Windows of Opportunity

Windows of Opportunity I dont like change. My personality likes to know whats coming up, likes to plan for things, and if Ive invested in something, I want to know its going to be around for at least as long as I thought it would. That means getting laid off is no fun. I remember the first time the concept of windows of opportunity had real meaning for me.  It was when the window closed. Window closings are change, the type that kind of overloads my system. The thing is, when the window abruptly closed, other windows were open, or opening. It was hard to see then, but looking back on it now, its obvious. Heres a window I never thought Id see close: professional speaking on the road (for money). I wrote Im on LinkedIn Now What??? in 2008, and in 2009 I was doing my first $5,000 speaking gig. It was amazing. I thought I had arrived. The presentation, for various reasons, wasnt as good as it should have been, but I was now a professional speaker.  I was blessed to have opportunities to speak in many different places in the U.S., and once in Istanbul (Turkey).  The money was ridiculous, and flying around made me feel successful. Then, the window started to close.  This is what it sounded like when a window closes: Me: I charge five thousand dollars plus expenses. Them: Um, we were hoping you would get yourself out here and speak and we would feed you lunch. Me: As much as I would like to do that, I cant afford to fly out, get a car, and a hotel, to speak at your luncheon that people are paying money to come to. Them: oh darn. Ill talk to my brother-in-law. He said he would do it for the free lunch. The brother in law.  At some point, in the U.S., every town had a brother-in-law that was a LinkedIn expert.  Well, expert is too strong of a word.  But they would stand up at the meeting and talk about LinkedIn, for exactly $5,000 less than I charged. The LinkedIn speaking window was closing. Thats okay, it wasnt my main income stream, and it wasnt the focus of my business. There are plenty of other qualified people who do this, and honestly, power to them. I was okay to focus more on my main thing (JibberJobber). For the past few months Ive been feeling a disturbance in the force.  Thats a geeky Star Wars reference which I would apologize for, but he, EPISODE 7!!! In all seriousness, Ive been feeling like my windows (I have multiple revenue streams) are changing. I recently realized that, different from the time I got laid off, these windows are closing slowly. And I have been trained, as an entrepreneur, to look for opening windows all the time.  And I see them. What this means is that things are changing. Not in a bad way for you. JibberJobber, for job seekers, is always at the core of my projects and revenue streams. But Im likely going to shift my time from some projects that are ending to new ones.  In fact, two of them, which Ill spend most of my time on next year, will be really fun, and frankly, exciting.  It will be new territory for JibberJobber, and I hope it will provide opportunities for many, many people. Sorry to not go into more detail, but the point of this post isnt that things are changing for me. it is that things are always changing for all of us. When your windows close, look around for the other windows that are wide open, and still have some life.  Or for windows that are opening, or that are waiting for you to open them.  They are there.  Even in my darker hours, when I was wallowing in pity, obsessed by the unfairness and poor timing of a window recently closed, other windows were waiting for me to look up. That is the story of JibberJobber, in one sentence. I lost my job, wallowed, and a few short months later was announcing the birth of JibberJobber.  This was 9 years and 11 months ago, almost to this day. I know some of you have recently had windows close. You might even feel like your fingers (and hopes) got crushed in the closing windows. Im here to tell you that there are other windows, and that in todays world, we need to get good at recognizing the opportunities. Thats your job identify those opening windows. Are you up to the challenge? Windows of Opportunity I dont like change. My personality likes to know whats coming up, likes to plan for things, and if Ive invested in something, I want to know its going to be around for at least as long as I thought it would. That means getting laid off is no fun. I remember the first time the concept of windows of opportunity had real meaning for me.  It was when the window closed. Window closings are change, the type that kind of overloads my system. The thing is, when the window abruptly closed, other windows were open, or opening. It was hard to see then, but looking back on it now, its obvious. Heres a window I never thought Id see close: professional speaking on the road (for money). I wrote Im on LinkedIn Now What??? in 2008, and in 2009 I was doing my first $5,000 speaking gig. It was amazing. I thought I had arrived. The presentation, for various reasons, wasnt as good as it should have been, but I was now a professional speaker.  I was blessed to have opportunities to speak in many different places in the U.S., and once in Istanbul (Turkey).  The money was ridiculous, and flying around made me feel successful. Then, the window started to close.  This is what it sounded like when a window closes: Me: I charge five thousand dollars plus expenses. Them: Um, we were hoping you would get yourself out here and speak and we would feed you lunch. Me: As much as I would like to do that, I cant afford to fly out, get a car, and a hotel, to speak at your luncheon that people are paying money to come to. Them: oh darn. Ill talk to my brother-in-law. He said he would do it for the free lunch. The brother in law.  At some point, in the U.S., every town had a brother-in-law that was a LinkedIn expert.  Well, expert is too strong of a word.  But they would stand up at the meeting and talk about LinkedIn, for exactly $5,000 less than I charged. The LinkedIn speaking window was closing. Thats okay, it wasnt my main income stream, and it wasnt the focus of my business. There are plenty of other qualified people who do this, and honestly, power to them. I was okay to focus more on my main thing (JibberJobber). For the past few months Ive been feeling a disturbance in the force.  