Five Positive Work Traits That Work Against You - The Muse

Five Positive Work Traits That Work Against You - The MuseFive Positive Work Traits That Work Against YouWhats that old saying? Everything in moderation?Yes, I know, typically people share that adage when talking about a healthy diet. You can have a doughnut once in a while- just not every morning (unless youre totally OK with your waistband getting tighter with each passing day).But, while this age-old sentiment undoubtedly applies to the food pyramid, I think it rings true somewhere else as well With your behaviors.Think about it There are tons of different traits and qualities that are- for the most part- extremely positive. But, take them a little too far? Well, suddenly youve crossed over into completely obnoxious (or perhaps even counterproductive) territory. Apparently there really is such thing as too much of a good thing.Wait, what sorts of characteristics are you talking about? youre likely thinking to yourself now. Ive got you covered Here are five different qualities that are great to have- as long as you dont subscribe to the donut per day philosophy. Remember, moderation is key. 1. Being a PerfectionistThis ones the obvious one- you had to know that it was going to appear on the list somewhere. So, we might as well get it out of the way first, right?As a perfectionist myself, Ill admit there are plenty of times that an unrelenting obsession with the details is an excellent quality. Youre always the one willing to put in that extra work to make sure everything is perfect- youre never willing to settle for just plain good enough.But, as Ive talked about at great length before, your perfectionist tendencies can often betray you. The working world can be fast-paced, and you dont always have endless hours to obsess over whether or not to use Times New Roman or Helvetica in that report. And- even worse- sometimes your constant quest for flawlessness can really just hold you back from trying new things. The threat of possible failure or embarrassment is too much for you to bear. So, yes, I applaud you for being that details person who never settles. But, remember, life will never actually be perfect- sometimes good enough is the best youre going to get. 2. Being a Go-GetterFor all intents and purposes, this is a desirable adjective. Every employer wants to hire someone whos self-driven. Someone whos willing to grab the bull by the horns and get things done.However, theres a line here too. You dont want to become so much of a go-getter that you end up transforming into a complete steamroller.What do I mean? Well, perhaps you and your team were just assigned a project to collaborate on together. You immediately accept the fact that youll need to be the one to shoulder all of the work (youve always operated with the assumption that everyone else is lazy and always looking to shirk responsibility anyway), and you just jump right in and take charge of the entire project.You never gave your team- which, in reality, is likely filled with intelligent, capable people who are more than willing to help- the benefit of the doubt. Even further, youve totally monopolized what should be a group effort and proceed to think of yourself as a hero while doing so.Sound familiar? Listen, I totally get it. In fact, Ive been this person more often than Id care too admit. Being a go-getter is admirable. But, remember to check yourself from time to time- or youll run the risk of turning a lot of people off. 3. Being a Team PlayerLets look at the flipside of that coin, shall we? If you dont want to be a complete control freak, then youll likely swing toward the other side of the spectrum to transform into more of a team player.But, spoiler alert Theres a delicate balance to maintain here, too. Have you ever worked with those people that are so agreeable and malleable, they dont seem to have one single opinion of their own? Theyre so hesitant to rock the boat, they never do anything that could cause even the slightest ripple in the pon d.Many times, that collaborative and team-centric approach is appreciated and even helpful. However, always remember that youre still entitled to an opinion and a contribution- and you can still be an excellent team player while doing so. You absolutely dont need to go along with everything without ever speaking your mind.So, dont let your desire to avoid conflict completely override all of your valuable thoughts and ideas. You have awesome suggestions to share- and, if you truly want to do the best for your team, you owe it to them to speak up 4. Being SocialIf youre that person in your office whos always up for a friendly chat, chances are youre pretty well-liked by your co-workers. Youre the resident social butterfly, and everyone can always count on you to strike up a conversation- about anything, really.Having an outgoing personality is a great characteristic to have Theres only one problem You can easily become so chatty, that youre rarely ever getting any of your real work ac complished.The occasional banter around the coffee pot is one thing- in fact, its even encouraged to build better relationships with your colleagues. But, if keeping tabs on everything from Susans marathon training to Jims recent Disney vacation is majorly impairing your focus and detracting from your work, its time to rein things in a little bit. 5. Being FocusedWith all of that being said, thats another one of those traits where you dont want to head too far in the opposite direction.Yes, you need to be focused in the office- youre there to get work done, obviously. However, theres also a lot to be said for building some rapport with your colleagues. Strong working relationships are necessary in order to get your very best work accomplished.So, if youre always completely zoned in on your computer screen with earbuds always in, you could only be isolating yourself from your co-workers. And, seeming like that person whod rather eat lunch in a bathroom stall than have to engage with any of her team members? Well, I dont think its the message youre aiming to send- at least, I certainly hope not. As it turns out, that famous everything in moderation advice doesnt just apply to your diet- its also a beneficial sentiment for numerous personality qualities as well. Avoid going overboard on these five traits, and youre sure to strike the perfect balance. Are there any other positive qualities that you think can quickly turn into negatives? Let me know on Twitter Photo of person working hard courtesy of Hero Images/Getty Images.

