?? The Secret to Giving Constructive Criticism Thats Actually Useful

?? The Secret to Giving Constructive Criticism That's Actually Useful 112 How to give constructive feedback in a job interview, the workplace or anywhere you want to get someone's attention. Photo by Charles Deluvio In Constructive Criticism or Compliments: Which Builds Your Brand Better?, I explained why constructive criticism is such a smart personal branding tool when used properly, and commenter Bruce Bixler responded beautifully in showing us how: I liked the outline [of the article] but what is missing is specific example(s) of how a constructive criticism can or should be worded constructively. I use personal examples of my everyday experiences. And believe me there are a lot of examples of constructive criticism to choose from. (Self deprecating criticism there.) In itself, Bruce's comment is an almost textbook-perfect example of well-delivered constructive criticism in addition to being a personal brand-boosting blog comment. Here's how to construct your own. Have you ever given constructive criticism in a job interview? Yes, about the interviewer(s) No Yes, about the employer View Results The formula for perfect constructive criticism It goes something like this:eval Credibility-building introduction Compliment (optional) Criticism Suggested improvement How to follow up with you Let's take a deeper look. 1. Credibility-building introductioneval The idea is that for your criticism to be taken seriously, the recipient needs some proof that you actually know what you're talking about. And if you're constantly trying to build your personal brand â€" as you should â€" you'll want to give proof. You could use your personal tagline, but the key point is that however you introduce yourself, it should be related to your upcoming criticism. If the person you're contacting already knows you, this becomes optional. 2. Compliment (optional) The main reason to include a compliment here is to ‘lighten the blow' and create balance i.e. flatter the recipient a little bit to raise their spirits before you bring them down again. As someone who likes receiving constructive criticism, it is more likely to raise my spirits than a quick compliment, especially a formulaic, inauthentic one, which is why I would prefer not to receive one here. However, as I mentioned in the earlier article, most people do not like receiving criticism at all, so feel free to use a legitimate compliment when you think it will help. 3. Criticism I like constructive criticism from smart people -Prince in a 2009 interview The main body of your message. If you're giving an opinion, say so. If your criticism is based in fact, give your source. Avoid any judgements of the person and concentrate on the focus of your reaction (e.g. their blog post, their report, etc.), unless of course the focus is the person themselves. And overall, do not use any negative adjectives, adverbs or expressions because they increase the chances that the recipient will become defensive and not listen, leaving a negative impression of you and defeating the whole purpose of your message in the first place. 4. Suggested improvement Too often, constructive criticism is delivered without any solutions in tow, leaving the recipient even more frustrated because now they know there's a problem but they might not have a clue how to fix it or they would have avoided the problem initially. Suggesting ways to best take your criticism into account makes it easier for the recipient to do so, as you map out a possible solution for them. For example: If you mentioned a source for your criticism, then quote a suggestion from that same source Explain what works for you, as Bruce demonstrated in his comment above Share what you've seen work well for others 5. How to follow up with you If you've done everything well up to this point, your recipient will not only take your advice, they will also understand that you're a person whose advice is worth taking, and will want to know where they can get more. Giving the criticism live and in person? Now's a good time to present your business card. Giving the criticism online? Make sure that whether over email or social media, anyone who's impressed by your criticism will be able to find you via the related social profile, brand-building blog or website. I originally published a version of this article on the Personal Branding Blog. Question of the article Why did you vote the way you did in the poll? Tell us in the comments. Here it is again: Have you ever given constructive criticism in a job interview? Yes, about the interviewer(s) No Yes, about the employer View Results What others are saying How to Give Constructive Criticism: 6 Helpful Tips Does Criticism Motivate More Than Praise? How to Accept Criticism with Grace and Appreciation How Can I Learn to Take Criticism Without Taking It Personally? Bonus: How to Take Criticism READ NEXT: 7 Reasons Constructive Criticism Hits Hard (and Well) or What motivates more: positive or negative feedback?

