Ask James What can I do to stand out and get a promotion

Ask James What can I do to stand out and get a promotion by James Reed Looking to take the next step in your career? In his monthly column, career coach and Chairman of reed.co.uk, James Reed, shares his expert advice to help you tackle your biggest career concerns.In this months column, James gives his top tips on how to get yourself promotedThe questionHi James,Just over a year ago I landed my first job after graduation, working in the Finance sector. Im really passionate about the role and the company and feel like Ive learned a lot in my first year.Ive noticed that a few of my colleagues who started around the same time as me have been promoted recently. Im really keen to move up the ladder too, but now Im starting to worry that all the spots will be taken and my professional development will be hampered.I really like the company I work for and dont want to change jobs in order to move up. What can I do to stand out and make sure Im the next member of my team to get a promotion?I look forward to hearing from you.Thanks,RegisThe answerDear Regis,Thanks for getting in contact with your query. I have listed what I feel are the most important considerations in the lead up to earning a promotion.Firstly, think about the reasons that you want a promotion. Do you want to move into a management role? Do you want a higher salary?Once your motivation is clear in your own mind, you’ll be in a better position to state your case for progression. Remember that it’s not necessarily the length of time spent at a company that dictates whether you qualify for a promotion or not.Reflect on your time at work. Are you going above and beyond the job description, or are you doing what is expected of you? If it’s the latter, then you’ve still got some work to do before a promotion comes your way.Mindset matters the most at all stages of your career. Whether considering a new hire or internal promotion, 97% of employers value mindset over skills. It is much easier to teach someone skills than to change their mindset. Show that you have the right mindset for the job and you’ll have the edge over your colleagues.You could complete a professional development course to expand your knowledge in a particular area, or read up on articles to stay really current in your sector. Taking the initiative at this stage in your career will show both your maturity and your readiness to move up the ladder.Ask! If you don’t ask, you don’t get. It’s true. If you want a promotion you need to be prepared to ask for it. Tell your manager that you want to move up and ask for advice on how to do so. Many managers will be happy to help you progress in your career.They may suggest that you take on more responsibility in your current role, which will give you an extra opportunity to shine and to prove that you can handle it when the time comes.Although your successes may be obvious to you, don’t assume that your manager is aware of them too. Quantify your achievements and show that you did X and Y to achieve Z, which had a positive impact on the business.If you’re not great at recalling your achievements, get into the habit of writing them down in a notebook. It’s not enough to do great work you need to show people that you’re doing great work.Networking is also a useful way to get ahead in any industry, it’s not always what you know, but who you know that counts. Get involved in company events and speak to people already doing the role that you want to do.Speak to your promoted colleagues and ask them how they achieved their promotions. This will be an educational and fulfilling experience and will help you to get ahead in your career.Best of luck!JamesHow to: Get promotedEight signs you’re due a promotionIf you’d like James to answer your career query, tweet your question to @James_A_ReedLooking for more interview advice?   Download Why You? nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmess age hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Ask James Career Development

