Tips for Quality Teamwork

Team work is a significant for an organization or company. It is essential to have effective task and logical end. Teamwork is the cornerstone that can either make or break your department. As per Bill Bethel words: A successful team is a group of many hands but of one mind. Tips to get out the best work in team.

Effective communication: The communication between the team members should be free flowing, well channelized and directed towards achievement of project success.

Efficient assignment: Assigning responsibilities is as important as ensuring it is fulfilled perfectly. Therefore, it is essential to assign work as per the capability of team members.

Common goals: The focus clearly is attainment of common goals. Therefore, it is vital to set aside personal points of view, be aware of organizational goals and work towards achieving targets together.
Respect: To work in coordination, it is essential to understand and respect others in the team.

Trust: A term vital for any relationship also applies to a team-oriented environment. Team secrets, details of new projects or any new development within the team shouldn’t be divulged unless it is in the interest of the organization.

Site a good example: Each team member, through his work, should set an example for others to follow.

Four New Year's Resolutions to Fast Track Your Career

1. Upgrade your autonomy.

Specialists in the uber-trendy field of positive psychology have identified the #1 barrier to your happiness (the cultivation of which is surely a valuable New Year's goal). The culprit? Lack of autonomy (as anyone with a micromanaging boss can tell you). This current year, find ways to flex your mojo by choosing, to the extent possible, when and how to do your work. Two excellent strategies are lobbying for more flexibility in your list (as with Best Buy's "Results Only Work Environment"), or, at minimum, aiming to reduce the number of soul-sucking meetings you're subjected to (check out these tips for reasons to call off meetings and some positive alternatives you can suggest).

2. Take more lunches.

Networking maven Keith Ferrazzi famously instructed us to "Never Eat Alone" (the title of his excellent 2005 book) as a method to build connections. The advice becomes even more urgent, however, when coupled with research from Stanford University business school professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, who investigates how executives cultivate power. As he notes in a latest Harvard Business Review blog, "If you're in a position to bring together unrelated groups of individuals who benefit from being in contact with each other, that's a form of power." In short, the path to success is becoming a "broker" who fills holes, transmits information and cultivates connections.

3. Lose weight.

You didn't think I'd leave off this perennial favorite, did you? Unfortunately, this advice applies only to the ladies out there, as you'll see in this Wall Street Journal piece. For male execs, corpulence correlates with high pay up to the point of obesity, when their salaries begin getting docked. For women, shedding pounds can be lucrative: if you weigh 25 pounds below average, you'll bring in over $15,500 more than your "normal" peers and nearly $30,000 more than overweight women. (I'm officially noting my socio-political revulsion, but I'm sure the researchers are correct.)

4. Spend more time with your family.

And alas, this one's just for the gents. This interesting Harvard Magazine profile of Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy discusses her study into perceived warmth and competence on the work. Mothers, it turns out, are seen as nicer and less competent in the workplace, Cuddy reports, while "fathers experience the 'fatherhood bonus.' They're viewed as nicer than men without kids, but similarly, if not more, competent. They're seen as heroic: a breadwinner who goes to his kid's soccer game once in a while." So dads: time to hit the stands and begin cheering.

Tips to Boost your Interview Skills

Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these strategies to enhance your interview skills.

Practice Good Nonverbal Communication:

It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a good, firm handshake. That first nonverbal impression can be a great beginning -- or quick ending -- to your interview.

Dress for the Job or Company:

Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as "they" do when you interview. It is important to look professional and well-groomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking. If possible, call to find out about the company dress code before the interview.

Listen:

From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your interviewer, and match that style and pace.

Don't Be Too Familiar:

The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.

Don't Be Cocky:

Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism and modesty. Even if you're putting on a performance to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not worse, as being too reserved.

Take Care to Answer the Questions:

When an interviewer asks for an example of a time when you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don't answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.

Ask Questions:

When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, "No." Wrong answer. Part of knowing how to interview is being ready to ask questions to demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company. Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. The best questions come from listening to what you're asked during the interview and asking for additional information.

