4 Cringe-Worthy Career Moments (and What I Learned From Them)

4 Cringe-Worthy Career Moments (and What I Learned From Them) 4 Cringe-Worthy Career Moments (and What I Learned From Them) Those cringe-worthy moments are sort of a given for all of us. You thought you were so cool at the time, but later on, thephotographic evidence proves you so patently were elend.Even so, those cringe-inducing memories are fantastic to wade through. Recently, my friend Laurie Ruettimann publisheda blog postabout an experience she had with her boss as a young recruiter. Her story is one to which Im aya many of us can relate The boss she thought welches a jerk turned out to be right, and Laurie learned a valuable lesson not until much later, of course.I appreciated the article because it reminded me that, just like the old photos we all have, weve all experienced cringe-worthy professional moments. I spend so much time teaching and leading my team now that I often forget I welches once young and trying to figure out this whole career thing. While todays professi onals have blogs and media like The Museand Ask a Manager,no amount of career advice will save you from having a few of your own cringe-worthy moments.But maybe I can save you from going through the same ones I did. Here are four of my most cringe-worthy career moments, in order of embarrassment, and the lessons I learned from each1. The Time I Realized My State School Journalism Degree Was Not the Same as a Decade of Experience at a Major U.S. PublisherPride is a funny thing, and I have it in spades.I was working my rear end off as the staff writer, ad salesperson, distribution coordinator, and photographer for a local paper which, as you can imagine, did not have that many people on staff. The publisher and I were drowning in work and needed somehelp. When the publisher found that help in the form of an accomplished woman with more than 10 years of experience at a national newspaper, I was thrilled. When I learned she would be in a position of authority over me, I was not. After all, we both had journalism degrees werent we the same?Looking back at that moment, I honestly want to smack 23-year-old me. Experience matters. Of course my state school degree couldnt compare Of course they werent going to have a 23-year-old manage a woman in her 40s Back then, though,I railed at my husband for weeks over the injustice of it all. Ah, youth.Lesson Experience beats youth.2.The Time I Was Passed Over for a Promotion After Four Months With a Company and Responded by Throwing a Fit and Crying at WorkI had just started at an investment firm, and I thought I was the stuff. I definitely padded my resume and spent the first few months taking work home so I wouldnt look like a moron. I worked really hard, sent a lot of emails, ingratiated myself with the higher-ups, and waited for my boss to notice that all my coworker did was complain about her husband while the rest of the marketing team did her work for her.What happened instead was I got written up for wearing shorts to work and she got a promotion.I thought I was a shoo-in, despite having barely a financial quarter behind me. This woman grew up in the same town as the big boss, was (as I have mentioned) quite the skilled delegator, and spent a great deal of time speaking to management in closed-door meetings. When I found out I did not get the promotion, I acted like a three-year-old. I stomped out of my office, cried in the bathroom (I am not a subtle or pretty crier), and vented toanyone who would listen.Lesson When someone is the bosss close friend, has been their longer, and does not throw fits in the workplace, she is manager material. You are not.3. The Time I Was pitching a PR Project to a Swanky Client and Said Buttload to Prove I Was the RealestThis totenstill makes me cringe, even though it was merely stupid rather than bratty or entitled like some of my other career mishaps were. My goal was to proveI wasnt like all the other buttoned-up, prissy PR folks. No, I understood the customer, I got the marketing goal (but it was PR, dur).I could see the distaste on the clients face. I know they selected a different team, at least in part, because I presented myself poorly. I still struggle with this today. In my mind, I know my stuff and everyone in the world should just accept that sometimes the package is a little rumpled. The real world doesnt work that way not at 21 and not at 37.LessonRightly or wrongly, people treat you according to the way you present yourself4. The Time I Learned That Doing Things Is Not the Same as Getting Things DoneI have always confused being in the kitchen with serving the meal but accomplishing tactical tasks is not the same thing as deliver strategic value. Dont get me wrong Both are necessary, but one is far more visible than the other.Generally speaking,technical knowledge will be valued more earlierin your career, but savvily solving strategic problems will bring you more respect as you move into management and beyond.I used to code sites, design one-pagers, write emails, and upload blog posts. I took pride in being a technical founder (at least to a marketing wonk), but that left me with little time to plan large events, speak about my experience, go to client on-sites, or create strategies that would actually impact clients businesses. Sometimes, I am still learning this lesson.LessonDoing things may be more visible, but getting things done often matters more.Even though incidences like the ones above make me cringe and hide from former coworkers, Im still kinda stoked I learned so much from each one. In fact, I would wager people who dont make similar mistakes are doomed to have little or no empathy for their direct reports, or they mayfind it difficult to grow intheir careers.Its like my friendand colleague Jason Seiden says Fail spectacularlyA version of this article originally appeared on the Red Branch Media blog.Maren Hogan is founder and CEO ofRed Branch Media.You can read more of her work on Forbes, B usiness Insider, Entrepreneur, and her blog,Marenated.

