Why You Should Respect Your Coworkers

Why You Should Respect Your CoworkersWhy You Should Respect Your CoworkersWho Let the Dogs In? Barbara quit her job last week. She just couldnt take it anymore. What made her quit? Was it a difficult babo? Was she bored with her work? Did she just feel it was time to move on? No, no, and no. None of the above. Barbaras boss insisted on bringing his dogs to work. Barbara, who had always been afraid of dogs, found out that she was also allergic to them. Her boss refused to leave the dogs at home so Barbara found another job. As if the allergies werent enough, her bosss disrespect for her pushed Barbara over the edge. Unfortunately, disrespect for ones coworkers (or subordinates) isnt that uncommon. And it often causes people to leave their jobs. For employers this means losing good people, and then having to hire and train new ones. For coworkers it means having to get used to working with new people, and picking up the slack until new employees can be found. The saddest part of the l ack of respect in the workplace is that many people dont realize they are being disrespectful. They arent trying to hurt someones feelings. They just arent trying to not do that. Barbaras boss, for example, was doing what he felt was best for his pets. He thought leaving them at home was cruel. He may have even felt that his employees would enjoy having the dogs there. He didnt consider the negative effect the dogs might have on someone. What to Avoid Doing How can we avoid offending the people we work with? It seems as if it should be blatantly obvious. But if it were, you wouldnt be reading this article. Lets take a look now at things you could do that may offend your coworkers. They arent listed in any particular order. Having loud telephone conversations that distract or annoy others in the workplaceleid cleaning up after yourself in the staff kitchenTaking food that doesnt belong to you from the staff refrigeratorShowing up late for meetingsShowing up for meetings unprepar edLooking at a coworkers computer screen over his or her shoulderTaking supplies from a coworkers desk without askingSpreading gossip around the officeComing to work sick Not minding your manners, for example neglecting to say please and thank you Wearing too much perfume Chewing gum loudlyTaking the last of something without replacing itAsking someone to lie or cover for youBlaming someone else when you are at fault instead of accepting responsibility for a mistake Being the office tattletaleTaking credit for someone elses work or not sharing credit with others who helped on a projectAsking a subordinate to do something unrelated to work, i.e. run errandsTrying to convert others to your political or religious beliefsOpening anyone elses mail without their permission Sending unwanted email such as chain letters, petitions and jokes to coworkersTelling offensive, dirty or insensitive jokesSmoking in common areasNot sharing the workloadBringing negativity into the workplace, for examp le incessantly complaining about the company, boss or coworkersBeing a know-it-all and having a condescending attitude toward others

