Employers: Avoiding Age Discrimination In The Workplace

Employers: Avoiding Age Discrimination In The Workplace

With people staying in the workforce longer, one of the challenges that a business may face is ageism. Depending on what type of business you are working in will determine how much of this you may actually encounter.

What’s Ageism?

First of all, it is important to know exactly what ageism is and how it applies to the business world. You can basically sum it in up in two words “age discrimination.” It can be choosing not to hire someone, to hire someone based solely on his or her age, or it could also have to do with trying to force someone to retire.

This could be because the business has had employees in that age group that did not perform well in the past or maybe they feel that they cannot do the job adequately due to their age and abilities. Maybe a business does not want to hire older workers as they feel that they are only going to work there a year or two and then retire and it is not worth training them. Regardless of the reasoning, ageism is something that any business should strive to avoid.

Avoiding Ageism – Legally

One of the first things that a business can do to avoid ageism is to check the laws at a local and national level. While this seems like a strange thing, you want to make sure you are not hiring people you shouldn’t be. For instance, if there is a minimum age that people have to be before they can enter the workforce, you need to keep that in mind. There can be places that have a mandatory retirement age so you cannot hire anyone who is over that age limit. When looking to hire for your business, do not ask people for their age or birth year, instead ask them if they are legally allowed to work. If you are not sure if people will know those ages, you can simply ask if they were born between X and Y years.

Where You Advertise

The location of where you advertise can ultimately affect the ages of the applicants that you receive, which can make your business look like it has an age discrimination issue. For instance, if you put most of your ads in the places where teenagers are known to hang out, you likely are going to get a lot of teenagers applying for positions.

This may be your goal if you are hiring for a minimum wage job that does not require education beyond high school but if you are looking for someone with a degree and five years experience, you are not likely to find it there. One of the best locations to advertise is the newspaper or on the Internet job classifieds as people can find them there regardless of age.

Setting Up Policies

Having policies in place within your business can help to prevent ageism from happening and will also allow for better employee satisfaction. For instance, you could have a wage schedule that indicates when employees qualify for raises and how much they can be or a range. Determine a method to evaluate this based on performance or other factors and have it laid out when the employee starts their job. Make sure that these guidelines are then followed and that employees know exactly what is expected of them in order to qualify.

Policies should also be setup for discipline in the same way. Regardless, make sure that those in your business who do the evaluating keep records. Offer opportunities for advancement within the business based on qualifications and merit.

How Many Versions Of Your Resume Do You Need?

How Many Versions Of Your Resume Do You Need?

A lot of times, job seekers will contact me with help on their career document, then start rattling off a whole list of COMPLETELY different functions that they want to cover in the resume.

One recent client was hoping to try and cover human resources, event planning, and communications all in one document. Unfortunately, in today’s brave new world of applications, one size does not fit all.

But does that mean everyone needs to be constantly chasing after a moving target, always changing the document to meet each job posting? Nope. You have to rethink your strategy completely and start seeing your resume as a themed asset.

Here’s why…

As we go through our careers, our background evolves into probably at least three or more different thematic areas. In my lifetime, I’ve been a meeting planner, television producer, tourism manager, educator, and resume writer, to name a few.

Can I pull all of these areas under one roof/one resume?

Not a chance. No one could possibly digest it all – there is too much stuff “muddying” the waters if, say, I were to apply to be a faculty member in a post-secondary school. The trick to hitting those moving target is to get grounded first.

Focus On One Area

Take a deep breath and think about what area you are actually going to have the highest degree of job search success. Then focus your efforts on that area. I would suggest one, two, but no more than three major areas. Then create a separate document for EACH of those themes.

Create A ‘Relevant History’ Header

Create a section header entitled “RELEVANT HISTORY,” then list the job records most relevant to the position to which you are applying first, then summarize (if necessary) any non-relevant ones to avoid distracting the reader. That way, you can account for any holes that open up in your work experience caused by moving non-relevant history into an “Additional Background” header.

What you are saying to the potential employer is this:

“Here’s the information that is RELEVANT to what you are hiring for… and oh, by the way, you’ll probably notice there are some holes in the work history, so down here, here’s some additional background that summarizes those non-relevant jobs. Want more info? Just ask me.”

Keeping your document themed is critical to keeping your sanity and your job search in check. You need to be focused and centered on your core areas that will yield the highest level of job search success.

Why? Because if you get spread out too thin, you’ll be too far and too wide in your job search efforts, and never get the vertical depth required to find employment success.

You’ve heard of the “shotgun approach” to job seeking? When you are so scattered you end up running around all the time and not experiencing any traction, then you’ve slipped into that mode. Not a good place to be.

Employers can smell desperation, and if they sense a lot of shape-shifting in your resume to try and make yourself more than what you really are to “fit” into a particular job mold, they will drop you like a hot potato. They are more interested in the highly qualified candidates than the “sorta” qualified ones.

