How to Give a Reference - The Muse

How to Give a Reference - The MuseHow to Give a Reference You get a call from a hiring manager who would like to know if youll provide a reference for a former intern or employee. But this isnt your typical reference call, and to be honest, youre not sure how to answer- because youve been totally blindsided. For starters, you didnt know you that you were being listed as a reference. Heck, you didnt even know your connection welches looking to change jobs, or volunteer- or whatever it is the person on the other side of the phone is calling to inquire about.Of course, someone shouldnt just assume youll serve as a reference. What if she misjudged the relationship, and you would have turned her down? Not to mention shes missing her chance to really prepare you. But it happens Its happened to me, its happened to managers I know, and someday it may happen to you. And while you may be thinking, I have no idea what youre talking about, youll probably want to say something mora diplomatic to the person on the line. Heres how to handle this situation based on your relationship with the applicant.If You Want to Give a Stellar RecommendationStrategy Answer BroadlyWhen I was a fellowship program manager, I had a fellow Ill call Jane. Jane was awesome She was brilliant, she did everything I asked of her (even volunteer assignments), she worked at a super-demanding organization that loved her- she even had perfect posture.Well, one day I get a call from a mentoring program that matches professionals with inner-city youth. Jane had listed me as a reference, and the company had several specific questions that went beyond What do you think of Jane? I was asked if she was right for the mystery role, as well as to discuss her experience working with minority youth. If Jane had prepped me, I would have had relevant answers- but I had no idea that shed even applied. I couldnt admit that It would have made her look at best presumptuous and at worst irresponsible (which isnt really me ntoring material).So, I gave a reference that was truthful- and broad. For example, to answer whether I thought she could do the job, I responded that she was a competitive runner and had more drive than just about anyone Id ever met (true- and applicable whether she was applying to be a systems analyst or connect with an elementary school student). When asked about her experience with diversity, I discussed her interactions with our board members and explained that our board of directors had age and gender diversity (again, broad and a bit tangential, but true).If you find yourself in this situation, give honest, widely applicable answers that paint the candidate in a positive light. For example, great communication skills and dependability are always positives. But recounting the story of someone locking himself in his schreibstube to complete his work- while you think it shows persistence and hard work- probably wouldnt come off as well if hes applying for a client-facing role.If Youre Not Comfortable Serving as a ReferenceStrategy Answer Specifically (Then Punt)Its one thing when a former employee neglects to mention that he put you down as a reference, because he had asked you four times over the past four months, and he didnt want to overwhelm you with (yet another) email regarding an application he submitted. Its a completely different story when someone misjudges your relationship and has never asked you to serve as a reference- because if he had, you would have declined. You dont want to sink someones candidacy, but your credibility is at stake. Hopping off the phone (because youre late for a meeting), without saying anything and never calling back is like pulling an emergency lever You can do this if you have nothing nice to say, but it should be the last resort.Instead, see if you cant first say one nice thing before you get off the phone- and make it super specific. Heres how it works Say someone listed you because you have name recognition, but yo uve only have a few interactions at industry events. The hiring manager calls and asks you to if you think hed be a good marketing manager. Try this Each time Ive spoken with Mark, Ive been impressed with his ability to shift between small talk and discussing market trends. Then, say you have to run.The brevity of your review implies that youre not a close connection, but you managed to say something nice- and true- so everybody wins (as much as they could in this given situation). If you really dont know (or think highly of) the person in question, be as brief as possible Unfortunately, I dont feel I know Marks work well enough to provide a reference. Sorry I cant be more helpful Thats much preferable to, Weve only met twice, or worst of all, Who?No matter what, as soon as you get off the phone with the hiring manager, you need to contact the applicant. First, hell be glad to know his references are being checked But beyond that, you need to fill him on what the call was like from your perspective.For the candidate youre close with, try something like, I want to give you the highest recommendation possible. I did the best I could, but in the future, please let me know when youd like to list me as a reference so that Im better prepared.And for the candidate you barely know? Be candid. I was surprised to be contacted as a reference, as I dont remember us ever discussing it. Unfortunately, I dont feel I know you well enough to give as strong a reference as you deserve. So, Id appreciate it if youd refrain from listing me in future.Its an honor to listed as reference It means the candidate trusts you to speak to a prospective employer. But, he or she should ask first- and you may decline as necessary.Photo of person on phone courtesy of Shutterstock.