Acquiring a new habit vs. quitting an old one

Acquiring a new habit vs. quitting an old oneAcquiring a new habit vs. quitting an old oneIf we take the literal meaning, its obvious quitting a habit is infinitely more difficult than creating a new one.You see, a habit is stored in your brain in the form of a neural loop. So, the only way to quit a habit is a lobotomy, which is pretty difficult compared to the development of a new habit.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIf we consider the common meaning of the expression to quit a habit, which is stop doing something we had been doing, it gets easier.To stop your habitual activity you need a traumatic experience or you need to painstakingly rebuild your habit.The Moment ofDecisionThe traumatic experience doesnt need to be sudden and painful, like a car accident. Im sure youve heard stories of people who quit smoking because their grandchildren asked them to do so and they felt l ike they want to be here for their grandkids. It was the moment of decision that caused them to modify their behavior for good.However, engineering both life-changing car accidents or moments of decisions is close to impossible. I mean, those smokers who quit usually had their grandkids for a few years, as well as a decades-long smoking habit.It wasnt like they didnt know the facts. Nobody had to tell them their self-destructing habit would cost them their health and potentially years of life. Nobody had to tell them that their grankids love them and would love to have them around for decades to come.They needed enlightenment to spark the decision and we cannot procure the enlightenment. Thus, its impossibly difficult.Rebuilding aHabitIf you dont experience the moment of decision, you need to rebuild your habit from scratch.The best piece of free content on this topic is on Charles Duhiggs websiteHow Habits Work?- ?Charles DuhiggIt is a load of hard thinking and hard work. The bigge st problem with this strategy is immense resistance.The older your habit is, the stronger the neural loop is in your brain. You need inhuman focus to be aware of every time a cue for the habit activates to modify your behavior. Even though you instill a new behavior, if you let your subconscious keep the reins, the old behavior activates, because it is stronger than the new routine youre trying to develop.Resistance Against a NewHabitWhen you create a new habit, you need to overcome resistance as well. Its the resistance that comes from the status quo. If you are a couch potato, its difficult and uncommon for you to move your butt and jog or go to the gym.However, this resistance is nowhere near the resistance that comes from an old habit. When you build a new habit, you create a new trigger for it and there are no conflicting messages in your brain. It is the simplewhen this happens, I do thatroutine. The whole art comes to repeating the routine long enough and often enough for you r mind to recognize the pattern and save it in your brain.You can screw that up by being inconsistent which gives conflicting signals to your brain. But you dont have to fight off a decade-long custom of yours.My ExperienceI quit a few bad habits and it was almost effortless for me. I just realized they dont lead me to the better life I desired. I starved them out instead of remodeling them. In a few weeks I quit playing computer games and reading fiction in excess.That was much easier than developing some habits of mine. It took me several months to create a writing habit.On the other hand, I have some habits Ive been struggling with for years, like going to bed too late. This habit seems to be insanely hard to change.In the same period, I was able to develop dozens of daily habits. Easy peasy.SummaryQuitting an existing habit is usually much more difficult than acquiring a new one. There are some cases when its not true, but they are the exceptions, not the rule.This article first appeared on Medium.

