Finding Success Surrounding Yourself with Successful People (Pt. 6) Building Your Future Now

Finding Success Surrounding Yourself with Successful People (Pt. 6) Building Your Future Now Surrounding yourself with successful people is something that you must consider. You can profit a lot by listening and hanging out with professionals who are serious about succeeding. These types of people are true to their crafts; they never stop learning and sometimes share their knowledge with others. It is important to assemble a strong network of individuals who have similar goals as you do. As a person, you can grow as well as your professional side. You must be willing to always be open to learning new things and sometimes going through some tough patches to accept new wisdom. You will find these people all around you! They are your co-workers, neighbours, and friends. They understand what it takes to carve out a solid career. So listen to them and collaborate with them. Find ways to expand on your professional relationship. And if your lucky, one of these people can mentor you and guide you down a fruitful path! Image: Hillyne

5 Public Speaking Myths You Need To Break

5 Public Speaking Myths You Need To Break Does public speaking need to fill us with dread? Nope! Are there some commonly held belief systems that hold us back from sharing our perceptions, ideas, and making an impact? You betcha! Here are five really unhelpful myths that need to hit the road- now! These beliefs no longer need to stand in the way of your potential. The world needs your voice! Public Speaking Myth #1 It’s really bad if I’m nervous. Experiencing butterflies, shaky hands, and a racing heart is not bad. It’s actually what you think about these experiences that matters. Judging yourself for being nervous â€" that’s what feels terrible. “What’s wrong with me? It’s so stupid that I’m sweating so much, I know my topic!” These thoughts don’t help. They’re mean and distracting. Reassuring yourself is a much better choice. “My face is turning red. Oh well, I look good in red!” “My hands are shaking. It’s okay. I care about my subject. There are things that are at stake, so it makes sense that my body feels very alive right now.” Observe your thoughts when you feel those sensations of stress. If you find yourself getting nervous about being nervous, choose to accept how you feel, rather than fighting how you feel. This will help you stay present (the key to powerful presenting) to what is true in the moment. Public Speaking Myth #2 I can only do a good job if I’m totally calm. When you go see a performer like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, or Bruce Springsteen, are you excited to see them be relaxed? When you go to a political rally, are you inspired when the speaker is chill? No! We want to see people who are alive, electric, and dynamic! That’s what engages and moves us. So, while being calm when you are presenting, pitching, or giving a toast may SEEM like a worthy goal, it’s actually not. Being calm may be more comfortable for you, but it won’t serve your audience or the important message you are sharing. You know what will? Passion. Having passion for your subject matter will connect you to your audience. Passion will help you focus on your mission rather than on yourself. Passion may also lead you to be a little sweaty, your heart beating faster, or your face may turn a pretty shade of pink. It’s okay. You’re alive, championing something. And that’s really cool. Dig deep and remember WHY your talk is important. This will fuel your passion! Public Speaking Myth #3- I have to get comfortable being the center of attention. Many people hate being the center of attention. Let’s really examine this phrase, “center of attention.” When you are up in front giving a talk or toast, yes, you are in the center of your audience’s attention. But, if you focus on serving your audience’s needs with your message, the audience becomes the center of your attention. The nightmare begins when you make yourself the center of your own attention. When you focus on your shaky voice, your sweaty palms, and your butterflies, it becomes very difficult to concentrate and coherently get your points across. Decide that the presentation is actually not about you. You are