Saturday, May 30, 2020

How to Up your small talk game

How to Up your small talk game by Amber Rolfe Small talk: you either love it or you hate it… OK, so most of us probably veer towards the latter. But no matter how you feel about small talk, there’s no denying that it’s an essential part of both your personal and professional life. This means that being good at it could be the key to building professional connections â€" and ultimately furthering your career.To make sure you’re making the most of your conversations, here are five ways to be better at small talk:Keep your knowledge currentWhen it comes to nailing small talk, it’s all about what you know.Not only will educating yourself on current events, news, and popular culture give you some interesting conversation starters, you’ll also be able to impress the listener with your knowledge â€" especially if you’re keeping up-to-date with something you’re particularly passionate about.Just make sure it’s recent news â€" and you keep things neutral. If in doubt, steer clear of anything overl y political, just in case.And if you’re not much of a news person? That’s fine too. Talking about what’s happening in the latest Netflix shows or a film you saw at the cinema recently is also good small talk territory.Not as highbrow? Sure. But who needs to talk about Brexit THAT OFTEN?What is networking?Stop faking itIf you have to feign an interest, you’re doing small talk wrong.OK, so not everything you hear during elevator/water cooler/networking chat is going to be ground-breaking information. But the best small talkers know how to diminish the dull in any conversation, whether it’s through asking open ended questions or simply choosing a topic you both care about.Spending more time listening than you do talking is also a great way to show you genuinely care about what the person has to say. The same goes for demonstrating positive body language, through nodding, smiling, and maintaining eye contact.And, if you pay attention carefully enough, you’ll be able to elabo rate on the areas with the most substance â€" turning what was once a throwaway comment into a real conversation.Just make sure you aren’t tempted to hijack the conversation by talking about yourself. Nobody likes someone who makes everything about them.How to: Speak confidently at workDon’t be a stranger When it comes to small talk â€" strangers don’t exist.So forget everything you’ve learnt about people you don’t know being terrible, and pretend you’re talking to an old friend; ultimately allowing you to say goodbye to any instinctual trust issues.The result? You’ll be able to avoid the seemingly (but not actually) essential niceties that only give small talk a bad name. Because reeling off a standard introduction (that you’ve probably said at least 17 times), talking about where you’re from, or anything else excessively vague, is not fun. For anyone involved.And, the faster you open up, the faster you can skip those parts that no one really cares about.N.B. when it comes to the streets, strangers do most definitely exist and you should definitely avoid them â€" for your own safety. #justsaying.Be better than the weather Sure, talking about how it’s particularly cold today, or ‘we’ve had a lot of rain recently’ is a great conversational back up; but it shouldn’t be the only thing you talk about.If you’ve met the person before (even if only briefly) try to remember facts about them or their life that you can drop into conversation. For example, you might’ve found out they have a new puppy, which gives you the perfect opportunity to ask how he’s doing.Not only is this a great way to personalise the conversation, it’ll also show you’re a good listener.But if you don’t know them at all? That’s fine too.In addition to asking open ended questions, referring to current events, and elaborating on your answers to their questions with interesting facts, you can also get conversational cues from your surroundings â€" whether it ’s a function, restaurant, or party.Keep it clean Whilst avoiding generic conversation starters is a great way to make your chat more unique â€" there are certainly some areas of conversation that don’t belong in small talk.So, as a general rule, try to keep it interesting and upbeat, without delving too deep into sensitive (and serious) topics like politics, religion, or anything else that’s likely to elicit strong opinions.And if something you strongly disagree with is brought up? Avoid the urge to argue, and calmly change the subject.You may also find that personal matters (e.g. your most recent Tinder date) are best avoided.If you’re unsure of what’s out of bounds, just read the room, and change the subject if you sense any awkward silences or dismissive body language.Lastly, keep it positive â€" particularly if you’re in a work-based setting. Although you might be itching to vent about a particularly difficult customer, colleague, or piece of work, you never know wh o might be within earshot.Hint: it could be your manager.How to: Manage conflict in the workplaceHow to: Have a positive attitude at work    Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs now.  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage 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. Features Life At Work

