How to Use LinkedIn When to Accept or Decline an Invitation - VocationVillage

How to Use LinkedIn When to Accept or Decline an Invitation - VocationVillage Like many people, right now I have a huge number of pending LinkedIn invitations. LinkedIn advises us to accept connection requests only if we know a person well, but since so many people have thousands of connections, clearly, a lot of LinkedIn users are ignoring LinkedIns instructions and are using other criteria to decide whether to accept. I asked a variety of LinkedIn power users how they decide when to accept or decline a LinkedIn invitation to connect.Based on their responses, I created this checklist to decide when to accept or decline an invitation to connect:Reasons to accept a LinkedIn invitation If you are in an industry such as recruiting or sales where it benefits you to grow your network as large as possible, err on the side of accepting. The same is true if you create content and your goal is for it to be viewed and shared as widely as possible. LinkedIns search algorithm favors people with large networks, so if you want to be found (because you are in a job search or seeking new clients or any other reason), it can be beneficial to you to be generous rather than stingy with accepting connection requests. Accept invitations from colleagues at your place of work and in the same industry as you. Some people worry about accepting requests from competitors, but most career experts say that you gain more than you lose by networking within your industry. Accept connections from people if you have met them face-to-face, or if you have interacted with them sufficiently that their contact information is in your address book. Accept invitations from people with whom you have a lot of shared connections. Accept invitations from people who introduce themselves with a personalized and persuasive rationale about why they want to connect. Decline invitations from people who dont include a personalized request. If you accept invitations from people you dont know well, decide in advance how you will handle their requests to introduce you to someone else you know . If you cant honestly vouch for the quality of their work, be prepared to say, I know this person only via LinkedInReasons to decline a LinkedIn invitation If you only do business in the U.S., you may choose to decline connection requests from people located in other countries. If you see a lot of misspellings or weird formatting on a profile, you may not want to be associated with this person. Decline invitations from people who look like they spent only a few moments creating their profile so that it lacks much information or detail. Similarly, if the profile focuses exclusively on describing an industry rather than the accomplishments of the person in the profile, that is often the sign of a scammer profile. Decline invitations from people who dont respond when you send them a private message. Or, alternatively, accept invitations from people who look interesting but if you send them a private message and they dont respond in a week or two, remove the connection. The private mes sage might say something like, Hello, nice to meet you. What motivated you to connect with me here? Disconnect from anyone whose profile seems fake, sketchy, or contains material that offends you. Many people automatically decline any request that comes from a profile lacking a photo or containing a stock photo. Disconnect from people who send you unwanted spam.Did you find this article to be helpful? If so, please share it!Thank you to the LinkedIn experts who contributed to this checklist: Andrea Berkman Donlon, Founder, The Constant Professional Becky Robinson, Founder CEO, Weaving Influence Bill Corbett, Jr., President, Corbett Public Relations Bill Fish, Founder and President, ReputationManagement.com Bruce Hurwitz, Executive Recruiter, CEO, Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, Ltd. Carol J. Kaemmerer, Executive LinkedIn Coach, Kaemmerer Group, LLC Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst Coach Dorie Clark, Author, Professor, Consultant Dylan Kissane, Content Manager, DOZ Jason Parks, Owner, The Media Captain Kelly Donovan, Principal, Kelly Donovan Associates Kelly Keating, Co-Owner, Red Letter Resumes LLC Monique R. Mansour, Professor, Writer Will Blesch, CEO, Breakthrough Business Branding