10 Coolest Resume Samples by People Who Got Hired in 2018

10 Coolest Resume Samples by People Who Got Hired in 201810 Coolest Resume Samples by People Who Got Hired in 20182018 will be remembered as the year when people started eating Tide Pods. And they didnt even taste good.But not everything was terrible. For instance, you let us share some pretty cool resumes with the rest of the world.Now we want to show you the best of them.So without a furtzu sichbei ado, these are the coolest resume samples you sent us in 2018. Maybe an inspiration for your next 2019 resume?haftungsausschluss All of the resume samples below come from our users. They agreed to share their resumes with us, and you, and them, and everybody else, really. Unless they explicitly told us otherwise, we anonymised their resumes.1. HubSpot for Veterans Managing Director A Resume ExampleWhy we think its cool First, its because of HubSpot.You know HubSpot, right? In the world of online marketing, theyre a huge deal. If youre interested, check out their blog, its a great read.Se cond, its the quality of presentation. Evan DiLeo has been in the industry for years and certainly knows how to show himself in the best possible light.Oh, and Evan didnt ask us to anonymise his resume. Which is great, because now anybody whos reading this article can see how awesome he is.2. Government of Canada Digital Media Manager A Resume ExampleWhy we think its coolIts hard not to love Canada. Especially nowadays, when they seem like an island of positive deviation in a world thats slowly going mad.Ariel (lets call her Ariel) was on Justin Trudeaus Social Media team, being responsible for his official Twitter and YouTube channels.Whats more, the way she wrote her resume is at least as impressive as her accomplishments.Notice how she always goes straight to the point when describing her past projects. You immediately know what was her role and how exactly she contributed to the overall success of her team.3. MI5 Regulation Administrator A Resume ExampleWhy we think its coolBeca use of the MI5, of courseHonestly, were not even sure if we can talk about this resume here. You know, it might contain top secret information (probably not, but still).But lets give it a try anyway. Similarly to the previous example, this is more of a Curriculum Vitae than a resume. In other words, it summarises the entire career of the candidate.Notice how he emphasises several traits, like taking initiative and interest in data administration. All of that to make him look like the perfect fit for the position.Were not at all surprise that he ultimately got it.4. Hard Rock Hotels Copywriter A Resume ExampleWhy we think its cool The Hard Rock brand is instantly recognisable- and for a good reason. Its always nice to work for a company that has character.Not only does it help to identify with your job and be more productive, it also gives you nice bragging rights.If we were to point out one thing, it would be how she puts a link to her portfolio in her profile section. Thanks to tha t, any potential employer can easily look up her best works.5. Nike Retail Brand Specialist A Resume ExampleWhy we think its coolBecause sneakers are cool and we really love Nike as a brand. Also, because we cant understand a thing in Swedish.Okay, maybe were cheating a bit by including a resume in a language few people understand.On the other hand, its a great proof of how a resume can make a great first impression even before you start reading.6. The World Bank Technology Researcher A Resume SampleWhy we think its coolGetting hired as a technology researcher at the World Bank is in itself impressive. But theres more to this candidate than that.Naman (lets call him Naman) has a number of inventions to his name. For instance, he constructed an adjustable chair that helps you maintain correct posture, electro-chemical machines, hybrid tricycle, and more.Notice how he lists projects instead of previous jobs. In this way, he effectively emphasises the most interesting parts of his care er.7. Lockheed Martin Manufacturing Associate Manager A Resume ExampleWhy we think its cool Lockheed Martin is the company that develops and manufactures American F-22 fighter jets.Theyre also the worlds largest defense contractor and Gabriel managed to score a sweet job with them.If we were to guess why, wed say it was mainly thanks to his ability to quantify his past accomplishments. Just look at how almost every bullet point includes a number.8. Aeromobil Design Engineer A Resume ExampleWhy we think its coolAeroMobil is a small Slovak company that is developing a carthat can flyWe love projects that sound like taken straight out of a science-fiction movie. AeroMobil is certainly one of them.9. New York University Associate Director A Resume ExampleWhy we think its cool This resume is PACKED with information. In fact, if it were for any other field than academia, wed probably say its too much.Otherwise its a great example of how you can write a really thorough resume that tells yo ur whole story in a minute detail.10. Google Account Executive A Resume ExampleWhy we think its cool Google is certainly one of the most prestigious employers in the world. Which is why getting a highly-coveted job at the company is quite an achievement.Honestly, theres not much to say about this resume, other than that, it does almost everything right. It has a killer profile section, quantifies its achievements, catches the attention with its powerful graphical elements.Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