10 Ways to Get the Promotion You Deserve

10 Ways to Get the Promotion You Deserve10 Ways to Get the Promotion You DeserveAs a full-time working mom, to feel challenging to advance in the workplace. Luckily with more and more employers understanding of the task of balancing parenthood and work, a work aufsteigen is no longer a dream for working mothers. You just need to take some steps to achieve it. So how can you get the work promotion you desire when you have so many responsibilities to juggle? Consider unterstellung tried and true ways to get the work promotion you deserve. Make a Plan to Get Ahead at Work Create a daily plan that will help you get ahead of your work. When you set mini goals that direction will help get you through your work quicker. When youillustrate youre a hard worker and how dedicated you are to succeeding it shows you can handle more responsibility. Plus, if you are ahead of schedule, youll be in a better position to field the unexpected school cloaya or sick child. Show Them That Nothing Is Beyond Your Reach When it comes to your work performance, avoid using the word no. You can always say yes, and then suggest a reasonable due date for the assignment or ask which current priority should be put on the backburner so you can put all your energy on the new task. Show that you can be available to complete the task at hand, even if its something that is unappealing to you. Never pass off work to co-workers even if the task seems difficult because deep down you can do the job. Show you can complete any assignment that is handed to you Dont Let Fear Get in the Way and Just Ask for Those Hard Work Assignments Show that you want to go to the next level by taking on assignments your immediate bosswould handle. By showing you can go beyond your job duties, you show your employer that you can handle more responsibility, and position yourself for a promotion. Dont Be Afraid to Tell Your anfhrer Theyre Wrong Instead of sitting back and doing the job youve been assigned, m ake proposals that will help you succeed in business situations. If you can come up with a better way to gain new clients, enhance the web presence of your business or expand revenue, tell your boss about it in a formal proposal. This shows you are not afraid to challenge the status quo. Look for Ways to Showcase Your Talents Make your employer notice your talents by having them highlighted with all milestones that you accomplish. For example, if your negotiating skills are your strong point, then tackle projects that will showcase your prime negotiating skills, and make sure your boss knows a project was successful due to you being able to properly broker the deal. Dont Be Shy, Be the Leader Youre Meant to Be No employer wants to promote the follower. Show your leadership skills any time you take the reins on a project. If you show you can lead a team to the next level, then your boss will be more likely to view you as a candidate deserving of a promotion. Let It Be Know n That You Want a Promotion Make sure your employer knows you want to be next in line for a promotion should the opportunity come up. During a conversation with your boss or your bosss boss, you could mention how you plan to grow with the company and talk about yourlong-term career goalsat the company. Never Pass Up the Opportunity to Be Aggressive and Assertive Employees worthy of a work promotion are always aggressive in going after what they want for themselves in their career. Make sure you get noticed in the workplace by being the assertive one who is always there to take on the task at hand and see it through from the beginning to end. Instead of Working Hard Behind Your Desk Go to the Office Party While promotion is often based on your job performance, it doesnt hurt to get on good social terms with your boss. Find common interests and talk about these subjects during your lunch break or downtime at work. If its all business between you and your boss, then you dont g ive him or her time to see you as a human being and care about your success on a personal level. Be There for Your Team by Asking How You Can Help People who are viewed as worthy of promotion are those who can be team players. When you show your employer you can lead a team or be part of one youre illustrating your versatility. Promotions are often granted to those people an employer can count on to take the right leadership role during a project or assignment.

