Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom 6 Ways to Sabotage Your Company Culture

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom 6 Ways to Sabotage Your Company Culture At a recent speaking engagement, a vice president of HR stopped over to chat with me. Over the last few years, her department had rolled out a new employee engagement initiative with phenomenal results. Her CEO was so impressed that she received a bonus and a promotion. But there was a problem. She told me: “To be honest, I feel that our new culture is going backward. We made all these great strides, but every day we seem to lose a little more ground.” This was disturbing to hear, all the more so because it’s not that uncommon a scenario. We all recognize that having a strong organizational culture is critical to success, and invest funds, resources and time accordingly. We work tirelessly to move the needle, and we rejoice when we achieve stellar results. But too often, the good news doesn’t last. Sometimes, we are even worse off than before we started. How can you prevent your recent cultural shift from vanishing quietly into the organization’s history books? Here are six warning signs that you’re headed in the wrong direction. Your culture change program is just another initiative. You know what they say about initiatives. People get really excited about the shiny new toy until the novelty wears off and the unpleasant work of caring for and feeding the change begins. Make sure your leadership and team understand that your cultural shift is meant to be long term, and continually reinforce their commitment. You talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. Though you have done a terrific job communicating your change in organizational materials, speeches and training materials, your culture as experienced by actual employees is totally different from what you’re advocating on paper. For example, you can talk up work-life integration all you want, but if your managers don’t support some flex time in practice, your pretty words will eventually sound hollow. For more where this came from, have a look at the full post at the AMEX Open Forum.

7 Tips to Do Well in a Video Interview

7 Tips to Do Well in a Video Interview As modern technology is improving each day, more and more companies are using video conferencing interviews to carry out the initial selection process of prospective candidates. Video interviewing is similar to a face-to-face interview and it is an ideal way to find the right people to invite in for a face-to-face interview. Here are some tips on how to prepare for your first video interview to land that dream job. These tips are based upon a video interview I once undertook for a company based in Australia. I wanted to be as far away from England as possible so I chose to apply for an internship in Australia. I won them over and got the internship and have now spent nine months in this beautiful country. I hope that the following tips help you get the job/internship that you desire! 1. Prepare yourself ahead of time It’s really important to prepare yourself ahead of time and to send relevant documents to the person who will be interviewing you since you are not meeting your employer face to face. Sending something at least two days before will give your interviewer enough time to go over these documents beforehand. 2. Check the technical equipment and test the sound The last thing you want is to have technical difficulties when you’re being interviewed so it is important to make sure that your microphone, webcam and sound settings are all in working order. Test the sound and reduce or increase the volume accordingly. You might want to call upon a friend to perform a sound test and also perhaps to help you practise to act out a role-play of the interview. When I did this, my friend noticed that I speak quite fast and so I have had a chance to work on this. It’s a good idea to do a test run of the interview with someone to not only test the equipment but to gain feedback on how you present yourself. If you, like myself, speak fast when nervous then it is important to remember to speak slowly as there may be an online delay. 3. De-clutter your space and minimise distractions De-cluttering your space is very important as you do not want anything to divert your attention. Make sure you are the only person in the room, move all the junk away from your desk and make sure to keep the background simple and uncluttered as well. It is important to set up the camera so that it focuses centrally on your head and shoulders and keep the microphone near you so that you can easily be understood. Please remember to not move papers near the microphone as these sounds will become intensified. Try to anticipate and cut out any distracting background noises, for example, traffic, clocks ticking and noise from neighbours, by choosing a quiet location. Even though this may seem self â€" evident, remember to switch your phone onto silent and close any computer applications that may make sounds. 4. Dress appropriately The interview took place in my home and when I got out of bed I just put on my normal clothes because I was at home. Luckily, I remembered to change as the interviewer can see what you are wearing. It’s important to dress in a professional manner the same way as if attending a formal face â€" to â€" face interview. Dressing the part will help you focus and convey a good impression so even though you are not sitting in the same room with the persons who interviews you, do dress up and wear a suit just like a non â€" video conferencing interview. It is best to avoid white, bright colours or distracting stripes and patterns, as some cameras have trouble focusing on light coloured clothing. Also, some video monitors form fluctuating patterns on the screen when broadcasting striped patterns. Instead, solid blue and grey shades are recommended. 5. Look directly at the camera Even though it may be strange, it is important to treat the camera as if it were the employer. Look directly at it when speaking and focus your attention when the interviewer is asking questions. This will give the impression that you are confident which can be used t your advantage. Don’t look away from the camera as this may give the interviewer the impression that you are distracted or disinterested. 6. Body Language and Appearance The next step is to memorise the names of the interviewers. This will show that you are interested and happy to be interviewed by them. Listen carefully when the interviewer is speaking and use facial expressions such as nodding and smiling to show that you are listening. To calm your nerves, drink herbal tea and practice deep breathing exercises before the interview starts. Contrary to an in-person interview, you may want to minimise your body and hand movements on a video interview. Rapid movements sometimes look jerky on the video screen. 7. Write down a list of questions for the interviewer At the end of the interview, it is good to ask the interviewer a couple of relevant questions to show that you are keen about the job and that you have done your research. You will almost certainly be given the opportunity to ask some questions and so make sure that you have thought about it and that you have a few prepared. A few ideas could be: What is the companys management style? What are the prospects for growth and advancement? What do you enjoy most about your role? What are you looking for in a candidate? When can I expect to hear from you? I hope that these give you a few starting points. If you would like more information on how to perform well in interviews generally, do take a look at our How to Ace the Interview ebook which will give you more detail and advice around how to research the role, how to present yourself, the types of questions to ask to show that you have real insight into the role and business and much more! Nisa Chitakasem is the founder of  Position Ignition  â€" a careers company dedicated to taking you to the next step in your career. Nisa is passionate about helping individuals find the right career path for them whether it involves finding a more rewarding career, making a career change, figuring out the right career plan or being creative about career directions. Related: How To Interview Someone On Camera [Useful Tips]