Don't Appear Desperate:

When you interview with the "please, please hire me" approach; you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three C's during the interview: cool, calm and confident. You know you can do the job; make sure the interviewer believes you can, too.

Job Hunting Tips for your New Years Resolutions - Reactive Search

Tip #1 - Know what you want and where to look.
Before starting to look, do a good assessment of your preferences and priorities. Know what you are looking for and where you won't go. It is better to begin by identifying your bull's eye job and expand from there than to apply for anything and everything you find online. If you know you and your significant other have no intention to move to Iowa, don't begin applying for jobs there. If you know that you would prefer to work in marketing or PR, don't start applying for jobs in logistics. More times than not, you might get these jobs, only to be left having to launch another job search after you confirm what you already knew (i.e. you don't like to live in Iowa or like working in logistics). Being able to articulate your preferences will also be invaluable to keep your supporters and network updated about what you like and how they can help you. Also, know that hiring managers are busy and want to make sure that they get the most bang for their buck. Therefore, they will avoid big job boards and instead will advertise their jobs on industry-specific job boards. For more information about responsible job boards, see my earlier post on where to find job postings in Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Enterprises, and Non-Profit Management.

Tip #2 - Focus on quality over quantity.
Hiring managers are too busy to parse out what on your resume is most relevant to the work you are applying for. Furthermore, many times, your application will not be reviewed by a hiring manager right away. Instead, it will be scanned by a software programmed to assess whether 60-80% match in words appear between your resume and the job posting. If you do not meet that requirement, your resume will be discarded even before any human being has a chance to evaluate your credentials. Therefore, when applying for jobs, make sure that your tailor your resume (and cover letter) to highlight your most relevant qualifications and education using when possible the same terms as those provided in the job description. Of course, you need to remain truthful and accurate about your experience and education. The more you can highlight how close your profile is to the ideal candidate described in the job posting, the higher your chances to get the interview.

Tip #3 - Be pleasantly persistent.
Applying for the job online is only the initial step in converting your application into an interview. Within 10 days of your application, I would recommend that you conduct informational interviews with people who work at the organization to learn more about the organization's culture. Learn as much as you can online, and then connect with friends of friends, friends of mentors, or alumni from your alma mater who work in the organization. Tell them about what you have learned online that make you interested about the organization, and ask them about their experiences at the organization. If they ask if you are interested in a job, you can say yes, but focus the conversation about their experiences at the organization, taking notes about how these conversations further strengthen your interest in the organization. About 10 days to 2 weeks after you apply, send a follow up email or call the hiring manager to ensure that s/he received your application, and to reiterate your interest. Then include 2-3 additional points from your conversations with people from within (provide their name and their title as well) that make you even more interested in the opportunity. Then follow up with them every 10 days to two weeks if you don't hear from them. Always remain pleasant in your conversation, reiterating your interest, asking if the person has any insights regarding the hiring time line for the position, or needs any additional information regarding your application. As compared to the vast majority of other candidates who might not have followed up or taken the time to learn more about the organization, this step might become your differentiating factor. Most importantly though, this step will also enable you to find out whether this organization is the right environment for you.

Five ways to risk failure and improve your career

Don’t let it sting.
If you try something new and difficult such as applying for a “reach job” and then you miss the mark or get rejected, don’t think of it as stoppage. As my mother used to say, “Failure is just a perception.” Pat yourself on the back for taking the risk, and move on.

Find a problem.
If your job feels unfulfilling, find a difficulty at work that needs solving. Then work on finding the solution. This is also a basic recipe for identifying new business ideas. If you don’t succeed, figure out why and try again.

Get unstuck.
If you hate what you’re doing, fix it. Take on new tasks at work, for example, or learn a new things. The worst thing that can happen is you’ll fail. More likely, though, you’ll figure you why you’re stuck.

Surprise yourself.
Do something completely out of character. Apply for a job in a foreign country. Sit in on a meeting in a different department. Open your mind to new career possibilities by taking a chance at something unknown.

