The Trick Question They Ask Jobseekers Over Age 50

The Trick Question They Ask Jobseekers Over Age 50The Trick Question They Ask Jobseekers Over Age 50Its hard to leid allow age to weigh heavily on your mind. If youre seeing ads online, checking off the boxes mentally because you meet the qualifications, making it to the phone interview, but then getting ghostedafter a while it starts to feel like theres no other reason for the silence except for your age.While that may be true some of the time, its doesnt apply 100%. Candidates over age 50 get hired day in and day out. The reason why is they take control of their communications every step of the way, to make the decision maker think about them differently than the other applicants. This especially applies to the trick question that comes at the end ofthe meeting, Why do you want this job? You can and should turn this questionto your advantage. Lets talk about what goes into answering the trickquestion, then put it all together into specific language you can use.Rise Above The Basics The decision maker is asking you this question to get to your real motivation for wanting to work in this job at this organization. This is like dating on that 1st date, you need to demonstrate interest in that person, not just enjoyment about the wine, appetizers, and merely being out and about.The employer would like to know that youre not just running aroundtrying to get any old job. Therefore, your answer should not be anything alongthe lines of, I really believe in this companys mission, and I want to be aparte of helping people and making a difference. Thats literally what youcould say to any interviewer in any company in the world and guess what thatsexactly what most of your competition is going to say, which is why youreabout to be better.Ramp Up Your Research You have the ability to dive deeper into an organization than what theirweb site provides on the about us page. Everything is social now, and socialmedia is where you find out the real deal. Follow the organization o n Twitterand follow the individual decision makers as well dont forget to be humanand make human-to-human connections.Use Google in a more comprehensive way than you probably do right now. The results page of any search on Google offers several tabs at the top all, maps, images, berichterstattung, videos, and more. Enter the organizations name into the search bar and when the results page appears, click the news tab. This will offer you virtually every media story from every media outlet almost in real time. It will tell you when the results came up, as recently as within the hour.In your notes for your interview, write down 3-4 things about what theorganization is doing right now, working on right now, about to launch,location theyre about to open, or industry award they just won.Speak Your TruthWhen you were doing your research, you didnt write down every single thing you found out. You went through a mental process some facts about the organization struck you, while others you immediately discarded from your thinking. That process means that there were points that automatically resonated with you.They resonated with you for a reason. What is that reason? Why did you take note of that particular fact? What did it mean to you? Dont overthink this. What I repeatedly encounter in interview coaching sessions is that candidates fear their answers arent good enough. Yet when I hear the answer, its the truth. The truth is good enough. YOU are good enough.Talk about it. Not cheesy and stilted with resume-sounding words. Just normal and natural. For example, Now that weve had this conversation, I am even more intrigued by the role. Plus this company is a CES Innovation Award winner that is the top honor in this industry and I look forward to being a part of designing and engineering your next stellar product.What do you think the interviewers thinking now? Good guy, but hes probably 53 years old, so, no. Or, I like that guy. He understands what we do and that we do it with excellence. Thats the kind of attitude we want to add to this team.You win at job search when youre doing things none of your competition is doing. And you have to do this every step of the way. Theres a free online training coming up, 5 Secrets Smart Jobseekers Age 50+ Know That Make The Job Search EASY where we show you what to do differently, so youre not getting blocked at practically every move, so more of the people relevant to you even see you in the 1st place, and so you can immediately find and talk to the real decision makers. Join us by clicking here.

Study 45% have shed tears, 52% have gotten visibly angry at work

Study 45% have shed tears, 52% have gotten visibly angry at workStudy 45% have shed tears, 52% have gotten visibly angry at workThere are certain things you can do when a colleague or employee cries in the office, but people feel differently about its effects on your career. Staffing firm Accountemps released the results of new research showing that a surprising 45% of employees saytheyve cried at work, while 52% say they have gotten visibly angry.Heres how people say crying makes you look at workWhile 43% of employees in the 55 and up age bracket dont believe that crying impacts someones reputation, compared to 31% of people ages 35 to 54, and 25% of those ages 18 to 34.The research also asked workers and CFOs how they feel about crying in the office. Thirty-two percent of employees and 26% of CFOs agree that crying is never OK at work - people will perceive you as weak or immature. Thirty-eight percent of employees and 44% of CFOs think that crying is OK here and there, but that d oing it too often can undermine career prospects.But some took a more neutral approach31% of employees and 30% of CFOs think that crying has no negative effect - it shows youre human.While high-profile figures like Sheryl Sandberg, Tom Brady, and Steve Jobs have reportedly cried on the job, how things will work out for you, if you do the same, depends on the nature of your specific workplace and circumstances.Heres who people are lashing out at on the jobThe research found that among the 52% of employees who said theyve gotten visibly mad at work, 65% directed it at a coworker, 37% had done it to a supervisor, 21% have done it to a customer and 14% had done it to a vendor.Michael Steinitz, executive director of Accountemps, commented on the researchWere all human, and sometimes emotions can get the best of us. Workplace challenges are inevitable, but how you respond and move forward can demonstrate your professionalism, resilience and emotional intelligence, Steinitz said. Thinkin g before reacting will not only help your professional reputation but also show that you are considerate of your colleagues. Frequent emotional displays can be disruptive to coworkers and ultimately damage your work relationships.