Interview Signs Can Be Misleading

Interview Signs Can Be MisleadingInterview Signs Can Be MisleadingInterview Signs Can Be MisleadingAlison Greens recent U.S. News World Report blog post, 7 Signs Your Interview Went Well, got me thinking about how you can tell if your interview went well or badly. Too often, we sit waiting patiently at home for weeks after an interview, only to learn the company is not interested and actually never was interested to begin with.While I applaud Alisons 7 Signs, I also know that interviewers can be masters of deception. Here are other ways of interpreting those signs1. The interviewer gives you a clear timeline.Interviewers who give you a clear timeline are lying, but they dont realize theyre lying at the time. They believe theyre telling the truth, but things change and timelines are rarely kept. One example is Melissa G., a friend who interviewed for an accounting supervisors position here in New England. On a Friday, the hiring manager told her to expect a call on Monday from HR wit h an offer. Monday came and went, so Melissa called the hiring manager Tuesday morning. When she got no response, she waited a day and called the HR manager, who was to have called on Monday. Melissa never got a call back from the company, never received an offer, and finally got a rejection letter in the mail two weeks later.The moral of this story is Dont believe any timeline given by the company. You know you did well on the interview when the company gives you a written, signed offer. Never stop interviewing until you start your new position. And after you start, keep your network active and your resume up-to-date. You never know when youll need them next.On a side note, alfruchtwein every employee is an employee at will. This means you can be released at any time, with or without cause. It also means you have the choice to leave anytime you like, with or without cause. Be prepared. Its your career and livelihood.2. The interviewer asks about your timeline.Interviewers, especial ly recruiters, ask this question to discern if other companies are interested in you. If youre in demand, then the interviewing company begins to believe that you must be talented because other companies want you.When youre asked about your timeline, state the following Based on current activities, I plan to make a decision within 2 to 3 weeks, if not sooner. This is your plan, and no matter what your actual situation is, you now appear to be in demand.3. The interviewer tries to sell the position or company to you.Skilled interviewers are trained to spend a little time selling the company because every candidate knows at least 250 people. One of the best ways to improve a companys reputation is through the hiring process. Just because they sell you on the company doesnt mean they want to hire you. All it means is that they want you to have a positive experience so that youll talk about it with your friends later. But if they dont hire you and give you the runaround like they did to Melissa, they could easily ruin their own reputation and there go 250 people who might have been interested in them.4. The interviewer spends a lot of time answering your questions.Unskilled interviewers are relieved when you ask questions because they dont have to think about what to ask you. If they dont ask detailed questions, they probably dont care enough to understand your talents. Or, more likely, they have no idea how to interview effectively. As Ive stated before, fruchtwein interviewers have no idea what theyre doing. If you ever run into a skilled interviewer, rejoice.5. The interview runs over the allotted time.This simply means the interviewer needs training in time management or theyre trying to waste time because they hate their job.6. After youre done, the interviewer introduces you to others or shows you around the office.This is a good indication that youre doing well in your interview. But remember that every person you meet has veto power over the hiring decisio n. So you must interview well with each and every person you meet, but dont read too much else into this.7. Your references tell you that the employer called them.This is also a good indicator that you did well in the interview. It also indicates youre either the candidate of choice or one of the finalists. But in some situations, it could mean the company is trying to recruit your references for the same or another position.To really know if your interview went well, ask the following three questions of every interviewer at the end of each meetingWhat do you feel my strengths are for this position?This gets the interviewer to tell you what they understand about you and the value you bring to the position. Dont argue with them. Just agree and listen.What concerns do you have about my background?This reveals areas of perceived weakness. This is the most important information for you to gather because the perceived weaknesses are the issue that will eliminate you from further consider ation.Respond to the interviewer by providing additional information about this dimension of your experience.How do you feel my style will fit with the rest of the team?This question communicates that you understand the importance of fit with the team. Fitting in with the team is often the most important thing. If youre qualified but you dont fit, you wont get hired. If you fit and are less qualified than another candidate, youll get the offer. Fit almost always trumps qualifications.