Easy does it.
Many people get all worked up trying to come up with ways to forward their careers. Great ideas often come when you stop trying so hard. Pay attention to your daydreams and the things you read or see on TV that truly interest you. There might be a future career or business idea there.

10 Career Resolutions

Like the old saying, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life," it's never a bad time to start moving your career in a better direction. Here are 10 New Year's resolutions to help.

1)Pay Attention in Class
Treat every workday like a school day. Be sure you learn something and use it to make yourself more productive. It doesn't have to relate to your skills set. It may be as simple as understanding how to work with specific peers or emotional intelligence. Take mental notes. Don't sleepwalk through the day.

2)Look for the Next Rung
You need to excel at your job. This is how you gain credibility. But understanding your next step is key to career happiness. Career pathing is critical to remaining engaged on the job. Schedule a discussion with your manager to get clarity on the next challenge. If you don't get it on your team or in your company, it may be time to look elsewhere.

3)Understand Company Goals
Make sure you understand how your job contributes to your company's business objectives. Are you in a revenue-generating role? A brand-awareness role? Is your mission to delight the customer? Knowing how your job fits into the big picture will give you inspiration and a sense of accomplishment -- and will help you understand your job's impact.

4)Be Ethical
Bring integrity to your job. Whether you're running the company or cleaning its bathrooms, be honest in all you do. Don't call in sick just to get a day off -- that's stealing. Put in an honest day's work. Be accountable. If you're working remotely, be sure you are. Do what you say you're going to do. Honesty and reliability mean a lot to your manager.

5)Stay Fit
OK, this was probably on your last New Year's resolutions list, but that's because it's so important. Try to break a sweat for 20 minutes, three days a week. Go for a walk at lunch. Join a gym. Lift weights. A healthy body makes a healthy mind. Exercising increases blood flow to the brain and gives you ideas. You'll be more productive at work, and best of all, you'll feel better.

6)Stretch Your Role
Occasionally think how you can go above and beyond. Are there projects outside your defined role you could help with? Be proactive; ask to join. Come up with your own ideas, and work with your manager to implement them. If you're a hamster, step off the wheel and poke your head out of the cage. Stretch a little. This won't go unnoticed.

7)Manage Up
Make sure you and your manager are in firm agreement on what you're doing. Be proactive and get on his calendar to ensure you're meeting or exceeding expectations. Don't assume he's paying close attention. There are bad managers. If there's a disconnect between what you're doing and what your manager wants, you're partly to blame. Don't wait until review time.

8)Manage Across
Even if you work primarily alone; be sure to make time to understand your peers' roles and how they go about their jobs. Show an interest. Don't just choose a few friends and become part of a clique. High school is over. You never know when you may need people -- or be reporting to them.

9)Communicate
Don't leave people waiting for answers. If you're in an email environment, return emails promptly. Let people know what you're doing. If you're working on a project, always ask yourself who needs to know about it, and then tell them. Talk to people; give them a heads up. And when someone helps you out, be sure to thank him. It's amazing this even need to be on a list, but bad communicators abound. Don't be one of them.

10)Make Time for Play
Have fun. Work hard, but smile while you're doing it. No one likes a grump. Approach each day with a positive spirit and stay loose. Enjoy your family and friends as well. Make time for them -- and you. It's called work-life balance. All work and no play make life a chore.

Broaden your scope when it comes to career ideas

Whether you are at the start of your career, looking for a change, or simply after a new job, it is a good idea to brainstorm different career ideas and approaches.
This section outlines how to network and provides a list of tips, books and websites, all dedicated to career ideas.

How to network

Networking isn't necessarily asking for a job. It’s about letting people know you are available so if a vacancy comes up, they will think of you. In fact, tapping into your existing network is often the best way to find new opportunities or generate new career ideas.

Three steps to effective networking

1. Start by making contact with someone you know. Unless you see them regularly (at work or at weekly social or sports events) it is quicker to contact them by telephone.
2. Then try a 'warm call', that is, use the name of a mutual friend or acquaintance as an introduction when you call someone you don't know personally.
3. Finally, try 'cold calling' employers to ask whether they are likely to recruit people with your capabilities and skills.