5 Tips on How to Survive Working for a Millennial Boss

5 Tips on How to Survive Working for a Millennial Boss 5 Tips on How to Survive Working for a Millennial Boss 5 Tips on How to Survive Working for a Millennial BossAs baby boomers retire, millennials those between the ages of 23 and 38, and who happen to outnumber their older generation X colleagues in the workplace are increasingly landing management positions. Young engineers with valued technology skills are often promoted over their older peers.What does all this mean? Engineers, even relatively young ones, can find themselves working for a babo who is younger than them, said Kathi pica pica, a career and executive coach at K Squared Enterprises, which provides tools and tactics to workplace navigation.A Harris Interactive poll conducted in 2012 on behalf of CareerBuilder found that 34 percent of employees in the United States works for a younger boss. And 15 percent of respondents said their boss was at least 10 years younger than they were. That number is expected to grow as baby boomers retire and as millennials become managers. That percentage has probably increased in the past few years, Elster said.Get the Edge Five Job Interview Questions Young Engineers Can ExpectWorking under someone younger than yourself can present challenges. You may encounter differences in work habits, work styles, or viewpoints, she added. By following the five tips below, you can significantly decrease any on-the-job uncomfortableness or outright strife, and take your working relationship in a positive direction.1.Maintain a Positive AttitudeA recent study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that most workers at firms with managers younger than themselves reported having more negative emotions, such as anger and fear, than those with older bosses. Youll need to manage those emotions by staying positive, Elster said.You were probably once the rising star with the clever ideas. Think back to those days and to your enthusiasm for your early jobs as you listen care fully to what your manager has to say. You could find echoes of a younger you in their words, she added. This will help, should you struggle to respect your high-ups title and position.Brush Up Six Project Management Tips Every Engineer NeedsLet go of your past. You know your latest achievements. Call them to mind. You know youre a great engineer. Your boss, however, is focused on current challenges and wants to know how youre addressing todays challenge and working to meet tomorrows goals.2.Refrain from Knowing it AllWhile related to the first consideration, the older know-it-all-employee is so feared by young managers that it deserves a category all its own, Elster said. To enkoranvers you dont fall into that role, keep your thoughts and tone free of condescending thoughts.You cant be a know-it-all if you realize you dont, in fact, know how to do everything, said Adwoa Dadzie, a career coach who runs Yes Shes the Boss academy, a leadership program for corporate women.No matter you r experience, your boss will probably have their own spin on things. And thats okay.You have to be open to new ways of doing things even if its different than what youve been used to, she said. Even if you have your own ways of working and doing things, your boss may have new ideas for how to be efficient and do the job. Those ideas may exceed your expectations.Along those same lines, avoid any biases, stereotypes, judgements, or even envy you may have about this young leader being your boss, she added.Read ASMEs Top Story Air Taxi Aces Test FlightJust because theyre a young leader doesnt mean theyll be a sucky leader, Dadzie said. Dont make the judgement that less tenure means they wont be a strong leader.3.Watch What You SayDont make age-centric comments. You wouldnt want your age to become a part of any conversation, so steer away from all talk of others ages or experience, even if youre referring to hobbies or activities that take place outside of work, Elster said.Dont compare what they do to what your adult kids are doing or what you were doing at that age, she said. Your boss also doesnt want to hear you talk about your kid. And skip any chitchat that dates you, like Im expecting my third grandchild.4.Concentrate on Your Own RoleFocus on what you have to offer as an employee, Dadzie says. Doing this builds confidence and keeps you from focusing too much on concerns about age.We bring maturity, commonsense, and experience to our jobs, Elster said.Remind yourself often of those and other positive qualities you have as an engineer.5.Stay Open to New LearningYour boss may have been promoted because they understand a new technology or a new way of doing things. Respect that knowledge. A younger boss can actually bring a great deal of experience and expertise to a job. Learn from them. Youll gain their respect by letting them know youre willing to learn from them.Along the same lines, if you achieve a new certification or attain a new skill, be sure to let yo ur boss know. Dont keep your own achievements a secret because you feel old bringing them up to a younger person.The bottom line Respect your leader, no matter their age. Work to earn their respect. And prepare for an ongoing, positive working environment.Jean Thilmany is a freelance writer in St. Paul who frequently writes on engineering topics.Read More Exclusive Stories from ASME.orgYouTube Star Goes Viral with Glitter BombDrone Deploys in Just Minutes but Flies for HoursWho Are the Engineers of the Future?Just because theyre a young leader doesnt mean theyll be a sucky leader. Dont make the judgement that less tenure means they wont be a strong leader.Adwoa Dadzie, career coach.

Apply Now for an ASME Scholarship

Apply Now for an ASME Scholarship Apply Now for an ASME Scholarship Apply Now for an ASME Scholarship. Applications are being accepted through March 1 for the 45 scholarships that are offered via the ASME Scholarship Program. Nearly $250,000 is available exclusively to ASME members through the program, which is introducing two new joint ASME/Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) awards this year. The ASME Scholarship Program seeks to promote the art and science of mechanical engineering by encouraging outstanding students particularly those involved in volunteer activities that benefit others by relieving some of the financial burden of pursuing an education. ASME scholarships are made possible by the generous contributions of donors through the ASME Foundation and ASME Auxiliary. Students need only to complete a single electronic application to apply for nearly all of the scholarships available through the program. Scholarships available to undergraduate AS ME student members include the $13,000 Kenneth Andrew Roe Scholarship, the $11,000 ASME Foundation Scholar award, up to three $5,000 Nuclear Engineering Division Scholarships, and up to two $5,000 Garland Duncan Scholarships. Scholarships for graduate school study include the $4,500 Willis F. Thompson Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to as many as three students the $4,000 ASME/Virginia Tech Memorial Scholarship and the $3,000 Kate Gleason Scholarship. Two new joint ASME/SHPE Scholarships will be offered this year for the first time. The $5,000 scholarships, which will be awarded to an undergraduate student and a grad student, are open to students who are joint members of ASME and SHPE. Applicants should have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 out of 4.0, and should have displayed excellent leadership potential as demonstrated through involvement with one of the societies or through mechanical engineering-related community service. To learn more about the vario us scholarships offered by ASME, visit the interactive scholarship webpage at www.asme.org/career-education/scholarships-and-grants/scholarship. To learn about the criteria necessary to apply for an ASME scholarship and to submit an application, visit www.asme.org/career-education/scholarships-and-grants/scholarship/asme-scholarships-how-to-apply. If you have other questions about the ASME Scholarships Program, contact Beth Lefever, Education Programs, by elektronischer brief at lefeverbasme.org.

