Training Your Team to Work Together

May 20th, 2013 by Kira

If a team is cohesive and collaborate—they are more efficient and productive. It’s what every manager and executive wants for their people. But, how do you get your individual team members to take more responsibility and to rely on the team—instead of you?

It’s a question that almost every manager asks at some point. When you train your team to work together and become a true team, each member will be better individually and collectively.

Here are two things you can implement with your team to help them gain their independence.

1. Don’t micromanage. Micromanaging only perpetuates dependency and disgruntles your team members. If you aren’t giving your people full control, they will come to depend on seeking your approval in order to complete tasks, projects and assignments. Take a step back and analyze whether you are too close to the process of each project and if so, slowly begin to move away from each step along the way. You’ll need to let go of control and trust that you have the right people in place to handle the job. If you don’t have the right people, you’ll still need to stop micromanaging, but you may also need to shift people around on your team or make a new hire.

2. Show don’t tell. When delegating tasks and giving your teams new items to learn and implement, it’s imperative that they learn the knowledge that you hold. They’ll need to know everything from why the task is being completed, who to go to for certain aspects of the tasks, how to trouble shoot, and anything else that is relevant. Just asking someone to do something without giving them a complete 360 degree view is setting yourself up for a lot more questions and interaction than necessary. Show them what to do, don’t just tell them to do it.

3. Encourage independence, creative thinking and mistakes. Yes, I said mistakes. When individuals know they are allowed to make mistakes and won’t be put on the chopping block, shamed in front of the entire team, or worse—they will feel the sense of freedom in exploring what will work and won’t work on their own. And, there’s no greater teacher than true experience and figuring things out. You can bet that any team member who makes a mistake once won’t do it again.

Overall, it is possible to train your team to work together and to be more self-sufficient, however, it always starts with leadership and management. Take a look at your leadership style and even your company culture and make any necessary adjustments there, before you expect your team to become fully independent.

Tags: Leadership, management, team, Team building, Teamwork
Posted in Clients, FORTIS | No Comments »

5 Ways to Impress Employers at the Top of Your Resume

May 13th, 2013 by Kira

This post was written by Laura Smith-Proulx and was originally seen on CareerRocketeer.

Ever leafed through stacks of resumes, looking for critical skills or words to catch your eye? Ever sat at a job interview and wondered why the company representative seemed lost going through your work history?

If you’ve experienced these situations, you already know why the top half of your resume is so important: it’s difficult to absorb much, if anything, from a quick scan, and the details often don’t register until the interview begins!

Even though most companies have automated the process of scanning your resume from among hundreds, managers eventually turn to the tedious work of sorting through each document, looking for signs of intelligent life.

Instead of fighting this trend, embrace it – and take steps to make your resume pop, right from the beginning:

1 – Tell employers what’s new or relevant.

Just earned your MBA? Fluent in more than one language? Able to relocate wherever you’re needed?

These are details that are meant to be put up front in your resume, as they quickly distinguish you from candidates who are less willing to move, or have a more limited repertoire.

As an example, “Cornell graduate pursuing Executive Leadership certificate at Northwestern” helps demonstrate a commitment to education. “Canadian citizen; no sponsorship needed” is another example of how to answer an employer’s critical questions (before they begin).

2 – Show your career progression.

If you’ve consistently been promoted, worked at a string of prominent companies, or quickly progressed into roles that show your unique blend of competencies, consider adding a short Career Progression section right up front in your resume.

For executive candidates, this may mean showing “Board of Directors,” “Committee Chairman,” “CEO,” and“Senior Vice President” in a Career History listing on the first page.

A rising star in banking could also list “VP, Strategic Programs at Citibank” and “Management Associate at HSBC Bank” in a resume summary—quickly showing how you’re qualified to move to the next step.

3 – Give your resume a title.

Instead of launching right into Professional Profile or Qualifications Summary (yawn), consider cutting to the chase with a title that spells out your goal.

Don’t protest; you’ll need to make your ultimate job target obvious to employers, or they WILL pass you by.

You can, of course, straddle the line between career levels with a general title such as “Business Development / Account Executive,” or try going for broke with specifics (“Director, Cloud Services & Managed Hosting Alliances”).

