Tuesday, December 31, 2019

How to Break Out of the Local Music Scene Trap

How to Break Out of the Local Music Scene TrapHow to Break Out of the Local Music Scene TrapAre you enjoying success in your local music scene, but want to break out? Ifyou want to make a living in music, you have to approach things quite differently from the band who simply wants to play some songs and have a party at the local bar on the weekends. You need to think of how to take your local successes to the next level, and that requires some planning and smart decision making. Before we start talking about the local music scene trap, lets acknowledge that its leid a trap everyone wants to escape. Its perfectly fine to enjoy making music without making it your career, and many people are satisfied with local success. But if you yearn for more, you need to take extra steps. Local Music Scene Blues A lot of people think that living in a town that lacks a strong music scene can ruin their chances of launching their music career. And, lets be honest, it can make things tough. Howeve r, living in a city with a thriving local music scene has its pitfalls too. To get the most out of living somewhere with a strong music scene, you need to find a way to tap into the benefits while cutting through the distractions. The Good and the Bad of Local Fans Yes, part of succeeding as a musician beyond your local scene is to stop worrying about courting the admiration and attention of your lovely and fickle local scenesters and hobby musicians. You know who I mean. They might get the local overpriced coffeehouse buzzing about you, but they wont help you sell records even three towns over. Heres the hard - and harsh - reality of it all being a local celebrity plus a couple bucks will get you a latte and not much else. Besides, ansicht people are often the same people who will think youre a sellout if you try to make some money selling your musicbecause after all, their band doesnt make any money and they dont care. Heres a hint - they have day jobs and they never plan to l eave them for a career in music. You do. Dont get sucked into it. Although you will naturally have an affinity and a fondness for your hometown fans - after all, your friends and family are usually in that group - from a business standpoint, you need to treat your local scene as you would any other stop on the road. You want to heidewitzka your fans, get some press and keep people talking about your music - and then you want to repeat that process on the next stop on your tour. Local Stardom Doesnt Travel Local bands in places where there are big music scenes often invest an inordinate amount of time trying to become the stars of their local circuit. There is the odd occasion when this can make a difference - if a few bands who have made it big come from your town, labels often invade the town to see who else is around - but these occasions are very specific and very fleeting. In most cases, you can put the local scene on lockdown and still be lucky to land an opener for the ope ner slot at a small club in the next state, simply because your local success doesnt translate outside your small radius. If getting out of your backyard is your ultimate goal, then dont get involved in a popularity contest to rule said backyard. Believe me, your local celebrity status will be cemented when you start achieving things on a larger stage anyway, plus, youll get to avoid turning into the middle age wannabe musician saddo hanging around the college parties wishing the local scene was just like the...90s, 80s, 70s, or what have you...again, since that is when they ruled the local clubs. 3 Key Tips to Avoid the Local Music Scene Trap OK, but here is the rub. It DOES make sense to start locally when building your music career. It all comes down to the approach. Here are some tips to avoid the local musician trap Follow the Bread Crumb Trail Everything you do locally can be a stepping stone for something bigger. Follow that trail to opportunities beyond the local scene. If youve got a good local following, try a gig swap to start working on anew audience. If youve got tons of great reviews in the local press, add quotes from them to your bio and your website. Press begets press, so demonstrating that people are writing about you will get more people to write about you outside of your area. It will also show promoters, labels and more that youre building a buzz. Always look for how every local success can help you achieve something a little broader. Plan Wisely When youre booking shows, check the local calendar. Its amazing how many relatively small towns seem to have 25 very similar bands playing on the same night. Theyre splitting the audience in ways that just dont make sense. Since your goal is to move beyond playing locally, you want to play on nights when youre not splitting the local music fans so many ways.Be on the Same Page One of the best parts about being in a place with a big music scene is that you lots of options when it comes to find ing musicians for your band. However, in addition to being great musicians, the people you play with need to have the same goals as you. If they want to stay local and cant invest the time into, say, going on tour, then youre going to reach an impasse. Start out on the same page, and youll avoid these problems. Local music scenes can fun and great places to launch your music career. But if your goal is to make a career out of your music, remember youre going to need a lot more than local success.