Whats the Most Useful Career Advice You Can Give to Women

Whats the Most Useful Career Advice You Can Give to Women What advice would you give to a young woman  about to take her first steps into her brand new job? Would it be to always know your worth? Or to always be confident in your talent and ability? As part of our latest panel series, we ask some of the most influential women in the industry who know a thing or two about having a successful career to give us their best career tips, for women who want to advance as far and as high as possible within the working world. Rebecca Fraser Don’t underestimate your value and build confidence in who you want to be. A lot of times women naturally underestimate their value and take this through the interview process. To ensure you don’t underestimate your value, research what the market is paying for the role and experience; minus any of the gender influences. Use this information to estimate the value of your experience as information from salary surveys and salary research will be gender neutral. Additionally, build your confidence in talking to your experience that you can then use to demonstrate the skills that reflect your value in the market place. Rebecca Fraser, National Executive Committee, Career Development Association of Australia. Libby Herrmann The best advice is to take a step back. This allows us to keep things in perspective and ensure were making the right decisions that keep us following our passions, believing in ourselves and giving it 100% each day. These elements provide peace in knowing that weve given it our all. Empower female candidates by affirming how their unique traits align with the position youre hiring for and build their confidence as they approach the interview cycle. Credentials are good but theyre no longer the end-all-be-all to secure a role. Libby Herrmann,  Client Relationship Manager at WilsonHCG. Liz Sebag-Montefiore Confidence is key, women are inclined to be cautious in seeking advancement, claiming expertise  and putting themselves forward. Aim high and have confidence in yourself. Don’t leave your career to  chance, take control and seek out opportunities that fulfil your aspirations.  I recommend finding a female mentor, a role model, tap into the experience of someone whom you  can ask for insightful, reliable and relevant advice. Give back by being a mentor to someone else,  trust me, you’ll learn a lot. Liz Sebag-Montefiore,  Director and Co-Founder of 10Eighty. Amanda Bell Women often attribute others’ work to the reason they’ve been successful. I remind women to refrain from talking down their accomplishments. Instead, I encourage them to state confidently what they owned, why they were successful, and what the broader impact of their success to the organization or team was. While almost all companies will want to see their employees as team players, it doesn’t help anyone when you don’t fully own your achievements. Speaking up is particularly helpful when women ask for a promotion, raise, or additional responsibilities. It allows leadership to have more insight into their success and as a result, it’s easier to make a case for a promotion or raise. Amanda Bell, Director of Recruiting at Lever. Angela Bortolussi Find balance when you can, thrive off your strengths and weaknesses, and understand that failing is not a bad thing. If you aren’t passionate about what you do in life, including your career, it’s definitely harder to get back up when you get knocked down I think it’s important to know that we can’t be perfect all the time, and we’re going to have difficult or challenging times at work but if you really love what you do, the motivation and happiness you receive from your career will help you gain your strength to keep hustling. Angela Bortolussi,  Partner at Recruiting Social. Ruth Penfold Be yourself. But that’s my advice to everyone, but I would ask that people be prepared to do some self-analysis, and consider when they are and aren’t living, breathing and communicating as the fullest version of themselves. Once you can identify the areas where you keep yourself ‘small’, you can start to overcome those triggers and get the hell out of your own way.  If your can afford to get a coach, I highly recommend it, but for those that can’t, it’s in your interest to keep learning as much as you can about yourself. Read books, share stories, re-assure yourself you aren’t alone. Ruth Penfold, Director of Talent Acquisition at Shazam. Lysha Holmes Play to your own strengths. Focus in on what your personal goals are and do not allow your gender to define who you are nor limit what you can achieve. Surround yourself with supportive and positive people who will allow you to propel yourself to achieving each goal you set out to hit. Support other women in your company and your personal life. Lysha Holmes, Owner and Recruiter of Qui Recruitment R2R. Caroline Stokes As a kid, I played with boys and saw myself as different to girls and didn’t fit in with girls. As a woman, I see myself as a person in a mans world that women struggle with. Start playing with men vs competing, is my motto. Caroline Stokes, Founder of FORWARD and The Emotionally Intelligent Recruiter. Poonam Mawani Be yourself! There are  so many women that feel that they need to behave in a certain way to progress in  their careers. The reality is women do approach work tasks in a different way  from men and actually just being themselves will achieve the same goal but in a  more cohesive way and also act as a balanced view in any team. Poonam Mawani, Director at Azuki Accounts.

