?

Long walks on the beach? A stroll through a museum? Round-the-clock beer pong tournaments? When creating an online profile, it’s important to accurately represent your favorite activities in order to find someone who is a match. If you like nothing more than spending all day Sunday camped out in front of NFL games on TV, you don’t want to be dragged to flea markets from dawn until dusk. Right?

Same holds true for your work environment. You have certain things you like to do and certain things that drive you crazy or (yawn) bore you to tears. Solving complex problems? “IN!” Attending meetings all day? “OUT!” Working on teams? “IN!” Managing support staff? “OUT!” Creating awesome spreadsheets? “IN!” You get the idea…

These items are easier to plant in a resume. “Adept at solving complex problems and working in teams. Creates awesome spreadsheets.” (Yup, if that’s the wording you use in life, that might be the wording I would recommend you use on your resume, depending on the type of place where you want to work. The energetic start up would probably connect to that tone. The buttoned up place? Not so much.)

What Do You Hope To Get Out Of The Relationship?

Do you want to get married, have kids, and celebrate your golden anniversary with the person who responds to your online dating profile? Or are you coming out of a relationship and simply looking for casual good times?

The same type of goal-setting can be applied to a job search. You want to find a place you can work your way up in and then get a gold watch at the end of 30 years. Or maybe you want to find a troubled company to fix for a couple of years and then move on to the next challenge. Maybe you just want to consult.

In the first case, you would work in “stable and growth-oriented” and in the second you would emphasize that “working with companies in transition” is where you shine.

If you write it correctly, you don’t have to use a lot of words to say a lot. You can cover the type of environment, what you like to do, and the length of your desired stay with a few choice phrases and some carefully-selected adjectives and verbs.

Are you limiting yourself by tailoring the language this way? Yes, you are. But the idea is to find a position in a place where you are comfortable and doing things that you are really good at and enjoy, thus setting yourself up for personal satisfaction and professional success. And like those online looking for love, wouldn’t you rather end up with a good match than trying to make a bad match work?

Power Through Your Workday With Better Eating Habits

Power Through Your Workday With Better Eating Habits

We all work hard, and while some of us may struggle through our working day, others find it a little easier. In most cases, this is probably primarily down to diet. If you eat the wrong things, you’ll feel sluggish, tired, worn out, and will lack motivation. Simple changes to your diet could make your working day a whole different kettle of fish. Here are a few better eating habits that will help you power through your workday without the struggle:

Breakfast

You’ve heard it all before- breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but really, it is! Unless you have a good balanced meal first how can you expect your body and brain to kick start into action and be productive and proactive from the word go.

Start your day with carbohydrates, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. Opt for porridge oats made with water or semi-skimmed milk, add a table spoon of cinnamon and a handful of berries on top. Porridge has been long proven to keep you full for longer, it’s low fat and the berries offer all the vitamins you need to start your day.

Mid-Morning Snack

In the UK, nearly all of us indulge in the mid-morning ‘elevenses’ snack, but actually eating in between meals is very important. You need to keep your metabolism going and eating something small stops you over eating at your next meal leaving you feeling sleepy.

Opt for a piece of fruit, a handful of nuts and a green tea or hot water and slice of lemon. No fruit to hand and no time to run out to the shop? No problem, sites such as fruitfuloffice.co.uk can help you there.

Lunch

Lunch is the time to get some healthy carbs and lots of protein in as dinner is probably a long way off and you need to keep alert and energized for the afternoon.

Chicken offers a low calorie and high protein punch perfect for a work day lunch. Try sliced chicken breast on whole wheat bread with salad and low fat mayonnaise. If you’re not a chicken fan, try an egg mayonnaise sandwich instead with watercress. Craving something sweet after? Opt for a high fiber snack like an apple dipped in a little natural honey.

Afternoon Snack

Many of us find the middle of the afternoon the hardest. You’ve already worked six hours or so and your brain is ready to call it a day. Don’t give in though, re-energize with a motivation boosting afternoon snack. Opt for something rich in vitamins and minerals to really wake you up. Try carrot sticks with low fat hummus or a couple of crackers and half an avocado, find out the health benefits of avocado here. Something light and refreshing works best so you’re hungry again by the time you get home.

Dinner

Many of us make the mistake of eating dinner too late. By this point we are starving and over eat leaving us feeling full and useless. Eating too late can also stop you sleeping properly. So to prepare for the next working day eat early to get a good night’s sleep. Choose something high in protein, with lots of veg or salad and a small helping of carbohydrates. Grilled salmon served with spinach and potatoes is a great choice.

11 Foods To Avoid Before An Interview

11 Foods To Avoid Before An Interview

Every year at Thanksgiving, many of us indulge in a delicious meal of turkey, stuffing, and pie.

Regardless of how much you eat, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of leftovers for another meal.

A turkey sandwich, perhaps?

That might be a good idea on a regular day but on the day of your job interview-not so much. Turkey contains high levels of tryptophan, which can make you feel sleepy. You need to be on your “A game” during the interview, and drowsiness will drastically affect your mental alertness. Yawning frequently won’t impress the interviewer, either.

Although turkey is one of the most commonly known foods for causing sleepiness, there are many others that you should avoid on interview days to ensure that our eye lids are not getting heavy at an inopportune time.

Here are other foods to avoid before an interview:

1. Rice

White rice has a high glycemic index; according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who eat jasmine rice will fall asleep even faster than those eating other rice types.

2. Walnuts

Walnuts are a good source of tryptophan. Researchers at the University of Texas also found that walnuts contain Melatonin, which helps control sleep and wake cycles.

3. Cereal And Milk

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the combination of carbohydrates, calcium, and tryptophan from this favorite morning meal is a recipe for dreamland.