Cover Letter Resume Tips - 5 Important Tips

Cover Letter Resume Tips - 5 Important TipsThere are many different cover letter resume tips to help you out with your letter. It is good practice to follow them, but there are some cover letter resume tips that you can use to make the job easier for you. Below are a few tips to help you in your quest for getting the best and most relevant information from a professional.One of the most important cover letter resume tips that you should use is to take the time to learn how to compose your own letter. If you have a writing experience that includes writing for print, TV, radio, or other forms of media, you may feel at ease when it comes to creating a resume letter. However, when it comes to the creation of a letter for a resume, you should be able to write it from your heart.It may be a good idea to think about how you would like to go about the creation of a letter before you begin to write it. Most writers do not put too much thought into this process, so it is not something that the y should shy away from. One way that you can do this is to choose the information that you are going to share in the letter to base your points on. This means that the information that you will put in should all relate to the things that the employer is trying to find when looking for someone to work with them.You should also choose the type of writing that you are going to do, as it can be very different. Writing resumes is different than writing articles or even poetry. This is a simple tip, but if you put the right effort into it, you should be able to get the job done just as well as a writer who specialize in one of these areas of writing.Another tip to keep in mind is to avoid using bullet points at all costs. This can be helpful if you are simply going through the information that you want to put in the letter, but when you start to write the information that you want to put in the letter, it can be helpful to put a line break between each paragraph. This helps the reader kee p track of where the information comes from, which can be very important for the person who is reading your letter.If you are going to mention certain sections of the letter, then be sure to write down how you are going to spell them. This is a good tip to use if you are going to be dealing with people who are not native English speakers. It is a good idea to have at least a basic knowledge of their native language to be able to say the things that you want to say properly.A last tip to keep in mind when using cover letter resume tips is to make sure that you use every tool that you can find in order to market yourself. The best way to market yourself is to give as much information as possible about you, your interests, and your skill set to get the employer's attention. Another great way to get the attention of the employer is to market yourself as an expert.These cover letter resume tips are a quick way to help you out with the creation of your resume. The advice that you are give n is usually fairly basic, but it does help you out a great deal. The more you follow these tips, the better off you will be in the end.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Need a Shove