Five Flexible Job Ideas for Working Parents

Five Flexible Job Ideas for Working ParentsFive Flexible Job Ideas for Working ParentsFor many working parents like myself, flexibility rivals salary as the core quality we look for when it comes to job fit. Whenthe kids go back to school it frees up about seven hours of the day for work. The hardpart is that this block of time often gets interrupted by something kid-related, such as forgotten lunches, sick days, lice infestations and so on. Whatever the fiasco de jour, Ive staffed it, and Im sure some of you have, too. The unexpected demands that surface athome refines working parents savvy when it comes to prioritizing, troubleshooting, and creative problem-solving. Its not the only way to hone these skills, but on my craziest days its heartening to remind myself that these will be byproducts of my efforts. The good thing is, there area variety of flexible jobs out there that enable you to fully participate in the professional world and to be hands-on in your kids lives. But in buc hung to meet the needs of both realities, you need a good plan. If you take a job that allows you to work from home, make sure you figure outa care plan for your kids. Dont try take on both. It wont work. Your kids think you are theirs when you are at home. They dont want to share your attention, and you cant have your colleagues or clients hearing your kids while you are on the phone. If you are going to telecommute, set yourself up for success by making sure you are properly staffed from day one. According to Simply Hired data, nearly 87,000 U.S. jobs accommodate work-from-home arrangements. This represents 1.85 percent of all open positions. These are some great flexible jobs Sales JobsAverage Salary $45,000 + bonusesThere are a wide range of sales jobs waiting for pros like you. It will take your best communication and organization skills to keep you customers up-to-date and in the loop. Some jobs may require local or out of town travel. Search Sales jobsCustomer ServiceAverage Salary $37,000Be that service-oriented pro who can answer customers questions and clear the air. If you love working with people (from your own personal office), and you have a great phone presence, this could be the perfect role for you. Search Customer Service jobsAnimal CaretakerAverage Salary $23,000Give cuddly critters a boast while their pet parents are at work. In this role you get the chance to cash in on your love of animals. Take neighborhood pets for walks, give them treats and play with them. Add a bit of fun to their day and to yours. Additionally, most kids love animals and can serve as interns when it comes to play time.Search Animal Caregiver jobsDietitiansAverage Salary $56,0000 There are a variety of ways you can use your food expertise to create meaningful and flexible employment for yourself. Dietitians are always in demand as food writers, educators and counsellors. This position allows you to be creative in how you approach the job market.Search Dietitian jobsT ravel AgentsAverage Salary $35,000Help individual travelers and tour groups create amazing adventures. This exciting role gives you the chance to work closely with clients and to build relationship with vendors in the travel industry. Many positions offer travel benefits and discounts.Search Travel Agent jobsWith the right job, a good plan and a little creativity, working parents really can find the right balance for themselves and their families.On June 22, 2017, this article was updated from its original form.

