Friday, November 29, 2019

Why being likable can be a remarkable life skill

Why being likable can be a remarkable life skillWhy being likable can be a remarkable life skillNot many people are excited to get a phone call from an FBI agent. They tend to be even less enthusiastic when told the agent needs to speak to them about a current investigation. Sometimes I focused on being likable other times, I focused on how to get the job done rather than worry about hurt feelings.As entrepreneurs and leaders, you also struggle to maintain the balance between likability and effectiveness. At times itll be important to establish partal connections and develop new relationships so you dont miss out on great opportunities. Other times youll need to impress new clients and competitors with your competence and capabilities.Although Steve Jobs got away with it, being a jerk doesnt add value in fruchtwein cases. The tough question for leaders is when to pour on the charm and schmooze, and when to roll over the competition to get the best deal.A gap is created when your abil ity to get the job done is more important to your investors and employees than your likability. To be ruthlessly effective, a few dead bodies may be left behind and it could affect your reputation in both the market and the organization.The well-researchedOCEAN modelhas identified 5 personality characteristics that are most important to peoples lives. The five traits are Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (sensitive/nervous vs. secure/confident). ansicht five traits are stable over time and they persist despite our circumstances. They have an impact on how well you do in life.Out of the 5 personality traits,researchhas identified one above the rest that predicts professional success agreeableness. In other words, likability. Likable people possess the admirable traits of politeness, respectfulness, and listening skills.Lets take a closer look at why being likable can be a remarkable life skill1. Be likable for the right reasonsUnf ortunately, likable can be viewed as a synonym for wimp- the affable person who goes along with everyone to keep the peace. Wimps dont want to upset others and will go out of their way to be nice. They let people walk all over them because they dont have the backbone to take a stand on something thats important.As a leader, you may need to place pressure on employees or investors to maintain the competitiveness of your company. Likable people are not afraid to dig in their heels when they see ways to make the world a better place. Theyd rather be called a jerk than pass up an opportunity to pursue a far-reaching vision (i.e. Steve Jobs).Wimps let themselves be influenced by the values of others. Likable people get along with others but stand up for what they believe is right.How To Make It Work For You Identify the core values that are most important to you. Values are a collection of your personal experiences, trials, and successes. Theyre not something to be selected from a list b ecause they sound like good ones. If youre stuck, you might need to look at acore values listto remind yourself of what truly resonates with you. Narrow that list down to the five most important. If everything is a core value, then nothing is a priority.2. First Impressions set the toneResearch by Princeton psychologistsreveal that when we see a new face, our brains decide whether a person is likable within a tenth of a second. A single word does not need to be exchanged with the other person.Its imperative to walk into every first meeting or encounter with confidence because it will show on your face. This confidence translates into likability by other people. The same study shows that longer exposure doesnt significantly alter impressions, which means our initial split-second assessment sticks around.Can you correct a badeanstalt first impression? Its not easy butother researchhas found that if you provide people with information that allows them to see you in a new context, over time you can change their opinion of you.How To Make It Work For You First impressions are the result of positive body language. Walk with purpose and confidence, maintain a strong posture, offer a firm handshake, smile, face the person to whom you are talking, and make eye contact. If their eyes start to wander, its a clue theyve lost interest in you.3. Lasting impressions Are Also CriticalIts important to make a good first impression, but we also need to make a good last impression because often this is the one that stays with us. Research byDaniel Kahnemanshows that people tend to judge an experience based on how they felt at its peak, and at its end, rather than the average of every moment of the experience.This is called thepeak-end ruleand it applies whether the experience is pleasant or unpleasant.Expertsagree, however, that a positive memory of the overall experience stays with us far longer than a single memory of either a peak or end moment.How To Make It Work For You If y ou leave a negative initial impression, you can counteract it with a positive peak and end. Its key for you to recognize how/when that first impression became negative and follow up with a gesture that will be stored as a peak experience in the mind of the other person. Hold the door open, buy a drink, or offer to broker an important introduction- all of these are small gestures that can leave a strong lasting impression.4. Honesty can be painful, but its worth itConvivial folks tend togo along to get along, so its easy to understand why many people confuse likable people with people pleasers.Sincerity and honesty are important components of likability. We gravitate toward people we trust. Likable people are not afraid to speak up even