What’s Your Dumbest Career Moment?

A study by Virginia Tech Carilion found that people who get quiet in conversations with others they feel are smarter suffer from “expression of IQ.”

In these moments, we not only clam-up, we also temporarily lose our problem-solving ability. So, in an effort to avoid looking stupid, we opt to say nothing at all as opposed to risk saying something dumb.

Makes sense, but it can also hurt your career.

Here’s why…

You Must Show Your Expertise – People Can’t Read Your Mind!

In today’s insanely competitive workplace, we all know the only way to earn respect is to be seen as a subject-mater expert.

Those who regularly prove their value and worth by showcasing extensive knowledge and talents that positively impact the business are the ones that keep their jobs and get promotions.

So, while you may think you are saving yourself from looking stupid by not talking, you are also positioning yourself as someone who is not confident in themselves or their abilities.

And that is no way to build your professional reputation!

Get Over Your Fear Of Communicating By Expecting Dumb Moments

The only way to work through this is to muster up the courage to push past these freeze moments and get comfortable with speaking your mind.

Yes, you will most likely make a mistake or two – but that’s exactly how we learn.

So, the sooner you get talking, the better you’ll get at presenting your ideas and expertise.

We’ve All Had Our Moments – What Was Your Best?

I remember when I was 28 and started working at a large company. The senior managers were really professional. I’m talking hard-core, type-As and very competitive. In my first meeting with the Senior Vice President, I thought I’d make a name for myself by speaking up and providing a suggestion.

Duh, not my best move.

I proposed a solution that had been tried and failed miserable just prior to my arrival.

Had I done a little homework, I would have learned that this Senior Vice President had been personally opposed from the start of the idea but had been convinced to try it and was now very bitter that it failed on her watch and against her better judgement.

I spent the next six months trying to prove to her I wasn’t an idiot.

I learned the hard way – do your homework before you suggest anything to anexecutive!

Tell Us About Your Dumbest Career Moment!

What did you learn? Whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? So, share with us your communication faux-pas and how it made your career better today in the comments below.

Job Offer: Take The Sure Thing Or Wait For Something Better?

You’ve been dreaming of the moment when you hear those sweet words, “We want to extend you an offer!” But that moment of career bliss can quickly turn to deep anxiety if the job offer comes from your number two or number three choice.

Should you accept the sure thing, or should you risk it all for a potentially better opportunity by declining?

It might be tempting to accept an offer with the intention of backing out later if you hear back from a better company. But it’s a small world; you never know when you’ll need to cross that burned bridge.

We’ve rounded up the best advice from top career experts to help relieve some of your anxiety when you’re balancing multiple job offers:

1. Ask For More Time

You have more power than you think, says career expert Hannah Morgan, also known as Career Sherpa. Every reasonable employer expects the candidate to take some time to think about the offer. This is a huge decision – and no one expects you to jump at the opportunity.

Laura Jacobs, internship coordinator and career liaison at University of Wisconsin—Whitewater, would agree with Morgan suggests asking for more time. “Can you reasonably delay the decision until the other interviews have taken place and offers are made on those?” Jacobs suggests. Of course, this would be an ideal situation. If timing doesn’t seem to be on your side then…

2. Go For Your No. 1 Choice

You’ll never know until you try. And taking the first offer (if it’s not your number one choice) means living with that decision for the rest of your career.

“If timing isn’t in your favor and one of the upcoming interviews is with an organization you REALLY want to work for, then you have to make the risky choice to decline the first offer and hope for the best on the upcoming interview,” Jacobs says.

While you’re faced with this tough decision, remember that the offers on the table are not the end all, be all. If you feel confident about interviewing with your number one company, then you should go all in, especially if you’re a young professional.

You’ve likely got your family as a safety net and the fewest responsibilities you’ll ever have in your life. Work hard and take the plunge.

3. Always Keep Your Word

Jacobs along with several other career experts agree that rescinding an acceptance is extremely flighty, unprofessional and just a bad idea.