5 Creative Ways to Be Noticed by Your Boss and Land the Promotion You Want - CareerMetis.com

5 Creative Ways to Be Noticed by Your Boss and Land the Promotion You Want Being creative and finding opportunities to shine on the job is an important skill you need to have if you want to move up the career ladder.It’s easy to just show up and do the work and forget that there are other ways to signal to your boss that you are ready to take on a bigger role in the company. Often times just being “good” at your job is not enough. Those who stand out are employees that advance quicker than their peers.evalIf you don’t want to seem like a tool to your workmates you will need to show your value and abilities without appearing to be out to make others look bad, you need to work smarter not necessarily harder.1) Take More Risks in Your WorkevalIt might seem like the safe thing to do, not to take risks to try new things at work, but toeing the line might be what’s keeping you from being noticed. If you are willing to risk failure, you might also risk being noticed.Elon Musk said, “There’s a tremendous bias against taking risks. Everyone is trying t o optimize their ass-covering.”Stop trying to cover yourself and start looking for opportunities to move the company forward. Your reward for standing out and trying to innovate will outweigh the risk of failing.2) Organize Informal Think TanksYou can continue to inspire this innovative thinking by organizing informal lunches or coffee times where you bring together people who want to work on a problem outside of the scope of the day-to-day work.Maybe you see an internal problem to solve or have a solution for some area of the work that if you had time you might just find a solution.Tell a few of your coworkers that you want to hold a “power lunch”.evalHave them come gather with you over lunch in a room conducive to focused conversation and pose some problem you have been curious about solving. Or invite a guest speaker in person or via video to discuss what’s new in the industry and have a discussion about what you learned.This type of conversation will help you to be seen as a leader and build value in your company as well.3) Create Mentorships with New EmployeesWhen you see younger or newer team members join a company, don’t wait for an official opportunity to support them. Take the initiative to show them how things work.Don’t try to indoctrinate them with office politics, just be a resource for them to help them to adjust to your company’s culture. Helping newer members in a company to do their best is a great way to get noticed because you are adding value to someone your boss perhaps spent time recruiting.evalHaving an honest interest in their success will make your boss and the new employee shine.When they succeed they help the company do better and thus create more opportunities for everyone.4) Avoid Watercooler BanterIt’s easy to fall prey to the chatter of disgruntled co-workers that are looking for allies when they talk about what’s going wrong in their opinion. You might have similar feelings, but sitting around talking about it is a good way to be seen as the person to avoid in the office.It might be difficult to not be around these scenarios but when you notice them, try changing the subject or find somewhere else to be.Not creating a negative environment will help you see the opportunities at work rather than the problems. Just by helping a new coworker, it will help you appreciate them rather than resent their talents, or advancement if it happens quickly. They will see you as a positive force in the company and not the person that brings the room down.eval5) Practice Saying NoNot only do you want to practice saying no to the water cooler conversations and negativity, but you might have to also practice saying no to taking on too much. When you start to be more visible on the job because you seem to be coming up in conversations with your supervisor or boss more often, resist the urge to say yes to everything.Once you are standing out, you will want to avoid the habit of always agreeing to take on more work. Be reasonable with your capacity and let them know your limitations.If you feel you need to focus on your work so that you can deliver with a high degree of success and have room to fail without losing productivity, it won’t help to be stressed out and “overworked”. evalI know it might be counter-intuitive to say no, but if you are a person that likes to please people you can easily get in over your head and not be able to contribute in the other areas that bring value while doing your job well.Don’t avoid taking on extra tasks or work, but be clear about your boundaries so that you can continue to be a true asset and not burn out before you get a chance to ascend to a role you are ready to take on.Getting noticed is about delivering consistent value. Hard work and consistency are important but so is contributing to the overall health of the company.Don’t think that you will get ahead in a company by being a person that puts down others or stomps on their success. In stead, be the person recognized by lifting up others. You will ultimately advance to higher positions because you are a real leader and the natural choice.Conversely, if you happen to be in the wrong company, you’ll be more likely to figure it out sooner so you can move on and avoid disappointment down the road.eval