Thats a geeky Star Wars reference which I would apologize for, but he, EPISODE 7!!! In all seriousness, Ive been feeling like my windows (I have multiple revenue streams) are changing. I recently realized that, different from the time I got laid off, these windows are closing slowly. And I have been trained, as an entrepreneur, to look for opening windows all the time.  And I see them. What this means is that things are changing. Not in a bad way for you. JibberJobber, for job seekers, is always at the core of my projects and revenue streams. But Im likely going to shift my time from some projects that are ending to new ones.  In fact, two of them, which Ill spend most of my time on next year, will be really fun, and frankly, exciting.  It will be new territory for JibberJobber, and I hope it will provide opportunities for many, many people. Sorry to not go into more detail, but the point of this post isnt that things are changing for me. it is that things are always changing for all of us. When your windows close, look around for the other windows that are wide open, and still have some life.  Or for windows that are opening, or that are waiting for you to open them.  They are there.  Even in my darker hours, when I was wallowing in pity, obsessed by the unfairness and poor timing of a window recently closed, other windows were waiting for me to look up. That is the story of JibberJobber, in one sentence. I lost my job, wallowed, and a few short months later was announcing the birth of JibberJobber.  This was 9 years and 11 months ago, almost to this day. I know some of you have recently had windows close. You might even feel like your fingers (and hopes) got crushed in the closing windows. Im here to tell you that there are other windows, and that in todays world, we need to get good at recognizing the opportunities. Thats your job identify those opening windows. Are you up to the challenge? Windows of Opportunity I dont like change. My personality likes to know whats coming up, likes to plan for things, and if Ive invested in something, I want to know its going to be around for at least as long as I thought it would. That means getting laid off is no fun. I remember the first time the concept of windows of opportunity had real meaning for me.  It was when the window closed. Window closings are change, the type that kind of overloads my system. The thing is, when the window abruptly closed, other windows were open, or opening. It was hard to see then, but looking back on it now, its obvious. Heres a window I never thought Id see close: professional speaking on the road (for money). I wrote Im on LinkedIn Now What??? in 2008, and in 2009 I was doing my first $5,000 speaking gig. It was amazing. I thought I had arrived. The presentation, for various reasons, wasnt as good as it should have been, but I was now a professional speaker.  I was blessed to have opportunities to speak in many different places in the U.S., and once in Istanbul (Turkey).  The money was ridiculous, and flying around made me feel successful. Then, the window started to close.  This is what it sounded like when a window closes: Me: I charge five thousand dollars plus expenses. Them: Um, we were hoping you would get yourself out here and speak and we would feed you lunch. Me: As much as I would like to do that, I cant afford to fly out, get a car, and a hotel, to speak at your luncheon that people are paying money to come to. Them: oh darn. Ill talk to my brother-in-law. He said he would do it for the free lunch. The brother in law.  At some point, in the U.S., every town had a brother-in-law that was a LinkedIn expert.  Well, expert is too strong of a word.  But they would stand up at the meeting and talk about LinkedIn, for exactly $5,000 less than I charged. The LinkedIn speaking window was closing. Thats okay, it wasnt my main income stream, and it wasnt the focus of my business. There are plenty of other qualified people who do this, and honestly, power to them. I was okay to focus more on my main thing (JibberJobber). For the past few months Ive been feeling a disturbance in the force.  Thats a geeky Star Wars reference which I would apologize for, but he, EPISODE 7!!! In all seriousness, Ive been feeling like my windows (I have multiple revenue streams) are changing. I recently realized that, different from the time I got laid off, these windows are closing slowly. And I have been trained, as an entrepreneur, to look for opening windows all the time.  And I see them. What this means is that things are changing. Not in a bad way for you. JibberJobber, for job seekers, is always at the core of my projects and revenue streams. But Im likely going to shift my time from some projects that are ending to new ones.  In fact, two of them, which Ill spend most of my time on next year, will be really fun, and frankly, exciting.  It will be new territory for JibberJobber, and I hope it will provide opportunities for many, many people. Sorry to not go into more detail, but the point of this post isnt that things are changing for me. it is that things are always changing for all of us. When your windows close, look around for the other windows that are wide open, and still have some life.  Or for windows that are opening, or that are waiting for you to open them.  They are there.  Even in my darker hours, when I was wallowing in pity, obsessed by the unfairness and poor timing of a window recently closed, other windows were waiting for me to look up. That is the story of JibberJobber, in one sentence. I lost my job, wallowed, and a few short months later was announcing the birth of JibberJobber.  This was 9 years and 11 months ago, almost to this day. I know some of you have recently had windows close. You might even feel like your fingers (and hopes) got crushed in the closing windows. Im here to tell you that there are other windows, and that in todays world, we need to get good at recognizing the opportunities. Thats your job identify those opening windows. Are you up to the challenge?