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Market Research Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Market Research Resume Template 2018s Top FormatMarket Research Resume Template - 2018s Top FormatMarket research is an industry thats growing at a faster-than-average rate, so now is a good time to find some amazing opportunities in this field. Promote your own skills with a crowd-pleasing resume.List previous studies on your resume that exhibit your analytical and report writing skills, as well as your insight into consumer markets. Market research often involves working closely with a team, whether it is colleagues or those you are researching. Illustrate this with previous project management or supervisory roles to prove your leadership abilities. Finally, as you must constantly stay on top of trends and new findings in such a job, convey your willingness to constantly learn and update your skills.For more tips on how to sell yourself as the ideal market researcher, check out our market research resume template below. Create ResumeOlivia Wilson100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91 019Home (555) 322-7337Cell (555) 322-7337example-emailexample.comProfessional SummaryExpertise in providing objective, in-depth analysis of consumer and product trends using qualitative and quantitative research. Dedicated to customer focus skilled at synthesizing all relevant information needed to make key business and strategic decisions. Integrate, interpret and communicate findings to provide actionable, targeted results. A self-motivated top performer with a reputation for leadership, integrity, sound judgment, and ability to work with individuals at all levels in a team environment. Areas of skills and expertise include Project Management Change agent Client Service Strategic alignment Consumer needs Problem solvingWork HistoryAssociate Director, 01/2008 to CurrentConduct and oversee research analysis to provide insights to consumer behavior and marketplace trends.Research findings drive recommendations for content published in Consumer Reports, including ratings charts.Resou rces include qualitative research, syndicated data field surveys and secret shoppers in-depth interviews with manufacturer, retailer and industry contacts and secondary research.Provide actionable recommendations based on product attributes, consumer preferences, key drivers, advertising, demographics, retail distribution, industry and competitive profiles sales, trends, packaging, pricing.01/1986 to CurrentCONSUMER REPORTS Yonkers, NYIndependent consumer product information and testing organization, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, ShopSmart magazine, www.ConsumerReports.org and other media products.Recruited as Market Analyst and promoted four times to current role.Project Director, 01/1984 to 01/1986NPD RESEARCH INC Port Washington, NYPerformed client tafelgeschirr tracking consumer purchasing using a continuous monthly diary panel system.Provided manufacturers with information about consumers to help develop marketing strategies and monitor the effectiveness of their prog rams.Data included trial and repeat purchases, brand loyalty, purchase patterns, and the impact of price, distribution and promotions.Promoted to senior position in 1985 trained and supervised two assistants.Senior Research Analyst, 01/1979 to 01/1984McCOLLUM/SPIELMAN COMPANY Great Neck, NYCopy Testing Communications Research.Tested television, radio and print advertising to determine effectiveness.Measure brand recall, messages perceived and motivation/interest in product or service advertised.Trained and supervised two assistant analysts.Responsible for all phases of project, from setting up field work and designing questionnaires to assisting at client presentations.EducationM.B.A Marketing, 1987Adelphi University Garden City, NYB.S Nutrition Science, 1979Cornell University Ithaca, NYProject Management Institute Project Management Structure and Competencies, 2003Customize ResumeMore Marketing, Advertising, and PR ResumesExperienced Market Research Resume TemplatesEntry Level Mar ket Research Resume Templates

