Rebuilding Your Network

Rebuilding Your NetworkRebuilding Your NetworkAs the economy warms up, mora of your contacts are on the move - and going places that could be right for you. How do you tighten a network thats gone slack?People have a bad habit of letting their networks go stale when they land new positions. Theyll certainly stay in touch during the job search after all, networking is a great way of finding new opportunities. But once theyre back on the job, they drop the active networking that helped them land it in the first place.LinkedIn, Facebook and other business networks offer some ongoing connection, but they dont provide personal touch and top-of-mind awareness of an active career tribe. Thats why I coach all clients in transition leid only to build an effective tribe but to manage it actively - because you never know when the next shoe will drop or the next opportunity will arise.In the current recession, your network may have gone cold on its own. With more of your colleagues unemployed and fewer able to help their networks advance, many people stopped trying to network and lost touch. As the economy rebounds, job seekers will have to rekindle those relationships, too.Job seekers often tell me they feel awkward reconnecting with former colleagues, coworkers and mentors they havent contacted since their last job hunt. Of course, I can slap them on the hands and say, Naughty, naughty. You didnt keep yourself connected the way you should have but that doesnt solve their dilemma. Therefore, lets snuff out guilt - which, if kept alive, will ruin any efforts to reconnect anyway.Here are a few effective ways to re-ignite a group of friends and business relationships.1. Admit you lost touchIts weirder not to acknowledge the rhinoceros head in the room than to acknowledge it - so dont gloss over the fact that you havent reached out in ages. Chances are, the person on the other end of the line is just like you most people dont keep their career tribes active and vibrant. T herefore, begin by stating the obvious but in an Everyman kind of wayGosh, its been ages. I dont know if youre like me, but I get so busy with all thats going on with work and family that staying in touch with people that matter to me takes a back burner. Its not right, and I intend to correct that moving forward because, as we both know, relationships are everything.2. Dont make it all about YOUYes, you are connecting with your contact now because youre looking for clients or a job. However, the worst thing you can do is immediately jump into what you want or need from him. Instead, you need to rebuild the relationship by demonstrating interest in him.So, is now a good time to talk, or could we bestattungs a coffee? How are you? Whats been going on in your world? How are the kids/husband/pets/projects? Draw on your knowledge of your contact to get him talking about himself and what hes up to. Getting your contact to tell you stories about his life, career and exploits builds relati onship equity.3. Have a research projectAt some point, the point of your call will come up naturally. I would offer it up before youre asked. But my No. 1 rule in career transition is, The best way to get a job is not to look for oneSounds ironic, but youll always get further meeting more people faster when you connect based on reasons other than your need for a job. So create something worthwhile on which your contact could advise you other than your resume or job search. Are there new developments at the cutting edge of your industry about which she may have thoughts? Which players in your field do you want information about? Your inquiry doesnt need to be formal nevertheless, it does need to feel like youre researching a topic, not prospecting for jobs.I recently helped a social-network newbie set up her first profile on LinkedIn, which created a built-in opportunity to network in the name of research. The woman used her position as a LinkedIn newbie to reconnect with her contact s and ask them how they used the service. Once in touch and talking, she parlayed the connection into some greater research projects in her industry. For her, networking was the research project.4. Wait to be askedPeople arent stupid. You need never flat out say to them, Im looking for a job. If you have a solid reason to call for their opinions and advice, youre building relationship equity. After all, everyone wants to feel like the expert, and people love to give advice. If youve handled the first three steps gracefully, the person on the other end will probably ask, So, are you in the market? Thats what you want them asking you. This gives you the opening you need to reply, Oh, well, yes, one reason I have the space to reconnect with helpful folks like you is because I was recently downsized. But I want to make a smart move this time, which is why Im focused on researching these issues. Of course, if you know others you think I should speak to, Id be grateful if you can direct m e to them.This more subtle approach will generally net you a more open and willing connection than if you tried to say hello after five years and immediately asked for job-search help. Re-establishing relationships based on warmth and mutual interest is far more comfortable and effective than requesting job leads. The power of relationships can truly amaze you if you use them wisely. And their benefit is never one sided. The advice, input and connections your contacts offer you today will always benefit them eventually. The universe reciprocates but you gotta get out there and make your contributions. Taking the first step to reconnect is a big contribution.