4 Reasons Your Résumé is Thrown in the Trash (And How to Pull It Out)

4 Reasons Your Rsum is Thrown in the Trash (And How to Pull It Out)4 Reasons Your Rsum is Thrown in the Trash (And How to Pull It Out)Before the stresses of interviewing begins, job candidates must first endure something arguably more insidious the application process.Unfortunately. applying often turns out to be nothing more than busy work. And while enduring the frustration is sometimes necessary to eventually get promising employment leads, it still sucks to spend hours designing a rsum, crafting a titelbild letter and answering supplementary questions without getting closure.In response, lets look at a few major reasons candidates are getting their applications tossed so you can avoid those potholes, get more interviews and start working on your career instead of more applications.1. Requirements and experience are poorly aligned. The most obvious reason youre not getting responses is that there isnt enough intersection between what youve done and what they need. That doesnt mea n these are jobs youre incapable of doing, but when hiring managers dont see 70 to 80 percent of your experience aligning with their requirements, you might appear to need too much ramp up before you can complete the necessary duties.How to avoid this pothole. While there are ways to explain how your experience would translate to success in a role you havent specifically held before, you may want to diversify by applying for more roles in which you could objectively hit the ground running. Depending on how urgent your search is, deploy the saatkorn strategy as when applying to college and choose jobs you could be trained for and safety jobs you could slide into easily. 2. Lazy spell checking. Even if the rest of the content is sound, hiring managers who see grammatical or formatting errors will likely wonder how you could be trusted to handle larger projects if you couldnt create a few clean documents. Your application is a reflection on you, your attention to detail, and how strong ly you feel about a job opening, says Jennifer Loftus, national director of menschlich resources consulting firm Astron Solutions and former president of New York Citys Society of Human Resources Management chapter. Sending materials with typos is a sure way to say to a recruiter you do not care about the organization or the job.How to avoid this pothole. Proofread and spell check your application materials several times before sending. Read them out loud to catch errors you miss when reading. Ask a friend or relative to read them as well. A fresh set of eyes may discover something you missed.3. No specific tailoring. In a 2012 interview with Infusive Solutions, Peter Cappelli - a Wharton School of Business professor and the author of Why Good People Cant Get Jobs - explains how hiring requirements have shifted from hire for attitude and train for skill to in most cases considering only candidates who can contribute immediately. So if your application materials dont clearly show int erest and ability in completing the necessary requirements quickly, you may appear too risky to consider.Take a rsums objective statement, for example. If youre a financial hiring manager who needs a senior Web programmer to start developing trading systems right away, you probably wouldnt be interested in candidates whose objective includes business analysis in media.How you address supplementary questions matters as well. For example, health and fitness startup Greatist asks editorial candidates to submit thoughts on how Reddit is impacting the health space, which according to Greatists editorial director Zachary Sniderman, is meant to test for a specific skill - in this case aptitude with social media.If a talented candidate was able to show us those skills in another way, then fair play, but its rolling the dice a bit if youre trying to second guess what the company is looking for, Sniderman says. The best advice is cross off all your boxes if an employer wants three things, gi ve them three things but dont shy away from injecting yourself into the question.With that in mind, remember that the style and spirit of your responses to supplementary questions can be helpful points of difference while ignoring or re imagining these application components can diminish your chances of a call back.How to avoid this pothole. Customize. While no doubt time consuming, its wise to tailor application materials in a way that presents you as ideally qualified. Consequently, try to express your interest with the most creativity possible within the confines of the hiring firms process. 4. Your potential impact isnt clear. When hiring managers evaluate your application, you want them to be thinking if he or she were to replicate those same accomplishments with us, wed be in great shape.Therefore, describing your experience only with descriptors like creative, passionate and innovative may not be enough to distinguish your candidacy from those who illustrated value add in me asurable business terms.How to avoid this pothole. Use examples to back up your claims. If its a sales role, explain how youre not only assertive and hard working, but how you led your region in closings last year. And rather than just stating youre creative, explain how an integrated marketing campaign you developed tripled website traffic in three months and generated five times as many conversations year over year.Bottom line Pulling your application from the trash pile is hard and you may fail dozens of times before getting one to hit. Embracing such, remember few things in life worth having are attained easily and that with a little bit of customization and a lot of willpower, getting noticed is a surmountable task.Ben Weiss is the digital marketing strategist for Infusive Solutions an NYC-based IT staffing firm in the Microsoft Partner Network that specializes in the placement of .NET, SharePoint and SQL Server developers as well as Windows Systems Engineers, DBAs and help de sk support professionals in verticals such as legal, finance, fashion and media. Connect with him on Twitter InfusiveInc or at Facebook.com/InfusiveInc.

Getting Your Resume Into the Right Hands

Getting Your Resume Into the Right HandsGetting Your Resume Into the Right HandsCombine new-age research with old-fashioned correspondence to increase your chances for success in the job search.The job search is an ever-changing landscape that landseems to get more crowded and more complex by the day.It often seems that when you submit your resume online, it just goes into what experts call the recruiting black hole and is never heard from again.That could be because its been relegated to the bottom of a resume pile that is over 1,000 pages deep. More likely, its some kind of a digital version of that, one where resumes that are customized to trick a computer are assigned a higher priority while your resume sinks to the bottom of the list.There are ways to even the odds in the digital job search by strategically using the right keywords and following a couple dozen other rules on how to send a resume by e-mail, but once you click send theres got to be something you can do other tha n just pray that it gets to an actual human being.Abby Kohut, a job search counselor and founder of Absolutely Abby, says there are still some moves you could make to ensure that your resume reaches a person.If you go with the black hole, theres no guarantee the recruiter will see it, said Kohut, a former human resources recruiter of 16 years. You just never know if someone is going to find you that way.Her strategy combines new-age research with old-fashioned correspondence.Its important to get your resume to the hiring manager, she said. Find them on LinkedIn and send them your resume in the mail.Thats not to say a job seeker should simply bypass the companys entire candidate tracking system. These more traditional tactics should be used in conjunction with the digital ones with one track going to the hiring manager and the other digital track going to the recruiter, if not the dreaded black hole.To locate the hiring manager, Kohut recommends starting with an advanced search on Li nkedIn seeking the name of the company, the particular department that interests you and the zip code for the lokalitt you want. There probably wont be anyone who comes up with the title Hiring Manager, but anyone with a Director or Vice President title is probably your target.If you get to somebody near the hiring manager, that might be good enough, Kohut said. People dont like to destroy mail, they like to pass it on to the right person.While e-mail is easily forwarded or deleted, a hard copy is much more likely to be read, especially if the envelope is handwritten and marked personal and confidential, she said.Its very effective, she said. Someone will actually see it.This old-school method of job searching is something of a lost art nowadays, but thats what could make a candidate stand out.Making a call is good too - any of the old techniques. Even faxes are good, she said. Nobody does them anymore.