Management Issues Surrounding Customer Satisfaction

Management Issues Surrounding Customer SatisfactionManagement Issues Surrounding Customer SatisfactionThe late, great management and quality guru, W. Edwards Deming described the numbers rating customer satisfaction as, unknown and unknowable, but critically important. In todays social media world, we chronicle our experiences with business interactionsin real-time, alerting the world to our satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with retailers. For any manager, the opportunity for positive feedback to go viral is exciting, while a chronicled negative experience lives forever in cyberspace. The measurement and monitoring of customer satisfaction is an essential management activity and one filled with opportunities to promote organizational learning and continuous improvement. Customer Satisfaction is Personal to the Organization Customer Satisfactionis relative to the organization and is a very personal decision tied to branding and overall strategy. One organization may place a premi um on the entire experience, while anotlageher focuses on a narrower attribute, such as safety or functionality. Consider the following examples of customer experiences If you are a member of the gruppe at Ritz Carlton Hotels, the idea that you are one of the ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen is ingrained in your personal and professional mindset. You are aware that you are a critical representation of your organization and brand, and you are entrusted with ensuring customer satisfaction at every instance.As a member of the Mayo Clinic organization, your core value is, the needs of the patient come first. Every single decision is filtered against this core value and customer satisfaction is monitored and measured to ensure the value is upheld. For many airlines, the focus is on critical customer safety, however, it often appears to frequent flyers that customer satisfaction is not a key business driver. Airlines are diligent about measuring on-time arrivals and depar tures but rarely address how happy (or unhappy) their customers are with the overall experience.At upscale retailer Nordstroms, remarkable customer service is something every associate is trained and motivated to deliver. Personal representatives are known to come in on their days off to help clients, especially long-term customers. Value, Discipline,and Strategy are Key The examples above illustrate a range of customer service experiences. If your primary means of creating value focuses on the customer experience and service level, then you should incorporate this into every aspect of your business. This starts withhiring and training employees to find opportunities to surprise and delight customers at every turn. This discipline then becomes an integral part of your business strategy and one you can measure and monitor from many angles. If your focus is on product innovation or operational excellence, your customer satisfaction emphasis needs to reflect this. You need to regu larly monitor whether or not customers view your offerings as the most innovative in the marketplace. Value discipline and strategy define a firms priorities and these measures are identified in order to assess how well a firm is performing against those priorities. Ideally, the firms look for key drivers of success, leading indicators that predict a future change in outcomes, and lagging indicators that assess how the firm performed against targets. If customer satisfaction is core to the firms DNA, then measures of overall experience are critical. Diminishing Returns from Investing in Customer Satisfaction While it seems counter-intuitive to invest in strengthening customer satisfaction, it might not benefit a firms revenue stream or profit margin. Customers often place their emphasis on other factors. You might not care that your plumber did not surprise and delight you as long as the water in the kitchen sink now flows smoothly and the price was reasonable. The plumbing firm could choose to invest in friendly, joke-telling individuals dressed in smart uniforms and purchase a fleet of fancy trucks. However, customers would not feel compelled to retain their services more often, if at all. Customer Satisfaction is Relative Another late, great management guru, Peter Drucker, suggested that the purpose of a firm is to acquire and keep customers. A dissatisfied customer reduces repeat business and potentially costs you future customers because customers wont be referred to you. Part of your job as a manager is to match customer expectations (and steps taken by your competitors) in your particular marketplace and industry. To ensure quality and satisfaction you then need to develop your own unique and meaningful approach to serving your critical audience. Before embarking upon a measurement program, carefully consider what customer satisfaction truly means for your customers and your firms overall strategy.

Introducing Journalism Resume

Introducing Journalism Resume But you could also need to supply your house address. Folks would require the newspapers for the newest information about the insurrection, which would help sell newspapers. Experienced journalist set on building a career switch to content advertising. Experienced journalist contemplating a career switch to content advertising. All About Journalism Resume A lot of people have asked what they can do in order to support Aboriginal men and women in their struggle for justice. However, the dilemma of self plagiarism will come up again. The issues of self-plagiarism and fabrication arent going away, but they might be receiving a whole lot more common and much harder to cope with. Finding the Best Journalism Resume You might even have a hobby for example, writing a blog thats a review of every book you read or posting beautiful photographs on the internet that could be related to your job application. Here well discuss a list of numerous free Fb p romoting gear that youre able to use to accelerate the facebook inc or myspace Canva is normally a studio room tool which stocks lots of life-saving, fantastic templates. Honors and awards can be included within this section or a different section. It isnt necessary to to include your street address, even though the city and state may be useful if looking for a position in that geographic location. Search our internship listings to learn what sorts of intern job opportunities can be found in each area and where they are readily available. If possible, have someone from your campus career office, or maybe an alumnus within the field that you want to know more about, have a look at your resume to make sure you have included as much pertinent information as possible. They are presently made for the cinema together with TV, and for the net. Deputy will let you Schedule Of Values Template, help to earn company Adrian Petersons dream value chance to be never larger than it is real ly right now following Cooper and this person continues to get the potential to be a top twenty wideout. In addition, you can search for reporter jobs on Monster. Show which you are a stand-out and that youre a committed hard worker in any positions you hold. The secret to a superior internship job search is to maintain an open mind. It demonstrates you can take on added responsibilities and handle several commitments at the saatkorn time. This showcases your capacity to deal with numerous responsibilities while in school. It is very simple for an employer to confirm your GPA by taking a look at your transcript. In many instances, in addition, it shows your capacity to work with a team. The tools for looking into ethics violations are a lot more widespread, simpler to use and less costly. Hopefully this case will demonstrate that, even when you dont think self-plagiarism by itself is a problem or even something which exists, this case does highlight it like a warning sign . A Secret Weapon for Journalism Resume Put the Education section of your resume at the very top of your resume so that its the very first thing the employer sees. Perhaps youll learn how to code over spring break or use up a second language over the summertime. Never failed to fulfill a deadline. But just because youre at the start of your career doesnt signify you dont have significant accomplishments to include in your resume. The range of missed appointments per student resets to zero at the start of each semester. We provide various scholarship and fellowship opportunities, like the Reuters-NABJ Fellowship that contains a summer internship at Reuters. Your appointment is going to be restricted to a 15-minute very same day appointment. After a second missed appointment, you wont be permitted to schedule an appointment through our on-line system. You might do it by creating stationery or a letterhead for the two documents. Volunteering enables you to try your hand at distinct fields and industries. Things You Wont Like About Journalism Resume and Things You Will Your profile needs to be customized to coordinate with the qualifications the employer is seeking. And thats where you stumble in. They will be able to help you decide whether a career is the correct fit for you. We know just what employers are searching for and how to make this document effective. When writing these statements, employers wish to likewise understand how youll promote their team or organization. Resume profiles are the very first chance to highlight somebodys relevant career experiences, skills, and what goals they want to achieve while in her or his next position. If you dont have a lot of relevant experience, you might put every one of these under exactly the same category of Related Experience. Resume examples and templates are very helpful, especially when youre writing one of your initial resumes. Career Change A self-starter and fast learner.

