Sunday, May 31, 2020

What is Employee-Level Empathy and What Can Your Company Do to Achieve it

What is Employee-Level Empathy and What Can Your Company Do to Achieve it The importance of empathy within a business context is an emerging trend. So much so, the Harvard Business Review shared the Empathy Index for businesses, which attempts to determine how empathetic your company is and whether empathy levels affect commercial success. So what do we mean by empathy at work? Empathy is the ability to experience and relate to the emotions or experiences of others. Empathy is the ability to step into someone else’s shoes, be aware of their feelings and understand their needs. In the workplace, empathy is about showing respect for employees and co-workers. It is about a company’s managers showing that they care about their employees as human beings, recognizing they have lives outside of work. In our one-on-one conversations with exceptional professionals, empathy was one of the most talked about topics. A phrase that kept coming up was “profits over people.” Employees are very sensitive to this notion. Either you are people first or you are profit first. The challenge is that sometimes a company or an employer brand says they are people first, but the company’s actions and communications say otherwise. There is no greater intelligence than kindness and empathy. Most corporate missions and values speak to how the company will work to ensure the full satisfaction of its customers, but they have failed to realize that it starts with the workforce.   Rita Kandamkalam, Media Professional Corporate versus employee Employees talk about two different types of empathy at work corporate empathy and employee empathy. Corporate empathy is how the company shows compassion for outside initiatives such as social causes, volunteer programs and environmental conservation. Most companies are aware that having a social cause is important to employees.   I say, pick a volunteer position, a mentorship, a charity or a cause that you feel passionate about and give it as much time as you can. Even if it’s 3 hours a week, that’s 156 hours of your help by the end of the year!    Lisa McCann, The Engine is Red. But what about the employees everyday experiences at work?  While employees appreciate and expect corporate causes, they also desire a spirit of empathy inside the work environment from the top down. This means that the leaders of the organization need to manage and lead through a lens of empathy, where the employee’s well-being and concerns are taken into account during the decision-making process. If I could fix the corporate world, I would start with putting people in leadership who are less interested in huge salaries and bonuses and are more interested in creating a culture of true respect and harmony, open and honest communication, healthy and engaging conflict, and ultimately with the understanding that without their people, the company wouldn’t be what it is. Irina Dzubinsky, Tech professional How to create an empathetic culture A critical aspect of developing an empathetic culture is for managers to have a clear understanding of the mandate and consistently lead by example. An empathetic culture must come from the top down for it to successfully spread throughout the entire organization. Re-evaluate your internal communications strategies to ensure there is an empathy lens on every message, especially on issues around profits, employee programs and corporate policies.   An empathetic corporate culture is not easy to achieve overnight. It takes time and a cultural commitment . Spend time learning about the concerns and needs of employees. Managers should set a tone and find a balance between people and profits. When managers take others’ feelings and opinions into account throughout the workday, they build a deeper connection with their colleagues. This leads to stronger loyalty and trust, which are the building blocks for improved retention and employee advocacy.   Not to mention, empathy usually leads to business success. Assume the best in others. Know what makes them tick. Serve their needs. Accept responsibility. Assume the best intentions Doug Heckman, sales professional. About the author: Jonas Fischer is co-founder of PeerCulture, a place where exceptional employees share their stories to help employers learn and evolve.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Theater Resume Tips