Tips for making contact

It isn’t always easy speaking with people you don’t know. Follow these tips to take the pressure off yourself and ensure you give a good impression.
• write down what you want to say and rehearse it
• tell them your reason for contacting them
• check if they have time to talk at the moment – if not, call back later
• keep the phone call short and focus on your reason for calling – this makes a professional impression
• research the organization before you go to a meeting – potential employers will be impressed by your initiative
• follow up your meeting with an email or letter thanking them for their time.

6 Tips for Career Success & Balance

It's based on several premises of yoga, each of which can be applied to several aspects of your every day life:

1. Don't pay attention to the actions of others - watching others in action, whether it's in yoga class or on the job, is of little help to you. It distracts you from the issue or task at hand.

2. Keep your focus on how you're doing - are you moving advance? Or is it time to make some modifications to your style and approach? This is just as main for your financial situation, as well as personal and occupation aspects.

3. Push to the limit, but be aware of your limits - a lot of careerists think they can accomplish greatness by just spending more time and energy on the issues or roadblocks they face. I've seen a lot of "success stories" fail in a pile because they went beyond their limit one time too often.

4. Be mindful of goals, recognize progress - the most satisfied people I've met over the last 30 years have a detailed plan for their life. They do not put their faith in others to look after them. They review their preparation regularly.

5. Take a deep breath - many people really forget to breath at times during the day. As in yoga, that limits performance obviously. I suggest that you consciously do some deep breathing a couple of times a day to ensure you are getting enough oxygen to perform at a high level.

6. Let it go - when the class done, don't continue worrying or fretting about why you couldn't get into a pose as well as the previous class. It's common that our bodies and our brains work differently each day, don't struggle against nature. Accept it and take advantage of what's working now.

7 Tips to Give Your Career a Social Media Facelift

• Give your perspective a facelift.
To develop a valuable social media marketing presence, requires accepting that social media has become an integral part of how we communicate and share information. Not participating means that you’re missing a big part of the conversation.

• Do your research.
Just as you would practice for the job interview, use time lurking on the sidelines to get a feel for how people communicate and share on social media networks and the type of language they use.

• Check the grapevine.
In business, as in your individual life, you need to know what people are telling about you. Two simple, low cost ways to accomplish this are Google searches and alerts. This may not job as well if you’ve got a common name.

• Put your best foot forward.
The online equivalent of the fresh interview suit is your social media presence on various social media platforms. To this finish, think about how you want to position yourself just as you would when marketing any other product. Unlike the previous fashioned resume, career-oriented social media tends to be forward looking.

• Practice your talking points.
Regardless of the size of your rolodex, in social media each one begins at the same point. To become the belle of the social media ball, it’s main to build your friends and followers.

• Be generous with your praise.
One way to build your presence is to help earlier colleagues and staff. Where appropriate, provide them recommendations on LinkedIn without being asked. Pay it forward without upsetting about whether they will reciprocate.

• Work the crowd.
Get out and meet people in actual life. While social media enables you to stay sequestered behind your laptop, it’s serious to get out and meet people in real life. This way you can strengthen relationships with people you got acquainted by participating in social media.

Ten worst job seeking tips ever

1. Don't give a summary for your resume.

2. Include as much as possible in resume. No,no! Editing is a business talent.

3. Use corporate speak. Do you ever warm to teachers who use teacher speak? Have you any plan what they are really saying? The most up-to-date advisers recommend writing your resume the way you speak.

4. Don't ever postpone the phone screen..

5. Don't bring up money. Do bring up cash. Why waste time?

6. Send your resume via an online job ad or company site only.

7. Don’t send a paper resume.

8. Wait for them to call your name. Don't follow this opinion. Instead, use your LinkedIn connections to put you in tough with someone who can put in a word with the hiring manager.