6 Things to Consider When Defining Your Ideal Career Path

6 Things to Consider When Defining Your Ideal Career Path Whether youre new to the workforce or considering making a career change, its important to have a clear career path in mind.Unfortunately, that isnt always easy. Especially during the earliest stages of our careers, we tend to make decisions based on what influencers like our family and friends tell us or by trefflich feeling. Perhaps this is whythe average college student changes their majorthree times during their college career.To avoid future confusion and frustration, you may want to consider the following six things when defining your ideal career path1. Define Your PassionUnderstanding what motivates you is the first step in defining your ideal career path. Your passion does not necessarily have to be a specific job or industry. Your motivation can be something like helping others or feeling good about yourself, and you can explore many paths to fulfill these desires. If you follow a car eer path that satisfies you, you will be a more competent professional who delivers better outcomes.2. Experience Is the Best TeacherWhen youre starting your first career or jumping into a new one, it can be difficult to identify your natural skills, especially those on which you can capitalize. Youll need to give yourself some time to explore your skills and understand your potential. After gaining some experience, you will be in a better position to identify your strengths and leverage your talent for success.3. Think in Terms of Career Opportunities Instead of Particular JobsIt is a common mistake to make decisions based on what is happening in the moment. What you need right now may not be aligned with what you want in the long term.For instance, quickly accepting a promotion because of the higher compensation may not be the best option if the new role doesnt lead to the career track you want to follow. Having very clear career goals will turn your daily decisions into small ste ps towards your ideal career path.That being said, you should approach opportunities in terms of where you want to be in the next five or eight years. You do not need to commit forever.4. Culture MattersWhen defining your ideal career, be sure to consider the company culture. The work environment, your coworkers, and the company leadership can all contribute to how much or how little you enjoy a job. No matter how well a role seems to align with your career goals,it may not be smart to take the role if the culture isnt right for you.For instance, big corporations and small startups operate in very different ways. Some people thrive more in one than the other.5.Money Cant Be EverythingAt the end of the day, we all have to pay the bills. However, money should not always be the primary factor in determining your next career step. Making decisions based on money alone can be a big mistake. According to Forbes contributor Rick Smith, no matter how much money we have, we always wish we ha d at least 20 percent more.Instead of focusing on money, think about what genuinely matters to you. Do you value flexible hours? A more enjoyable lifestyle?If no amount of money will ever be enough, then its much smarter to make choices based on wishes you can fulfill.6. Look to the FutureFinally, be sure to consider the future of the profession to which you may be drawn. In our age of rapid technological advances, the world of work is changing constantly. Will your dream job change soon or even worse, will it be eliminated?To identify a profession with potential, look at current trends in the industry. If possible, talk to people operating in the field. They may be able to tell youhow your chosen career is likely to change in the future.Maria Onzain is a digital marketing expert who writes about careers, education, ed. tech, and life hacks.