Real Restaurant Server Resume Critique

Real Restaurant Server Resume CritiqueReal Restaurant Server Resume CritiqueThis is the first article in a Resume.com Career Center series that will critique common mistakes in real resumes. This article reviews and breaks down common weaknesses in restaurant server resumes. Learning how to spot, fix, and overcome realistic resume problems will help you write a better resume when youre looking for a new job. If yure looking for a restaurant server resume sample and resume builder, click here.With restaurants accounting for nearly 10% of the US workforce, a massive number of job landseekers will need to write a restaurant server resume sometime during our lives. Being able to spot common mistakes in a restaurant server resume, and knowing how to fix them in your own job application, will increase your chances of getting called back for an interview whether youre applying to work as a restaurant server, or to work in any other industry. This article will critique a real restaurant ser ver resume, show you its weaknesses, and teach you how to fix them so you can write the best server resume possible. This restaurant server resume critique will cover Real flawed restaurant server resume critiqueCommon restaurant server resume weaknessesPractical solutions to improve your restaurant server resumeAfter reading this guide, you will be equipped with the tools to review and edit your own restaurant server resume, so you can impress the next hiring manager that reads it.Real Restaurant Server Resume CritiqueCheck out this real-life resume of a restaurant server that has 5 years of experience. This resume might look great at first, but there are a few important mistakes that this job seeker has made that may cause them to lose out on the call for an interview. Put yourself in the hiring managers shoes. Can you see where the resume weaknesses are?How To Fix Common Mistakes In This ResumeLets critique the mistakes in this resume down, section by section. Common Mistakes In A Resume HeaderOne of the most important sections of a resume is the resume header. Most restaurant servers write their name, location, and address, but leave out a few key pieces of information. A full and correct header contains your full name, job title, email address, phone number, city, state, and zip code. Leaving any of these out reduces your chance of getting past applicant tracking systems. Applicant tracking systems, also known as ATS, are automatic resume scanners that are built into online job application systems. When writing your job title in the header, make sure the title aligns with the title of the job you are applying to. For example, if a job posting says restaurant server, put restaurant server at the top of your resume. If a job posting says sports bar server, write sports bar server at the top of your resume. Always double-check your email address to make sure hiring managers will be able to contact you. Typically, if a hiring manager is interested, they will give you a call first and then follow up with an email. For your address, it is extremely important to put your city, state, and zip code. Many states in the US have identical city names. You dont want to leave a hiring manager wondering if you live in Orlando Kentucky, Orlando Oklahoma, Orlando West Virginia, or Orlando Florida. Yes, these are all real places Applicant tracking systems also use zip codes to flag your resume as within the correct geographic area.Lets check out our current resume header and an example of how to fix it.BeforeAfterCommon Mistakes In A Resume ObjectiveAbout five years ago, the objective section on a resume was replaced by a professional summary. In todays job market, resume objectives are deemed unnecessary, because it is assumed you are interested in a company and role when you submit your application. The resume objective was formerly used to explain the types of jobs you are interested in. Today, the professional summary section that is in its pl ace provides an overview of who you are professionally, what you have done in the past, and what makes you different. Your resume summary should be written in 3rd person, elend 1st person. This means you should never use the words my, I, us or we. For restaurant servers, a professional summary should include An adjective to describe your personality or work styleYour job titleYour years of experienceThe cuisines you are familiar withThe category of restaurants that you have worked in (fast food, fast-casual, casual, or fine dining)Selling points about what makes you an amazing serverLets check out our old resume objective and then see how it can be written as a professional summary section. BeforeAfterCommon Resume Mistakes In Summary of SkillsThe summary of skills section summarizes your unique abilities that are explained throughout your resume. Skills are either considered to be hard skills or soft skills by employers.Another important function of your summary of skills section i s to help you get past those applicant tracking systems. When applicant tracking systems scan through your resume, they are looking for specific keywords. Although the keywords are different for every job posting, they are generally the top skills that a hiring manager is looking for. To make sure your resume gets flagged as qualified, you need to make sure your summary of skills section is written as an easy-to-scan list of keywords, rather than in sentence form. You can learn more about how to list skills in your resume here.Lets review our current summary of skills section and see how it can be improved to get past those applicant tracking systems. BeforeAfterEmployment History Restaurant Server Resume MistakesLack of Restaurant DescriptionsFor restaurant server resumes, each position in your employment history section should with a description of the type of restaurant you worked in. The size, cuisine, and style of restaurants vary greatly and hiring managers will give preferen ce to servers who are already comfortable with their type of service. When describing the restaurants you have worked in, includeThe size of the restaurant ( of seats)The style of service (fast food, fast-casual, casual, or fine dining)The type of cuisine servedThe type of alcohol provided (beer wine or full bar)Our current resume has no restaurant descriptions. To fix this, lets go through and add restaurant descriptions in.Passive VoiceFor each bullet point in your position description, use an active voice to help hiring managers envision you performing the job. For example, instead of writing work with co-workers and supervisors, you would write working with co-workers and supervisors. Writing with an active voice makes your bullet points sound like actions, rather than like a job description. As you can see in our current resume, the writer uses a combination of active and passive voice. To correct this, we need to go through and make sure all verbs end in -ing. Inconsistent W ritingWhen writing a restaurant server resume, consistency is key. Make sure to write each bullet point in the same format, starting with an action verb for each. See alsoComparing Chronological Versus Functional ResumesAs you can see in our current resume, the writer varies between active and passive voice and between past tense and present tense. To correct this, we need to go through and make sure the writing is consistent. Inconsistent FormattingConsistency is just as important for formatting as it is for writing. In our current resume, we can see that some bullet points start with a capital letter, while others dont. We can also see that some bullet points end in a period, while others dont have one. To fix this, lets go through and make sure each bullet point starts with a capital letter and that we remove the periods at the end of our sentences. Lack of EvidenceOne of the most common mistakes in a restaurant server resume is the lack of evidence, which should usually be in th e form of numbers or metrics. Hiring managers need to know how many guests you serve per shift to know if you can handle the volume in their restaurant. As you can see in our current resume, we dont have any metrics in our position descriptions. To fix this, lets go through and add metrics and numbers for the number of customers, number of co-workers, and number of employees we have trained. First-Person WritingJust like for our professional summary, the rest of our resume should also be written in third-person. This means we never use the words I, we, my, or us. Our current resume starts with I for a few bullet points. To fix this, lets go through and make sure everything is written in 3rd person. BeforeAfterEducation Mistakes In Server ResumesFor restaurant server resumes, it is important to include your major in your education section. If you graduated within the past 2 years, it is also important to add your GPA (if you did well in school). A general rule of thumb is to include your G.P.A. if it is a 3.0 or higher. Anything below a 3.0, you can leave off. As you can see in our current resume, we dont include our major or our G.P.A. Lets go through and add those in. BeforeAfterServer Resume Formatting ProblemsWhen crafting your restaurant server resume, take advantage of the completed restaurant server resume sample and create a free resume using the blue skies or van deco resume templates.The strong header and professional summary sections allow your resume to be easily scanned by applicant tracking systems. The beautiful thing about using these templates is that you only need to worry about the content. The formatting is already done for you.Improved Restaurant Server Resume (Complete)Lets take a peek at our new and improved restaurant server resume built using the blue skies template. Here is the improved restaurant server example, after all our changesStart writing your new resume with the free restaurant server resume sample and template here