How to Ask for a Raise via Email

How to Ask for a Raise via Email How to Ask for a Raise via Email When you’re hoping to get a raise but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen without you initiating a conversation, sending an email message to your manager can be a way to ask for more money without having a possibly awkward in-person conversation. The decision to grant a salary increase is not one that most managers make lightly. They need time to consider your request, to evaluate your progress on your career track with the organization, and to analyze the contributions you have made to the organization. They may also need to review company finances to see whether their human resources budget can accommodate a raise. Finally, they must consider the underlying message they would be sending to you- and to your peers- should they grant your request. Raises are not merely about money- they are psychological confirmation that an employer values an employee and wants to retain them. So, senior management will have to decide whether you are worth this commitment, based on your work history and pattern of contributions. They also have to anticipate whether their decision to award you a raise will lead to mass requests by other employees for wage increases. If forced to deny raises to other personnel, will they then have to deal with negative morale issues?   An email request for a meeting to discuss your wage is a smart way to give your supervisor time to consider your request, check with human resources or management, if necessary, and decide if it’s possible to give you a pay raise. What to Write in a Salary Increase Email Message Your message should include: A request for a meeting to discuss (in the subject line of the message)Why you deserve a salary increaseWhat additional responsibilities you have taken on in your roleAny skills or certifications you have acquired since being hired It’s also a good idea to include information on how much you enjoy your job and working at the company. You don’t want to come across as a disgruntled employee who isn’t paid enough. Also, dont just ask for more money. Its a better strategy to ask for an opportunity to discuss a raise, rather than to simply ask for a bigger paycheck. When writing the message, dont presume your manager knows everything youve been working on. People get busy and arent always aware of how much work their employees have taken on. Its fine to mention what you have been handling and how your role has changed since you started the job. Write a formal message in a standard business format. Keep it professional even if you are on friendly terms with your boss. Your email may be forwarded to others at the company to review. The email message format should include: Professional greetingFormal closing Review more information on how to format an email message if you need a refresher for your correspondence. Here is an example of an email message requesting a meeting with a manager to discuss a salary increase. Email Message Asking for a Raise Example (Text Version) Subject: Meeting RequestDear Mr. Matthews,I am grateful for the opportunity to work for you as Development Coordinator for XYZ Nonprofit. Over the past two years, my responsibilities at XYZ have grown significantly, and I not only consistently complete all of these responsibilities, but I do so with an exceptional quality of work. I would, therefore, like to respectfully request a meeting to review my salary.As you know, my salary has remained the same since I was hired in 20XX. Since then, I have happily added some duties to my workload that have allowed me to contribute even more to the company. For example, I volunteered to develop a quarterly newsletter, and am currently in charge of the writing, formatting, and printing of the publication. As you know, I also recently completed a graduate certificate program in grant writing.I believe that my increasing contributions to the company and my new qualifications justify a pay raise.I would love the opportunity to meet with you to dis cuss a raise in my salary. I look forward to hearing from you.Sincerely,Firstname LastnameDevelopment CoordinatorXYZ Nonprofit123 East StreetCincinnati, OH 45202555-555-5555firstname.lastnameemail.com Expand