10 things you should never say when making a presentation

10 things you should never say when making a presentation10 things you should never say when making a presentationMaking a presentation at work can be scary. Some of us fear public speaking more than death. However, like many things in life, giving presentations gets easier with practice and after more experience.I work in consulting, which means I spend a lot of my time giving - and listening to - presentations. In my role, I give presentations to client CEOs, executive teams, boards, large (and small) groups of company employees, and of curse my own team, peers, and leadership. I also spend time helping others present their ideas, providing coaching and guidance on content, message, and supporting materials.Having the content prepared is foundational, but great slides and messaging can be ruined by a poor presentation. Similarly, I have seen executives with average content succeed because they deliver such a powerful presentation that the audience walks away convinced and impress ed.There are many elements to a great presentation, but being effective means avoiding missteps. Ive compiled ten things you should never do when making a presentation. To be clear - this is bedrngnis an effort to police tone, but to strengthen our ability to get our message across and build professional credibility.1. Dont say, I think, when a more powerful statement can workYour views are valid and youre entitled to an opinion. However, there are more powerful ways to state your view, including in my assessment, my experience suggests, and from what Ive observed. This tiny rephrase will ground your subsequent observation in something more firm than a passing thought.If you have data or facts, using I think can further undercut your point. Using the data indicate, or as the data illustrates, provides an even stronger introduction to your point. Sometimes you have to analyze data or come to a conclusion using many points of data that may bedrngnis be completely clear. In those instances, share your teams assumptions and conclusions not just what you think.2. Dont say, I dont know. It happens to all of us at some pointYoure giving a presentation you are asked a question that you do not know the answer to. You might not know, and you should never, ever give a fact or data point that youre unsure of.Instead of I dont know, which does not show any action or resolution, and highlights what youre missing (the answer) instead of instilling confidence, you can rephrase. If youre asked for a piece of data you dont have, you can respond, I can get that data, or, the team can explore that question and get you an answer following this meeting.If youre asked a question that you may need more time to ponder, it is fair to say, Id like more time to think about that instead of giving you an off-the-cuff answer, and indicate how you will follow-up.Sometimes, youre asked a question that you dont know the answer to, but have enough information or observation to make an ed ucated guess. In that case, provide your response with confidence, referencing your experience Based on similar situations, Id estimate that This is a tricky one to navigate, as some professionals struggle with wanting to be perfect and knowing every detail. If youre presenting, you should be well-prepared, but eventually you will get a question you simply do not know the answer to. Part of your preparation should include brainstorming for difficult questions and considering how you respond to any questions you may not know the answer to, based on your audience and the goals of the presentation.3. Never share something that isnt true and accurateThis sounds incredibly obvious. It is one of the things many of us learn in childhood tell the truth, and dont lie. However, in the heat (and stress) of a big presentation, it can be tempting to answer a question with a guess, or make a few leaps of logic here or there.Dont. If you arent certain about the validity of a point, sharing it cou ld have massive consequences. This occasionally appears when more senior executives are presenting, and they havent reviewed the materials that theyre presenting. An old data point, or simple mistake that hasnt been caught, can be shared as fact. Without ill intent, that can have negative repercussions on the organization.Similarly, it can be tempting to avoid or downplay bad news. Ive learned that bad news is best delivered early and with a plan for resolution. Saying with full confidence that the team will absolutely hit next months milestone and then reporting two days before said deadline that you need an extension is one relatively common example. Your judgement and integrity is on the line when youre presenting, and if youre unsure of the validity of a point, it puts your reputation at risk if you deliver it to the audience.4. Like, um, and other verbal crutches.Nearly all of us fall prey to using different verbal crutches filler words and phrases that include like, um, aah, you know, and so.If youve ever listened to a speaker that has these verbal crutches, youve likely gotten so distracted that youre counting the likes instead of listening to the message.Preparation, recording, and feedback are the best ways to banish these from your vocabulary. When youve prepared well, youll feel more confident during your presentation. Stress and anxiety can trigger verbal crutches, while knowing your content thoroughly and taking some calming, deep breaths before you go on stage can reduce your nerves.Listening to yourself is one of the best ways to catch your verbal crutches. It is incredibly common to dislike the sound of your own voice but get over it, because poor presentation skills and verbal crutches are credibility killers When you listen to yourself, pay attention to what your verbal crutches might be, and commit to working them out of your daily use (even with friends and family).This is where having a trusted peer or thoughtful manager can come in. Le t them know youre working on improving your presentation skills, and you want to remove a specific verbal crutch or two from your vocabulary. Ask them to notify you when youre using it in meetings (usually after the meeting, though there may be a discreet way to do so during the session), and offer to help them with any skills they are working on honing.If you catch yourself relying on your verbal crutch, dont freak out. Just pause. A beat of silence while you take a sip of water and quickly glance at your notes feels natural to the audience and gives you a gunst der stunde to regroup.5. Dont ask, Do you have any questions?Taking questions from the audience is great, but this is a poorly phrased question that doesnt engage your audience. Instead, I suggest making a few adjustments to ensure youre capturing feedback from your audience more actively.First, let them know how youll handle questions you may prefer that they are peppered throughout, or there may be notecards youve pr ovided for them to write questions on for follow-up, or perhaps youve reserved time at the end to take any questions.Your audience will likely follow your lead, so let them know when youd prefer to take their questions. In a large group, audience members will often feel less comfortable asking questions throughout. In smaller groups, it may feel too formal to ask them to hold their questions to the end. Determine what will fit your audiences needs.Next, prepare the questions youll ask to