Bad Days, We All Have Them

Terrible Days, We All Have Them Have you at any point had one of those occasions when nothing appears to go right? I had one of those days a week ago and it smells. The way to surviving or simply managing those awful days is? The morning started as it generally does, I made a pot of espresso and signed on to my PC. But today, I spilled espresso granulates everywhere throughout the counter. Extremely, 1/2 cup everywhere. After that chaos was tidied up, I made a beeline for the PC and stuck my toe on the edge of the cooler. Limping and making a decent attempt not to shout and wake everybody in the house, I sat at the PC. Clear. Actually no, not the PC, my brain. There was nothing to expound on. This never occurs. At that point off to the washroom. Who left a vacant move of bathroom tissue on the roll? As I was supplanting the roll the darnedest thing occurred, the new fold fell into the can. Please! Clearly I needed to bring it and as I was doing that crucial, contemplated slithering go into bed and requesting a do-over. Rather, I walked along, conveying the heaviness of the terrible morning until at last something made me chuckle and overlook the past. None of these occasions all alone would steer the results of outrage, anyway in total, they sunk my boat. Things occur, and not generally the manner in which we need them to. Is there a mystery to not letting them get to us? Indeed and no. Individuals with an inspirational viewpoint are undeniably bound to chuckle at themselves or put unfortunate turns of events behind them. They have figured out how to work on adapting systems. They have created flexibility. They keep things in context and comprehend the master plan. Essentially, there are two different ways to deal with these circumstances, either let them trouble you or not them trouble you. This is a decision you get tomake.

The Battle Against Unconscious Hiring Bias - Workology

The Battle Against Unconscious Hiring Bias - Workology How to Stop Unconscious Hiring Bias?   Since its inception, Silicon Valley has been the kingdom of the white male. In the last few years, however, a string of executive hires, tasked with the job of eliminating hiring biases, have made a microscopic dent in this rock-hard reality. Last year, Airbnb hired David J. King III â€" their first director of diversity and belonging. According to King, black Airbnb customers globally are 50% less likely to be accepted by a host. And their workforce demographics aren’t looking much better: 74% male in senior management and technical positions, with only 5% of positions across the company filled by underrepresented minority groups. Clearly, he has his work cut out for him. The Issue Isnt A Silicon Valley Phenomenon   It’s endemic to the corporate world. On the one hand, we have feel-good propaganda like Fortune’s list of best workplaces for diversity. On the other hand, a recent study with minority job seekers in America exposes that companies who tout their diversity programs have identical applicant success rates to those that don’t. It also revealed that white, Asian or Hispanic hiring managers are 50% less likely to interview a black candidate than a black hiring manager. No surprise then that the trend of resume “whitening” is alive and well there. And Its Spreading Globally   From the minority candidate perspective, it goes down like this: Your name sounds ethnic. Such as Mohammed, Ming or Tahani. So you change it into an initial on your resume. Or into “Joe” or “May”. You could be from anywhere. You belong to an ethnic organisation, or attended a university that a white, middle-class American hiring manager might find difficult to relate to. You take it off your resume even though it boosts your candidate viability for the role. You’re passionate about a cause that (you guessed it) a white hiring manager might find .. difficult to relate to. You take it off your resume even though you want your next employer to value who you are and what you believe. You hope that if you can make it past this first screening, you can tell your true career story in person. Fingers crossed. (A sidenote if you’re unsure whether you should include your date of birth, race, religion or photograph on your resume, read this post). Goodbye Diversity   Hello potential discrimination. Now let’s look at it from the hiring manager perspective â€" which many of you are. The truth is that the act of hiring is inherently biased. Stay with me here. Humans are wired to have likes and dislikes. Think of your own preferences for a colleague or direct report. Maybe you like people who bring humour to the workplace, so you surround yourself with those who sport a dry wit. Or, you like a fast-paced environment that is all business, all the time. So you seek out team members who mirror your intensity. You may not even realise you’re doing it. Its Called Unconscious Hiring Bias Meaning, even if your biases are consciously suppressed they will still emerge from the unconscious mind. Those of you with an HR background may recognise the term. Madan Pillutla, a Professor of Organizational Behaviour at London Business School, calls out these three unconscious hiring biases as the most prevalent. And the most dangerous. 