Instead, BE THE MOLD. Think thematic approaches in your document on your core strengths, experience, and expertise. Be centered on what you feel is your best “bet” (to borrow a poker euphemism) in finding a job.

Then create a separate thematic resume in that area. This allows you to concentrate your experience, keywords, relevant involvement and professional development in that theme. The end result is you get a specific version of your resume in the proverbial can that is about 90% of the way there. Then, when you find a job posting that matches your target career goal, you’ll definitely need to do some tweaking to make sure your resume terminology matches the position announcement.

That ensures your keyword “hit” ratio is as optimized as possible before you submit your resume as an application. But you won’t have to reinvent the wheel and start all over to create a new document. Job seekers simply cannot be constantly morphing documents into something that someone else wants. You need to be grounded in what it is you offer in a specific field, then tweak the resume to match and make sure the terms mirror one another.

You’ll have better control over your job search, yield better results, and not have the feeling that you are constantly chasing ghosts.

5 Job Search Tips For Landing A Job Abroad

5 Job Search Tips For Landing A Job Abroad

Are you about to enter the job market from college and nurturing a dream of landing a job abroad? Your dream may be more attainable than you think.

Thousands of recent college graduates (as well as many working professionals) are finding short and long-term job opportunities abroad. Whether you’re looking for adventure before settling down to a career or plan to stay abroad for several years, finding a job in another country may be easier than you think.

Before beginning your job search, assess your attractiveness to employers. Do you have special knowledge and skills, an advanced degree or professional experience that will justify an employer hiring you? Don’t forget to consider your English language skills – in many countries this will be a plus.

Job Search Tips For Landing A Job Abroad

Here are five more tips to get you started on your job search and help you land a job abroad:

1. Identify Your Objectives

Spend time brainstorming about the type of companies you’d like to work for and the type of jobs that match your qualifications. Knowing where you want to go, the type of work you’d like to do and how much money you expect to make will simplify your job search. At the same time, it helps to remain flexible about your options

2. Begin To Network Early

You can start to make connections abroad months before you’re ready to begin your job search in earnest. Research the job prospects in your country of choice and meet professionals in your field by reading blogs and following up on social networking sites like LinkedIn and Twitter.

Don’t forget to let your local network of contacts know about your plans. You never know when a connection from your past can help with your future.

3. Learn The Ropes

Familiarize yourself with the customs of your destination country and find out about visa requirements for foreign workers. A good place to begin your research is on the U.S. Department of State’s Resources for Working Overseas. You can also visit the websites of U.S. embassies for individual countries for information about living, working and traveling abroad. It also helps to visit expat websites to find out about the experiences of other Americans who have worked abroad.

4. Conduct An International Online Job Search

Monster.com has job listings for counties all over the world. GoAbroad.com and TransitionsAbroad.com also provide international job listings, as well as travel guides. You may also want to check out international job placement services like InterExchange. When you contact prospective employers, be sure to get as much upfront information as possible to avoid unpleasant surprises when you reach your destination.

5. Stay Positive

People may be surprised to hear about your plans to work abroad and some may even fail to offer much encouragement. Chalk this up to inexperience on their part and don’t let it diminish you enthusiasm for your dream.

One final tip: If you have a career objective but you’re not sure how to break into it in another country, consider completing a four-week TESOL certificate program and accepting a short-term position teaching English as a second language.

Once you are working your destination country you can begin to network in your chosen field and continue your job search. You’ll find a wide range of online resources with information about ESL training and jobs.

6 Tips For Following Up After A Job Interview

6 Tips For Following Up After A Job Interview

If you’re not using the best, most effective methods of following up after a job interview, you’re missing out on the chance to score some easy points that just could push you over the top and out of the unemployment line.

Make sure you’re going above and beyond to impress interviewers and secure the job. Here are some guidelines for the perfect interview follow-up strategy.

1. Sooner Is Better

In a recent CareerBliss Poll asking how soon people follow up after a job interview, 39 percent of respondents said they do it the next day. Good answer, according to Career Expert, Vicky Oliver.

Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions, said the best time to reach out after an interview is within 24 hours. The 61 percent of poll respondents who said they wait two to three days, a week or never follow-up should take note.

“If you’re incredibly lucky,” Oliver said, “the interviewer will hit the e-mail back to you saying she/he really enjoyed meeting you and – voila! – now you’re in the running! These rules apply even if an executive recruiter helped you land the interview.”

2. The 3-Paragraph Rule

Your follow-up e-mail should be short, sweet and personalized. Generally, a good rule of thumb for the length is three paragraphs, with no more than two to three sentences in each paragraph.

• First Paragraph: Briefly thank them for their time and reiterate your interest in the position.
• Second Paragraph: Discuss a couple of your strengths and how the company would benefit if you were hired. Consider using bullet points to break up your text.
• Third Paragraph: Include any points of clarifications you might have. Include answers to questions that you weren’t able to answer during the interview, or add new info about yourself that was left out of the interview. But, remember, keep it brief.

