How to answer Walk me through your resume in a job interview

How to answer Walk me through your resume in a job interviewYoure all excited for your interview and then you get the dreaded question. Walk me through your resume, the interviewer says. Walk through it yourself you think. Cant you read? We kidof course, you can only think this. (Please, only think it) googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) It may seem like a ridiculous question, but think of it instead as an opportunity. You have a captive audience here to really fill in any holes or gaps on your resume and talk your interviewer through the bullet points while fleshing them out with the details they deserve Take care, however, that you dont let your own overconfidence trip you up. Be prepared to give a succinct, non-rambling answer. Also be prepared to have a smooth way of glossing over positions you put on for necessary padding in the hopes that the recruiter wouldnt read those sections too carefully.Here are a few good tips for preparing to answer this common question.1. Be brief and articulate.Concision is your friend. Dont just wing this answerpractice it with all your other interview prep answers. Remember, youre probably also being evaluated here on your communication skills. Cut out the ums and set your resume in the context/tone you want without droning on too long about yourself. And whatever you do, dont let yourself get bogged down with irrelevant extra details that have nothing to do with why your past will make you an ideal candidate for the job you want.2. Keep your eye on the prize.Your job in this answer is to put everything in your resume in the context of the job youre applying for. Stick to the script When youre talking about your background, mine it for little gems that will show just how perfect your history makes you for this position. Explain your career so far in such a way that your interviewer will see how it perfect it makes you for the open job.3. Explain yourself.Some questions undoubtedly co me up with any resume, no matter how bulletproof. Try to anticipate any questions or concerns your interviewer might have and have answers prepared. Explain your motivations and what went into the various decisions youve made along the way. Try to frame every negative or challenge into a positive. Show yourself to be scrappy and problem-solving when you go over any gaps and vermgen red flags, as well.4. Anticipate what they want to hear.As much as you want to practice a perfect answer, make sure to also think on the fly. Try to suss out what your interviewer is actually after and incorporate that into your answer. Tailor or fix what youre about to say what you know theyre after.5. Stay classy.Paint yourself as the best person for the job, but dont just shine yourself in best, brightest light and trash everyone else. Stay honest. Dont throw anyone under any buses. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions, and dont exaggerate your successes while sweeping all weaknesses under the rug (even though you shouldnt dwell too long on those)you just wont seem believable.6. Think big.When in doubt, frame your answer to be about howthis job is the perfect next step on your career path and how everything in the past has led up to this position.Dont forget to show the big picture and highlight your passion and enthusiasm for the position, in addition to your expertise.Back everything you say up with actual bullet points on your resume. Stick to the script, show off without being too braggy, and the job should be yours

19 Signs Your Job Is Stealing Your Identity

19 Signs Your Job Is Stealing Your Identity Among the many teachings the writer Toni Morrison gave us, in the wake of her recent passing in August, wisdom she shared on work-life balance began making its rounds on social media.Whatever the work is, do it well notlage for your boss, but for yourself, the much-circulated post reads. You make the job it doesnt make you. Your real life is with us, your family. You are not the work you do you are the person you are.If your involvement with your work has led you to question the validity of any of the above statements, its possible your job has begun to steal your identity. And, in a hyper-capitalist society that tends to value production over all else, you wouldnt be alone in experiencing this loss. Below, here are the 19 signs your job is consuming way too much of your identity.1. Your family or friends are making comments about seeing you less.Even worse Theyve stopped inviting you to certain events and activities, because they know yo ull say you have to work.2. Your job features prominently in your dreams.And/or the quality of your sleep is decreasing, too.3. You feel too busy at work to justify taking a break.Eat lunch away from your desk? People do that?4. Your productivity is suffering, despite the number of hours you put in.You know that youre working a ton, but when you compare it against what you feel youve actually accomplished, theres a disconnect.5. The Sunday Scaries have become especially severe.What for some people is a joking expression feels oh-so real to you.6. You cant stop thinking about work, even during supposed downtime.There are few to no activities you can do just for fun without thoughts of that one thing you mucksmuschenstill need to do for work creeping up.7. You cancel social plans, often.And people expect it of you, too.8. The last thing you do before bed has to do with work.Hopping back online for a couple hours or any amount of time at all has become far too-regular a parte of your nighttime routine.9. You check your work email or Slack notifications obsessively.And you have push notifications enabled, too.10. You cant remember the last time you were totally, 100% off on a weekend.But actually no clue when the last time was that this happened.11. You struggle to think of any personal goals youre working toward in life.The goals youre supposed to be hitting for work, on the other hand, you can recite in a heartbeat.12. Youre consistently one of the first and/or last people in the office.You know the rough time that most of your coworkers get to and leave the office, because youre always there to witness it.13. Youre edgier and mora irritable, and youre not sure why.You realize that youve begun to become a generally snappier person, which feels untrue to who you are.14. Youve given up a hobby you love because there isnt enough time for it.Youll pick back up Hobbies A and B again soon, though, when theres time.15. Your physical health is suffering.Headaches and tense or sore muscles have become a daily reality.16. If you were given a completely free day tomorrow, you have no idea how youd use it.Your use of time has become so oriented around work that conceiving of a day without it is difficult.17. Youre constantly at least a little afraid of being fired.And that anxiety drives your need to produce even more for your company.18. The idea of attending a 6 p.m. event (that doesnt have to do with work) on a weeknight feels unfathomable.L.O.L. Yeah, sure youll make it to that sporting event that starts while the sun is still up.19. You talk about work non-stop, and you notice youve started slipping work-isms into everyday conversations.Circling back and ROI have begun to worm their way into your conversations with friends who also know every last detail about your boss, that project youre working on, and the latest annoying thing Coworker X did.--