Saturday, December 21, 2019

4 Tips for Job Seekers Whose Resumes Contain Glaring Red Flags

4 Tips for Job Seekers Whose Resumes Contain Glaring Red Flags 4 Tips for Job Seekers Whose Resumes Contain Glaring Red Flags The act of preparing a resume can be fairly straightforward, assuming you can tick all the right boxes e.g., a good education, some blue-ribbon achievements to brag about, and absolutely no red flags.But for you otherwise fine candidates out there whose resumes unfortunately contain a few warning signs that can handicap your application, preparing a winning resume can be a bit more difficult.Heres are four of the most common resume red flags, along with some tips to help you address them and make your resumesparkle nonetheless1.UnemploymentResearch from the Pew Charitable Trust shows that the long-term unemployed (those who have been unemployed for six months or longer) have to send 3.5 times as many resumes as the short-term unemployed to get an interview. Like it or bedrngnis, employers view unemployment as a big red flag.What can you do? Rather then just leave a part of your work historyblank, turn your period of unemployment into something positive by listing your achievements and the new skills learned during this period. This will show employers that you have the initiative to stay productive, even when times are tough.2. Job HoppingAttitudes toward job hopping are changing among millennnials, but people older than 35 still binnensee it as a largely negative thing.Because job hopping is still viewed with suspicion by many hiring managers, its important to display your short tenures inthe most positive light possible. Here are a few ways to do that- List all your achievements, including things you did at your briefest roles.- Demonstrate that you fulfilled the requirements of each contract/short-tenure position to show you are reliable.- Outline any key skills that you learned in each post to show how muchyou learned from job hopping.3. An Incomplete EducationEven though Steve Jobs, Oprah, Bill Gates,and many other wildly success ful people left schoolbefore earning their degrees, being a college dropout is still a majorred flag to most employers.Therefore, its vital that you frame your decision to leave school in a flattering light.Did you leave to start a business, write a book, or join some major venture or initiative? Then include this information on your resume Demonstrate what you achieved in place of completing your degree. Anything less than this will look pretty questionableon your resume.4. Youve Been FiredThis is perhaps theall-time worst resume red flag, andit requires some serious damage control.Itgenerally does not make sense to state that you have been fired in your resume or cover letter, but whatever you do, dont mislead the employer in any way.Simply include the start and end dates of your employment dont fudgethe numbers.If your employer asks you at interview, youll need to be completely truthful aboutwhy you left. In fact, even if they dont ask, its probably best to make it known. Otherw ise, the employer may find out from a background check, and that may make them feel like you mislead them.Of course, youll need to go on aPR offensive when explaining why you were fired. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while spinning your firing in a positive light- Dont badmouth past employers or managers.- Explain the reason for dismissal.- Where appropriate, be accepting of what happened to you.- Be prepared to answer any questions around it until the interviewer is satisfied.- Outline the lessons you have learned.- Explain thesteps you have taken to make sure the situation doesnt happen toyou again.Finally, its important to remember that no one is perfect. Most employers know this, and many of them are more skeptical of resumes that look too perfect than resumes with a few warts. Having hiccups and red flags on your resume is a factof life. The thing that will set you apart from other candidates is how positively you present those red flags and how constructively you deal wi th the adversity that created them in the first place.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