14 Ways to Handle Negative Press About Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

14 Ways to Handle Negative Press About Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career How do you deal with negative press as a business owner? The following answers are provided by members of  Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched  BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. Dont Blow It Off Take the time to really think about what might have caused the person to write the article/post in the first place. The best thing to do is acknowledge the issue and explain what you have done to help rectify the situation or keep it from happening again. This will build trust with future customers and might win back customers you have lost. Remember, no business is perfect.   â€"Andy Kohm,  Vendop 2. Leverage the Mistake Unless you have a made a huge error, you can still really win here. I remember dining recently at this fancy restaurant (and leaving a negative review) and they blew me away with their response: a full comp on my CC, a credit for a future meal, and a full explanation of how they were going to turn things around. I like them more now than if the experience had been good from the get-go.   â€"  Adam Steele,  The Magistrate 3. Be Active on Social Media The best way to deal with negative press is to be very open about what youre doing, and face the criticism head-on. Reply to every comment on Facebook and Twitter, and do so publicly so that your entire audience understands your point. Follow up on the changes you promise to make.   â€"  Aaron Schwartz,  Modify Merch 4. Become Friends With Your Detractors When I spot a negative piece, I always respond civilly in the comments and sometimes email the writer directly. Instead of getting angry or defensive, I seek more information on the contrary point of view and ask for suggestions for how I can improve my work. Usually, the detractor is so impressed with the response that we are able to launch a new relationship based on mutual respect and trust.   â€"  Alexandra Levit,  Inspiration at Work 5. Hire a Reputation Management Company Negative press is a complicated and tricky issue. You should hire a reputation management agency to tackle it professionally. If you do not have expertise, then dont try to do it yourself, as you may make it messy. Professionals can use the time-tested and innovative techniques to get rid of or overcome thenegative press. It can be a bit expensive, but the right thing to do.   â€"Piyush Jain,  SIMpalm 6. Stay Calm Remember the news cycle is very short; attention spans dont last very long. So, depending on how bad the press is, remember its going to blow over shortly. It is hard as a founder to remember this, but it works if you think about politicians, for example, taking bad press. They almost always bounce back soon enough. Politicians have all mastered news media â€" look for guidance there.   â€"  Robby Hill,  HillSouth 7. Seek Advice and Take Steps to Turn the Tide When dealing with negative press, two things have proven invaluable. The first is to seek the advice of mentors or business owners whove been through a similar experience. Learn from their scars. The second is to ask a key question: What is the best thing I can do to turn the tide right now? Positive news can drown negative news over time.   â€"  Nitin Chhoda,  In Touch EMR 8. Reflect Upon The Cause and Then Move On It’s important to look into why the press was released, where you may have been at fault, and how to avoid making the same mistake in the future. You don’t, however, want to let it get under your skin and put you in a downward spiral. That’s not good for you or your business. Don’t dwell on it, and move forward.   â€"  Andrew Fayad,  eLearning Mind 9. Be Civil and Don’t Debate You may be tempted to be defensive, but that almost never helps. If your company has actually done something wrong, apologize and then stop talking. If not, respond â€" on social media or your blog â€" with your account of the issue. Don’t get personal, remain positive, stick to the facts, and don’t fall into the trap of debating â€" it’s easy to say the wrong thing and open yourself to more criticism.   â€"  Vik Patel,  Future Hosting 10. Use Honesty and Humor Theres no point in avoiding bad press because it will never cease to come about. My decision is always to face it head on and explain what went wrong. I usually explain this with humor, depending on the situation. If I can get through to my detractors and help them understand what transpired, then theyll see the other side of the coin and how well be better next time.   â€"Cody McLain,  SupportNinja 11. Accept It and Harness the Power of Your Employees Negative press from large establishments can be disruptive, especially when  you feel that it is out of your control. However, the voice of a negativeperspective does not need to define your business. It is your employees that define your business. By investing in them, and offering perks and benefits, you create a constant source of positive PR.   â€"  Marvin Amberg,  Caseable 12. If Its Big, Address It From the Top As the face of your company, sometimes you need to step up and defend the  integrity of it and promise to do things better. Dominoes CEO did a good job at this by  apologizing  and explaining to their customers how they were going to  make things better. First, he addresses the issue, explains what theyve done to correct it, and then offers insight into how they will  make positive changes going forward.   â€"  Andy Karuza,  brandbuddee 13. No Press Is Bad Press We’ve all heard that No press is bad press. Understand that only so many people are going to like you, no matter what you do. Successful people make a name for themselves by standing for something. Whether your stance is controversial or not, you will always have naysayers. Take criticism with a grain of salt and take solace in the fact that you are not alone.   â€"  Andrew Kucheriavy,  Intechnic 14. Dont Ignore It Respond to it. Of course, it depends on the nature of the negative press, but the only thing worse than negative press is negative press with no response. Use it as an opportunity to have a voice in the conversation and set the record straight. If your business screwed up, that’s okay â€" own it. Everyone loves transparent and humble businesses.   â€"  Dusty Wunderlich,  Bristlecone Holdings