Underperforming New Hires Its Probably Your Fault

Underperforming New Hires It’s Probably Your Fault Businesses spend a lot of money hiring, onboarding, and training new employees. It’s a substantial investment of time and finances for the company. Each time an organization hires a new employee, it costs them thousands of dollars. With such a large investment, what happens when the new hires are underperforming or not meeting business expectations? A good place to start is by looking at the hiring process. It’s often found the failure of new hires falls on the employer, and for many reasons. Let’s dive into a few reasons why new hires are underperforming. Hiring Too Fast A lot of businesses only hire when they have an immediate role to be filled. While that’s an obvious reason to find a new employee, it’s a best practice to hire before you are in dire need. Too often, when a role needs to be filled quickly, the hiring process is rushed and therefore “red flags” or signs of a cultural misfit aren’t always clear or brought to light. Whether the hiring team is rushing through interviews or skipping background checks, moving too quickly through the hiring process doesn’t allow the company to learn everything they need to about the candidate. The same is true for the candidate as well. If they aren’t given enough time to ask their questions and get a sense of what it’s like to work for the company, there could be a cultural or job-fit misalignment. Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills Hiring teams should focus on hiring employees based on their potential success, instead of focusing on their previous success. Concentrating on soft skills traits like leadership, cooperation, empathy, drive, openness, abstract thinking, and more, will allow you to better align the candidate with your team. So how do you hire for soft skills? Psychometric assessments will help you understand the valuable soft skills that your candidates bring to the table. By looking at their soft skills, you can compare them to the company and the teams they will be on. This allows the hiring manager to make more informed decisions when it comes to hiring new candidates and selecting which ones match the company needs. Roles Within a Team If a new hire doesn’t understand what their role is on a team, they are going to become disengaged, leading to poor performance or possibly even a decision to leave the company. If they know how they impact and benefit the team, business, and its outcomes, they are going to be successful, simply due to them having a sense of purpose and belonging. No Real Onboarding Another factor that leads to new hires not working out is that they weren’t taken through an onboarding process. An onboarding process can vary from company to company, but having one is paramount. GoodCo Pro users are able to provide their candidates with an Onboarding Report. This report gives them a sense of what it’s like to work with their managers and other teammates by showing them which skills they possess and how their own skills compliment them. Candidates using this report feel more confident because they understand how to work better with their teams, as the report explains how to best work with each individual. Not only does an onboarding process set new hires up for success, but it is also an early indicator of what it’s going to be like working at your company. This is the perfect time for hiring teams to instill the company values and begin showing the new hire why accepting the position was a great idea. Bad Fit It’s usually an oversight of the employer when a candidate isn’t successful. However, there are instances where it’s not. It’s been found that roughly 85% of employers have caught candidates lying on their resumes. If candidates have misrepresented their experience or skills, it’s definitely not the fault of the employer. It’s important to ask questions about the candidates resume during the interview to catch any misrepresentations. If you have gone through all of the steps to ensure the candidate was a perfect match, you onboarded and trained them properly, and it still doesn’t work out, sometimes, but very rarely, candidates are just unable to integrate into your culture and team, and that’s something unpreventable. At that moment, it’s time to move on and use the tools that have allowed you to hire successful candidates in the past again. About the author: Driven by the goal to help the American workplace become happier, healthier and more efficient for both employees and employers, Samar Birwadker cooked up the concept for GoodCo in 2012. As CEO, he has led diverse teams of technologists, designers, and researchers to drive breakthrough product innovation â€" a role that aligns perfectly with his GoodCo Persona: an innovative blend of the Maverick, Visionary, and Go-Getter. He is responsible for scaling the company after it was acquired by Axel Springer GmBH in 2016.