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

3 Tips to Avoid Being a Job Title Commodity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Tips to Avoid Being a Job Title Commodity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Picture this. You are at a networking event. Business cards in hand. Ready to make new contacts. How do you introduce yourself? What is your conversation starter? Like most people its probably this: My name is Im a (fill in the blank with your job title!) We often fall into the trap of identifying ourselves by our job title. In many cultures, your business card is your identity and your title generally dictates how people will address you.  Business cards are considered an extension of the individual not just a tool to help you find somebody after you have met them. Even the formalities of exchanging a business in some cultures  expresses the importance one places on a first encounter. However, while our job title is a valid representation of what we do, it actually groups us into the same category as everyone else doing the same type of job.   Your title actually ‘commodifies’ you and people don’t get excited about commodities! How can you avoid being a job title commodity and get people excited about you? Follow these 3 tips. 1.  Sell an ‘experience’ not a title   Remove your job title in your LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, About.me profiles. Sell an experience that will give people a reason to follow, connect, friend, or add you to their circles. Instead of saying you are a “psychiatrist” tell others you are “The Shrink for Entrepreneurs who want freedom, wealth, and sanity” (@PeterShallard). 2.  Make it unique Find something that you are passionate about and connect it to your job. For example, I combine personal branding strategy with cycling imagery. I always thought of cycling as separate from my work, but everyone identifies me by my energy and passion for cycling. Therefore, I decided to demonstrate this uniqueness by using a cycling image on my business card as well as the tag line: “Personal branding with a spin.” This unique card attracts people to what I do. They are intrigued by how I connect cycling with branding and want to know more. 3. Differentiate from others A great exercise you can use to uncover your differentiator is called  Same/Different. On a piece of paper, write down all the things in the “same” column that are similar between you and others doing the same type of work. In the “different” column right down what differentiates you. Finally, look at everything in the “different” column and mark all the items that are emotional attributes. These are the characteristics that provide the need and desire for people to connect with you rather than with others who have the same job or similar skill set.  Author: Peter  Sterlacci  is known as “Japan’s personal branding pioneer” and is one of only 15 Master level Certified Personal Branding Strategists in the world. He is introducing a leading global personal branding methodology to companies and careerists in Japan and adapting it for the Japanese culture. In a culture where fitting-in is the norm, his mission is to pioneer a ‘cultural shift’ by helping Japanese to stand out in a global environment. His background spans over 21 years in intercultural consulting, international outreach, and global communication coaching.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Big 40 or 50 Looming Take Heart From These Ageless Champions!

Big 40 or 50 Looming Take Heart From These Ageless Champions! Do you have a milestone birthday in the next year or two? Maybe you’re turning 40, or 50. Are you already feeling a tiny sense of panic as you look back at what you’ve done over the past decade and judging your accomplishments â€" or seeming lack thereof?   Then, you look forward and wonder how you’re going to make your mark from 41-50, or 51 â€" 60? Do you see it as the end of something (your youth!?) or the beginning of something (your ability to apply your hard-won wisdom and knowledge)? You’re not alone in these mental gymnastics. According to his new book,  WHEN, best-selling author Daniel Pink examines the science of perfect timing. He suggests that endings are more important than beginnings. When do people become marathon runners? Highest percentage is age 29. Next is age 39. Then age 49.  A “9-ender” birthday is strategic. Mice in a maze accelerate to a faster pace when they get closer to food at the end. In taste tests of new varieties of Hershey Kisses, the last one tried scored the highest ratings. Obviously, there is something to this “ending” mentality. So, as that big whatever-0 bears down on you, take heart in knowing you can take advantage of the momentum the milestone brings. After all, that’s what separates the women from the girls. Take for example, the friends who, in their 60s, decided to start an online publication â€" with no experience in the publishing industry. They just happened to be talking about their ages and how magazines didn’t acknowledge that women over 50 (heck, sometimes even over 45) don’t exist anymore. They simply have become invisible. At a time when they had more expendable income than ever, more free time, and the desire for the finer things their hard-earned money could buy, no one wanted to sell them anything but adult diapers and denture cream. With righteous indignation leading the way, they formed Women in Their Prime LLC and launched PrimeWomen.com. I for one know all about this “What am I going to do next?” mentality. After 15 years at an international architecture and interior design firm, I looked at my approaching 50th birthday and wondered if I wanted to continue my role as marketing director for the next 15+ years. The answer was a resounding no. So, with 3 months left in my 49th year, I joined my friend, PrimeWomen.com founder Dorthy Miller Shore, as the site’s Editor-In-Chief. It met my needs of using my talents (writing) and doing something I was passionate about: Helping other women â€" from both the side of the readers and the viewpoint of the contributors who have so much to share and are anxious to use THEIR talents. This role has also given me the opportunity to meet inspirational women who refuse to rest on their laurels. Over the past two years we’ve covered any number of women who made big life changes in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, such as Donna Richardson, who began a fashion business called Donna’s Tiny House Boutique at 55. A former fitness and health host on ESPN, and correspondent for Today Show, CNN, BET and FOX, Donna is also creating and producing her own travel show for women.  At the age of 50, Donna climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She led her team in the Hood To Coast Relay 200 mile run (at age 52), and the Paris Marathon (at age 54). At age 65, Judi Wineland bought AdventureWomen Travel along with her two adult daughters just over two years ago. Her company specializes in experiential travel to unusual destinations for women of all ages, helping them to get outside their comfort zones both physically and socially. Destinations include Mt. Kilimanjaro, Morocco, Peru, Bhutan and many more. The moral is that life is not a series of aging milestones at which point you should be doing this, or doing that. You don’t need to decide you’ve waited too long to take a career risk, or learn something new. You also don’t need to wait until you are 50+ to decide that living your passion takes precedence over winning the rat race.   Yes, you can do all those things whenever they feel authentic to your heart and mind. So, when that milestone birthday panic starts to rear its head, instead of thinking of it as an ending or a door closing, think of it as a springboard that gets you closer to who you want to be. This guest post was authored by  Ann R. Franks Ann Franks has over 30 years’ experience writing for Radio TV advertising, marketing and public relations. She has worked for advertising agencies where she produced commercials for everything from Quarter Pounders to Chevy pickups, and for architecture firms where she was responsible for their marketing materials, communications and proposals for hospitals, airports and corporate headquarters. As  editor in chief of PRiME, her goal is to provide readership with information, resources and inspiration to handle whatever life throws at them.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Read the Inspiring Story of Real Career Girl, Danielle Wilson, CEO of Aero Jet Medical United Medivac Solutions