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Need a Shove One of the common threads I've found when interviewing people who have lost their jobs over the last year is the optimism most of them feel when they're first laid off. That lasts for about four or five months. Then, you can hear it in their voices: they're scared and frustrated and feel very, very alone.I've been without work so I know how they feel. But recently I did a story on mentors -- how they can help your career not only when you have a job, but especially when things aren't going so hot. And while no one was portraying the mentoring experience as all fun and games -- it takes a lot of hard work and sometimes your mentor drives you a bit batty -- those I interviewed credited mentors with adding a lot to their lives.I think we've all got to invest more in ourselves, no matter what our employment status. We need people in our corner, through good times and bad. Without those relationships, I think we risk making unnecessary mistakes, of letting good opportunities pass us by be cause of our own ignorance or perhaps our own fear. As this story show, mentoring may be just what we need:Sometimes in our careers we need a kick in the pants. We need someone to push us, to make us see whats possible and how we can get there. For people like Linda Swindling, that point came in college. For Christopher Wright, it came when he was enduring a job he hated. Both turned to mentors. People in their lives who came along, saw their strengths and weaknesses and for no pay at all gave them invaluable advice that helped them land at better places in their career.Now, at a time when most of us are confused and stressed about our jobs and career paths, mentoring programs appear to be more popular than ever even employers are seeing the value in offering such support to employees.Beth Carvin, CEO and president of Nobscot Corp., a retention management consulting firm in Honolulu, says that the companys mentoring division, Mentor Scout, is currently doing a booming business. The program helps companies set up mentoring programs.Its a way for companies to develop their talent, and its cost effective because theyre utilizing their resources internally, Carvin says. Were seeing a huge growth in mentoring.Currently, about 70 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer mentor programs, but experts say no one in this economy should wait for an employer to find them a mentor.A lot of people dont even think of it until they lose a job, Carvin says. You really need to think of it when you have a job.Swindling, a Dallas-based speaker and author, says that shes used mentors since her college days, and still relies on them. Mentors have really given me a push when I need it. They remind me of stuff Im not doing and give me a different perspective, she says. Wright credits his mentor from decades ago with giving him the skills he needed to run his own mechanical engineering practice. He was very open about what he was doing and very patient with my persistent questions a nd in helping me fix my mistakes, Wright says.Still, even with the fond memories for Swindling and Wright, both say that those going into a mentoring relationship need to understand its not always enjoyable.The truth is that just like with any relationship, there are downsides. My mentor got impatient with me at times, and there were times when I felt he could be too verbose. He could be maddeningly discursive, Wright says.Swindling adds: You find some people who say they can help you and theyre lying. They just want you to help them sell their stuff. They want to use you.If youre considering a mentoring relationship, those interviewed for this story have some advice. They say you should:1.Plan ahead. Nobody wants to just have you walk up to them and say, I want you to be my mentor. Youll freak them out. Tell them that you have a problem, and what you need from them in terms of help, Swindling says. Different mentors can be used for different aspects of your life. Dont ask someone to do it all.Carvin adds that you should review your past jobs and relationships, weighing the best person to help you. A former boss? A Co-worker? Someone from an industry group? Be thoughtful when you contact them, saying who you are, why you have chosen them and what you hope to gain. Also talk about what you expect from them in terms of time, Carvin says.2.Be patient. It took a while to get close to my mentor. It was about two or three years before we really trusted one another. I trusted him to respond to my stupid questions, and he trusted me to ask about the things I didnt know, Wright says. We were completely honest with one another.While not all mentoring relationships last for years, and may only be in place to complete a specific goal or project. Swindling, who now often serves as a mentor herself, says that mentoring is very time consuming so you must always be respectful and decide what would be the best use of the mentors time. Sometimes Ill say to someone who wants my help: What are the top two things that we need to discuss?3.Be realistic. Keep in mind that rarely is the mentor going to be able to give you a job or introduce you to the person who has an immediate need. More likely, the mentor will help you down the path quicker and with more insight, which can later give you an edge on other job seekers, Swindling says.She also points out that mentors can help you submit a resume at a higher level and protect you from automatic outs like a spelling error on your resume.4.Be observant. I dont know how many times Ive gone to a convention and been seated right next to someone who can help me, Swindling says. People love to give back.Wright says he met his longtime mentor who has since passed away when he drove him back to his hotel after a business meeting. We must have sat in the car and talked for an hour and a half. Then he offered me a job, Wright says. You cant always have that kind of chemistry with a mentor, but that trust is critical.Not es Carvin: Different mentors can offer you different kinds of help. The key is to always be looking, to always know what you need.What do you think is the key to having a positive mentoring experience?Social Bookmarking