The 4 Steps to a Job Offer - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The 4 Steps to a Job Offer - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career As corporate America gets increasingly competitive, finding a great job becomes exponentially more difficult. These days, there are more applicants applying for the same position and employers are constantly stressed over tight hiring deadlines on filling these positions. To circumvent the large amount of competition and find the better employers, you must be meticulous in your efforts. The best way to do so is to dissect your job search into 4 sections. Worry only about the step you are currently on and approach with a realistic optimism. Step 1: Application The web has made it very easy for anybody to apply to an abundance of positions very quickly with the same resume and cover letter and apply they do! The amount of resumes employers see per open position continues to increase while the quality of those submissions decreases. Job seekers often find themselves asking, How do I get a response from these employers? The answer is to do the exact opposite. Apply to fewer jobs and put more time into tweaking your resume and cover letter to the employers needs. Just because some people are reckless with their job search doesnt mean that you have to be the same way. Step 2: Effective Prepping Once you get the interviews, it is imperative that you go into the meeting prepared and confident that you are going to answer the questions in a thoughtful, intelligent and thorough manner. Because proper preparation takes work and due diligence, many people dont take the time to do so, thus wasting the time it took to get to step 2. Full preparation means carefully reading over the website, researching the industry trends and predicting what questions are going to be asked. Then you must take the time to write down those answers so your thought process is more cohesive. While you cant predict every question, you can almost guarantee that you are going to have to discuss what youre doing at your current job, why youre leaving and, in some form or another give a description as to who you are. Step 3: Interviewing Effectively While there are hundreds of interviewing techniques, tips, tricks, etc. that exist, the best thing to do is to be honest, be yourself and take a sincere interest in the company. When youre honest and speak from the heart, people appreciate you and if they dont, at least you did your part. Youre not going to win every time; as a matter of fact, youre not going to win the majority of the time. Its the individual who goes into each interview with a clean slate, focusing only on that meeting who gets the job offer. Step 4: Job Offer This is the closing of the deal. Youve gone through the 3 steps, youve done your work and now its time to get the compensation you want. Before you take action, think risk vs. reward and long term gain. For instance, risking a job offer at a good company for $5,000 more will quickly put you all the way back to step 1. Believe it or not, aside from drugs and alcohol, greed is the number one career killer. Author: Ken Sundheim  is the CEO of KAS Placement, an executive search firm specializing in sales and marketing recruitment. Ken started the company in 2005 after graduating from Fordham University in the Bronx.