there to serve your audience. Focus on how your message meets their needs. Get yourself out of the center of your own attention. It’s not about you! Make your mission and your audience your focus. Public Speaking Myth #4 I’m an introvert, so there’s no way I can be good at public speaking. Many actors who deliver riveting performances are introverts. There’s no reason an introvert can’t be a powerful speaker and actually enjoy the experience. For those whose emotional and intellectual batteries are better charged when they are alone, learning how to handle the stimulus in the room will be really helpful. When we are interacting with someone one-on-one, we tune into the other person’s energy their mood, their body language, their tone, and their actual words. Once we are in front of a group, tuning into each individual’s energy has the potential to be overwhelming, draining, confusing and distracting. Do we want to take note of our audience’s vibe and responses? Of course. Do we need to take them personally? No. We all have a lot going on in our complicated lives. One moment we can be having a great day, two seconds later we receive a text message that throws us for a loop or read a news headline that’s really shocking or disheartening. We need to remember that our audience’s moods may be all over the place when we take the stage. Attempting to tune into each individual’s energy will not serve you. Nor will deciding that a depressed look or distracted behavior is your fault or has much to do with you at all. Instead, enter the stage or the room with a desire to share positive energy. Be a beacon with your message. Stand tall, take up space, and allow your mission to help you and your audience rise above the chatter and noise of their minds, moods, and smartphones. You don’t go to GET a presentation, pitch, or toast. You go to GIVE one. Focus on being generous and expansive. Public Speaking Myth #5 Some people are naturals. Then there’s the rest of us who muddle through, excited to “just get it over with”. Yes, some people seem to have charisma galore and love being up on stage. Some of those folks may be naturals but some may have worked incredibly hard on their message and their style. It takes time and effort to create a talk, toast, or pitch that brings the audience on an exciting and inspiring journey. After investing time into the writing process, the rehearsal process begins! During this often neglected yet crucial stage, the presenter can experiment with how to express their ideas in the most creative way possible â€" using pauses, changes in volume, pitch, and pace to create a worthwhile experience for their audience. Instead of attributing a great presentation to natural ability, set yourself up for success by putting time into your preparation. Practice by yourself and in front of a trusted and supportive group. The ideas or cause you are trying to advance are worth it. You’ll find that the more you rehearse and hone your skills in a deliberate way, the more natural the process will become to you. Then, you will begin to feel like and appear like a….natural public speaker! This guest post was authored by Amanda Hennessey Amanda Hennessey is the founder of Boston Public Speaking and San Diego Public Speaking, where her innovative strategies give people confidence and charisma through finding their own unique voice. For over a decade, she has empowered individuals, including CEOs, scientists, students, executives, entrepreneurs, activists, chefs, doctors, and even a top dog trainer, to shift from fearful to fierce. She has clients that have appeared on Dr. Oz, Today, and more. Currently, Amanda leads public speaking workshops across the country, working with individuals and organizations, including Boston Children’s Hospital, MIT, Simmons School of Social Work, and Petco. She taught acting at Boston University’s Department of Film and Television and at New York Film Academy. Amanda received her MFA at the Actors Studio Drama School and went on to act in films, plays, and commercials. She is a co-founder of Boston Acting Classes, where she teaches with her husband, Art Hennessey. Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence, Find Your Voice, and Inspire Your Audience (Adams Media; May 14, 2019) is her first book.

