Sell Your Brand On Performance Review Day - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Sell Your Brand On Performance Review Day - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Sales techniques apply 100% to helping you earn an improved performance review. Planning ahead from day one will help you avoid lost time. The first rule to adhere to is, always sell yourself to management. This is accomplished by embracing documentation. I am not one for paperwork but the essentials are easy to organize in terms of files on your computer. Communication between you and management is essential. Verbal communication is for brief casual updates. Year-round let management know what you are working on and how you are progressing. Should problems arise in your work, provide the problem and the perceived solution. Ask for managements input on the steps you are about to take. By obtaining agreement on the best way to proceed, you establish “buy-ins” with management thereby sharing in the responsibility for the solution. On the occasion you do not see eye-to-eye on resolving the problem, analyze the situation to find areas on which to negotiate a better process for resolving. Email enables documentation with ease. Provide updates on where you stand on your projects. As you work through the challenges, provide your manager with updates for resolving the problems along with their end solution. All correspondence between the two of you will go into your projects file folder. Your manager will be ecstatic to know where you stand without having to ask you, and thrilled to read all has been resolved. Another file worthy of consideration would be a simple monthly word document. Each monthly page contains three categories: Accomplishments, To Be Continued, and Projects to Be Discontinued. A quick bulleted list for each category will be the perfect documentation for performance review day. Your manager will appreciate the brevity, complete recap of the year and having your accomplishments listed for proof that you deserve a raise and possibly a promotion. The day prior to your review, take time to consider the past year. Review your starting point and how you moved to where you are today. Which hurdles were you able to overcome? What were your best achievements? Are these reflected in your documentation and correspondence? Selling points to address on your review include the value your achievements bring to the company. Do they match with company values, goals and your stated objectives? Are you a team player, have you helped others in the company advance too? Include these in your presentation if the answer is yes. Practice your presentation in the mirror checking for a friendly smile on your face and sound in your voice. Do so until you believe you look and sound confident. Take note of the high points of what you want to say but do NOT memorize. You are about to have a conversation so your part is to sound natural and conversational. On Performance Review Day, print out the file of all of your past correspondence with your manager. Highlight the encouraging email you received. No one can argue with evidence of your success in print. Story-tell (1-2 minutes) about the hurdle you overcame for your grandest achievement of the year. Begin by using a low-pitched voice finishing with a highly excited one as the story ends. Get agreement you did a great job. Conclude with the high points for the year get further agreement you did a great job. All of these techniques combined serve to build trust and credibility, as well as clearly identify your personal brand as one who over-delivers on expectations. You are now positioned for an improved review and a Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC authored the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results” and “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews”. She provides corporate consultation, training, coaching, and Inspirational keynotes. Elinor is available for consultation. Call (800) 704-1499 today.