Are You Like Me Hired! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Are You Like Me â€" Hired! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It’s probably happened to you a hundred times: you go to a major store, hoping to find that specific item you’re after, and you have to walk away disappointed. Either the item was not available or, most likely, you were looking for something uncommon or unusual that the store didn’t have. Such a scenario often occurs in interview situations: You as a candidate seemed very prepared, and when someone asks you later how the interview went, you reply positively and with confidence. After all, you have every required skill the interviewer was looking for, you have plenty of experience, and you were able to answer smartly all of the interviewer’s questions. So, why didn’t you hear back? What went wrong? The answers to those questions are repeats of answers to the shopping situationâ€"when you couldn’t find that specific item. Evidently, the interviewer, too, was looking for something specific that you did not surface and demonstrate. In this case, it’s likely the interviewer was looking for something totally unrelated to skills or experience. So, what is that something and how can the interviewer find out you have it? It’s all about compatibility, or so-called chemistry, which is a very heavily weighted element in the hirer’s decision-making process. Many call it the fit factor, and it could easily be by far the decisive issue in the entire interview. As a career coach, I work with my clients and prepare them to learn to how to “read” interviewers so they can discern that fit factor. There are many well-known, documented, and respected studies about types of people. Some of the studies find that if a candidate is unable to align with the interviewerâ€"sometimes an impossibilityâ€"then the chances of being considered for the position are minimized. That’s the reason someone else gets the job. You may have heard of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the DISC assessment, and other personality tests. I’m familiar with another, called MBS, or Management By Strengths. The MBS Survey is a self-assessment that attempts to align relationships and communications between parties. It deals with understanding the decision-making process, whether the process is based on facts or on gut feelings. For more information on the MBS test of personality type, visit www.strengths.com. In summary, in an interview situation it’s hugely to your benefit if you’re able to “read” the interviewer and adapt to the interviewer’s style, because it’s well-known that hirers like to hire people like themselves. Are You Like Me â€" Hired! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It’s probably happened to you a hundred times: you go to a major store, hoping to find that specific item you’re after, and you have to walk away disappointed. Either the item was not available or, most likely, you were looking for something uncommon or unusual that the store didn’t have. Such a scenario often occurs in interview situations: You as a candidate seemed very prepared, and when someone asks you later how the interview went, you reply positively and with confidence. After all, you have every required skill the interviewer was looking for, you have plenty of experience, and you were able to answer smartly all of the interviewer’s questions. So, why didn’t you hear back? What went wrong? The answers to those questions are repeats of answers to the shopping situationâ€"when you couldn’t find that specific item. Evidently, the interviewer, too, was looking for something specific that you did not surface and demonstrate. In this case, it’s likely the interviewer was looking for something totally unrelated to skills or experience. So, what is that something and how can the interviewer find out you have it? It’s all about compatibility, or so-called chemistry, which is a very heavily weighted element in the hirer’s decision-making process. Many call it the fit factor, and it could easily be by far the decisive issue in the entire interview. As a career coach, I work with my clients and prepare them to learn how to “read” interviewers so they can discern that fit factor. There are many well-known, documented, and respected studies about types of people. Some of the studies find that if a candidate is unable to align with the interviewerâ€"sometimes an impossibilityâ€"then the chances of being considered for the position are minimized. That’s the reason someone else gets the job. You may have heard of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the DISC assessment, and other personality tests. I’m familiar with another, called MBS, or Management By Strengths. The MBS Survey is a self-assessment that attempts to align relationships and communications between parties. It deals with understanding the decision-making process, whether the process is based on facts or on gut feelings. For more information on the MBS test of personality type, visit www.strengths.com. In summary, in an interview situation it’s hugely to your benefit if you’re able to “read” the interviewer and adapt to the interviewer’s style, because it’s well-known that hirers like to hire people like themselves. Author: Alex Freund  is a career and interviewing coach known as the “landing expert” for publishing his 80 page list of job-search networking groups via his web site  http://www.landingexpert.com/. He is prominent in a number of job-search networking groups; makes frequent public presentations, he does workshops on resumes and LinkedIn, teaches a career development seminar and publishes his blog focused on job seekers. Alex worked at Fortune 100 companies headquarters managing many and large departments. He has extensive experience at interviewing people for jobs and is considered an expert in preparing people for interviews. Alex    is a Cornell University grad, lived on three continents and speaks five languages.

Graduate Job applications what you need to know!