How to Become an Extra in Movies and Television

How to Become an Extra in Movies and Television How to Become an Extra in Movies and Television All of those people you see wandering around the background of your favorite movies and television shows are called extras. Extras are actors and actresses who serve as dressed background. They help to sell the idea that a scene is filled with real people just going about their daily business. Extras arent always professional actors. In fact, most extras are just regular folk who wanted to be a part of the film and television industry. Extras are paid a fairly small wage for their participation and they are usually expected to stay on set from the beginning of production until wrap (the end of production). Depending on the type, size and budget of the production, the extras may or may not take part in makeup, wardrobe, hair, etc. Often many period pieces will entail that the extras are fully dressed and fitted which means that they are provided with costuming by the wardrobe department. But more often than not, extras are simply informed beforehand of the type of clothing they will need to bring and asked to furnish it themselves. So, none of this seems all that glamorous, right? Well, the fact is that being an extra really isnt all that glamorous. In fact, its probably one of the least glamorous positions on a set. That said, why would anyone in their right mind want to do such a job? Networking Probably the best reason to take a job working as an extra is it gives you the ability to network with dozens of fellow people who are all trying to break into the industry in one capacity or another. The contacts you make here might lead to a number of other opportunities down the line as many of the people you come across could perhaps find success in their niche and thus be able to help you in your own career endeavors. Understanding the Industry If youre new to the industry, no matter how many books you read or classes you take, you can never fully understand the inner workings of a film or television set unless you spend a great deal of time on one. There is a reason Hollywood is called a factory. The main reason is because much of the work that is done on a set is manual labor. From lugging cable and camera dollies to adjusting lights, props, etc., a movie set is a factory churning out film and television as its product. Being an extra on a set will expose you to this reality, as well as let you see first hand what these people do. You might find that there are particular jobs you never even thought of that are appealing to you. Opportunity Its not likely, but it has certainly been known to happen that someone may spot you and realize that you are meant for much more than just background. From casting directors to writers to agents wandering the set, you never know who has their eyes on you. So, being on a set in this capacity might just open up a few doors you never thought possible. How to Get the Job Extras are hired either as individuals for a particular scene or in groups for a series of shots. There are Extras Wrangling companies which are those companies that specialize in finding extras of a particular age, appearance or ethnic background. By registering with these companies, they simply contact you when an opportunity with criteria that matches your particular physical description comes up. You are then given a call sheet by the production office and told when to report to work. On most sets, your boss will either be the Second Assistant Director or Extras Captain (or Wrangler- or it could even be under a different name- it depends on the production company). Make things easy on yourself and on them by doing exactly as youre told. They will be very specific about things like when to come out, where to go and whom you should and should not speak to on a set. This directive will be made very clear to you by the way as its distinctly possible you could be made an extra on a production that has a major star roaming around and the last thing they want you doing is approaching them uninvited. More often than not, youll simply be replaced if you ignore this directive. That said, its an easy, yet tiring and thankless job. However, if youre simply looking for any way to be a part of a Hollywood movie or television set than becoming an extra might just be your ticket in.