They have likely “turned other candidates loose by that point, as well as invested time and money in preparing for your arrival, so reneging on your acceptance would burn that bridge to a crisp,” Alison Green, career and management advice columnist for Ask a Manager, said in an article for U.S. News and World Report’s On Careers.

So, keep your word. Above all, don’t risk tarnishing your reputation.

Should You Be Networking With Past Employers?

Maintaining a strong network of contacts is crucial for career success. Whether you’re job searching or trying to climb the ladder, having connections is key. But when it comes to networking, is it appropriate to reach out to former employers? Or is it frowned upon?

Here’s what our approved career experts had to say:

Evaluate Your Relationship

“If you mean companies that previous bosses now work for, I guess that depends on how healthy your relationship with that boss was,” says Kristin Johnson of ProfessionDirection.com.

Johnson says if it was difficult, you might want to start by making amends with that specific person to avoid the possibility that they would make an effort to malign you there.

“You may want to prioritize your list so you work with your best prospects and most positive relationships first,” she says.

Look At Your Options

Dorothy Tannahill-Moran of NextChapterNewLife.com says going back to an old employer is always an option to consider.

“You know the company and they know you,” she says. “Assuming it was a mutually positive experience on both accounts, you absolutely should consider a previous employer as part of your target company list.”

Maintain Your Network

“It’s always a good idea to maintain the network you built at past employers,” says Bud Bilanich, author of Climbing The Corporate Ladder. “These people can help you with job leads and can act as references for you when you are applying at a new company.”

Bilanich says it’s especially important to stay in touch with this network if you are planning to reapply to one of these companies. The bigger your network, the easier it will be for you to find a job.

“Your network is your key to career success,” he says. “When you are looking for a job, and after you’ve landed one.”

New Boss, New Career Opportunities

The one thing you can count on in business is nothing ever stays the same. That goes for the boss, too.

Bosses come and they go even when your job remains in place. In some businesses, they come and go so fast they feel like a hit and run. While it would be nice to have some stability, it’s not something you can count on. Moreover, you can actually use it forboosting your career.

You can look at the boss turn-over as a career growth opportunity.

A new boss is a time when the board is wiped clean and a new working relationship has yet to be developed. If your previous relationship was rocky or you performed some career limiting moves, this gives you an opportunity to recreate who you are to that new person. Even if the new boss is someone you already know, you are both new in this relationship and you have a chance to rethink how things will go. The key is to “think” about your next actions.

Here are some smart career moves when you get a new boss:

1. Educate Them On What You Do

This is like the reverse of learning a new job. You can’t assume the new boss knows the details of who does what. They have a learning curve, so make sure you help them understand your job. Among the things you can share are your primary deliverables, results, current performance, what you are working on and are slated to work on soon.

2. Don’t Compare Them To The Previous Boss

They will resent the comparison. They will also more than likely want to do things differently than how it was done. Even if the previous boss was a felon, don’t pass on bad gossip to the new one. The assumption is if you freely share your opinion of that person, you will do it to the new one as well. It doesn’t win points.

3. Time Your Requests And Decision Making

If you hit up a new boss for things like time off, vacations, raises or even process decisions you will come off as unsaavy. Obviously, if there is a big decision that affects the business, you shouldn’t hold off. Be prepared with a recommendation for a decision, your rationale and any critical timing. Aside from that, allow the learning curve to take place and bring these topics to them in small doses.

4. Time To Shine

If you were doing less than stellar under the previous boss, now is the time to hit the “reset” button on your performance. If you can make strides in the areas of improvement now that you are with a new boss, the new boss will trust their own observations of you more than anything passed on to them.

If you need to get a mentor to help you understand what you should be doing, now is the time to get that person lined up. It doesn’t have to be public knowledge that you have a mentor. A mentor can help your career whether it is how to navigate the political landscape or how to improve your performance.