Graduate Job applications what you need to know! Youve decided that the time has come to start putting together some job applications. Youve even settled on which sector interests you and the sorts of roles which appeal. Well done! Youre making great progress. So, what next? Now for the research. The dissertation mark isn’t going to be great without some solid reading, similarly job applications which are inadequately researched wont get you through to interview. Where to start You’re probably going to have to answer the “Why us?” question on the application form. If your application is going to have authority and credibility you need to answer this for yourself too. Your starting point is likely to be the company website. Great! Youre going to read the pages about careers and recruitment and find out all about the job and the training opportunities. You’ll probably find lists of what attributes the company is looking for in its successful candidates. Make some notes in whatever way works for you. If you get to interview you are going to have to revisit all this, minimise the duplication of your work! Going in deeper Time to move on. The “About us” pages on the main website are going to be useful, you will find out what the company is proud of and what it says about its culture, keep making the notes but this is not task over. Your next port of call might be the news pages and any blog feeds on the website.  Continue by researching the same news items more generally on the internet. Get the less positive comment on the stories as well as the company’s take. If you are encountering different opinions start to form some views of your own. What about the industry? You’re beginning to form a picture of the company, now what about the industry?   Time to start digging. Try looking at trade or professional groups and magazines (on-line or paper). Where does your prospective employer sit within its business field? Is it a growing organisation, already a major player? Is its reputation somewhat in decline? Start to work out why. Back to the internet, what do your chosen company’s competitors say about it? What does the press say about the industry generally? Time to use your contacts? Try next  to make contact with people already working in your chosen organisation and the occupational field. Be resourceful in reaching out, if you haven’t got your LinkedIn account set up this is definitely the time to get organised with it. Start looking for alumni from your university who might already be working in the field, make contact and ask for advice. Most people are happy to give you the benefit of their wisdom and can be flattered to be asked; be prepared to be bold in making approaches. You should be able to find out more about “industry gossip” and with a bit of luck will be able to make contact with people working in your preferred company. Ask what the culture is like, will it appeal to you? How about the application process, can you get any insights into questions and exercises at interviews and assessment centres? Your  Careers service should be another “port of call”. There should be resources in the library and find out which careers consultant specialises in your occupational area and make an appointment to see him or her. You should find another mine of information! What about other opportunities to find out more? Once the Autumn Term starts you’ll find employers  piling onto campus, they’re likely to be at presentations, skills session and careers fairs. You’re going to need to balance your enthusiasm to get an application in early with the advantages of meeting representatives of the company, getting some more insights into what they are looking for and taking the chance to impress. This will be an individual decision for everyone. If you decide to wait, then make sure you approach them after you have done a lot of the research we’re talking about. Think of some really insightful questions and make sure that theyre not answered on the website! Its good to chat with the graduate trainees but remember that the person you are trying to impress is the recruiter! Find the right person to talk to! As you know from my earlier post Be an early bird and plan your applications employers take a note of the name of students who impress on campus and some have computer systems which allow them to flag you as soon as your application is received. What a great start is that? Well worth the investment in time you’ll have made! All of this research is going to have taken you a long time. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can’t possibly do it because you need to put in 50 applications!  A handful of really well researched applications are worth 20 generic and ill researched efforts. Remember what Benjamin Franklin said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”.

Awesome Career Ideas For Fitness Freaks!

Awesome Career Ideas For Fitness Freaks! Photo Credit â€" Flickr.comAre you into fitness in a big way, and does it take up a lot of your life?If so, have you ever considered taking things a little further and making a career out of your passion?There are many opportunities out there to get involved with helping others get â€" and stay â€" fit.And in today’s guide, we’re going to run through some impressive fitness careers. Let’s get started right away â€" and who knows?evalPerhaps this post will inspire you to make some inquiries and start a new career in the world of fitness!1. TeachingA love of fitness can help you become a teacher. We all have memories of our Physical Education teacher from school â€" although, admittedly, some might be better than others! But the opportunity is there to make a deep, positive impression on young people’s lives.Childhood obesity levels are approaching epidemic proportions, unfortunately. And schools are under a lot of pressure to stem the tide of an impending health crisis. And as a PE teacher, you will be doing more than anyone else in your school to help kids get enough exercise.2. Personal trainerIf you are good with people and love to motivate others to get fit, why not consider becoming a PT instructor?You will need to take some personal trainer courses first, to ensure you understand what you are doing. But, other than that â€" and a little investment here and there â€" there are few issues to starting a personal trainer business. And, even if you enjoy a modest amount of success, it is both a rewarding and well-paying career.3. Physical Therapy AssistantIf you don’t quite have that zip and personality you need to become a PT, why not work as a physical therapy assistant?Sure, you will still need to be a people person, but the role is more relaxed and calming. You will work alongside physical therapists and help them diagnose and treat injuries. Pay is good, and you could end up working for private therapists, hospitals or the NHS.4. NutritionistPhot o Credit â€" Flickr.comevalPersonal trainers and fitness tend to get all the glamorous headlines. But, it is nutritionists that are the most important factor in fitness.Eating the right food can have a dramatic impact on weight loss, even without exercise. You will provide clients with advice and guidelines on nutrition, and work out plans for a healthier future.Let’s not beat around the bush â€" in many cases, you will be adding a significant number of years to people’s life expectancy. Again, you will need the training to become a respectable nutritionist. But, if you scratch beneath the surface and you might be surprised at how easy it is.5. Fitness ManagerFinally, a career in fitness also gives you the opportunity to move into management. Or, move from administration in another industry into looking after a fitness centre.evalYou will be responsible for the success of your establishment, bot in sales volume and reputation. If you think you have what it takes to be a fitness centre manager, the earning potential can be limitless.

