Make Your Resume Answer Someones Prayers

Make Your Resume Answer Someones PrayersMake Your Resume Answer Someones PrayersShow you understand the employers needs and embody the solution.She welches a stay-at-home mom looking for some way to keep one foot in zu sich profession - teaching - while she raised her kids.Sound like a humble pitch? Maybe so, but she was the answer to one employers prayers. Programs Manager Jillian Zavitz snapped her up, hiring her to teach at TalktoCanada.com, an online English-instruction site. Since then, the teacher is still with the company and is one of our fruchtwein consistent employees, Zavitz said.Why was Zavitz so eager to hire this woman? Because the candidate understood the issues facing this particular employer (in this case, high turnover) and was smart enough to address them in her titelbild letter and resume. On top of that, her resume showed ample, consistent teaching experience most notably, four years employment at the same school.In the past, I would hire people who were qualif ied - not really taking into account how stable they were. This was OK but not a really great way to gauge who would stay with us and who wouldnt. We had teachers quit left, right and center, Zavitz said.Her resume not only addressed our aufgabe in the cover letter (high turnover), but she explained why she would be a good choice, Zavitz said. Four years at the same school This not only tells me that 1) they are good employees but 2) they stick with their projects and know what they want.A good starting point to tailor your resume for a specific employer is to identify what possible problems the company might have. Try to understand the market of the company to which youre applying, and address the difficulties they might be going through.Ladders asked several resume experts for the advice on how to best do this in your resume and cover letter. Their first rule is discretion. Never point out a potential employers problems its presumptuous, said Bruce A. Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing. Candidates should never tell a prospective employer what he or she needs. Instead, address it subtly via your own highlighted accomplishments that you know would be an answer to the employers problems.Its not a lecture on their weak points, Hurwitz said. Candidates need to focus on what they have done.Selected accomplishmentsHurwitz described a candidate who submitted a resume to one of his clients. Based on the job description, the candidate prepared his resume by focusing on how his experience related to the Qualifications and Responsibilities sections of the job description. Unfortunately, the candidate had forgotten that a few months earlier, he had submitted his resume to the employer directly for another position. The company rejected the candidate because the two resumes were totally different, Hurwitz said.It killed him, Hurwitz said. The variations sapped his application of credibility, in spite of the fact that he didnt, strictly speaking, li e. After that episode, Hurwitz began recommending to candidates that they have a standard resume that begins with a section titled Selected Accomplishments. The benefits of such a section Its easier to tweak for a particular position its easier to read and grasp the essentials and if you do wind up applying numerous times at the same employer, your job descriptions stay the same, salvaging your credibility.Hurwitz recommended using bullets to highlight a half-dozen or so examples of verifiable achievements that address the specific job for which a candidate is applying. This section has proven effective getting candidates to the interview stage, Hurwitz said. Usually, people who read resumes are tired of reading resumes. They miss a great deal. If at the very beginning a candidate figuratively shouts at them, ?I know you need problem solvers and leaders. Im a problem solver and a leader. Heres why. Heres what I have done. Heres what I can do for you then the candidate will have a be tter chance of getting noticed and getting the interview.Link the job requirements to your experienceSome resume professionals and job seekers recommend you be more explicit in demonstrating your fit for the employers needs. Shay Olivarria, a speaker and author of 10 Things College Students Need to Know About Money, applied for a job in Philadelphia as economic development coordinator for a nonprofit. Shay sent the usual cover letter and resume, but she also created a table that listed the requirements and how her qualifications fulfilled them.My friends said that my table was ?way too much and ?unprofessional, she said. But the joke was on them Shay scored both an interview and a job offer. (The interviewer told Shay flat out that the table got her the interview.)Heres a sample of how Shays table lookedCommunicationMust be able to correspond by email, letter, phone, and in-person with all levels of personnel.I have worked in administrative positions for over five years. In my last position at Falcon Foto I excelled at facilitating projects via e-mail, letter, phone, and in-person with everyone from clients to project managers.ManagementMust be able to manage case workers and clients. Fill out reports on time and as necessary.I have managed up to three co-workers on a project. My experience in graduate school writing reports, filling out reports, and time management has helped me develop those skills.Tiffani Murray has a similar story. When she applied to her current employer some seven years ago, she was an IT project manager with limited experience in HR, and she was looking to transition to HR Technology.She revised her resume to highlight her HR-specific roles and projects. She then reviewed the companys career site and created a spreadsheet that compared it with the career sites of competitors.She didnt get the job initially, but that presentation stuck in the hiring managers mind. Two years later she was contacted about the same job. I got the job, whic h brought me in at an analyst level, but a year later I was promoted to a technology-manager role in talent acquisition, Murray said. To this day, I keep different versions of my resume. I have an HR resume, project-management resume and an IT resume. It was my ability to tailor my resume to the job that landed the gig.Murray helps clients with resumes and career paths through her site, Personality on a Page. One of her tips Your resume must feature quantifiable results that the specific employer will find useful.For example, if the job requires managing a team, make sure to mention the size of the team you currently manage or teams you have managed. If you read that sales have slipped 20 percent in a certain market that youve serviced, make sure to highlight your successes with that market using numbers, amounts, totals, etc., she said. Once you score an interview its a good idea to do more research on the company and have talking points ready to illustrate why you could help the c ompany expand in a certain area or address problems known to the public.Part of getting hired is proving that you will be an asset to the company, she said. Just having a certain skill set doesnt always nail this for a hiring manager, but when you can articulate how you will make a difference, youll capture their attention for sure.Editors Note A previousversionof this articlemisspelledthe name of Tiffani Murray.

