Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Why Defensiveness Is Your Worst Offense

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Why Defensiveness Is Your Worst Offense When I was new to the business world, I was very sensitive. I was so insecure about whether or not I was doing a good job that I took constructive feedback badly. Specifically, I would get defensive and respond as if I was being attacked, at any hint that my work, appearance, or conduct wasn’t absolutely perfect. An example: “Alex, your suits are nice, but sometimes they look a little wrinkly. Do you think you could change before our meeting with the CEO?” said my boss. “Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how much I paid for this suit? I’ve gotten 3 compliments on it already today,” said I. I’m remembering this today because I am presently working with a 23-year-old who has the same issue. When I gently suggested that she try a bit harder to collaborate with our other team members, she got red and flustered the way I once did, and nearly bit my head off with her response. Her retort of choice was that no one else has ever given her that feedback, so it must not be true. I beg to differ. Of course it’s true, and I’m the only person who cares enough about this young woman to be honest. If I’ve noticed it, everyone else has too, and if she doesn’t fix what are now two problems â€" her lack of collaboration and her defensiveness â€" she will never reach the level of success she desires. No one does everything right all the time. If you can’t accept criticism gracefully, your managers and colleagues will avoid giving it to you and you will never grow. You may even become known as one of those people who is “difficult” to deal with or has a bad attitude, damaging your work relationships and reputation. There is a right way and a wrong way to handle criticism. For my tips, head over to Intuits Fast Track blog.

Achieving Your Dream Job - Compare Qualifications and Find the Best Possible Qualifications

Achieving Your Dream Job - Compare Qualifications and Find the Best Possible QualificationsOne of the most important aspects when it comes to your resume is to ensure that all of your resume qualifications are correct. Many individuals miss out on jobs because they miss out on the qualifications they need to be offered an interview. Make sure that all of your necessary qualifications are included on your resume.Firstly, there are several types of qualifications that you can use to help you with your application. For example, you should include skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. This will help to ensure that you have what it takes to get the job. Skills are important in this day and age where there are a large number of professions which require skills. Therefore, make sure that you look at these skills before you submit your resume.Secondly, you should also include any educational qualifications that you may have received. This includes a list of certificates o r degrees you have received. When you send your resume out to the employers who are looking for an employee, this will help to determine if they are qualified to work with the company or not.Thirdly, you should also look at your employment history, including any skills that you may have acquired over the years. When you send out a resume that has the ability to provide evidence of your past skills, this makes it far more likely that you will be accepted. It will also give your prospective employer an indication of what the position will involve.Fourthly, you should include any professional achievements. In order to make a good impression on the employer, you need to take your work seriously and work towards achieving the best possible results. Taking the time to write a resume which includes these achievements will make a good impression.Lastly, you should include your previous work experience. It is worth mentioning that whilst previous work experience is important, you may want to consider re-focusing your skills towards another area. For example, if you had a good experience working as a healthcare assistant, this should be viewed as an appropriate skill to use in a job with the NHS.The last thing you should do is to look at your educational qualifications and compare them to those of different universities. You may be able to gain an advantage by knowing that the university that is offering the first job that you apply to be accredited. This is because when the university you have applied to is not accredited, it may cause you to fall foul of their rules.By following these steps, you should be able to compare and contrast the different types of qualifications that are available to you. In order to find the most suitable qualification for your current situation, make sure that you take the time to compile a list of the most appropriate qualifications.