Get your application noticed cut out the fluff

Get your application noticed cut out the fluff If you want to get an interview and Im guessing most of you do then you need to avoid the most basic application mistake: padding. Otherwise known as filler, fluff and waffle. Whether youre writing a CV, cover letter or application form, the rules of the selection game are clear give the recruiter what they want. Evidence. Evidence that you have the skills (and maybe the experience) to do the job in hand. What they categorically dont want is your life story and empty clichés. I just had a nose at the application process for Sky and they couldnt be more explicit:  Dont waffle. Give us the main details (you can elaborate at interview).  Lloyds Insurance make it pretty clear too:  Be concise. Wed love to find out all about you, but therell be plenty of time for that beyond the application form.  Give yourself the best chance at the application stage by sticking to the facts. Yes, youll need to elaborate after all we havent quite moved to Twitter style applications but theres a huge difference between relevant detail and pointless verbiage. The application form Recruiters use application forms as they allow for  both ease of comparison between candidates and against the required competencies. This also means there is less room to hide, and a weak, poorly constructed application will stand out for all the wrong reasons! If there is a maximum (or suggested) word count, stick to it. Some forms will have scrolling boxes (despite the word limit)  but you dont have to fill them.  Dont repeat yourself just to cover the white space. Use the CARE technique (also known as STAR) to help you structure your answers, and put the emphasis firmly on what you did and what you achieved. Dont waste words (and the recruiters time) with a long preamble. Employers know youre not the finished article, so you may need to provide evidence of potential, rather than direct experience but the key here is evidence. Its no good answering a question about problem solving or leadership and failing to mention specifics. Dont try to make a little go a long way by stretching the truth, embellishing your answers or simply padding with descriptive but ultimately empty  answers. If you really are struggling to find enough content, then you check in with a job search adviser and get some feedback.  It may be you need to sit this one out and find ways to develop your skills and experience for future applications. The cover letter You need to think of your cover letter as a hook: something to tempt and encourage the recruiter. If they like what they read at this stage, the chances are theyll take a glance at your CV. Get it wrong and theyll simply move on to the next candidate. Recruiters are time poor, so you need to make their job as easy and pain-free as possible. Get to the point quickly. Who are you and why are you writing? Is it in response to an advertised role or speculatively. Keep the language precise and business like. Avoid using long, complicated prose it usually sounds pompous and artificial.If you are applying for journalism placements or internships, you can afford to be more creative but you still need to choose your words carefully. Make every one count! Be specific. Past achievements are not 100% reliable in dictating future performance, but they point in the right direction. Have you increased turnover in a family business? Have you had articles commissioned by a paper/magazine? Have you been active in the At the graduate level you may not have direct experience in the industry/sector, so highlight the experience you do have and draw a very clear connection between skills acquired and skills required (for the role). If you stick to the formula: opening (1st para); why them (2nd para); why you (3rd para) and conclusion (4th para) you wont go far wrong. The CV You may find it hard to let go of some experiences and achievements, but a CV is not meant to document your entire life history.  As you progress through university, earlier incidents whether jobs, awards or achievements assume less relevance. Im certainly not suggesting you adopt a slash and burn approach, but you do need to be more selective. Think twice before you include a career objective/personal profile.  Most of the time, they simply fall into the filler category and are more likely to annoy than entice an employer. Tailor your CV to the role. By all means keep a master version which includes all your information and then use this to cherry pick the relevant bits. Use the job and person spec as your guide.  If theyve asked for evidence of x skill, but not y, then dont waste your time or theirs including evidence of y! Theres plenty of time at the interview stage to show what a stellar, all-round candidate you are. Focus on recent content. You may have been Head Girl/First Violin in the School Orchestra/Won the school debating competition, but a graduate recruiter simply isnt interested.  If youre a first year undergrad looking for work experience, you might get away with school based experiences, but finalists..no. Use powerful  keywords  that mirror the job spec and show how you will add value to an organisation. Avoid  meaningless jargon. Ask yourself honestly: can you really claim to be a creative visionary, with a proven track record and substantive experience in the finance sector (yes, I really have seen all of these on a students CV!).  Recruiters will tend to ignore these overblown statements  stick to objective facts. Remember, employers are looking for reasons to screen candidates out of the selection process. Dont bury your skills and achievements under a mountain of waffle you wont get a second chance.