9. Give them all. Hold off on references.

10. Post your resume on all job board. No. You don't want to be overexposed and undervalued.

5 Tips for making sure you can find a new job

1 .Get involved in networking organizations. Look for networking groups that have a broader membership than those in career transition: ExecuNet, which has chapters across the nation, is a group that brings executives, recruiters and business leaders together for discussion in person and online. Leadership organizations can also be large networking groups.

2. Use your alumni network. The term “alumni” can apply to different groups: your college, high school, sorority/fraternity or people you worked with at a previous employer. Mobilize the m all. Alumni associations can give a wealth of contacts and resources for job hunters. Have you caught up with a college roommate lately? Use LinkedIn or Facebook to find out how they are and where they’re working. You could find a potential advocate for a target employer. If not, you’ve at least reconnected with an old friend.

3. Volunteer your expertise. Use your knowledge in a field to help others, and it can advantage you in your job search. Employers want to hire people who are well regarded in their fields. Volunteering provides the opportunity to build a reputation in an industry while making key contacts.

4 .Be curious wherever you go. As you’re networking or just running errands, be aware of what’s going on around you and ask questions. Curiosity generally leads to discovery. That can mean meeting someone who will lead you to a potential job. If you’re shy about touting yourself, asking people about their works, careers or interests can be a way to expand your network in new and surprising ways.

5 .Remember, it’s a little world. With so many people in so many industries displaced in the recession, it’s highly likely you will know people at potential employers. earlier work experience with someone on the inside can be a major advantage.

How to Get the Top Jobs

1. Get varied experience
Don’t get stuck in your job, role, or even field of work–try at least two or three job functions over a period of time. Human resource chiefs and recruiters typically look for people with varied knowledge when hiring for the top job. Even having worked in different cities or countries counts, because it shows how adaptable you are.

2. Specialize
This may sound contrary to the point above, but experts say that ideally you should be a expert in at least one role. That goes a long way in earning respect from your peers and juniors.

3. Get more education
Getting a mid-career education can help leapfrog your occupation.
What you study depends on your aim.
One obvious option would be to sign up for an executive or full-time management program, where you can learn about strategy, business development and so on. Or, you could do a expert course on leadership-development, or people-management, skills essential for a top-level manager.

4. Take risks
One easy way to get noticed by the bigwigs is to sign up for tough projects. Maybe the organization is looking for someone to begin a new initiative in a remote town, or you have an out-of-the-box idea that could help raise the productivity of your team.

5. Join a start-up
If your present organization doesn’t give you the chance to be bold or try new things, your best bet might be to join a start-up. This is an extreme case of risk-taking, because it could mean lower pay (if at all) and the chance of failure is large. But it’s a great way to learn a lot about running a business, managing people and several other things in a short period of time.

6. Keep up with the world
To achieve the top, you need to know a lot about what’s happening in your industry, and even related industries.

7. Networking
Everywhere in the world, networking is key to career achievement. This is particularly true for high-profile jobs, which are often not advertised openly. If you know the correct people, and enough of them, it will be easier for you to learn of vacancies when they come about.

Job-Hunting Tips For 2011

1.Keep your social networking alive, well and professional.

If you've been neglecting your Linkedin account and playing Farmville instead, it's time to switch gears and look at social networking as one more step in the successful job search. It's okay to have accounts for personal social networking, but spend less time on those and lot more time on the profiles you have that relate to your past, current and future career. Get involved in local groups on Linkedin, update your professional blog every day and follow professionals in your field on your Twitter account.

2.Find a job with Twitter.

Twitter is helpful for far more than to-the-minute updates on the personal lives of your favorite friends and/or celebrities. Twitter can help land you a fresh job. First, follow influential folks in your field. Keep up with what's going on. Participate. Be part of the profession even if you're still looking for a job. Second, use a Twitter search device to look for jobs, conferences and networking opportunities with people in your field

3.Polish up your resume.

Social networking is a great way to get the contacts you need, but most often you'll still have to send in a resume for those job applications. Don't send an outdated resume in after you've updated your online presence. Make sure that both your resume and your online profiles are current and the best representation of your job experience and education.