Oliver suggests indicating your next point of contact by saying something along the lines of “Look forward to hearing from you within the next two weeks.” If no date was set at the interview, either ask for one or specify you will loop back to them for a decision in two weeks.

3. Splurge On The Good “Thank You” Paper

Sending a hand-written thank you note via snail mail adds a charming touch, and further showcases your gratitude for their time. Go all out for this gesture. Practice your handwriting. Splurge and spend the extra money for high-quality paper – it will show prospective employers you value their time, and also will speak well of your attention to detail.

4. Double Check Their Names

Candidates should “double check the spelling of the interviewer’s name, his or her title, and the address of the company,” Oliver said. While you’re at it, don’t forget to spell-check the entire letter – both e-mail and snail mail. These steps may seem obvious, but all too often minor spelling and grammatical blunders get through, making the candidate look careless.

5. Avoid Follow-Up Faux Pas

After you have written your notes, double check to ensure that you have avoided these common mistakes:

• Repetition
• Negativity
• Cheesy emoticons and exclamation points
• Informal language
• Grammar/spelling errors

6. Don’t Call Them, They’ll Call You

Usually, toward the end of an interview, hiring managers will indicate a general time for when they will contact you. If this was not addressed, be sure to ask them to give you an idea in your initial follow-up e-mail. Only call the employer if that date has passed. Call any time before then and you will come off as desperate and bothersome.

7 Tips For A Successful Presentation

7 Tips For A Successful Presentation

Most people are troubled when they have to perform in front of a large audience. This is nothing to be ashamed of – it’s normal to have stage fright. This is something you need to work on and you’ll get addicted to the feeling you get on stage in time. But before you get there, you need to do your homework and learn about performing.

There are three equally important goals that your presentation needs to cover. First, a presentation should be all about new information that you want to share. Second, you need to find a way to share that information the right way, in order to increase the demand for your product. And third, your product must stand out when compared to the competition. If you follow the steps below, you’ll make a successful presentation.

1. Make a positive first impression

This is one of the few rare occasions where you don’t have time to correct the wrong first impression – you’ll have to try to do it right the first time. The key is in honesty. People won’t give you any feedback if you don’t give them a reason. Make sure that everything you say during a presentation is a reflection of your thoughts. It’s really easy for the audience to know when you’re being insincere. You need to be polite and simile genuinely. Also, a touch of classy humor won’t do you any harm.

2. Talk about legitimate information during your presentation

It’s really easy to check any unknown information today. So, if you make your audience think that you’re bending the truth to your advantage, they’ll just unlock their smartphones. Try not to give them a reason to doubt you, because you won’t be taken seriously. You could damage a whole promotional project with just one wrong sentence.

3. Connect with their life experience

If you want your audience to really pay attention to what you’re saying, you need to get inside their heads. Try to give a global example that can make most of them identify with it. It’s recommendable to do this somewhere in the beginning of the presentation and then just try to maintain their attention.

4. Interact with your audience using different methods

It’s not simple to have everyone interested, especially if you want to give a longer presentation. Make your audience feel that they’re involved. Ask them questions from time to time, even rhetorical ones will do the job – you just need to make them concentrate to what you’re trying to tell them. You should ask for feedback, but don’t push it because they may find you needy, and that won’t be good for your integrity.

5. Don’t keep it just verbal – visualization attracts attention

While you’re writing your speech, think about the moment when you’re going to interpret it to an audience. It’s desirable not to use any notes, so that you can make as much eye contact as possible. This way, you’ll make them feel important. Also, don’t try to use to much fancy words because they may consider you arrogant. Regarding your presentation, try to use visual tools. But, if you decide to make a PowerPoint presentation, try to avoid words. Keep your focus on pictures and videos so that the major part of your audience’s attention on you.

6. Make a back-up plan

Not everything will go according to the plan. Consider yourself a showman while you’re on the stage – you have to improvise. You should always expect tech problems. If that happens, you need to find a different way to keep everyone interested. Go with a learning game that’s connected to your topic – this way your audience will be entertained and you can be sure they’ll remember you later.

7. Reward your audience

Think of an award system that you could use during your presentation. For example, you could give them a quiz and reward those people who give a correct answer to your question with a promotional product, something like a key ring with your logo on it. Your promotion can only get positive reactions to gifts – everyone loves free things.

If you manage to cover all this, you did a flawless job. It may take some time to plan it, but practice makes perfect. All you need to do later is sit back and wait for results.

Александар Вучић - Sky News 22.05.2014.

How To Beat The Interview Jitters

How To Beat The Interview Jitters

Got a bad case of the interview jitters? It’s totally normal, and expected, to be a little nervous as you go into a job interview. The best way to handle these nerves is to be prepared. Before you arrive at an interview, do your homework!

Quite frankly, first impressions count, so you’ll want to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward as soon as you walk into the interview room. You can do this by completing pre-interview homework.

Most companies have an online presence, so it should be relatively easy for you to learn about the company. You should also familiarize yourself with the position for which you are interviewing. If possible, print out a copy of the position description and take it with you to the interview.