Sample Resume for Business Owner Job Position

Sample Resume for Business Owner Job PositionSample Resume for Business Owner Job PositionBusiness owners know that their entrepreneurial nature can lead to openings in many different industries. Show off your achievements on a resume in order to secure these opportunities when they present themselves.A business owners resume should detail how they set up their own business, as well as the day-to-day responsibilities they had there. Its also important to summarize the skills youve gained through it, such as analytics, marketing, sales, finance, and leadership. While you may have set up a business by yourself, employers will want you to be a team player, so make sure to note this on your resume as one of your talents.Use this business owner resume template to figure out how you can sell your expertise to a future employer. Create this Resume Darrell Bridges951 Delaware AvenueSan Francisco, CA 94112(888)-464-7082d.bridgestmail.comObjectiveHighly motivated Business Owner looking for an opportunity to join an organization of professionals where skills and expertise can maximize potentials for business development. Summary of QualificationsTeam player and great contributorAbility to manage multiple priorities at one timeExpertise in finance and business managementIn-depth market analytical skillsGeneral knowledge of MS Office applications such as Word, Powerpoint used for reporting and presentationsProfessional ExperienceBusiness Owner, January 2007- PresentRNS Global Co., Chicago, IL ResponsibilitiesOversaw the daily operations of the business. Performed office and management duties. Performed hiring, firing, and managing of employees. Managed marketing, bookkeeping, payroll, and advertising functions.Studied the industry market and kept abreast of new trends. Business Manager, May 2004- December 2006Gen Mills Corp., Cincinnati, OH ResponsibilitiesCreated and implemented processes or programs to ensure success.Facilitated senior leadership meetings by planning age ndas, previewing and critiquing presentations and reports.Assisted heads in developing key messages and scripts for discussions.Managed the operating expenses by taking accountability for forecasting, accruals and results.Reviewed and approved expenses. EducationMasters Degree in Business Management, 2004Yale UniversityBachelors Degree in Business Management, 2002Yale UniversityCustomize ResumeMore Sample ResumesBuilding Superintendent Resume Business Owner Resume Buyer Planner Resume CAE Engineer Resume