when theres a good chance theyll upset someone. If they dont agree with something said, theyll say so. Theyre diplomatic and choose their words with care to lessen the potential to offend, but they speak the truth. Thats why we trust them.How To Make It Work For You If theres something you need to say, even if youre uncomfortable, just say it. Take these precautions be certain before you open your mouth that your words are constructive and not perceived as a personal attack.5. Curiosity opens many doorsIf you want to be the most interesting person in the room, curiosity is the social requirement. Studies conducted byGeorge Mason University psychologist Todd Kashdanfound that being curious is essential if we want to cultivate and maintain relationships. Curiosity is what gets the dialogue going and is the secret juice of relationships.A big mistake many people make in conversations is that they focus too much on how they plan to respond to the other person. As a result, they dont process what has been spoken. The opportunity for a spontaneous response is missed because they hadnt really listened to what was said.Several studiespublished in the Greater Good Science Center reveal that curious people have better relationships and co nnect better with others. People are attracted and feel socially closer to individuals who are curious.How To Make It Work For You Ask a lot of questions. People like to know youve listened to what they said. A simple follow-up question shows that you listened and care about what they said and who they are as individuals. When you ask questions of people, you gain their respect and appreciation.Thisarticlefirst appeared onLaRaeQuy.com.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

How to Get a Job Referral (with samples)

How to Get a Job Referral (with samples)How to Get a Job Referral (with samples)Acquiring a job referral can make all of the difference in getting hired. More than 60% of employees that were referred to an open position were hired by the employer. In comparison, those applying to jobs in general have only about a 2% chance of even getting an interview. Even if half of those interviewed are hired, this means getting referred correlated with a 60,000% increase in yur chance of getting hired.The trouble comes in knowing who to ask, what to do if you have no connections, and how to draft the message to request a referral. Luckily, weve got all the answers for you. With ur guide, you can get a job referral that will get you one step closer the job you want.The benefits of getting a job referralMore fulfilling work The statistics are pretty overwhelming on the benefits employees who get a job through referrals are mora likely to enjoy their job and feel satisfied with their culture fit. Th is makes a lot of sense. Considering youll get referred from partieal connections (or connections youre soon to form), the company you get referred to is likely to share values with your friends, who are likely to share values with you. Get bedrngnisiced by big firms As the size of a company increases, so does the percentage of jobs filled through referrals. This means you can leverage referrals to get noticed by large companies that may be bombarded with millions of resumes each year. Your referral is an effective side-step in the process that will push your resume further up the line, or lead straight to an interview.Tip When Sam was making her career change, she submitted a resume to Spotify and also used her connections to get referred to her current position. It was a two-pronged approach. Impress the employer More than 50% of employers consider employees that have been referred to be a better fit for their organisation. This follows much of the same logic as feeling more fulfi lled in your work, but the consequence of this is youre more likely to impress your employer in jobs youve been referred to compared to those youve not been referred to. Who to ask for referrals First-connections Your first connections are those that you have direct contact with. These are people youve previously worked with, close friends, colleagues, and so on. Those who are in your first network are best to ask for referrals as rapport has already been built and theyre more likely to help you out.Tip Where possible, ask for a referral from senior-level management as 91% of people referred by a director got hired compared to 53% referred by those at entry-level. Second-connections These are the people who you are connected to through a mutual acquaintance. While not preferable, second-connections are great for expanding your network. These connections tend to come in when researching positions on LinkedIn. Its important to build a rapport with second-connections before requesting a job referral from them so this method can take a bit longer.Bonus Student ConnectionsStudents have an alternative route to go down when it comes to referrals. Universities and schools come with an array of connections to companies, different universities, community organisations, and more. If youre currently in school, you can ask your careers service if they have connections with anyone that may work in the company youre looking to apply to or something similar. You can also contact professors, student clubs, and honor societies. Tip Do you need to write a reference letter? Check out our best practices.What if I dont have insider connections?Step 1 Select your contactThe first thing you need to do with no insider connections is to pick someone that has influence in the organisation youre applying to. For example, if youre hoping to apply for the Regional Manager in a certain organisation, find someone who works as a Branch Manager, or the Managing Director. Learn more about findi