Foul Ball! When Interviews Go Out Of Bounds

Foul Ball! When Interviews Go Out Of Bounds Remember that interview when you were asked a question that set off an alarm in your head?  It wasnt something youd prepared for because its not supposed to be asked.  There are questions that, by law, a potential employer is not allowed to use in the interview. Here are a few jaw-dropping questions that have actually been asked in real interviews: When was the last time you did drugs? Do you get PMS? Can you wear more makeup next time? Is that a hickey on your neck? As a potential employee, you have to know how to respond to questions that are out of bounds.  But if    the roles have changed and its you who is looking to add a staff member for the organization or your own team, its important to know the rules. Heres a quick look at whats okay, and whats not. Interviewing Dos And Donts Generally, you can ask questions that relate to job performance.  But you cannot ask questions that lead to or demonstrate a bias in hiring.  More specifically, take a look at this guide produced by the Harvard Office of Human Resources. The best quick and easy to remember guide is this:  If the question has anything to do with a protected class, you shouldnt ask it.  Protected classes include race, religion, national origin, sex (including gender preferences), age, and physical or mental disability.  Beyond that, care must be taken when phrasing questions about family status. First Time? There will come a time when youre asked to do that first interview.  Maybe your boss wants to see how you perform in that situation.  The problem is that in such a situation theres little or no training about how to conduct the interview.  Its usually something like here, ask them these questions and tell them well get back to them. Beyond the stress of it being your first experience, there is the reality that you simply are not familiar with whats okay and not okay to ask.  If you find yourself in this position, dont hesitate to ask for assistance.  The liability for your company, or even yourself, is too great to just jump in without at least some qualified coaching. Preparing to Interview Whether its in person or a phone interview, if the interview is going to be productive, youll want to prepare.  Look over the candidates resume and make notes.  Jot down general and specific questions you want to ask or get clarification on.  Prepare an outline so that you not only keep within legal bounds but so the interview follows a predictable path. Below youll find a great infographic produced by Hireology.  Its a great reference tool.  Start out with that, and the references cited above, and youll be on your way to performing quality, and legal, interviews. via Image credit:  Main.

Tips on Writing a Winning Resume

Tips on Writing a Winning ResumeAre you looking for tips on writing a winning resume? If so, you are not alone. The reality is that today, with all the new technologies that we have available to us, it is almost impossible to get a quality resume written by a computer.These days there are a few lucky few who can get it done. However, it is not something you can do on your own. Here are some tips on writing a winning resume.First and foremost, when you are applying for the perfect job, you need to make sure that the person reviewing your resume sees exactly what you can offer. The best way to do this is to give a good explanation of who you are and why you are the best candidate for the job. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job, you will want to provide a better description of who you are than if you were applying for a sales position.Different employers may have different expectations. So the best thing to do is to look at what type of job you are applying for. Is it a technical one or does it include many sales and marketing aspects? Do you need a professional writer or can you do it yourself?With the explosion of new technologies, there are a lot of people who will use computers to fill out their resumes. However, these programs do not provide the same look and feel as a handwritten resume. Therefore, make sure that you do not send in a resume that is formatted the same as a computer generated resume.Lastly, make sure that you know what the company is looking for. For example, if the employer is looking for a staff writer, make sure that you are selling yourself well enough to be considered for the position. If the employer is looking for an accountant or bookkeeper, find out how you would benefit from the position before sending in your resume.If you are someone who is gifted at writing, you should consider learning to create resumes for your current employer or someone else in your field. You can also consider hiring a professional to help y ou write your resume. This can be a great way to learn more about how a professional looks at a resume.As you can see, there are a lot of tips on writing a winning resume. You will be well on your way to landing the right job.