5 Tips for Talking About Failure with Potential Employers

5 Tips for Talking About Failure with Potential Employers5 Tips for Talking About Failure with Potential EmployersJob bewerbungsgesprchs are tough enough, but sometimes youre asked one of those questions that can eitherbei make or break your chances of getting hired. This is where talking about failure with potential employers requires some preparation.Tell me about a past failure you had at work.At first, the question might throw you. After all, arent you there to talk about your previous successes, awards, and accolades? Who wants to hear about failure from a potential employee? But prospective bosses are genuinely interested in your shining moments, as well as your failures, since they can show how you have handled setbacks or overcome hurdles. Val Matta, vice president of business development at CareerShift, a comprehensive job hunting and career management solution for companies, outplacement firms, job seekers, and university career centers, offers her tips on how to talk about failure with potential employers- and still get the jobBe confident. Talking about your failure during a job interview is definitely uncomfortable and unnatural. You dont want to shine a spotlight on your failure. Thats why its hard to exude confidence when describing your shortcomings. But without confidence, you seem incapable of moving on to the next phase of your career. So try to keep the same confidence level throughout your interview by watching your body language. Continue to maintain eye contact, have good posture, and dont fidget while you speak with your potential boss.Own up to your mistakes.Take ownership for your failures. Admit what part of the failure was yours and how you might act differently in retrospect. Owning up to your mistake shows the employer that you have integrity and have reflected on the past to become a better professional.Stay calm. Talking about failures is emotional. You relive the situation and are reminded of the gemeindewiese you felt toward yo ur coworkers, boss, and most importantly, yourself. Your emotions can take over and next thing you know, youre airing out all of your dirty laundry in your interview. Youre spilling about who did what to whom, bad-mouthing your coworkers, and talking about how unfair your boss was.Pointing the blame and speaking ill of your coworkers or boss is a cop-out, and it makes you look bad to a new employer. Instead, quickly and calmly explain the situation during your job interview without going into too much detail. Be positive about your coworkers and boss, no matter how you felt (or still feel) about the situation.Focus on your next steps.Dont dwell on the mistake itself. Instead, talk about how you moved on from it. What was your next step? What did you do to try and fix the situation? How has the experience changed you as a professional? Was there a positive outcome from the failure?Discuss what you learned. Failures are learning experiences, and sharing the lessons you gained from you r failure demonstrates that you have grown and become a better professional as a result. Share how you will use that knowledge in the future and how the experience will change your approach to similar situations in your next position.Its never fun talking about failure- particularly with a potential boss. But if youre prepared to possibly answer this prickly interview question by knowing what went wrong (and how you made it right), you can transform your previous failure into future successReaders, have you been asked to discuss professional failure during a job interview? How did you handle talking about failure during the hiring process? Let us know in the comments section below

Seven Tips to Recruit the Class of 2016

Seven Tips to Recruit the Class of 2016Seven Tips to Recruit the Class of 2016Seven Tips to Recruit the Class of 2016 DeZubeIs your company looking to attract new grads?According to Accenture Strategys 4th annual College Graduate Employment Study, recent graduates are three times as likely to prefer to work for a small or medium-sized company.Drilling down into those expectations reveals a desire for workplace options that employers of any size can offer college graduates.Graduates are hungry for a culture with opportunities for rapid advancement and the ability to actually love the work that they do, says Accenture Strategy Managing Director Katherine LaVelle.LaVelle says employers will need to provide an employee experience that offers the flexibility to participate in project-based work, allowing for on-the-job learning and the opportunity to work across different roles with a small-team feel.Understanding what graduates want and how your organization can deliverthose opportunitie s has an additional benefit of boosting your employer brand.Here are seven tips to successfully recruit the class of 2016.Provide More Choices to New HiresAs the head of recruiting for an organization that hires 14,000 people a year, Jill Larsen, senior vice president of talent acquisition and people planning at Cisco, competes for talent every day, facing off against the nimble, startup culture of growing companies.It is possible for large enterprise companies to create agility in employment and talent attraction, Larsen says. Probably the fastest way is to harness the many cultures that exist in large companies. She suggests these four tactics for winning the talent race against growing companiesShare employee stories about growth in your recruiting materials and on social media. Larsen suggests using storytelling as a means to showcase the startup aspects of your company culture. Author Carmine Gallo points out that many large companies effectively share employee stories which c an also help unite multiple workplace cultures after a merger or acquisition.Look at benefit offerings through the lens of a 20-something. Do recent grads value the current slate of benefits or would they prefer something more novel, like student loan payoffs? Why elend ask them directly?Ask how grads view your employer brand. Following up on candidates experiences is a quick way to engage new grads, especially those who didnt choose you or who you didnt select. Those folks help to build perceptions of your company and theres a lot to learn from them.Make talent mobility a priority. How well are you retaining your new grads and rotating them? How many of your interns are you converting with offers in your internship programs before they head back to universittsgelnde? These are areas we focus on to ensure that our new grads not only join us, but they stay and continue to learn and develop their skills, Larsen says. Heres how other recruiting experts weighed in on engaging2016 colle ge gradsMove early on employment trends. Nannina Angioni, a labor and employment attorney and partner of the Los Angeles-based law firm Kaedian LLP, says smaller, emerging companies move early on progressive employment trends.Larger companies have traditionally been bulkier at the HR level and more reticent to change their ways until they have no choice in the matter an attitude that is not attractive to younger workers, she says. By having workplace policies in place that reflect the needs and desires of a very diverse Millennial workforce, larger companies could begin to approximate their more nimble and edgier competitors in the startup lane.Recruit new graduates into recently established product groups or newly opened offices. If those options wont work, offer customized rotational programs, says Bruce Harpham, founder, ProjectManagementHacks.com.Moving to a new division each six months over a two- to four-year period provides novelty, challenge and growth opportunities, Harpham says. For the best results, ask the employee about their preferences for new assignments rather than simply moving them around.Chase the people who want to work for you, not the ones who dont embrace your culture. Your average tenure for new grads will be much higher if you find people who want to work for your brand and who like the stability of a larger company, says Kristen Zierau, director, Clarke Caniff, Detroit. If you have to change your culture for a handful of people, youre going to wake up one day and not know who you are anymore.