ng connections later in this post. The key to this is finding someone whose opinion will have a plausible influence on the hiring practice of an opening position. Step 2 Set up an informational interview The next thing to do is reach out to this person (more on this later) an organise an informational interview. This is a quick meeting where you ask the person about their role, their time in the company, and so on. The idea here is to build a relationship with the person without introducing the idea of getting a referral straight away. If the organisation that interests you is scheduled to appear at a careers fair, ask this person if they intend on going. If so, thats your in. If not, you can use this to setup the interview. I was hoping to speak to you on project theyre involved in How does meeting point sound?Step 3 Discern challenges Your objective in the informational interview is to identify challenges the company is facing at the moment. Of course, the person youre speaking to wont be able to divulge confidential information, but simply learn about obstacles theyre trying to overcome in their role, or even previous issues.Step 4 Offer solutions Once youve identified challenges (of which, something related to an open position is bound to come up), then you can take time to brainstorm how you can offer possible solutions. Follow-up with the person after your interview and mention how you think you can help. I recall you mentioning issue. In my experience, solution could help this. I saw you have an opening for open position, would you be comfortable referring me for open position and we can try put solution into action?Where to find your connections LinkedIn Before reading this post you must have thought of using LinkedIn for connections. The question is, how do you find people on LinkedIn who may provide a referral? You can utilise LinkedIns search feature. On desktop, click on Jobs. From there, youll see an vorkaufsrecht to filter jobs by In Your Network this will show you connections you have that work at organisations with job openings. You can also go through any LinkedIn groups youre a member of to identify possible connections. Facebook Much like LinkedIn, you can easily search through Facebook Groups to find people who work in organisations of interest. It is also possible to search for people who work in an organisation directly in Facebooks search bar. Simply search People who work at company of interest to identify these people. Reminder Messages sent on Facebook without being friends end up in a message request filter. This can lower your chances of being noticed.Meetups Meetup is an app that allows you to host networking and mingling events with peers based on a mutual interest. Many professionals host meetups to network and get to know one another. These can be used to find people who work in your field / an organisation of interest. Careers Fair Also known as a job fair, a careers fair is an exciting opportunity to mee t your dream company or a potential employer with casual conversation. While theyre mainly used to leave an impression on the recruiter with your resume, they can also be used to network and make connections. Check the social media of the organisation of interest to see if theyre going to be at an upcoming job fair. Recruitment agencies typically advertise these too.How to ask for a referral The key to asking a colleague (or recent connection) to refer you for a job lies in the language you use. You dont want your request to come across as a demand, nor do you want to put the person in the position in which they feel they have to refer you. You want someone to be more than happy to do this, in fact, if you build rapport correctly, your connection should be motivated to do this on their own. See a sample below. Asking for a job referral (sample) Hi Persons Name, I hope youre doing well. Following from our conversation on challenge to business I had some ideas on how I could solution. Im excited by the attribute of the business and noticed there was a job opening for open position. Do you feel you know enough about me to write a referral letter for the position? Id love to start working on challenge to business as soon as possible. For the role, I believe my skill in 3 skills relevant to the job opening / description coupled with my experience in prior experience linked to challenge to business would bring a lot of value. Let me know what you think. Your nameWhat makes this sample effective?Using this format, you lean on your previous rapport with the individual and provide them autonomy over their decision on referring you Do you feel you know enough. You clearly outline your suitability for the open position to them (i.e., your value proposition) too. Theyve got all the information they need. Getting your job referral Job referrals can hep you get noticed by the recruiter, find more fulfilling work, and leave a great impression. Using your existing network and those connected to you through mutual friends, as well as leveraging contacts made available to you through your work or study, can help you identify the best person to provide your referral. Even if you dont have insider connections to your organisation of interest, it is possible to get a referral. When requesting a referral, reference previous conversations, outline your value proposition, and ask your connection whether or not they feel comfortable doing so.Tip Utilizings resume builder, you can benefit from our built-in referral system to send a link of your resume to your contact as a reference of your previous experience. Dean OReilly Psychology student with keen interest in academic research. Currently exploring the world of marketing distribution and content creation with to help people get closer to the job of their dreams. Read more about my journey to on Fast Company or Gay Times.Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields ar e marked *CommentName * Email * Website Subscribe now for moreSee more great content and inspiring examples of resumes done right each month. 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Thursday, November 21, 2019

