Five Ways to Overcome Procrastination

August 31st, 2010 by Kira

At some point or another we all get tempted by procrastination, whether it’s looking for your next job or letting go of an employee that isn’t right for the company. We simply need a strategy to overcome procrastination as soon as we recognize it. Typically, each person has a few procrastination crutches. You’ll notice yourself in Facebook constantly, hitting send and receive in your email, or even shuffling papers back and forth. Know what your signs of procrastination are and then apply one or all of these strategies to overcome it.

1. Clear your head and clear your space. A cluttered mind or environment is a surefire way to induce procrastination. The messier the world around you, the harder it is to stay focused. Take 15 minutes at the beginning or end of your day to clean up your space, get organized, and get focused.

2. Have a clear goal. The more clarity you have around what you want to accomplish, the easier it is to take action on it. Set a timeline for completion, create a clear action plan, and go for it.

3. Plan ahead. Don’t wait to figure out your day until the day actually happens. Plan your day the night before or even the week ahead.

4. Get accountability. Find someone who could hold you accountable for your actions. Report your goals to them and commit to a date for completion.

5. Visualize the outcome. When all else fails tap into the emotional aspect of where you want to go. Visualize how great it will feel to have your tasks complete and your goals met. See yourself completing all of the steps with ease!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Candidates, Clients, FORTIS | No Comments »

3 Signs it’s Time to Ask For a Raise.

August 23rd, 2010 by Kira

We all want them. We all need them. The question is when is it the right time to ask for one?

Here are three signs it’s time to ask for a raise.

First – you’re getting more and more work. Your boss is entrusting you with bigger projects that have a higher stake and you are pulling them off and getting great results.  On the other hand, more work on the lower scale doesn’t constitute as a time to ask for a raise.

Second – you’ve upped your playing field. You are over delivering, packing a punch, and bring more value to your employer. You’ve had some significant wins by either bringing in a big amount of business, reducing costs in a serious way, or some other great success.  Note: be sure that your employer sees this as a success as well.

Third – your opinion matters and is making a difference. The management team is noticing the good work you are doing and they come ask for your opinion on something. Not only do they ask, but they implement it and it works.  If you are being included in company changes, now may be the perfect time to ask for a raise.

Remember, the key to asking for a raise is to always showcase your value!

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

How to Write a Cover Letter

August 3rd, 2010 by Kira

Writing a cover letter can often feel like a daunting task for the job seeker, yet it can be one of the best ways to get your resume some first class attention.

A cover letter is not meant for you to rehash your skills and qualification that are already listed on your resume. In fact, a cover letter is an opportunity for you to share more about who you are, why you are different, and what makes you a perfect candidate for the position.

Most individuals make the mistake of just re-telling what is already on their resume – instead see this as your thirty second commercial for your future employer.

If you walked into a room and only had one minute to tell your employer why you are different, what’s so great about you, and why they should at least call you in for an interview – what would you say?

Well then – say it.

I like to think that you can be “boldly appropriate.”  This means be bold but do so without moving into too much grey area.  Be yourself – show your personality.  Accentuate your assets! Ask for the interview. Put yourself out there.

Lastly, customize your cover letter. A cover letter just needs as much attention as your resume. Customize it to fit the company and their needs. A standard cover letter is only going to produce standard results.

Posted in Candidates, FORTIS, Job Search | No Comments »

Job Search Tips – 10 Time Savings Tips to Speed Up Your Job Search

July 22nd, 2010 by Kira

(This was a great posting on About.com by Alison Doyle).

Is your job search off to a slow start or getting stuck? Here are some quick time-saving job search tips that will help your hunt for a new job go smoothly.

Be Prepared. Have a telephone answering machine or voice mail system in place and sign-up for a professional sounding email address. Put your cell phone number on your resume so you can follow up in a timely manner. This job search toolkit will help you get everything you need set for your job search.

Be More Than Prepared. Always have an up-to-date resume ready to send – even if you are not currently looking for work. You never know when an opportunity that is too good to pass up might come along.

Don’t Wait. If you are laid-off, file for unemployment benefits right away. You may be able to file online or by phone. Waiting could delay your benefits check.

Get Help. Utilize free or inexpensive services that provide career counseling and job search assistance such as college career offices, state Department of Labor offices or your local public library.

Create Your Own Templates. Have copies of your resume and cover letter ready to edit. That way you can change the content to match the requirements of the job you’re applying for, but, the contact information and your opening and closing paragraphs won’t need to be changed.

Use Job Search Engines. Search the job search engines. Use the job search engine sites to search the major job banks, company sites, associations, and other sites with job postings for you.

Jobs by Email. Let the jobs come to you. Use job search agents to sign up and receive job listings by email. All the major job sites have search agents and some web sites specialize in sending announcements.

Time Savers. Strapped for time? Consider getting help writing or editing your resume. Resume posting services that post your resume to multiple job sites at once can save hours of data entry.

References Ready. Have a list of three references including name, job title, company, phone number and email address ready to give to interviewers.