The Little-Known Secrets to Resume Writing Tips Career Change Objective

The Little-Known Secrets to Resume Writing Tips Career Change Objective Resume objectives can be a little controversial. Although a resume objective is a favorite means to start a winning resume, it isnt the only means to introduce yourself to the employer. As a result, while your resume objective should consist of information on the career which you want, you also need to spell out why you are the perfect candidate for the job. The absolute most efficient objective is one which is tailored to the job youre applying for. What Does Resume Writing Tips Career Change Objective Mean? If you select somebody you currently work with, make sure theyre alert to your plans and they will be discreet if need be. If you are searching for a career change, the most significant thing you can do is decide on where it is you would like to be professionally. Quite often, your professional title is the very first thing on your resume following your name. Therefore, if youre searching for a new job, it is crucial that your resume stands from the crowd to guarantee you a spot on the shortlist. The Resume Writing Tips Career Change Objective titelbild Up You want to not just catch the hiring managers eyeyou should make certain that they study your statement and say Whew Employers wish to read about how you are able to assist their organization, not what you would like from them. Resume objective statements, if used, should illustrate what you could do for the possible employer rather than that which youve done previously for your prior firm. Writing objectives isnt the simplest job on earth, but with our tips you will produce a convincing objective statement for resume in virtually no time. Find out more about the industry youre interested in to establish the skills that are valuable. Nearly everyone possesses transferable abilities, because they are the skills acquired from past experience that could be used in other varieties of jobs, industries, or environments. For example, your time management abilities or knowledge of specific computer programs would be helpful in most any position. If youve resolved to begin an entirely new career, congratulations By highlighting a couple of essential abilities and your existing aims, you give the recruiter or hiring manager a taste of whats to come in the remainder of your resume.