The Good, the Bad and Dental Hygiene Resume

The Good, the Bad and Dental Hygiene Resume There are all sorts of explanations for why youd be worried about doing it. People today have a tendency to think theres a single way to lay out the information on their resumes. The individual doing the hiring is searching for content over format. The ideal test is that you may talk about anything on your resume easily. Dental assistants support the part of dentists at dental offices around the nation, ensuring they work efficiently and offer the very best patient care possible. Poor oral health was linked to a plethora of health woes, like heart disease and diabetes, yet too many New Mexicans fail to get erfahrungen preventive dental hygiene. Since you may see, the candidate quantified how lots of new employees he trained and what number of patients he treated daily. Students are strongly advised to acquire the hepatitis vaccine. The Fight Against Dental Hygiene Resume Under your projects Knowledge heading you must learn to your present position or the newest job if youre not currently utilized. The endeavor of a dental assistant is a combination of clinical and administrative duties. If youre trying to turn into a dental assistant, youre want to look to your resume first. If you need an excellent job which you would need to highlight all the skills which you know or have acquired working as a dental assistant. To begin the written part of your dental hygiene program, you will need a compelling expert profile on top. There are a fantastic number of resume builders easily available, that range between free resume contractors to high superior ones. Make sure you have written correct and up-to-date contact details. Taking your toddler to the dentist from an early age will have them accustomed to the procedure and become mora familiarized with the equipment involved. Dental operations need many actions and equipments. Overly busy environment Work in the warehouse is fast in plus-rechnen to the d irector is responsible for multitasking to track the fantastic quantity of orders which might need to be accomplished. Marc is an extremely experienced, skilled, and talented hospitality professional that has been in the business for over 20 decades. You also recognize the value of a team dynamic at work. One particular good means to use job application builders is to create the nearly all of the many options away generally there. As a guideline, every job needs to be supported by three or more bullet points. It truly is difficult more than enough to find work. Resume writing might be a very simple work if you realize how Details of Dental Hygiene Resume Education and Training You might also add certifications received along with educational info and trainings attended. Subsequent, the absolutely free Dental Hygiene Resume Cover Letter Examples will request that you provide a concise breakdown of your skills and techniques. Students will have to pass a National Exam in ad dition to a regional clinical examination. Create a succinct advertising statement for every one of your abilities and accomplishments to make it even more influential and interesting. If you wish to add to your skills, were here to assist. Therefore, youve got to consider the best method to present your abilities. Communication skills are required for each job. Finding the Best Dental Hygiene Resume To the contrary, it might even impact your odds of finding the interview. Presently there is actuallynt any need to retain submitting a tired resume to every position whenever youre aware that its probably not going to do the job. Its possible to determine how to compose a work application by thinking about questions as though you were an interviewer. Finding out how to compose a work application may be an important success for everybody whod love to climb that ladder of career accomplishment. Dental assistant is also called dental hygienist in some specific scenarios. So long as youre certified, licensed and have taken the proper courses, youve got little to be worried about even in the event you experience an entry level Dental Hygienist resume. Dental Hygienists are found in dentistry offices and offer basic dental hygiene services. They are very important people in oral care.