Use Your Network. Be cognizant of the fact that many, if not most, job openings aren’t advertised. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work. Ask if they can help.

This tip isn’t a time saver, but, it will broaden your online job search resources.

Don’t Stop. Don’t limit your job searching to the top sites like Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs. Check the smaller niche sites that focus on a particular geographic location or career field and you will find plenty of job listings.

Posted in Candidates, FORTIS, Job Search | No Comments »

What’s Really in a Resume?

July 5th, 2010 by Kira

When putting together a resume we often remember the basics such as job history, dates of employment, objective, or qualifications summary. But is this really what employers are looking for?

Typically individuals have no problem rehashing their work history, the tasks they completed, and their daily operations; however, what is this really saying about you, the applicant?

Sometimes we forget that these skills can be taught and while a company may write “requirements” that specify all of these things are indeed needed for the job, what they are really looking for is value.

What do you bring to the table that is unique, different, outstanding and will inherently increase the company’s overall worth, culture, or sales?

Take a good look at your resume and see if your resume alludes to your personal value or if it simply retells the tasks that you are skilled in.  Companies want to know “what can you do for us?”

Here are some examples:

“Increased productivity by 5% through uncovering and implementing new systems adopted by internal departments in less than six months”

“Tripled sales revenue at both 90 and 120 days of new product launch, currently averaging an increase of  5% in sales goals every month.”

“Trained and facilitated team members in new procedures that lead to lower turnover and increased morale”

You can see the difference besides just rattling off your skill set  and rehasing your role, instead tell your future employer what it is you’ll REALLY be doing for them!

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

How to Answer that Tough Interview Question “Tell Me About Yourself”

June 28th, 2010 by Kira

 One of the most frequently asked questions in an interview is “tell me about yourself.”  This is often the dreaded question by the interviewee – concerned about what the interviewer really wants to know, and how much should one really tell?

 Here are a few tips on answering that question while still gaining ground in your interview.

 First, remember you are still in an interview and while inserting something about your personal life is appropriate here it is not required, nor should it be the primary focus. The question is simply asked to get to know your personality better, your likes, dislikes, strengths, challenges, and weaknesses. 

 If you answered the question by saying in my personal life I don’t do much, but watch a lot of TV and hang out with my friends – well, I’m not so sure it would look that great.  That’s totally okay if you do, but remember the place and the setting of your answer!

Tell the interviewer something they can work with – I love to travel, most recently I went to X. I have the work hard, play hard mentality. Or perhaps you could say that you enjoy being spontaneous and creative, the last trip you took you simply went to the airport and chose a city to travel to.

This question gives you an opportunity to focus on your strengths and talents while utilizing personal examples or professional ones.

You can also answer this question by saying what you like in professional settings. For example, you could say I really thrive in a team environment; I like working with others, and having the ability to brainstorm and feed off each other. I’ve always been a team player. I played sports growing up and a team environment reminds me of that camaraderie.  

Think about some of your strengths and talents and see how you can turn those into a story to answer this question.

Some people get caught up when asked what are your top 3 strengths or challenges and rattle off a few things, but this question and the stories and illustrations you can use here can either support that or discount it.

Finally, just be yourself. This question also gives the interviewer a chance to connect with you on a personal level. Interviewee: I want to Xyz College Interviewer: I went there too, or my wife, or my niece, etc – you get the picture!

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

Should You Practice Interviewing?

June 21st, 2010 by Kira

 Does the old saying “practice makes perfect” really matter in your job interview? It’s a common concern for most interviewees, worried about how they come across in their interview and how they’ll answer those seemingly tough questions – so the question remains should practice be a part of your job search strategy?

 

“If you‘re not practicing, somebody else is, somewhere, and he’ll be ready to take your job.” Brooks Robinson

 

While the quote may seem a bit harsh, in reality if you aren’t taking the time to polish your interview skills – someone else out there probably is and it can be the deciding factor for what makes your interview go from slightly okay to stellar.

 

If nothing else, practice for confidence. The more you rehearse and visualize the interview process, the questions being asked, and the free flowing articulate answers that you will give – the more confident, calm, cool and collected you’ll be during the interview.

 

Studies have shown that simply visualizing an activity and running through it in your mind can have the same effects as actually going through something physically. The subconscious mind doesn’t know how to tell the difference between something real and perceived – it’s the exact reason we hear about basketball players imaging that smooth “swoosh” of the net.

 

When practicing your interview questions and answers don’t worry about knowing what exact questions they will ask you. What you are looking to do is increase your confidence in your responses, answer slowly and precisely, and be able to think on your feet.  You don’t want your answers to sound scripted and perfected – you want to be real and genuine and practicing too much could make you sound like a professional interviewee.

 

Practice for the sake of practicing, not perfection.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Candidates, FORTIS | No Comments »

Job Seekers – 11 Critical Success Factors!

June 17th, 2010 by Kira

Critical Success Factors Exist in Everything We Do; How Are Yours When It Comes To Your Job Search?

