Thursday, March 12, 2020

How to Give Feedback to a Defensive Coworker

How to Give Feedback to a Defensive Coworker Its elend uncommon to run into challenging moments or struggles with your colleagues. Thats what happens when human beings get together. And sometimes, no matter how much you may try to avoid it, you need to have a difficult conversation with someone. And you cant really predict how that person will respond to it. Some people are very receptive to feedback one day and less so the next. But dont worry. Theres no need to cut your losses and make a run for it. You can platzdeckchen yourself (andthat person) up for success when facing what could be interpreted as a tough feedback conversation. Lets think through the how below. 1. Remember the real goal.When you inevitably sit down to have a tricky conversation with someone, it can feel icky...for both of you. But, a crucial concept to remember is to stay in touch with why you are doing it. You are giving this feedback with the intentof making this person better, or to inform them of something they are doing that is negatively impacting their growth, their interactions with the team, etc. You are having this conversation not because you love to stress people out or giving bad news, but because you are hoping to shed light on something they may not be aware of that when addressed will allow them to evolve. Your end game is to improve the situation for them as much as the rest of the team. If youre coming from a place of truly wanting to help, it makes things easier. 2. Environment counts. You want to be as thoughtful as possible about not only how you are delivering this information, but also whereand when. If you know the person youre speaking to has a major deadline tomorrow and is stressed beyond belief, now may not be the best time to address any challenges you might be having with them. If someone on your team had an awful client meeting, in the car on the drive home together might not be the time to address it. Guess what? Chances are they know it didnt go well and n eed time to get into a better headspace to think clearly. Where you choose to have this conversation also matters. If youre in an open office, its not cool to address something that could have someones back up out in the open. Seek out a quiet space or head to the park or a local coffee shop. You want this person to feel free to be able to react as they need to in the moment and not worry about colleagues overhearing. Taking some time to think through the drehort and timing will make matters much easier. 3. Choose your words wisely. When youre speaking with someone about a behavior that theyre exhibiting that either upsets you or the team, be mindful of the words youre using. Hearing, Mary, you take too long on your piece of the project and its frustrating to everyone else is different than Mary, can you tell me a little mora about your process? Were running into challenges with limited time at the end of projects and are investigating what might be going on. If Im Mary, option two feels much better than being told Im the problem off the bat without being listened to at all. You dont really know what youll uncover by starting out the conversation in a way that makes your colleague a part of finding the solution to challenges instead of the person at the root of it all. Starting statements with you tends to put people on the defensive and unwilling to listen to what comes next. Choose your words carefully in the hopes that you can discuss like adults and get to a solution that benefits everyone involved. 4. Remember the good times. If someone only hears from you when youve got constructive feedback, youre doing something wrong. Positively reinforcing and appreciating someones outstanding behavior leaves them feeling way more willing to hear and take action on any other pieces of feedback you might have for them. Give them shout outs when theyve earned it. Make it known that you recognize their awesomeness. If its all doom and gloom any time you ask to speak to them, its no wonder they arent looking forward to conversations with you..Giving feedback is rarely cut and dry. There is no one formula or solution. People are different and what works for one person, may not work for another. However, if you take the time to be thoughtful about the why and the how, all you can do is hope that the person receives the feedback in the spirit in which its being given. The only guarantee if you remain silent is that nothing will change. Be brave enough to have a conversation that could make a difference--Kelly is a www.kellypoulson.com.

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Resume Writing for Backend Software Engineers Tips

Resume Writing for Backend Software Engineers Tips So demand is growing day by day. A good verstndigung im strafverfahren of positions arent posted on the standard websites and require a bit more investigating. At the close of the day, the recruiter wishes to see the way your background is related to the position. A fast email or phone call can make a big difference. The Chronicles of Resume Writing for Backend Software Engineers If you own a lot of work on GitHub, GitHub Pages is a simple means to turn your repositories into a web site that can act as your portfolio. Some of your prior projects may have been for internal usage, or may be safeguarded under non-disclosure agreements. Specific programs and applications are frequently used as keywords in the event of a technical resume. In the majority of cases, if you may make a case for why a kapitnspatent is related to your application, then dont hesitate to include it in your resume. The Birth of Resume Writing for Bac kend Software Engineers When clients screen for freelance developers, theres a certain set of criteria theyll be searching for. Utilize your CV to go over software tools youre familiar with using. If youre asking for a job for a software developer, you will probably will need to send a cover letter together with your resume submission. To secure employment for a software engineer with Bluetech to use my software installation and configuration skills to fulfill the requirements of company clients. The Most Popular Resume Writing for Backend Software Engineers You must include relevant industry keywords and the significant qualifications listed in the work description. You may take a look at the software engineer job description released by the recruiter to know the responsibilities needed for the position. Otherwise recruiters will most likely fall asleep. Essentially, youve nailed work at a unicorn firm. The One Thing to Do for Resume Writing for Backend Software Engineer s Soft abilities, on the flip side, are interpersonal skills. Networking is among the main details of the work search approach. Customize the abilities and experience in the resume you send out so its optimally pertinent to the job which youre applying for. The exact saatkorn goes for resume writing. Our 20 templates supply you with examples for most instances which you could face.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Startup Hiring Finding the Not-So-Perfect Candidate - Spark Hire