4 Battle Tested Leadership Skills of High Performing Leaders

4 Battle Tested Leadership Skills of High Performing Leaders By now you are aware thatleadership takes presence. But in my experience, leaders today have arguably fewer opportunities to show it. Especially if you head up a digital business or lead teams spread out across multiple locations, you’re faced with generating “remote” influence at the same time that the people right there in your office need to be motivated too.While I’ve always been pretty outgoing, it took me some time to create the kind of leadership presence that could inspire the people who work at my companyâ€"and it’s always a work in progress, especially as the daily features of the modern business crowd. I used to get frustrated, for instance, when employees texted me about something I thought they could easily figure out. I felt I deserved an office.evalBut over time, I’ve learned that some of those habits were just my pride or personality getting in the way of my real priorities as a leader. I discovered that if I learned what my team truly needed from me, I co uld impact them greater by giving back.These are the four habits that I’ve found helpful for building my leadership presence in a way that’s meaningful, productive, and consistent.1) Working In The TrenchesI like to know what everyone else is doing and thinking and what they’re working onâ€"without turning into a micromanager. You don’t need to be a distant figure to project authority. You probably shouldn’t be. You don’t want your employees’ dumbstruck awe and reverence, after allâ€"you want their dedication, commitment, and creativity.Since I like to be in the middle of the action, this has suited my personality well. I like to know what everyone else is doing, thinking and working onâ€"without turning into a micromanager.I’ve discovered that wanting to know those things is all about being interested in the individual as a person, not as an employee. And that simple habit can serve leaders well whether they’re managing remote teams for employees who are right the re in front of them.Your sense of your presence as a leader won’t mean much if your staff find you inaccessible. When team members reach out on Skype or feel comfortable walking right up to share an idea with you, you’ll know you’re getting this right.2) AuthenticityBeing present is more than just a persona or a level of accessibility, though, many leaders are running around with their sleeves rolled up, but they may not necessarily be “present” and engaged in what they’re doing. It’s easy to tell when that’s the caseâ€"they sort of look like the lights are on, but no one is home. evalWe like to talk ourselves hoarse about“employee engagement,”but we seldom use the same terms to discuss leadership. For me, being engaged meansletting the other person know that I’m actively listeningand interested. I try to ask questions and offer encouraging words when I see they’ve delivered on something.But you can’t fake this. This type of real-time, one-on-one interactio n has to be authenticto the person observingit, or it’s just not real presence. Being “all there” isn’t just something to focus on when discussing work projects, though. I go to lunch with my employees, plan some fun days outside the office, or just join them on their walks during breaks. It’s in these simple situations that I often feel I can connect most authentically.After all, your presence as a leader can’t just arise during the heat of battleâ€"you need to build relationships during the calm, enjoyable moments where your team members are likely to feel relaxed, open up, and share what’s on their mind.3) Conversation and StorytellingFor me, being enthusiastically conversational comes naturally. But I’m a talkerâ€"andthe art of conversationtakes more than just dominating the discussion. Instead, it means listening and asking questions without interrupting.evalI’ve had to learn more about the value of body languageâ€"not only my own, but also being able to turn into what others’postures, expressions, and gestures are subtly telling me. These easy-to-miss conversational cues can often tell you more accurately what somebody’s thinking.Leaders who are present don’t keep their emotional distance. I also like toshare stories with my team because it’s an easier way for me to get my point across. And speaking of “engagement,” you’ll probably get more of it, more naturally when you use laughter and a lively narrative.That can be critical for remote teams. When it comes to my remote staff, I make sure to check-in and have a quick exchange regularly, so they feel involved and know that I’m interested in what they are doing. And there’s always room for chitchatâ€"it’s never all business all the time.4) Emotional IntelligenceLeaders who are present don’t keep their emotional distance. If anything, this diminishes any sense of presence by preventing a real, human connection from taking place. I’ve found it’s especially importa nt for me to convey warmth and concern to those who don’t see me interact with others in the office every dayâ€"those only communicate with me by phone, Skype, or chat.Maybe it’s a special birthday gift or encouraging somebody to take the rest of the day off because of a personal situationâ€"whatever the occasion, I try and let everyone know that I know they’re people with their own lives, concerns, and stresses. What’s more, you don’t have to let them know thisloudlyâ€"you do it through actions, one person at a time.None of these leadership skills and habits can be developed overnight. I’ve struggled with all of them. It’s taken memuch practiceand testing to see what actions are best received by my employees.Plus, once I’ve established these behaviors, it’s never meant I could switch on autopilot from that point forward. Leadership presence isn’t about your persona or your bearing. It’s about what you do each day. And actions need to be takenâ€"repeatedly, del iberately, and with a constant eye to their results.