Either way, a bold title tells employers where to categorize your skills, and points them to seek out the reasons you’re uniquely qualified—by reading further, of course.

4 – Try a branding headline.

Also referred to as a tagline, a branding headline does exactly what it should: frame your peak value-add to employers.

Placed front and center on your resume, the branding statement can be as dynamic or conservative as you believe it needs to be, based on the audience for your skills. Keywords or references to your desired career level will help employers hone in on what you offer.

As an example, if you’re pursuing a new position in a highly regulated field such as the audit industry, an appropriate tagline could be “Municipal Audit Leader Behind Large-Scale Cost Recovery & Compliance.”

A sales professional, on the other hand, might try a headline with more energy, such as “Aggressive Retail Sales Expert Creating Multimillion-Dollar Deals.”

5 – Present your ROI right away.

There’s no law of resume writing that says you must hide the good stuff until later in the document. In fact, you can start off with a bang by describing achievements within the first few lines of your resume.

“$400M+ growth with launch of Cloud Partner offering in Q3 2012, leading to $800M forecasted 2013 results”says more about your ability to get results than a list of sales skills.

In short, don’t settle for writing your resume the same way, hoping for different results!

Recruiters and hiring managers are crazy-busy looking for the perfect candidate, with little time to read your resume and absorb every detail. The top part of your resume can be as important as the remainder of the document – all put together.

Make it easier for them to spot key qualifications by trumpeting core facts front and center, where they’re much more likely to land you a coveted interview.

_ _ _

Laura Smith-Proulx, award-winning executive resume writer and founder of An Expert Resume, is a former recruiter who partners with CIO, CFO, CCO, COO, CTO, CEO, SVP, and Director candidates to win top jobs at Fortune-ranked corporations. A credentialed Professional Resume Writer, Career Management Coach, Interview Coach, Social Networking (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) Career Strategist, and Personal Branding Analyst, she is the author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips & Resources to Access the Hidden Job Market, with work featured in 8 career bestsellers. She serves as a media source to Wall Street Journal FINS, CIO.com, AOLJobs.com, LocalJobNetwork.com, and other outlets.

Tags: career, cover letter, Job Search, resume
Posted in Candidates, FORTIS, Job Search | No Comments »

Job Seekers – Why Using a Recruiter Can Help You Land Your Next Job–Faster!

May 6th, 2013 by Kira

As recruiters, we often talk about the benefits of working with a recruiter from the side of the company we are serving, but what about the job seeker? There are many benefits to job seekers to connect with the right recruiters in their specific industry—when they are looking for a new position and even when they are not.

Developing relationships is a critical part of the job search that many people often overlook or begin when it’s too late (they are already unemployed, they need something in that moment, etc.) When individuals wait to create a relationship with a recruiter just because they “aren’t looking,” they miss out on the opportunity to form and build a relationship that could potentially serve them in the future.

Recruiters come with a specialized network and they know the companies they work with well, and when a person comes along who is a good fit, even during a time when there isn’t a position open or available, that candidate will be remembered in the future. Those networks and relationships could become extremely valuable down the road.

Once you’ve developed a relationship with a recruiter and you’ve built the ultimate, “know, like, and trust” factor—that recruiter will go out of their way to find a role that fits for you when you do need to make a move. You’ll have developed a relationship that could give you immediate results.

When job seekers work with recruiters to find a new position, recruiters can help make the process go faster and easier for the candidate and potentially find them a position that couldn’t otherwise be found.

So, if you are ready to get known by a recruiter in your industry, begin by reaching out and introducing yourself. Offer to take the recruiter out to coffee to get to know them better, see how you can help them and their business by referring other candidates or even potential employers. Once you’ve established a connection, then be sure to stay in touch consistently so you can continue the relationship.

Tags: Candidates, Job Search, job seekers, recruiting
Posted in Candidates, FORTIS | No Comments »

Keeping Energized and Staying Fresh in Your Day-to-Day

April 29th, 2013 by Kira

Much of our work can become routine, if we don’t make an effort to keep it fresh and new. We may have the same deadlines, reports, tasks, and assignments week after week and month after month, that’s why it’s essential to find ways to stay energized and fresh in your day-to-day.