The Facts of Life - As Told By a Recruiter

The Facts of Life - As Told By a Recruiter The fundamental truth in life is that you should surround yourself with people who show you respect, collaborate with you to achieve your goals and embrace success. I make it sound so easy; yes, let’s just get rid of those people who make us feel low, criticise us for small failures, don’t accept us for who we are. My personal inspiration is 5 years old I spent a few days with my family in London recently who care for my nephew; a brave yet vulnerable child who has many medically challenging and life threatening conditions. I always come away from spending time with them feeling inspired by how my brother and sister in law work tirelessly to get him the best care available; no stone unturned to unveil the latest technology to unlock my nephew from his disabilities. The way they work as a unit ensuring no matter what problems they face, they are a team. My sister in law is a child psychologist who works in art therapy, allowing children who have experienced emotional trauma to convey their feelings through drawings. She is a very wise lady who along with my brother, has been the force behind my nephew’s incredible journey from palliative care to actually being told by their consultant recently that he is defying their predictions and has a good and viable quality of life. I have seen it for myself and am in absolute awe at their tenacity and proactiveness. We win some, we lose some As I have got older, I have “lost” some friends and family relationships (through my choice) along the way; people who have been “fair weather”, unable to deal with the stressful components of life; judging me when I did not need their judgement, more so I needed their support. Or we just grew apart with little holding us together except possibly blood or history, which I know is not enough to maintain a healthy relationship that is reciprocal. I have learnt this is not enough And when I think about what makes a successful business partnership, it is all of these factors too and these are the 3 most important elements: 1) Likeability We have to spend more hours with those we work with than our nearest and dearest so we should absolutely choose who we work with by whether we like them. Why is this never discussed openly! I often dont represent a candidate if we instantly dislike each other- it is very rare, I hasten to add; and I make no bones about it! 2) Trust Do I feel like I can trust my colleague/employer to have pastoral care for me; to develop my career, be honest with feedback, behave with integrity? If I don’t trust them, how can the relationship work? It can’t. The same goes for working with clients- if they break my trust even once, I cant be their ambassador. 3) Collaboration We may not have exactly the same goals in work; some people are motivated by success in other ways than say just money, however, working together to achieve a shared purpose is the best way for a team to operate. This is why a mission statement or a values proposition is vital. I think in a work context, a lot of people are charlatans and do not reveal their real selves. I have learned from my time with my brother and family that you are best to be your honest self; show your weaknesses if you have to. Be authentic you. Dont just come to work. Emerse yourself in the team, the culture, the business. Employers- allow yourself to be observed in this context to. Knowing that your boss has similar feelings and issues is a way to break down barriers and get people to open up. Push yourself out of your comfort zones. Don’t regret not take chances- seize opportunities but equally, create chances for other people too. Be altruistic, if feels good to do something for no personal gain for yourself and it may create a karma effect … Be kind to people. I have always maintained that I am a “nice” recruiter- I am not bullish, I do not manipulate people, I care about what I do. I withdraw people from processes if it doesnt feel right. And I hope that shows in how I operate my business. Be true to yourself. I am only in my early 40s but I feel a sense of calm as I get older, that the wisdom I am learning is to be shared amongst my peers and my network. I realise this blog is less about recruitment and business and more about life, but you see, for me, my recruitment business is a massive part of my life and you know the old cliché “ find a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life”. And that is how I feel (most days ha!) I wonder what wisdoms you can share with us all; have I set the 3 elements correctly, do you think? What tips of enlightenment can you share which you have learned along your life journey? Thank you for reading and if anyone is interested to participate in a more meaningful recruitment relationship, please do get in touch with me  @LyshaHolmes. [Image Credit:  Shutterstock]