Other items that might be worth researching include:

• Background of the company – how long has it been in business, how has the company changed over time, what type of work does it do, where are its offices located, who owns the company or is it publicly traded, what type of people does it hire?
• Position description – what are the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position, how do your skills match this position, where is the position located, what will be required of you on a daily basis, is there room for growth?
• Corporate culture – this could include items like dress code, work hours, amount of travel required, etc.

During The Interview

Maintain eye contact with the interviewers and use non-verbal cues to acknowledge that you are listening to them. You don’t want to get into a staring contest with the interviewer, but be alert and active in the dialogue. It’s perfectly acceptable to formulate your thoughts before answering an interview question. A brief pause before speaking is normal, so don’t be put off by short silent periods. Interviewers may pause briefly to take notes during the interview. This is also common and shouldn’t put you on edge.

Many companies utilize behavioral interview techniques. Behavioral interviewing requires the job candidate to provide a situation and then describe the task that comprised the situation, the actions that were taken and the result or outcome.

Questions may be posed to you in a format of “tell me about a time when…” or “give me an example of a time when…” This allows you to share previous work (paid or volunteer) or classroom experiences and the interviewer is able to ascertain what you learned from the experience. Many companies prefer to use this interviewing technique because it provides information on a candidate that isn’t likely to be included on a résumé.

At the completion of the interview, it is common for the interviewer to ask you if you have any additional questions. Have a few questions prepared in advance. They can be general questions about the work environment and the type of work that the company does or they can be specific to the position for which you are interviewing. Having something prepared is much better than trying to come up with something under pressure and stumbling in front of the interviewer.

Some interviews may include more than one interviewer. If you are a part of a panel interview, speak to all of the interviewers by looking at them while you respond. When the interview concludes, thank each person for their time and close with a firm handshake. It’s also appropriate to ask for their business cards so you can send a follow-up thank-you letter or e-mail after the interview.

What’s The Hidden Job Market And How Do I Access It?

What’s The Hidden Job Market And How Do I Access It?

You may be surprised to hear that approximately 85% of jobs are never advertised. And the higher the position, the less likely it is to be posted.

According to the website Examiner.com, only 11% of jobs paying over $200,000 per annum are advertised, and only 13% of executives find jobs by responding to job postings.

Why Are Jobs Hidden?

Jobs can be “invisible” for several reasons. One reason is that it takes time and costs money to advertise a position. If an employer knows that the job can be filled from a pool of candidates already on file, by headhunting, or via word of mouth, they’re not likely to advertise. I know some companies that don’t post open positions because of the deluge of applicants they receive. It’s impossible for them to wade through the 700+ candidates that apply. Another reason why a position might not be advertised is that the employer is looking to replace the person currently in the position.

Should You Look For Hidden Jobs?

If you don’t take the time to look for hidden jobs, you’re only touching the tip of the iceberg—the 15% of jobs that are actually advertised. There will be a great deal of competition for those jobs, and because of that, your chances of securing an interview will be dramatically reduced. If employers have work available, but haven’t yet advertised, the pool of potential candidates narrows to your advantage.

How Can I Find Hidden Jobs?

The more people who know that you’re looking for work, the more likely someone will have information about a job that isn’t advertised yet, or that may become available in the near future. You might be able to get the name of a good contact, or even a recommendation.

Direct Mail

Send your resume and cover letter or a value proposition letter to a list of target employers. You’ll be surprised at how many opportunities and phone calls for interviews this method alone will generate. Even better, do some cold calling and meet a potential employer in person.

Social Media

Take advantage of social media sites to promote your brand. LinkedIn is, of course, the most commonly used professional networking site. In fact, your chances of getting a job without having a LinkedIn profile are fairly slim. Set up a branded, professional profile on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ as well. Be aware that whatever you share on social media is in no way private, and potential employers can access it. So be smart about your social networking.

Information Interviews

Another way to access hidden jobs is to set up informational interviews with companies you’re interested in. Find someone who currently does what you want to do and ask to set up a time to have a quick chat to learn more. This is something that’s often done by people just starting out in a particular field, but it can actually be helpful at all stages of your career. I’ll elaborate more on this in upcoming articles.

Consider Contract Work Or Consulting

If you’re in a career slump, you might consider taking temporary, contract, or consulting positions. Many contract jobs have led to full-time employment, and if nothing else, they create more opportunities for you to network.

Career Fairs

Career fairs can also be great networking opportunities. You might not get an immediate job offer, but in this job market, it isn’t really the goal either. I would go with value proposition letter and business card in hand and do something different.

Go Find Those Hidden Jobs

Hopefully, now you can see why employers don’t always advertise or post to job boards (especially at the executive level). Over the next few weeks, we’ll expand on some of the techniques we just mentioned for finding hidden jobs. It’s going to be easier than you think!