Customize this Outstanding Certified Medical Assistant Resume Template

Customize this Outstanding Certified Medical Assistant Resume schabloneCustomize this Outstanding Certified Medical Assistant Resume TemplateWriting the Certified Medical Assistant Resume Template Create ResumeBusy medical professionals want to be able to offer quality services without having to turn patients away. One option is to hire assistants who can perform basic tasks and allow the medical professionals to focus on more serious cases. To enhance the visibility of your Certified Medical Assistant resume template, highlight your versatility and your experience in caring for patients.Resume Template for Certified Medical Assistant David ProneProfessional Summary Responsible Certified Medical Assistant capable of a wide range of medical services, as well as being competent in the administrative management field as well. Defines success by maintaining a strong connection with each patient, delivering a high level of care and remaining versatile enough to help the practice to succee d. Dedicated to allowing medical professionals to perform their jobs at the highest possible levels.Core QualificationsAAMA CMA CertifiedClinical Practice ExperienceAdministrative ManagementMedical Billing ManagementPrescription AdministrationPatient CenteredExperience Certified Medical Assistant, October 2009 May 2015Dr. Robert Allen New Cityland, CAResponsible for seeing patients requiring routine injections or standard physicals.Assisted in developing more efficient ways to schedule appointments and check for insurance authorization.Created several innovative methods for helping patients to get the proper advice over the phone when an office appointment was not necessary. Medical Assistant, June 2001 October 2009Dr. Audra Roberts New Cityland, CAAssisted in maintaining patient files.Organized all lab reports and summarized lab results.Answered patient questions over the phone where appropriate.Education 2001 Associates Degree, Medical AssistantYearly Community College New Ci tyland, CA Heres just one example of a medical assistant resume template. If you need help with writing your resume, we have many other templates available for the medical field and many other industries.Customize Resume

Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input

Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data InputSay youre at a movie and you get a text from the babysitter asking where to find the stuffed animal your child cant sleep without. Or maybe youre a teenager at the tableno phones allowedbut you simply have got to share a piece of gossip with a friend. At the moment, theres no way to eintrag text into a phone, or any other device, without drawing attention to the activity with thumbs on screen or words whispered into a mouthpiece.But Cheng Zhang, a researcher at Georgia Techs Ubicomp Lab, has a new way for teenagers, parents, and anyone else to enter words on the sly. Its a thumb reif, and its sensitive to both sound and movement. We chose the thumb because it feels natural, Zhang says. But, more importantly, if you drag your thumb across your fingers, it has tactile feedback.When you drag your thumb across a finger its a very unique sound, very different from the thumb touching other objects. Cheng Zhang, researcher, Georgia Tech FingerSound uses wearable ring technology to detect numbers and letters drawn on fingers. Image Georgia TechThere have been other attempts at creating one-handed input devices, but theyre far more obtrusive than a simple ring. And they have a steep learning curve, with users usually required to learn different key combinationsor chordsfor a single letter.Zhang thinks that these devices havent taken off because no one wants to memorize new gestures or movements The QWERTY keyboard, as an example, continues to be the dominant way to type, despite the fact that it was konzepted deliberately to slow users down, and can, these days, be easily swapped for faster configurations on any computer. He wanted to stick to knowledge already in your head, so he turned to Unistroke, invented 27 years ago for handwriting recognition. With the thumb ring on, users need only make the shape of the letter they wa nt to enter and a gyroscope on the ring recognizes the pattern. Advanced users, with a greater tolerance for learning, could conceivably teach the ring to recognize more efficient gestures in future iterations of the technology.Just for You More stories on design and manufacturing from ASME.orgNeedless to say, the average thumb does not go immobile when finished inputting text. Zhang needed a way to let his ring know when a thumb started a gesture and when it finished. So he included a contact microphone. The type of mic, its proximity to all digits, and the distinctness of thumb on finger vibrations allow the ring to avoid false positives and negatives from ambient sound. When you drag your thumb across a finger its a very unique sound, very different from the thumb touching other objects.The uniqueness of that sound could, theoretically, allow the ring to operate without the gyroscope. With a large enough data set, a brush to different parts of different fingers could indicate a d ifferent letter. In fact, Zhangs first experiments used only a microphone and no gyroscope. But sound can be different from person to person. It depends on what kind of skin you have. And when your hand is wet it sounds different. Then you have to provide more training, Zhang says. In real life, no one wants to do that.Of course, the device has applications beyond the surreptitious communications of teens and moviegoers. It could provide a safer way to input information while driving and it could allow people with disabilities to easily communicate. It will also work with any electronic device, allowing the gadget-swamped consumer to ditch TV remotes and other input devices. But first it has to shrink.In the future it will get small and comfy, says Zhang. And it will look cool.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Related stories from ASME.org12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering CareerBuilding a Better Warmer for Newborns3D Printing Better Root Canals For Further Discussi on