Grad School Case Study 99 Cent Store Success

Grad School Case Study 99 Cent Store Success Have you ever  wondered how The 99 Cent Store started and how the company actually makes money by  charging so little?   How does the company  survive?   Is the company even  making a profit? I recently learned more about the history of the company and wanted to share it with you.   Dave Gold, the founder of  The 99 Cent Store,  decided to start this store after he found that bottles of wine sold better at 99 cents rather than 98 cents or 89 cents.   After researching more about Dave Gold, I learned that  he  teaches some great leadership lessons by how he runs his company. Perseverance  Matters! Everyone thought Dave Gold was nuts when he decided to start his store in 1982. People thought he was crazy to actually name  his store The 99 Cent Store.   What would  he do  if things  didnt go well and he was forced to raise the price?   Mr. Gold didnt listen to his doubters and  thought  it would be a fun challenge and decided to take the risk. It turned out that he made the right  decision since there are  now 276 outlets nationally with no  debt and a  stock that grew 800% from 1996 2003.   Isnt that  amazing!   I love the determination of this man and how he did not let other people impact his dreams and goals. What roadblocks are  holding you back from your dreams and goals? Sometimes, You Have to Make Your Own Path! Dave Gold realized that value mattered more than price to customers and he designed very attractive stores.  He also tried to make the process as easy as possible for his  vendors. Mr. Gold lives by the Golden Rule of treating others the way you want to be treated. He creates loyalty within his company by providing  great benefits for his employees and  promoting executives from in-house rather than hiring from outside the company.  His customers are also very loyal because the company  makes sure to serve its customers by  opening 15 minutes early and  closing 15 minutes late. He also has never allowed any kind of negative signs like No shoes, no service or We dont make change, but only positive signs saying Come as you are or We gladly make change. [Related Post:  How Women Can Get The Salary They Deserve: 3 Simple Steps For Success] Lessons from the 99c Store I think the most important thing leading to the success of this company was the positive culture  Dave Gold created.   He was very  laid back and liked to have fun. Can you say that about yourself, your  co-workers and your boss? Companies and management are under major stress these days due to the loss of so many jobs and our unstable economy. I wonder what would happen if bosses started to relax and  have fun at work? Do you think if bosses  became more laid back  that  employees might be happier, more productive and more loyal?

Toxic Executive Job Search Belief I can skip networking - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Toxic Executive Job Search Belief I can skip networking What Every Executive Job Seeker Needs to Know About Networking

5 warning signs to be aware of before accepting a job - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