Get Paid Fast How To Make Sure You Get Paid On Time Everytime

Get Paid Fast How To Make Sure You Get Paid On Time Everytime Are you having trouble with your invoiced payments? You cant run a business if you cant get paid fast. Heres what to do to get paid on time everytime. On paper, the premise of freelance work is simple. You provide a job or service, and you receive a fixed payment for it. Right? However, if youre among the 57 million freelancers working in America, the formula may not be so simple. From unpaid invoices to late payments to miscommunication issues with your clients, its frustrating to chase down your funds. If you run a business, you need to get paid fast- on time, every time. Lets get into the top tips for success. Understand Why The Payments Are Late To identify a solution, you first need to target the problem. In other words, what exactly is going on? There could be a couple of scenarios at play here. On the one hand, a long-time client may make a one-time mistake. This is normal, as were all busy humans with full schedules. On the other hand, if youre working with someone new and a late payment happens, theres a very good chance of this history repeating itself. Its also important to identify if you are part of the problem. For example, are you being too nonchalant with how you expect payments? Are you sending invoices weeks after completing the work? Identify and Specify Your Payment Requirements When you work as an independent contractor or freelancer, its usually up to you to determine what the payment calendar and schedule looks like. This means you need to identify the cost of time and labor and specify how and when you expect to get paid. You need to specify these requirements and expectations from the beginning of your working relationship. Dont expect your clients to read your mind. After all, its usually not their top concern to think about when their contractors receive payment. Get It In Writing Before you even begin any contract work with a company, its best to have both a verbal and written understanding about the work, payment, and communication. This is where many people start with upfront deposits. Its not uncommon to request a 50$ deposit prior to beginning work. This provides both the freelancer and the company to put some skin in the game. Furthermore, a legal contract protects you in the event of your client skipping out or underpaying you. Setting up a contract may require consulting with a lawyer, but this is usually worth the financial peace of mind. Encourage Incentives Some freelancers incentivize their customers by offering small discounts for paying in full or even making early payments. This is, of course, at your discretion, but it can serve two purposes. On the one hand, you establish a protocol for increasing your chance of getting paid on time (or even early). For two, youre rewarding customer loyalty, and that can improve your reputation and overall business structure. However, dont assume that clients will know about these incentives. Make sure that you show the price differences, send out flyers or make a note when drafting out your invoices. You want the incentives to be obvious and enticing! Finally, you can also offer incentives for different modes of payment (such as using an electric check instead of a credit card). Automate Your Payments If you truly want to eliminate late payments, its worth considering whether you should automate your billing system. In doing this, you automatically process your payments without the hassle of manually invoicing and sending out reminders. Fortunately, the process of how to use automation software is fairly straightforward. You will input the vendors name, contact information, and tax ID number. From there, you can verify payments, monitor changes, create audits, and essentially streamline your accounts. This is usually advantageous if you work with clients in providing recurring services. If you have many clients on the books, its easy for you to get overwhelmed or even forgetful about the services your render. Automating will help you save time- and it could help you earn faster money without all the headaches of reminding your clients. Have Protocol For Late Payment Management Payment still not received? You need to establish authority and ownership by taking action. Once the invoice or payment is overdue, you need to send out a reminder within 48 hours to the company. Still no word? Send out another. At that point, you need to remind your customer that you do retain the legal rights to charge interest on their debts. Yes, you may hear excuses, and youll need to learn how to deal with those. Customers will blame other colleagues. Theyll tell you about their financial problems. They may even try to coerce you into a lower rate. If needed, you may have to locate a reputable debt collection agency and tell your consumer that to establish your intentions. In other words? Dont just ignore the problem and hope that it goes away on its own. While some customers occasionally forget to make a payment, this shouldnt be a pattern. Its normal for first-time entrepreneurs to doubt their work or skills, but that doesnt mean you should overlook your worth. After all, you have expenses to pay and a business to run. Dont feel nervous to take further action for those who disregard your business practices. Final Thoughts On How To Get Paid Fast No matter how amazing your business is, its not worth any of the work if you arent receiving the compensation you deserve. You deserve to get paid fast and on time without questions or concerns. You and your business are both valuable, and you need customers who can and will validate you for that! Interested in learning more about improving your career or creating the business of your dreams? Contact me today!