Unusual Article Uncovers the Deceptive Practices of References Page Resume

Unusual Article Uncovers the Deceptive Practices of References Page Resume Employers may request a reference list when considering you for work, therefore it should be in prime form too. Resumes might be organized in various ways. Third, if youre currently employed, you obviously cant incorporate a reference from your present employer. Listing a person for a reference without permission could be harmful to your job application. Reference Store, for instance, offers vorstellungsgesprch coaching and digital landlord solutions, besides providing fake references. Resume reference pages might be used at any stage in the interview procedure. The program scans each resume, plucking out the appropriate info, and then produces a distinctive applicant file. You would rather not include things like an email address with a typo or a telephone number thats missing a digit. If so, a land line with a trustworthy voice mail system could be a better choice. A Sample reference sheet templa te isnt only a premade package you use the manner in which you truly feel like. You also ought to get in touch with your references to allow them to know they may be receiving a call sometime soon and say thank you. If you know the name of the individual who might be contacting your references, additionally, it is valuable to share that information also. You also can be sure their contact information is accurate. Ask each reference if theres any information they dont want listedthis will help safeguard your contacts private info, Nolan states. In case the text on the second page is simply a couple of lines, you might want to think about reformatting and sticking to the 1 page rule. When replacing text, its better to highlight and delete tiny portions at a moment, even just single lines, in order to keep the original formatting. For more emphasis, a hintergrund color may be used. All artwork and text are wholly customizable. At the executive level, you wish to present a coup le more. Simply speaking, the key to reference success is to prepare beforehand, choose individuals who will speak highly of you, and make it simple for them to achieve that. Bear in mind, theres no perfect method to compose a resume Often its simpler to reach someone on their mobile phone, but nevertheless, it may be tough for that individual to locate a quiet place to talk in case an employer calls their cell. What References Page Resume Is - and What it Is Not After you have decided on who you need to put in your reference list you have to receive their permission. Its also wise to state the length of time you have known the reference. If you are requested to send references, develop an individual document rather than placing them directly on your resume. Your most important reference ought to be the initial one. Only submit your references if youre asked to. Second, your references may not wish to openly share private information. Personal references are usually not sugg ested. While there could be some overlap between professional and individual references, personal references, also called character references, arent necessarily the exact same as professional references. Sometimes prospective employers will say how many and what sort of references they want. Certainly, if youre asked for references you will provide them. Youre also likely to need to understand how to choose and request references. When you should provide references to a possible employer, the ideal way to do it is to create a reference page it is possible to share with them. As soon as its important to get people who can vouch for your abilities and techniques, offering a list of references right from the gate during work search isnt always the ideal policy. Following your interview, your references could be a vital component on whether you get a job offer from an organization. The people that you include in the list ought to be relevant to the job that you are applying for . A reference list is vital because employers wish to understand which individuals they can contact to confirm your information and find another perspective of who you are.

