How to Maximize Video Interviews

How to Maximize Video Interviews A job interview can be a nerve wracking experience. At interviews you are not only being appraised for what you say or for what you can do, but also you are being examined on the way you present yourself, on whether you will fit within the companys corporate philosophy, and on your general demeanour. In recent years the format of job interviews has begun to reflect the increasingly technological world we live in. Video conferencing is now a popular choice when it comes to personnel selection. There are dedicated software programs, specialist interview techniques, and a wealth of advice on how to do well in a video interview. Key advantages of video interviews for employers The advantages of using video conferencing to interview job candidates can be classified into employer benefits and candidate benefits. Among employer benefits, the following can be highlighted: Video interviews allow for greater consistency. By using a pre-determined script and format, all candidates are asked the same set of questions Video conferencing captures the moment, and it does so permanently. Therefore, employers have the opportunity to replay, review, and rate the interviews online. Interviewers can also make use of videotaped material to compare candidates answers and performance during the interview Having visual material associated to the interview can help employers better remember outstanding candidates. This is especially true when video interviews are compared to audio interviews (for example, Skype-based interviews). By using video, employers can associate a candidates name to a face, so in fact, video interviews can help provide a more personal touch Time is at a premium for most human resources departments. Video conferencing allows employers to carry out a large number of interviews in a short space of time. This interview format is particularly useful when it comes to interviewing candidates who live in a different city or country. Video interviewing can cut recruitment costs by 50% What are some of the benefits that job seekers can draw from video interviews? Here is a (non-exhaustive) list: Video interviews are also advantageous to candidates in terms of time and money. There is no need to stress about being late to the interview because of traffic, and similarly, there is no need to travel to another city (with the associated expenses that come with it). The only investment you need to make is a computer with Internet access and a webcam, and almost everyone has that kind of equipment these days There are psychological benefits associated to video interviews. A job interview can be a lot less stressful if you can go through it from your own home You can practise for a video interview by recording yourself answering typical interview questions. You can then assess your performance and make the necessary changes, so that you feel confident and prepared on the day of the interview Video interviews are ideal if you already have a job but are looking to move elsewhere. Online interviews do not require you to take days off, something that could arouse your boss suspicions. Can a video interview improve my chances of getting the Job? The good news is that if you approach it correctly, a video interview can help you be successful in your job search. If you can perform well using video conferencing software, you’ll show that you’re at ease with modern technology. You’ll also have the opportunity to practise with the software until you’re comfortable with it. If you have picture-in-picture during the interview, you’ll be able to observe the appearance you’re projecting to your interviewers and adjust if necessary, which is something you don’t get the chance to do in a traditional interview format. By preparing thoroughly for your video interview and taking care to give the best impression possible you may be able to secure the job without even entering the office! Essential Video Interview Tips Prepare yourself ahead of time: As you are not meeting your employer face to face, you should think about emailing the interviewer your CV and any other applicable documents before the day of the interview. Two days before is the best time to send all the relevant papers. Practise: If you are not comfortable being in front of a camera then a good way to feel at ease with it is to practise the video interview with a friend over Skype. Get your friend to ask you the questions you expect to be asked and then ask for feedback. This way, you will also hopefully gain more confidence which can be used to your advantage when you’ve got the real video interview. Background and light: If you have the video interview in your own home then make sure you test the software and also check your background and lighting. If the sun is shining, the light often blocks out the screen so make sure that that doesn’t happen by checking everything first. Look in the camera: You may be tempted to look at yourself when you have the video interview but it is extremely important that you look throughout the interview at the webcam and not the screen. This will ensure you are keeping good eye contact with your interviewer and also gives the impression that you are very confident. Written by Amy Henderson, a career advice writer who is currently specialising in video conferencing interviews by LifeSize. Related:  How To Recruit for Niche Positions [5 Smart Ways].