9 principles that will put more women in the corner office

9 principles that will put more women in the corner office According to the Center for American Progress, women hold 52 percent of professional jobs but only 14.6 percent of women reach CEO status. I asked Shirley Weis, recently retired from her position as the Chief Administrative Officer at Mayo Clinic, how she was able to make the leap into the CAO position of an organization with 60,000-employees and a budget of more than $9 billion. Weis says that many women have been unaware of the rules of business success. She offers these nine playing to win principles for advancing in the workplace. 1. The workplace is a big game Work is a game. Before jumping in and committing mistakes, take some time to watch the action with these questions in mind: What are the rules? What is the strategy? What does it take to succeed at this game? 2. Know thyself Take inventory of your strengths, weaknesses and skill set. Ask yourself, Is this going to be satisfying for me? Am I willing to do what it takes to win? There are no right or wrong answers here, but you need to know what will, and wont, work for you. 3. Learn the rules The Rules â€" with a capital R â€" are easy to find in a policy manual. The unspoken rules are trickier. They have to do with the informal or cultural rules. What is (and isnt) shared in meetings? How do others interact with the boss? In order to be successful, you not only have to learn what the rules are, but also follow them or pay a penalty. 4. Whos winning? Define winning. Landing that big promotion? Developing work/life balance? What do you want out of life and your career? People who look to external sources to determine whether they are winning or losing are often unhappy. What are you willing to give in order to get your wins out of life? 5. Develop grit and perseverance Take on assignments that no one else wants. Be seen as someone who is willing to take on tough projects and get them done. You may not be successful at all of them, but you will be seen as someone who is willing to try. Grit and perseverance make the difference between winners and losers. 6. Become an expert In some workplaces there is a bias that assumes men are more capable than women. Becoming an expert removes this bias. What are you most passionate about? Become an expert on it. When a crisis arises (as they inevitably do), people look for the person who knows the most about the issue and who can address the problem: you. 7. Manage your losses The road to success is paved with losses, and you must learn to deal with them. Admit the loss and move on. If you remember that this is a game, it helps you keep your perspective. In any game, there are mistakes made, and setbacks and obstacles to overcome. How we deal with the losses and learn from them is critical to our long-term success. 8. Keep the naysayers at bay Some will criticize without understanding or caring about what youre trying to do, saying, Im just being real and authentic. Dont let them get to you. Put on your game face. Connect with people who are supportive and who help you to become stronger without any personal attacks. 9. Know when its time to quit Some think quitting is bad, but there are times when quitting is exactly the right thing to do. Maybe you dont want to play this game anymore. Then it is time to leave. Learn to do this gracefully and with class. Always let your supervisor know about your plans before you share with subordinates and colleagues. For more insights, check out Weis new book, Playing to Win in Business, which helps women (and men) navigate the sometimes-confusing waters of the workplace. Treating it like a game, learning and understanding the rules and playing well can lead you to great success.

I Quit My Day Job Jen Vertanen - When I Grow Up

I Quit My Day Job Jen Vertanen - When I Grow Up Feels Good To Get Some Stuff Done by Mary Kate McDevitt Think that Quitting Your Day Job means you have to stop working for someone else and work solely on your own biz? Think again!  Jen Vertanen  tells ya how she quit her job found a new one + her own heart-based biz. Hello, hello! My name is Jen Vertanen and I am a Small Biz Strategist + Vision Actualizer for creative entrepreneurs. My specialty is helping right-brain creatives get even more great sh*t done without having to work so. freaking. hard. Why? Because I’m a right-brainer operating in a left-brain corporate setting as a Senior IT Project Manager. So yeahI get it! I have an interesting, albeit unusual, I Quit My Day Job Update for you because I actually still have a day job and even betterI love it and even better than that.it’s helped me refocus and re-energize my own business from that of an ‘I-don’t-know-what-the-hell-I-am Coach’ to now which makes sooooo much more sense that I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier! My newly updated business cards are at the letterpress, my redesigned website is  this  close to being done and I cannot flippin’ wait. All paths have led to this point and while I’m not going to liebits and pieces of it were really sucky (like the 60 lbs I gained in 2 years) I wouldn’t trade them in for the world. I have so much more clarity and excitement and I  know  this time it’s going to stick. Watch the video to learn more about where I’m at today I’m excited to hear your thoughts and question!. Let me know in the comments below and I’ll pop in from time to time to say Hi. Jen Vertanen  is a Small Biz Strategist + Vision Actualizer who helps creative entrepreneurs get even more great sh*t done. Shes also passionate about red wine, red shoes, and Aquaman but those are stories for another day. Come say Hi or share a picture of your favorite red onFacebook  or Twitter  @jenvertanen. To find out more about Jen, go to  JenVertanen.com  and download the Secret Sauce Guide to Getting Great Sh*t Done ~ The How To Focus Edition.