Staying fresh and energized in your work will not only help you to avoid burnout, but it will also keep you enjoying what you do and moving up the rankings within your organization.

Here are some ideas for how you can stay energized and fresh in your day-to-day

Try a different routine entirely (even drive a different route to work)
Learn the latest tools, tips, and shortcuts in your industry
Stay apprised of the changing software and technologies
Remember the reasoning behind some of the more routine tasks
Intersperse the tasks you love with those that don’t necessarily excite you to keep you engaged throughout the day
Learn something new
Take breaks throughout the day
Brainstorm and collaborate with colleagues

The energy around your work can be what differentiates you from the rest of the members on the team. While you may not need to be too overly enthusiastic, enjoying what you do and taking pride in your work goes a long with management, productivity and efficiency. Additionally, the more excited you are about your work, the greater the chances you have to end your day on a high note and have more energy for your leisure time after hours.

Now, we’d love to hear from you. What are some things you do to keep fresh and energized in your work? Let us know in the comments below.

Tags: Burnout, Efficiency, Energy at Work, Productivity, team
Posted in Candidates, FORTIS | No Comments »

The Mentality of a Great Interview: 10 Tips

April 22nd, 2013 by Kira

This post was originally seen on The Personal Branding Blog.

Go into every interview with the end-goal of receiving a job offer. Make it your decision as to whether you want to work for the company rather than letting the company determine whether you are a fit.

While interviewing is not always easy, there are certain tricks which can be implemented to increase one’s odds of getting the offer and making the hiring manager confident that you are the right applicant. Here are 10 ways to do so:

1. Positive Energy – People are attracted to those who display positive energy, are upbeat and who are optimistic about their career outlook.

One of the biggest tricks to interviewing is sounding enthusiastic about the position and, by doing so reassuring the interviewer that you are interested in the job and are ready to contribute to their team effort.

2. Set firm goals – The best companies set firm goals and do everything possible to obtain them. As a job seeker, you should be no different.

Prior to interviewing, take the time to write down where you want to be in 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. Be specific and map out a step by step plan to ensure that you get there. If we don’t know where we are going, our overall achievements are going to end up a fraction of what they could be. Be focused and tenacious in your goals and let those ambitions be heard by the hiring company.

3. Remember it’s what you can do for the employer – The best way to sell is to talk in terms of what the other person wants.

Take the time to think about what benefits and skills you bring to the table. Read over the job description and envision the concerns and needs of that employer.

By speaking about how you can deliver the desired results, you are more likely to get an offer and, when you do you have more leverage negotiating the salary you want. In essence, give the employer what they want and you will get everything you need.

4. Be approachable and likable – When interviewing, the hiring manager is going to look for intangibles such as whether you are going to fit in with the corporate culture a.k.a. will you get along with the employees and enjoy working there.

The best way to make the interviewer confident that you’ll fit in is to be approachable and likable throughout the interviewing process. Don’t play hard to get, remain easy going and connect with the individual on a personal basis. Remember to smile.

5. Focus – If we are focused 100% on an interview, psychologically we can’t be nervous, tense or judgmental of ourselves. The best conversations occur when both parties are fully engaged and this happens when everyone is focused on only the interview and nothing else.

Leave everything unrelated outside of the room and if you find yourself distracted or getting nervous the simple remedy is to put your mind at ease listening only to what the interviewer is saying rather than what you are telling yourself.

6. Strong mentality – Remember to always approach the interview with fearlessness, optimism and confidence. Don’t be afraid of failure. Rather be honest and authentic; it’s the most anyone can ask of you.

7. Never get discouraged during tough interviews – The best interviewers are going to ask you tough questions. Never take it personally, rather consider it due diligence on the end of the interviewer and be thankful that you are speaking with a hiring manager who knows what they are doing.

When we think upbeat thoughts, the positive energy allows us to focus and come across more upbeat and engaging. If you find your answers slipping, quickly pick yourself up. Everyone gets discouraged; though, when we begin to take difficult interviewing questions as due diligence as opposed to a personal knock, we are more apt to be successful.

8. Be determined to get the job – Luck favors those who are determined to reach a specific goal. As a job seeker, you should have a focus and drive to ace every interview that you go on making sure to leave multiple positive impressions on employees throughout the company.