Doctor Recommendation Letter

Doctor Recommendation LetterDoctor Recommendation LetterA doctor recommendation letter is often the final process in the transition from resident to full-fledged doctor with the fancy nameplate and prime parking spot. Such a letter is usually written be a supervising physician, hospital administrator, shift supervisor, or just about anybody else whose opinion carries some weight. Detailed below, the structure of such a letter is similar to the setup of a cover letter in that it has a more personal tone.Kicking Off a Doctor Recommendation LetterThe initial paragraph of the letter answers the who and what questions. Who is the resident (or they may be a full-fledged doctor transferring jobs for other reasons like a relocation) seeking the new ort? What is the specific position theyre seeking? When is assumed to be sometime in the immediate future, so thats implied.The Meat of a Doctor Recommendation LetterThe body of a doctor recommendation letter, usually divided into at least two par agraphs to increase readability, answers the why questionas in why this person is being recommended for the job. Each paragraph within the body should focus on either a few specific examples of how the person contributed to the team or some specific traits they demonstrated.Optional Third Paragraph of a Doctor Recommendation LetterWhile brevity is a plus with a doctor recommendation letter, there are some valid reasons for adding another paragraph. For instance, it may be necessary to clarify that the hospital where the recommended doctor worked is recognized for its cardiac care program and Dr. So and So participated in those innovative programs and proved to be a valuable asset to the team.Concluding a Doctor Recommendation LetterThe concluding paragraph of a doctor recommendation letter includes one more positive shout out (Your team would greatly benefit from the addition of Dr. So and So to your roster.) and contact info. Preferably, any listed number should include a direct ex tension to avoid the hassle of going through receptionists or being shuffled to voice mail.Before soliciting a doctor recommendation letter, have a good grasp of your post-residency career plans. A vague letter singing your praises that can later be sent to any potential employer isnt going to be as effective as a recommendation letter addressed to a specific hospital or medical facility. If you need to brush up your resume before seeking recommendation letters, check out our detailed resume samples and other useful goodies Related Articles Dont Ask Your Employer These Questions In An InterviewEnjoy First Year Success After Getting the JobExperienced Resume

Now Is My First Time Using LinkedIn To Find A Job

Now Is My First Time Using LinkedIn To Find A JobNow Is My First Time Using LinkedIn To Find A JobI joined LinkedIn because someone invited me back in 1998. But Ive never done anything with my profile.A report released in the first quarter of 2017 says 128 million Americans use LinkedIn. A good number of those members joined simply because they received an automated invitation in their email from someone they knew. That person likely had just joined, and (knowingly or unknowingly) told LinkedIn to send invitations to their entire contact list.So you got invited, you joined, and because LinkedIn is not a fun social media platform, it has no gossip, no jokes, and very few memes, you likely went on about your life. Maybe you built a few connections along the way. Maybe you built mora than a few you can have 1,000 LinkedIn connections and still not really be doing much of anythingUntil the time comes for you to find a job you know, that thing you had for several years, that you landed back before LinkedIn was even a thing.Well, today is a new day. In 2017 LinkedIn is virtually required in order for you to conduct an effective job search. If youve tinkered with LinkedIn a few times, but never put real time and attention into it, then lets talk about 3 key things you need to do to leverage LinkedIn so you get more responses to your resume, reach the decision makers, and score more interviews.1) Smile for the cameraLinkedIn profiles with photos get 21 times more views and 36 times more messages. Thats according to statistics released by DMR in September 2017. Remember that LinkedIn is social media people need to see who you are in order to be comfortable with you.If you have a recent professional photo, by all means use it. If not, a cell phone camera photo will be more than fine. Have an adult or teenager take your picture outside in the daytime. Check your background to make sure youre standing in front of 1 thing. For example, if youre at home, make sure youre s tanding in front of bushes, not bushes, and the car, and the house.2) Extra Extra Read All About ItHave you seen an old movie with a boy selling newspapers on the corner? He says, Extra Extra Read all about it then the camera will show some important, dramatic newspaper headline. Your LinkedIn profile has a headline. Thats also important, so be sure to use it.LinkedIn gives you 120 characters. Instead of wasting this prime real estate telling people what your job title is, saying youre seeking new opportunities, or telling people that youre a results-oriented executive, showcase what your expertise is and what you can actually DO for your next employer.3) Feature Your Excellent ExpertiseLinkedIn offers a Featured Skills & Endorsements section that you need to use to its maximum power. Too often, however, this is an area filled with meaningless terms, mostly because people in your network dumped them in there for you. Many times when you initially sign on to LinkedIn, a popup will ap pear asking if you want to endorse one of your contacts for skills X, Y, and Z. Its easy to simply click yes without even thinking about it. Thats what virtually everybody in your network is doing for you.The problem, however, is that the skills do not accurately reflect the impact you can deliver to an organization. While you may have management, leadership, and process improvement skills, these general traits apply to most everyone. Translation they do nothing to differentiate YOU.Explore the skills section to discover what it offers. When you begin to type in a skill, for example, marketing, LinkedIn will display a dropdown menu featuring 10-12 more specific skills that include the word marketing. This is where you can customize your list of skills to suit you to a T.Featuring a picture, differentiating yourself in your headline, and customizing your skills all make a big difference in your visibility and credibility on LinkedIn. Take these steps to capture the attention of the r ecruiters and decision makers who are searching for what you have to offer.