10 Ways to Make the Most Out of a Conference

10 Ways to Make the Most Out of a Conference 10 Ways to Make the Most Out of a Conference Attending conferences might be one of the best things you can do for your career. You’ll learn about industry trends, gain some new skills, and make all kinds of new connections. (And yes, there’s usually travel and free meals involved.)But all those speakers, sessions, contacts, and conversations can also be overwhelming. Besides bringing boatloads of business cards and collecting them from other people, what else should you be planning on when you have an event coming up? From prepping beforehand to having a great time while you’re there, here’s what you need to know to make the most of your next conference.Before the Conference1. Gain VisibilityA great way to maximize your conference experience is to participate in some way- like being a presenter, session facilitator, or committee volunteer. (When you see the initial posting for the conference, check out if there are these options available, or email the conference organizer directly to ask.) While you’re there, you’l l be among hundreds or thousands of other participants, but if you can take on a visible role, that’s an easy way to set yourself apart from the crowd. 2. Build Stronger RelationshipsA conference is the time to meet new people, but it’s also a time to build on the relationships you already have. If you know of people you want to reconnect with or get to know better who will be attending- clients, vendors, friends-of-friends- reach out a few weeks before the conference to set up a time to meet for coffee or a meal while you’re at the event.At the Conference3. Get BriefedA lot of conferences try to be extra welcoming to newbies and will host a first-timers briefing. You definitely want to build this type of session into your schedule- not only to get the scoop on things, but also to meet other participants who, just like you, are a little uncertain and looking to form some new relationships.4. Choose the Right SessionsAt most conferences, there will be an abundance of sessions t o choose from- many more than you’ll be able to attend! So when you’re plotting your schedule, take a look at the conference as a whole. Look at all the sessions and events you’re interested in, then make sure you’re getting to attend a range of topics, skill-building sessions, and social events, and still allowing for some down time.And if you find yourself in a session that isn’t quite what you thought it was going to be, don’t feel bad about skipping out and going to a different one. A conference is all about using your time wisely and getting the most out of all that’s there.5. Remember What You LearnWith days full of speakers and sessions, there’s a lot to take in- and you’re probably not going to remember all of it when you get home. So, collect your notes and information in a way that makes it easy to access when you return to the office. Regardless of your note-taking format of choice (pen and paper, laptop, tablet, smartphone), at the end of each session y ou attend, write down the three key takeaways and any follow-up you want to do on the topic or with the speakers. This will help jog your memory and give you specific to-dos when you get back to work.6. Connect With the SpeakersThe speakers and panelists at any conference are likely key experts in your field- read: people who you want to know. So don’t be afraid to ask questions or hang around (even as the last person) at a session to say hello, tell them you loved the presentation, and grab their business cards. And if you don’t get a chance to ask your question in person, you can always follow up by asking them on Twitter.7. Schmooze at the Social EventsDefinitely make time to attend the conference’s social events- they’re a great opportunity to connect with people in a more relaxed setting. (Hint: These events are often more important than the sessions!) And don’t be afraid to linger even the event is over- you don’t want cut off a great conversation with someone just to be on time to your next session.  8. Put Away the SmartphoneYou may be thinking: “But- I have so many emails waiting!” or “They told me to tweet about the event!” But here’s the thing: You’re at a conference to have in-person interaction, and you don’t want your electronic devices to be a barrier to making those connections. So while you don’t have to disconnect completely, put the phone away when you’re waiting for a workshop to begin or taking a break at the coffee bar, and give yourself a chance to strike up conversations with the other attendees around you.After the Conference9. Friendly Follow-upAt the conference, you were collecting business cards, new Facebook friends, and Twitter followers. Afterward, you it’s time to do something with them. Within a week of returning from the event, send a personal follow-up to everyone you met to let them know you enjoyed meeting them. Also set up a phone call or face-to-face meeting with anyone you specifically wan t to do business or build a relationship with.10. Pay it ForwardYou gained a lot of new information, inspiration, and contacts at the conference, and one of the best things you can do with those resources is to share them with your fellow co-workers, colleagues, and friends. Send out videos of the sessions you thought were particularly valuable, give a talk about something you learned at your next staff meeting, and tell your boss about some of the interesting contacts you met. You’ll spread your new skills and knowledge- and hopefully your colleagues will reciprocate the next time they go to a great event.Photo courtesy of University of Exeter.