1. We Gravitate To People Like Us Or, in psychological terms, it’s known as the similarity-attraction hypothesis. Pillutla claims that people with a decent level of self-esteem are satisfied with their personalities. So when they see their qualities reflected in someone else, they tend to like that person, too. Keep it up and pretty soon your organisation is ruled by group think. Which means innovation will be stifled and growth hindered. 2. We Use Stereotypes To Judge Peoples Abilities For example, a white hiring manager might assume that an Asian or Indian is better at math than a white candidate. But while its possible to unlearn ethnic biases, Pillutla feels that stereotypes about gender are harder to reverse. Iris Bohnet, director of the Women and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy agrees: “If we don’t see male kindergarten teachers or female engineers we don’t naturally associate women and men with those jobs, and we apply different standards.” 3. We Distrust Anyone Who Is a Perceived Threat to Our Status Pillutla recently released some of the first research on this topic. A less-secure leader in a highly competitive culture may hesitate to hire someone who’s smarter than they are, or who could outperform them. Case in point: many orchestras now practice “blind” auditions where the musicians play behind a screen, so the hiring managers dont know what the candidates look like. As a result, more female musicians are employed. How to Stop Unconscious Hiring Bias?   Want to stop the problem before it starts? Here are a few tips: 1. Look for Talent In New Places Not to harp on Silicon Valley again, but they are notoriously addicted to recruiting from Stanford. Why? Hmm, well, because many of the Valley’s founders graduated from Stanford. It’s a trend that sends a message to qualified outsiders from other universities â€" or other countries â€" that they shouldn’t even bother to apply. Don’t make the same mistake by keeping your talent search too local. 2. Evaluate Every Resume the Same Way Again, not to harp, but the study we cited earlier found that white candidates receive 50% more callbacks for interviews than minority candidates with the exact same resume â€" only the names were different. Ask your in-house recruiter to strip out all names and photos before you review all and any resumes so your biases don’t pop up. And so that your prospects aren’t tempted to whiten. 3. Catch Yourself On the Culture Fit Cop Out We’ve all been there. You feel like someone you’ve interviewed isn’t a good “fit” for your culture, yet you can’t quite put your finger on it. Stop letting yourself off the hook. Force yourself to articulate the issue. If you can’t explain it in rational terms, chances are your biases are creeping in. And If Youre a Candidate? Now that we’ve heard both sides of the story, I’ll share a few final thoughts for candidates. If you are not a Tom, Dick, Harry or Mary, you have to work harder to tell your story in a compelling way to even get your resume noticed. My advice? Think twice before you whiten your resume. Fight back with your personal brand instead. Heres how: 1. Hone Your Communication Skills Both in speech and in writing tell your story clearly, articulately, succinctly and powerfully. This can be especially challenging if English isn’t your first language. Regardless, train yourself to avoid public speaking weaknesses such as “um”, “okay” and “like.” They only serve to dilute your message and diminish your brand. Consider your rhythm and cadence. Give yourself time to pause, breathe and think. 2. Communicate Your Value? Honing your skills is just the point of entry. Knowing what your unique value proposition is the golden key that will garner you a seat at the table. What can you offer the organisation you’re approaching that no one else can? Why, and how? Write it out for yourself. Know it, love it, memorise it. Make sure it’s believable and credible. Refuse to use discrimination including unconscious hiring biases as an excuse to give up on your dreams. And don’t bother interviewing with anyone who wants you to be someone you’re not. You’re too good for that. Or you wouldn’t be reading this post.