4 Ways to Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems

4 Ways to Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems If you’ve ever conducted an online job search, you know how the process goes. You find a great job opening and create an account to start an application. Then you submit your resume, cover letter and manually fill in a dozen answer forms. An hour later, you hit send, only to never hear from the company. Many job seekers experience this incredibly frustrating silence and wonder why they are never contacted by a company after submitting their resume online. Chances are, your resume is never even looked at by a human within the company. In today’s job search world, resumes are automatically parsed and saved into a database by a software called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This software allows companies to collect, sort, and contact job applicants in a highly efficient manner, contributing to the popularity of applicant tracking systems. The downside is that only jobseekers who understand how to beat applicant tracking systems wind up getting interviews. Before you submit another resume online, use these 4 tricks to optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems and increase your likelihood of getting a call back. 1) Avoid Spelling Mistakes Whether your resume is being looked at by a human or a machine, spelling mistakes make you look like a poor candidate. However, spelling mistakes are far more costly when you’re sending your resume to an ATS, rather than a recruiter or hiring manager. While humans can empathize, and even forgive a spelling mistake, applicant tracking systems cannot. Applicant tracking systems rank candidates by the number of keywords on their resume that match the job description or a search query being run by the recruiter. If you misspell even just one word on your resume, it can prevent you from appearing in the search results or cause your resume to fall in the ranking. Have a proofreader check your resume for spelling mistakes before you begin applying for jobs. 2) Keep the Appearance Simple Less is not always more but when it comes to optimizing your resume for ATS, the less unnecessarily fancy your resume is, the higher the chances are of your resume being correctly parsed by an applicant tracking systems. ATS can be easily confused by pictures, fancy characters, typefaces and even formatting, preventing you from appearing in keyword searches. The ATS is most likely to parse and store your resume correctly if you stick to a standard resume format, font and file type. ATS-friendly resumes are typically chronologically formatted, size eleven or twelve font, written in a simple typeface (such as Times New Roman or Arial), and saved into a .pdf or .docx file. Opts for a simple, standard resume for any applications you submit online. 3) Match Your Resume Keywords A resume without the correct keywords will automatically exclude you from the running every time. Applicant tracking systems rely heavily upon screening the content of resumes to identify the best matched applicants. To ensure your resume ranks well in the ATS, match the keywords on your resume to those listed on the job description. Then, when a recruiter runs a keyword search to quickly sift through the candidates in their database, the ATS will find that your resume contains the same keywords and pull up your profile for review. While you can manually match the keyword on a job description against your resume, it can be a lengthy process and cause you to miss key terms. A resume optimizing tool can compare your resume against the job description and instantly generate a list of the terms that appear on the job description but are missing from your resume. The results of a Jobscan resume analysis. 4) Tailor Your Application for Each Job No two resumes or cover letters you submit should ever be the same. Each time you submit your application for a position, tailor it to the exact job you are applying for. Each job description is likely to be worded slightly differently, requiring you to re-write parts of your resume to match the wording of the job description. You can even save time by starting with a standard “template” resume and tailoring it each time you submit a job application. Simply optimizing your resume keywords for one job and then sending out that same resume for similar positions is unlikely to yield the desired results. If you really want to standout, submitting a well structured and tailored resume is also important. Starting with a cover letter template designed to optimize keywords and highlight your accomplishments can also help you rank more highly in the ATS and get a step up on your competition. Job hunting with the correct tools can help remove a lot of stress and uncertainty from the process. Next time you’re conducting a job search, beat out the other candidates by using your understanding of applicant tracking systems and resume optimization. Image: Shutterstock