Theater Resume TipsBefore you go out and apply for a position at your favorite theater company, you may want to get a theater resume. This is a great idea for many reasons and can be invaluable to your application to get the job that you want.Theater resumes are a great idea for many reasons. One of the main reasons is because they help to increase your chances of getting hired. But theater resumes don't just come in handy for getting hired by your favorite theater company. They are also very useful for starting a new career as well.It is not uncommon to find yourself in a job market that is less than ideal for your skills and experience. In most cases you will need to do some degree of extensive searching in order to find a position that is even remotely right for you. That is where theater resumes can come in handy.Theater resumes are typically kept by actors, directors, writers, musicians, technicians, editors, marketers, etc. This type of resume is mostly used for the purpose of networking and finding work for someone who may be looking for a career change. And because of this, you will want to make sure that the information is in the most current format. A theater resume is usually designed to meet the needs of people who are working with a specific type of theater, be it musical, film, or theater.Theater resumes are useful for many different things. The biggest advantage is that they provide you with a very detailed overview of the kind of actor or actress that you are. Most importantly, they will give you a very accurate picture of what is expected from you in terms of style and voice.Of course, a theater resume will vary greatly in terms of quality. There are many applicants that don't even bother to create a resume because they assume that it will be one of the generic ones that are available. While there are some generic ones that you can use, they usually lack a certain amount of detail.Of course, you should be aware that a theater resume can be a gr eat venue for getting rejected. There is no reason to sit idly by while that happens, though. You can take action immediately if you get rejected. Instead of just getting depressed about it, you should do something about it.Theater resumes can be extremely valuable when it comes to getting the job that you want. The more information that you have about your skill set, the better off you will be when it comes to landing that job.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Executive Women Leveling Up in the Work Place

Executive Women Leveling Up in the Work Place Women in senior positions are no longer a growing trend, and have instead leveled off at a stagnant 24%. There are a number of benefits to having women in the workplace, from getting more funding, to getting higher ranked leaders when reviewed by their peers. It’s surprising to say the least that women aren’t getting these high ranking positions, and in this article I will discuss the hurdles women go over to cross from management to executive, and how to vault over them. Getting into the culture without being the “Yes” woman Breaking into a new job can be difficult, and fitting in is a great goal, but do not be afraid of being a “No” woman. This means that even though it may seem like being nice, making copies, and coffee will win you friends, it will not get you ahead, or on an even playing field. Do not be afraid to stand up, and say no, because that favor you are doing for your co-worker may only make them more likely to see you as a secretary instead of as an equal. This doesn’t mean being unpersonable, I would encourage you to go out for drinks with a group, or to play on the softball team, but be a friend not a servant. Don’t be bothered by your supervisor Building relationships with not only your coworkers, but even with that one horrible supervisor can be hugely important. 25% of women leave their first job because of a difficult manager, almost the same number (26%) that leave for more money. “It’s very important who your first or second supervisor is,” says Rick Waugh, president and CEO of Scotiabank, “Many times, that determines whether you’re going to stay with that organization and how far you’re going to advance”. My advice is to relax, that supervisor might be a corpulent, work-shy museum-piece, but if you work past them, you can elevate yourself beyond them. Use positive body language Even if you don’t have a confident gait, in this case, faking it until you make it works. Body language can reduce your stress, help connect with people, and even help avoid workplace pains and aches. Using positive body language reduces stress. Expansive, powerful postures can increase testosterone levels, and lower cortisol levels, which is a neuroendocrine profile that is linked to outcomes like leadership abilities and disease resistance. Being less stressed can help you relate better to others, form better relationships, and just be a happier person. People who are happy do better work, they are more likely to stay with their job, and will make  more successful at work. Don’t stay in first level management/ Negotiate right out of the gate Not only are women less likely to negotiate, but they more likely to be penalized when they do negotiate. Starting with a leg up is what negotiation can offer, but don’t be off put by companies which might not do negotiations. Reddit no longer does salary negotiations with their staff under claims that it is not only bias towards men, but that their employees worth is not dependent on the employee’s negotiation skills. If available, a forward moving employee negotiates right out of the gate, and if you are penalized as a woman for negotiating, that is not a company you want to work for. Don’t be a yes woman, make solid relationships, use open, positive body language, and always negotiate. You are the best person for the job, don’t forget it, and become an executive woman.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