Seth Godin on Graduation

Seth Godin on Graduation Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Wfv-pj6-QXhGp0av1QxkTA',sig:'jUFLWtr2pCikj6yLCbYE0K-VbaWRA7yc5_YySzd12Kc=',w:'507px',h:'338px',items:'143071519',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Seth Godin is a deep thinker on many subjects, but hes particularly passionate about education and what it teaches us about the real world. Heres a link to his manifesto on education. Heres his thinking on new graduates: No direction home There are millions of college seniors beginning their job search in earnest. And many of them are using the skills theyve been rewarded for in the past: Writing applications Being judged on visible metrics Showing up at the official (placement) office Doing well on the assignments Paying attention to deadlines, but waiting until the last minute, why not Getting picked Fitting in The thing is, whether youre a newly graduating senior (in hundreds of thousands of dollars of  debt) or a middle-aged, experienced knowledge worker looking for a new job, what the best gigs want to know is: Can you show me a history of generous, talented, extraordinary side projects? Have you ever been so passionate about your work that youve gone in through the side door? Are you an expert at something that actually generates value? Have you connected with leaders in the field in moments when you werent actually looking for a job? Does your reputation speak for itself? Where online can I see the trail of magic you regularly create?

5 Ways to Deal with Work Related Stress

5 Ways to Deal with Work Related Stress Research has revealed that occupational pressures are the leading cause of stress in American adults and a survey by Northwestern National Life reports that 40% of working adults in the U.S say their job is “very or extremely stressful”. Whilst in the UK, 39% of the total work-related illnesses in 2013/14 were caused by workplace stress, depression or work related anxiety. So here in the west, we are no stranger to the demaning working life of modern times. High flying women often find it very difficult to achieve a good work-life balance and stress can become an everyday occurrence. So how can a motivated career girl deal with the daily pressures of work? Here are 5 great ways of dealing with workplace stress. Talk to Someone Sometimes the easiest thing to do is to talk about your problems. Career advisors, HR Managers, your line manager, a friend or family member, or even your therapist would be a good place to start. Talking to friends and family can help you feel heard and talking to members of staff in your workplace can help you make practical changes to improve your stress levels. Start Exercising It’s often quite difficult to shut your mind off from work related issues. But carrying these thoughts to bed with you can be extremely unhealthy. Exercise not only improves your physical and mental health (and gives you tons more energy) but it will also help you shut your mind off from those client conversations / meetings / papers piling up on your desk. And it doesn’t matter if you’re working abroad either â€" use Gym Visit to find a gym anywhere in the world. Take a Break Not taking a break when you need to is unhealthy. Your mind and body need time to recharge and putting it off will only add to your stress. It’s easy to avoid booking time off when you feel too overwhelmed with work to step away; but it’s important to remember that you’ll be much more productive once you’ve had time to rest. To really unwind, book a few days off and take a well-deserved spa break. Get Self Help If seeing a therapist or speaking to work colleagues isn’t the right thing for you, why not try the many self-help books available today. Some good starting points include ‘Simple Stress Management: Good Habits and Organizational Techniques to Free Yourself of Stress and Succeed in the Workplace’ by Tamika Hopson, ‘[amazon template=productasin=B002MN4UQ8]!’ by Paul McKenna, and ‘Overcoming Anxiety, Stress and Panic: A Five Areas Approach’ by Christopher Williams. Take up a New Hobby Keeping yourself busy outside of work is a great way of striking a good work/life balance. Having another outlet for your stress and energy is an excellent way of keeping your mind healthy as well as an opportunity to socialize more. Use the Playbuzz Personality Quiz and hobby finder to choose your next hobby.