Are You Really Ready to Contact Literary Agents with Your Idea for Writing a Nonfiction Book to Build Your Brand and Promote Your Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Are You Really Ready to Contact Literary Agents with Your Idea for Writing a Nonfiction Book to Build Your Brand and Promote Your Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Getting a literary agent to represent you is an essential step toward getting profitably published. Literary agents are necessary to help you get around the gatekeepers at most publishers; most publishers won’t even look at unsolicited manuscripts. A good agent will save you time by knowing which acquisitions editors and publishers are most likely to be interested in your book. In addition, a literary agent will make sure you are published under the most favorable terms possible. Your ONE chance to make a positive first impression But, before approaching an agent to represent you, you should finalize the presentation of your book. Its vital that you dont waste a literary agents time. Literary agents don’t have time to waste dealing with publishing “wannabees” who don’t haveand may never havea concrete book project to represent. To busy agents, dreams don’t make it. If you approach an agent before you’re prepared, you may never be able to contact them again. They’re likely to consider you a “dreamer” and ignore your e-mails and phone calls. Here are some 8 questions to ask yourself before contacting potential agents: 1. Do you have an elevator speech? Before approaching an agent, prepare an “elevator speech” describing your project in the less than thirty-seconds it takes for an average elevator ride. If you can’t quickly explain the essence of your book in a few words, your project probably isn’t ready for prime time. Your elevator speech must answer several basic questions: What is your book about? What is its big idea? Who is going to buy it? Why are they going to buy it? How does it differ from existing books on the subject? Where and how are you going to promote it? Your elevator speech will form the first sentence of the first paragraph of your book proposal, where you attempt to hook the potential publishers interest. If your first sentences dont communicate the urgency of the problem your book addresses, a fresh or unique approach to the problem, and why youre the one individual in the world best qualified to write the book, many acquisitions editors may not even continue reading. 2. Have you chosen a compelling title for your book? The book title is crucial to your book’s success. The title is often your oneâ€"and onlyâ€"chance to make a sale. It must attract the attention of acquisition editors, book reviewers, bookstore managers, web surfers and readers. The ideal title makes a compelling promise to a specific market segment and backs it up with a supporting subtitle that provides elaborates on the promise. Unlike fiction books, which are purchased for pleasure, nonfiction business and self-help books are purchased to solve problems and achieve goals. Few readers buy nonfiction books because they want to read a general textbook; most nonfiction readers have specific problems they want to solve or goals they want to achieve. Successful title techniques include: Alliteration. Repeated consonants, (i.e., hard sounds), create patterns in the readers mind, that help makes titles memorable, i.e., Beautiful Bridges of Baltimore, etc. Action verbs. Verbs ending in ing, i.e., gerunds, imply that action is being taken, i.e., Writing White Papers, etc. Conciseness. The shorter the words, the bigger they can appear on the cover of your book. 3. Have you created a detailed table of contents? Your book’s table of contents must demonstrate your mastery of your topic and your ability to organize and present complex information in a logical sequence. Each chapter title should be accompanied by a brief description of the main points to be covered in each chapter. Note that the chapters in many nonfiction books are organized into sections. Sections make a book appear easier to read by breaking it into a smaller parts. It appears easier to read 3 sections of a book, each containing 4 chapters, than a book containing 12 separate chapters.   The sections also   help readers better understand how to apply the information described in your book. Details count! Your publisher wants to know the expected page count of your book and the number of exercises, tables, illustrations, graphics, and worksheets you plan on including in each chapter. 4. Have you clearly identified whos going to buy your book? Its essential that you demonstrate that there is a reachable market for your book. Strive for urgency. Describe the specific market segment likely to be interested in buying your book. Describe the characteristics of your target market as concretely as possible. Answer questions like: What are the symptoms your book helps solve? How many people share the problem? What are the symptoms, or consequences, of the problem your book addresses? Quantify your book’s market in terms of buying power, willingness to buy books, and its ability to to be reached through associations, blogs, newsletters, or publications. 5. How will your book be different? Why will readers choose your book instead of one of the existing books on the topic? Existing books on the same topic are a good sign, not a bad sign. They prove that there is an market for books on the subject. Your analysis of currently-available books must address issues like: What are the strengths and weakness of existing books? What will make your book more desirable for readers? 6. What are your qualifications for writing your book? This section offers you an opportunity to describe your background and how it contributes to your book. How do your experiences permit you to write a better book than the authors of existing books? Never discount your ability to write a book. Academic credentials are not as important as your proven ability to contribute to the success of your clients and employers. If you have been successful in business, you probably know more than you think you know about the practical aspects of your field than those who have studied it, but never practiced it. 7. How are you going to promote your book? Promotion is your responsibility, not the publisher’s! Your ability to promote your book is as important as your ability to write your book. Start by describing your contact sphere; individuals who you deal with or write for on a consistent basis? What kind of an online presence do you have? Next, list book reviewers and press contacts who can help promote your book. List publications who might run an extract from your book. Research producers who book guests for radio and TV interviews. Discuss your speaking experience and willingness to travel to support your book. Describe how you will promote your book in your blog and on your web site. List authorities in your field who have offered to write a foreword or provide you with cover testimonials. 8. Have you prepared the necessary sample chapters? Prepare twoâ€"three, if you’re a first-time authorâ€"sample chapters and hire a professional editor to fine-tune them. It’s better to show three perfect chapters than a finished manuscript filled with spelling errors. You don’t have to write your whole book before approaching agents. And your sample chapters don’t have to begin with the first chapter, nor do they have to be in sequence. But, they must represent your writing at its best. Because of the importance of sample chapters, many authors work with book coaches or developmental editors to prepare their book proposal and   sample chapters. Conclusion Respect the time of the agents you contact. Agents are busy. To the extent you can sell your book idea as a realistic possibility in thirty seconds and can support your answers with a well-written proposal, a compelling title, and strong sample chapters, you are well on your way to success. After you’ve been successfully published, you may be able to sell a book on just the basis an e-mail. But, for now, you must be fully prepared. Write your way to success If youre interested in writing a book to build your brand and promote your business, visit www.publishedandprofitable.com and get my free, 4-step, Write Your Way to Success report. Subtitles. One of the most popular techniques is to partner a short titles, i.e., Me 2.0, with a longer subtitle, i.e., Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, that provides additional details. Author: Roger C. Parker, as a “writer who understands design,” and a “designer who understands copy,” can help you create a marketing program based on these skills. Roger has a 20 year record of helping others successfully master and apply the latest technology to marketing challenges.