What Recruiters Need When it Comes to Personal Branding

What Recruiters Need When it Comes to Personal Branding Social media, Googling and the likes are one of the first places that a recruiter can attempt to gather background on a potential employee. What an individual volunteers in public (and the web) are fair game and a great resource for better understanding who the next hire should be. Likewise, your applicants are going to the same places to gather similar information. Its easy to market chocolate to candy lovers and cars to interested buyers, but when it comes to a recruiter and applicants, marketing yourself isnt so simple. The challenge ofbuilding a personal brandcan be difficult, but, according to Placester and Feldman Creative, so beneficial.Though the A to Z pointers seems extensive, truthfully, the 26 pointers can easily be summarized into 5 rules1. Be Real. Establish who you are and what your goals are in the long run, then stick to them Knowing who you are and what you stand for will not only define what is needed from current and future employees, but also help build a genuine personal brand.Authentic leadersare strong leaders who keep employees engaged and encourage new hires to work well with the team. Along with a positive environment, authenticity is welcoming to interviewees. Who wouldnt want to work for the company with happy employees?2. Be Aware of Your Appearance.That doesnt mean taking a professional headshot that erases all blemishes and has amazing lighting. Appearance isnt all about the LinkedIn profile picture (however, it is recommended for bothcredibility and saturationto have a nice picture in all social media outlets).The way a company and its employees are viewed can change the success of hiring and happiness of employees. Having a great personal brand involves being a great brand ambassador.That said, only 14 percent of companies have employees whounderstand the organizations strategy, goals, and direction. The first place to start when it comes to building your brand ambassadors arsenals is developing a clear idea of what they are supporting.3. Brag a Little.Everyone has something to show. Social pages should be a place where all the wonderful things you and your team do, whether it be great content or interesting experiences.Everything from volunteering, fundraising, blog posts, infographics or conferences give social pages personality, and in turn, give their owners personality. Again, while this helps with personal branding, it supportsthe look of the companyfor which you work.4. Give Praise.No one entered the field or industry knowing it all. In fact, no one will ever know everything and this is great news.One benefit of not being omniscient is that there is someone who deserves shout outs. Be open about who helped you get to where you are and in turn pass the knowledge on. Someone is in need of the same advice. Its a great cycle that all industries have and the pla ce you play in it can be the difference in a strong and out of this worldpersonal brand. Also, job seekers (and maybe even some of your hiring managers) dont know all that a recruiter does.A great way to get started is by sharing the content that give aha moments. When content is shared, relationships and thought leadership are built. No one should have to make a case for networking when it comes to recruiting. While youre sharing that great content you find, write some of your own. Use what youve read as inspiration and use the opportunity to develop even more insight. Even the Slideshares and PowerPoints used in presentations can make for engaging knowledge sharing.5. Be Zealous.Not everyone is outspoken and thats fine, but if you dont have passion then you dont have any way to affect the person from which youre sitting across the desk.Consider your audience and where you fit within them and run with it. Create avoicefor all the content you produce and stay consistent. Be open to questions, encourage opinions and stay true to who you are.Weak brands focus solely on intellectual arguments. Strong brands tap into emotions. The subject you need to master is psychology.Mastering your own personal brand is difficult, but so important. Defining who you and the company are can help not only in your online presence, but also in an interview setting. People want to be employees of passionate companies and positive brands.How do you and your company help encourage positive personal brands? Where do you like to show yourself off?