Here Are Quick Sample Thank You Emails for Your Coworkers

Here Are Quick Sample Thank You Emails for Your CoworkersHere Are Quick Sample Thank You Emails for Your CoworkersThank you, emails dont have to be long and involved. They just need to follow the guidelines for effective employee recognition so that they have maximum impact. Quick emails that thank an employee or coworker are treasured and show respect to the recipient. Here are several thank you emails that you can use as templates and tailor to meet your own needs. Quick Thank You Emails Following a Training In this email, the employee is thanking his or herbei supervisor for the opportunity to attend a training. Example Thank You Following a Training (Text Only) Hi Margaret,Just a quick leide to thank you for the opportunity to attend the training session on dealing with conflict in the workplace. As a conflict-averse person, I thought the training would help sharpen my conflict resolution skills, and it did.Ill have to binnensee how well what I learned will transfer back to t he job, but Im confident the training provided me with a lot of insight and necessary tools. Without your support, I would not have been able to attend.Many thanks,Dan ExpandEveryday Job Done Well In this thank you email, please note that the manager is specific about what she is thanking him for doing. Example Everyday Job Done Well Letter (Text Only) Dear Tom,Just wanted you to know that I thought you did a terrific job updating the customer service database. Now that we have returning callers identified, we are building those necessary relationships with customers. It is far better than treating return customers as if we dont know who they are. Again, bravo Tom, for a job well done. We really appreciate your efforts- as do the customers.Thank you.Tricia ExpandFrom a Supervisor for Filling in for a Coworker This email thanks Marty for his help providing coverage while (department head) Julia was on leave and mentions positive outcomes from the coverage. It also passes the baton ba ck to Julia beginning the day she returns to work. Filling in for a Coworker Thank You Example (Text Only) Hi Marty,Thank you for covering for Julia while she was out on maternity leave. Her staff appreciated that they had you to go to for questions and support. The staff feedback was that they got some new ideas from your sales groups approach to identifying potential customers.Now that Julia is returning from leave, I hope that you spend a few days with her to update her about anything important that occurred during the past twelve weeks. Shell be returning next Monday and working part-time for the first few weeks, but her staff will report to her beginning Monday.I trust that you will make this transition as smooth for everyone as you did when you took over Julias staff leadership role during her absence. Again, I cant express how much the organization appreciates your efforts on our behalf.Best,Brian ExpandReward This thank you email specifically notes several contributions that Paula made. Most importantly, it rewards Paula with a day off. Example Reward Thank You Letter (Text Only) Hello Paula,Thanks for your help in hosting our first-ever weekend training sessions. Without our staff volunteers, the training department would never have been able to pull off such a great event for our customers and friends.You were one of the volunteers who took registrations in the morning and stayed late to clean up after dinner. On top of that, you participated in the sessions. I hope you enjoyed the weekend and took away some valuable training points.Its tough to tell busy, dedicated employees to skip work, but if youd like to take a day off to recuperate this week, please do, at no dienstgrad to your PTO bank.A much-deserved day off will give you the chance to get all those weekend errands done that you couldnt get to because of work.Once again, my sincere thanks. We could not have pulled this off without you.Best Regards,Sharon ExpandFrom a Coworker This is a casual note and good example of the kind of thank you letters that coworkers are encouraged to send to each other. Example Thank You From a Coworker (Text Only) Hi Larry,Once again, a great time was had by all at the ballgame. I cant believe that you have the energy to set up this event for 100 people each year. Just arranging a date, securing tickets for everyone, and renting buses for the game is mind-boggling.I promise I will continue to attend every year as long as it is such great fun. It also helps that you do the work, so I dont have to (haha).Again, Larry, thank you for another great company outing. I hope you feel the love from enough of us that you decide to put the trip together again next year.Dave ExpandFor Running a Meeting This note comes from either the manager of the team or a coworker who is the team leader. Its a good example of the type of note that probably made Beths day. Example Thank You For Running a Meeting (Text Only) Dear Beth,I cant tell you how much I appreci ate youfilling in for me at todays marketing meeting. The group could not afford to lose a week if we plan to have the campaign ready for launch next month. The product appears to be on schedule, which makes our timely preparation even more critical.I cant believe that my daycare closed because of the weather on the day of the most important meeting this month. But, thanks to you, we are still on target. I also appreciate the minutes that Cheryl forwarded to me. It looks like you had a most productive meeting and the notes kept me in the loop.Once again, thank you, Beth, for jumping in at the last minute and doing such a great job.Sincerely,Stephanie ExpandConclusion About Thank You Emails Thank you, emails dont require a lot of effort or time, but they are appreciated by employees and co-workers. Whenever possible, create a work culture that encourages people tothankemployees more often- not less. The written recognition of a thank you email, no matter how brief, is something that is cherished and remembered. Sample Employee Thank You and Recognition Letters Sample Employee Thank You Letter From SupervisorFormal Employee Recognition LetterInformal Employee Recognition LetterSemi-formal Employee Recognition LetterHow to Write an Employee Recognition Letter

5 Things to Avoid When Video Conferencing From Home

5 Things to Avoid When Video Conferencing From Home5 Things to Avoid When Video Conferencing From HomeOnline video conferencing applications such as Zoom, WebEx, Skype, and GoToMeeting are great tools that enable those who work at home to virtually meet with collaborators and colleagues. It allows for decision-making in real time and building a personal rapport with co-workers at the same time. And all this professional collaboration makes it easier for those of us seeking work-life balance to find it.Yes, these online tools are great until they are not.While meetings with these tools can be effective, efficient ways for people to come together, there are a few cautionary tales. Take, for example, the woman who was manicuring her nails during a meeting while unbeknownst to her she was being projected on a wall-size screen at the companys other locations around the world. And then there was the guy who was working from home and visible in a meeting only from the chest up. He was weari ng a nice, Oxford shirt. Hilarity ensured, however, when he got up from his chair to retrieve a book. He was only wearing boxers below the Oxford.Despite these snafus, virtual meetings are taking off in the corporate world- something those of us who work at home truly appreciate. Technological advancements, coupled with the willingness by more companies to allow employees to work at least part of the time from home, has made online video conferencing a valuable, cost-conscious way for workers to collaborate.But there is a dark underbelly associated with these types of meeting, too, that can range from downright hysterical to abjectly humiliating to rapid dismissal from the company. If you need to participate in these meetings, here are a few things to keep in mind. 01Video GaffesElementalImaging/Getty ImagesAs with mosttechnology, online video conferencing is a marvelous tool that drives business engagement and enables people working outside the traditional office to be important co ntributors to the workplace team.But also like with most technology, users need a strong, common sense notion of what is and what is not proper in video conference meetings. Many moons ago, my first boss had this bit of advice regarding email If you wouldnt write your message on a postcard home to your mother, you probably shouldnt send it in an e-mail. In the world of video conferencing, this kind of common sense is still a very good piece of advice, too.