14 ways youre accidentally mom-shaming your friends

14 ways youre accidentally mom-shaming yur friends14 ways youre accidentally mom-shaming your friendsAs parents living in a world where social media runs rampant, we all have felt like we were beingjudged by someone else. Weve all experienced the condescending, passive-aggressive comments to your Facebook post that screams youre doing it all wrong It feels awful.I would venture to say that *most* moms dont shame each other intentionally. We all know that it takes a village. And without our village, we would be totally lost some days. When I see moms shame each other, it hurts my heart. We are all in this crazy parenting thing together. We should be lifting each other up, empowering our fellow women, giving them support and sharing love. Ultimately, that is what we do with our friends. Let them know we have been there, and that we know its hard.Or so we think. But even with the best intentions at heart, there are times we shame our friends, and we dont even realize we are doing it. He re are 14 things you might actually be doing that shame your mom friends. Cut them out of your vocabulary or your social habits, and youll be better at lifting up the women around you.1. Saying I would never let my kid eat If youre having a meal with your friend and they order the mac n cheese for their toddler bite your tongue. What you choose tofeed your kidsis your choice. If they want to feed their kids pasta and chicken dinosaurs forlunch, thats THEIR choice. And they dont need you weighing in on it.2. Expressing that you couldnt ever leave your kids with a stranger.If your friend goes off to work every day and youre a stay at home mom, its best to keep any negative thoughts on babysitters or daycares to yourself. Its a hard job staying home with kids, but its also hard to leave them. And they likely dont do so without putting a lot of thought and consideration into their childs well-being. Dont make them feel any more guilt than they already do.3. Asking if they are done havi ng kids.This is one I have heard from a lot of friends. As if they didnt have enough faith in my ability to parent the kids I already had, it would be best if I stopped while I welches ahead. And whether I had thought of having anotlageher child or not, it still stung.4. Commenting on the state of their home.Making a comment or joke about a toddler tornado or a kids food smeared on the table might be meant as light-hearted. But instead, you could be offending your friend by insinuating their neglect ofhousehold responsibilities. If they have a messy house, they know it. Comments (even light ones) arent necessary.5. Bad mouthing their spouse or partners parenting abilities.If you think their spouse should be stepping it up dont say it. Its not your place. Nor do they want to hear how amazing your supportive, helpful, and hands-on hubby is if theres isnt. Remember, thats their partner in life. And if push comes to shove, they will likely choose him or her every time.6. Acting like an expert because your kid had a similar episode or issue.Not all two kids are made the same, just like no two parenting issues come with the exact same solution. Even if your child had an identical experience to your friends child, leave it to the parents or the professionals to figure out their solution. Be a listening ear, and thats it.7. Giving a breast is best talk.Literally,everyoneknows thatbreastmilk has amazing health benefits. But that doesnt mean that breastfeeding is for everyone. Some moms cant breastfeed because of medications, illness, breast issues, or latch issues. Or, they simply just dont WANT to. Its their baby, and their choice.8. Downplaying theirmiscarriage.I never know the right thing to say in sad situations, so I tend to say less than I should in fear of saying too much and hurting someone. A loss is painful. No words ever make it better, but some words can make it worse. Be careful not to diminish yourfriends losswhen they need you most.9. Handing out unsolic ited childsleep advice.If someone didnt ask you about sleep training, dont give them your fool-proof method on how to sleep train your kids in 5 simple steps. Tired moms just want their problem to be heard, not fixed. Listen and empathize. And offer to pick up the coffee next time.10. Pretending to be super mom.If your friend is expressing being overwhelmed, exhausted, or just not in love with motherhood at the moment, its best not to start proclaiming your undying love for all things that made you a mom. They dont want to feel alone in their feelings, and they definitely have enough guilt as it is.11. Claiming your kid is perfect in every way.When a friend shares a problem they are experiencing with their child, the last thing they want to hear is that other kids dont behave like this. Making them feel like their kid isnt normal (when most likely their kid is perfectly normal) is not only offensive, its hurtful. Moms have enoughanxietyabout their ability to parent. Lets not make th em think they are missing some huge red flag when it comes to their childs behavior.12. Telling them what the experts say.We all know parenting doesnt come with a handbook. And every single child does not fit a mold (although either of those would be very nice indeed). Years ago, my childs pediatrician told me to have my baby sleep in a car seat when he had a stuffy nose and was having trouble sleeping through the night. Now, its highly advised NOT to do this because it can dangerously cut off their airway. So, just because the experts say so, doesnt mean its right for that individual child. Stop making your friends feel like they are doing something wrong or arent providing their kids with the best possible care because of something you read in a book.13. Judging other moms before you know what kind of mom they are.I have been guilty of this myself. I have a perpetual case of putting my foot in my mouth. Once I made a joke about the PTA moms during the first week of school drop off only to find out the mom I was talking to was the room mom for my childs class. Oops. Be careful.14. Claiming their child is behind according to the milestones they should have hit.All kids hit important milestones at different times. Telling your friend that their child is behind is going to cause some serious panic in them, and some serious concerns about their parenting. Unless you are genuinely concerned for your friends child, let the parents and the doctors handle their developmental progress.Its one thing to be shamed by a stranger in a mom group online. Its another realm of hurt to be shamed by your own friend. Luckily, you can keep an eye out for ansicht actions and remember some things are better left unsaid.A version of this post previously appeared onFairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits, and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boar ds, and career advice.