Making Your Mark as a Franchise A Guide - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Making Your Mark as a Franchise A Guide Beginning an establishment can be a savvy business move, as it will permit you to monetise an attempted and tried plan of action with less hazard than if you were starting a pristine business all alone without any preparation. However, you won't be distant from everyone else, as there are supposedly in excess of 900 establishment marks in the UK, and this number is on the ascent. You'll, in this way, need to ensure your image stands apart from the group and stands apart rapidly. Comprehend the Franchise Buyers Except if an establishment purchaser has a great deal of time to burn, you can believe they won't invest their energy breaking down the 900+ establishments in the UK commercial center. Many will pick an establishment dependent on their ideal industry. For example, a purchaser may have for a long while been itching to possess a fruitful eatery. They may likewise pick an establishment dependent on its degree of experience, or they might need to put resources into a best in class brand. Some may likewise not consider an establishment because of their speculation sum. The more you find out about a planned establishment purchaser, the simpler it will be to advertise your establishment to the correct business visionary. A Professional Office Space Picture is everything when propelling an establishment, which is the reason you should build up an expert office space that typifies your marking and ethos. 360 Degrees can assist you with structuring a creative office that not just activities the correct picture to imminent customers and establishment purchasers, yet it can likewise improve the organization culture and inside effectiveness and profitability every day. The Perfect Image and Operation Many establishment purchasers are getting tied up with a brand and a technique for activity, which each make the business a triumph. You'll have to put resources into the correct exchange name, however you'll have to build up components of the business that cooperatively make an imaginative establishment recipe that individuals need to become tied up with. You'll have to painstakingly consider everything from your promoting efforts, bookkeeping forms, and smoothed out organization errands, which should each be nitty gritty in the establishment manual, and it must be simple for the franchisee to receive into their own day by day tasks. Distinguish Your USP Notwithstanding putting resources into your marking and activities, an establishment purchaser will likewise be becoming tied up with your remarkable selling recommendation (USP). You should distinguish what separates your establishment from its adversaries. For example, McDonald's turned into a triumph because of its inexpensive food plan of action and astute marking. Nonetheless, Burger King turned into a major adversary by setting up the Have It Your Way trademark, which offered personalisation that McDonalds couldn't offer without changing each kitchen activity. Search for a point that enables your establishment to stand apart from its rivals. Associate with the Community Assemble associations inside your locale to build your establishment's introduction and perceivability. For instance, you could collaborate with other nearby organizations that supplement your organization's picture and vision, so you can set out on collective advertising efforts that expansion brand acknowledgment and energize forthcoming establishment purchasers. You could likewise support gatherings or people over your locale to create constructive PR about your business and increment validity.

Confessions of a Former Job Seeker

Confessions of a Former Job Seeker ShareShare1TweetYours truly, former job seeker. I had forgotten how much Ive learned in my 10+ years of studying job interviewing, resume writing and job search strategy. Then I decided to get rid of some old files from the days when I was a job seeker, myself. My conclusion: Job search skills are not inborn. They are definitely learned! I found dusty old manila folders full of resumes dating back to the late 80s, when I got my BA in Journalism (Public Relations emphasis) and worked as an assistant editor at a book company, and from the 90s and 00s when I landed various positions as a publicist, writer, employment counselor and trainer of employment specialists. Was I a smart