4.Get active even (especially) if you're unemployed.

Local connections are one of the most powerful ways to find a job; and you'll only get depressed if you sit at home in your sweats every day. Join local organizations, volunteer and get involved in your community. Use your expertise to help other people out. Offer free seminars in your church or community association, write articles for the paper or mentor someone who's new to the field.

5.Look for ways to be an expert.

If you're a fresh graduate looking for your first job, then that whole "job experience" section of the resume is often a painful subject. You may not be able to fill it up with years on the job, but do what you can to establish some expertise in your part. Attend conferences and seminars, take classes and get certifications.

Nine top telephone interview tips

1. Ensure that you have a quiet area with no possible distractions. You don’t want your children/others etc disturbing you in the middle of your chat. It’s very distracting and you will come across as unprofessional and unfocused.

2. Your tone of voice speaks volumes about your enthusiasm so talk with energy and motivation. This is vital as it is one of the few methods an interviewer can use in determining a person’s interest in the role. Sales trainers often include this as part of their programme when training telesales staff. Energetic voice tones are very infectious and help to connect you to your speaker.

3. Another division of sales training is to smile when you talk. This is very main when talking on the phone. This does not mean grinning but smiling speaks volumes about you and illustrates to the interviewer that you are enthusiastic. This is infectious.

4. Research is vital here – have your notes in front of you and have your work done. Do not have reams of notes in front of you as you will get flustered if you cannot read them clearly – jot down key bullet points in front of you. Lack of research tells the interviewer that you have little interest in the role. This is equally important in face to face interviewers and is a fundamental basic so should never be overlooked.

5. Speak clearly to the interviewer. In Interview situations, people can get anxious and stagger over their words or speak too fast. Relax, take your time and answer each question carefully. Deep breathing is very effective here, take a few deep breaths before you talk.

6. Always be professional. The interviewer is assessing your skills right from the begining of the conversation. This is also applicable when arranging your venue etc for a face-to-face Interview. Be professional and polite and enthusiastic at all times. All interviewers are making judgements on their candidates even when they are talking about mundane issues. Inappropriate humour and comments should not be included here.

7. Have a list of your Unique Selling Points in front of you. What are these? These are your career ‘highlights’ or your key achievements. These points will help differentiate you from other candidates. These points are very main as they help sell you to the interviewer. Most importantly, they can really make a lasting impression with the interviewer.

8. A very interesting method used by some is to stand when taking the phone call. This alters the sound and energy of your voice. It also helps project your voice and helps you sound more assertive.

9. Ask your friends/family how you come across on the telephone. Without realising it, we can talk too fast, be unclear or sound disinterested. This information can actually help you improve in your communication skills. Although you have the added advantage of not seeing the interviewer face-to-face, this can also be a disadvantage as the interviewer is judging you solely on your voice.

Seven Tips for Part-Time Business Owners

1. Get your family involved.

Whether it's answering the telephone, stuffing envelopes or putting together orders, giving family members the chance to help out is a great way to get more accomplished in less time -- while also making them feel like they're part of your business.

2. Be ready to give up personal time.

You won't have much time for TV, reading or hobbies you used to enjoy. Be sure the sacrifice is worth it, or both your work and your business will suffer.

3. Focus on the task in front of you.

When you're at job, focus on work. Don't let thoughts of your business distract you.

4. Make the most of every minute.

Use lunch hours or early morning to make telephone calls. Use commuting time on the train to catch up on paperwork.

5. Take advantage of time-zone differences and technology.

If you do business with people in other states or countries, make time differences job to your advantage by calling early in the morning or after work. Use faxes and e-mail to communicate with clients at any time.

6. Don't overstep your boundaries.

Making calls on company time or using your employer's supplies or equipment for your own business purpose is a big no-no.

7. Be honest.

Only you can assess your position, but in many cases it's best to be upfront with your chief about your sideline business. As long as it doesn't interfere with your job, many bosses won't mind. You'll also gain by being honest rather than making them feel you have something to hide.