One thing separates creators from consumers

One thing separates creators from consumersOne thing separates creators from consumersMost people, regardless of their age, operate like small children.They nevertrulygrow up.What does this mean?Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreMost children are focused completely on their own needs and wishes. They want more, more, more.As a foster parent, I see this every single day. We get our kids something, and within a few moments, they are asking for something else. They have an insatiable desire for more. It can never be fulfilled. They are never satisfied.Of course, we teach our kids to be grateful and appreciate what they have. But they are in adependentstate. They are, after all, children. So its reasonable that their focus is entirely upon themselves and their own survival.Unfortunately, most people never grow out of this self-centered and consumptive approach to life.Most people do t hingsonly for what it will bring them in return.Dont get me wrong, doing things for compensation is completely fine. But is that compensationthe core motivationfor the work you are doing?Very few people do incredible work because they are more focused on what they can get than what they can give.People want promotions elend so they can give more, but so they can get more.Very few people take on greater responsibilityso they can work more.Very few people position themselves in leadership so they can work harder.Hence the quote from Abraham Lincoln,Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a mans character, give him power.Most people want power for the benefitstheyget from that power. Few people want poweronly for the purpose of giving more of themselves to a cause they believe in.Only a select few people ever grow consciously beyond their own needs. Only a select few develop convictions strong enough to give their lives for. Only a select few will commit to somethin g with such force that they are willing to transform themselves to uphold that commitment.Only a select few will become something, not for the accolades and outcomes, but for the purpose of intensifyingthe processof their work and contribution.So I ask What is your core approach to life?Do you primarily want to receive?Or do you primarily want to give?Its a simple question. Its one most people wont answer honestly.But the answer to that question lies at the heart of what youll do and achieve in your life.If youre primarily motivated by what you can get from something, then once you get that thing, your motivation will be gone.Ive seen this again and again. Ive even experienced it in myself, which has caused such a deep meditation on the subject.For example, when someone starts writing, and they put in lots and lots of work to eventually get a book deal, they find that they no longer desire to write. Now that they have the accolade and the recognition, they are satisfied. Thats what they truly wanted deep down. It wasnt actually about the writing, but what the writing couldget them.The same holds true for relationships, which is why most relationships end poorly. If the relationship isnt giving you what you want, then you no longer want the relationship.The best work (and relationships) can only come when you give yourself entirely to it. That must be your motivation. Of course you need compensation.Hence the saying Dont work for money. Make money so you can do more work. Yes, you need money. You need resources. But those things are means to doing more of the work you so desperately believe in.Why Most People Will Never Be SuccessfulDont aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of ones personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of ones surrender to a person other than oneself. ?- ?Viktor E. FranklMost people will never be successful because most people remain children, consciously, and never evolve.They remain purely self-indulgent and self-absorbed.They never develop convictions that drive them to dedicate their lives to a particular service and audience.They arent willing to learn and transform themselves for a commitment. Instead, they only commit to something so long as it benefits them. Once things get tough, their commitment disappears.In order to be truly successful, and to make an enormous impact on the world, you must give yourself fully to something. It cant be about you anymore. You must be driven to serve. To help other people, and to solve specific problems.This is the very reason few people ever actually experience love. Because they engage in relationships only for their own benefit. Love isnt about you. Its about the other person.And the only way to truly experience love is by giving it.When youre driven by giving, you already kn ow youll receive abundantly in return. The world gives to the givers and takes from the takers.When you are completely motivated to serve and give, you have complete confidence the outcome will be successful.Success isnt hard, because its not your obsession. Its an unintended consequence. Its a byproduct of everything youre putting into your work.Success is a habit for people motivated by something greater than themselves. Success is easy when youre not focused on yourself.However, when youre focused on yourself, success is SO HARD. Its hard because its fleeting.Its fleeting just as the joy is fleeting for my child when I give them a toy. As soon as they get it, they want something else. Its all about what they can consume, not about what they can create and give.Only those who care more about helping others will keep going, long after all of their needs are met and long after they receive enormous accolades and success.It doesnt matter how many accolades you acquire if those accola des are the reason for what youre doing. Because, soon enough, youll stop doing the work that got those accolades. Youll be satisfied with your success and those who are driven by something more will keep going. Theyll keep digging deeper into the problems of this world and theyll be the ones who solve those problems.When youre driven by giving,you run toward problems. Most people run away from problems. They dont want to deal with them. But the world is filled with problems, and those problems need solutions.Embrace problems.Your life can be measured in direct proportion to the problems you seek to solve in your life.Some people are content solving the problem of getting through the day.Others are seeking to solve world hunger, or providing education to children in need, or a host of other important issues.Why are you doing what youre doing?Is it for what you can get, or what you can give?Ready toUpgrade?Ive created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immediately. You follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.Get the cheat sheet hereThis article first appeared on Medium.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 productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Thursday, December 12, 2019