Four Ideas for Motivating a Sales Team

Four Ideas for Motivating a Sales Team A sales team that is motivated and ready to work is absolutely critical for your business. Motivated sales team members will actively add to the success of your company, whilst those who have long lost their mojo will do the complete opposite. The relationships that your sales representatives build with your clients and customers not only create the foundation of your organization in terms of individual sales, but also when it comes to your reputation, growth and success overall. Working in sales can be difficult, but thankfully, there are many ways in which you can support your sales team, make sure that they enjoy their job and are motivated to get results. Track Progress Using a sales leaderboard to track the progress of each member of your sales team is a method most commonly used in call centers, but it can be applied in almost any sales environment. A sales leaderboard is displayed in the office, break room or even on the sales floor and provides details of the results which have been achieved that day, week, or perhaps month. Being able to see their progress on a leaderboard can be a great motivator, especially as nobody wants to be that one team member who hasn’t met their target or is on a low number. Cash Incentives There’s a reason why most sales jobs are commission based or offer employees the chance to earn commission on top of their regular wage â€" it works. It’s pretty hard to find a worker, both in sales and otherwise, who won’t jump at the chance of earning some extra cash if they can. Offering some great cash incentives to your sales team, whether it’s on-the-spot cash prizes or extra commission in their monthly pay packet, can give them something worthwhile to work towards. Having Fun Being a salesperson can be monotonous and boring as a job, especially if you’re working on a door-to-door or cold calling basis. Because of this, if your sales team can’t have a little bit of fun and enjoy their work, you can expect them to feel like giving up pretty quickly, especially if sales are slow. Simple ideas such as competitions with rewards for the winners can go a long way when it comes to boosting motivation. Rewards don’t have to be monetary, either â€" having an extra half hour of lunch, being able to go home early or even allowing team members to come in ‘dressed down’ the next day if possible can all be great incentives. Recognize Individuals Your sales team may be a collective, but it is also made up of individuals. Too many sales managers somehow forget this, and treat the team as one collective without recognizing the work of each member. For example, if your team performs badly one day but one or two members have done well individually, don’t group them with the members who’ve failed, but instead recognize them for their contribution. Keeping a sales team motivated requires a lot of work and planning, but it’s time and money that is worth investing. Image Source; Image Source; Image Source