8 Tips for Dealing With That Extra Annoying Co-worker

8 Tips for Dealing With That Extra Annoying Co-worker8 Tips for Dealing With That Extra Annoying Co-workerWhether its the copywriter who incessantly talks to you about her family drama or the account executive who steals food from the company fridge, weve all dealt with annoying co-workers in the office at some point or another. Of course, colleagues who drive you crazy also pose a harte nuss How do you deal with them without leaving a bad impression?Have no fear, because weve searched the great depths of the web to find the best resources on handling those pesky people in the office. Youll be a work relationships master in no time.Trust me, youre not alone Here are the 15 most annoying co-workers ever (and, shocker Everyone deals with them). (LinkedIn)Building on that, there are definitely ways to handle each individual infuriating co-worker case its not one-size-fits-all. (DailyWorth)If youre worried that youre the only person dealing with a frustrating colleague, dont be research found that one in eight people leave a job due to incivility. (Entrepreneur)Its easy to reach a breaking point with loud, gossipy colleagues, so drown them out with these five awesome apps. (Fast Company)Sometimes when youre dealing with an obnoxious gruppe member, its best to find a bigger enemy. (Inc.)If youre dealing with a perpetually late co-worker, heres the fix youve always been waiting for the Whisky Rule. (Lifehacker)Obviously, its easy to be annoyed with other people, but its also important to take a step back and think about what irritating office habits you have that drive others crazy. (Forbes)All in all, look on the bright side Your co-worker isnt as awful as David Thorne. (Elite Daily)Need more help dealing with annoyances in the office? Check out some of our suggestionsHow to Deal Handling the Impossible Co-Worker13 Types of Co-workers We Could Seriously Do WithoutHow to Handle the Co-worker Who Just Doesnt Get ItPhoto of upset office workers courtesy of Shutterstock .

