“They all know. It’s only a matter of time until I’m called out. I’m a fraud.”How many times has a similar line of thought traipsed seductively through your consciousness? An estimated 70 percent of us will likely experience at some point the feelings of inadequacy and “fakeness” that accompany imposter syndrome.While people who experience imposter syndrome—feelings of failure and “pretending”—often experience higher rates of burnout, job dissatisfaction, and stagnancy, they also tend to be successful, as researcher Valerie...
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Nine Workflow Strategies That Will Make You a Faster Writer
Posted by Unknown
Whether writing is your livelihood or your side hustle, being able to produce content quickly is a skill you’ll never regret developing. And not only will a solid process help you write faster, it will ease editing frustrations by making your draft more organized from the start.I write all day, every day, and although I’ll never be the fastest writer in the world, I’ve had to make some serious adjustments to my own process in order to...
26 Words and Phrases to Never Use in a Resume
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Resumes are tricky things. The tried-and-true resume tropes of old no longer make the cut in today’s competitive market.Odds are good that your resume will go through an applicant tracking system scan to determine whether it contains the right keywords before it even hits a hiring manager’s desk. But let’s assume you’ve passed that test and your resume is awaiting review. The difference between getting an interview and getting a thanks-but-no-thanks email (or no acknowledgement at all) could come down to the words or phrases...
3 Ways to Save Time on Social Media
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Your alarm rings. You roll over, grab your phone, turn off the alarm, and immediately start scrolling through Instagram. Then you move to Facebook. Then Twitter. Then your work chat and email. Next thing you know, you have to rush through your morning routine and head to work.Sound familiar?If you’re wondering how to save time on social media, you’re not alone. Multiple studies have linked high social media use and negative feelings...
4 Interview Tips for Introverts That Will Make You Comfortable in Any Setting
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Introverts are energized by solitude rather than social activities. We value deep connections. We’re better listeners than we are talkers, at least where chatty small talk is concerned. Unfortunately, job interviews require us to be gregarious, make only a superficial connection, and chit-chat. About ourselves. The horror!I was well into adulthood before my extroverted dad admitted that, despite my preferring solitude and books over...
How Do Creative People Overcome Imposter Syndrome?
Posted by Unknown
How Do Creative People OveLast night, I performed at a local open mike. I’ve been singing forever. Performing was even a legitimate side hustle for me for about seventeen years. But at the open mike, I was sitting at the piano in front of a group of talented fellow musicians, and I was nervous as hell.Even so, I got up there under the lights, sat down at the piano, and surrendered to the music. When I stepped from the stage, the musicians and guests gathered in the little performance space murmured their approval, letting me...
7 Easy Phone Interview Tips That Will Help You Get The Job
Posted by Unknown
The job hunting process can be long and stressful. You’ve crafted the perfect resume, sent out countless cover letters, and now you’ve finally heard back that you’ve got a phone interview. This should be a walk in the park, right? An obligatory step to confirm you’re a real human.
Until you find yourself on the phone with the interviewer and they’re not just chatting you up. They’re asking you real questions, some of them tough questions,...
How to Get Organized During Your Job Search: 6 Helpful Tips
Posted by Unknown
Job hunting is no one’s favorite activity. Customizing your resume and cover letter for each position (not to mention typing the same information found in the resume you just attached into various application systems) can be grueling work. Job hunting is a full-time job, and you’re not getting paid a dime for it.
Getting organized can save you time and make the process less frustrating. Here are six ways to streamline your job search...
4 Ways to Get Back to Work When You (Really) Don’t Want to
Posted by Unknown
You know you need to work, but you really don’t want to. Millions of distractions—some worthier than others—compete for your time and attention. How do you drown out the voice of procrastination?
Here are four ways that will get you working again, even when you’d rather be doing anything else.
Make It Fun
Do you enjoy things more when you are alone or with friends? If you like solitude, why not get to the office early on your first days...
5 Helpful Tips on How to Collaborate with Engineers
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Engineers look at the world differently from non-engineers. They are usually extremely logical, pragmatic, and direct, while the rest of us can be somewhat more whimsical, emotional and aspirational. Unfortunately, when working together, these different perspectives present unique communication challenges that can slow work, deliver sub-optimal results, and weaken company culture if not addressed.
Collaborating effectively with an engineer...
8 Professions That Write More Than You Think
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“How will I need this in the real world?” high school students often ask. Everyone knows that journalists and authors write for a living. But are effective writing skills necessary for other careers? You will be surprised; some professions use writing more than you think!
Human Resources
One of the primary functions of the human resources department is to fill open positions. The job description is a crucial element in attracting suitable...
Friday, September 1, 2017
Ten Simple Errors People Make During a Job Search
Posted by Unknown
Would you like some good news about errors? The simplest mistakes to make are the easiest to correct. If you’re having a frustrating job search, it’s probably because you’re making these ten simple job search mistakes.
Missing Opportunities to Network
Of course, you bring your resume and business cards to job fairs and networking events. But if these are the only times you think about networking, you’re probably missing excellent opportunities....
How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty
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No is one of the shortest words in English, but also it’s one of the most difficult to say. The problem isn’t pronunciation. Many people feel guilty when they have to turn down a request—especially one from a friend, colleague, or family member.
How can you decline a request without those pesky feelings of guilt? Let’s look at some scenarios you might face at the workplace. Why is saying no the right thing to do in each situation?
Sue...
What Are the Best Ways to Deal with Difficult People?
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Difficult people can quickly turn your dream job into a nightmare if you let them. However, your happiness and productivity are worth the fight. Let’s consider the best ways to deal with challenging personalities.
Start with Yourself
In “Man in the Mirror,” a song recorded by Michael Jackson, the lyrics provide an effective formula for improving your environment: “Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.” Self-examination might...
7 Essential Time Management Skills That Will Improve Your Life
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Time is the great equalizer—everybody gets the same twenty-four hours each day. Making productive use of that time can mean the difference between getting things done and scrambling to keep up. These time management tips will help you streamline your day and work smarter.
Block out distractions
Now that you have a better idea of what’s distracting you, it’s time to block that thing out. If social media is your downfall, for instance,...
9 Things You Need to Give up to Be a Successful Writer
Posted by Unknown
Written communication isn’t easy. If it was, there would be no misunderstandings on social media, and we would never have to go back and clarify something we’d written after the fact. But that’s not the world we live in.
The need to improve one’s writing skills isn’t reserved only for those who want to be published novelists or award-winning journalists—there are endless benefits to being able to communicate through the written word.
If...
What Are the Best Ways to Show Skills on Your Resume?
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Would you say that you should list all your capabilities on your resume?
Lydia Frank, the editorial director of PayScale, told Money magazine that there are some skills you should avoid mentioning: generalized job functions. How will typing set you apart (unless you are a typist)? Abilities such as filing or copying won’t impress an employer. According to Frank, “it’s implied knowledge.” This is especially true if you have advanced capabilities—if you are an expert in advanced web programming, you don’t need to list basic...