A Review of Resume Youtube

A Review of Resume Youtube The Ultimate Resume Youtube Trick Objective is now the most essential component to an effective resume. Application goal is the original section in the work application. In many cases, a work application objective is merely a couple sentences very long. Which usually means you ought to define an original objective for each work application. The Good, the Bad and Resume Youtube Furthermora, you can find out more about transportation careers on Monster. With Spark Hire, you will have the tools to become more than simply a resume. Transportation jobs involve plenty of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can deal with that. Distinct kinds of work in the food service industry require resumes with lots of the very same skills. Lies Youve Been Told About Resume Youtube You will love our work. You have to be signed in, the video youre playing should be at least 20 minutes, and you have to have watched a minumum of one minute of it. Be sure your resume conveys what you have to give, not what you would like. Resume Youtube Secrets Who knew essay writing might be so tough. So for those who have an essay assigned that you require help with, you can purchase essay online cheap from us. The sort of essay youre looking for will be offered to you within the deadline offered to you. You wish the terrific educational CV. The lists arent exhaustive, as the key phrases you should increase your resume depend on your experience and abilities. Judging from its sort, resumes are broken up into several kinds. They should be targeted effectively at the specific type of marketing job applied for. Life, Death and Resume Youtube In the modern business world theres often many qualified applicants applying for the identical job. Your objective statement must clarify goals that you would like to achieve employed in the industry enterprise. There are particular issues related to writing an impressive intent statement. If youre attempting to obtain work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. What You Should Do About Resume Youtube Starting in the Next 6 Minutes Its possible to easily buy unique college essays and dont neglect to tell friends and family about it. So should you need to employ college essay writer online, were just the people that you want to contact. After you receive a task done from us you will return again if you need assistance with another one of your essays. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. The New Angle On Resume Youtube Just Released Specially if youd like to acquire an occupation. Resume objectives can be a bit controversial. Keep a look out for contests locally of expertise and enter when the appropriate opportunity comes along. Characteristics of Resume Youtube Marketer as a work title doesnt emphasize you exactly what you can do as a marketer. Google Chrome There are plenty of extensions out there for Goog le Chrome that supply you with options to resume videos that you have begun to watch before on the video hosting site. The Chronicles of Resume Youtube The very first thing which you have to do is identify the careers you desire to complete an application for. A job may be an adventure construction stepping rock in the proceedings you already know very well what sort of occupation you might love to obtain the forseeable future. If youre choosing a video resume, then go the entire hog and allow it to be spectacular.

System Security Technician Job Description

ordnungsprinzip Security Technician Job DescriptionSystem Security Technician Job DescriptionSystem Security Technician Job DescriptionThis system security technician sample job description can assist in your creating a job application that will attract job candidates who are qualified for the job. Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements.System Security Technician Job ResponsibilitiesProtects computer assets by establishing and documenting access maintaining files.System Security Technician Job DutiesEstablishes system access by issuing IDs coaching client on password construction and usage.Documents access by logging, sorting, counting, and filing requests, recording terminations and transfers.Monitors access by looking-up ID status verifying owner identity.Maintains security files by receiving, processing, and filing computer security forms documents, and agreements.Provides information by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data and trends.Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities.Accomplishes information systems and organization mission by completing related results as needed.System Security Technician Skills and QualificationsInformation Security Policies, Network Security, Firewall Administration, Statistical Analysis, Reporting Research Results, Attention to Detail, Organization, System Administration, On-Call, Network Protocols, Routers, Hubs, and SwitchesEmployers Post a job in minutes to reach candidates everywhere. Job Seekers Search System Security Technician Jobs and apply on now. Read more about how to interviewThe 10 Best bewerbungsgesprch Questions to AskHow to Interview Like a ProfessionalHow to Interview for In Demand Jobs