How democratic is your workplace - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

How democratic is your workplace - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog My friends at WorldBlu are looking for the worlds most democratic companies. Is your workplace among them? WorldBlu CEO Traci Fenton writes: The time has never been better for honoring the mavericks of freedom in the workplace, and inspiring others. The WorldBlu Search for the Most Democratic Workplaces?? is a GLOBAL search from November 1, 2006 until February 16, 2007 designed to identify organizations from the for-profit, non-profit, government, and education sectors practicing organizational democracy. Recognizing the Mavericks, Inspiring Others: We believe there are many highly successful and profitable ? yet often unnoticed ? examples of democracy in the workplace. These organizations are defying convention, rewriting the rules of business, and pioneering the next generation of organizational design and leadership. The WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces?? seeks to shine a spotlight on these champions of freedom and inspire others in the process. The WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces 2007: On March 6, 2007, WorldBlu will announce the first annual WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces?? in conjunction with the celebration of Democracy in the Workplace Day. Learn More + Get Started: To learn more or have your organization get started now to apply for the WorldBlu List, please go to . Basically, they need as many organizations as possible to take their scorecard and participating companies not only learn how democratic they are compared to others, they also get specific tips on how they can become more democratic. Of course there is a huge link between democracy and happiness at work. People who work in democratic organizations are more involved, take more responsibility, are more motivated, more productive and happier than employees of authoritarian companies. This also makes democratic organizations more successful. You can read all about it here. So go check out the scorecard and sign up your company! Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Need a Roadmap to Drive Your Career Bus -

Need a Roadmap to Drive Your Career Bus - Since this weeks posts have been about managing your time and focusing on your job hunting goals, it is a good time to share information about a resource developed by my new cyber-friend, Jason Alba: Jibber Jobber. Jibber Jobber is an online tool with both free and paid features. Need help keeping up with where youre applying for jobs? Need to track when to follow-up with employers or networking contacts? Jibber Jobber is for you! This is how Jason describes some of Jibber Jobbers features: Jibber Jobber allows you to keep track of all of the information that you collect during a job search. Track the companies that you apply to. Track each job that you apply for, and log the status of each job (date first interview, thank you letter sent, etc.). Want to know where you sent your different resumes? Jibber Jobber can track all this and more! But then you need to go a step further work on those relationships. Jibber Jobber allows you to track the relationship with each person, log important information about your contacts, and manage the relationship as it is enhanced. Keeping track of these relationships, and proactively working on your network may be the most important thing you do to help you land your next job. For an explanation of the differences between the free and premium services, click here. In addition to creating Jibber Jobber, Jason is an expert in social networking and the author of the books, Im On Linkedin, Now What? and Im On Facebook Now What? After following Jason on Twitter and keeping up with his blog, I recently had an opportunity to speak to him about his business and how he hopes to help people who need help organizing their job hunts and managing their contacts. His goal is to Help people who want to manage their career.   In addition, having experienced a job  loss that served as the impetus for starting this business several years ago, Jason hopes to help people understand what it means to manage their own careers. He uses his blog to help educate readers about career management and provides ideas, resources and inspiration to everyone who has a job and/or a career! Im sure anyone involved in a job hunt can benefit from investigating Jibber Jobber and by taking advantage of its great tools! Take a look at Jibber Jobber and let me know what you think! If you want to receive free up-to-date tips to help with your job hunt, Click here to subscribe to receive future blogs sent directly to you! Need more help with your job hunt? Keppie Careers will assist you every step of the way! From a great resume to step-by-step job hunting assistance Keppie Careers is here for you! www.keppiecareers.com. Photo by ChinCillaVilla