One of the most valuable tools when tapping into the hidden job market is a Value Proposition Letter.It is tremendously successful at grabbing the hiring manager’s attention and showing them the value you offer as a candidate. Studies have shown direct mailing a Value Proposition Letter to a decision maker results in an 85% success rate securing EMPLOYMENT within 90 days. That’s pretty substantial.

5 Career Accelerating Relationships You Need Now

5 Career Accelerating Relationships You Need Now

“It’s not me… it’s you.”

I bet you’ve never said that to anyone! Yet, this reversal of the classic breakup excuse might be exactly what you need to say in order to accelerate your success.

We’ve all had people in our lives who bring us down. Their laziness, unhappiness, or lack of ambition in life is taxing… and it can easily rub off on you.

However, there’s something you can do now to improve your current situation, or add new people to your life who will help you get to the next level.

So, if you want to accelerate your career, develop yourself personally and professionally, and get the most out of life, then pay attention.

Because I’m going to tell you the five types of relationships you need in life to get on the fast track to career success.

(Read to the end to get a free resource with more tips on how to accelerate your career.)

If you set yourself up with good people each of these categories, then you’ve given yourself the ability to achieve your dreams.

Because as the famous entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

Make those people rockstars, and soon you’ll be one, too.

5 Career Accelerating Relationships You Need Now

Now, without further ado, here are five career accelerating relationships you need now:

1. Best Friends Who Care Enough To Call You Out

Everyone knows that it’s great to have a best friend – but you may not know the most important characteristic of a true best friend. A best friend needs to have your back and love you enough to call you out when you’re out of line, and be willing to support you in both your darkest and finest hour.

So, the question to ask yourself is this: Who do you want as your best friend, and what do you want this person to be like?

2. Your Own, Personal Yoda

And by Yoda, I mean a mentor. That means someone who’s older and wiser than you, and ideally someone who has done what you’re looking to do.

See, there’s a definitive roadmap to success, and the people who have it are those who have already made it. You just need to tap into that resource.

And the more specific you can get about what you want in life, the easier it’ll be to find the perfect mentor.

3. A Coach What Will Pull Out Your Full Potential

Who makes the most money these days? Likely, the first people you’ll think of are those in sports and entertainment.

And one thing in common these people have is great coaches.

No one gets to the top alone. And the better the coach, the better you’ll become – personally and professionally.

4. A Mastermind Group

This is one essential thing that highly successful people have.

It was popularized in the classic best-seller, Think & Grow Rich, by Napolean Hill – a book that many would call a foundational book for their success.

A mastermind group is basically 5-8 like-minded people who meet once a month to share ideas with the intention of helping each other and coming up with new, innovative ideas.

Now, in forming your own mastermind, you’ll want to find ambitious people working towards similar goals as yourself. The smarter the group you can assemble, the better the ideas will be that come out of it.

5. Your Own Personal Tribe

Think of this as your extended friends or associates… 20-150 people who you connect with based on a shared set of values.

Jim Rohn, who I mentioned earlier, had another amazing quote that fits here, and it goes like this, “If you want to soar like an eagle, you better stop hanging around with turkeys.”

So, consider the people in your current tribe, and then think about whether they’re the people you want in your life long term.

It can be a tough thing to consider, but be willing to do whatever it takes to soar like an eagle.

For more tips on how to accelerate your career and get your dream job, check out the free video I put together with one of my mentors.

His wisdom helped me get my dream job years ago, and impacted me so much that I wanted to share it with others. Now, we’re helping people around the world discover and achieve their dream jobs with some of the best companies out there.

5 Steps To Take Control Of Your Career

5 Steps To Take Control Of Your Career

It’s time to take control of your career! Individuals who have the most career success are typically those who take full ownership and control of the direction their career is heading. They do not sit around and wait for the next opportunity to arise or for someone to tell them what they need to do. Instead, they grab hold of their own ideas and passions and build their most successful career. So, what exactly do they do?

Here are five things you need to do to take control of your career:

1. Make A Plan

First, they make a plan. They decide where they want to go and then make a plan to get there. For some people, this is a long-term plan (5+ years) and for others it’s much shorter (12 months). The point is that they have a plan and an end state in mind. They know where they want to go and document the steps that must be achieved to reach that end state. They are also flexible with these plans because they know that things change in life and career plans must be altered accordingly. Having a plan is your blueprint for career success.

2. Get A Mentor

Another thing that these individuals do is get themselves a mentor. They seek out someone who has more experience than they do and who has taken a similar path as they are taking. This is a person who can guide them and help them get the necessary exposure and experiences that are required to be successful. A mentor is also someone who can give honest feedback and who you can trust. Find yourself a trusted mentor who can help guide you along your career path to success.

3. Build Strong Relationships

Taking control of your career also means building strong relationships with key stakeholders and having a solid network of referrals. The key stakeholders are those people who have a say in where you go next with your career. They can be people internal to the company where you work or your external contacts.

The point is that you must have solid relationships with these individuals, as they are the people who will vouch for you and provide you with necessary referrals and recommendations. The more solid your network is and the better your relationships are with your key stakeholders, the more options you will have as you travel along your career path.