14 Surprising Ways Your Boss Can Change Your Career Forever

14 Surprising Ways Your Boss Can Change Your Career Forever14 Surprising Ways Your Boss Can Change Your Career ForeverNot all bosses are great, but many end up having a huge impact on our lives. From helping us become better employees to pushing us toward something better, early managers can seriously influence our future career paths.To find out how bosses- good and bad- have made a difference in their former employees lives, we asked 14 young entrepreneurs from YEC to share the best thing a former boss had ever done for them. Hint Some of their answers might surprise you1. Fired MeAt my last company, my boss could see that I welches way overqualified and underpaid for the job. But he also knew that if he didnt fire me, Id never leave. When I got fired, he explained this to me. I then started my own thing, and six years later I still do consulting work for him, and hes become one of my best friends. Getting fired can be the best gift any employer could give you.- John Rampton, Adogy 2. Gave Me ExposureWhen I worked in a very well-known Fortune 500 company, my boss gave me broad leeway to take some innovative risks. And when the risks panned out, she gave me the opportunity to present to the CEO (one of the most well-known CEOs in America). She could have easily taken the opportunity herself, but wanted me to have the exposure and the chance to present to him and his entire leadership team.- Susan LaMotte, Exaqueo3. Told Me Not to Get Into the BusinessI was in college and my first and only internship was at Morgan Stanley. My coach actually suggested that even if I was offered a job there after the internship, I shouldnt take it, because I was much better at doing my own thing than working for a hedge fund doing analysis. He said, Derek, you and me can give a client the same advice, but because you dont have white hair, they will listen to me and not you, so dont waste your time here.- Derek Capo, Next Step China4. Believed in MeMy former boss continuously commu nicated that he valued my talent and believed in me. When I started my own company, he was there as a sounding board and was quick to offer valuable advice when I needed it.- Ashley Mady, Brandberry5. Told Me He Didnt Pay Me to Have IdeasOn one of my last days as an employee, the owner of the company said to me, I dont pay you to have ideas. I pay you to implement the ideas I give you. In that instant, I realized that I didnt want to spend another day working for someone with such a ludicrous, screwed-up perspective on leadership. That was all the encouragement I needed to start my own company- a company where ideas from all employees are encouraged and appreciated.Brittany Hodak, ZinePak6. Forced Me to Make 500 Cold Calls a DayMy boss at a private wealth management internship required me to make 500 cold calls every day to drum up leads for his practice. While I hated it at the time, I became super comfortable getting on the phone and cold calling strangers. I no longer make cold c alls, but that experience has made me much better on the phone, which is a vital skill in any business.- Josh Weiss, Bluegala7. Held Me AccountableOne boss that stands out in my mind encouraged my independence but held me accountable for all of my accounts. He assured me hed always have my back, but asked that I never give him a reason not to. It made me want to make him proud and work harder. It taught me the importance of being self-motivated and a leader in my own right.- Amanda L. Barbara, Pubslush8. Took Long Coffee Breaks With MeEarly on, I had a manager who would take me to our clients cafeteria almost every afternoon- where wed talk, only sometimes about work. ur discussions flowed on, often lasting over an hour. Was he bored? Lazy? Couldnt be further from the truth. He got to know me in a way that no other manager ever would. When it came time for feedback, Ive never listened closer.- Aman Advani, Ministry of Supply9. Made Me a Real Part of the TeamNo matter what the task o r where the next meeting or project as a young employee was, he would always include me and make me feel as if I were a major part of the process and company. This little thing truly had an impact on me and showed me the importance of making everyone on your team or in your company a major priority at all times.- Jason Grill, JGrill Media Sock 10110. Taught Me Mental ToughnessA former boss of mine was a PhD psychotherapist and taught me what mental toughness was- how to harness the power of my mind and focus to achieve whatever I wanted out of life. He taught me how to visualize and focus, and how to plan and stick to the plan no matter how difficult it got. We would have lots of long conversations, and he showed me how setting small goals and daily achievements helps to move you toward your bigger goal.- Brandon Dempsey, GoBRANDgo11. Supported Me When it Was Time to LeaveThe greatest thing a previous boss has ever done for me was support me when I knew it was time to leave. Ive ta ken that same conversation and applied it towards multiple employees at my company. Anyone battling with a life-changing decision around employment deserves strong support, especially after theyve been so supportive in helping me build my business.- Jeff McGregor, Dash12. Transferred Me and Beat Me Senseless with WorkI initially worked as an intern during high school at FSLR, around the time of its IPO. It was not what I was expecting. The VP of strategy, Ray Immelman, met me during my first official business trip and initially wrote me off. I worked to be excellent the first day it ended with a steak dinner. Afterwards, he transferred me and then overloaded me with work. He set an impossibly high bar, which pushed me to learn far beyond my years.- Alec Bowers, Abraxas Solutions13. Lied About Me to the hauptplatineAt my last job before I took the entrepreneurial leap, my boss lied to the board about why I was doing a poor job so he could fire me. While he thought he was hurting me ( and it did hurt at the time), I ultimately got the last laugh, as it was the momentum I needed to go it alone and start my first company.- Darrah Brustein, Network Under 40 / Finance Whiz Kids14. Let Me Listen to His Phone ConversationsBack when I sold carpet for a living, my boss Gary let me listen to his phone conversations with customers who had problems. That is where I learned the value of patience, problem resolution, and (most importantly) respect for people. - Vladimir Gendelman, Company Folders, IncPhoto of people courtesy of Shutterstock.