When You Feel Like a Fake

When You Feel Like a Fake Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'2i7ItvPCTOpv6fF6YwpKDA',sig:'NUilZ_WIYFrj55aDHBqjm9tJhjKYbUuwiG7oG0jfL1o=',w:'414px',h:'414px',items:'469333959',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Writing for Psychology Today, Carlin Flora says that everyone suffers from what’s commonly known as Imposter Syndrome at some point in their lives. First, though, she corrects the popular notion that it’s actually a psychological problem. “There’s no disorder, no diagnosis, no cure,” she writes.  â€œImpostor phenomenon, or IP, [is]a term coined in the late 1970s by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes. In a study of 150 highly-accomplished women, they noticed that the women frequently confessed to feeling unintelligent and unworthy of their success, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.” Researchers Clance and Imes estimated that about 70 percent of people feel like imposters at some point in their lives. The feeling may come and go during different phases of your life. You may feel like an imposter when you take on a new, challenging role in your career, for example, then grow out of it as you become more confident that you know what you’re doing. When you feel like an imposter, Flora writes, “compliments have a short half-life and achievements feel unearned, criticism cuts deeply and failures linger.” Many of us can identify with this. It’s much easier to believe criticism than compliments; the critique feels more real, more objective, than any praise could. Perhaps it’s a self-defense mechanism; we worry about becoming narcissistic or appearing to be boastful, so we absorb criticism as a means of keeping ourselves humble. When you feel like an impostor, you adopt behaviors that eventually reinforce your feelings.    Frederik Anseel, a professor of organizational behavior at Ghent University in Belgium, calls this the “impostor cycle.” When taking on a challenging task, you either invest an enormous amount of effort (probably more than was necessary) or procrastinate. When you succeed, you can then credit the unsustainable, enormous effort for the victory. If you procrastinated, you can attribute the win to luck or circumstances, playing down your talent. Either way, you find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. You don’t learn from experience that you are competent and deserving of success and praise. So your Impostor Phenomenon becomes delusional, and like other delusional beliefs, it is counterproductive at best and truly damaging at its worst. “The persistent fear and self-doubt it engenders, as well as the inability to savor achievements, can result in “a persistent state of  physical and emotional depletion,” Anseel says, which can lead to full-fledged  depression.”  Flora writes, “And the negative effects aren’t necessarily experienced by the sufferer alone. Supporting a loved one who’s convinced of his or her own charlatanism can be draining on partners, children, and friends.” You’re more prone to Impostor Phenomenon, experts say, if you have a tendency toward neuroticism or perfectionism. You may be setting almost impossibly high standards for yourself, which is a losing game. If you meet your standards, you’re squeaking by with what you consider to be “adequate” performance; if you fail to meet your standards, you confirm your feelings of not deserving praise or credit. Your background, ethnicity and gender can all play a role in whether you feel like an impostor (men tend to be better at suppressing the feeling and more comfortable with “faking it until they make it.”) Tiffany McClain is a therapist in San Francisco who has treated many people struggling with Impostor Phenomenon. “It’s  important to acknowledge that impostorism is associated with a sense of shame,” McLain says. “Shame leads you to pull out, put your head down, and avoid others.” Is there help for self-described imposters? Therapists say that company and personal support systems can play a big role in tamping down the feelings of inadequacy.   A trusted manager, associate, or friend needs to sit down with you, look you in the eye, and provide objective feedback on how others see you. And you have to be willing to let go of behavior and beliefs that are simply no longer useful, even if they were at another point in your life. I know what I’m talking about. Deciding to write a blog offering expert advice is in equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. After all, who am I to tell you what to do?   Every week, I muster up my courage to hit the “publish” button. Your being here to read these words is an act of generosity that helps me keep going. Lifesaving therapy, in fact.  And I thank you for it. Interested in learning more? Read about Impostor Syndrome in this post and this one.