4. Figure Out What Skills You Need To Succeed

As you build these relationships and put your plan together, you must also have a firm understanding of the skills and experience required to reach your career objective. This is something your mentor and key stakeholders can help you comprehend. If you do not know what skills and experiences you need to reach your goal, ask these people for input.

Then determine what training, exposure, or other assignments you may need to get the required development. Look for the experiences you need to develop and take the necessary steps to get those experiences. Remember, you’re doing what is essential to be in full control of your career growth.

5. Stand Out From The Crowd

Finally, you want to do everything you can to stand out from the crowd. Having full control of your career success means you get ahead at the rate which you want to, and are prepared for, and you have many opportunities to advance. To do this, you must perform beyond expectations, take the difficult and sometimes unwanted assignments and even take the occasional assignment that’s outside your comfort zone.

By demonstrating your ability to be successful outside of your comfort zone, shining in difficult roles and consistently performing beyond expectations, you will stand out from others. You will be the one your company leaders and customers look to for expertise and be in full control of the direction of your career.

Your career can be anything you want it to be. It’s yours to grow and develop however best suits you. Taking these steps will ensure you’re in full control of the level of success you achieve. And, if you implement these steps, you will achieve the highest levels of success throughout your career.

5 Tell-Tale Signs You Should Get A Better Job

5 Tell-Tale Signs You Should Get A Better Job

We’ve all been there. We’ve experienced the feeling of dread, battling traffic as we drive to and from work. The lack of sleep Sunday night as your mind spins, thinking of ways to get out work the next day. Constantly wishing you were doing something else, anything else…

Yet never feeling 100% clear that you’re meant to leave your job and find something else. After all, other people at work seem happy. You earn a decent wage, and you’ve got a roof over your head because of that job.

Now, I’m going to give you the five  simple signs that you should get a better job in a minute (and I’ll also share a free resource that’ll help you figure out and take the next step)…

But first, here’s your bonus tell-tale sign:

If you’re reading this article and got this far – you probably deserve a better job.

The act of seeking it out and reading it tells me that there’s some part of you that knows you can do better.

The 5 Tell-Tale Signs You Should Get A Better Job

Yet, just for fun, let’s go through the five tell-tale signs you should get a better job:

1. You’re A Frog About To Be Boiled

There’s an excellent metaphor in How To Avoid Work, a book written in 1949 by a man named William J. Reilly, that goes like this:

When someone’s doing a job they don’t like, they get irritable. Their duties become monotonous, and their senses slowly dull. In this scenario, Reilly says:

“If you don’t get out now, you may end up like the frog that is placed in a pot of fresh water on the stove. As the temperature is gradually increased, the frog feels restless and uncomfortable, but not uncomfortable enough to jump out. Without being aware that a change is taking place, he is gradually lulled into unconsciousness.”

So, if you’re feeling froggish – jump out of the pot.

2. You’re Doing What You ‘Should’ Do

Ever feel like you’re constantly doing things you ‘ought to do’ instead of what you want to do?

If the real reason you’re working is to appease your parents, impress your friends, or do what you think your Great-Great Grandfather would want you to do, then you’re not being true to yourself – and you’ll eventually snap.

It’s time to tune into what you want in life, and take steps today to pursue it.

3. Work Is A Monotonous Bore

There’s a difference between doing the occasional boring task during an otherwise enjoyable work week – and working an entire job that bores the life out of you.

If you’re daydreaming of better things to escape the mind-numbing boredom, then it’s time to make those dreams come true.

4. Co-Workers Bring You Down

People around us have a huge impact on our life, and often much more than realize.

So, if you don’t get along with your team, find yourself picking up bad habits from your coworkers, or just can’t wait to get away from them… then that’s a pretty good sign the grass is greener elsewhere.

5. You Say “No” To This Question Too Many Days In A Row

Here’s the really big, final, decisive sign. It’s from Steve Jobs’ famous Stanford commencement speech, and it goes like this:

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

Powerful, isn’t it?

Your Next Steps…

These tell-tale signs may have helped you come to terms with the fact that it’s time for a change – yet, as you likely know, figuring that out is the easy part.

The much more difficult part is gaining the clarity on what to do, and the courage to do it.

These are massive topics that I won’t get into here, but I’ll leave you with two of my favorite guiding questions to help you get started:

1. If you knew that you only had 5 years to live, what would you do?
2. If you had an endless supply of money, what would you do?

I wish you the best of luck, and an abundance of clarity and courage as you figure out your next step.

Resumes For Job Seekers Over 50

Resumes For Job Seekers Over 50

While job seekers over 50 years old may have more knowledge and experience in the workplace, that has not helped them come out of the unemployment market any faster.

There are various reasons why an older worker faces a greater challenge securing a job in today’s market than one who is younger. It may include higher pay requirements or because employers view older workers as less competitive with outdated experience and skills.