6 Tips for Tackling Any Meeting

6 Tips for Tackling Any Meeting The art to the “perfect” meeting is still a mystery. Anyone from novice to veteran will agree, running an effective meeting can be daunting. Here are 6 essentials to help you in conducting a productive (and fun) meeting. The Need First, assess whether a meeting is necessary.  You should initiate a meeting only when you want feedback or discussion to complete a specific purpose or task. If the meeting can be summarized in a quick email or conversation, save yourself, and the company, the time and money by having a brief exchange. The Agenda The agenda serves as a roadmap for your meeting. When creating your agenda, ensure you have a purpose or a set of meeting topics. Your purpose identifies a goal(s) or decision(s) to complete by the conclusion of the meeting; it should be clear, direct, and attainable. A vague purpose can gradually make the meeting tedious and banal. The meeting topics consist of a list of discussion points, presentations, questions, etc. to guide the meeting and should answer the following questions: What are the main topics to cover? Are there any outstanding items to pursue? Do I need a presentation tool? If so, which will best convey your message? What is your desired result? What are potential action items to follow this meeting? Once these questions are answered, you can begin the final product. The agenda should be concise, progressive, and illustrate a clear item or task for discussion. Simplicity is key. The Invite List Next, tackle your invite list. Please remember: this is a meeting, not a party. A successful meeting should consist of a few key players, preferably less than 10 total attendees. The selected participants are contributors or decision makers for your agenda.   A few types of participants you should have are: Gatekeepers for budgets and financing Minimum Leadership required to make decisions and final approvals Those associated to tasks and topics on the agenda Those associated to future tasks and topics that will stem from the agenda If you have any hesitations, feel free to have a quick meeting with your boss for their feedback; discuss the agenda you have assembled, and integrate their advice or input as you see fit. Once your Invite List is finalized, assign each topic on your agenda to an invitee if possible. TIP: Microsoft Outlook has a great feature to bucket attendees into required and optional. Place your key players in the “required attendees” bucket, and others as optional. The Visual Visual tools can range from bullet lists and charts, to a few sentences that summarize the topic. Regardless of the method you choose, the delivery should be compact and intuitive. The popular corporate phrase for visuals is to “tell a story”. A few guidelines on visually telling your story are to: Have a progression based on chronology or lineup of topics Present your ideas in 3’s such as 3 topics, 3 bullets, or a 3 word slogan (“Yes We Can”) Find alternatives to PowerPoint slides (i.e. handouts, one summary sheet, storyboards) Have at most of 3-4 charts or tables per slide/handout No JPEGs, GIFs, intense audio clips, or heavy slide transitions Visual tools are not required for every meeting, sometimes an agenda is sufficient. Use your best judgement on whether a visual is necessary. The Practice Run The best way to prepare is to mentally simulate your meeting. As the coordinator, imagine how you will field potential questions; avert tangential conversation; and identify hidden challenges. Though this can feel like day-dreaming, mental preparation builds your confidence in your approach and develop strategies prevent obstacles. If you have a presentation, then practice, practice, practice! And don’t forget, practice! Once you have perfected your content, focus on your transitions; how your hands will move; and the different inflections and intonations you want to use. Your confidence will shine through in a well-rehearsed presentation. On the day of, check up on the minute details, such as: The Attendee Status: Outlook has a great feature to see who has accepted your invite Resources: Ensure your room exists, the projector is available, and your laptop functions Webinar/Conference: The invite includes the webinar link and conference call numbers Final Agenda: Include your final Agenda in the invite With everything in place, you are ready for your meeting! The Follow-Up The follow-up email benefits all members of the meeting, serving as a summary of the meeting and providing a list of tasks or inquiries. A timeline is a great example of effectively   condensing a set of tasks in chronological order, simple for all participants to understand. The follow-up is best sent soon after the meeting, or at the latest, by the end of the business day. Once you have sent your follow-up email, you have officially completed the your meeting! There you go! These 6 essentials can structure any type of meeting to be productive and beneficial.  Got any more tips on how to ace a meeting? Share it with us by commenting or by tweeting @mscareergirl!

How LinkedIns Resume Assistant Can Negatively Impact Your Personal Brand - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