7 Free Ways to Keep Learning When You Have a Job - The Muse

7 Free Ways to Keep Learning When You Have a Job - The Muse7 Free Ways to Keep Learning When You Have a JobYou know that learning plays an important role in advancement. But, for most people, going back to school isnt the right option, or even a realistic option. It takes a sizable investment of time- and money- so if youre not quite sure its for you, its probably a good idea to hold off for now. But, that doesnt mean youre off the hook, youll want to find other ways to gain new skills and knowledge. After all, you wont move forward if youre not constantly learning and growing. Who hires the guy whos skills have stayed the same since he graduated?The trick is to look for all the opportunities to learn that are already there (and often free) in your everyday life. Here are seven ways to find new information thatll open doors and help you advance in your career.1. Meet With Leaders at Your CompanyMost people enjoy talking about what they do. In fact, one-third of what we say is used to relay information about ourselves. So, even if youve never spoken with a member of the leadership team, odds are shell be open to discussing her work with you. (Plus, shell notice someone taking initiative to learn more about the company.) For example, while I was an undergrad interning at a major broadcasting company, I sent a cold email to the VP of Programming for a major network, and was on his calendar to meet for the very next week. With his advice, I was able to secure an executive board seat at my campus television station, and eventually take over as Station General Manager.How did I do it? I asked for a reasonable amount of time to respect his schedule. I did 30, but to be honest, 15 is probably better. (But obviously, I didnt schedule anything right afterwards so I wouldnt have to stop the conversation if it went better than expected.) I prepared thoughtful questions and I left with an action eintrag for further collaboration2. Solve a Problem Outside of Your Job Descrip tionIf you do the exact same thing every day, its possible to get stuck in a rut, and your skills will stagnate. But you can find new opportunities at your company by asking to work on projects or teams outside of your day-to-day responsibilities.Often times, the best solutions come from thinking about problems in a different light. Meaning, your outsider perspective may help you think of next steps no one else has considered. Youll be helping the organization as a whole and learning about other parts of the company. Along with expanding your skills and knowledge base, youll be making yourself more valuable. True story Working on a different team is the most popular way to get a new job at my company, its gotten me two of my previous positions3. Attend Local EventsYou are not alone in wanting to learn new things- and connect with others looking to expand their skills, too. Most cities have regular meetups for industry professionals. So, look for open classes, lectures, networking ev ents, and panels (especially if you live near a university). Some good places to look for upcoming workshops and sessions include Eventbrite, any local news sites you follow, and Twitter. Follow local industry leaders and contacts, as theyll often deutsche post ag if theyll be attending (or speaking at) at upcoming function.Not all of these events will be free, but you can always start with the free ones to connect with others- whom you can then ask if theyve ever been to that conference youve been eyeing and if its worth it. And if youre going to learn a skill related to your job, dont forget to ask your boss if it may be covered as professional development.4. Read BooksI know, your first thought is probably that buying that trendy book isnt free. Well, according to the American Library Association, there are still 119,487 libraries around the country, and they have business books you can check out for free. So, the next time you see a roundup of recommendations that looks awesome, do yourself a favor and see if theyre available at your local library.5. Take an Online CourseAll the learning with none of the debt. Even if you dont have time or money for a full time program, you can find the time for an online class, especially if you find yourself coming home each night with nothing to do. (Did you know there are over 4,000 open online courses available covering everything from marketing to Mandarin?)There are several sites where you can take classes or zupflmmel up new skills including Coursera, MIT Open Courseware, Udemy, Codecademy, and HubSpot Inbound Certification. Of course, with each of these, youll want to read the fine print. Some courses are free to take, but charge a fee for to submit assignments or receive a certificate of completion. 6. Subscribe to Industry Blogs and NewslettersEmails a great way to stay up to date on whats going on in your industry. Of course, its easy to overdo it, subscribe to too many, and end up deleting them all because you re overwhelmed by the sheer number of articles you could click on. I suggest capping it at three to five newsletters a week (but obviously youre personal tolerance may be higher or lower). Worried about missing something? Follow the other organizations on social media for your daily fix.7. Take on a Small Short-Term Project Outside of WorkAn easy side project can help you develop a skill you dont usually practice, or discover an entirely new interest. For example, creating the online presences for my alumni chapter helped me gain the knowledge in content management systems and social media that prepared me for my first job in digital content.Do you have an alumni chapter, a nonprofit you care about, or family friend who could use help? If you cant find an organization to assist- practice creating something for yourself You dont have to have a ton of time or money to add to your skill set. Just choose a starting point- something youd like to learn or someone youd like to meet- and go from there.

Saturday, December 7, 2019

The True Meaning of A Good Resume

The True Meaning of A Good Resume A couple of lines are sufficient. There are two classes of font. An excellent resume ought to be standard. Once awhile, every one of the resumes have begun to look precisely the same. Whoever owns a little software provider advertises for a seasoned software salesperson. An amazing sales resume will detail the sort of goods which were sold at previous businesses. In reality, you ought to know that plenty of companies these days are using Applicant Tracking Systems to help them screen resumes and get the best candidates. Not every provider employs tracking software for applicants they instead hunt for exact keywords and phrases. With the usage of an easy technology, make certain you maintain yur resume simple its going to be a good resume with only a fundamental black font and a white background. So its necessary to strategize your resume based on a part of technology. Well, a part of software analyzes your resume for sure key terms and prov ides you a score based how well your resume matches a predetermined collection of keywords chosen by the business youre interviewing with. Yes, the hiring manager would like to know youve got the particular experience the job requires. Each time you put in an application for a new job, check your resume to guarantee that it isnt only targeted, but in addition current. Tons of unique jobs will confuse the reader about what you would like to do. Transportation jobs involve a great deal of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can take care of that. If youre competing for a coveted role, acquiring a good resume is crucial. Make certain if theres a watermark on the paper that its facing the suitable way and no matter what you do, ensure it remains readable. A great story doesnt have gaps. If you chance to be an excellent writer, then you do have an opportunity to create a resume thats well worth submitting. A resume does not signify a comprehensive work histo ry instead its an opportunity to display you have the vital skills to do the job. Most folks look at writing a resume as just something youve got to do to have a job. Therefore, if youre hoping for an interview, its crucial that your resume be an impressive one. Using a Good Resume Have a look at our sample to find out what a good construction resume looks like. Click our sample to learn to compose the ideal transportation resume. There ought to be a heading at the beginning of your resume that contains your name, telephone number and mailing address. A good can be difficult to discover so here is a good sample resume to assist you begin. Your resume is going to be a good one in case you provide a link at the peak of your contact information to your online expert profile make certain you update it regularly. Start by earning your contact information simple to discover. Thus, its advisable that you place your contact details right at the start of your resume. Perhaps the most important part of your page is the resume objective. What You Need to Do About a Good Resume An expert summary sits at the peak of your resume beneath your header. Possessing a crystal clear and professional resume is important in the medical field. One of your principal goals with writing a resume is to produce the document simple to read. Be sure your resume is readable. a Good Resume - Is it a Scam? A mediocre candidates resume, on the flip side, will probably demonstrate a sales rep with similar sort of position at multiple companies, with no trajectory of succeeding. Laurens resume is unique because its a traditional instance of an actors resume. Therefore, if you want to have that interview, then you have to make certain you have an awesome resume that will grab that hiring managers attention.