Critical success factors apply to everything we do in life and our job search is no exception. Have you ever taken time to categorize and understand what job search, not employment, but job search skills you must have to be successful?

Critical Success Factors

The Critical Success Factors that a job seeker must possess include:

  1. The ability to move on and leave the past behind you.
  2. The understanding that spending your time blaming something or someone will not move you forward.
  3. A personal network that can be tapped for information and help.
  4. The ability to grow and develop a network where sharing and caring are mutual.
  5. An appearance and wardrobe that are appropriate for the opportunity. If you are not sure what is appropriate, contact someone that works there or camp out in the parking lot and observe the people coming and going.
  6. A specific goal. If you present as a “jack or jill of all trades” that will be the type of job and pay level that you receive.
  7. A value proposition. What makes you different and sets you apart? Why should the hiring manager; hire you?
  8. A resume that tells the YOUR story.
  9. Interviewing skills.
  10. A learning mentality
  11. A Social Networking presence that compliments YOUR resume.

This next section addresses a couple of these success factors in more detail. Watch for future discussions of the remaining factors.

My Job Is Gone – Now What?

Many jobs that disappeared will never come back. Either they have gone off-shore, been replaced by technology, or it was determined they did not provide the value to keep them. This does not mean that the person in the job was not valuable, but that the position did not provide the necessary value.

If your job was out sourced overseas or replaced by technology; you must be looking at how you can transition your skill set to another career. You may find a similar position, but chances are that, at the new company, the position will eventually be replaced and in the meantime the pay is most likely not at your previous level.

You Must Constantly Be Updating Your Skills

We all must be continually updating our skill sets. If you are not moving forward, there is no standing still; just falling further and further behind. The ball is truly in your court and you must make the most of it. You can ONLY do this by building your skills.

Continuing education speaks to recruiters and hiring managers. They want to know that they are hiring someone that cares about their own well being! If you are not working to improve your skills, do you really care about YOU? Are YOU important to yourself? If you do not care about yourself, why should the believe that you will care about your job and their business? The action of not participating in self improvement speaks volumes.

Copyright Tom Staskiewicz

About the Author

“Who Knows You?” and “Are You Attracting the Attention You Want?” Following the critical success factors can help you get the following you want and create the brand you need.

Get Our Tips and more at UPPROACH

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Staskiewicz

Tags: ,
Posted in Candidates, FORTIS | No Comments »

Taming Your Internal Dragons in Your Job Search

June 14th, 2010 by Kira

You’ve received the call about the upcoming interview and you are thrilled about the potential idea of a new position with this incredible company. You call your closest friends and cheer with excitement, but then suddenly the internal dragons come out and seek to sabotage your win.

 

The internal dragons that live within us tend to rear their ugly heads during the interview and job search process. You may think to yourself that “this one won’t work out either” or “they only chose me because of xyz.”  Whatever thought comes to mind, tame your dragons by thanking them for doing their job to protect you and then play the “what if” game.

 

This means that you take the thought that came up for you and then change it around to say “what if this one doesn’t work out?” “What if they only want me to interview because of xyz?”  When you embrace the dragon and work with it instead of against it you remove its power.

 

It is important to take back your personal power, especially during the job search, as it is far too easy to get into a rut, doubt your own worth, and question whether or not searching for a new position really is the right thing to do. As a painless as the process feels, there are millions of success stories of people who waited out the storm and were able to find the perfect position that was waiting for them all along.

 

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Candidates, FORTIS | No Comments »

A year from now you’ll wish you had started today!

June 8th, 2010 by Kira

“A year from now you’ll wish you had started today!”

This quote was sent to me a few days ago by one of the many email subscriptions I receive on a daily basis…. I couldn’t help but think about how profound this quote was and since it is still on my mind today, and I know it will be tomorrow, I thought I would share it.

I am certain this quote has a different meaning for each person who reads it. I don’t need to create a list of possibilities because by now you have started your own.  What this quote does, is serve as reminder that every day we have choices to make.  Some of these choices acted upon or not, will impact our future quite significantly.  Others, that are quite minor, we could take or leave and the end result or lack thereof will have little to no impact on us.

So what is it that if you started today would have a significant impact on your life or the life of others?  What have you been putting off by saying, “there is always tomorrow, or I will get to that someday?”

Sometimes procrastinating on a project or an action we should be taking actually carries with it a greater burden then completing the actual task itself.  The figurative bricks start piling up and the weight soon becomes overwhelming ultimately forcing change or action.  Wouldn’t it feel better to be in control of what you want to do rather than be controlled by what you are not doing?

Take a moment and decide what is it that you could be doing to better your situation or that of others.  Set yourself a goal for attaining that.  As of this post we have about 34 more weeks left in the year, or about 238 more days….

Shed the anxiety over what you are not doing and feel better by doing what you know you should.  So, anytime you are feeling the weight stack on your shoulders, think about what is causing this and make a decision to take action and you will feel pounds lighter and much happier.   Here’s to losing that figurative weight!

If you liked this post, please let us know…

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

« Older Entries