Why Should I Do Business with You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why Should I Do Business with You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The title of the article says it all when it comes to leading effective meetings. As the sales executive, you are the leader when meeting with clientele. False Start On occasion you may hear someone say, “I can talk to you now, but I only have a few minutes. In a snapshot, tell me what you’ve got.” Many people fall for this, and proceed to tell everything they’ve got in a two-minute verbiage vomit. The only thing this produces is a mess, and hearing “not interested”. A far better approach is to ask to schedule a meeting where you may have a give and take to get to know one another better. This lets the other party know you are serious and potentially trustworthy. This normally promotes a scheduled date. Share Your Story As we move through life, we take on a variety of roles. The only constant is to be true to self, your principles, and personal brand. The previous sentence is key, because this is the basis for building your personal story. It is our unique story that serves to build a sound connection and human bond; it also gradually works toward building the relationship and trust. Begin by asking your prospective client how they began their career or achieved the position they are. People love talking about themselves and this will lend great insight on how to work with your potential client. Then briefly, in two minutes or less, share your story. Try to find an area of commonality to connect a common interest. Leading the Meeting Ask prospective clients what caught their interest to learn more. You wouldn’t be in a  meeting if there weren’t some need in mind. Inquire as to personal as well as business goals. Then delve deeper to inquire about specific goals for the year and what obstacles might be in the way. The more open you conduct the conversation, the more likely you will be to get the sale. Sales don’t necessarily happen the same day you meet. The sale depends on the expenditure, complexity, and the need for other people to be involved in the process. Become the Doctor The second phase of the meeting is to be the doctor of business. What problems or symptoms are being experienced, why do they believe this is the case, and how they see the remedy. Discuss all. Should your belief be different than theirs, ask if they would consider XYZ. Upon hearing, ‘no’, ask why and prior experiences. Hearing ‘yes’, mark a star to capitalize on that segment. Transform into Problem Solver Some conversations only require a simple on the spot idea for solution while others require a well thought out proposal based upon everything discussed. Get the Client to Announce They Wish to Buy Two questions to be asked prior to ending the meeting are: 1. Do my services appear to be what you are seeking? 2. Do you believe me to be a provider who will serve your company well? Hearing “Yes” as an answer to each question signals you are well on your way. Confirm your conversation prior to leaving the meeting. Following these suggestions will lead you to the Smooth Sale!

Welcome to the Real World Book Giveaway

Welcome to the Real World Book Giveaway Today we are giving away one copy of Welcome to the Real World: Finding Your Place, Perfecting Your Work, and Turning Your Job into Your Dream Career  by Lauren Berger. This essential book is what every workplace novice needsâ€"a smart, practical, and fun guide to help them navigate the minefield of personalities, learn to work with their boss, identify priorities, and ultimately kick butt at their first job. In Welcome to the Real World, career expert and entrepreneur Lauren Berger arms a new generation of workers like you with the tools you need to succeed. She feels your pain. She’s been in your shoes. Just a few years ago, she was you. In a world defined by uncertainty, she argues you need to be bold, take risks, and understand your value. She shows you how to think of your job as a link that will eventually connect you to the opportunity of your dreams. It’s time to get comfortable getting uncomfortable, she advises. Her essential handbook tells you everything you should know to make the most of your first on-the-job experience, including how to: Think about “The Big Picture” Deal with rejection Effectively manage your time Navigate “sticky situations” in the office and communicate with different personality types Embrace entrepreneurship regardless of position, rank, or title Organize your financial situation and personal life Get promoted and (one day) take your boss’ job! Here are the ways you can win a copy of this book. Please enter using Rafflecopter below: Like  Classy Career Girl on Facebook Follow me on Twitter  @classycareer Tweet about this giveaway (make sure you mention @classycareer and  @InternQueen) Leave a comment below telling us the most challenging experience you have had in your workplace. a Rafflecopter giveaway This giveaway is open to all residents in the US only. It begins NOW and ends on April 25th, 2014 at 11:59 PM. We will be giving away 1 copy of the book. The winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. Good luck! Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of the book to review but this did not change what I wrote about the book.