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Most Efficient Interview Process Involves Your Whole Team

The Most Efficient Interview Process Involves Your Whole gruppeYour interview process is the cornerstone of your talent acquisition strategy. Its important to consistently be measuring your hiring efforts and looking for where you can improve your interview process. One of the most effective ways to build a stronger, faster process is to conduct interviews with your current employees. To learn more about getting the whole kollektiv involved, we spoke with Kimberly Marek.As the owner and CEO of 7 Charming Sisters, a jewelry and fashion accessories company located in Dumfries, VA, Marek believes an interview process that includes the whole kollektiv adds significant value. Team interviews have a great impact on the employer brand as well as hiring initiatives, she says. For starters, team interviews go deeper than the traditional interview.Traditional interviews are great for understanding what soft skills candidates have, but team interviews exceed that they deliver a better candidat e experience and increase employee engagement. Read on for the full transcript of Mareks explanation on why team interviews are important and how to effectively conduct themHi, my name is Kimberly Marek. Im the Owner and Chief Executive Officer at 7 Charming Sisters. Prior to starting 7 Charming Sisters, I worked as an HR executive for 10 years. I also hold my Masters from Villanova University in Human Resources Development, as well as a PhR designation. Im going to talk today about team interviews and why you should be doing them. Team interviews fill positions fasterTeam interviews have a great impact on the employer brand as well as hiring initiatives. For starters, team interviews go deeper than the traditional interview. You can also determine faster if the candidate is a good fit for your brand by having them speak directly to your current leadership and team members. Despite interviews, at times, being longer to complete, the position open-time will actually decrease when you complete a team interview. We actually saw a 17 percent drop in our vacancy rate, which, as you know, ultimately costs us less in the long run. Provide a realistic job previewWhen you complete team interviews, they provide benefit to the candidate, the team, and the company. Specifically, the candidate gets a more realistic job preview of whats to come. We spend almost all of our week at work. So, we want to spend it with people who are a good fit for us and we get along with. This ultimately will increase retention, productivity, and happiness. For current team members, it gives them the sense of participation in the decision-making process. Which ultimately empowers your workforce. When you allow employees to make decisions, youre letting them know that their opinion matters. This increases engagement and organizational buy-in. Teach employees what elend to say I prepare my team for interviews by telling them what not to say. I train them on what they cant ask, so I steer them aw ay from questions about race, religion, or any other protected class topic. Keep in mind that the people who are speaking to these candidates are not HR professionals. The burden is on you, its your responsibility as the HR professional in the room to prepare them in that regard so that will not open your company to any liability. Encourage transparencyNext, I really empower my employees to talk openly about the company. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I want them to have with the candidate a really free dialogue, a free conversation without a lot of guidance from me aside from those off-limits topics which I already discussed. I also have them write some notes following the interview. Im not going to hold them to it if the employee doesnt end up working out and they said they did. Its not a big deal. This isnt about how they think theyll do in the job but rather, their experience with them in the meeting. Have your current employees write down their thoughts and submit them to yo u or the HR person thats in charge of that process.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Seven Compelling Traits of a Magnetic Leader