Secret Answers to Resume Writing Niu Disclosed

Secret Answers to Resume Writing Niu Disclosed Our career is devoted to building your career. Learn about the three kinds of skills you'll be able to highlight and the way you're able to incorporate them into your resume. Qualifications summary supplies an in-depth information concerning the skills an individual has. Qualification summaries are used by applicants should they believe the position they're applying for requires a candidate to have a certain set of technical abilities and abilities. Writing and including a reference sheet with your resume is one method to show which you are fully prepared and prepared to go into the work force. Did you raise your value with a software which can help in their writing that have a very good analysis. Utilizing a template in creating your Resume Format can be helpful should you are in need of a guide regarding the required content and the best format. Thus a digitization project intends to make certain that your. Most profession als will provide a completely free consultation and are delighted to respond to your questions over the telephone. A resume introduction is the statement that you have to make and put following your contact info. Make certain you enter the consultation prepared. Most Noticeable Resume Writing Niu A resume serves as the expert profile of a candidate who'd love to get hired for a specific job position. Now you know how to discover the very best executive resume writing service, you're all set to begin your search. There are lots of standard forms of resumes used to make an application for job openings. What Is So Fascinating About Resume Writing Niu? Help with writing a case study Cma delivers a top quality case study demands an exhaustive understanding of writing is the learning. An individual with limited experience, but robust writing skills can collect a compelling resume. Before starting, NIU Online offers you the chance to try out a sample on-line class. Often studen ts visit us to deal with an issue that is completely emerged, Keller explained. Though some resume writers are generalists and work with anyone, it is quite a bit easier and more lucrative to pick a particular niche. A qualifications summary is utilized by men and women that have a wide selection of professional experiences and can offer a good deal of skill sets to the employer as references. Australian resume writing services, speak with our specialist Australian resume writers we've worked in the Australian market all our lives, we understand what you have to do to secure a part in the neighborhood industry. There are a few routes you may take with resume writing. The Ultimate Resume Writing Niu Trick Dec 1 page since it's a potential remedy to use our company. Your mailing address ought to be listed in your contact information too. You can readily find out if a business' services meet your expectations by doing a small research on their site. How to discover the ideal executive resume writing service may be as simple as picking up the telephone. What Resume Writing Niu Is - and What it Is Not When you set up the preliminary small business framework, you can begin working on the fun parts of your organization. More so, career objectives are usually written in the event the candidate doesn't have any plan for creating a cover letter attachment. More so, it will likewise depend on the kind of job which you want to have and the industry where you'd like to get involved in. 3 Destination Begin to learn more about the tools you'll need to help you achieve your career destination.

The Challenges Rewards Of A Mid-Life Career Change - Work It Daily

The Challenges Rewards Of A Mid-Life Career Change - Work It Daily Many people are intimidated by the idea of making a mid-life career change, especially because they buy into the myth that people who are 50 or older will face significant issues with ageism. Related: Resumes For Job Seekers Over 50 However, experts have indicated that age plays a much smaller role in a candidate's odds of getting a job than is commonly believed. In fact, the majority of hiring managers are much more focused on the particular skills and background experience that each individual will bring to their company. With this in mind, people who have reached the mid-life point should never settle for sticking with a career that they are no longer satisfied with. How Common Are Mid-Life Career Changes? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average baby boomer will have approximately 11 jobs by the time they turn 46. Although half of these jobs will come earlier in life, it is interesting to note that the baby boomer generation has steered clear of the more traditional path of finding a solid company and sticking with them for several decades. This is partially caused by the continuously changing economy, but there are also psychological aspects at work. After all, most of the boomer generation grew up watching their parents hold down difficult jobs that did not necessarily satisfy them emotionally. Therefore, it is natural that baby boomers made the decision to look for more rewarding work, but this also leads to an increase in job changes. Statistics indicate that 56% of all U.S. workers are currently interested in switching to a new career, and it is not surprising that mid-life workers have had a big impact on this number. Why Should You Consider Changing Careers? Whether you are unhappy in your current industry or are at risk of being downsized due to economic challenges, it makes sense to consider a mid-life career change to increase your personal satisfaction and ability to make a good living. However, it will be imperative to carefully evaluate all of your options before you make the leap. There are several industries available that will hire people without a specialized college education as long as you have work experience that can be applied to your new field. For example, if you have been involved in the sales industry, you can easily translate these skills to property management. On the other hand, attempting to break into the science industry at this stage of your life will be much more difficult, especially if you do not have an appropriate degree. What Are The Best Industries For Mid-Life Workers? Each person needs to look for a career that they can be passionate about and perform competently, but there are definitely some industries that are easier for a mid-life worker to break into, including these two examples: 1. Teaching Most people assume that you need a specific educational background in order to become a teacher, but this is not necessarily the case for individuals who have extensive experience in certain industries. You are not going to become an elementary teacher without spending several more years in college, but you could easily teach at the high school or college level with a minimal amount of educational courses under your belt as long as you have a degree in your current field. 2. Business Consulting Another option for people who still enjoy their industry but want to move onto a new level is becoming a business consultant. This will allow you to utilize all of your experience and knowledge to assist others with filling the type of role that you want to leave behind. Many mid-life workers also find success branching out into non-profit management, nursing, real estate, and interior design. Ultimately, the path you choose should be based around hitting your financial and emotional needs, and you will need to be prepared for the fact that it could be a difficult transition. After all, it is often very challenging to learn a new field quickly, and you might need to rely on your business contacts to help you get your foot in the door. Fortunately, making the right career change at any age will make the challenges worthwhile. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts Job Search Help For The 50+ Stay-At-Home Mom Age Discrimination In Interviews 50 Year Old Takes On Ultimate Career Challenge   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!