Resumes For Job Seekers Over 50 Need…

The way your resume is crafted can quickly reveal to an employer your age or signal to an employer you are not current with today’s competitive workplace. The following are sure fire signs to an employer about your age and outdated skills and experience you may have.

1. Contact Details

Every resume is complete with contact information such as your name, address and mode of communication. However, when you list a fax number (rarely will an employer contact you by fax) or e-mail address that indicates digits that can signify a year, such as “molly55@… ” it can signal to an employer you are from the old-school. Some employers consider @aol.com e-mails as old school

Tip: Keep your contact information on your resume simple. Stick to one phone number and a professional e-mail address that may simply be your name. Also, do not label “Phone” or “E-mail” on your resume; that is obvious.

2. Education

Your education can be particularly important to an employer depending on the type of organization and position you are applying for. While you should list degree(s) obtained, do not include the year it was obtained. Simple mathematics can tell the employer how old you are.

Tip: Include the degree you obtained for a particular study, institution attended and the city and state of the institution. Leave out the date of attendance and when you obtained your degree. That information can be supplied to an employer if it is needed later on.

Also, keep in mind that your education becomes less of a highlight on the resume for most employers when you have five or more professional year of experience in the particular field. This should be on the lower part of your resume.

3. Experience

Having 30+ years of experience in the workforce can be valuable and impressive to an employer, but it can also come off negatively on your resume if the information is not presented and laid out effectively. Most employers focus on the most recent five years of experience so if you have experience that dates back to 20 years ago, it may do you more harm than good, especially if it is irrelevant to the position you are applying for.

An employer does not need to know you worked at McDonald’s 20 years ago as a cashier if you are applying for a job related to business development in pharmaceuticals or an entirely different field.

Tip: Even if you have over 25 years of experience, just summarize that as “Over 15 years.” Focus on the most recent 5 to 10 years of work experience particularly relevant to the job you are applying for. If you have other experience that is relevant past that time, include it to a separate category you can call “Other Experiences” on your resume where you can summarize the experience without giving dates.

4. Technical Skills

Technical skills should be specific to the field, such as unique programs and applications for the profession. Listing programs such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint will not impress employers; these have become standard programs in most workplaces where employers expect employees to know them – and to use them well. Do not list skills that are outdated; listing dBase3 immediately shows your age.

Tip: Do not include a section on technical skills to your resume unless it is unique to the field, such as a graphic design program for designers or SAP for accounting and finance. Also if you do list any technical skills, help the employer understand how adept you are by highlighting what you have done and achieved with it.

A resume shouting out your age or years of experience is not going to help you secure a job in today’s market. You need a resume that demonstrates you are effective and have achieved results in “recent years” that can be applied to the position you are applying for. Demonstrate to employers you are current, up-to-date with today’s approaches and a candidate that can achieve results by demonstrating accomplishments from recent employment.

Interviewing Your Interviewer: What To Ask & Why

Interviewing Your Interviewer: What To Ask & Why

Hiring at its core is a transaction. A company has a need to have something done and they are willing to exchange money for skill and time to get those things done. There is a sense of equality when you think about hiring in these terms. And with that concept in mind, I always encourage candidates to enter the interview with their own questions to make the transaction amenable to their needs as well.

The interview should serve to show both the company and the candidate that the relationship is not only going to be solid, but that it will be sustainable and put in a position to ultimately flourish. Turnover is around 7%, people do not stay in jobs as long anymore and I think part of this is that there are not enough candidates interviewing their employers before accepting a position. So, let this serve as your permission slip to ascertain your personal and culture fit with them as much as they are looking to do the same with you.

Getting a new job is stressful, and so is interviewing. But not as stressful as showing up in your first month and realizing that you made a mistake. Don’t make the mistake – ask as many questions as it takes to make sure you are making a good decision. Before I dive in, two points that are incredible important:

1. Do not ask yes/no questions
2. Do NOT be afraid of silence

For me, questions fall into three buckets: Culture, management, and the role.

Culture

You are selling time – your precious time. This is something you cannot get back. In some cases, you are selling this time to a company that you really value their mission and values on they list on their website. The challenge is seeing how they live these values in the interview and making sure that they align with yours. I usually ask some of the following questions:

• Tell me about how the culture manifests itself regularly.
• How important is the culture to the everyday associate?
• What’s most exciting to you about the company today?
• What’s a little scary?

Management

This is where you will focus the bulk of your questions. Your manager is the company and the culture to you and this person can make or break your work experience. You need to find out how well you will work together, their management style, and what they can expect from you.

• What are you most proud of in your career here?
• Tell me about how you make decisions?
• Tell me about your favorite direct report. What was it that made them your favorite?
• Tell me about someone who you did not like working with. What did they do that was challenging?
• Tell me about your management style.
• What keeps you up at night?

Role

As we all know, the job description is about as honest as an advertisement you see. It is only mostly accurate. And as CAREEREALISM touts: Every job is temporary. These questions will help you determine how much of the job description is true and accurate or how much is BS and falls into “Other duties as assigned.”