7 tips on how introverts and extroverts can both flourish at work

7 tips on how introverts and extroverts can both flourish at work7 tips on how introverts and extroverts can both flourish at workBeing an introvert or extrovert at work can be challenging if your boss or coworkers have different personality types. Speaking up at an all-staff meeting might be intimidating for an introvert, but sometimes thosequiet qualities can benefit youin the office. Or if youre anextrovert who works from homeand craves any sort of conversation (hello, delivery people).Faking an outgoing personacan be exhausting for some while for others, it comes naturally. We asked co-authors of the bookNo Hard Feelings The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work,Liz FosslienandMollie West Duffy, about how to navigate the workplace when youre an introvert or extrovert.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more1. For introverts Prep for meetings ahead of time.To feel more comfortab le speaking up at work meetings, spend a moment thinking about what you might say and then try to chime in during the first 10 minutes. Once youve broken the ice, it will be easier to jump in again. And remember, a good question can contribute just as much as an opinion or statistic, says West Duffy.2. For extroverts Try to engage with introverts in ways that are comfortable for them.Give them time to come out of their shell, and when chatting with an introvert, let them finish speaking before you chime in, says Fosslien. If youre running a meeting, send out the agenda ahead of time via email so they can gather their thoughts. Try breaking into small groups to discuss ideas and report back to the larger team.3. Extroverted leaders should figure out their emotions before speaking.Says West Duffy, Research showsour brains respond more positively to empathetic bosses when we feel a personal connection with a leader, we try harder, perform better, and are kinder to our colleagues. West Duffy shares this simple breakdown to make feelings more concrete Because of insert the situation, Im feeling your emotion and another emotion. Heres what Im planning to do next to make it better insert actionable steps. And heres what I need from you insert specific details. What do you need from me?4. Introverted leaders need time to recharge.Fosslien recommends takinga Shultz hour.When he was in office, former secretary of state George Shultz protected one hour each week for solitary reflection with paper and pen. No one was allowed to interrupt him except the president or his wife, says Fosslien. The solo session will help improve your mood and get you back to work refreshed.5. Take a vacation. ReallyFosslien and West Duffy advocate in their book for taking time off from work to help us stay healthy and productive. If taking a vacation makes you squirm, try what Fosslien does One day every week, she does not let herself schedule meetings, calls, or even social events. This off d ay lets her catch up on her work, so the rest of the week doesnt feel quite as hassled. If you cant block off an entire day, try scheduling a few hours for focused work, says West Duffy.

Sample Resumes That Work

Sample Resumes That WorkSample Resumes That WorkWeve all heard the sage writing advice that you should be able to pitch your story to a potential publisher within a 14-second elevator ride. Well, it turns out that selling your personal story is much the same. Instead of a verbal description, however, candidates pitch their expertise and skills through the use of a professional, well-drafted resume. Your first and best chance at landing the in-person interview, a well-formated, brief and appropriately tailored resume can make or break your career chances. Describing the qualities of a winning resume is one thing, but showing you is another. Here we break down sample resumes that work to get you workingResumes for New GraduatesOne of the biggest resume hurdles for new graduates is the lack of real-world experience. Just because you dont have a ten-year career in your chosen field, though, doesnt mean your resume cant be chock full of useful info.For entry level or recent grad resumes, consider leading off with a brief 2-3 sentence description of your personality, skills, and career goals. This will help fill up a little space that may otherwise be lacking. Be koranvers to include education and school accolades that may be relevant such as speaking or writing awards. Finally, those high school or college internships may not have paid but they can pay off for relevant experience. Check out this example of a perfectly crafted new graduate resume for inspiration in crafting your own cv.Resumes for Early CareersYour early career resume may closely resemble that of a recent grad with the addition of a bit of relevant job experience. With this in mind, your initial summary should be shortened to a sentence or two in order to accommodate relevant job positions.Since youre further out of your school days, move this section towards the middle or the end of the resume, after the current and past work history. If youve gained any advanced certifications in your prior roles, be sure to list those to beef up your relevant credentials. Need some more inspiration? Check out this sample resume, perfect for those just starting out.Resumes for the Mid-CareerMid-career is definitely the sweet-spot when it comes to a candidates hire-ability. At this stage, you most likely have several years, and possibly even positions, worth of job experience and relevant skills. Highlight this information front and center, pulling out the most critical details that match up with the given job description.Mid-career resumes should consider ditching that GPA or any education level awards. Absent graduation honors such as cum laude or magna cum laude, a list of your relevant schools and degrees obtained will be sufficient for this field. If you have plenty of experience, feel free to branch out into the two-page territory as well, like this candidate did. Often a no-no for newly minted grads, mid-career level positions may need an additional listing of relevant positions to prev ent your bonafides.Resumes for the Late-CareerIf youve managed to work your entire career towards that senior management level position, congrats. Youre in the golden land of opportunities. With this much relevant job experience under your belt, late-career applicants should expect their resumes to be two-three pages in length with detailed descriptions of prior managerial experience. Consider including a cover letter with your resume submission, even if the position doesnt require one. Much like an entry-level resume, this bookend version later in your career should have plenty of descriptions of you as a candidate in order to perfectly spell out just what you bring to the job-experience table. Look no further for a late-career example than right here. Whatever your career stage, remember to have several friends or professional colleagues give your CV the once over, prior to sending the show on the road. Use our examples, or others you may find, to tailor your resume to not only th e position but also your career level. Taking these steps will score you big points and put you that much closer to landing the job.