VR helps recruit teens into construction. Mentorship helps them to stay

VR helps recruit teens into construction. Mentorship helps them to stay VR helps recruit teens into construction. Mentorship helps them to stay For the job-hungry young adult, there aren’t that many requirements for suitable after-school employment, so long as the job works in conjunction with their current school schedule, doesn’t require extensive training or education, Is not a long-term commitment, and pays a decent amount of money. An afternoon shift as a grocery store clerk checks all of these boxes. So does a summer stint as a lifeguard at the neighborhood pool, or even the bi-weekly babysitting venture for a relative or family friend. These roles and industries are among those we have thought of as a good work option for a teenager who will probably go to college or pursue other opportunities once they’ve punched out from their position for the last time.Historically, construction has not been one of these fields. But facing its own labor and workforce retention struggles, the construction industry has started using VR technology and simulators as added enhancements in their work, as well as the benefit of usin g it as a recruitment tool for a younger workforce. In conjunction with VR, technologies such as 3D modeling have proven beneficial in attracting younger employees. Eagan Building Group, a company I have worked with, has used this technology to generate a virtual reality mock-up of a particular building, allowing clients to stand to experience the design and space and what it will look like as a finished product. Demonstrating this technology in front of potential new hires has generated excitement for the company and the field as a whole.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!Virtual reality equipment is proving effective in generating a desire among teens to head over to a construction site and get fitted for their own hard hat. But when it comes to retaining these eager teenage employees, construction leaders will have to take real additional steps beyond these virtual measure s. They need to become trusted and dedicated mentors to younger staff.By embracing mentorship on the construction site, leaders and managers can potentially find dedicated workers who can learn the trade, take the place of retiring employees, while helping guide teens to an enriching new career.Immediate benefits of mentorship in constructionVR construction simulators have been successful partly because they tap into something that teenagers generally enjoy: video games. But gaming enthusiasts will tell you that even the most state-of-the-art titles can turn redundant, and teens who do find themselves on a construction site may tire of the actual work they found so encapsulating in a virtual simulator.This is where the immediate benefits of mentorship can be felt. Mentorship from construction managers, leaders, and veteran employees can provide these younger workers with a sense of belonging and guidance. Operating the machinery is a new found fun at first, but the relationships and support that they gain from their coworkers are the biggest value points.There’s a part of a teenager that may be nervous climbing behind the wheel of a backhoe loader, and there’s another part that will wonder just exactly what they’re going to do with their life as they head home from work every day. Mentorship can help that teen build confidence and operate the backhoe with poise, and provide them with a sense of purpose that they’re part of something bigger, even when they’re not on site.Effective mentorship goes beyond just helping someone do their job, but it can help an employee become a leader to others and take agency within their own career. The manager of a construction site probably started off just where the teenage employee stands today. That leader has the ability to inspire that teen to reach for new career heights, even if they extend beyond their current assignment.Using mentorship to address construction’s challengesThe VR construction simulators and 3D modeling have been effective in generating interest in the field by showing just how fun and exciting it can be in the construction industry. But the technology does not elaborate on the conflicts and challenges that face construction workers and the industry at large.Mentorship still plays a helpful role in preparing younger employees to be ready for certain challenges they will face within the construction field, now and in the future. Leaders and managers can encourage younger employees to always be adopting new skills and pursuing new knowledge bases to ensure they remain competitive in their careers, both within and outside of construction.Plus, teens may be disappointed by not being allowed to operate a site’s heavy machinery until they get more training. Mentors can help teens stay enthused about other aspects of construction work beyond what the simulators show.Sadly, construction itself is a field that has been unfairly associated with the stigma that it is apparently a job or industry that people should not want to work in, despite construction’s relatively high pay options and strong job security compared to other industries. Mentors can help younger employees build a passion for construction as more than just a job â€" encouraging them to view it as a trade where they are helping build new homes for people, new schools for children, new hospitals for the sick, and new museums and cultural centers for families and friends to enjoy.For companies that want to instill a strong sense of pride and build a culture of passion, implementing both the technology and mentoring may be the trick. Mentors have the ability to help make their teenage employees proud of what they do, instill within them with a sense of respect, and generate a continued passion for a career in the field.Mentorship in facing challenges beyond constructionFor other professions with workforce shortages, like nursing or retail, virtual reality may not be the best option for gettin g teens interested in those industries.Mentorship, though, can help younger workers in these industries brace for future challenges. As shopping trends have shifted from in-store to online, a younger employee in a department store can brace for future challenges in retail sales with the help of a mentor who has faced similar challenges in the field.Mentors also don’t have to be older than the person they are mentoring. In nursing, younger practitioners fresh out of school can help veteran nurses learn new technological procedures or complex telehealth systems that are being introduced into the workforce.All of these industries and the professionals who work within them will face challenges. In construction, an economic downturn could bring many projects to a halt. Advancements and evolutions in technology could lead to the replacement of some tasks or entire construction jobs. But effective mentorship, where experienced professionals inspire others to meet challenges and see them through, will help these industries thrive throughout the future.Professor Brenda Bouse, adjunct professor in the Online Master’s in Business Administration at Maryville University