How to Be More Assertive at Work (Not Aggressive) - The Muse

How to Be More Assertive at Work (Not Aggressive) - The MuseHow to Be More Assertive at Work (Not Aggressive)Have you ever admired a co-worker whos able to navigate challenging situations with ease and professionalism, no matter the politics and difficult personalities involved? You know the type She has a Teflon-like ability to deflect anger and frustration in the problem-solving process and doesnt settle for an outcome that would sacrifice her self-respect or clout among colleagues. What shes exhibiting is a key personality attribute thats important in both business and life assertiveness. For those of us who avoid confrontation like the plague- or, on the flipside, those of us who have hair-trigger tempers- this calm-yet-effective, agreeable-yet-firm temperament seems superhuman. Assertiveness requires skill and can take time to cultivate, but its a quality you can (and should) aspire to master.Put simply, being assertive is a happy medium between the two extremes of aggressive an d passive. While aggressive people adopt the my way or the highway stance, coming off as hostile and abrasive, passive people can be pushovers, giving up their power and allowing themselves to be taken advantage of, creating a surefire recipe for burnout and resentment. Assertive people, on the other hand, tend to seek out and create win-win scenarios. Assertive people understand the value of making their desires and beliefs known, but their pride isnt damaged if their solution isnt the one that comes out on top. Confident and assured, these people approach situations with a healthy dose of objectivity, and as a result, are able to communicate clearly and work through challenges in a low-stress, no-drama, and self-honoring way.Many people find it challenging to project assertiveness precisely because it requires you to walk a fine line between being pushy and pacifying. To help you navigate this tricky road, here are a few examples of how to be more assertive in some common workplac e scenarios- without turning into the office jerk. Situation 1 Getting the Team Behind Your PlanYour kollektiv is in charge of launching a new sales campaign, and you have a killer idea. The team meets to discuss how to get started, and youre excited to propose your approach.Passive Approach You wait for your boss to make the first suggestion, then take the path of least resistance by agreeing, rather than putting your idea on the table or even suggesting ways to improve upon her strategy.Aggressive Approach You immediately present your perfect idea as the one the team needs to adopt and, without taking a breath, begin assigning tasks. If anyone tries to suggest an alternative, you shake your head and say, That wont work. All the while, youre pretending not to notice the eye-rolls happening around the table.Assertive Approach As you listen to the various suggestions your colleagues are floating, you both acknowledge their strong points and assume a role in solving potential challeng es. You might say, for example, Its a great idea to track prospective client interactions. What if we did it over six months instead of three? That would allow us to collect more data and make better decisions for the next fiscal year.In this last scenario, youve stated your case in a way that acknowledges others perspectives and backed up your ideas with factual reasoning, rather than emotions. Youve successfully contributed value to the conversation, but not at the cost of making other team members feel unvalued.Situation 2 Its Time for a Raise, But Your babo Isnt Making Any MovesAfter asking for a raise during a check-in with your boss, she says that youll have to wait at least another six months(https//www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-stay-motivated-when-youre-not-getting-a-raise. The companys just not able to give raises right now, but she assures you your performance is such that youll be considered for a salary bump when the time is right. Passive Approach You swallow your disap pointment and nervously utter, Oh, thats fine- no problem, to assuage the awkwardness of the situation. But later, you go home and complain about it for hours, because you feel its completely unjust.Aggressive Approach After being told youll need to wait for a raise, you inform your boss that youre going to begin to look for opportunities elsewhere- where someone will treat you like you deserve to be treated.Assertive Approach Because you respect yourself and your need to be compensated fairly as much as you want to understand your boss reasoning, you dont let your bruised ego get the best of you and lash out. Instead, you ask for more clarity on the companys future and define tangible goals and targets that you can review when you revisit your salary request down the road. In the assertive approach, youre showing resilience by responding in a proactive, future-oriented manner, signaling maturity, level-headedness, and a commitment to the company. Situation 3 Managing the Team for T op ResultsOne of your direct reports is seriously missing the mark. His deliverables are sloppy, other colleagues are starting to complain about having to plektron up his slack, and on top of all that, he rolls in late every day. Its time to step in.Passive Approach Next time he turns in a terrible first draft of a report, you stay up until 2 AM redoing it on your own- and then fume about his poor performance to other colleagues when hes not around.Aggressive Approach Go full-on Jerry McGuire on him, demanding to know why hes so stupid, assuring him that hes unhirable anywhere else, and that youre doing him a favor by not letting him go- all but firing him on the spot. Assertive Approach In a private meeting, you clearly communicate why his work isnt acceptable, pointing to his failure to satisfy core procedural requirements, but are careful not to take aim at his personal qualities. Harnessing your emotional intelligence and empathy, you invite him to let you know if there is anyth ing else going on. Perhaps hes struggling with personal issues that are detracting his focus from work. Or, maybe hes not clear on your instructions. To keep projects on track and better your relationship, you schedule a weekly meeting to check in and create a channel for clear communication.In the final option, youve taken control of the situation instead of letting the problem linger and have presented a scenario in which both you and your report win. Learning how to be more assertive- sticking up for yourself without being a total jerk- will not only earn you respect among co-workers, but itll also reduce your stress, making you feel more confident about yourself and your interactions with others. This high road that assertive people take is where the best outcomes happen- so by training yourself to look for the win-win opportunities in challenging situations, youll come out on top.