How to penetrate your target companies - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to penetrate your target companies Most job seekers meet somewhere between 3-5 people at their target company during an interview process. They usually only meet these people once â€" on interview day. But what is the value of meeting more people? Well, obviously, the more people you meet the more knowledge you’ll have about how the target company works. You can meet them well in advance of your first HR contact. You can research them in advance and test them (friendly? Stuffy?) on your interview day. But there is also the awareness campaign that you should be doing with target companies â€" to make yourself known to possible interviewers or HR/recruitment team. Ideally, you should be actively looking to penetrate your target companies throughout the process, during an offer negotiation as well as during your first 90 days. The more you are known to your target company, the better your odds of finding a job there. Just to be clear, though. To penetrate means that you create awareness of your candidacy/unique skills with as many people as possible. If others know you (or know of you), the risk in interviewing you and hiring you goes down. It especially important in a hiring market that favors the employer.?So how do you penetrate a company in advance and during your interview process? 1. LinkedIn â€" hopefully you are already using Linked In and using your connections to reach a much broader group of people. Many of them may work now or in the past at your target companies. You absolutely have to be actively building a strong network here and actually using it. Find out what groups people at your target companies have joined and become a member. That way you can e-mail them directly and begin to network within the group. 2. Facebook â€" If they have a page on Facebook, become a regular contributor there. First “like” their page and then begin providing feedback. “Share” and “Like” their content. 3. Phone/reception staff â€" being upbeat and friendly never hurts you. So every opportunity you have to network, should be taken. Even if only a brief few seconds, your demeanor matters to someone who gets hammered all day with requests. A simple “how’s your day”, if it is genuine, can help someone and help you on the day you arrive for the interview. And don’t think the opinion of the phone operator or greeter is insignificant. 4. Ask to meet others â€" you can always ask during the interview whether you could be introduced to others. Wouldn’t you want to meet people on your team or others working at the same level? Or someone in a key cross-functional support role. All they can say is “no”. But don’t just ask HR. Ask the people you interview with if there are others at the company who would be open to a few questions. You never know, maybe you’ll get an invite to the company’s Thu night drinks!:-) 5. Blogging/Public Relations â€" If you have a blog. Especially if it is industry related (technology) or key function related (marketing), you could highlight your target companies. Highlight key initiatives, new products or the upcoming charity event. And then send a link to their public relations team or firm. 6. Company website â€" Who runs the website at your target company? How about writing up some feedback for the webmaster? Or writing a review of their site on your blog? Offer to write a product review on Amazon. This one is endless! 7. Industry Conferences â€" Find out where your target companies go to show off their new products and services. While you might have to drive a few hours or get on a plane, this is a target rich environment. Since other similar companies will likely be there as well. As you can see by trying a few of the ideas above, you can become known to your target companies in a way that should be seen as highly beneficial to both parties. Assuming your approach is a confident one and you are not appearing desperate. Sending your resume to every recruiter in the company for jobs you are not necessarily qualified for will most definitely NOT act in your favour. Hopefully you can see how each of these work together as part of an integrated strategy to build awareness of you and the impact you could have on their company. What are your ideas to penetrate a target company? What has worked for you? Please leave your comment below! _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Margaret Buj is an interview and career acceleration coach who specializes in helping professionals get any job they want at their best ever salary. If you want to find out how recruiters read resumes, why you’re not getting hired, how to sell yourself successfully in a job interview and how to negotiate your best salary yet, you can download her ‘You’re HIRED!’ free video course at http://www.Interview-Coach.co.uk To contact Margaret, please email margaret@interview-coach.co.uk

The Best Example of Clear and Concise Writing

The Best Example of Clear and Concise WritingThere are many questions you might ask yourself when you are reviewing the writing styles of the different people who have inspired you. Often times people write beautifully when they are excited, but have trouble when they are 'down in the dumps'. I have been writing my entire life and have found that the first thing that jumps into my head when I'm down is a good 'to do' list, followed by a final call to action.In this article I want to show you how to use this writing style in your daily routine. The purpose of this is to provide you with an example of how to communicate with clarity and conciseness. When it comes to writing, there are three types of people that you will come across. Let's talk about each one.The first type of person that I want to look at as the best example of clear and concise writing for is yourself. Your goals and your mindset can make or break your success with writing. This is the person that has been dragging hi mself through the jungle for days on end trying to figure out how to get to where he needs to be. You need to give yourself permission to move forward in your writing as well. Just because your 'down in the dumps' doesn't mean that you shouldn't continue your writing life.The second type of person that I want to look at as the best example of clear and concise writing for is you. When you know exactly what you want to achieve and are passionate about it, everything else will fall into place. If you allow yourself to be uninterested in something, you may have a hard time starting. Your mindset must be positive when it comes to writing in order to write properly.The third type of person that I want to look at as the best example of clear and concise writing for is your readers. You are your readers and you are their one chance to see your writing. The more they enjoy what you are doing, the more likely they are to trust you to help them achieve their goals. After all, you have already done the research to help them attain their goals. Simply be as authentic as possible, and give yourself permission to let go of any prejudices or preconceived notions that you might have when writing.Remember that the first person that I was talking about as the best example of clear and concise writing for is YOU. Everything that you write down will always be fresh. Sometimes what you write is so good that it actually becomes history! Your story needs to be constantly kept alive, and whether it is inside your head or on paper, it is all important.As I mentioned, the person who is known as the best example of clear and concise writing for most of us is ourselves. Our goals and our mindset will always dictate our success with writing. It all comes down to knowing what you want and feeling excited about it.In closing, the person that I wanted to talk to you about the best example of clear and concise writing for was YOU. In order to start writing in the best way possible, you need t o be passionate about it.