The 10% Entrepreneur Patrick McGinnis

The 10% Entrepreneur Patrick McGinnis Every now and then, a book comes along that is so on-target, timeless and timely in one, that it is destined to spend a very long time on your bookshelf.  The 10% Entrepreneur, by Patrick McGinnis, is one of those books.  Neither Ms Career Girl nor the author have been compensated for this article.  We highly recommend the  book on its own merits. As a successful 10% entrepreneur himself (I definitely eat my own cooking) Patrick lays out a detailed blueprint to take virtually anyone from someone with an idea through all the steps required to build themselves a truly entrepreneurial life.  A venture capitalist and private equity investor who founded Dirigo Advisors and witnessed the AIG collapse from the inside, he is the quintessential example of a survivor. Find Your Own Path I had the opportunity to chat with Patrick in March, to get some additional insights, knowing that even the best of literary efforts dont tell all.   The one-line take away that we can all post on our wall:  Find your own path.   Here are some more of my favorite responses: The 10% Entrepreneur Q: We all have what I call defining moments, points of choice in our lives when the path is chosen, we and our life is forever changed.  What was yours? Patrick: Having lived through the implosion of a trillion dollar business, I realized I had to become much more self reliant than I had in the past.  That I needed to find a way to diversify my career, and thats when I decided that maybe entrepreneurship, in a way that works for me customizing to my life, is the way to do that.  A lot of people that I know are still reeling from the crash.  Even though were eight years on, I still have friends that havent found their way back yet. Because I think that we are, especially when you go through certain educational institutions or you work in certain firms, you really close your minds to things that are outside of that and you sort of get used to your conditions and start thinking of your success as a certain path, when actually there are many ways, and you overlook what may be an even better path for you. Q:  What part of The 10% Entrepreneur did you find most difficult to write? Patrick:  Figuring out how to take the lessons that I had learned but make them applicable to all kinds of different people, that was my biggest challenge.  I wanted people of all different backgrounds, whether youre a woman or a man, live in the United States or overseas, whether youre working in the corporate environment or youre a doctor or youre a car salesperson, I wanted people to be able to relate to the stories in the book, and find at least one person who they thought was like them.  So, that was my biggest challenge, I interviewed tons of people and tried to learn as much as I could from them and then bring it all together into a set of recommendations and exercises and suggestions that anybody could feel comfortable with. Q.  How do you suggest someone first narrow the focus and second let go of the need to get just one more expert opinion? Patrick:  Thats a great question.  One of the things that I have learned is that the only way to actually learn how to be an entrepreneur is to actually do it.  And so what I encourage people to do  . . . is you just need to do something, even if its just very, very small.  Go to that networking event, approach that entrepreneur you respect, spend a little time finding (out about)  the industry youre excited about, and get started in a little way, because what happens is that you gain a little confidence and you realize that its not as hard as you might think . . . I believe it doing it the right way, bit by bit.  Anything you do the right way, and I learned this from my parents growing up, theres no easy ways to win, theres no cutting corners, you do it the right way, and youll have a far higher chance of success. Q.  Im reminded of how Subway Restaurant began versus how regulated and bureaucratic our world is today.  With that in mind, what advice would you give to a new entrepreneur? Patrick:  Depending on what industry youre in, you may face challenges in healthcare, and hiring, that are government regulated.  At the same time, there are so many things that used to be like nearly impossible for individuals to do themselves, that are now very easy to do.  So for example, setting up a website used to cost tens of thousands of dollars, and its basically free now. When I started my career, one gigabyte of storage was $8,000, now its basically free.  You can set up your website, you can set up your email, you can set up all the social media tools for almost nothing . . . its kind of astounding how you can run a business out of your living room.  I understand that theres concerns about regulation, but for many of us before we get to that point where we have to worry about those things, the initial start up costs are much, much lower than they have been in the past. Q:  A young career person is standing before you.  You have 30 seconds to change the persons life.  What would you say? Patrick:  I would say take time to build real skills, but never be afraid to find a way to do something that really plays to your own strengths. Dont just follow your friends or the other people you went to school with.  Find your own path. Neither Ms Career Girl nor the author have been compensated for this article.  We highly recommend the  book on its own merits.

Writing a Cover Letter Words Phrases That Might Lose You the Job - CareerMetis.com