Working with Certifications in the Recruiting Process

Working with Certifications in the Recruiting ProcessWorking with Certifications in the Recruiting ProcessWhen you sit down to interview a prospective job candidate, youve got a lot to figure out.Will this person get along with otherbei team members? Is she seeking a long-term fit? And most importantly, can she do her job?Certifications exist to make it easier to answer this question, but sometimes you wonder just how valuable they are. There are the obvious legal certifications- board-certified doctors and legally licensed drivers- but what about positions in which the lines blur, such as project management and information technology? Does it make sense to use these certifications as requirements or influences in recruiting?While theres only anecdotal evidence that certified professionals perform better or are more knowledgeable, there are situations in which you should seek certifications and situations in which you can skip them.1. Seek a Certification When It Affects BillingIf youre in an industry that relies on certifications for certain billing requirements, you should obviously seek to hire certified professionals. For example, within the healthcare industry there are a number of positions and situations that are notlage legally licensed positions but that can affect the Medicare billing or reimbursement for healthcare firms. This is a clear case in which hiring a certified person would have an immediate impact on the firms bottom line.2. Seek a Certification When You Want a SpecialistCertifications are also important when the job description denotes a specialty or benefits from an experienced candidate. Hiring a specialist isnt simply a matter of academics. When you need a candidate who is at the top of his field, certifications often signal that the candidate is committed and passionate.Dedicated, devoted professionals invest time and money in their career in the form of certifications. So whether or not the certificate guarantees a certain level of productivity, at the very least it guarantees a certain kind of person- one who is committed to his occupation and motivated to excel in it.3. Skip the Certificate When You Need a Friendly FaceLets be honest. Not every hire needs to be a company cornerstone. Sometimes youre looking to hire a role in the company that requires personality traits, not professional accomplishments.If thats the case, skip the certifications. When youre looking for personal characteristics like reliable, timely or welcoming over expertise or experience, its best to go with your gut and ignore the certifications.4. Make the Most of Certifications in Every Scenariomucksmuschenstill not sure about your scenario? Heres how you can make the most of certifications in the hiring process without embracing or dismissing them entirelyAsk about certifications in the interview. If the candidate has a certification (whether it is relevant to the job description or not), ask why he pursued it. If he doesnt have one, as k which certificate he would get if he were to get one.Make a list of certifications for your industry. If youre new to an industry or havent investigated its certification options before, use the resources you have to research certifications available to the role youre looking to fill. Ask current employees which certifications are worthwhile and which are resume fluff. The people who do the work every day will know when experience or common sense trump a certificate. Identify three to four certificates in each field that are noteworthy or worthwhile so that you can take note when they appear on a resume.Make a stinker list, too. While performing your certification research, use caution when considering information from trade organizations, as some may push the prestige of a certification that actually holds little value for employers. Seek out research and endorsements from unbiased publishers and authors, and note the certifications that sound good but dont represent real achieve ment.Its easy to feel overwhelmed or turned off by the sheer numbers of certifications that cross your desk. But instead of feeling pressured to make a decision about certifications, use them as another tool in the hiring process for you to find out more about a candidate and determine whether or not they are a good fit for a position. The presence or lack of a certification can be equally useful to the recruiter who knows how to read the resume.Read Related ArticlesBalancing Act Ethical Interviewing That WorksEvaluating Transferable Skills in the Job Seekers MarketHow to Avoid the Pitfalls of a Cumbersome Hiring Process