A GPA May Not Always Be Stated On Resume - Where to Put GPA on Resume

A GPA May Not Always Be Stated On Resume - Where to Put GPA on ResumeMost employers will not expect you to state your GPA on your resume, but if you want to impress the boss, you should tell them that you achieved a GPA of at least 3.0. This will help to increase your chances of getting the job, and it is important that it is stated on your resume as well.There are many ways to explain why you earned a GPA of at least three-quarters. You can write in your own words that you attended a college that offered you a scholarship, took a course that taught you valuable leadership skills, or that you went back to school to further your education. Your explanation can even be related to your work experience, if you are a former employee.When writing your resume, you can use this paragraph to set yourself apart from other candidates for the position you are applying for. This gives you the opportunity to show what it is that you have to offer the company. You may want to include specific numbe rs, such as how many graduate degrees you have received, or how many hours you have put into your current position. Other information that may make you stand out include the number of instructors you have supervised, and how many courses you have taken related to your current employer.When choosing your title for this section of your resume, it is important that you choose one that shows that you earned a GPA. For example, if you earned a GPA of at least 3.5, you could use 'Master's Degree in Information Technology.' You could also use a more specific title, such as 'Associate's Degree in Information Technology.' It all depends on the expectations of the position you are applying for, and the job that you are applying for.Since there are so many requirements for jobs these days, most employers will not even ask you to state your GPA on your resume. Instead, they will be looking for something that shows that you have value, and that you are serious about your career. If your resume s tates that you earned a 4.0 GPA, your chances of getting the job will greatly decrease. That means that you must do everything possible to get the most for your academic record.If you want to convince the employer that you deserve the position, you should not forget about your GPA. At the very least, this information can help you get a little extra help with the requirements for your job. Your GPA is an important part of the overall grade point average you earned during your college career. You will earn credit for every course you take, and that credit will count towards your GPA.If you fail to mention your GPA on your resume, your GPA will be looked at by your employer when they review your application. They will assume that you did not earn a high GPA because you did not go to the University of the West, or because you did not attend the top business school in the country. When you have a potential employer who does not know your background, it can create problems for you later o n.With this in mind, it is important that you remember to state your GPA on your resume. That will show that you are serious about your career, and that your current employer does not think you are over-qualified. Then, when your resume is examined, and you receive an interview, your GPA will be helpful to the employer, and you will impress them.

Ask Dana The Top 3 résumé bloopers that people make

Ask Dana The Top 3 résumé bloopers that people make The Top 3 résumé bloopers that people make Question Im in my final year of my masters degree and will be re-doing my résumé. What are the top résumé bloopers that people make? What are your suggestions to fix â€" or avoid â€" them? Answer from Executive Job Coach Dana Manciagli Error No. 1: Misunderstanding the purpose of a résumé It is simply a neat, easy-to-read chronological summary of your skills, experiences and successes â€" nothing more. Job candidates include too much unnecessary information, like company details or day-to-day tasks. Yet they miss highlighting the key skills that a hiring manager or recruiter is looking for. Read the job description for which you are applying and ensure the key words used there are also found in your résumé. Error No. 2: Poor format or layout makes résumés hard to read While there is no ONE right template, find an easy-to-read layout online and follow it. There are millions of articles about what to do and not to do with fonts, justification, date formats, etc. â€" dont let them confuse you! Get input from others before sending your résumé to hiring managers â€" grammatical errors, typos and misspelled words are completely unacceptable. Error No. 3: Assuming that your résumé tells your story to a hiring manager It doesnt. You will stand out when you make your great cover letter page one of your résumé, and use it to communicate with the hiring manager. Do NOT regurgitate your résumé in your cover letter. Give three reasons why you are a fit for the job based on the job description, and ask for the interview. Please, stop papering the planet with résumés for jobs you are not a fit for. In summary, its a new era of job search, and you need to change your game to stand out in this highly competitive and semi-automated employment market.