Writing a Cover Letter Words Phrases That Might Lose You the Job Source â€" Pixabay.comYou’ve customized your cover letter to the role and company, drafted compelling opening and closing lines, and even figured out how to address the most frequent issues about writing cover letters.But your job is not yet done. Once you’ve got a working draft, it’s time to grab your red pen. Double check your cover letter to make sure you’re not using any of the words and phrases below that might sabotage your chances of securing a job interview.1. “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern”Why avoid this phrase?: If you don’t have the name of the person to whom you can address your cover letter, you should make every effort to find it using Google, the social media Using a generic salutation can create a negative first impression and may suggest that you’re not quite resourceful to find out who the Hiring Manager or Recruiter is for the role.A better alternative: “Dear Mr. Jones,” or “Dear Ms. Fox” “The job entails a steadfast individual who will navigate the constant influx of content and propagate information on a daily basis. My multifaceted skill-set in this domain will burgeon in this role.”Why avoid this phrase?:Avoid using language that your recipient will have to look up in the dictionary, or that will over-complicate the message of your cover letter. Applicants who apply highfalutin words in their writing may be regarded as untrustworthy and overcompensating by their colleagues.A better alternative:“My skills in publishing relevant content will enable me to excel in this role.”Why is this better?Writing in clear and straightforward English will guarantee that Hiring Managers and Recruiters can relate to you as an articulate human, and not as an alien from another planet. It’s always best to write in a way that enables the employer to understand what you are saying without the need for them to speculate.4. “I’m Just”Example: “I’m just writing an email to apply for the Health Club Manager role.”evalWhy avoid this phrase?:Most applicants unconsciously use this phrase when submitting their cover letter. It’s a phrase that shows a lack of confidence and comes across as being apologetic. This phrase, primarily when used in the opening line, is also generic and unmemorable, not giving the Hiring Manager or Recruiter something about which to get excited or be intrigued.A better alternative:“I was excited to find an opening for the Health Club Manager role with Company XYZ, especially since that I’m passionate about fitness and have attended several of your company’s health events.”Why is this better?If you’re genuinely interested in a specific industry, attracted to the company’s brands, or have used their products or services before, this is an excellent opportunity to say so. Employers value real enthusiasm since it often translates to highly motivated and successful employees.5. “Average,” “Good”Example:“I’m good at using Excel and h as average skill in using the HMTL language.”Why avoid this phrase?:Avoid putting anything on your cover letter that will showcase you being merely average. Remember that the function of your cover letter is to show off your strengths and not expose your weaknesses. There are also many adjective options out there, and they are almost all more potent than “good” such as “skilled,” “proficient,” “talented,” “apt,” and “capable.”A better alternative:“I’m proficient in Excel and interested in expanding my knowledge of HTML. I’m eager for the chance to improve these skills.”Why is this better?If, for some reason, you feel the need to mention something that you’re not excellent at, perhaps because the employer requires you to disclose your skill level on a particular task, then it’s always best to emphasize the fact that you’re willing to put in the extra effort to enhance these skills.Other Words and Phrases to Avoideval“As you can see on my resu me”This is a common filler phrase. But if the Hiring Manager can see something on your resume, announcing its presence is not necessary.“I’m the best candidate because…”evalTo stay on the Hiring Manager’s good side, avoid using “best” as it may seem arrogant. And even if you’re sure that you’d be a fantastic choice, you don’t know if you’re the “best.”“Really, truly, deeply, totally, very”Flowery language and excessive adverbs can come across as insincere. A sentence without these fillers is more succinct, and thus more effectiveIn SummaryExcellent cover letters leave an impression that attracts potential employers to proceed with reading your resume. On the contrary, lousy cover letters repel recruiters.You can control how your cover letter introduces you by avoiding these undesirable words and phrases. Why not start revisiting your cover letter now?