Resume Writing For Technical Support

Resume Writing For Technical SupportIf you're a student, maybe you want to make a career out of helping the tech community. Or maybe you've already made your way into the world of tech support and now want to find a better way to leverage your talents. This article will show you how to improve your resume writing for technical support.Professional Resumes For Technical Support: There's one very important thing to keep in mind while writing your resume for technical support. That is, if your job involves any kind of networking or you're a consultant that also provides technical support, don't put your contact information and your job title on the first page of your resume. Put these items on the cover page.When you have a 'career' and a 'job title', it will be harder for recruiters to locate your resume. So when you're writing your resume, make sure that you list only your experience and skills on the first page of your resume. It will also help you a lot if you are being objective ab out your skills and experience, because there will be a possibility that someone will send your resume to a recruiter who may see you as a resume subject who simply has no knowledge about the area of work you're applying for.This can be very frustrating, but don't forget that the cover page is the primary place where the recruiter will find your resume. If you have the skills, then they'll see that.Technical Support - Your next step should be to expand your search to include technical support fields like network engineers, developers, sales people, etc. This is the next level of resume writing for technical support, so make sure you create a few of these types of resumes and attach them to your Technical Support CV. These will also help you out when you look at the list of your job skills.A Resume for Technical Support - The Resume you send to your employer should be completed by you - when it's ready, that is. Now that you've created your resume, read through it and look for any gr ammar or spelling errors, and try to fix them.After you've finished reading your resume, be sure to send it to your recruiter. To be sure you've completed your role, you may want to ask for some references from your employer. Don't rush this step.

High School Resume Explained

High School Resume Explained For the large part, it is a fact that most employers are fine with merely a work application. If you're looking for resume samples for a career change, consider researching resume templates of folks that are in that field to determine what the norms are. When you are looking for a new job and opt to add your most recent experiences to an existing resume, you can wind up with a hodgepodge of information that doesn't relay a productive message to possible employers. Below, you will discover a list of resume examples that could aid you with your work search. High school resume template software has turned into a necessity in the life span of child while he or she wants to be getting in their high school education. When you drop by your dream school, usually you are going to take a tour or a different kind of school-sponsored event. Most high school students won't have lots of relevant work experience. Many current high school students are burdened every single day and pressured to discover the perfect college. Creative writing college programs have a massive payout when the training course is finished and you have located your way into what you would like to do, however at the start it may be somewhat difficult in regards to financial charges. It is quite a bit more challenging to get a student loan. Locating a job can be challenging, particularly for high school students without lots of work-related experience. Finally, be honest about what you are able to afford. Your Contact Information The very first section of your resume should incorporate information on the way in which the employer can contact you. If you are in possession of a lengthy employment history, you don't will need to include all of it. The Hidden Truth About High School Resume A resume builder will allow you to rectify any errors and supply you with a working vision of the resume although you edit. Zety's resume templates are made with the assistance of recruiters and adhere to the best practices in HR. When you 've reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to learn how to vary the usage of action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a highly effective accomplishment statement. Employing a resume template has turned into an acceptable and smart practice for numerous reasons.

Find Your Inner Red Shoes Step Into Your Own Style of Success - Work It Daily

Find Your Inner Red Shoes Step Into Your Own Style of Success - Work It Daily About The Book Professional development is a particularly tough issue when it comes to women, as often times they are not in touch with their own career aspirations. Because women are frequently socialized to please someone else, it’s harder for them to figure out what satisfies them the most when it comes to their work. How can you focus on your professional development when you’re not even sure you are in the right career path? The best way to feel engaged with your career is by owning it and setting up a path that works for you. That’s what success is about: The journey, the pathway that is most satisfying for you. Award-winning, best-selling author and one of the most visible thought leaders on issues of success, leadership development, and woman empowerment, Mariela Dabbah guides you through a personal exploration to unleash your “inner red shoes” (your passion, your knowledge, your interests) and then shares insightful strategies to help you fulfill the new goals you set for yourself. From using the power of language to design your future to negotiation techniques, tightening your brand, managing up, and diversifying your network, the book intertwines the voices of successful professional women across industries. BUY BOOK EXCERPT 1: The Art of Negotiating EXCERPT 2: The Creative Power Of Language EXCERPT 3: Networking: That Miracle Word WEBINAR About The Author A force to be reckoned with when it comes to leveraging the playing field for women and diverse employees at the corporate level, award-winning author, founder of The Red Shoe Movement and Latinos in College, Mariela Dabbah is one of the most sought-after and respected thought leaders in the country. A best seller on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Nielsen, her award-winning books include Find Your Inner Red Shoes, The Latino Advantage in the Workplace, Latinos in College: Your Guide to Success, and any others. In 2013, she received the Women and Society Award by LULAC and Cervantes Institute for her work helping in the advancement of the Hispanic community. More From This Author... Want to read more from this author? Check out her other CAREEREALISM contributions below. Negotiating Salary: Tips For Professional Women « Back To Bookshelf Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!