Read the Inspiring Story of Real Career Girl, Danielle Wilson, CEO of Aero Jet Medical United Medivac Solutions For many successful Career Girls, their path to success was not part of a long life plan crafted from childhood, but is instead one sparked by a moment that made a mark on them. This is the story for female CEO, Danielle Wilson, President and CEO of Aero Jet Medical and sister company United Medevac Solutions.   Her journey began with a life-changing experience, and now she has come full circle by saving and changing the lives of many people out there.   It started with a harrowing experience in high school. Danielle witnessed a serious car accident where the driver was ejected from the vehicle. She saw the driver staggering down the street asking for help, which she tried to offer but did not know how to without any knowledge of health care. After this shaking and impactful experience, Danielle then made a decision to  enroll in a nursing program, which led her to receive an emergency medicine internship at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. After months of intensive training, Danielle  was given the opportunity to ride along as an in-flight medical crew member with the EMS helicopter based at the hospital â€" Life Flight. The hard work and vigilance that the team had towards every emergency influenced her to work towards becoming a flight registered nurse. She proved her dedication to this dream and went above and beyond expectations when in 1994, she became the youngest flight registered nurse in the United States. After years of service and achieving a management role in a regional air medical program, in 2005, Danielle learned that the government had a crucial need to outsource their MEDEVAC services to cover high-risk training on post, while their helicopter assets and efforts were needed for the war in Iraq. Feeling compelled to help, Danielle took it upon herself to support our military and launched United Medevac Solutions with close associate, Larry Case. Danielle effectively assembled the nation’s first privately contracted MEDEVAC service team for the Department of Defense. Following a $2.5 million in revenue in our first year and sustained steady growth, United Medevac Solutions acquired its own aviation company and aircraft assets to add long-distance air ambulance transportation to their portfolio.  Aero Jet Medical  is an all-inclusive transportation provider handling mission-critical logistics, from initial insurance benefit evaluation and acquiring necessary pre-authorizations to managing the entire patient transfer process and organizing international customs requirements. No matter the travel destination, Aero Jet Medical’s fleet of ICU-equipped jet aircraft stand ready to bring patients safely home. Danielles amazing story is an inspiring reminder that the things you put heart into will breed success in the future.  A moment or vulnerability and tragedy changed her life  because she chose for the experience to fuel a fire in her instead of letting it defeat her. With hard work and passion she accomplished one great feat after another and continues to do so to this day. Read more about this amazing Real Career Girl below!   Do you have a personal mantra or motto you live by? My favorite all-time motto is to “never set parameters in life … they are self-limiting.”   What particular advice would you give to someone who wants to start work in your field? Do extensive research, establish a solid business plan and don’t let fear deter your actions.     Additionally, my best piece of advice to business owners in all industries is to retain a valued business attorney early. It is critical to set your corporate foundation and to safeguard your efforts. Business owners should seek counsel before legal disputes surface or when problems are expected. I always say, “If in doubt, it is always better to spend money upfront before placing your company at the mercy of the appellate system â€" Ask yourself, can I afford a $10,000 a day burn rate at trial?” What is the biggest advice you can give to women who want to find balance in their work and personal life? Stay organized and prioritize both your work and personal life to find a balance of both.   Learn to delegate and don’t try to do it all.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