6 Communication Tips That Will Make You a Better Leader

6 Communication Tips That Will Make You a Better Leader 6 Communication Tips That Will Make You a Better Leader Article by Dan ScalcoWhether you manage employees, coordinate a team of volunteers, serve on a board, or are in charge of juggling your familys schedule, your leadership skills hinge on your ability to communicate effectively with others. Here are six communication tipsthat will make you a better leader, improve your relationships with other people, and boost your teams productivity and morale1. Know YourselfAll good communication starts from a distribution policy of self-awareness. When youre communicating with other people, you need to be aware of your inner monologue. You dont want to take out your bad mood on someone else. Its also important to know what youre hoping to achieve from a given interaction so you can tailor your message accordingly.2. Know Your AudienceThe best communication occurs when you understand the rolle youre speaking to. Knowing your audiences mo tivations, learning styles, and preferred communication methods allows you to adapt your message to make it more effective for the context. Making a personal connection facilitates empathy, puts people at ease, and builds trust.Just one caveat In order to be effective, personal connections need to be genuine, not exploitative.3. Be Direct, Specific, and ClearClear communication increases the likelihood that people will comprehend your message and take whatever action you may be asking of them. Its better to over-explain something than to leave room for misunderstanding.Whenever youre delivering an assignment or asking for assistance from someone, focus on providing simple, actionable, and specific instructions. Its helpful to prepare your thoughts in advance so you can communicate all the relevant details. Dont end a conversation until youre sure the other person understands your objectives and how to achieve them. Deliver instructions in a friendly, open way so the other person kno ws they can approach you with follow-up questions.4. Pay Attention to Nonverbal CommunicationPlenty of research suggests nonverbal communication is just as important as what a person says, if noteven more important. Facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, and eye contact all play a major role in affirming or undermining your message.Whenever youre talking with someone, try to be aware of both your own body language and the body language of your conversation partner. In particular, pay attention to whether your body language aligns with what youre saying this will help you to be a more trustworthy communicator and make youseem more self-assured.5. Listen More Than You SpeakOne of the best ways to encourage open and honest communication within a group is to model active listening. When someone is speaking to you, really listen to what theyre saying. Ask follow-up questions to demonstrate that youre paying attention and to make sure there are no miscommunications. Keep an open mind and focus on thoughtfully responding to what people say instead of immediately reacting.This practice builds rapport and understanding between the communicating parties.6. Be Positive and RespectfulTo cultivate loyalty and boost team performance, prioritize transparent, fair, and respectful communication within the group. Dont hold your position over other people or use coercion or fear as motivators. Instead, focus on bringing an honest, positive, and ego-less attitude to every situation that arises. Serving as a cheerleader instead of an autocrat helps maintain morale and can even facilitate creativity and effective problem-solving.Each of the above tips represents an ongoing practice. You wont master them in a day or even a year. Instead, youll need to commit to practicing these strategies for life. The more you implement these skills, the more theyll start to feel like second nature and the more your leadership abilities will benefit.A version of this article originally appear ed on SUCCESS.com.Dan Scalco is the founder and director of marketing at Digitalux, a digital marketing agency located in Hoboken, New Jersey. Throughout his career, he has helped hundreds of businesses save time, increase leads, and maximize sales. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

This is why not taking that job we wanted haunts us

This is why not taking that job we wanted haunts usThis is why not taking that job we wanted haunts usWhen you look back over your career regrets, youre more likely to be haunted by the job you did not take than the work mistakes you actually did make. Why? A new paper published in the journal Emotion has looked into why inaction stings longer than other failures.The researchers found that we deeply regret not becoming the person we wanted to become - the ideal self - more than we regret not becoming the person society and expectations says we ought to become - the ought self. We take more action with ought self-regrets, but those couldve crossroads in our careers can fester within us for years without relief.What-ifs haunt us longer than ought-tosWhen participants were asked to anthroponym their single biggest regret in life, respondents were 76% likely to mention a regret about not fulfilling a goal of the ideal self. They were all moments around what the respondent could have d one but failed not to do, like go on that date, or take that once-in-a-lifetime job.The researchers suggest that what-ifs cause us longer sorrow because we cannot address them in the way we can with ought self-regrets. An ought self-regret would be lashing out at a co-worker, an action that does not align with the good employee society expects you to be. Participants rated these regrets with more urgency than ideal self-regrets. The guilt over making a mistake spurs us more quickly to action. You can make amends to that coworker. You can change your attitude and behavior.But we do not address ideal self-regrets with the same urgency that we do with ought self-regrets, researchers found. Participants said they would take more steps to repair ought self-regrets than regrets about not living up to the dream version of themselves.This has a hidden cost. Left unattended, the discontent over dreams unrealized lingers. When participants failed to live up to their ideal self, they labeled t hese moments unfinished business, or unresolved regret. These emotions had longer staying power. Its why you still regret not taking that exciting job overseas years later. You have to live with your choice. You cannot take back or fix what you never actually did.This finding lines up with writer George Saunders advice to Syracuse graduates.What I regret most in my life arefailures of kindness,he cautioned. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly.What he still thought about years later, he said, was a moment of inaction where he failed to rise to the occasion. He noticed a girl being bullied, and although he never bullied her himself, he never helped her directly, and she moved away before he could repair the hurt. That failure to speak up has stayed with him far longer than other hurts, he said.So next time you are facing a crossroads in your career, weigh the decision carefully. What you did not cho ose may come back to haunt you.