How Skills-Based Volunteering Helps Your Career Development ( Job Application Process)

How Skills-Based Volunteering Helps Your Career Development ( Job Application Process) Skills Any Professional Can Develop By Volunteering Abroad:1. Leadership SkillsYour time as a pro bono volunteer in a foreign country, and the challenges that come with working in a new environment, can provide you with insights that will allow your leadership skills to flourish.   When working with a local partner organization, you may have the opportunity to try on a managerial role or work on higher-level projects than would be accessible in your day-to-day job. You will find yourself exposed to a lot of challenges, from navigating cross-cultural communication, to working in a new environment with unique limitations and obstacles. Learning to lead under these pressures will give you the opportunity to become a stronger, more confident professional.2. Teamwork and Relationship SkillsVolunteering your individual skills abroad requires employees to work with a variety of stakeholders. Employees learn to work with new people from diverse backgrounds in a short period of time.   Workin g with international teams at a partner organization sharpens your ability to build closer working relationships with people from different cultures and will help you to become an effective communicator with people from all corners of the globe. These skills are indispensable as the business world develops globally.3. Building a NetworkA local partner organization is a great venue to meet new like-minded professionals. Employees can later utilize this network not only to advance professionally, but to establish lasting relationships.4. Enhanced CreativityEngaging in pro bono overseas lets employees see things from a different perspective, specifically helping enhance their creativity and resourcefulness.   Many studies have noted drops in creativity and happiness when people are stuck in repetitive routines. Volunteering allows you to get out of their comfort zones and can inspire you to find ways to include what you are passionate about into their daily life and work.5. Self-Care The term “volunteering” is often seen as one-sided in that the skilled party is donating their skills to a benefiting organization â€" this could not be further from the truth. While giving is at the core of volunteering, volunteers reap benefits as well.   Skills-based volunteering, also known as pro bono, brings new experiences, from learning a new language to exploring new locales. More importantly, there is a whole range of skills that can be gained from this brand of volunteering, which can significantly benefit professional development.    Overall, pro bono volunteering offers opportunities to: expand work-related experience develop new skills build a network and bring organizational success. Skills Any Professional Can Develop By Volunteering Abroad:1. Leadership SkillsYour time as a pro bono volunteer in a foreign country, and the challenges that come with working in a new environment, can provide you with insights that will allow your leadership skills to flourish.   Whe n working with a local partner organization, you may have the opportunity to try on a managerial role or work on higher-level projects than would be accessible in your day-to-day job. You will find yourself exposed to a lot of challenges, from navigating cross-cultural communication, to working in a new environment with unique limitations and obstacles. Learning to lead under these pressures will give you the opportunity to become a stronger, more confident professional.2. Teamwork and Relationship SkillsVolunteering your individual skills abroad requires employees to work with a variety of stakeholders. Employees learn to work with new people from diverse backgrounds in a short period of time.   Working with international teams at a partner organization sharpens your ability to build closer working relationships with people from different cultures and will help you to become an effective communicator with people from all corners of the globe. These skills are indispensable as the b usiness world develops globally.3. Building a NetworkA local partner organization is a great venue to meet new like-minded professionals. Employees can later utilize this network not only to advance professionally, but to establish lasting relationships.4. Enhanced CreativityEngaging in pro bono overseas lets employees see things from a different perspective, specifically helping enhance their creativity and resourcefulness.   Many studies have noted drops in creativity and happiness when people are stuck in repetitive routines. Volunteering allows you to get out of their comfort zones and can inspire you to find ways to include what you are passionate about into their daily life and work.5. Self-CareVolunteering abroad is also a great chance for you to grow as a person. Taking time away from the pressures of the 9-to-5 and exposing yourself to unfamiliar places and situations allows you the time and space to reflect and to uncover parts of themselves that were not able to shine thr ough in the past.   In fact, a huge chunk of people who decided to partake in volunteering cited that they were enticed by the benefit of gaining self-awareness. In todays digital world, where everybody is constantly connected to the web, emails, and phonesâ€"volunteering abroad serves as the perfect escape from this vicious cycle, giving you the change to reflect and hone your skills, while having fun and impacting change.   Life in another culture is also an experience you can only get from fully immersing yourself. The personal, organizational and social benefits of volunteering are endless.Choose a Partner Organization Wisely If you are thinking about volunteering your skills abroad, be sure to do your research and choose from sustainable, well-managed opportunities. Venture with Impact matches individuals, teams and companies from various industries with carefully-sourced skills-based opportunities with local organizations, currently running skills-based volunteer and travel pr ograms for professionals in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Medellin (Colombia), and Lisbon (Portugal). Also check out our Soul Search Career Development Retreat here.