Kids, Work and Free Resume Download

Kids, Work and Free Resume Download Whenever you are asking for work, its mandatory that you submit a resume. When youre asking for a job which relies on the strengths of the person, you want a resume template you can inject a little more personality into to make it pop. Also be sure you tailor the document to the job youre applying for. Many candidates who seek jobs think they are definitely the most proper person to come up with their own resume since they will be writing about their career and exclusive qualifications. Each one of ur creative style templates offer you a perfectly balanced mixture of personality, professionalism and some style. Double check to ensure that everything on the last version of the resume is about you. Big selection of design style will make sure you will discover a resume template that fits with your taste. The style of resume you will use greatly is dependent on your professional work background and qualifications. If this is the case, you require a resume (Curriculum Vitae, CV) that will truly impress your prospective employer. Nursing is an outdated professional with a lot of formal affiliations. Someone states that resumes are dead and it is necessary to have social media, but practice indicates that recruiters continue to find applicants resume, choose more relevant ones and just then connect with applicants. Students are able to make use of student resume formats. Downloading a number of free resume samples from the Internet can be precisely the thing you have to kick-start your resume writing. Google includes lots of completely free templates as a piece of Docs. As soon as youre finished, youll want to find the resume out of Google Docs. Google Docs is completely free and supplies a wide variety of resume templates, so its possible to concentrate on highlighting your skills rather than fiddling with formatting. Want to Know More About Free Resume Download? There is an assortment of advantages of workin g with the simple resume formats. Utilizing a template can lower the quantity of time youve got to spend formatting your document, which permits you to concentrate on adding content and polishing your resume. The main disadvantage of using resume samples is they are incredibly generic. Simple resume formats assist you in making your resume. The 30-Second Trick for Free Resume Download As long as the hiring manager can read your resume readily, youve completed a very good job. Today, its a lot simpler to create an ideal CV with the aid of some relevant applications. You also receive a completely free job interview tracker for a bonus. A good way to receive a professional looking resume is with the assistance of Free Resume App. The Free Resume Download Game Resumizer free resume creator allows you to vorschau your resume at any stage in the creation approach. Greatest part is theyre prepared that you download. If you have to sign up for work and require a free resume form , a simple search erreichbar should address your problem. Moreover, when employing a free resume form, youre somehow steered via the statement you make for the employer rather than having to create the method all on your own. So, My Resume Builder is very helpful in creating a wonderful ready-to-go resume. Designing a resume should not start from scratch, you are able to take advantage of free resume templates you may find on the web. Simple doesnt need to mean uninspired and boring. The Simple resume formats must be used dependent on the kinds of templates they are. Top Choices of Free Resume Download Odds are high they will not. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better prospect of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. It is possible to add your photo and logos of businesses from your prior experience. The website delivers some helpful prewritten phrases you are able to use if you become stumped attempting to produce your own. What Free Resume Download Is - and What it Is Not There are lots of websites that provide tons of totally free info on how to earn a business successful resume. There are two primary trends in 2016. Picking the right resume template will not simply permit you to highlight the best aspects of your experience and abilities, but nevertheless, it will also focus your focus to demonstrating what value youll be able to provide prospective employers. You are able to also perform an internet job search or earn a price of living comparison through its online offerings. It is not difficult to arrange or re-arrange every one of your resume sections. A layout which allows you to use subheadings and white spaces will aid a lot to earn everything effortless to read. As soon as you have modified the standard resume template that you found on the internet, make it simple on your upcoming self and save several versions of your resume. All artwork and text are totally customizable. Keep in mind, the web is an incredible resource for recruiters and if you dont wish to devote huge amounts of money on useless job boards, at this point you have the skills it requires to discover totally free resumes. The perfect way to apply for any job as fresher is to produce numerous resumes. The Simple resume formats can be employed by anyone who wants to put in an application for a job. Such long resumes will probably not catch the interest of prospective employers and could wind up in the trash bin. What to Expect From Free Resume Download? In most instances, you should decide on professional resume-writing service instead of rely on resume samples. Make a decision as to what kind of resume samples you want to download. Conduct an online search of the form of resume samples youd love to download. Resume samples may give you a clearer idea of how you would like your resume to look, what sort of resume you ought to use and even some exa mples of sections you might include.