How to Answer Salary Questions in Your Interview

How to Answer Salary Questions in Your Interview One question that often makes people feel uncomfortable at interview is ‘what salary are you looking for?’…or something along those lines. I personally feel ok talking about money and I think it’s fine to state your expectations clearly and confidently. Most people shy away from talking money However, I’ve been in this game long enough to know that the majority of job seekers don’t like to discuss this at interview. They don’t want to be the first person to mention a figure. If it’s too low, they may miss out financially. If it’s too high, they could miss out on a job offer. If a recruitment consultant asks you this, then I would advise you be as open as possible. They will give you advice on the market rate for your skills and will often do the negotiating for you when you get offered a role. They need to know where your expectations are, so not to waste your time with lower paid jobs in the future. How to deflect the salary question If the employer in the interview asks you this and you really don’t want to answer it just yet, then here are a few ways you can deflect the questions. ‘I’m quite open and slightly flexible on salary as the opportunity to add value and to be valued is important to me. I’d appreciate knowing how you value this position and what your budget is for this role?’ The way you say this is very important. Say it with a smile on your face and raise your voice at the end of the sentence, so it seems like a question. Or just bat it straight back… ‘I’d rather not commit to that quite yet. I’m really open to your thoughts on this as I’m sure you will be consistent with the market?’ Then pause. Just stop talking. By silencing yourself quite abruptly, you are forcing the other person to talk and it shows you are in control. Again, you must do this in a very ‘upbeat’ way.  We don’t want you to become defensive as this can sometimes come across as aggressive… not a good look! Smile and nod while you ask it. By nodding you are assuming the answer you want is coming back to you and increasing the chance of the other person giving you what you want. Practice it in other conversations and you will see what I mean and how well it works. Practice makes perfect I’m not talking about ‘jedi mind tricks’, but there are lots of NLP books that talk about your body language during negotiations. I would check them out if you are unsure. At some point you are going to need to discuss salary (unless there is a recruiter involved) and I would recommend practicing these answers. Say them out loud in the mirror, while you are washing the dishes or driving. The more comfortable you are when you get asked this, the less likely you are to be conditioned by the interviewer. Related: How to Prepare for Your Salary Negotiation [6 Clever Ideas].

Saturday, May 16, 2020

The Importance of Proper Resume Writing Tasks

The Importance of Proper Resume Writing TasksIt is important to establish the importance of all resume writing tasks before you begin working on them. In order to do this, you will need to work on the major tasks and move on to the smaller ones until you've completed all of the tasks you feel necessary.After completing the tasks listed above, then it is time to write a cover letter for the job applicant. In general, this part of the resume writing process is usually the hardest part, and it's important to try to write a really good one as well. By doing this, you'll be able to provide the first impression for the job applicant and create the foundation for what will later be a great interview.Once you've written the cover letter, you should now continue to work on the rest of the resume writing tasks. For instance, if the cover letter was written by you, it should include all of the required information, so you don't have to worry about writing additional content for the cover letter . As far as the resume goes, you should include your contact information, any professional training you may have had, previous employers, skills that you are qualified for, educational training, and other pertinent information that will help the hiring company make an informed decision about your abilities.While you're doing the remaining resume writing tasks, it is also important to keep your resume organized. In order to do this, you should use different fonts to add the important information to the top and bottom of the page, or to the left and right. By keeping your resume organized, you will be able to easily find the information you want. When your resume is organized, you will also be able to show potential employers the way forward when it comes to how they can read and navigate your resume.Of course, you can also save yourself some time by using your resume as an outline for further editing. With an outline in place, you can get started on the task of editing it before the person who will be reading it has a chance to see your entire resume. The outline can be reviewed before the actual writing of the resume begins.Aside from being organized and professional, it is also important to remember to revise your resume writing tasks at least once a month. This is especially true if there are changes in your career. These changes can include your job title, qualifications, experience, or even your level of education.Keep in mind that you can ask others for help. If they have some experience in writing resumes, they might be able to give you some advice. Also, if you have a friend who can edit your resume, then you can ask them to work with you to improve your resume.Remember that the purpose of a resume is to help you get the job you want, not just to help you with a job search. Taking the time to make sure that your resume is as successful as possible will provide you with a better chance of landing that dream job.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Your Personal Brand - Make an Impact that Counts - Jane Jackson Career