50 Common Sales Job Titles - Algrim.co

50 Common Sales Job Titles - Algrim.co Looking for sales job titles? You might be trying to post a job online or could be including this job title as part of your prior work experience. Whatever your reason, here are the most common job titles for sales professionals. Common Sales Job Titles Below are some of the most common sales job titles that you'll see within corporations that exist in the U.S. You'll see these job titles within companies that have an employee size of anywhere from 50 - 2,500 or more. Car Salesman Direct Sales Representative Director Of Sales District Sales Manager Fashion Sales Associate Field Sales Representative Hotel Sales Manager Inside Sales Manager Inside Sales Representative Insurance Sales Agent National Sales Manager Outside Sales Representative Part Time Sales Associate Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Real Estate Salesperson Regional Sales Manager Retail Sales Assistant Retail Sales Associate Retail Sales Consultant Retail Sales Manager Retail Sales Representative Retail Salesperson Sales Account Manager Sales Administrative Assistant Sales Administrator Sales Advisor Sales Agent Sales Analyst Sales and Marketing Executive Sales Assistant Sales Associate Sales Clerk Sales Consultant Sales Coordinator Sales Development Representative Sales Director Sales Engineer Sales Executive Sales Manager Sales Officer Sales Person Sales Professional Sales Rep Sales Representative Sales Supervisor Sales Specialist Sales Trainee Sales Trainer Salesforce Administrator Salesman Salesperson Entry-Level Sales Job Titles Below are job titles that are for entry-level sales positions. Car Salesman Part Time Sales Associate Retail Sales Assistant Retail Sales Associate Retail Sales Representative Retail Salesperson Sales Administrative Assistant Sales Agent Sales Analyst Sales Assistant Sales Associate Sales Person Sales Professional Sales Rep Sales Specialist Sales Trainee Salesman Salesperson Job Titles That Are Within the Sales Field There are some job titles which aren't directly related to construction but may be part of the sales team. For example, here are a few job titles that would fit within that category: Sales Engineer Sales Consultant Sales Specialist Lead Generation Specialist Inbound Lead Generation Specialist

Strength in Positivity

Strength in Positivity To thrive in the modern business world it’s critical that employees are enabled to play to their strengths in a volatile and fast-moving marketplace. The ability to adapt, engage, communicate and collaborate are crucial in terms of sustainable employability and contribution to the workplace effort. For good employers this means providing an environment where career progression is not about moving up the career ladder but about providing a challenging and enriching experience for each employee, that enables them to build skills and increase their value. Positivity has a direct relationship with productivity and the success of employees and teams; the benefits for staff and organisation are manifold: 3 times more creativity 31% higher productivity 23% fewer fatigue symptoms 37% greater sales 40% more likely to achieve promotion 10 times more engagement Understanding strengths At 10Eighty we believe that taking an employee-centred, strengths-based approach and building positivity in the workplace will help build a more proactive and satisfied workforce. It also bolsters the well-being of employees think positive and positive things happen. We help team leaders and their team members to understand not only the strengths each individual brings to the team, but also how well the team applies well-researched team habits productively to translate these strengths into results. Positive psychology is about making the most of what you have. Strengths are what energise us, we enjoy using them and learn quickly when we can put them into action. A 2011 study showed that people who felt they were using their strengths have more positive emotion, greater vitality and self-esteem, compared with people who did not feel they used theirs (Wood, et al, 2011). When we use a skill in which we excel, we are likely to be more positive, and of course some skills serve us regardless of our goals. Professor Martin Seligman, of University of Pennsylvania, has listed the 24 cross-cultural character strengths that most contribute to flourishing, which involves identifying an individual’s signature strengths. If you encourage people to share their strengths profiles and help them identify their top strengths at work the organisation will be able to leverage those strengths for positive attitudes and greater engagement. Strengths and managing performance Employees who are able to use their strengths at work are likely to be confident, engaged and productive. In terms of team working an effective team benefits from a blend of talents and strengths. Bear in mind that talented people want to working for an enterprise whose mission they believe in, with a value system aligned to their own. Another aid to encouraging an environment where positive thinking thrives is to provide regular feedback, this is crucial in managing team performance. Try to tell people what they’re doing well, rather than focus on negative feedback. Feedback raises awareness of strengths and highlights areas for development, if effective it motivates people to improve and it shows their contribution is recognised and valued. Rather than a backward looking evaluation of past performance think in terms of an evidence-based performance and development discussion. It pays a good employer to foster a positive environment by encouraging feedback and good communication between all team members using recognition in team meetings or group settings as, ultimately, the feedback enhances individual and organisational performance. More and more organisations are realising the benefit of recruiting people who truly engaged and using their personal strengths in a role which they find fulfilling as opposed to simply having the right competencies for the job. Employees are most inspired to achieve peak performance when they work for an organisation in which excellence is expected the best way to motivate them to perform at their best is to proclaim a commitment to peak performance in your organisation, sector and industry.