Resume Writing Tips For 2020

Resume Writing Tips For 2020Resume writing is an essential part of the job search process, but it is important to consider some tips on how to effectively write a resume in 2020. While some of the old-school techniques are still utilized by a lot of professionals, there are also newer, easier and more efficient methods that will help you make your resume stand out in the crowd.Paper resumes are hard to read. People are becoming more accustomed to printed documents, which include glossy photos and detailed information that will allow them to quickly scan over a document and identify specific skills or qualifications that they can apply for the right jobs. The key is to take advantage of today's technology to ensure that your resume is easy to read while conveying information that is relevant and interesting.One simple trick to make your resume more readable is to use bullets. It is very easy to skim over a resume, especially when reading from an eBook, but bullet points are more effec tive and easier to glance over. If you want to make your resume look professional, you should remember to use bullets to make it appear concise and professional.Be sure to list the most important skills that you have. Your skills and qualifications should be prominently displayed on your resume. This will give potential employers the ability to quickly focus on what they need to know about you. It is also recommended that you list these skills on the top of the page so that your resume does not look too crowded.Make sure that the information is as organized as possible. Use all of the formatting features that are available in modern computer programs like Microsoft Word to ensure that the content on your resume appears well organized.Use headings and subheadings. Headings and subheadings allow you to break up your resume into more manageable chunks. Using headings and subheadings in your resume can make it easier to read, and will allow you to see exactly what your content is all ab out without having to go through the entire document.Always keep your resume's eyes on the employer's attention. You want to make your resume stand out so that it gets noticed by employers looking for a job. A good way to do this is to make it easy to read by emphasizing your skills and qualifications.These are just a few of the ways that you can keep your resume looking clean and professional without sacrificing its professional appeal. No matter what your job or career field, it is always helpful to have a well-written resume that is visually appealing. Once you have mastered these tips, you will be able to impress potential employers in an even better way than ever before.

A Recruiters Inside Scoop on Salary Negotiation Tips - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