job seeker? Yes and no. Here are a few things I did right: I maintained a kudos file containing letters of recommendation, positive feedback from performance evaluations and kudo emails I had received. Rereading these rave reviews helped me understand my strengths and skills. It was also a huge confidence-builder that I reviewed before interviews and whenever I felt discouraged. I obtained lists of interview questions and practiced answering them. I made a list of success stories to talk about in interviews. I conducted informational interviews in which I gained valuable career guidance. I kept my notes, master application and old resumes for years, so I was always able to fill out job applications completely and never had to guess about dates and other facts. (My file purge was not total! I still have everything I need to update my resume.) And some things I did wrong: I didnt get it about networking as a way of proactively marketing myself to a list of target companies. I thought networking was about meeting people and asking them to keep me in mind for any openings they might hear of. That didnt work and it was no fun. I failed to follow up properly with people who had given me informational interviews. I sent a thank-you note and that was generally about it. I didnt let them know how their leads turned out. So I missed opportunities for ongoing relationship and for additional tips and leads. While I kept my notes, they were a little disorganized, which Im sure detracted from my effectiveness and added to my stress. A contact management system like Jibberjobber would have been helpful. I insisted on going it alone. I did pretty well at writing resumes and cover letters, but a good pro could have done better, despite my editorial experience. And I didnt realize how badly I needed interview coaching. Ive learned a lot since those days! Whew! Confessions of a Former Job Seeker ShareShare1TweetYours truly, former job seeker. I had forgotten how much Ive learned in my 10+ years of studying job interviewing, resume writing and job search strategy. Then I decided to get rid of some old files from the days when I was a job seeker, myself. My conclusion: Job search skills are not inborn. They are definitely learned! I found dusty old manila folders full of resumes dating back to the late 80s, when I got my BA in Journalism (Public Relations emphasis) and worked as an assistant editor at a book company, and from the 90s and 00s when I landed various positions as a publicist, writer, employment counselor and trainer of employment specialists. Was I a smart job seeker? Yes and no. Here are a few things I did right: I maintained a kudos file containing letters of recommendation, positive feedback from performance evaluations and kudo emails I had received. Rereading these rave reviews helped me understand my strengths and skills. It was also a huge confidence-builder that I reviewed before interviews and whenever I felt discouraged. I obtained lists of interview questions and practiced answering them. I made a list of success stories to talk about in interviews. I conducted informational interviews in which I gained valuable career guidance. I kept my notes, master application and old resumes for years, so I was always able to fill out job applications completely and never had to guess about dates and other facts. (My file purge was not total! I still have everything I need to update my resume.) And some things I did wrong: I didnt get it about networking as a way of proactively marketing myself to a list of target companies. I thought networking was about meeting people and asking them to keep me in mind for any openings they might hear of. That didnt work and it was no fun. I failed to follow up properly with people who had given me informational interviews. I sent a thank-you note and that was generally about it. I didnt let them know how their leads turned out. So I missed opportunities for ongoing relationship and for additional tips and leads. While I kept my notes, they were a little disorganized, which Im sure detracted from my effectiveness and added to my stress. A contact management system like Jibberjobber would have been helpful. I insisted on going it alone. I did pretty well at writing resumes and cover letters, but a good pro could have done better, despite my editorial experience. And I didnt realize how badly I needed interview coaching. Ive learned a lot since those days! Whew!