Age Discrimination and Job Search Who Made the Rules and How Can You Compete

Age Discrimination and Job Search Who Made the Rules and How Can You Compete I dont think about my age too much. People often tell me that I look younger than I am so Ive spent most of my adult life trying to look older, not younger. But recently, four events occurred within the same day that forced me to think about age and the perception that age can create.I saw a lead that a major magazine was offering a job search makeover for women between 25 and 45 years oldI did the math and realized that if I had been interested, I wouldnt be eligible.A colleague posted on Facebook that he was celebrating his 35th birthday. I commented back that I recently celebrated my 35th birthdayfor the 11th time.I was exercising and monitoring my recommended heart rate and realized that I fall into the category for the oldest exercisers on the chart.A client listed her work history on her resume back to 1995 and asked if she should remove that information because it was ancient. I didnt even think my teenage kids thought 1995 was ancient history!So what happened? I went to bed f eeling young and woke up feeling old? I had become Rip Van Winkle overnight? How could this be? I think many boomer job seekers face the same dilemma. Age was never a factor in their job search, but now it is. I have heard stories from clients telling me recruiters have told them they are too old for certain positions. Others, who are often several years younger than me just assume they will be discriminated against based on their age. And everyone seems to have a different cut off for what they think too old is. Some say 40, others say 50 or 60.In a job search there are some things we can control and many things we cannot. I always coach my clients to focus on the aspects of the search they can control. And while we cant control our age or other peoples perceptions about our age, there are proactive steps all job seekers can take to make sure age bias is minimized.Resume DevelopmentGroup earlier experience into a category that reads Additional Experience. Create an abbreviated over view of the positions you held more than 15 years ago, but include the dates. This allows the hiring manager to focus on more current and more relevant experience. Many people believe that by omitting the dates there is less likelihood that the bias will surface. I think the opposite. When the dates are missing, people wonder why and often assume you are even older than you are. If you chose to leave off certain employment experiences to make you look younger on paper, I say proceed with caution. If you are called in for an interview and it is obvious that you are much older than the information on your resume represents, you run the risk of making the hiring manager believe you are not truthfulnot a great way to start out a relationship.While Im not usually a big fan of a hobbies section on a resume, the information displayed there can sometimes offset a potential age bias issue. If you regularly participate in a sport that showcases your active lifestyle, this is something I sugge st including. And if you have certain technology skills that prove you are current in your field, I recommend adding that information as well.Online IdentitySome job seekers believe that by not having a picture on online identity and networking sites, they decrease the chance of being discriminated against. Again, I disagree. If you do not post a picture in communities where they are the norm, people will think you have something to hide. Sometimes people post pictures that are 10-15 years old. Another mistake that could damage your credibility when you meet the person who viewed your profile in person. Your picture is part of your brand. Pay as much attention to it as you would your other marketing collateral. Lighting, makeup, clothing choice, an updated hairstyle, and maybe even a wee bit of photo-shopping (shhh) will help you present your best image while still being transparent and authentic.Interview StrategySometimes when a hiring authority figures out your age, they draw the conclusion that you command a certain salary and that perhaps they wont be able to afford you. When interviewing, if you detect this feeling, be sure to be able to discuss your interest in the position, your desire for meaningful work, and your flexibility. This can help the hiring manager to understand that salary in not necessarily your main motivator. The reality is that many older workers are not more expensive; if anything they are often behind market value because of longevity with a previous employer. Large salary bumps generally occur by switching jobs more frequently; not by staying with the same employer over many years. So the very thing the employer is concerned about might actually turn out to be a non-issue. Better to explore the issue than let the hiring manager come to their own, and possibly incorrect, conclusion.Job Search ResearchNo one is the right fit for every company. Some companies do have a more youth-oriented culture. But many do not and even tout themselv es as best places for boomers or people over 50. AARP publishes a list each year called the Best Employers for Workers Over 50. By targeting the companies that embrace older workers you dramatically decrease the potential for encountering age bias.AttitudeIt sounds so cliche but it is true. If you believe you are old, others will believe it as well. If you refuse to put arbitrary limitations on age you increase the chances that others will reject these notions as well. Focus on the value you can bring to an employer, not the longevity of your career history. Leverage the latest social media technologies such as Twitter and Facebook to stay connected in current conversations. Ditch phrases such as back in the day and when I was your age. Rewrite the rules.I take my cues on age from my soon to be 79 year young mother. She still wears her hair in a ponytail. She knows more about the hardware and software on her computer than most 25 year olds. She has no major health issues. And she ca n get away with wearing clothes designed for women more than half her age. So thats my barometer. Whats yours?

Tips For Writing a Resume for Dental Assistants

Tips For Writing a Resume for Dental AssistantsIf you are a dental assistant and you want to improve your chances of finding work in the field, you must think about learning how to write a resume. You don't have to learn the hard way, either.First of all, make sure that your resume is updated. Take some time to study up on current trends in the industry and see what things are being discussed. You might even want to make sure that you are referencing people and companies that have an up-to-date resume as well. This will help you avoid getting rejected by a potential employer who still uses the old resume you never even saw.It can also be helpful to find out where in the United States that is best for you to apply to the state's government and dental boards. The federal government has a website where you can get information about state agencies and boards to help you with writing a good application for each one.Don't forget to add your contact information. You might be asked for this at the interview. That way you can let them know if you do get hired for a specific position or not. Some agencies might ask you to list this information before they assign you a position.As with any type of writing, your resume should be well-written, well-organized, and easy to read. You will want to make sure that the structure and flow of your resume are not only efficient but also easy to understand.Don't forget to include your contact information so that people can reach you and ask you questions. If you don't have a contact number, ask someone in your office to provide it.With a little bit of time and attention to detail, you can improve your chances of getting a job and get back to enjoying your job search. Try not to be afraid to use examples from the field to help you write your resume.