Navigating Taboo Topics in the Workplace

Navigating Taboo Topics in the Workplace The workplace haschanged dramaticallysince the traditional days of the 9-5 cubicle farms. Despite flexible schedules, perks, and benefits that make the work week a little more manageable, many people working full-time spend as much time with their colleaguesas they spend with their friends and families if not more.But no matter thesense of community in your office or how close you may feel to your colleagues, certain topics are off limits when it comes to your professional life.From sharing salary information with colleaguesor connecting on social media to disclosing details of your personal life or political point of view, certain taboo topics can be disastrous when raised in the workplace.Lets look at some common workplace situations and how to navigate them successfully1. Salary and CompensationRule No. 1 is to never discuss your salary with a coworker. Not only can this potentially violate company policy ( many companies prohibit employees from sharing salary information),but it can also have culture-damaging repercussions. For example, if you make more than your counterpart, disclosing that information can result in a toxic work environment and tension in your working relationship.Additionally, its important to remember that salary negotiations are based on multiple factors prior experience, certifications and credentials, additional responsibilities, and particular strengths someone brings to a role.If a colleague approaches you about your salary, politely decline to discuss it. You can, however, suggest ways for the colleague to do a little research to help them negotiate their own salary.2. Social MediaChances are the majority of your coworkers are on social media. Being on LinkedIn is expected from a professional perspective. Since its a business-oriented social network, its okay to connect with your coworkers there. That said, if you have a side business in addition to your day job, you should be mindful of any potential conflicts of interest. Be up front with your employer about it.When it comes to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, the line is blurrier. If you maintain an appropriate social media presence and takeprecautions with privacy settings, connecting with coworkers on social media doesnt need to be a big deal. Be careful though, as letting your coworkers into your personal life via social media opens the door for people to make assumptions about you that could affect your work life.3. Personal Details (Relationships, Health, What You Do in Your Free Time)Its important to feel safe at work and to be able to share the challenges you may be facing. This can sometimes create a community of support and trust. In many cases, though, its best to provide an overview of a personal aufgaberather than a fully detailed picture. Furthermore, personal issues should always be framed in terms of how they could affect your work. Anything beyond tha t should be left out.When it comes to conversations about politics and religion, there must be an understanding that people need to maintain respect. If thatdoes not seem to be the case in your office,its best to refrain from divulging your points of view.Todays workplace certainly presents more opportunities to bring your full self to work, but some things are best kept private. Tread cautiously, and remember that while there are many factors at play employer, sense of community at work, etc. its better to be safe than sorry.Alyssa Hammond is director of undergraduate career education and outcomes at Bentley University. She is also host of the career advice podcast Counter Offer, recently named one of the top 10 higher education podcasts.

How to Choose and Prepare Job References

How to Choose and Prepare Job ReferencesHow to Choose and Prepare Job References6Wouldnt it be wonderful if you could simply submit your resume for a job, go in for a job interview, and get hired on the spot? Unfortunately, thats not how it works. In addition to numerous rounds of job interviews, youll also need to prepare job references who can vouch for your team player mentality and your results-driven work ethic. But there are some definite job reference tips that you should be aware of. Heres what you need to know to choose and prepare job references.Get permission from your references.Before you dash off your job application with a list of names and numbers, you should speak to your references first. If its been some time since you brde worked with your previous colleague or boss, he may (or may not) remember you. Also, since asking for a reference is essentially asking for a favor, you need to give your references the option of whether or not they would like to provide one for you. By connecting with them ahead of time, youll know for sure that your references will respond should a hiring manager contact them.Vary your list of references.Lets say that you loved your last job. You got along great with your boss, and your former coworkers are some of your closest friends. While you might be tempted to list all of those people as references, its not a wise decision. Youll need to pick bosses and coworkers from various jobs youve held as your references. By limiting your reference list to just one specific job or time period, it can raise a red flag about your previous work experiences- from your in-office jobs to your work-from-home positions- and about you as a worker.Offer examples of your great work. Sure, you remember that you rocked that marketing presentation, but your former boss may not. So its a good idea to give each of your references some context with which to form their recommendations. Remind each one of the specific things that you did during your time at the company, including any and all highlights. You dont want all of your references to repeat the saatkorn information over and over, since that could potentially weaken your job application.Be prepared for non-references to be contacted.The sad truth is that a hiring manager may not stick to the sheet of references youve supplied. After all, he knows that all of these people will most likely give you a glowing recommendation. But what about that former boss you failed to mention on your reference list?During the job interviewing process, your prospective boss may do some research into former bosses or colleagues youve had whom he knows personally and reach out to those people as well. While you cant connect with every colleague and boss youve ever had, its good to keep in mind that this practice is commonly done. That way, you can be mentally prepared should your boss-to-be mention that he connected with a coworker from your past who was not on your reference list.Cho osing the job references youll submit with your application is a strategic part of the job search process. Be sure that youve communicated with your references, and prepare job references for what theyll need to say in buchen to help you secure the job you truly want.Readers, how do you prepare job references? Have you ever had a reference either help you secure a job or, worse, cost you a job? Let us know in the comments section below