4. Bananas

Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, an internist and the author of Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves exclaims “Bananas are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which help to relax overstressed muscles. They also contain tryptophan, which convert to serotonin and melatonin, the brain’s key calming hormones.” When grabbing a fruit on interview days, choose a citrus fruit. They are in Vitamin C and can boost our body’s immune system.

5. Miso Soup

If your interviewer is taking you out to lunch for Japanese, skip the Miso soup.  Miso soup contains amino acids that may boost the production of melatonin. Also, research shows that warm liquids like soup may help you sleep better.

6. Onions, Garlic, Shallots, And Spicy Aromatic Foods

Bad breath is probably the worst bad impression you can make on a recruiter.

7. Beans, Broccoli, And Mexican Food

These ingredients can make you feel bloated, and this in turn can upset your stomach, or worse..

8. Too Much Water

It’s important to keep yourself hydrated, but don’t drink an entire bottle before the interview. The recruiter won’t appreciate it if you have to excuse yourself three times just to go to the bathroom.

10. Greasy And Sugary Foods

French fries may taste good, or perhaps your poison is a Caramel Macchiato with an extra shot of syrup. Unfortunately, sugary foods can wind you down after its effects wear out. Aside from that, do you really want to hand in your resume with grease stains and smelling like a fast-food restaurant?

You are what you eat, so what you eat before the interview is crucial to your success. After that, you can eat all the turkey you want.

Why You Can’t Be Yourself During Job Interviews

Why You Can’t Be Yourself During Job Interviews

The job interview process should be relatively simple because you just are sitting down with some people and talking about yourself. How hard can that be?

Makes one wonder why, at the end of it all, millions struggle to get the job offer and often find themselves searching online for articles (such as this one) that will help them ‘pass’ their next job interview.

I’d like to tell you that, since you just have to talk about yourself, the best advice I can give you is to just be yourself. The potential employer is just asking questions about you and your background, so just be honest and answer them. While that would make the most sense, sadly and unfortunately, this is not the answer for most job seekers.

Why You Can’t Be Yourself During Job Interviews

The problem lies in the simple fact that there truly are correct answers to interview questions and there are very incorrect ones. In fact, one wrong answer and you can get tossed out of the candidate pool within mere seconds of the words coming out of your mouth.

Employers are searching for a certain brand of employees and you either are that brand or you aren’t. But if you aren’t (like most people), and you need and/or want a job, you will likely resort to learning what to say and do, the ‘fake it’ during the interview.

This is the truth about the job interview process because the one who says and does all the right things the best, gets the job.

The Ideal Brand

The ideal brand employers are looking for is a person who has the skills to do the job (obviously) but also one who displays high levels of integrity, accountability, flexibility, innovation, enthusiasm, passion, and presence. This brand also encompasses a person who is a strong and effective communicator, committed to excellence, consistently goes above and beyond, and walks the talk in all that they do.

In a job interview, specifically in behavior based or situational questions, potential employers are looking for mounds of evidence that show you represent this ideal brand. Answers without this evidence are typically wrong answers.

This may not be ‘new’ information, but the problem is it actually matters a lot whether or not you are such a person. If you can honestly look at yourself and see that you may not exhibit all those qualities consistently on a high level, what you do with that knowledge will determine your career success – in the job market and in the workplace.

Only approximately 20% of any given staff authentically exemplifies this brand. A lot of these skills are mentioned as ‘required’ in job postings but since they are soft skills versus hard skills most people don’t consider or care if they have those skills, nor do they realize how important they truly are.

The people who get job offers either have those skills at a relatively high level or they are really good at faking it in a job interview. The “fake it to make it” people are the ones who learned how to ‘act’ like a person who has those skills and became really good at it. The ones who fake it came to understand that one must say and do all the right things in their interviews – regardless of the truth – and for the most part, they are right.

This plays a big part in why the majority of the workforce ends up disengaged at work. Many get hired based upon passing themselves off as someone they are not and therefore immediately cause a disconnect, with their manager, when they are hired.

The disconnect exists between the people they said they were in the interview and the people they truly are at work. If you show up at work as a quieter individual who doesn’t do much more than is expected and rarely works overtime, that’s a big difference if (in the interview) you described yourself as an outgoing people person who always goes above and beyond and works a lot of long and crazy hours.

Your manager will likely be put off by this disconnect and that’s where the friction begins.

Furthermore, you may spend a good part of your day trying to actually be the person you said you were in the interview because you know this is the best way to keep your job and/or get promoted. This is a painful and exhausting way to go about your job because it rarely works as you would hope it would because it’s not authentic. And you can’t possibly be fully engaged in your work, when operating in this manner, because you have to disengage with yourself, just to pull it off.

For example, you might volunteer for extra work you don’t want to do, spout off opinions you don’t believe in, or do work in a way that doesn’t fit your beliefs– all to try to pretend to be what you believe is expected of you.

This is the “fake it to make it” epidemic that is rampant in the job market and in the workforce. And whether you realize it or not, pretending to be someone you aren’t will chip away at your self-esteem every single day until there is little left. While you may not consciously think about it, it hurts to believe you can’t get hired or aren’t ‘accepted’ as who you truly are. You believe this because if you didn’t, you would have been completely yourself in the interview.

The job interview is truly a game. The only way to win the game is to look hard at the soft skills listed above that describe the ideal candidate, and understand that to succeed in Corporate America you do need to have those qualities/soft skills developed at a pretty high level. Most of us have those skills at various levels- strong in some and weak in others. But very few have them all authentically and consistently at a high level.

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense that if you have to stretch the truth about your character, in a job interview, then the person you say you are is probably the person you need to be in order to succeed in that job. When you make the decision to actually put personal development as a priority in your life and work hard at becoming the person you said you were in the job interview, that’s when your real success will begin.