You should expect to win. When we are focused, driven and expecting success, it comes.

9. Ask the right questions in the right manner – When you ask questions, don’t come across as skeptical or prying, rather ask the questions because you want the information. People don’t like hidden agendas and interviewers are no different. Prior to interviewing, formulate some interviewing questions that you are comfortable with and deliver those inquiries in a non-assuming, intelligent manner.

10. Focus on the positive aspects of the position – Regardless of pay, title or industry, there are both positive and negative aspects to any position. It’s your choice what you focus your attention on and it’s a lot more productive to hone in on the things you enjoy about the job rather than letting the downsides cloud your judgement and outlook.

Take the time to write the benefits of working at the company on a sheet of paper. Everyone likes a sincere compliment and it never hurts to convey those points of interest to the hiring manager.

In the End

You should look at the interviewing process as enjoyable rather than considering it a chore. Think positively, stay focused, follow your intuition and you’re bound to get the position that you want.

Author:

Ken Sundheim is the CEO of KAS Placement, an executive search firm specializing in sales and marketing recruitment for companies of all sizes from around the world. Among others, Ken’s recruitment and job search articles have appeared in the WSJ, AOL, Business Insider, Chicago Tribune and Forbes.

Tags: Candidates, interviews, Job Search
Posted in Candidates, FORTIS, Job Search | No Comments »

Prioritizing Your Way to Productivity

April 15th, 2013 by Kira

Each and everyone of us are bombarded with email messages, phone calls, distractions and more. All of these things can be productivity killers and stop us from getting ahead at work.

Here are few tips in prioritizing your day to get more of the right stuff done.

1. Identify your urgent tendencies. The speed in which we can communicate by email, text, or phone sometimes gives off the impression that everything is urgent in today’s world. Yet, that’s simply not the case. Most matters are not urgent and don’t need to be handled right now, even though they may need attention within the next 24-48 hours. If something isn’t urgent, put it off to a dedicated time in your calendar to reply to matters that don’t require immediate attention, but do need some response.

2. Recognize your work patterns. Do you do what’s hardest, easiest, in front of you, what will move you ahead or something else? Whatever it is, you’ll find one big time stealer is your pattern of work. Whether that is checking emails incessantly and responding to those, doing the easier admin tasks, or getting immersed in one task that you loose track of time and miss deadlines on other projects. When you know your work patterns, you can begin to shift those to allocate specific time limits to some of your biggest time stealers.

3. Set boundaries. In order to prioritize your day to be more productive, you have to start with setting clear boundaries on your time. It’s easy to let time-thief’s creep in all day without even being aware that hours have passed by, but if you schedule or time block your day, you’ll be more productive on the tasks that have the biggest bang for your minutes.

4. Stay focused. Multi-tasking is not a tool of the productive, it’s a tool for those who are juggling too many unfinished projects and looming deadlines. When you are focused and work on just one task at a time, you’ll find that you achieve more in less time. Turn off all other distractions when working on a big project or task.

When you take the time to prioritize your day, you’ll find that you get more done with ease. You’ll also find yourself leaving the office every day feeling accomplished and ready for tomorrow.

What else do you do to prioritize your day? We’d love to know. Leave a comment below.

Tags: prioritizing, Productivity, Time management
Posted in Candidates, Clients, FORTIS | No Comments »

4 Tips to Go from Job Seeker to Employed Professional

April 8th, 2013 by Kira

(This post was originally seen on the Simply Hired blog, written by Grace Williamson.)

As you prepare your new job search or transition to another career field, here are four essential strategies that will help you stand apart and land the job.

Refine your Resume

The first step to a successful job search is creating a well-written resume. It’s important to select a format that aligns with your career goals. If you’re a traditional job seeker and intend to remain in the same career field, a chronological resume is the best option. However, if you’re trying to break into a new field, you may consider using a functional resume. The functional format allows you to demonstrate your proficiency by focusing on specific skill sets instead of relying solely on your work history and previous positions.

Include keywords that will pique the interest of hiring managers and recruiters. Find and reiterate words that are included in job listings that refer to specific skills or functions sought by the employer. Most companies use applicant tracking software to initially review resumes and online applications by searching for assigned keywords. Integrating keywords will improve your qualification ranking and possibly get you one step closer to an interview.