5 secrets about how to win with a narcissist

5 secrets about how to win with a narcissist5 secrets about how to win with a narcissistIs that difficult someone driving you up the wall? Whats the best way to handle impossible people?Ive broken down the research on how to handlenarcissists,borderlines,psychopathsand other cluster B troublemakers, and the primary answer is always the sameRun. Get outta there. No contact.Personality disorders are leidoriously difficult to treat, cluster Bs are notoriously difficult to deal with, and youre not a therapist. (Though at this point you probably feel like a very frazzled one.)But I received a lot of responses from readers basically sayingWhat do I do if Icantleave? Is there any way to make them change?Its their boss and they need this job. Its their spouse and they have kids together. Its their best friend and they cant in good conscience abandon them.So how do you deal with a narcissist when saying MEEP-MEEP and sprinting away Road-Runner-style isnt an option?Dr. Craig Malkin is a psycho logist at Harvard Medical School and his new bookRethinking Narcissism The Bad - and Surprising Good - About Feeling Specialoffers some hope.A lot of what you know about narcissists is wrong and there are proven ways to not only deal with them but to help them get better. (Not that narcissists need to get better - hey, theyre perfect, right?)Okay, lets get to workSympathy for the devilTurns out weallhave some narcissistic traits and theyre normal, natural and, frankly, essential. Without them youd deal with crippling low self-esteem, Eeyore.Its when people go too far down the spectrum into malignant narcissism that we get the entitlement, exploitation, and other assorted nastiness narcissists are so well known for.FromRethinking Narcissism The Bad - and Surprising Good - About Feeling SpecialWe need our grandiosity at times to feel happy and healthy. And a growing body of recent research concludes that a little narcissism, in adolescence, helps the young survive the Sturm und D rang of youth moderate teenage narcissists are less anxious and depressed and have far better relationships than their low and high narcissism peers. Likewise, corporate leaders with moderate narcissism are rated by their employees as far more effective than those with too little or too much. The difference between narcissists and the rest of us is one of degree, not kind.Extreme narcissism is a disorder, and to help those who have it we need torememberits a disorder. When people suffer from depression, anxiety or borderline personality disorder we tend to feel sympathy but with narcissism we often moralize and say theyre badeanstalt. Thats like feeling sorry for people with tuberculosis but saying those with meningitis are a bunch of jerks who had it coming.Malkin explains that narcissists werent given secure love when growing up. They werent appreciated for just being themselves they were only celebrated for what they achieved. When you cant count on empathy from those around you, you stop trusting, and you feel ashamed of your normal menschlich frailties.You stop trying to get your emotional needs met from love and instead try to be special - better than others. Better looking, more talented, smarter or more accomplished. You stop trying to soothe your insecurities by relying on people and instead turn to a fantasy self where you are superior.(To learn more about the science of a successful life, check out my new bookhere.)The childhood of a narcissist is sad and a little scary. But it also holds the secret to helping narcissists get betterHow do you fix someone who is perfect?All psychopaths are narcissists, but not all narcissists are psychopaths. Psychopathscantfeel empathy.For narcissists, empathy is more like an underdeveloped muscle. Still there, but as you have probably experienced first hand, it sure doesnt get used much.You need to help them build that empathy muscle.Calling them a jerk or criticizing their behavior only makes them worse. But when they are compassionately reminded of the importance of their relationships - and how those relationships can help them achieve their goals - they can improve.FromRethinking Narcissism The Bad - and Surprising Good - About Feeling SpecialMore than a dozen studies exploring whether or not narcissists can change have now been conducted and they all point to the same conclusion encouraging narcissists to feel more caring and compassionate reduces their narcissism If narcissists are approached in a gentler way, many seem to soften emotionally. When they feel secure love, they become more loving and more committed in return The lesson from research is that people only slide down the spectrum when theyre reminded of the importance of their relationships. Change doesnt come from telling them off for being too success-driven, ruthless, or manipulative it comes by showing them the benefits of collaboration and understanding.No, this isnt a Disney film and giving the Grinch a big hug isnt going to instantly turn him into a sweetheart. But psychologists have found success with using what are called empathy prompts.FromRethinking Narcissism The Bad - and Surprising Good - About Feeling SpecialPrompting involves two components voicing the importance of your relationship and revealing your own feelings. Voicing the importance of your relationship generally involves making supportive statements, such as You matter so much to me or Youre important to me or I care about you a great deal. Declarations like these signal how special someone is to us. Theyre the kind of reassurance many narcissists dont even realize they miss. They nudge people toward thinking about