Top trends in Security Clearance Hiring

Top trends in Security Clearance HiringTop trends in Security Clearance HiringTop trends in Security Clearance HiringIntelligence dug into whos hiring Security Clearance professionals these days. If youre recruiting in this area, youll want to know what we found.A security clearance is a government authorization that allows a rolle to view classified information as a job requires. They are essential to landing a job with a government contractor or federal agency. According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence about 4.2 million people held security clearances at the end of fiscal 2015. Not surprising, the majority of these were government employees and military personnel.There are three levels of security clearance, which are top-secret, secret and confidential. A clearance is typically good for two years or until the date a review is required, whichever comes first, after a person leaves a security clearance position. Reactivating a lapsed clearance is mora likely t o be less costly and faster than gaining a security clearance for a new employee for the first time.To give you some insight into what your recruiting competitors are up to, our Intelligence team analyzed data from the CEB TalentNeuron tool to identify which companies are posting the most Security Clearance jobs and where these jobs are harder to fill.fruchtwein In-Demand Security Clearance JobsNetwork and Computer Systems AdministratorsInformation Security AnalystsSoftware Developers, ApplicationsComputer User Support SpecialistsComputer Systems Engineers/ArchitectsSecurity Clearance Jobs44% of available Security Clearance jobs are for TechnologyOf all open technology positions, 48% are specifically for Software Engineers and Information AnalystsWho is hiring Security Clearance talent?Most Common Companies Seeking Security Clearance Talent1Lockheed Martin *ProfileDepartment of Veterans AffairsNorthrop Grumman *ProfileBooz Allen HamiltonCACIGeneral DynamicsBAE SystemsRaytheonCorrect Care Solutions *ProfileHarris CorporationHow difficult is it to recruitSecurity Clearance talent?Security Clearance positions are harder than the average to recruit when compared to all other positions posted online.Which high demand job markets are harder to fill?Here are 10 of the hardest to fill job markets most in demand, some of which may surprise you.1No. 1 Washington DCAvailable erreichbar Jobs 32,800Hiring Difficulty 73Median Ad Salary $132,650No. 2 Colorado Springs, COAvailable Online Jobs 2,100Hiring Difficulty 73Median Ad Salary $88,650No. 3 Baltimore, MDAvailable Online Jobs 8,800Hiring Difficulty 72Median Ad Salary $103,250No. 4 Denver, COAvailable Online Jobs 2,000Hiring Difficulty 65Median Ad Salary $88,850No. 5 San Diego, CAAvailable Online Jobs 2,800Hiring Difficulty 59Median Ad Salary $91,200No. 6 Huntsville, ALAvailable Online Jobs 2,400Hiring Difficulty 56Median Ad Salary $106,150No. 7 Boston, MAAvailable Online Jobs 3,300Hiring Difficulty 55Median Ad Salary $10 5,100No. 8 Norfolk, VAAvailable Online Jobs 2,500Hiring Difficulty 54Median Ad Salary $77,750No. 9 Dallas, TXAvailable Online Jobs 1,700Hiring Difficulty 51Median Ad Salary $88,500No. 10 Los Angeles CAAvailable Online Jobs 3,500Hiring Difficulty 49Median Ad Salary $100,850Want to know more about the top trends in hiring Security Clearance talent? Check out the Security Clearance Market Overview from Intelligence.Data finding are based on analysis of all available online jobs reported by TalentNeuron and job seeking activity from more than 22 million unique visitors2.1The CEB TalentNeuron Tool, JAN-AUG 20162comScore Media Metrix, 1Q 2016, 3-month average, (includes all US Mobile + PC traffic)*FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COMPANY PROFILES, CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OR 1-800-X6333 TODAY.

How to give yourself structure when you work from home

How to give yourself structure when you work from homeHow to give yourself structure when you work from homeWhen you work remotely, you gain the flexibility of getting to work from the comfort of your home. But the downside of this situation is the lack of structure. When you work from your bed, its all too easy to let the day slip by hunched over a computer, forgetting to take breaks or eat. To make your remote work successful, you need to build yourself the set schedule and structure of an office into your home. Heres how to do it1) Make your bedTidying up your sheets and fluffing up your pillow may not seem like much, but the simple, mundane act sends a signal to your brain that you are switching into work mode.For William McRaven, a former U.S. Navy Admiral and the 9th Commander of USSOCO, making your bed is the foundation to having a productive day If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride. A nd it will encourage you to do another task, he told graduates at the University of Texas, Austin. By the end of the day, that one task will reinforce the fact that the little things in life matterand if you cant do the little things right, youll never do the big things right.2) Make work boundaries for yourselfCreating healthy boundaries between your personal and professional space is critical to staying focused on your work when the temptations of home surround you. Try working away from your bed that you use for sleeping. Change out of your pajamas and shower, even if no colleague can see you. Find a room with a lock away from your family members intrusions. All of these are ways you can delineate boundaries between where your work begins and ends.I have a dedicated home office. When Im working, I can shut the door and leave the rest of the house behind,Kira Makagon, executive vice president of neuschpfung at RingCentral, recommends.If youre working from your couch in your pajama s, chances are that youre not in work-mode and wont accomplish what you need to that day,3) Get outsideWhen there are no set hours for how long you should be working, you can end up working too late into the day, which can lead to less sleep and higher chances of burnout. When you work from home, make a point to give yourself the reward of a break so you are not tempted to slack off during blocks of work time. You can make your break more appetizing by giving yourself the gift of fresh air and sunlight and going outside.Walk away from your work space for lunch,Kimber Streams, an editor at Wirecutter, recommends. Even better, go outside If youre bad at noticing that its lunch time, set a calendar event (or an alarm) to notify you that its time to step away.4) Add some hintergrund noiseWhen we work alone in our homes, we lose the comfort of office chatter that research has found actually makes us more productive than total silence. One study found that people working in70-decibel leve ls of noise, a sound equivalent to the chatter in a caf or your television in the background, significantly outperformed people working in total silence. They were better at generating creative ideas than the groups working in silence.So next time you need to work remotely, try going to a coffee shop or turning on the TV when you need help brainstorming that next idea.