A Recruiter’s Inside Scoop on Salary Negotiation Tips Here’s a little secret you might not know: Employers hardly ever make their best offer first, and  candidates who negotiate their salary generally earn more than those who don’t. (Click here  to tweet this thought.) Also, very often people who at least attempt to ask for a higher salary are perceived more positively, since they’re demonstrating the skills the company wants to hire them for. Here’s a step-by-step guide to negotiating your best salary yet: Do Your Research Before you go for an  interview, you should  find out what the market rates are for the job you’re looking for. There are salary surveys available online, and if you’re dealing with a recruitment agency, your consultant should be able to advise you on the salary range for the position you’re interviewing for. Also think about what you want from the job, both in terms of the job itself and in terms of remuneration. This will help you appear more self-assured during the interview and salary negotiation process. Don’t Talk Money Too Early You should never ask about a salary during  the first interview. While we all want to earn more when we change jobs, no employer wants to hire someone whose only motivation to change jobs is a higher salary. So, how do you answer the inevitable interview question, “What salary are you looking for?” This is where your homework becomes invaluable. Hopefully, you’ll know the market rates for the type of a position you‘re looking for.  It’s better to give a range rather than a specific number  â€" you don’t want to give a salary that’s perhaps lower than the employer is looking to pay, but you don’t want to price yourself out of the market, either. Emphasize that you’re primarily interested in finding the right job for you, and salary isn’t your main consideration. Believe That You CAN Negotiate In This Economy It’s true that it will be easier in some industries than others. In my experience, salary scales in the public sector are usually fixed, and there isn’t much room for negotiation. When I make offers in my recruitment job, I take into account the candidate’s current salary, the company’s salary range for the position, market rates and also what other team members are earning. If you’ve been selected as the candidate a company wants to hire, and you have some highly sought skills and experience, you’re in an excellent position to negotiate. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask â€" But Don’t Demand, Either Know what you’re worth and don’t be afraid to ask for it.  No one loses a job offer because they ask for something  â€" however, you  can  have a job offer pulled because of the way you ask. It’s important that your request is within the ballpark of the salary range, so avoid giving a specific number until the employer is ready to make you an offer. Remember to be enthusiastic, polite and professional during negotiations. Communicate to your prospective employer through your tone of voice and demeanor that  your goal is a win-win solution. If you’re too pushy, the employer may get the impression that you’re not that interested in the job (or only interested in the money) and withdraw the offer. Keep Selling Yourself As you go through the interviewing and negotiating process,  remind the employer how they will benefit from your skills and experience. Let’s say, for example, that the employer wants to offer $50K, but you’re looking for minimum $57K base salary. Explain how they’d benefit by increasing your compensation. For example: “I realize you have a budget to worry about. However, I believe that with the desktop publishing and graphic design skills I bring to the position, you won’t have to hire outside vendors to produce customer newsletters and other publications. That alone should produce far more than $7K in savings a year.” In other words, justify every additional dollar or benefit you request.  Remember to do so by focusing on  the employer’s needs, not yours. Make Them Jealous If you’re interviewing for other jobs, you might want to tell employers about your offer. This should speed up the interview process. If they know you have another offer, you’ll seem more attractive to them, and it might help you negotiate a higher salary. Ask For a Fair Price You really need to ensure your requests are reasonable and in line with the current marketplace. A few days ago, I spoke to a candidate for an analyst role who’d asked for a salary of $55K â€" $60K. Since all analysts at his level (three years of experience) earn between $35K â€" $40K, this candidate had priced himself out of the process with his unreasonable demands. However,  if the salary offer is below market value, you might want to (gently!) suggest it’s in the company’s best interest to pay the going rate: “The research that I’ve done indicates the going rate for a position such as this is $6K higher than this offer. I’d really love to work for you and I believe I can add a lot of value in this job; however, I can’t justify doing so for less than market value. I think if you reevaluate the position and consider its importance to your bottom line, you’ll find it’s worth paying market price to get someone who can really make an impact quickly.” Negotiate Extras and Be Creative! If the employer can’t offer you the salary you want,  think about other valuable options that might not cost as much. You can look at negotiating holiday days (e.g. if new employees must work for six to 12 months before receiving paid holidays, ask that this restriction be waived.), ask for yearly salary reviews or negotiate a sign-on or performance bonus. Be Confident Remember to use confident body language and speech patterns. When you make a salary request, don’t go on and on, stating over and over again why it’s justified.  Make your request and offer a short, simple explanation of why that amount is appropriate. Finally, it’s a smart negotiating strategy to ask for a few benefits or perks you don’t want that badly. Then you can “give in” and agree to take the job without those added benefits if the employer meets all of your other requests. Ideally, both parties in a negotiation should come away from the table feeling that they’ve won. This is especially true when you’re dealing with salary negotiations. You want employers to have good feelings about the price paid for your services so that your working relationship begins on a positive note. What negotiation tactics have helped you in your career? Share your tips in the comments! 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  free “You’re HIRED!” video course.

3 Easy Tips for Career Success Using LinkedIn

3 Easy Tips for Career Success Using LinkedIn I’ve been on LinkedIn for years and think it is an indispensable career tool. This week I attended a LinkedIn webinar hosted by career expert Lindsey Pollak and was reminded of a few areas of LinkedIn that are often neglected. Here are my top 3 tips for LinkedIn: 100% Complete Profile • Fill out your profile to 100% completion. Filling out all sections of your profile makes your professional brand more complete. It will not only provide information about your experiences but also will summarize your brand and list out your specialties. People, including employers, use LinkedIn to research you so put your best foot forward. Claim your Public Profile • Claim your Public Profile as a quick link to add to your resume or your email signature. Make it easy for people to find out who you are and what things they have in common with you. Company Research • Use LinkedIn as part of your company research strategy when preparing for a career search or an interview. When you search LinkedIn, choose Companies from the drop-down and then enter the company name. Not only does it list out information about the company but also showcases current employees and your connection to those employees. What a great place to see both information on the company and the employees of that company. What are your LinkedIn tips? Let me know by posting a comment below.   Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.