The Seven Compelling Traits of a Magnetic LeaderThe Seven Compelling Traits of a Magnetic LeaderThe Seven Compelling Traits of a Magnetic Leader MatusonLots of leaders think they are magnetic, when in fact they are anything but. Here are seven traits that are common among magnetic leaders, as well as examples of people who personify (or personified) these qualities. Im sure you can think of a dozen more traits that would fit into this category.1. Authenticity. Magnetic leaders are authentic leaders. They dont try to be someone else, nor do they change who they are based on office politics. They are true to themselves and are honest in their dealings with others. They are leid afraid to share their mistakes or shortcomings. Warren Buffet is a great example of a leader whospeaks openly about his $200 billion mistake buying Berkshire Hathaway.2. Selflessness. Nelson Mandela immediately comes to mind when I think about inspirational leaders who are selfless. Leadership is a service busin essand service comes with sacrifice. Mandela made many sacrifices so others could advance, including giving up power. When elected president of South Africa, he refused to serve more than one term because he believed that a swift transfer of his authority was in the best interest of post-apartheid South Africa.3. Strong communication. Magnetic leaders communicate frequently and clearly. They speak their minds, even if it makes them unpopular. When they are forthright with their opinions, such people often become even more magnetic.Pope Francis is a great example of an outspoken leader with strong communication skills. His popularity has risen tenfoldas have donations to the church. People around the world are embracing Pope Francis. He doesnt toe the party line. He says whats on his mind, which is refreshing.4. Charisma. Magnetic leadershave a charm that inspires devotion. No matter where people problem on the political spectrum, most would agree that former President Bill Clinton p ossesses great charisma.5. Transparency. Leaders who are transparent are consistently honest and open in their communication - so much so that people never have to guess what these leaders really mean when they say something. This level of openness often spreads to the wider company culture. Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, is the first person who comes to mind when I think of transparent leaders. From the very beginning, before blogs became all the rage, Hsieh would openly share the happenings (both the good and the bad) at Zappos for both employees and customers to see. In fact, the companys all-staff meetings were broadcast on the Internet.6. Vision. Vision and magnetism go hand in hand. Visionary leaders, like the late Steve Jobs, are the dreamers who make us realize that anything is possible. They have a vivid vorstellungsvermgen that inspires others to get on board and come along for the ride.7. Resilience. Magnetic leaders understand that there will be times when things wont go ac cording to plan. You simply must keep charging ahead, often course-correcting as you go. No one knows this better than GM chair and CEO Mary Barra, who had an incredibly stressful first year in office. She faced revelations about faulty ignition switches, a 30-million car recall, and pressure from investors to return more cash to shareholders. Two years into her tenure, GMs financial health has rarely been stronger.As you can see from this list, magnetism isnt something you are either born with or not. Its a state of leadership that evolves over time.The key word here is evolves, as most of the magnetic leaders Ive interviewed were like many of you when they first started out. They wanted to be good leaders and were willing to put in the work needed to reach that goal. They observed other leaders. Some, they emulated others, they promised they would not be like. They learned by doing and made course corrections along the way. Many were fortunate enough to have a berater who gave the m honest feedback. Others hired coaches at different times in their careers.All of these leaders invested in their own development, and they continue to work on improving themselves every day. They do so because they understand the power of magnetism and how it can be a game changer when it comes to attracting employees, customers, and profits.Read moreHow to Attract Magnetic Leaders to Your OrganizationExcerpted with permission from The Magnetic Leader How Irresistible Leaders Attract Employees, Customers and Profits by Roberta Matuson, reprinted with permission from Routledge. Duplication without permission is prohibited. Copyright 2017.Author BioRoberta Matuson, president of Matuson Consulting, has helped leaders in Fortune 500 companies, including General Motors, New Balance, The Boston Beer Company, and small to medium-sized businesses achieve dramatic growth and market leadership through the maximization of talent. She is known globally as The Talent Maximizer and for her bold ness and ability to take on tough challenges that most people shy away from.She is the author of Suddenly In Charge Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around (Nicholas Brealey, 2011), which was a Washington Post Top 5 geschftlicher umgang Book For Leaders, and Talent Magnetism (Nicholas Brealey, 2013). She is also an expert blogger for Forbes and a former monthly columnist for The Boston Business Journal.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Times up James Bond. Theres a new 007 and shes a woman