New Article Reveals the Low Down on It Resume Sample and Why You Must Take Action Today

New Article Reveals the Low Down on It Resume Sample and Why You Must Take Action Today Whats Actually Happening with It Resume Sample Once you choose to discover some sample, you will need to acquire appropriate Sample Security Resume Objective. Additionally, another Sample Security Resume Objective might be the useful. Producing your resume is important. A Resume Cover Letter Format has an extremely significant role in bringing you the very best employment prospect. When youre asking for a Training Internship, be sure you highlight any special abilities or talents that may force you to stand apart from the remainder of the applicants so that youve got an improved chance of landing the position. Hands-on training is very advantageous. If theres an pro domoship program which you are truly interested in, do it A student who makes the decision to undertake an internship program during their summer break is indicative of someone who is intent on staying ahead of the competiti on. The Ultimate It Resume Sample Trick Continue reading for an expert security officer resume sample to assist you begin writing. Developing a top notch police officer resume is important to getting a job for a cop. Youll discover our payout procedure to be fast, friendly and secure, and our staff always prepared to go the additional mile to satisfy your requirements. Its possible to also have any medical training youve got, as security personnel can wind up in the function of acting as a first responder. Project-based, online job postings provide plenty of opportunities. Instead, make certain to list your work experience before anything else, and make certain any prior jobs you list are related to the one that youre currently seeking. If you need to apply as one, make certain that you are to be of service to your countryman so you can do your work properly. Just be certain to double-check whether adding social media to your particular resume is right for the job A work h unt may be stressful ordeal, particularly when youre faced with long waits and rejection. The most essential part of an internship resume is making sure the abilities and experience you do have, though you might be very early in your career, are ideal for the job that you need to do. You could add the job only as long as youre able to meet the employers with your resume. Based on the employer, an intern can have a part-time job or may have to work full-time like every other regular employee. It Resume Sample Secrets Expand your objective to incorporate a persuasive overview of why youre the ideal internship job candidate. You desire a good internship resume you could adapt and update for future opportunities. A superb internship resume is tailored particularly for the job which you want. A potent internship resume objective is necessary to stand out as the ideal internship candidate. Odds are you may wind up excluding some major locations and which includes other individua ls that arent that essential. If its not, then it will be harder for the employer to read. Well, it was not sufficient to grab the employers interest. Additionally, there are employers who give out weekly allowances based on the businesss directive regarding interns. Looking for employment is rarely fun, and it can be particularly demoralizing in the present economy. Since employers want to understand what you offer beyond your work history, be certain to detail pertinent skills in a different section. It could be somewhat cumbersome working to make the resume by yourself. You might have done some miniscule work that you feel shouldnt be mentioned. Whether youre just starting your career for a librarian or are trying to find a senior position, weve got a sample that will allow you to tailor your own cover letter. Now you should decide for yourself if samples can help you compose the best resume you possibly can, which means you have the very best possibility of finding th e job youve always dreamed of having. When there are expertly written sample resume cover letters, its best for you to likewise have a look at how poorly written ones influence the judging of an employer so that you are able to avoid them in your own. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for It Resume Sample A digital sample resumes free can enable you to select the way by which you will type your resume and the message which you like to send to the prospective employer. Dont provide an email address you dont check regularly. A free resume schablone is a kind of basic sample for a resume that a man or woman might need to develop. There are several free resume samples or templates readily available online, which make it simple and convenient for somebody to modify one according to their very own requirements. It Resume Sample Secrets That No One Else Knows About Having the capability to communicate in person is crucial, but having the capability to communicate via technology is a dev eloping hot commodity in the modern workplace. Should you do, then you should begin gathering information for your response. If youre asking for work in marketing or sales, you will need to highlight key performance metrics. Plug in your info and youre all set to send off your application.