Check Out Your Resume Examples

Check Out Your Resume ExamplesWhen applying for a job, it is important to check out your resume samples carefully before you finalize your application. This is because there are a number of places where resumes are plagiarized.Almost every job seekers want to be hired with the help of a well-crafted resume. They feel that they deserve a good job and deserve a chance to move on with their life. But the problem with this is that most applicants fail to do this, which is why they do not get a lot of attention from potential employers.Resume examples will always be a must. There are several popular websites which offer free samples. These sites offer samples of common resume formats that will greatly assist job seekers in getting a head start in their job hunt.Your resume is one of the first things that a potential employer will see before making his/her decision. So, if you want to be successful in this job hunt, it is very important that you know what sort of resume examples to use. On e of the common ways that job seekers end up getting a bad resume is by doing too much of the same thing.Some examples would be to have the same information written in different fonts and styles. Another type of example would be to have your name written in the same words of phrases. It is important that your resume be as unique as possible.Wordings such as 'I want a position' should be used instead of the other way around. It is also important that you have a clear cut goal for your job search.Another example of a type of sample that could be used is the use of keywords on the front and back of your resume. Keep in mind that a resume can only be considered as a sample if it shows an example of how a person looks in the first place.You can also check out a website where you can download the resume templates for free. Once you have downloaded the sample resume, check them carefully to make sure that you have all the appropriate information included in them. This will help you avoid a ny problems at a later stage.

10 Signs That Youre Working in a Toxic Environment CareerMetis.com

10 Signs That You’re Working in a Toxic Environmentâ€" CareerMetis.com Source â€" BurstWe spend most of our lives working. And your co-workers are very likely to be the people that you interact with the most in your life.But if you are not happy with your work environment, this displeasure will carry over to your personal life. Leading to low confidence and damaged personal relations.Toxic work environments are, as the name says, toxic. And having to work in this sort of environment can negatively impact your health. So it is best getting your CV preparedand jump ship.evalBut how can you tell if you are working in a toxic environment? Here are ten signs to look out for:1) You Hear The Words, “You’re Lucky to Have a Job”evalIf your boss or HR manager told you this in a one-to-one meeting, then it is a huge red flag. Telling someone that they’re lucky to have a job is a scare tactic that doesn’t motivate you to do your job to the best of your ability, but makes you want to hold on to your job out of sheer fear.This tactic can often make people f eel they’ve been bullied into staying in a marginalized role, and it is also a symptom that the organization thrives on controlling and manipulating staff.2) Too Many ManagersAt my former workplace, I used to work as a supervisor and I reported to my line manager. My line manager had a senior manager, who reported to our team’s department manager, who reported to the Managing Director. I had four levels of management above me, and whenever I put forward an idea, I had to go through the four tiers for approvals. It was incredibly frustrating and made me wonder what half of these managers actually did.Sometimes, I have noticed that middle-management won’t want to go ahead with a good idea Coming back to the last point about middle-management not going ahead with your good idea, the main reason is that they feel threatened by you. So they find ways to reject your idea, mainly by showing you the red tape, so you won’t get noticed by someone higher-up. The last thing middle-manag ement, that work in these toxic environments, want is to lose their jobs to someone below them.That said, office politics is in pretty much every organization, mainly in large organizations that have hundreds, even thousands of employees. Smaller organizations have little or no office politics, mainly because they don’t have many managers.4) Office Gossip Over Staff Well-BeingBesides management, office cliques can sometimes spread unwelcoming rumors about colleagues. This can lead to isolation and people feeling victimized. In some worse cases, office cliques can even transpire against management or company direction.Do keep a close eye on these people, and keep a respectful distance at all costs.5) Poor CommunicationevalevalLack of communication is a strong sign of toxic workplace. Some organizations leave people out of the loop regarding important company information. And in terms of feedback, you may receive little or no feedback at all, and when you do, it’s pretty harsh and negative. It’s not constructive or encouraging at all, more threatening.6) High TurnoverIf you notice everyone is generally miserable, and no one has a smile on their faces or shows any sign of enthusiasm, then there’s no passion to stay in the job. Companies that have low staff morale tend to have a high turnover.7) DisorganizedDo meetings feel like a complete waste of time where nothing gets accomplished? Or have you noticed that departments are disjointed and are not in line with each other? If you noticed that there is laziness, confusion, lack of focus and overall unwillingness to try something new because “that’s how it has always been done”, then it is a sign of poor leadership.8) Blame or Accusatory CultureThis is perhaps the worse sign. Blame culture shows there is a lack of trust between colleagues and management and shows that there is no push to find a co-operative and harmonious resolution.You find that you are always having to cover what you are doing just t o protect yourself. And even though you should cover yourself in general, when you are doing this in a blame culture, you will become extremely anxious.9) A Bad BossThis is an easy sign to spot. Bad bosses are always trying to control everything and are always on the lookout for small slips so they can point the finger at you. This type of behavior is demoralizing and lowers one’s self-esteem.You’ll notice your boss tends to wield his or her power around, just to remind everyone who is in charge. They’re not likely to help or give you credit for a decent job well done. They might even humiliate you in front of everyone as well.10) You Sense Something is WrongHalf the time, your gut instinct will tell you that there is something wrong. If you feel something is not what it seems, then you may be right. If you are asked to hide something or do a task that isn’t morally correct, then these are clear telltale signs that you are working in a toxic environment.Pay attention to any physical symptoms. Are you getting sleepless nights? Are you always on the edge? Your body is telling you something, so pay attention to it.evalThanks for reading! Have you worked in a toxic environment? Do you know of any other signs to look out for? Let us know in the comments section below.