Keeping Remote Sales Reps Connected

Keeping Remote Sales Reps Connected The advent of new technology and changing philosophies on work life balance has created an increasingly mobile work force. Last year, the Global Leadership Summit predicted that more than half of all employees will work remotely by 2020. This will have a profound impact across all industries but perhaps even more so for those in sales. Salespeople thrive on energy and engaging with others, and they need to be motivated on a daily basis. Companies that are used to having a centralized sales force face a whole new set of opportunities and challenges when managing a remote team. Eliot Burdett, the CEO of Peak Sales Recruiting, a leading B2B sales recruiting company, and author of Sales Recruiting 2.0, says he has seen a dramatic increase in the number of world-class companies investing in remote sales teams. “The ability of sales leaders to effectively engage reps working across the country or around the globe will make the difference between a cohesive team that consistently makes their numbers, and one that is isolated, disjointed, and hurting the company’s profit margins,” says Burdett. “In an economy that is increasingly global, mobile, and social, it is critical for business and sales leaders to be forward-thinking to set reps up for success.” Burdett shared 5 tips to keep a remote sales rep connected and successful. 1 Communicate Often and on a Personal Level Research from the Journal of Personal Selling Sales Management explains that workplace isolation can negatively affect trust in supervisors and coworkers. Making your reps deal with rejection on an island is a recipe for disaster. This can be overcome with frequent and informal check-ins. Rely on teleconferences or even text messaging to communicate with your team. The constant communication will help lessen feelings of isolation. “It is essential to connect with reps on an individual level. By asking about their favorite sports team or their child’s graduation, you can develop stronger and deeper ties. This not only acts as a natural performance motivator, but also increases team and corporate loyalty,” says Burdett. “It is just as critical to set up peer-to-peer teleconferences. Sometimes, a ‘players-only’ meeting is just what the doctor ordered.” 2 Budget for Social Engagements Harvard Business Review reports that successful managers of remote teams organize face-to-face forums, conferences, workshops, and get-togethers. “These are planned well in advance and, in addition to building cohesion at work, this gives employees a chance to interact not only on a business level, but socially as well, which is critical to building rapport. A good option could be to choose a sales conference that everyone can attend together,” says Burdett. “Plan this into your budget and the investment will pay off in both the short and long term.” 3 Make Your Availability Crystal Clear Make it clear to your team via a shared calendar or team project management board when you are available. This sets clear guidelines for how and when you will respond to phone calls, e-mails, or texts. “Having reps who feel like they can reach out to you in any given circumstance is crucial for leading a top producing team. This is especially necessary when managing across different times zones,” says Burdett. “If you are home with your family but it is still office hours on the west coast or overseas, let your reps know how to reach you when you’re needed to help close a deal or penetrate a key account.” 4 Use Your Reps’ Autonomy to Develop Trust The lack of face-to-face communication can hinder employee engagement. A study conducted by the Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management found that employee engagement is shown to be positively correlated to salesperson job performance. To that point, Forum’s recent Global Leadership Pulse survey revealed that trust has a direct impact on the engagement levels of remote teams. “Great sales managers, if handled properly, can use the autonomy of their reps to build trust. By giving reps the chance to take on additional responsibilities in certain situations they will feel empowered, engaged, and connected â€" despite the distance,” says Burdett. 5 Don’t Just Hire Any Sales Superstar A common mistake in sales hiring is not hiring based on a certain situation. The assumption is that if someone was good in another selling environment, they will thrive in yours. That is a mistake. Find someone with the right sales DNA who has proven success working remotely. The top producer at a multinational organization who goes to an office every day may not succeed in a remote, non-social, and entrepreneurial environment. The bottom line is that the evolution of technology has created an opportunity for businesses to profit from cultivating a remote workforce. However, it is incumbent on managers to recognize that old managerial rules don’t apply. Tactics such as developing trust, tweaking your communication approach, and scheduling social events, can ensure long lasting relationships that will be profitable for your organization. Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class now and get the most comprehensive job search system available!