How to Spot Buying Signals From Prospects

How to Spot Buying Signals From ProspectsHow to Spot Buying Signals From ProspectsWhen a prospect starts to consider buying from you, he probably wont come right out and say it. In fact, he might not even realize how interested he is. Instead of openly stating his interest, most prospects will start to make buying signals, in the form of either questions or statements. Being able to recognize these buying signals will give you a strong advantage. When a Prospect AsksQuestions It Is An Encouraging Sign Any time a prospect asks you questions during your ?sales presentation, its an encouraging sign. After all, its a prospect wasnt interested at all he wouldnt bother asking you questions. But certain questions send a particularly strong statement of interest. unterstellung are generally questions that indicate the prospect is imagining himself owning the product. For example, a prospect might ask a question such as, Who will be responsible for supporting the product? or How long does delivery take? These are extremely strong buying signals and should indicate to you that the customer is really interested. Once youve answered the prospects question, you can develop his interest further by painting a picture of what his life will be like once he owns the product.? Another strong buying signal would be when a prospect asks you to repeat something or digs for more information. For example, he might say What else can this product do? or Can you go into more detail about that brde feature? This tells you which aspect of your presentation or of the product itself he found particularly interesting. Such an interest usually points out a hot button or pain point that you can later emphasize in your presentation to help seal the deal. Objections are usually a buying signal, although not as powerful a one. When a prospect makes an objection, it means hes considering buying but is concerned about one or more aspects of the purchase. Questions like What if Im not satisfied w ith the product? or statements like I cant afford this mean that youve at least started to pique the prospects interest. Handling Objections When handling objections, remember that the prospect is trying to tell you hes interested but doesnt have enough information to decide for sure if he wants to buy. If you can give him the information that he needs, you can pretty much count on closing the deal. So objections are a good sign, not a problem treat them with respect, and theyll lead you straight to a sale. Objections arent the only statements a prospect might make as a buying signal. If a prospect says something like, That feature sounds fantastic, or This would work really well with our existing systems, its a pretty strong statement of interest. Keep in mind that in rare cases, a prospect might use such strong statements as a false buying signal. These canny prospects are trying to raise your hopes so that they can negotiate from a stronger bargaining position. Most prospect s will make these statements in perfect sincerity, but its wise to be a bit wary. Easing Into a Purchase A buying signal, even a very strong one, isnt necessarily your cue to dive into a close. Almost everyone has a resistance to being sold and if they start to feel like youre pressuring them, theyre likely to push back. So rather than hit the prospect over the head with your most powerful close, try easing them into the purchase. If you get a strong buying signal, and you feel its appropriate, it might be a good time to use a trial close. If the prospect responds well, you can proceed to the close. If not, you still have the option to back off a bit and continue with the sales process.?