Video Three Steps to Narrowing Down Your Job Search Goal

Video Three Steps to Narrowing Down Your Job Search Goal Each of you must have a clear and concise job search goal. You need a brief description of what you are hunting for. But how do you even begin thinking about it? Step 1: Draw a dart board. Think about and write specifically what is in the center. The center or bulls eye represents your ideal next career position(s). Geographic location desired (other cities you are willing to consider, too) Functional area (marketing, accounting, outside sales, operations) Industries you prefer Companies within the industries Size or type of company (small, medium, large, etc.) Titles you are qualified for (senior sales, account management). Note: Do not get hung up on titles such as VP, Director, and Manager, as they vary so much company to company. Step 2: List more flexible goals in the second circle on the dart board. What would you do if you couldnt find anything in your bulls eye? Expand to alternatives that you are qualified for and have interest in. This can mean relocation to another city, a job in a different business from the one you expected, other jobs that need your skills, or deciding to change careers entirely. Reminder: these are not 3-5-year career goals, so stay focused on what you can do NOW. Step 3: List what things are OFF the dart board. In other words, you would NOT accept something in: Geographies you will not move to, or maybe relocation is not an option Salary minimum you will not go below Work-life balance considerations, like commute distances you wont accept Functions you really dont want to perform day-to-day