the relationship, moving the focus from you and me to we. More importantly, they signal your willingness to offer secure love.So you might sayI consider you an important friend. Thats why I feel so sad when you dont return my calls for weeks.Mom, youre one of the most important people in my life. So when you ques tion my every move, I feel devastated, like Im a failure in your eyes.One caveat for people who have narcissistic tendencies, empathy prompts can, over time, help to reduce their bad habits. But if someone has full-blown Narcissistic Personality Disorder, well, the cancer has metastasized. They may be too far gone to improve without professional help.Thats sad, but it gives empathy prompts a second use theyre a good litmus test for whether theres hope for the narcy in your life.When empathy prompts are delivered properly and sincerely, without a raised voice or implied guilt trip, most people melt. If your narcy is impervious to them, they may be impervious to your help overall.FromRethinking Narcissism The Bad - and Surprising Good - About Feeling SpecialCan your partner, friend, or relative place the relationship- in other words, place you- ahead of their coercive attempts to feel special? Can they allow your pain to touch them and say theyre sorry or comfort you or just show they understand? If they cant, you need to view their narcissism exactly as you would any addiction. The drug has taken over their livesSo how do you know if empathy prompts are working? Malkin explains that youre succeeding when your narcy responds byAffirming Youre my best friend, too. I dont want you to feel bad.Clarifying How long have you been feeling sad around me?Apologizing Im sorry- I dont want you to feel like a failure.Validating I know my sarcasm hurts you.(To learn how to deal with psychopaths and other toxic people, clickhere.)This is a great system for dealing with that self-absorbed loved one in your personal life. But you probably cant get this deep and emotionally gooey at the office.So how do you help a narcissistic boss or co-worker?The narcissist in the corner officeThe knee-jerk advice everyone gives when dealing with a workplace monster is to report them. But as experts like Stanford professorBob Suttonhave made clear over and over, that just doesnt work.A 20 08 survey of 400 people asked what their employers did when they reported being bullied.Malkinlists the results1.7% conducted a fair investigation and protected the target with punitive measures against the bully.6.2% conducted a fair investigation with punitive measures for the bully but no protection for the target.8.7% conducted an unfair investigation with no punitive measure for the bully.31% conducted an inadequate/unfair investigation with no punitive measures for the bully, but plenty for the target.12.8% did nothing or ignored the problem with no consequences for anyone, bully or target.15.7% did nothing, but retaliated against the target for reporting. Target remained employed.24% of employers did nothing, except fire the target.Long story short 70+% of the time itll be you who takes it on the chin.So reporting doesnt work and empathy prompts might be a little too personal s Can you lower your voice? Can you tell me what steps you want taken? Can you use a kinder tone?For exampleI feel unhappy the rest of the day when you criticize me in front of the entire group. Can you save your feedback for one-on-one meetings?(To learn the seven-step morning ritual that will make you happy all day, clickhere.)Alright, weve learned a lot. Lets round it up and learn how we can always feel special and not turn into a narcissist.Sum upThis is how to win with a narcissistIn your personal life, use empathy prompts Music doesnt soothe the savage beast, but reminding them about relationships and your feelings can.Use We Its just one word but its effective with narcissists. (If you cant manage to do this youre not paying attention to me. You should pay attention to me. Im really important.)Reward Good Behavior When the puppy behaves, give it a treat.Contrast good and bad behaviorNormally when Jim turns in a report late you kick him down a flight of stairs. I thought it was wonderful today when you chose to throw a stapler at him instead.Teach them their ABCs Mention your affect, their bad behavior, and the correction youd like to see. This is an advanced Jedi move. Build to this with your Sith Lord, young Padawan.Narcissists come in many flavors (grandiose, covert, communal, etc.) but they all share one thing in common they need to feel special.And, frankly, feeling specialiskinda nice. We all like to feel special. But whats the path to the healthy way of feeling special vs the narcissistic kind?Dont put up a false front. Youre human and you screw up. Thats normal and natural.Trying to seem perfect often earns you only envy.Instead, show others your true self. Warts and all. Youll look stupid sometimes. But that is when the people who truly care about you will show empathy. And youll grow closer to them, showing empathy back.Ruthlessly striving to seem special in the eyes of strangers alienates those who care about you and is the path to narcissism. If you open up and are vulnerable you can have the only kind of specialness that mattersBeing specia l to the ones you love.Join more than 320,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related postsNew Neuroscience Reveals 4 Rituals That Will Make You HappyNew Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More SuccessfulHow To Get People To Like You 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior ExpertThis article first appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