5 warning signs to be aware of before accepting a job It’s rather exciting to start a new job. It’s a chance to start over and have a new beginning. In order to get the best out of your experience and stay motivated, you need to be sure that you are making the right choice. You can never tell a lot about a company just from their website. It helps if you know someone who has previously worked there. If you’re clever, you’ll be able to pick up on things when you go for your interview. Survey the environment and the attitude of the people around you. Many times, a company is discreet and tries to avoid any such encounters so you’re left without that too. Sometimes, it’s just after you’ve accepted a job when the signs become clear. So what other signs can you look forward to, to make sure if the job is the right fit for you? Consider the following list of my personal experiences which highlight the signs that a job might be too tiring, exhausting, mentally draining, or in other words simply a torture for you. 1.       The company is putting you in a compromising position. The work described to you is not what you had applied for. Or maybe it’s too much work and  not enough salary. The company may offer almost no vacation time or be completely unreasonable and not grant you any leaves. If a company refused to negotiate on your terms while recruiting you to some extent, they should be red flags. It can lead you to feel incredibly frustrated at work later on. Sometimes, a company promises you better benefits after your period of training or probation ends based on your improvement. Taking a plunge might be a risk and worth it if they stay true to their words. My experience regarding this matter was bad but that’s not how it always is. But if you have a chance at a better offer elsewhere, then don’t accept. 2.       The Work offered to you is above or beneath your level. It’s important to have confidence in your abilities, but not at the risk of being overconfident. If the tasks you’re going to be assigned look interesting and challenging, it’s all well and good. If they appear too easy or if it feels like your intelligence is being insulted, then it’s a waste of time. Or if the company is expecting a lot from you and not getting it in return, you might get an earful and it won’t even be your fault. If the company is overselling a job, then that should be a sign that it’s too good to be true, especially if they don’t question you about your relevant experience. Don’t risk  overselling yourself. It would set a bad reputation and more workload. Or if the work is too boring and easy and you feel like you can get it done a lot sooner, than you’ll be left with a lot of time in your hands and risk your talent being wasted. 3.       Your boss is too overwhelming or domineering. Your boss, manager or supervisor  plays a crucial role regarding your position. They can either raise you high and put you on a pedestal or drag you down to the bottom. Notice how the employees act around him or how he speaks to them. If he appears narcissistic and demeans others, then is that really the sort of person you want to work with? Many times, your boss just won’t like you no matter what you do or how well you perform because your personalities might clash or he hates your guts. If you feel like you and your manager won’t get along and you won’t be able to stand him, then that’s another sign that you shouldn’t accept the job. 4.        The office environment isn’t suitable for your needs. Have you ever faced politics at your workplace? I have. People you least expect or don’t even know would gossip or backbite. They might even report to the boss to gain points for themselves, even if they bear no concern or relation. Getting a “feel” for a place is important. Look around and see how the people act and try to judge their attitudes and expressions. Do they look satisfied or even happy with their work, or do they appear sullen and defeated? If the environment is quiet, serious, or even hostile then there’s a chance that something might be up. Either people do not like each other or they must be new. Staff turnover is also a worrying sign. 5.       The commute to the office drains the most of your energy. The commute to work can be tough. Where I’m from, the heat saps up most of your energy and the traffic is always terrible. It’s completely fine if you enjoy the distance for peace of mind in an air conditioned car and listen to soft music on your way. If you’re not a fan of long distance or your work is not something you enjoy, and like most of us on the planet have to work to pay the bills, then the distance can become a tantalizing monster and you might feel like you can’t reach your home fast enough. Weigh down the pros and cons before deciding if you want to take a job and don’t feel pressurized when you aren’t given time. It’s your right and you have the freedom to choose what you want. Carefully mull over your decision and do your homework before making any rash decisions. Author Bio Anna Marsh is a content writer and guest blogger. She loves to help people and raise awareness through the platform of Assignment Writing at Assignment help Deal UK. Apart from work, she is an aspiring novelist. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Professional Resume Writing - Why You Need to Do it Right

Professional Resume Writing - Why You Need to Do it RightWhy waste your time on a professional resume when you can just spend your time doing something you love? That's a really good idea, but the problem is that you have to convince a human being to read your resume. And if you can't convince them why should they hire you? You don't want to be a job hopper and be miserable in your job.The answer to this problem is quite simple: you want to do good professional resume writing. It may seem difficult to do, but the truth is that it is not difficult. The way to get a resume read is just like the way to get a hot meal eaten: to get the attention of your target audience.This can be done through one word or two words, but there has to be a whole lot of interesting information and facts and information that will interest them. Most people think that getting them by using bullets, but it just makes you look like a document that has been stuffed in. If your resume is going to the right place, it is going to get read and reviewed.When you're submitting your resume, the next thing that you need to remember is that your first impression will make a big difference. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so you want to make sure that you capture their attention with a really good photograph. In fact, even better than a great photograph is one that has important information embedded into it.Take the important points that you have to make them as good as you can. Make your reader understand why you are an ideal candidate for the job. When you make sure that your reader understands why you are the best person for the job, you will be making yourself a better candidate.So, what is the secret to employable professional resume writing? Here is the answer: not only make sure that you have a good background, but make sure that your background is relevant to the job and the position that you're applying for.Skills and qualifications are not enough. If your skills and qual ifications are not relevant to the job you are applying for, you will be wasting your time applying for it.All you need to do is to make sure that your professional resume is perfectly written for the job. A lot of people waste a lot of time trying to learn the skills and qualifications needed, but in reality, all they need to do is to know what is the job, the job description and the specific job requirements. If you focus on the job, then you will know what skills and qualifications you need to focus on.