Discover Which IT Certifications Are Most Valuable

Discover Which IT Certifications Are Most ValuableDiscover Which IT Certifications Are Most ValuableIT certifications can open many doors throughout your career, especially when youre searching for your next challenge. Recruiters and hiring managers tend to look at the Certifications section of a tech resume before anything else. Why? They want candidates with up-to-date knowledge, and IT certifications quickly show them a persons mastery of a particular technology or practice.These are some of the fruchtwein valuable IT certifications today, according to the 2019 Robert Half Technology Salary GuideCertified Scrum Master (CSM)AWS Certified Solutions ArchitectCertified Ethical Hacker (CEH)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)CompTIA A+Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)ITILMicrosoft Certified Solutions Expert datenwolke Platform and InfrastructureProject Management Pr ofessional (PMP)You can earn an IT certification in a wide range of practices, from help desk basics to mastery of complex cloud environments. So whether youre a recent graduate or seasoned tech specialist, preparing for and attaining a certification is a great way to expand your skill set, impress prospective employers and stand out from the crowd. Heres a roundup of some of the fruchtwein valuable IT certifications today.Best entry-level and intermediate IT certificationsJust starting out in the IT field? Or perhaps youre ready to specialize? The following are some of the best introductory and mid-level certifications todayCompTIA certificationsCompTIA issues certifications for a variety of technologies and platforms, but one stands above the rest in terms of value to IT prosCompTIA A+ Get started in IT with this foundational certificate. Its all about hardware, technical support and troubleshooting. It also covers best practices in security, networking, operational procedures, mo bile devices and various operating systems.Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certificationsThe most valuable certifications from this tech giant includeMicrosoft Office Specialist The MOS, MOS Expert and MOS Master certifications show your competence level in Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, SharePoint, OneNote and Exchange. Theyre not just for administrative professionals - these certifications are also helpful for IT workers in cloud computing and general tech support.Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert MCSE certifications come in several specializations and show that you have the skills to manage servers, data systems, storage, private clouds, networking and more, depending on which ones you successfully complete.Microsoft Certified Solution Developer Getting the MCSD certification shows that you have what it takes to plan and create apps across a wide range of Windows products.Cisco certificationsAs Cisco is a leading provider of infrastructure products, a certif icate from this company confirms that the holder is prepared for the latest developments and best practices in networking. The most essential areCisco Certified Network Associate A step up from Ciscos entry-level certification, CCNAs can specialize in one of the following areas cloud, collaboration, cyber operations, data center, industrial/IoT, routing and switching, security, tafelgeschirr provider, and wireless.Cisco Certified Network Professional A step up from the associate level, the CCNP is a more advanced IT certificate in one of the above specialty areas.Best IT certifications for securityHacking and cyber attacks are hot topics today, and many jobs in security and risk management are going unfilled. The following are some of the most valuable IT certifications in this booming field.ISACA certificationsA professional organization devoted to IT security and governance, ISACA manages five global certification programs, includingCertified Information Systems Auditor According to the ISACA, the CISA is its cornerstone certification. As the name indicates, this exam is aimed at information systems (IS) professionals who monitor, control and assess a companys IT or business systems. This certificate requires five years of professional experience in the field.Certified Information Security Manager The leading credential for information security managers, the CISM certification is designed for people who design, build and manage information security programs. To qualify, you must have at least five years of IS experience and three years as a security manager.Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control The CRISC (pronounced SEE-risk) accredits professionals and project managers responsible for information security and its overall impact on the enterprise. It covers risk identification, risk assessment, risk response and mitigation, and risk control monitoring and reporting.Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT The CGEIT demonstrates your understan ding of enterprise IT governance principles and practices. It is one of the most sought-after certifications in IT, commanding some of the highest salaries.Cybersecurity Nexus In a time of constantly evolving cybersecurity threats, the CSX certification demonstrates that you are up-to-date on the most current security standards and risks.Other valuable IT certifications for security includeCertified Ethical Hacker EC-Council offers several certification programs, and one of the most popular ones is the CEH. Holders of this specialize in penetration testing, which is why this IT certificate is often a prerequisite for positions like cyber forensics analyst, cybersecurity engineer and applications developer.Certified Information Systems Security Professional This is one of the most sought-after certifications in cybersecurity. Designed for experienced IT professionals, CISSP holders understand vulnerabilities in networked systems and create policies to safeguard systems and minimize r isk.Global Information Assurance Certifications All about information security, the GIACs come in several categories cyber defense penetration testing incident response and forensics cybersecurity management, audit and legal proficiencies developer and industrial control systems. The highest level is the GIAC Security Expert (GSE).Best certifications for cloud computingAs cloud computing becomes the new normal in IT, more cloud credentials are available. Many of them are specific to individual vendors, including Microsoft, VMware and Amazon. There are also a few certifications that focus on more general practices across this fast-growing area. Top certifications includeCompTIA Cloud Essentials and CompTIA Cloud+ The CompTIA Cloud Essentials certification covers both cloud computing and virtualization skills. Cloud+ represents the next step up from the Essentials certification.MCSE Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Passing this exam testifies to your skills across a wide set of Micro softs cloud technologies, including storage, networking, virtualization, and systems and identity management.VMware Certified Professional 6 Data Center Virtualization Virtualization is the foundation of cloud computing, and VMware offers the VCP6-DCV certification in managing data center virtualization via VMwares vSphere 6.0 and vRealize within cloud environments.AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional Amazon is the largest provider of cloud computing services, and this certification affirms your ability to design and deploy cloud environments using Amazon Web Services.Best management certificationsProject management is indispensable to IT operations. Even if youre tech-focused, it can be a very valuable soft skill to acquire. And because project management involves planning, scheduling, budgeting and execution, certification can be a key steppingstone to managerial positions.Certified Associate in Project Management Offered by the highly respected Project Management Inst itute (PMI), the CAPM is an ideal entry-level credential.Project Management Professional Also offered by PMI, the PMP credential is among the most prestigious in the profession. A number of subspecialty certifications are also available.Certified Scrum Master The entry-level CSM certification is offered by the Scrum Alliance. It is an excellent way to show your knowledge of Scrum and Agile management practices.Best help desk certificationsMany IT professionals begin their careers in technical support and help desk roles. And to give students a leg up, schools are increasingly offering courses that specifically prepare students to gain help desk certifications.You can gain certification in either help desk functions as a whole, or you can concentrate on a specific vendors platforms and products.HDI certifications Formerly called the Help Desk Institute, HDI offers certifications that range from the entry-level HDI Desktop Support Technician to the HDI Support Center Director. The HDI Technical Support Professional certification is particularly popular with hiring managers. They also offer credentials for support center analysts, team leaders and customer service representatives.ITIL The UK organization AXELOS is charged with promoting best practices for IT service management (ITSM). ITIL, formerly an acronym for Information Technology Infrastructure Library, is the registered name for a widely accepted framework for managing IT service delivery. There are five ITIL certifications, ranging from Foundation to Master.Apple Certified Support Professional You can demonstrate your expertise with macOS with this the ACSP certification from Apple.Best certifications in database, analytics and other data technologiesDatabase technologies remain foundational to IT operations, while growth in big data and analytics initiatives is driving new career opportunities. Certifications tend to be built around a single providers platform, includingOracle Certified Professional Ora cle, the worlds leading database provider, offers certification in a range of database professions, from database administration and database application development to analytics, data warehousing and big data.SAP Certified Technology Associate SAP HANA 2.0 This certification demonstrates your ability to install, manage, monitor, migrate and troubleshoot SAPs database technology.Microsoft SQL Server certifications Like Oracle, Microsoft offers a range of certifications, including database administration, business intelligence, and data management and analytics.CCIE Data Center This Cisco certification demonstrates expert-level skills required to plan, prepare, operate, monitor and troubleshoot complex data center networks.According to the Robert Half Technology Salary Guide, employers prefer to hire certified professionals, especially those who also have college degrees and real-world experience to go along with them. Those who put in the effort to obtain credentials can expect lar ger salaries and quicker movement up the career ladder, not to mention a healthy shot of self-confidence. Tags