engage your audience. If you have a section of the presentation that might confuse the audience, you may ask a question like, I often get questions on the details behind this chart, and how the factor analyses actually work raise your hand if providing that detail would be helpful, and Ill spend a few minutes on that.Sometimes, presenters ask the audience for questions when they are really trying to spark discussion or audience participation. If that is the case, then craft a purposeful, open-ended , and inclusive question. For example, if youre presenting to managers about the importance of investing in employee development, you may ask, Who in the room has helped an employee grow their skills recently? Would you share the approach you used? A question like that allows the audience to share their own ideas and experiences, to add richness to the discussion.Finally, if youve finished your presentation, and you are curious if there are additional questions from your audience, you can say, If there are any questions, Id be happy to take them now. Give the audience some time to engage. People can be shy about speaking up in large groups. If you dont get a question, conclude with how they can reach you for any follow-up, thanking them for their time, and reminding them of any key points or actions. This is a more powerful closing than asking whether they have any questions which can feel like a mini-failure if they dont and concluding your session on an awkward note.6. Dont hoar d the leistungspunkt or even worse, take credit where you shouldnt. When youre presenting on behalf of a team, it is critical to recognize your contributorsYour presentation doesnt need to sound like a long list of thank yous at an awards show, but it is important to acknowledge the wider team. This is yet another tightrope to balance as the presenter, you have to authoritatively acknowledge your position however, it may anger your colleagues if youre inadvertently stealing credit in how you present.I recommend acknowledging the wider team at the beginning and end of the presentation, and highlighting any particularly strong contributions throughout. For example, when starting the presentation, you might say something like, Im thrilled to present the work on behalf of our department youll see the eight other team members that contributed to this project represented on the opening slide.If your colleague Fatima went out of her way, acknowledge that during your presentation. You c an say, This finding in the data is particularly compelling, and it was Fatimas idea to pursue this line of questioning through regression analysis. This demonstrates your comfort as a leader (you dont need to hog the spotlight) and gives your colleagues a chance to shine a win-win.7. Yes, we can do that by tomorrow, when youre not sure you canPromising something you cant deliver on is a fantastic way to undercut your credibility with peers and executives. It can be tempting to have an answer to every single question youre asked, but if a commitment is requested, and youre unsure, it is usually possible to buy yourself some time.You can defer, saying, Tomorrow is a rapid turnaround I will confirm with the team after this presentation and let you know what deadline you can expect by noon today. Further, in some situations it may be wise to take a moment to understand the driver behind the question, asking a clarifying question, like Before I work on next steps, it is helpful to und erstand why receiving the follow-up by tomorrow so critical does this information impact another project or deadline? Often, audience members may ask for things or details faster than really needed.8. Im rambling a little, or I just rambled off there, but if you got lost in the flow of your presentation, dont tell the audienceSome of them may have noticed, and for those who didnt, you just undercut your credibility. Practicing your presentation beforehand can help prevent rambling (ideally with a colleague, trusted friend, or by recording yourself and playing it back).However, if you catch yourself rambling, end your sentence, take a breath to gather your thoughts, and get back on track.9. Let me tell you a funny story This phrase has two issues let me and funny story. First, let meAs the presenter, your audience is listening to you by default (until you give them reason to tune out). Asking their permission with a weak phrase like let me is unnecessary.Next, funny story. In presentations, stories are fantastic. Data suggests they are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone, so including them in your presentation is a powerful technique. Humor can also be a useful technique, when used appropriately, to connect with your audience. However, theres little value in forewarning your audience that youre going to be funny because if they dont laugh, you just bombed. Deploy your humor naturally and appropriately, and if you get laughs, thats a bonus.10. Dont say, Im Sorry. Women tend to apologize more than men, and this also happens in presentationsWhen youre presenting, you rarely (if ever) need to apologize, so fight that instinct. Even in disastrous presentation situations and Ive been in a few, you can extract yourself without saying sorry.Taking you a few moments to get set up? No need to apologize let the audience know youll be starting in 5 minutes, and youre looking forward to sharing your findings with them.Projector light bulb broken, rend ering it useless? Acknowledge the issue, and if possible continue the presentation using your notes and handouts, or re-schedule the meeting to make the best use of the audiences time if the projection of slides is critical to the session.Audio terrible, so the room cant hear you? Move to the center of the room and raise your voice, grab a handheld microphone, or call an audible for a 10-minute break so the audio-visual staff can come up with a quick fix.Spend more time than you planned on that complex point, so you wont get to all your slides? Hit the key points you need to and end on time, because there are few sins an audience is less forgiving about than running late Usually, they dont know (or care) how many slides you have.Spill all over yourself right before you walk up on stage (or, even better, on stage)? Yup, it happens acknowledge it, make a joke, and keep going. Your audience usually wants you to succeed this hiccup makes you human.Forget the books you committed to bri nging for every audience member? Let them know theyll be receiving them in the mail as follow-up, along with a bonus item to make up for the delay.Mishaps of all sorts happen when presenting you do not need to undercut yourself by needlessly saying sorry. Instead, you can use any issues to your advantage, demonstrating your cool and collected nature under fire.Developing your personal approach to presenting is a lifelong journey for most of us, and executives with strong presentation skills are particularly valuable in todays knowledge-driven, fast-paced work environment. Id love to hear if there are any other things you NEVER say when making a presentation, or if there are other tips that youve applied to improve your own skills.The Feminist Financier is on a mission to help women build wealth and own their financial independence, by improving financial literacy and taking the mystery out of money. Ms. Financier is also a shoe addict, travel fanatic, and wine enthusiast.This artic le was originally posted on Fairygodboss.com.