The Definitive Approach for Resume for No Experience

The Definitive Approach for Resume for No Experience Lies Youve Been Told About Resume for No Experience Anyone who wanted to make an application for a job for a call center agent in a business can do so. If you are working to break in, pick the skills you know you have and go with that. So long as youre able to emphasize and highlight the skills you know can give rise to the businesss well-being, youre sure to find short-listed and be invited for an interview. Then take a look at your previous work experiences. Now, take a look at a not-so-great resume objective example to understand what you ought to avoid. However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. Its simple to think that adding the additional work will bulk up the resume and thus, make you seem like a professional however the specific opposite is true. On the flip side, a resume that attempts to adhere to the 1 page rule isnt likely to cut it for a technical person unle ss they are a newcomer to the area. As stated previously should pick skills that have some relevance to the job which youre applying for. Utilizing entry-level resume examples can provide you a tried-and-tested structure to take as a starting point and also provides resume help to learn how to finish each resume section with guides about what to include and exactly what you ought to avoid as a way to entice the proper employers. Applying for work with very little work history is never simple, but it does not need to truly feel impossible. While technical pros resumes do not will need to be pretty, formatting can earn a big difference in a resumes readability. So as to compose a good resume the very first thing youve got to think about is your audience. Actually, knowing when to request help is a hallmark of the greatest developers. Youve got no actual experience, and therefore dont attempt to hide it, since itll be instantly obvious to anyone reading. Adhere to the tips ab ove, and youll have a resume that compensates for the absence of knowledge and gets you the interview. Learning how to do a resume when do not have any work experience is much simpler if you may demonstrate some seasonal or short-term work experience. Dont state your purpose is to be tenured or you have any other long-term aim. An excellent objective should clearly state your aims and interest in turning into a good teacher. There are stepping stones it is possible to take which will allow you to accomplish your targets and build on your experience. Include why youre a fantastic match for the job. Many resumes incorporate a career goal listed at the very top or a bland overview of what a work seeker is searching for in a position. Finding a job can be difficult for everybody, even a very knowledgeable professional who has successfully navigated several job changes. Even in the event that youve never held an official job, its totenstill true that you have life experience th ats applicable to the work search. A well-written one is going to impress on the hiring manager the manners in which you are a best candidate for the job. Doing this will demonstrate the reader that you will receive as much from the job as you set into it, which makes you an excellent prospect for employment. For each position, you are going to want to include your job title and business name. You dont need to sound just like you are bragging, yet you would like to clearly demonstrate you have the jobs skills the employer is searching for. Resume for No Experience Help There are schools that provide oilfield training which may help boost your resume to the peak of the pile. Employers wish to know youre pleased with your achievements and confident in your abilities. Bear in mind, however, that you have skills and individual characteristics along with a history of accomplishments away from the workforce. Everyone has desirable abilities and experiences to provide employers in cluding you The sole difference is that nearly all of the drinks you are going to be making are very hot What you would like to avoid is having an experience section thats almost empty, or one which is full of experience thats not related to your targeted position. Make a list of absolutely whatever youve done that may be useful on a resume. If youve got large sums experience outside the workforce, locate a way to demonstrate that on your resume. When it isnt, you might want to speak to the company for more information regarding the job. Appealing to every individual employers demands and job requirements is the ideal strategy for getting your application noticed. While the functional resume format may be an attractive alternative for job seekers with minimal experience, most employers would rather have a chronological or hybrid resume format. The more comprehensive on-line employment websites will outline the specific sort of educational background and experience you will want to get considered for certain positions. Up in Arms About Resume for No Experience? So you simply graduated high school or college and you are prepared to put in the workforce to turn into a productive member of society. You might also have extra-curricular activities which you didnt list below the Experience section that could be included in a sub-section. At the peak of your resume, you can provide a statement that summarizes your educational background, your abilities and where you would like to go in your career. Perhaps you are searching for a summer job or internship, or perhaps a college or scholarship application requires you to incorporate a resume. What to Expect From Resume for No Experience? Bear in mind, what you include in your resume and the way you state its equally as vital as what you choose to leave off. Building a resume can be a difficult task especially if youve got no prior work experience.