NJ Resume Writing Solutions - Learning How To Get The Job

NJ Resume Writing Solutions - Learning How To Get The JobNJ is among the most lucrative states in the country for commercial real estate. Therefore, if you are looking to relocate there, it's highly likely that you will be facing an option that is being looked at favorably by the state. It's the fact that NJ provides several opportunities for New Jersey residency to its residents, and many people utilize this as a stepping stone towards better future prospects.A NJ resident can find employment in a wide range of fields, and every state offers a wide variety of options. However, each state requires their residents to have at least a high school diploma to qualify. Therefore, if you have never attended a class before, then you may want to learn how to approach NJ education resources.NJ residents who have achieved a high school diploma, but haven't gone on to get a degree, can still get the credentials they need. This is because NJ offers a number of certificate courses in many discipli nes. As a result, NJ residents can learn new skills without having to leave the state. Those who complete a certificate course often take up careers in various fields, including nursing, business, healthcare, and more.NJ education resources allow students to obtain an Associate's or Bachelor's degree. Depending on the discipline, graduates can find employment opportunities in a wide range of fields. For example, a registered nurse can work in a number of hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities in NJ.Another field that can provide employment opportunities for NJ residents is the medical field. Medical professionals who receive a Bachelor's degree in health science can become registered nurses. In addition, a doctorate degree is also available.As with most other professions, NJ residents can choose from a number of medical schools. It is possible to obtain a JD degree from a NJ university, and many healthcare organizations offer professional training programs for those who wish to pursue this path. Those who pursue further studies can pursue advanced degrees, such as PhD or masters' degree.Regardless of your interest, NJ education resources allow you to be prepared for the career options available. Students can take advantage of career counseling sessions to answer any questions that they may have. Moreover, NJ education resources are available online, allowing students to take full advantage of online classes that can fit into their busy schedules.The best way to determine what job options are available for NJ residents is to take advantage of the educational resources offered by NJ educational institutions. By taking advantage of a few NJ degree programs, you can sharpen your academic skills and get a head start on your career. With many of these programs offered online, students can learn online and apply the knowledge they gain back in-person, where it can make a huge difference in the job search process.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