How to Handle a Radical Career Shake-Up

How to Handle a Radical Career Shake-Up Have you ever faceda challenging work-related situation? I think we all have. Maybe you got laid off, or maybe you made a mistake that cost you yur job. Whatever the situation, when we facesuch challenges, our first reaction is typically negative. Wecan quickly become overwhelmed byfear, shame, or worry.But those initial emotions arent alwayswarranted.As the brilliant leader and CEO Tom Darden once said to me, No matter what happens, our initial emotions are alfruchtwein always wrong.Its so true When something bad happens or even something good we jump to conclusions. When something bad happens at work, we jump to the conclusion that our life is over or well never work again. How toHandle a Career Shake-UpOver the course of your career, things may happen that shake you to your core. You may lose a job, lose a key kollektiv member, miss out on a raise or a promotion, or not get accepted into an educational prog ram or school.Situations like these are life-changing and initially might seem bad. So, how do you shift your perspective and learn that, sometimes, a bad thing is actually a good thing?Here are a few steps to take when youre facing a core-shaking career situation and feeling lost, scared, or overwhelmed1. Catch Your BreathWhen one of these core-changing career scenarios happens, it is easy to become overwhelmed with emotion. Your head mightspin in every direction as you mentally play out a string of worst-case scenarios. That is why its important to pause, take a deep breath, and gain some perspective.If youre dealing with a work-related crisis, take an emotional timeout. Go for a walk or practice deep breathing. Once youve calmed down, ask yourself, What can I learn from this? Is it possible that this situation, which seems bad right now, is actually a good thing?For example, losing a key person on your team would be hard, but it would also give you a chance to evaluate your busin ess, figure out why that person left, and set yourself up for success with a new person.Or say you got passed over for a big promotion or raise. That hurts, but it can also open up the door to conversations with your leadership team about where you can improve. Similarly, if you didnt get into that prestigious program, it could send you on a totally different education track thats ultimately a better fit for your goals.The point is, theres a silver lining in every situation. You just need to have the faith to find it. 2. Seek Outside CounselWhen youre dealing with an overwhelming work situation, it can be easy to get caught up in your own head. Thats why it is so important to reach out and get other peoples perspectives.Because the situation is so personal to you, youre at risk of blowing it out of proportion. By talking to other people and hearing their views, you can gain some perspective and realize that whatever is going on at your job isnt as bad as it seems. 3. Get Your Attitu de in CheckSuccess in life largely depends on your attitude. Successful people have what is called an internal locus of control. This means they realize they are in the drivers seat of their lives and have the ability to control their thoughts, emotions, and outlooks. This, in turn, affects their circumstances and how they interact with the world.People who typically struggle have an external locus of control. They adopt a victim mentality. Instead of feeling in charge of their own lives, they feel that things just happen to them and they have little to no control.How you approach life from a place of power or a place of victimhood is one of the most important contributors to your success. If you can approach whatever is happening in your career from a place of control,you can find the silver lining and use it as a catalyst for positive growth and change.Its never easy when seemingly negative things happen at work, but the thing that seems like a setback today might be the best th ing that ever happened to your career. Dont waste these opportunities. You are in your powerful and creative sweet spot. You have clarity and the motivation to take action, whereas otherwise you might have been too comfortable to notice and too complacent to act.This is your time your chance so seize the momentRobert Dickie is the author of Love Your Work 4 Practical Ways You Can Pivot to Your Best Career. As president of Crown, he is dedicated to helping people create long-term plans for financial, career, and business success.