4 Reasons You Cant Write Your Own Executive Resume - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

4 Reasons You Can’t Write Your Own Executive Resume

Summary Sunday Make Your Job Search Easier

Summary Sunday Make Your Job Search Easier Wouldnt it be great if job search was easier?! Its often difficult to know what you can do to improve your job search. But, if you take just a bit of time and read articles (like the ones listed below) you may find new ideas and answers to questions you didnt even know you had. The reality is, we dont know what we dont know. Another reality is  when you dont like something you avoid it, rather than dig in. So if youre not a fan of networking, dread phone interviews or have been ignoring your LinkedIn presence, heres help! LINKEDIN Professional LinkedIn Profile Tips: A Checklist of 17 Must-Have Items Maximize Social Business by  Neal Schaffer This wont take long. Go through this checklist and make sure youve addressed these 17 things on your profile! And if you are actively job seeking, you must know about LinkedIns newest feature Open Candidates. Its an easy setting to help let recruiters know you are open to new opportunities. Read about it here New Help For Busy Job Seekers. CAREER Want To Telecommute? These Are The Top 250 Companies For Flex Work Forbes by Laura Shin And not just telecommuting jobs, but part-time  and remote  jobs too. These are legitimate opportunities vetted by FlexJobs. NETWORKING No-Brainer Phone Networking: 24 Scripts Avid Careerist by Donna Svei Scripts make everything easier! Take the worry and fear out of networking and check out this article with the free download How to Have a Great Networking Conversation on the Phone. INTERVIEW How to Nail Your Next Phone Interview, with Hannah Morgan Macs List Podcast I was thrilled to talk with Mac Prichard about phone interviews. If you dont WOW the screener during the call, you wont make it to the next step.

Resume Writing Services Examples - How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes When Using Resume Writing Services

Resume Writing Services Examples - How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes When Using Resume Writing ServicesIt is easy to make a mistake in your resume when you are using resume writing services examples. This is often the reason why so many people make mistakes and the reason why they end up sending out resumes that look like a five-year-old's hand-drawn. This article will provide you with some tips for avoiding these mistakes.First of all, you should never use resume examples that are from a decade ago. These were written by a different industry and may not accurately reflect today's career opportunities. For example, if you are looking at examples of a work at home business, you should not be looking at a sample of a work at home opportunity. The examples should be chosen based on their current market value, not their present value.Also, you should never choose resume examples based on your current company. The examples should be chosen based on your own qualifications. If your com pany doesn't have many opportunities right now, you should choose a different example.Of course, you should also never use a sample as an example. There are many websites online that provide examples and with a click of a button you can find the exact example that you need. You can find this information on websites like Career Builder, Monster, MySpace, and many others. They all have a listing of resume examples for you to choose from.Another common mistake that I see is students using a sample instead of the written word. Even though they know what the sample says, they use the sample as a basis for their writing. The problem with this is that the writing tends to look amateurish and it tends to not sound professional.Sometimes, the examples that are provided do not exactly portray the sample accurately. This is especially true if the examples were not meant to be used as examples but only as 'reminiscent' samples.Finally, I always like to see examples that are of higher quality th an the examples that are offered through resume examples. If they have low quality examples, it will not take long before they send out the resumes that they are trying to sell. If they send out samples with high quality, I have a much higher chance of being able to spot a potential hiring manager in the first few seconds of the interview.Make sure that you look at a few examples that come from professional resume writing services. If you are going to hire a professional, make sure that they are going to be focused on your needs.