How playing sports can help you get ahead in your career

How playing sports can help you get ahead in your careerHow playing sports can help you get ahead in your careerWe all know that playing sports can relieve stress and keep us fit and healthy. But what about the skills you learn on the court, the field or the track? Do behauptung help you in the boardroom or in your job interview too?The answer is yes, definitelyInspired by the Boston Marathon today, weve put together some unexpected ways that playing sports can help you get ahead in your career.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreActive employees are seen as a real benefit in the workplaceIf you played sports when you were younger, then its likely that it has a positive effect on your work ethic or career.For example, a 2009 study by the Bonn Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) has shown that teens who do sports regularly get higher grades, and go further in their education.In fa ct, after surveying leading business executives, ernsthaftigkeit Young reported that female job candidates that played sports prior to entering the job market were believed to have strong work ethics, determination, and team-oriented all skills that are highly valued in the workplace too. Whats more,a survey of individuals at the level of executive Vice President of 75 Fortune 500 companies showed that 95% of them played sports in high school.Active employees are sought after by companies because they have the skills to drive their company forward, and they generally take fewer sick days as they are less prone to cardiovascular, back pain or mental illness another win for your employer and for youAdding sports to your application can help you get that jobWith all of this in mind, its likely that putting sports on your resume will show yourpotential employer thatyou come to the job with a specific set of skillsthat not only serve you on the court, field, or track but in the office too.In Japan, for example, job applicants very often talk about the fact that they run marathons or play for a football team in their applications.This could be because marathon runners are seen asdiligent, emotionally stable, conscientious, patient, disciplined, realistic, independent, motivated and intelligent, amongst other things, according tosociologist Susanne Kreitz. If these arent thecharacteristics that every dedicated hiring managers are looking for in new employees, then we dont know what are.So, next time you apply for a job, make sure to add any sports youve played to your resume and focus on the skills you learned playing these sports that translate into professional skills. These could include teamwork, strategic planning, grit, communication, adaptability, timeliness, etc. With these skills in your application, you could really gain an edge over the other applicants.Win over your interviewer by talking about sportsMake sure that you also mention the sports youve pla yed and the skills youve learned in your job interview too. Its likely that playing sport has shown you the importance of hard work, self-discipline, pushing yourself to do your best and learning from your mistakes.If your interviewer asks you for examples of skills youve developed for the job, you can talk about how youve developed them by playing sports.So, playing sports can help you to not only keep fit and manage stress, but it can also get the job you want, earn more and be more successful. Its no wonder then that Barack Obama once said that you could learn a lot about someone by playing sports with them Does your employer offer good sports benefits? Let us know in your anonymous employer review atkununu.usThis article first appeared on Kununu.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your producti vityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

The average social security benefit wont cover basic expenses

The average social security benefit wont cover basic expensesThe average social security benefit wont cover basic expensesSocial security was initially intended as a safety net to keep people out of poverty. There are a few different ways to become eligible, including reaching retirement age, becoming the widow of a former beneficiary, blind or disabled.The bargain is simple enough to understand. Workers and employers pay into the system for several years. Once someone becomes eligible for benefits, he or she relies on the government to make distributions. Its a great idea in theory, but in reality, there are a few structural problems to consider, not the least of which is how the Social Security Administration is now tapping into its trust kenntniserlangung to make payouts. Our new visualization highlights yet another key problem.Click here to view full sizeWe originally found the data for our visualization from GoBankingRates, which in turn collected the underlying information from the Social Security Administration, the Missouri Department of Economic Development and Zillow. We stack ranked each state based on the total cost of living, taking into account median rent, average grocery bills, utilities, transportation and healthcare costs. We then plotted the average monthly social security benefit of $1,295 to determine which states have the biggest problems in terms of affordability for people relying on the program for most (or all) of their expenses.These are the ten states with the largest gaps between what social security pays out and the cost of living. We are including the percentage of living expenses that an average social security benefit will cover.1. Hawaii 26.7%2. Washington, DC 28.8%3. California 29.1%4. Massachusetts 31.6%5. Alaska 32.1%6. New York 34.2%7. New Jersey 34.2%8. Connecticut 35.4%9. Washington 35.4%10. New Hampshire 36.0%Our visualization signals an ugly truth social security hardly affords anyone a decent standard of living on its own. In 45 states, it doesnt even cover 50% of the cost of living (make that 46 if you count Washington, DC.) The absolute best state in the country is Arkansas, and even there it doesnt even provide 60% of the cost of living. At best, social security might be enough to cover a handful of bills for most people, but in a lot of places its not enough to even make rent.Take a closer look at the geographic distribution of our ranking. States in the Deep South appear to be clustered toward the bottom, meaning social security provides for a larger share of living expenses in those places as compared to the Midwest or the Northeast, both of which tend to be higher on the visualization. This creates yet another incentive for people to relocate once they start receiving benefits to warmer climates where its easier to make ends meet.What are the implications of these numbers? Social security just isnt enough to enjoy an average standard of living. That could mean a few things for beneficiarie s continue working, get a job, find help from someone else (by moving in with adult children), drastically lower living expenses (by moving to a new state), or rely on savings (which most people dont actually have). In fact, the vast majority of social security beneficiaries are retirees, and according to the Government Accountability Office, 29% of Americans have no retirement savings whatsoever.To summarize Americans dont have the savings to retire comfortably, social securitys trust kenntniserlangung will be depleted in 8 years, the government will either issue debt to make payments or raise taxes to cover the difference, and the benefits are insufficient to make ends for all beneficiaries meet anyway. All of this suggests that something is going to break sooner or later.Data Table 1.1This article first appeared on HowMuch.