5. Learn Your New Boss

Some people think the new boss will yearn to hear all of their pent-up improvement suggestions. Like all people, they will only want advice if they ask for it. Learn how your new boss likes to learn and take in new information. How do they want to run the department? Loads of details or only the top level information? Again, you can’t make assumptions about the new boss based on any of your history. Ask them questions about what they will want to know from you and then deliver.

6. Be Ready For Change

Even when a peer ascends to the throne, things will change. Every boss will tweak things, sometimes making huge changes and other times only minor. Your willingness to actively embrace those changes can mean the difference between a successful working relationship and career or being advised perhaps you’d fit better in another group.

Just like starting fresh with a new job, a new boss can be a time to start over again and create real career momentum for you. You don’t have to hang on to your old stories. You can rewrite your career each and every time a new boss comes along.

7 Examples Of Fresh New Ways To Start Your Cover Letter

It’s time to dump the old line: “Please accept this application in response to…”

If you’re still starting your cover letter with this overused one-liner, then I implore you to stop what you’re doing, delete the line, and spend a few minutes reading this article to discover seven new examples of how you can catch the hiring manager’s attention with an attention-grabbing opening line.

Entice them with the job title and some of your standout accomplishments…

1. As an IT Director for ABC Company, I manage IT operations for a 500+-employee organization. Recruited in 2005, my goal has been to modernize and scale the technology landscape and drive forward initiatives to expand the capabilities, systems, and performance across the organization. To date, the results have been impressive, including transition to a new Storage Area Network (SAN), Microsoft desktop environment, data warehouse, and Internet technology tools. Further, I have captured more than $2.5 million in development and operating cost reductions.

Keyword-rich opening lines that demonstrate fit…

2. I am a veteran Construction Manager with extensive experience in the designing, planning, budgeting, staffing, and on-site supervision of new construction and renovation projects. With 15+ years in construction and project management, I bring to ABC Company value-added expertise in:

3. As an accomplished Chief Financial Officer, I possess broad cross-functional experience in emerging, high-growth, and well-established corporations. Unlike other finance executives, my focus has not been limited to just finance but includes strategic planning, change management, system implementations, and business operations, as well as the performance improvement of teams. Highlights of my career include:

4. Designing, developing, and leading physical fitness training programs are my passions and my expertise. My 11+ years of progressive leadership experience in the U.S. Air Force, together with my upcoming ACE certification and my achievements in fitness instruction and coaching, make me an excellent candidate for your Personal Trainer position.

Highlight the fact you can meet their needs to keep them reading…

5. Cultivating relationships to deliver exceptional results is what I do best. Whether in a start-up situation or a high-growth organization, I have consistently increased sales and customer satisfaction through my ability to develop first-class sales solutions and drive professional excellence. Highlights of my career that may be of interest to you include:

6. Cross-cultural communication, multi-departmental collaboration, and producing highly detailed and dependable administrative and marketing support are what I do best.

7. Delivering massive value to my clients has been the focus of my career for the past 13 years. In my role as ___________ for ABC Company, I have unfailingly provided my clients with strategies, action plans, and the leadership necessary to enhance people, processes, and technologies. In addition, I have established a solid reputation for assessing challenges, creating solutions, and responding quickly to changing business requirements. This is the value I offer to XYZ Corporation.

Words to remember…

It’s important to remember your cover letter should be a brief introduction that demonstrates fit and motivates the employer to read your resume. If you’re narrating your whole life story or using the same old line that’s been written a million times before, then you’re not really captivating the reader or communicating the most vital information necessary to win the interview.

Using these simple points as guidelines and the cover letter samples provided above as a starting point, create your own unique and captivating opening line that draws the reader in and keeps them interested.

Facebook: The Untapped Job Board

Most of what you hear about using Facebook while looking for a job involves keeping your information as private as possible from potential employers. While this is good advice, Facebook can also be a valuable tool in your job search since many smaller companies post their job ads on their Facebook pages.