• Tell me about my average day here? What do you see me doing?
• What does success look like for this role?
• What would your direct reports tell me about working for you?
• How do you see this role progressing over time?

Feel free to build on these and make them your own, but the spirit is true, to ensure you are making a good decision, you need to ask a lot of questions to make sure that this is the right job for you. These questions will help guide your decision making process should you get offered a position and also to really understand what you are getting into when you are a few months into the new job.

5 Lunch Hour Workout Plans

5 Lunch Hour Workout Plans

If you’re struggling to find time to keep fit or finding that fatigue strikes after lunch, a mid-day workout may be just what you need. Fitting in a workout, shower, and meal in your allotted break may sound like a lot, but it is possible.

Also, the latest trend in fitness is toward shorter high-intensity workouts, which make it easier to get a serious burn going before getting back to the office. In fact, a 15-minute workout can do nearly as much good as a 60-minute workout if you really push yourself, according to Phil Tyne, a former conditioning coach for the San Diego Chargers.

“I find that spending 20 to 30 minutes on a rowing machine is the only way I can make it through the day,” One mid-day exerciser says. “None of my co-workers originally thought the habit would last, but the more overtime I took on, the more I came to feel the workout was essential. In order to make time, I would often eat during my 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. coffee breaks, and spend the entire lunch hour at the gym. While the others eased sleepily back into their work after lunch, I would hit the ground running and finish the day feeling great.”

Here are five other lunch hour workout plans that will leave you feeling as good:

1. In-Office Workout

If you don’t have access to fitness facilities or time to travel during lunch, you can do a quick workout with little or no equipment in the privacy of your own office. Begin with a three to five-minute walk around the office to loosen up, followed by stretching the neck, arms/shoulders, back/legs, thighs, and calves. Then move on to squats, shoulder shrugs, dumbbell curls, bench dips, and assisted push-ups.

2. Swimming

If you can access a pool or other body of water during your lunch break, swimming is one of the best workouts available. Swimming combines a cardiovascular challenge with working every muscle in your body against the resistance of the water, making it a multi-faceted full-body workout. Depending on the routine you choose, you can vary the level of intensity and increase heart health or muscle mass. Swimming also keeps you cool, ensuring that your co-workers won’t smell your workout for the rest of the day!

3. Circuit Training

Circuittraining is an exercise system championed by Curves gyms, where you do a series of resistance exercises in quick succession, alternating with aerobic exercise. Because you work out different muscle groups one after another, circuit training requires no rest between sets. And because you don’t rest, the exercises boost your heart rate, which means that you build strength while getting a cardio workout. A complete workout generally takes 15 to 30 minutes, and the intensity can be adjusted to suit anyone.

4. Bike Ride

A quick medium-to-high intensity bike ride is an ideal way to burn some calories mid-shift. One of the great things about biking is that it also takes you somewhere, which means that you can bike to your favorite eatery and pick up a healthy lunch to eat when you get back to the office. For added exercise, biking to and from work is also a great way to work out. It’s also environmentally friendly!

5. Crossfit

Crossfit is an organization that has been at the center of the trend towards shorter, more varied high-intensity workouts. They post a new 20-minute workout on their website every day, and these demanding routines deliver all the exercise you need in a quick burst of activity. Learning the movements can take extra time for beginners, so many gyms offer 60-minute classes including a warm-up and an introduction to new techniques before the 20-minute workout. This is an excellent option for more athletic individuals or for those with longer lunch hours who want to learn a new approach to the gym.

How To Connect With A New Boss

How To Connect With A New Boss

Try using these four tips to build a connection with a new boss:

1. Speak Up In Meetings

If you are always in the background, now is the time to jump in. If you aren’t seen as an active participant on the team, this could be a red flag to a boss who might be surveying the landscape for potential house cleaning later. Be a positive contributor.

2. Set Up A One-On-One Meeting

If the boss has not done so already, set up a time to meet with them to provide an overview of your work and to allow them to get to know you better. Building connections will also help you both assess your working styles to figure out how you will be able to communicate best. This can lay the ground work for a great collaborative work relationship.

3. Provide Regular Updates

You don’t need to be a classic ‘brown-noser’ but proactively providing updates on project status or other work you are conducting is one less question or request that the boss has to make. If you reliably turn in work or reports on-time and in an organized fashion, you’ll be perceived as professional and as the department standard.

4. Empower, Educate, And Engage

New bosses don’t necessarily want to admit that they are behind the learning curve in getting acclimated to a new company or division. They are struggling to get caught up with priorities, challenges, and opportunities, while trying to get to know the team that will take them there. Be willing to share in a helpful way to give the new boss the knowledge and tools to get them up to speed as soon as possible. You could gain a very powerful career advocate as a result.

If you build a reputation as a helpful, friendly resource who is competent in your work and an engaged member of the team, your new boss will see you as an important asset and include you in key projects and potential promotions.