Assess for success What you dont know can hurt you

Assess for success What you dont know can hurt youAssess for success What you dont know can hurt youFace it, being assessed can make you feel vulnerable, like youre in one of those attractive hospital gowns waiting for your doctor to give you every diagnostic test possible. Uncomfortable doesnt even begin to describe it.But just like that medical examination, assessments of your strengths and weaknesses as part of the job-search process are good for you. What you dont know can hurt you Youll most likely overestimate your strengths and underestimate your weaknesses - and youll never get a clear picture of what you need to become mora successful.No matter where you are in your career now, at some point you are going to be assessed, whether in your current job or the next one. Even at the middle-management level, youll find that employers want to know as much about you as possible your strengths and weaknesses, your leadership style, how well you fit the culture, and so forth. Even if you are not formally assessed, you will be asked in the job interview to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. You cant fake ansicht answers - you really need to know yourself. Thats why you need to develop an assessment mindset a genuine eagerness to learn more about yourself as you can continue to learn and grow throughout your career.An assessment is not a math quiz No one is expected to score 100 percent. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. At any level, knowing who you are and what you bring to a position showcases you as being self-aware. Youre willing to be coached and developed, and ready for those stretch assignments that can accelerate your career.Once you get the job, formal and informal assessments can pinpoint what you need to keep you on a growth track. (The most important considerations for taking any job is what youre going to learn and who is going to teach you.) Interestingly, Millennials are more likely than others in the workforce to embrace ongoing feedback .When it comes to formal assessments, though, there can be a natural tendency by people at every level to view them as being intrusive. Yes, youre asked a lot of questions about yourself. But the company is trying to determine your mindset, skills, and experience to determine how well youd fit the job - the stakes are high for employers these days. Companies are under more pressure today than ever to hire as diligently as possible. Increasingly, leading employers know what success looks like and how to measure for it. Yet even the most experienced senior executives dont seem to get this, and in missing the point, they put their entire careers in peril.Putting the Blinders OnJeffrey spent most of his career at one company, rising through the ranks mostly because of seniority. As chief financial officer (CFO), he thought of himself as the heir apparent who would take over when the current CEO retired in a couple of years. Then the companys board of directors beefed up the succession planning process, with formal assessments to identify employees hidden strengths and uncover blind spots. Assessment results were discussed with people and used to help prepare them for taking on positions with more authority. And, when it came to the CEO role, the board wanted to ensure they identified the best candidates.Every time Jeffrey welches contacted by HR to arrange for his assessment, he resisted. With his blinders securely in place, Jeffrey saw no reason to look beyond what he thought of as obvious the next step after being CFO was to become CEO. Finally, Jeffrey was brought in for a day of assessment exercises. Needless to say, given his attitude, he did not do well. The assessment uncovered some serious blind spots involving his ability to motivate and manage others. When the consultants presented the feedback to Jeffrey, framing it as an opportunity for him to further his development and build his leadership capabilities, he resisted that as well. The board, meanwhile , found Jeffreys assessment to be very informative as some had suspected, he clearly was not ready to become CEO. His negative attitude about being assessed and his unwillingness to address his blind spots only supported their doubts. When the CEO retired, Jeffrey did not get the job. Soon thereafter, he left the company.Knowing ThyselfThe outcome for Jeffrey could have been very different had he embraced the assessment process and used the feedback to inform a development plan. This is the advantage that comes from knowing thyself - and the earlier in your career you adopt this attitude the better. Through assessments, you can engage in development thats tailored to helping you improve. And, when youre up for a senior position one day, youll readily embrace the assessment process as being good for you - and the company thats investing in you.Whether you are formally assessed for your next job or evaluated through ongoing feedback, self-knowledge is a competitive advantage. Yes, y ou might squirm under the microscope at first. But the more comfortable you become with looking objectively at yourself, the more confident you will seem. After all, it takes self-knowledge to engage in self-improvement.Gary Burnison is the CEO of Korn Ferry and author of the recently released book, Lose the Resume, Land the Job.