How Personal Branding Guru Dan Schawbel Found His Passion 99,000+ Followers

How Personal Branding Guru Dan Schawbel Found His Passion 99,000+ Followers According to Dan Schawbel (a recent guest on Making a Living), the rise of the internet as a connector is enabling a new breed of worker, one who creates opportunity for him/herself by becoming known for authentic passions, interests and talents.  (I couldnt agree more!)If youve never thought about managing your career as a personal brand, Dan (who has over 99,000 followers on Twitter and over 5000 on Facebook) says youre missing out.On my radio show, Dan shared key concepts from his best-selling book Me 2.0 including his four-step process for job seekers and experienced professionals to discover, create, communicate and maintain a powerful personal brand.        Dan walks to talk and has lived his own advice.  I asked him to share his career story and best advice for you to create your own powerful brandQ: What makes you passionate about branding?A: The term “branding” has always been used when talking about marketing products and services, yet it has a major impact on how we manage our careers and personal lives. Branding is mysterious since we’re not always positive about how we’re portraying ourselves and how people perceive us. The internet has created a world in which our first impression is no longer a handshake, since our pictures and backgrounds are easily viewable after a single Google search. Branding is empowering and forces us to be our natural selves. We can all cultivate our own following and connections based upon our passions and expertise. I’m most passionate about branding because of the impact it’s had on my own life, giving me direction, and a sense of purpose, that I couldn’t have gotten any other way.Q: Did you always know this was the path for you?  If not, how did you find it?A: During my senior year of high school, I had my first internship cold calling companies, and after over one thousand calls without any success, I realized that I wasn’t meant to do sales. When I started college, I took it incredibly serious ly, and got straight A’s my first semester, which was a major accomplishment since I never believed I could do it before. This achievement gave me great confidence for the next four years.After deciding that marketing was my major, I realized that I needed internships if I was going to get a job after graduation in this competitive field. I created a set of materials, including a CD portfolio of my graphic design and website work, a business card, a website, resume, cover letter, and references document. I ended up with eight internships during college, including Reebok, Lycos, and LoJack. It took me over a year to get an internship at Reebok because those internships typically went to the sons and daughters of Vice Presidents. I never gave up though, and it became one of my greatest accomplishments of college, yet it wasn’t a very fulfilling work experience. I had also started a consulting business during my junior and senior year, working on websites and marketing plans for sm all businesses.At the beginning of senior year, I applied for jobs and decided that I wanted a product marketing position at EMC Corporation. It took me eight months, meeting fifteen people, and getting rejected twice, to land the job I wanted because I was too afraid to network back then. During my last set of interviews, I noticed one very interesting thing. Out of everything on my resume, the interviewers were most fascinated about my Reebok internship, even though I got almost nothing out of that experience. This was the first time that I truly realized the importance of branding.After a few months working at EMC, I started a blog called “Driven to Succeed,” which gave advice to students on how to get internships and jobs. This later turned into “Personal Branding Blog” after I read Tom Peter’s “Brand Called You” article in Fast Company, which was written in 1997. After reading Tom’s article, I realized immediately that personal branding was my passion, my career , and my future. I had never been so confident in anything in my life. The second after reading his article, I was researching to see who the voices were in this space and I couldn’t find anyone from my generation. I decided to brand myself as the “Gen-Y personal branding spokesman.” After blogging ten to twelve times a day, writing for sources such as About.com and Brandweek Magazine, starting Personal Branding TV, the Personal Brand Awards, and Personal Branding Magazine, Fast Company profiled me. The profile was published exactly ten years after Tom’s article came out, so I knew it was fate. The article led to Google asking me to speak on campus and to EMC hiring me internally as their first social media specialist. As Tom highlighted in his article, the most creative and smart employees will establish their own unique role at their organization. Once I was recruited for this new job based on my online brand, I wrote a book proposal and eventually published Me 2.0, and th at has led to my own company called Millennial Branding.Q: Is social media a fad or do you feel its here to stay?A: Social media will be an integrated part of our lives forever. Here are some important facts and figures that prove the importance and acceptance of social media:Facebook is worth 50 billion dollars and has 600 million users.The average web user spends .2 hours more on social media than email (TNS, 11/2010).By 2012, 88% of companies will be using social media tools for marketing purposes (eMarketer, 12/2010).Social media has permeated all areas of our society, including politics and pop culture. I care more about what social media means for our careers. 80% of companies are using social networks and search engines for candidate background checks. The internet has flattened hierarchies and allowed for connectivity so you can contact hiring managers directly instead of applying to jobs aimlessly.Q: For people who are just getting started thinking of themselves/their caree rs as brands, what’s the easiest first step?A: The first step is by far the most challenging Maggie. Professionals need to figure out how they fit into the world, what they’re passionate about, what their true talents are, and then commit to short-term and long-term goals. Sometimes you have to experiment until you find something you like, and other times it comes directly to you. Either way, you have to be the commander of your career if you want to be successful in this ever changing job landscape. (I have found its not as hard to figure out what you want with the right Soul Search, Research and Job Search support.)Many thanks to Dan!  For more of his advice visit Dans award-winning Personal Branding Blog. Get help with your elevator speech, a key part of any well-managed personal brand with my latest post on Whole Living.  [When it comes to your personal brand] be real.  Because everyone else is taken and replicas don’t sell for as much.” -Dan Schawbel

Friday, May 8, 2020

Returning to Work After Retirement - Jane Jackson Career

Returning to Work After Retirement - Jane Jackson Career What if we had to return to work after we retired?I had a chat with Matthew Tukaki on radio 2UE Talking Lifestyle, Second Career about the aging workforce.  What if they need to return to the workforce for financial reasons?  We discussed what retirees can do when they realise  that funds are running low because they dont have enough in superannuation to see them through their twilight years.Of course leveraging their skills to find employment in the world of work will be the obvious solution, but what about the fears of age discrimination in the workplace let alone getting over the hurdle of securing an interview and that dreaded age question? And on top of that, what if there arent a lot of work opportunities available where they live? What else can they do?Here are my suggestions on what can be done for extra income if finding a permanent full-time job is just too hard. The former federal treasurer, Peter Costello, has been warning us about for more than two decades that we†™ll have to work until we drop.While he doesn’t look it or feel it, Charles Wooley, a reporter on 60 MINUTES, is nudging 70. It’s led him to some serious introspection about his existence, and even more sombrely, contemplation of the “R” word. He still loves reporting for 60 MINUTES, and some may wonder if he should have  retired at 65? Isnt it time he kicked up his heels and enjoyed a life of leisure, golf, fishing or lawn bowls? According to a recent 60 MINUTES report, Wooley discovers, retirement is a word most Australians can no longer afford to dream about. The more likely reality, as Peter Costello â€" who is now Wooley’s boss at Channel Nine â€" said is Work until we drop.Heres the segment on 60 MINUTES. What are your thoughts? Type your comments below and lets start a discussion on what we, as older Australians, can DO about it!