Use This Customizable Sales Cover Letter Template to Win the Job

Use This Customizable Sales Cover Letter Template to Win the JobUse This Customizable Sales Cover Letter Template to Win the Job Writing a strong cover letter definitely increases the likelihood your sale job application will get a response.First, it tells the hiring manager youre a good communicator. You dont need to be J.K. Rowling to excel in a ausverkauf role, but you do need to be capable of expressing your ideas clearly, succinctly and compellingly.Second, it shows youre invested in the opportunity. Because online job portals make it so easy to apply, postings can get hundreds of responses. A well-written, enthusiastic cover letter separates you from all the people simply blasting their resume out.Third, it gives you the chance to add some color to your application. Maybe youre not as experienced as theyd like, or youre not familiar with the industry, or youve never used their sales tech stack before. Your cover letter helps you provide details beyond your res ume - which can often account for any missing qualifications.Convinced? Good news Its actually not that hard to write an effective, even eloquent cover letter for a sales job, provided you have the right resources.If youre applying to a conservative company or work in a formal industry (think finance, healthcare or law), include a full heading Your name and address, followed by a space, the date, followed by another space, and the company name and address.But if youre applying to a less formal place (like HubSpot ), simply write your name and email address, followed by a space, and the company name and email address.Maybe youre not sure who will be reading your cover letter. But dont write To whom it may concern, Dear hiring manager or any other generic title.With a little research , you can easily find the hiring managers name. Youll get points even if youre wrong.Lets say youre applying for the SMB Account Executive role at Joyfull. Google SMB sales manager Joyfull and see if you can find the teams leader on LinkedIn.When applying to a conservative company, write Dear Mr./Ms. Last name. When applying to a startup or relatively relaxed organization, write Dear First name Last name.Your intro paragraph should highlight why youre a great fit. Its a high-level overview, rather than a complete overview of your work history and qualifications, so keep it under four sentences.The standard cover letter opening line is something along the lines ofIm interested in becoming a sales representative on your SMB team or Im excited for the opportunity to apply for the SMB sales representative role.While these sentences might not kill your chances of getting the job, they certainly dont help. You want to bestattungs the readers attention and sell yourself from the very start.With that in mind, write a personalized, compelling line that will draw the hiring manager in and make them want to read mora.I love working with small businesses - in fact, Ive helped more than 300 in the past year at my current job - which is why Im so excited about the chance to help SMBs discover Joyfull.Every week, I write a blog post about a common SMB challenge. Helping SMBs overcome this obstacle isnt just rewarding - its also a great lead gen strategy. My passion for this type of work led me to your SMB Account Executive location.Do you know a current or former employee who speaks positively about the company? Mention that in your intro. Ideally, theyd be referring you (either by submitting your application or connecting you with the hiring manager), but if theyre not a close enough contact, you can still use their name.As a self-starter who thrives in autonomous, results-oriented environments, Im drawn to the BDR role at Red Shelf. Ive heard great things about the culture and learning opportunities from Sarah Grossman, who started as a BDR and now works on your L&D team.In this paragraph, choose a relevant work experience . What does relevant mean? Youre tryi ng to show your existing abilities and knowledge map well to the role youre applying for, so if you currently work in retail and you want to become a business development rep, you might writeAs a floor associate for Wilson & Co., I help 60-plus customers every day with questions about brands, fit, quality and more. This experience has taught me how to provide a positive customer experience and be helpful while driving sales - both skills Id use as a HubSpot BDR. Finally, its made me comfortable approaching strangers and acting as a product expert, which would be invaluable when reaching out to inbound leads.The second body paragraph follows the same structure as the first. Take another relevant work or educational experience, and connect the dots to the role youre applying for. Imagine youre currently an AE applying for a manager position . Your second section could readIn the past 16 months on the Pacific West team, Ive taken several opportunities to grow my leadership abilities. I started a mentorship program for new reps, pairing them with salespeople who have been at the company for at least two years. This program has been a huge success Half-year retention is 20 percent higher for participants versus those without mentors, and one of our junior reps even wrote a blog post about it which ended up generating 10 applicants. I also began a Wednesday night call review. Everyone is welcome - we usually get around nine people. As a sales manager, Id continue to look for ways to support, mentor and train my salespeople so they have access to the most current and useful resources possible.If you have another relevant experience, discuss it here. But dont add a third paragraph just for the sake of adding one - a shorter cover letter is better if its more relevant.Lets suppose youre applying for a sales engineer role, which is a highly technical and demanding job that likely warrants a three-paragraph cover letterAfter spending two years in customer support, Im in my element when answering product-related questions. Theres nothing I enjoy more than getting a challenging ticket I can dig into - and theres nothing more satisfying than finally solving it. As a sales engineer for HubSpot, Id get the chance to talk to customers about the product on a daily grund and answer their most complex questions. In addition, I could use the communication skills Ive honed as a support rep.This section doesnt need to be long or flowery. Many people end with unnecessary statements like, Please let me know if I can provide any more information or Thank you for your consideration. The problem with these? A hiring manager can safely assume youll give more info if asked and are appreciative of their time. Youll seem like every other applicant whos grabbed a generic template from the internet (which, okay, you might be doing, but they dont need to know that.)Instead, reiterate your interest with a strong summary line likeThe best days at work are usually t he longest and most demanding - because I go home knowing Ive helped multiple owners dramatically change the course of their businesses. Your hyper-loyal user base suggests being a Joyfull AE comes with even more opportunities to help young and growing organizations.Im passionate about helping X type of customer, solving Y goal, working in Z industry - which is how I found the open position at company name. The more I learned about companys mission to insert mission here, i.e. improve the remote working experience, make personal finance easy), the more excited I became. My applicable skill 1 and applicable skill 2 , as well as experience in field and knowledge of related topic, would make me an asset to the department, i.e. Customer Development team.As a title at current employer or skill, Im responsible for doing X and Y. This has helped me develop ability -- in fact, insert proof of your skill, e.g. my boss recently said I was one of the most resourceful employees hes ever had o r Im known for my ability to stay collected and take the lead during high-pressure situations. Id use X skill as your job title to achieve main objective.Im also skilled in X/possess Y and Z positive traits, which comes from my previous work or extracurricular experience. In that role, on that team, I developed a knack for skill/traits. This was instrumental in hitting specific milestone/exceeding expectations. Youre looking for someone with X skill/character traits, and I believe Im a good fit.Over the past number of years, company has accomplished X goal, such as become a leader in the CRM space or used creative marketing and social media campaigns to become a household name in Colorado. It looks like you have ambitious goals for the future - I hope I get the opportunity to contribute.This article was originally published on HubSpot . It is reprinted with permission.