How s Resume Assistant Can Negatively Impact Your Personal Brand

Be Accountable for Great Career Mentoring

Be Accountable for Great Career Mentoring Be Accountable for Great Career Mentoring Are you one of the millions who reads with envy how someone’s success was dedicated to the great insights and support they got from a mentor? Are you one of the additional millions that keep committing to asking for a mentor but never get around to it? Failure to build and maintain mentor relationships is tragic. And the efforts and investments made by companies to foster mentor relationships are meeting with little success. Why? Because the responsibility resides with YOU, the employee, to establish and maintain a mentor relationship. It’s work. But it’s powerful work that can result in tremendous personal and professional success, regardless of your definition of success. Some people use the excuse, “My boss is my mentor.” No, your boss is your boss. He or she has a different perspective than a mentor would have and there may be certain things you don’t share with your boss for all the right reasons. During my 11-year tenure at Microsoft Corporate headquarters as a General Manager of worldwide sales, I was a spokesperson and advocate for the worldwide Mentor Program. I was proud to work for a company who “built the field” for any employee at any level to be a mentor and to have mentors. All an employee had to do was type mentor in the intranet address bar and he or she could request a mentor or offer to be a mentor. Microsoft encouraged all employees to be both. The system served as matchmaker and provided a tool for a number of valuable activities including: Teaching what it takes to be a great mentee or mentor. Establishing mentor relationships. Maintaining mentor relationships. Renewing mentor relationships. Even after the company implemented strategic efforts globally and made multiple attempts to promote the online tool, the statistics were pathetic. In summary, there were two critical problems: First, light participation by both mentees and mentors. Second, and even more concerning, there was a huge drop-off in execution or follow-through. Meetings weren’t taking place and career-building discussions were not happening. Microsoft recently closed down the tool. Gone. Opportunity lost! I am now a proud Microsoft alumnus who is “living my legacy” by speaking, blogging, authoring books, and consulting on careers. There are three causes that I believe lead to this “mentoring apathy.” 1. Lack of accountability â€" Too many employees talk about their desire to grow their careers, but they claim, “My manager is not promoting me,” or “My Company doesn’t care about my career even though I’m working so hard.” Those who make their career growth Job#1 are the ones reaching out for strategic supporters. 2. Poor time management â€" Employees are feeling overwhelmed with balancing the work hours and family. They have no appetite to take on another extra-curricular task like networking or hosting a mentoring meeting. Yes, the mentee runs the meeting; not the mentor! The mentor is giving his or her time and wisdom. 3. Disengaged employees â€" Unfortunately, only 30% of U.S. workers are engaged, another 50% “non-engaged,” and an astonishing 20% are “actively disengaged,” according to a recent Gallup poll. They are “resting and vesting,” and have no desire or perceived need to build mentoring relationships… even though they should. Be Accountable for Great Career Mentoring My challenge to you: Re-start your mentoring effort. Solicit a number of diverse mentors, set up each meeting with a great agenda, and keep it going for years. Stop being one of the millions who are observing the power of mentorship from the side lines.

Resume Writing Worksheet For Professionals

Resume Writing Worksheet For ProfessionalsIf you have ever been employed as a professional writer, you will know how important it is to write a resume that looks professional. After all, your professional cover letter has already established you as an important professional in the job market. With your resume, you are trying to build upon this credibility to make a positive impression on the potential employer.One of the most important steps when writing a professional resume is having a quality writing worksheet. This will help you to organize and streamline your thoughts so that you can write in a clear and concise manner. Many people believe that they can think for themselves and that their resumes should be written without the help of a worksheet.However, that is not the case. Resumes should always be written in a systematic and organized manner. A good writing worksheet will aid you in writing your resume in a professional manner.When you begin writing your professional resume, it is important to work out a coherent outline of what you want to say. This will give you direction in the form of sequence and organization. In addition, this will help you keep track of what you have written.One of the things that you will need to do when writing a professional resume is to lay out your key achievements and skills. Also, include your strengths and your weaknesses. Finally, consider including your education and awards and degrees that you may have received.It is also important to include your education when writing a professional resume. You should carefully detail the courses that you have completed including any specializations. Include information on your professional affiliations such as those with the Chamber of Commerce or with your local Chamber of Commerce.It is important to provide a professional profile on your professional profile. You will want to mention any achievements and skills that you feel would be of value to a potential employer. You should al so include any skills and knowledge that you possess that could prove to be useful to the job that you are applying for. You should also take the time to state your interests and hobbies in order to distinguish yourself from other applicants.To summarize, when writing a professional resume, you should use a writing worksheet that will help you organize your thoughts and make them easier to read. You should also be specific about what you want to say. Finally, when you are done, you should outline your key achievements and skills for the sake of clarity.