Times up James Bond. Theres a new 007 and shes a womanTimes up James Bond. Theres a new 007 and shes a womanThe James Bond franchise is definitely getting shaken up (and leid stirred) with its exciting casting news about who will be the next 007. Daniel Craig, who has played Bond in the brde four installments of the series, will be passing the very suave and iconic torch on to black British actress Lashana Lynch.Now to be clear, Lynch, best known for her work in Captain Marvel, will bedrngnis be playing James Bond (or Jamie Bond or Jane Bond) but a new 007 agent at MI6. In the upcoming Bond 25, Craig, who has been very vocal about his retirement from the franchise, Lynch will be introduced.There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says, Come in 007, and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman.Its a popcorn-dropping moment, a source said. Bond is still Bond but hes been replaced as 007.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard coveri ng Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreNot too many other details have been released about Bond 25, which will be the 25th Bond film, except that writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge (TV hitsFleabag, Killing Eve) was brought in to punch up the script with a more of a feminist angle.I think James Bond is absolutely relevant now. It has just got to grow. It has just got to evolve, and the important thing is that the film treats the women properly, said Waller-Bridge in aninterview with Deadline.It is to be made very clear that Lynch is not a Bond Girl (and now they are known as Bond Women.)This is a Bond for the modern era who will appeal to a younger generation while sticking true to what we all expect in aBondfilm, an insider said. There are spectacular chase sequences and fights, and Bond is still Bond but hes having to learn to deal with the world of MeToo. Bond 25 will be directed by True Detective director and producer Cary Joji Fukanaga.If this casting decis ion is confirmed (though it has been widely reported), Lynch will make history as not only the first woman to play the infamous 007 agent but also the first black person to do so. In the 26 films in the franchise, based on the books by Ian Fleming, actors Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan andCraig, have played the worlds most famous spy.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How to work with someone who tries to control every detail

How to work with someone who tries to control every detailHow to work with someone who tries to control every detailWorking with someone whos controlling can be extremely frustrating.Heres how to stay afloat when youve been forced to team up with one - or have to answer to one.Dont fight fire with fireChances are, you either want torun away from the person or lash out and then sink into the floor. But this is never a good idea - especially if the control freak is your boss. Theres no point, so you wont want to waste time going down this road.Be both curious and strong in your approachLarry Kim, former founder and CTO of Wordstream and current MobileMonkey CEO, writes about how to do each of these thingsin Inc.One of his tips Try to understand what drives their controlling behavior - are they fearful of their own failure, or perhaps power hungry? You dont have to accept it, but knowing what motivates them can help you figure out how to deal with each new aggression.But Kim also sho ws how being strong can be another useful tactic, writing, Make it clear that youre committed to working with them, but let them know your boundaries and that theyre non-negotiable.Get clear on what theyre supposed to be doingMeridith Levinson, former senior editor for CIO.com (now a web and campaign writer for RSA Security), features advice from Kaley Klemp, co-author of The Drama-Free sekretariat A Guide to Healthy Collaboration with Your Team, Coworkers, and Boss, on the site.Klemp talks about the four main drama types at work - cynics, complainers, caretakers, and controllers. After mentioning how controllers have the potential to be characteristic of micromanagers and bullies at times, she tells the site how to work with them.The key to handling a controlling co-worker is to understand very clearly where your and the controllers responsibilities begin and end, says Klemp. For example, you can approach your manager and say, So-and-So has been doing work that I thought was my re sponsibility. Can you outline for me what my responsibilities are and what So-and-Sos are so that I can be sure I am completing my work and not stepping on his toes? Levinson writes. Getting a clear picture of everyones responsibilities will allow you to enforce your boundaries with your controlling coworker. If he continues to infringe on your territory, says Klemp, youll be able to tell him that you double checked your responsibilities with your manager and youre certain that she wants you to take care of a particular job.Dont forget to use your voiceKat Boogaard, a freelance writer, blogger and career editor for The Everygirl, writes in The Muse that you should voice your opinions when working with the control freak at your job.We all know that control freaks tend to think their methods and tactics are superior to everyone elses. But, youre leise entitled to some self-direction and independence. So, if you flat out disagree with his or her direction, dont hesitate to speak up, sh e writes. If the controlling person youre dealing with is a co-worker on the same level as you, youll likely have an easier time doing this.Explain why you chose the process youre using - but, dont feel a need to justify every single one of your choices. That only opens up an entirely new can of worms by making it look like you need a stamp of approval on everything you do. Ultimately, if that piece of the project is yours to work on, you have the right to approach it as you see fit.