Taking Multiple Choice Test Resumes

Taking Multiple Choice Test ResumesMultiple choice test resumes are one of the most common kinds of career resumes that are used by employers. In recent years, it has become an important part of the application process, and it is used by both students and professionals. However, it is still used in a different way than what most people think.There are many different tests that you can use to measure your intelligence and skills. Even if you choose not to take these tests, a lot of them can still be found online for people to take and share with others. Some tests can be taken on a web site or through a number of internet websites. For example, there are multiple choice test questions on the GRE (Graduate Record Exams) website, which you can use to show your ability to think and write.If you do decide to take a multiple choice test, make sure that you use a test that you are comfortable with. It should also be able to gauge your intelligence. A large number of these tests are done wit h multiple choice formats because they are the easiest ones to take.These include such questions as 'In English, the sentence with the subject and verb are always the same'In English, verbs must be used in all tenses and persons.' You can also use general knowledge tests, such as 'What is the maximum number of teeth a cat has?' or 'What is the weight of a skyscraper?'Many of these tests can be used to show various ways of thinking and writing, and some you can use to prove that you have certain skills. A lot of these tests are a combination of these two methods. Therefore, you should really know what type of tests you are going to be taking before you start.There are many different tests that you can choose from, so make sure that you are comfortable with them before you begin. For example, if you have taken a writing test, you can try a writing test. You should also make sure that you know how to complete the questions properly so that you do not waste time on the test and get a lo w score.You should be able to answer all the questions honestly and without too much problem. This means that you will need to give a good answer to a question, because you can't lie on the test. Furthermore, it is important that you know what kind of test that you are going to be taking, because this will help you prepare for the skills that you want to show off on your resume.Make sure that you take enough practice tests to be able to show your skills and knowledge in your resume. By doing this, you will become more comfortable with the test so that you will be able to answer questions quickly and accurately. You should also be able to answer the question with confidence. This will show the hiring manager that you are the person that they are looking for to help out in their business.

Help With Writing Your Resume

Help With Writing Your ResumeWhether you need a job, or a promotion, your resume should be something that catches the eye of the employer. This is something that you are going to have to do, otherwise there will be no chance for you to get a job, no matter how good you are. If you are going to hire someone, they are going to have to see your skills first before they choose you.The first thing that you want to do is spend some time on your resume. It should be the first thing that they see when they visit your job listing. It must be neat and tidy and it should be looking great. If you want to make sure that your resume will be viewed by an employer, you will have to spend some time on it.You are going to have to spend some time on making it look as nice as possible, and there are some simple things that you are going to have to take care of. Firstly, make sure that your name is printed on the first page, and you also have to put your signature at the bottom. Try not to put too much i nformation on the first page, because this will just waste your time and it could lead to you wasting the employer's time as well.You should be able to start off with a professional resume that is designed by a professional resume writing service. When you start off with a good resume, you will have to keep a few things in mind.There are some good tips that you can follow while you are writing your professional resume. One of these tips is to write about what you can do for the company. This is not only going to show the potential employer that you are serious about the position, but it is also going to show them that you are very passionate about the job.The next tip that you will want to follow is to make sure that your resume is organized. This means that you want to keep your resume simple, but also organized. This is not going to be difficult, but you will need to make sure that you keep it clean and not clutter up the page.It is not hard to create a good resume for yourself, b ut you will need to make sure that you do it right. If you make sure that you follow these tips, you will be able to make sure that your resume is both professional and impressive. It is also important that you use the services of a resume writing service when you are trying to come up with a good resume.

Resume Writing Worksheet Secrets

Resume Writing Worksheet Secrets You can depend on the ideal essay help online. It's rather important to comprehend the sort of resumes preferred by establishment that you want to work for. All resumes must consist of certain vital data, such as contact info, experience, and education. There are a lot of basic kinds of resumes used to make an application for job openings. Both allow you to make date or useful resumes. Each work listing needs to have a similarly written description. Your orders will be done exactly as you desire. Try our absolutely free software to construct a lovely administrative coordinator resume today. It's also important to think about the type of work you genuinely are interested in being hired to do. You are also able to get a feeling of the internal language used within a specific industry or company. Do not practice writing resume only as long as you're going to apply for employment. There are a few things that don't belong on a resume for wo rk. Finding Resume Writing Worksheet The ideal thing that you should do is to already catch the eye of your possible employer in the initial five seconds so he or she is going to carry on reading the remainder of your resume. As soon as it's only a page or two in length, a resume is among the most important components of a work application. Based on what sort of job which you're applying for, there are unique resumes that are appropriate for your requirements. You can discover the ideal design template and design your continue intended for the specific job. You may also opt to incorporate the education section after you've listed your job employment history. Templates also demonstrate precisely what information you have to set in your CV, such as what facts to set up each individual portion of the CV, and what sort of language to use. In the goal section the writer states her or his goals for employment. If he chooses to include an objective on his resume, he should includ e a section title prior to the description. The Resume Writing Worksheet Game Writing how-to plans has been shown to be a thriving alternative to the standard lesson paper or teacher-based essay. Reading content backwardsawkward and time-consuming though it might beis an excellent way to catch minor mistakes which you might otherwise miss. You could also see Budget Worksheets. You can also see Grammar Worksheets The obvious aim of a resume is to help you to get the job which you are applying for.