Lastly, make sure you use spellcheck and proofread. Nothing hurts your credibility more than stating you have strong attention to detail followed by typos or factual errors in your resume.

Audit your Online Presence

Many companies conduct online searches to see what they can learn about candidates before an interview. Keep private information private by utilizing the appropriate privacy settings on social networks. Google yourself and review the results. Be sure to remove any information that may be difficult or embarrassing to explain during an interview. Auditing your online presence will ensure that you have an opportunity to create a positive first impression.

Use LinkedIn

Sync your LinkedIn information with your resume—there shouldn’t be any inconsistencies. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, sign up for one immediately! Connect with coworkers, employers, and other professionals in your field. It’s a great way to join professional groups, stay informed about industry trends, and grow your network. Consider asking for recommendations or endorsements from trusted colleagues and supervisors to draw attention to your accomplishments and to showcase the quality of your work. Encourage your connections to endorse your skills and write recommendations for you.

Use your connections to your advantage. Check LinkedIn to see if you’re connected to someone in the organization to which you’re applying. LinkedIn connections may help you obtain an interview especially if your shared connection is willing to act as a professional reference. You can also research information about a hiring manager in preparation for a meeting.

Prepare for the Interview

Do your research and be prepared to clearly articulate what you know about the company and how your job relates to its mission. Provide examples of accomplishments that demonstrate your skill level and proficiency. Practice common interview questions so that simple inquiries such as, “Tell me about yourself,” prompt you to give engaging answers that clearly demonstrate how you can deliver outstanding results. Practice succinct responses to these types of common questions and you’ll appear professional and polished in your response and delivery.

_ _ _

Grace Williamson is the Senior Manager of Corporate and Strategic Relationships at American Public University. As a certified career counselor with a strong background in employer relations and career services, she has lectured on many topics related to private industry and federal careers for Transition Assistance Programs at Walter Reed, West Point, and other military installations. Grace serves as an adjunct college professor and has instructed courses in computer science, management, business and communications at private universities. Grace has many years of experience in academia focused on establishing strategic relationships with Fortune 500 employers, federal agencies and government contractors interested in hiring students and alumni. She is passionate about education and has a special interest in supporting career transition for federal service employees, military veterans and their dependents.

Tags: Candidates, interview, Job Search, resume
Posted in Candidates, FORTIS, Job Search | No Comments »

Why Hiring Top Talent is Worth It

April 1st, 2013 by Kira

Companies often fear hiring top talent for fear of breaking their budget. Yet, when you hire the top talent in the field, you are likely to get better long-term results than if you hire a mediocre fit or the average applicant “that will work” for the position.

Here’s why you should spend money on top talent and what it can do for your company.

Top talent means top producers. This goes for any industry, not just sales. A person who is the best in their industry is likely a critical thinker. That means they’ll speak up when they see inefficient systems, money spent in areas where you can make cutbacks, and provide new ideas in how to handle business practices. This will save your company time, money, energy and resources—all of which will make up for the salary difference they require.

Top talent think long-term. These individuals won’t just be effective in their day-to-day, but they will also look ahead to see what needs to change in the future. They’ll use time and resources to project potential outcomes, pitfalls, and will provide solutions to make this happen. They won’t come to you with problems only, but both problems and possible solutions to go with them.

Great talent attracts more great talent. The top talent wants to work with other top producers: to collaborate with, to learn from, and to grow. When you have top talent in your office, other “top talent” individuals will begin knocking on your door as well. Your company will be seen as innovative, forward thinking, and most importantly, open and receptive to the people who are in the trenches every day figuring out how to make the company work better, produce more efficiently, and profit more.

Bring in the top talent and see what great shifts happen in your workplace.

Tags: Hiring, recruiting, Talent
Posted in Clients, FORTIS | No Comments »

Getting to Where You Want to Go

March 25th, 2013 by Kira

We never really know what direction our career will take us when we first start out. Think back to when you were fresh out of college and new to the workforce. The opportunities seemed endless.

Yet, over time, our sense of possibility can diminish depending on the work environment we are in, the job we have, and the availability of climbing the corporate ladder with our current company. Some move more quickly through their career while others just can’t seem to get that break.

Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, let’s take a look at how you can get to where you want to go.

Here are some things to consider/assess in helping you move forward:

Are you in the right position currently and on the right path for progression? Meaning do you have the skills and talent to move ahead with the current track you are on?
How is your attitude towards those who are ahead of you? Do you feel disgruntled, entitled, envious? Or, are you asking what they did, assessing what they have that got them there and implementing that in your life?
Do you feel hard work or luck will get you there? While some people may look like they’ve had a lucky break, and some maybe did get one, the majority of people have worked hard to get to where they are. Instead of seeing people for where they are right now, look at what hard work they’ve put in over the years – and see what you can contribute now to your current role/position.
Are you speaking up, taking action, being visible in the workplace? Or, are you skating by and doing your necessary tasks, but not taking any risks or standing out as a leader?
Be proactive. Let the people around you know that you want to advance and go further in your career, ask them what you can do to make that happen, and then follow through on their suggestions.

These are just some ideas of what you can do to go further in your career and advance up the rankings of the work force.

What other ideas do you have to advance your career? We’d love to hear them.

Tags: advance career, Job Search, Promotions
Posted in Candidates, FORTIS, Job Search | No Comments »

Preparing to Succeed in Your Job Interviews

March 18th, 2013 by Kira

This post was originally seen on Career Rocketeer and was written by Harry Urschel.

While most people know they ought to prepare before going to a job interview, very few do it well, or take the time to do it thoroughly. Why is it so important, and how can you prepare better? Here are some observations and some ideas…

Somebody will, make sure it’s you! In a competitive job market, employers generally have an opportunity to interview more potential candidates to find the one they think will be the best match. Where they might otherwise interview 2 or 3 candidates, they may now be interviewing 5 to 10. In that group, it’s highly likely that at least one person will be well prepared, and be able to articulate their match to the job and knowledge of the organization better than the others. If you know it’s likely you will be competing against someone that has done their homework and practice, be sure you do as well to have a better chance.

Preparation says something about you. When it’s clear that you went above and beyond the other candidates in doing your research, learning how to address questions well, and presenting yourself professionally, it’s an indicator you will likely perform well in the position as well. Someone that takes the extra initiative to succeed in an interview, is also more likely to take extra initiative on the job. That’s attractive to any employer.

Preparation is more than reading the company website. While it’s good to know what the company says about themselves on their own website, that’s only the minimum amount of work that most candidates will do.

Researching additional information you might find online is important as well. Exploring them through Google, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, finance sites, and other valuable online resources.
Networking and gaining some knowledge about the company’s culture, track record, and individual jobs is better yet.
Learning something about the people you will interview is very helpful. Using LinkedIn, or Googling them may help you see where they went to school, their career history, common people you may each know, or awards or other professional recognition they may have received.
Analyzing their job description to determine their most important requirements and determining how to best convey your most relevant experience and knowledge.
Deducing the most likely areas of your background they will be exploring and practicing how to best articulate answers to their most likely questions.
Preparing a long list of insightful questions about the company, their culture, the responsibilities of the position, and their performance expectations. Have many more questions prepared than you will be able to ask, so that based on the things already discussed, you can pick the most relevant questions to ask.

Most people do their preparation by only reviewing the organizations website, and vaguely thinking about how they might address various questions that might arise. They think… “If I’m asked about _______, I’ll talk about _______” …without practicing specific answers. The result usually is that they ramble endlessly in their answers until they think they’ve covered it all.

While some people can speak pretty well “off the cuff”, even they will be much better if they write out their answers in advance and practice them. Writing out answers in advance causes you to put answers in complete sentences, and be able to articulate them more concisely. It’s not necessary to memorize the answer word for word. However, the process of writing it out in the first place will enable you to articulate it much better. The vast majority of candidates never do it.

You will stand out if you do!

It’s a competitive job market. Don’t take the opportunity to interview for a position too lightly. Determine you will be one of the few that will be well prepared and make the best impression, rather than one of the majority that fumble through!

***

Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as e-Executives, writes a blog for Job Seekers called The Wise Job Search, and can be found on Twitter as @eExecutives.