4 Steps to Developing and Maintaining Your Employer Brand

4 Steps to Developing and Maintaining Your Employer BrandHaving a strong employer brand is critical to notlage only recruiting top talent but attracting and retaining talent which is even mora important. You need to attract the best and keep them once you have them. You dont want the best talent going to your competitor as talent competition is just as important, if not more, than competition in the market.So how can you build and maintain a strong employer brand? Here are 5 tips1. Create a presence on Glassdoor and become an engaged employer.Post pictures of your team, your team having fun, and your office. Give your employees incentive to write positive reviews on Glassdoor by creating a positive culture and providing them with a great place to work.Companies that have great reviews are attracting the best talent companies like Google (4,280 reviews, 4.4 star), Airbnb (320 reviews, 4.4 star), Facebook (1,200 reviews, 4.5 star), and HubSpot (279 reviews, 4.5 star).Candidates are relying on Glassdoor more and more and many check your companys page before even applying or replying to your recruiters.2. Create a careers page. It isnt expensive and it really pays off. Show on one page (dont make candidates click on 10 links to find out why they should work for you) why candidates should want to work for you.Show pictures of your engaged, diverse, and passionate teams. Tell them how they will make an impact. Tell them whats in it for them promote your benefits and other perks. Add videos of your current employees talking about what they love about working at your company.3. Eliminate the long applications. Candidates dont want to spend 45 minutes filling out an application. Many candidates hit the x in the right corner when they see specific applicant tracking systems being used. Especially, when the resume parsing feature doesnt work. It puts all the information in the wrong spots and only creates more frustration and it results in application abandonment.T here are a lot of great applicant tracking systems out there that are efficient and affordable. Theres no reason to make candidates go through an unnecessarily long application process when you can create a positive experience from the start by respecting their time.4. Hire people who fit with your culture. It takes everyone to maintain your positive image. The people you choose to hire represent your brand and are going to be the ones speaking to your customers and many will also speak to your prospective employees (whether its their friends and family, on Glassdoor, on social media, etc.).It is extremely important to ensure you are recruiting the best. Relying solely on job boards alone can be a big mistake as youre relying on active candidates only youre missing out on a market of passive candidates and many of them can be engaged, especially if you have a great employer brand. This allows you to find candidates who not only meet your requirements, but also fit well with your companys culture.Be one of those companies that when recruiters reach out to your employees, they say no thanks I love my current jobYour return from investing in your employer brand will almost always be positive. Invest in your employer brand like you invest in your marketing. After all, your employees are the ones representing your brand and if they arent happy (or you cant attract productive employees), your brand suffers in more than one way.About the authorMarissa Letendre is an accomplished recruiter and Certified People Sourcing Professional. She has worked as a recruiter and resume writer, giving her an understanding of the industry from both the candidate and employer perspective. She is also the owner of Right Recruit.