8 Habits You Can Change to Help Your Career! - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

8 Habits You Can Change to Help Your Career! - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. We talk a lot about continuous self-improvement in relation to our careers, with good reason, we are recruiters here! Any improvements you make which can lead to career progress  are good for both you and for us. Not to mention that you feel accomplished, more self-assured and confident in the activities that you participate in throughout your daily life. What are you doing on a daily basis that helps you improve for the future and assist in your career progress? Are there things that you are doing that inhibit self-improvement? We are often doing little things that can benefit or inhibit our self-improvement. Some of them may be obvious, while others may not be but, in many cases there are small habits that inhibit our forward progression both in and out of the office. Some of the more common inhibitors that prevent us from gaining forward momentum can be changed through little things we do in our everyday lives. These 8 habits may seem menial, but can have a large effect on your career. Sleep â€" We love it but, we often do not allow ourselves to actually get enough. If it really is something we love, want and need, why are we not making the effort to go to bed earlier and get the amount of sleep we actually need? Being tired prevents us from getting done what we really need to get done in a timely manner; not to mention quality issues, as well as affecting our general attitude and mood we are in. Instead of watching that extra episode on Netflix, wait to watch it another day (it is probably not going to disappear from your que overnight). Get your phone or tablet away from your bed, turn off the TV and/or computer. Whether you want to believe it or not, the light does affect your sleep, and the noises or vibrations from your mobile devices will as well. With proper rest you will be refreshed, clear headed and ready for what the next day will bring. Reading â€" Hey, we get it, reading is not everyone’s thing; however, IT IS good for us. It stimulates our minds and opens us up to new information. Learning new things and staying up to date on what is happening in the world, your industry, your interests, etc. will only benefit you in the long run. Introduce yourself to new and different types of information outside of your niche; it might just help you communicate and come up with better ideas as a result. Read from a variety of mediums; blogs, papers, books, magazines, websites etc. to have a diverse yet well-rounded knowledge base. Speaking up and asking questions â€" Much like reading, this is a quest for more knowledge. Our desire to contribute and drive to learn and grow are shown when we participate in the conversations around us. Quick tip, if you cannot contribute ask more questions. Questions you ask should be well thought out and not asked just for the sake of asking. They should provide value to you and those around you. Most people would rather answer a question than have to make up for or correct the mistakes made by those who do not. If you cannot contribute with your own perspective, become an advocate for other people’s point of view in order to  contribute to the conversation. NOT Saying “no” â€" Saying “yes” is often a good thing to do. It is good to show incentive, to want to take on additional projects or help others, when you CAN. Being able to take on additional projects without becoming overburdened is the key. Always saying yes can weigh you down and not allow you to focus on the things that really need to do. “No” can be a difficult thing to implement into your “work” vocabulary, but there are times when it is necessary to say no. Saying no does not mean that you are being insubordinate or that you are a poor worker or contributing team member. Try not to stretch yourself to thin by taking on too many additional projects or helping others and neglecting your work. You have your own responsibilities, therefore, make sure your priorities are in check. Procrastinating â€" We have all been there at some point, where we are just not motivated and put off various things for one reason or another. You know the tasks that you need to accomplish so finish your lists, or start to make them in the first place to help prioritize and organize the various tasks you have to complete. A little daily or weekly planning and prioritization can go a long way in your effort to stop procrastinating. This way you have can actively committing to the work you need to accomplish as well as judge your progress towards reaching your goal. Seek out leadership roles â€" Find where a leader is needed and take the initiative to become the leader that is needed. This does not mean that you have to search out the newest or biggest project and try to lead that, although that is an option, it can be small tasks or volunteering your time somewhere. They key is finding opportunities that give you more experience and possibility for growth. Take the lead on a project if you can, or head a team meeting. Welcome the challenge if it is something you can accomplish. Start small and work to larger things as your comfort as a leader increases. Growth and leadership will most likely not just fall into your lap. You will have to take some initiative for it to happen. Take a break â€" It is easy to get caught up in the daily grind as projects come in. As that stack of paper work keeps getting larger, meetings add up too. It is important for you to re-energize in order to regain your focus and not burn yourself out. Working through lunch occasionally probably won’t hurt you but when you are burnt out and not focused, you probably are not getting the quality you need out of your efforts anyway. Take a lunch break to re-energize and re-focus. A quick break where you can take a walk or at least step away for a few minutes can get you thinking again and able to accomplish the work ahead of you. Improve office relationships â€" become an active member of your team, interact with and help others. These are the people you see most often outside of your home, you spend on average 8 hours a day with them, probably 5 days a week. Having a good relationship with the people you work with will make your life a lot easier. You do not have to be best friends with them, but you need to be able to work together and be around them quite a bit. Having a sense of community and support in the office can really help you out when things are tough. Find ways to improve communication with the people in your office. Go out to lunch with other people in your office if you can, or go out after work for a little while. Open up in these situations a little bit and find some common ground with your co-workers. Try to avoid the office gossip, be part of the solution to problems not an instigator.