6 Things Job Seekers Do That Hiring Managers LOVE - Work It Daily

6 Things Job Seekers Do That Hiring Managers LOVE - Work It Daily The prospect of bringing someone onto the team is one that is exciting and full of possibility. I love talking with candidates. I enjoy learning about them and their passions, their aspirations. Hiring should be something that is exciting and fun. The problem is it remains a process and processes are generally less fun and exciting. But, I can say that there are some things that candidate’s do that truly make the process more fun and exciting. Related: 3 Questions All Hiring Managers Ask Themselves About You So, what are some things hiring managers love seeing from a job seeker? Here are the six things that a candidate can do that make me want to say, “You’re Hired!” 1. Following the instructions It is refreshing when a candidate does exactly what we ask when applying for a position. At my company, we require you to join our database. We only use our own tool to identify talent for our open positions. We don’t take resumes. We don’t believe them. But, that’s our requirement. So, when people do what we’ve asked, we are happy. We look at their work samples and try to find the best hire based on what they’ve done. On the flip side, when people send me a resume… I get really frustrated. It makes me unhappy. I feel it ignores what we are trying to do and that makes me feel like the candidate doesn’t respect what we are trying to do. So, the candidate that simply follows the directions is one that brings me delight. 2. Having focused communications When a candidate tells me exactly what they are going to bring to the table to solve my business challenges, I pick up the phone and call them. And who doesn’t love it when the hiring manager calls them directly to talk about their experience. When you are writing to a hiring manager, try to keep the following in mind, “What’s in it for the hiring manager?” When you focus your communication on solving the business problems, I love you for it. I can imagine you doing the job right away, because you get it. And if this makes you wonder, what’s in it for you, the candidate. Well, when we get to the interview, it is up to me to convince you “what’s in it for you.” So, keep your communications focused on how your skills will solve our problems. 3. Being on brand with the company Our company has a sense of humor. We like funny. So, I love it when people send me contact requests or inquiries that sound like someone here wrote it. This tells me three things: First, you took the time to read our site and understand our personality. Second, you understand our brand enough that the learning curve when you start isn’t steep. See, I can already see you working here when you write in our voice. And finally, it tells me that you also see alignment. 4. Showing examples Nothing beats examples! Examples are awesome and help you stand out. If you have a portfolio, Slideshare, CredHive, links to documents, spreadsheets, reports, project plans, ideas, and presentations from Dropbox, send them. I love to see your examples what you’re passionate about and what you are good at. Send that information, it helps me see what you’ve done so that I can better imagine you working on our team. 5. Asking good questions The interview and its precursor communications should help you be able to make a good decision on each step in the process. You should be curious about our company, its trajectory, my management style and the team. You need to ask good questions to help yourself make a well-inform decision. When you ask good questions, I can tell you are curious and that you are thoughtful. These are my top two desired skills. 6. Following up smartly Nothing seals the deal like a smartly crafted follow-up message. First, there’s the follow up thank you note. I have to admit as digital as I am, I do like a nice hand-written note. But, the email type is also a really nice thing. The net, always send a thank you note. But everyone knows that. The real deal-sealer is when a little time has passed; the candidate sends me a news article or blog post that is thought provoking based on our conversation. This type of follow up almost always elicits a follow up email from me. I’d love to hear what you think. In fact, let’s flip it. In the comments, tell me the things that hiring managers do that make the experience better for you. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts Top 15 Words Hiring Managers Want To See On Your Resume How To Annoy Hiring Managers How Hiring Managers Make Decisions About the author With passion and an innate curiosity, Tracey strives to push the envelope to create great experiences for talent. Tracey has been developing digital, mobile and social solutions for nearly 20 years in the talent acquisition space. Currently CredHive’s CEO, she is dedicated to changing the way hiring is done to create a more level playing field for talent. Visit CredHive to learn more.   Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!