If you are looking for work at a smaller local company, “liking” their Facebook page can often be a great place to start. Open jobs are sometimes posted there before they make it onto the company’s regular web site. Additionally, Facebook sites will often include pictures from previous events the company has held.

You Can Take A Peek At Company Culture

Viewing these gives you a sense of the corporate culture at the organization. Are the people wearing suits or are they dressed in business casual? Are the upper level managers all in their 60s? Is there room for someone younger to move up through the ranks?

You Can Get Your Name Out There

Provided (again) your Facebook profile is work appropriate, you can also use a business’s Facebook page to get your name in front of them. Just as you might useLinkedIn to send a relevant article to a specific contact, you can post a link on the Facebook page of a company if you think fans of that company might be interested.

You Can Check Out Company Events

If the company posts its community events on Facebook, it may offer you the opportunity to show up at one and meet someone face-to-face. You may also find some of your other Facebook friends are fans of a company. Who knows, maybe they personally know someone who works there.

Many people feel uncomfortable using Facebook in a professional context, and it’s OK if you’re one of them. However, with many businesses creating their own pages on the site, it’s worth at least investigating whether the company has any information you can use when sending them your resume.

10 Mistakes That Can Ruin Any Interview

Your cover letter and resume have made a positive impression on a potential employer, and they’ve called you in for an interview. Now, you need to ensure the employer stays impressed with you and your potential in their organization.

There’s an old saying first impressions count – and there is no better instance of the truth to this than the impressions made during an interview. A variety of factors are in effect. It may include the way you are dressed, how you communicate, your personality, and a number of other considerations. It takes a lot to develop a positive impression, and conversely requires very little to leave one that does not work in your favor as key decisions are made for the new talent they need to bring on.

All the time invested into planning and preparing becomes obsolete with these mistakes commonly seen with some job candidates.

1. Arriving Late

Everyone’s time is value. Show respect and do not waste other people’s time. If there is an unexpected delay, at the very least, give a call to apologize and inform your contact of your expected arrival time.

2. Jumping Into The Discussion Of Pay And Benefits

There will be a time for this discussion – generally not in the first interview, unless it is approached by the employer. You do not want to appear as though all you care about is “what is in it for me.” At the same time, approaching the topic of salary is especially risky. You may end up putting yourself in a position where you are asked to present a desired salary and fall under what the company had anticipated. Learn more about the position and conduct research before going into discussion of salary.

3. Answering A Cellphone

Show respect by letting your employer know this interview is more important than any call you have. Turn off your cell phone. If you forget and it rings, apologize and turn it off.

4. Talking Badly About Your Previous Or Current Employer

Regardless of the reality of the situation, never talk bad about your current or previous employer(s). It brings to question if you will do the same with this potential employer in the future.

5. Being Brief, Hiding From Questions, Or Talking Too Much

Just as you want to learn about the employer, the employer wants to learn about you. At the same time, you don’t want to be the only one talking throughout the interview. Learn to listen and have a balanced conversation where you both have a chance to receive information and ask questions.

6. Not Asking Questions

Regardless of how thorough the interview discussion is, when asked, “Do you have any questions for me?,” always have a question. When you do not have a question, it may come across as though you are not sincerely interested in the opportunity. For additional tips, take a look at our post on “The 4 Most Important Questions to Ask at an Interview.”

7. Dressing Inappropriately

Your appearance includes not just what you wear but how you groom yourself. Employers will not be impressed with a sloppy appearance. You need to appear and dress the part of what is expected of the position.

8. Being Unprepared

Conduct research so you have at least a general sense of the type of business the company is in and what the position you are applying for is about. You will be able to better tailor your communication during discussion and questions with the employer.

9. Lying

False information can lead to an immediate disqualification and exemplify your weaknesses.

10. Being Inattentive

Carefully listen to what the interviewer is saying and show you are attentive. You do not want to appear disinterested and come off as inattentive. It is not a desirable characteristic for any position.

Most candidates will only receive one opportunity to make an impression. Make sure the one you leave is as positive as possible by keeping these tips in mind during your next interview.