12 Ways to Sharpen Your Listening Skills at Work

12 Ways to Sharpen Your Listening Skills at Work Meetings â€" if they’re not a waste of time, they’re just plain boring. Unless the presentation is TED-worthy, you likely find yourself daydreaming, checking social media, or drifting off to sleep in the back of the room. While its definitely hard to survive meetings, the information being discussed is still important for you to absorb. Much of your work depends on what is said inside the meeting room. In order to retain all this information, you must become an active listener â€" mentally and verbally confirming what the speaker has said and processing it in your own way. Its easy to be an active listener, but it takes practice. Here are 12 ways to hone those listening skills. Look at the Agenda Beforehand Writer Michael Hyatt says, Agendas should always be circulated in advance of the meeting, so that people know what to expect and how to prepare. If youre lucky enough to receive a crisp, organized agenda before the meeting, dont just toss it aside. Make sure you give it at least a quick look before entering. Relax! You wont be able to listen if your mind is racing a mile a minute. You could be thinking about something as trivial as whats for lunch, or panicking about a deadline, but those things should be put aside in the meeting space. Clear your head, turn off your smartphone, and prepare to focus on only the speaker. Pay Attention You learned all the way back in high school that spacing out was never a good idea. That carries over into the working world, too. If your thoughts drift during the meeting, youre not going to remember anything â€" and that could come back to hurt you later. Theres a simple fix for this: Keep yourself as aware as possible. Look at whoever is speaking so you wont be tempted to glance at your computer or the doodles on your paper. Be aware of the way your body reacts to what is said in the meeting, mentally and physically. This can help you put your opinion into the discussion, whether it be an idea or a question. Use Body Language How would you feel if you were giving a presentation and looked up from your notes to find blank stares, slumping postures and dead silence? Meetings shouldnt be zombie conventions. This works both ways. When youre the one listening, you need to let the presenter know. Body language works wonders. Nodding lets the presenter know that you understand what theyre saying. An open posture â€" sitting up straight, arms uncrossed, head turned toward the speaker â€" shows youre open to communicate. Also, dont look so glum. Its a meeting, not the end of the world. Smile! Nothing is worse for a presenter than talking to a bunch of frowns. Leave Judgments Aside No matter how much we try to respect others, sometimes it’s hard to see them positively. Whether its the co-worker who always hogs the copy machine or the one who chews their pencils like a wood chipper, peoples mannerisms and habits can make others irritable. Everyone is guilty of these thoughts, but its best not to let them influence your actions or interactions. Interrupting, sneaking comments or any other rude behavior wont win you any brownie points at work. Instead, you should Keep Your Mind Open Make an attempt to be impartial and put yourself in the speakers shoes. Even if you dont agree with their ideas, looking at a situation from their point of view might make you realize something new. Conflict-Resolution and Prevention Specialist Mary Rafferty offers this suggestion: Rather than seeing yourself as a fixer/problem-solver, see your role as one of providing parties with space and empathy to help them move forward in how they are thinking Ask yourself what you can learn as the person is speaking. Not only will this further your engagement in the meeting, but theres a good chance youll get some important takeaways. Check for Ideas, Not Words Anyone can just sit there and take in words, but most of the time they just go in one ear and out the other. Its hard to piece together what was said at the meeting if you were processing words and not ideas. Concentration is key when it comes to linking bits and pieces of information together into logical connections, but it’s key to being a good listener. Take Notes Its a well-known fact that writing things down helps you remember them. A study by Vaiva Kalnikaito Steve Whittaker of The University of Sheffield revealed that taking high-quality but brief notes is better for memory than large masses of notes. Thats why we bring shopping lists to the supermarket and write short memos on the fridge. It’s also how we survived our schooling. The same goes for meetings. Just make sure you dont get distracted if you choose to take them electronically. Involve Yourself in the Conversation Active listening involves questioning and fact-checking the speaker. This shows youre paying attention to what theyre saying, and that youre curious and open to their ideas. Dont be afraid to say whats on your mind. You can turn a boring old meeting into a highly involved conversation with just one question. This still doesnt mean you should interrupt the speaker or talk over them, though. Remember that patience you learned as a kid. Give Appropriate Feedback When youre an active listener, youre putting yourself in a position of respect and understanding. Putting down or attacking a speaker in your feedback will make all that listening go to waste. Nancy Sommers of the Harvard Graduate School of Education said feedback works best when it is an open collaboration between two people who treat each other as scholars. While she was referring to the relationship between teachers and students, this philosophy can apply to the workplace, as well. Its important to be honest in a response, but to do so in an appropriate manner. If you have opinions to assert, make sure you do so respectfully. The Golden Rule applies here! Summarize What Was Said When the meeting has finished, take a few minutes to wrap up all the important points that were covered. You may leave the meeting thinking youll remember everything, but youre sadly mistaken. (See the last tip for proof.) While the ideas are fresh in your mind, get them down on paper. Youll be glad you did. In case youre uncertain about your summary Confirm With a Group If you missed something, your colleagues can come to your aid. Hopefully they were taking notes too â€" but this doesnt give you an excuse to zone out! Ask a co-worker or a group of co-workers to stay behind after the meeting to summarize and review takeaways. Figure out the key points of the meeting and determine where to go from there. You can even follow-up with the speaker with a summary of the key points and action points to get the discussion going. By implementing these small techniques, youll be an expert listener in no time. Have any more suggestions for listening skills? Questions or comments about active listening? Share in the comments!