Your Personal Brand - Make an Impact that Counts - Jane Jackson Career You have seconds rather than minutes before someone decides if they will do business with you. Their first impression of will determine what they expect of you.   Make that first impression positive and your life will be so much easier.   There are Five Essential Components of Your Image to consider:   Hidden, Assumed, Visual, Experienced and Proven.Your Hidden Image: The impression you project depends a lot on what you believe about yourself, your past experiences and what fear may be holding you back from presenting at your most confident.Your Assumed Image: People are pre-conditioned to develop expectations about a person even before they meet, so the right response is vital to taking that relationship further.   That first impression depends a lot on what people already believe about you what they have read or heard about you, where you work and the role you hold, where you are from and your affiliations.Your Visual Image:   When you are assessing or being assessed, if the dress code suits, it answers the question about your professionalism or compatibility with a company or a group.Your Experienced Image:   Manners count. Business manners and basic etiquette work on the premise that consideration and respect towards your acquaintance, opponent or colleague will get you ahead.Your Proven Image: In the long run, whether you keep your promises and deliver over time will be what counts most.All the Essential Components of Image require acknowledgement and action in order to project a Professional Image.Expectations of dress will vary depending on the organisation you represent. People will be looking for you to conform to stereotypes associated with a job. A lawyer or chief financial officer will not be expected to dress like the creative director from an advertising agency and the showroom manager of a fashion PR company.If you surprise by your appearance, your credibility may be quetioned. If you want to impress management and foster an outcome in your best interests, remember their impressions are shaped by their range of beliefs which make them receptive to you.   Consider any cross cultural expectations and differences to minimise miscommunication.Theres no single message about nice shoes or wearing the right clothes. Its psychologically much more subtle than that. In the beginning, its about not violating the norms and perceptions a lawyer or financier in a dark suit, an art director in a black sweater.   Think of Impression Management in additional to skills and knowledge to create a positive outcome in getting to the next step in your career.When you are out to impress someone for the first time, do your homework, find out about the person or people you are going to meet, practice speaking at home, a firm handshake. When it comes to First Impressions, the eyes meet and, though its not deliberate, people make immediate, unconscious judgements about honesty and trustworthiness. To give you an advantage, this is the moment to look open and candid.Non-verbal communication is really very important.   You know if someone is interested in talking to you or not, by their eye contact, smile and gestures. These are basic social beliefs.   People put a lot of value on cultural cues and if you arent aware of them, be prepared to face difficulties.These days its not just your company that is branded because you are too.   Be aware of your own brand management.To get the response you are looking for, you need personal confidence. By extension, that means the way you shake hands, carriage, eye contact and facial expression.Once we make contact, by shaking hands with an appropriate degree of eye contact and personal space, its about the words your speak and a confident vocal presence.   Within 10 seconds, all of that is going to work for or against you.We dont often get the opportunity to talk about the impression we make without feeling were revealing a weakness. Individual coaching can be very helpful providing an obje ctive and supportive environment in which to gain constructive observations and suggestions.Subtle changes have amazing effects. Once we are at ease with our impact, we can draw on our experience and enjoy the space to concentrate on the other person.   When you make others feel comfortable it will be easier to develop rapport.   You will no longer be concerned about ‘Is he or she impressed by me? when you feel you have a great rapport with each other.It’s difficult to give a formula about manners, but there are simple considerations that are important. Dont come on too strong as its exhausting to others. Talking over people is inconsiderate, as is holding the floor, which doesnt allow other people into the discussion. Be confident enough to let someone else have a point of view. Some people talk all the time to ward off the other person, which is annoying and frustrating.Personal presentation can undermine or establish your credibility, especially at the senior level. If you ar e lacking, it brings your credibility into question. Many people gain an advantage on their competitors, not because they are any better qualified for the job but because they present themselves as if they are.   Give yourself the edge by managing all 5 components of Your Image.If youd like to chat about your professional image, call +61(2) 8076 4808 or visit janejacksoncoach.com

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Graduates After Graduation - CareerAlley

Graduates After Graduation - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Created for TheJobCrowd by Surge Digital This is a Guest post on Jobs for College Grads. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. more College Grad Job Search Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to land your first job. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search