Startup Hiring Finding the Not-So-Perfect Candidate - Spark HireWhen it comes to your startup, what is more important providing the perfect product the first time around or getting a product to your consumer base as quickly as possible? Believe it or not, your answer to that question can also help you with your startup hiring strategy.Last year, at a recruiting conference, Aki Taha, founder of a hiring-strategy firm called Persona, told George Anders, a Forbes contributor, that just like the product, startups should be looking for candidates who might not look perfect on paper. He went on to explain that many companies make the mistake of creating a long list of characteristics and qualities that theyre looking for in new employees.What they should be doing, he told Forbes, is creating a set of must-have and another set of nice-to-have qualities. Creating a blanket list of traits that company is looking for forces hiring recruiters to meet as many checks on that list as possible. In doing so, they might miss key must-have requirements, opting instead to hire someone because they meet a lot of nice-to-have traits.Taha went on to suggest that the hiring team needs to build an on-target job description that includes a lot of their must-have requirements. With a specific job description, startup hiring recruiters are receiving more targeted applicants and resumes. But, he stresses, its up to startups to create their own must-haves list. They know what they need best, and with that, they need to ask for just that.Anders, in researching his book The Rare Find, found Tahas philosophy to ring true at many other companies. Rather than getting caught up in hiring candidates from top-tier college institutions with high GPAs, they were looking for candidates who had the character traits they desired. He states, Assets such as resilience, quick learning, ingenuity and an eagerness to work on the frontier counted for more than grade-point averages or years of experience.As a startup, your hiring process shouldnt be about who youre bringing onto the team but about what theyre bringing. A college dropout may be better than a Harvard grad. A risk-taker with a few failures might bring more to the table than a candidate who has only seen success after success.Your workplace may look like a band of misfits, but that may be just what your product needs. Essentially, scrap what looks good on paper, and opt for what feels right for your product when it comes to hiring for your startup.What do you think of this not-so-perfect candidate philosophy? Do your job descriptions separate nice-to-have qualities from those that are a must-have? Leave us a response below.

Sunday, December 29, 2019

How to make your writing more interesting

How to make your writing mora interestingHow to make your writing more interestingThe title itself almost made me throw up.Being a good researcher, though, I clicked through anyway, hoping to be wrong. I was disappointed.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreYepthere is the suggestion my life was crap.Yepthere is the advice about getting up earlier.Yepthere are the mild adjectives and simple sentences.Yepthere is the implication the author is wildly successful.Yepthere is the ask for an email addressYepthere is the vomit.The relentless swill of recycled wisdom in the self-help genre, while worthy of ire itself, is elend the topic of this post. After all, self-help in itself is fine. Asking for email addresses is fine. Giving advice is fine.Writing with all the poise and grace of a third-grader, though, is not fine.No matter your topic, be it the urgency of the pension crisis, the excr etion of the 7-toed tree frog, or yes, even getting up early in the morning in order to live YOUR BEST LIFE(), there are ways to write which do not compel puny, Y List Celebrities like me to throw their breakfast cereal at the wall.So here we go1 MetaphorA metaphor is when you describe a thing which cannot do or be the thing you are actually claiming it is doing or being. (Calm down, English majors. Thats essentially what it is).The sunrosevs.The sun was golden lava pouring over theground.Of course, the sun wasnt REALLY golden lava, unless your fiction story is off to a horrific start. But itseemedlike that, though, didnt it? It looked like that. As a matter of fact, your brain thought it actually was.Researchers from Emory Universitydiscovered metaphor spreads beyond the language processing center and into the other sensory areas of the brain.Youve been looking for Jedi mind tricks your whole life. Turns out all you had to do was use metaphor.Instead of bashing bad writers, lets ch eer on a good one.Dan MooresMy Mom is a Movie Starputs on a clinicMy mom is the epitome of cool. zu sich eyes could cut ice. She bounces on her toes, all muscle and kinetic potential. In her hand she holds a baton that has been lit on fire at both ends. She holds it as casually as others might grip a tennis racket. The New England night yawns out behindher.Can a night yawn? No. Can a eyeball cut ice? No. It doesnt matter. Wefeelwhat Dan is saying.Make sure you go read that whole post.Then have a good cry.Then lets get into2 PacingPacing is when you slowly lead the reader up a long and winding tunnel. You slip and strain to pull them over boulders, hop across gaps, and squeeze through the tiniest crevices. You show them the marks you followed to reach your destination before finally emerging on the very top of a snowy mountain.Then, you push them off the cliff to their death.Think about when you are in a car. When you go 80 miles an hour for more than 60 seconds, you dont even feel i t anymore. But when you accelerate from 10 to 100, or 100 to 10, you feelit. Some smart author who I forgot and cant findnow.Pacing is the bedrock of good writing. Take a look at your sentences and paragraphs. Are they the same length? Do you lull your reader to sleep with long, flowing sentences which seem to never end?Stop it.Then start again later.By the way, youll notice my pacing often includes a line break because Im super dramatic like that. Good pacing works in paragraphs too. Take a look at this example from a book Im reading right nowTy BurrsGods Like UsCary Grant, the studio ordnungsprinzips Perfect Man, privately raged against the Academy for not giving him an Oscar and experimented extensively with LSD. Read between the lines of the existing biographies and the mythic love affair of Kate Hepburn and Spencer Tracy turns into a problematic tale of alcoholism, enablement, and emotional cruelty. Im pretty sure Tom Hanks picks hisnose.Long sentence. Long sentence. Short sent ence. Easy, right? For bonus points, Ty Burr uses emotional pacing as well.Longserioussentence. Longserioussentence. Shortfunnysentence.Or take this out of context piece fromSunil RajaramansEverybodys Rich But You. What could have been a bland, self-helpy niche article about contentment as an entrepreneur turns into a fascinating read for all.You know what? Who needs an exit? You dont need more money. Money is only going to add stress to your life. Its not like these people are going to be any happier. What would you do with more money? You are so lean already. You get out of the car. You spend $10 on a cup of cat-shit coffee. Your Lyft cost$17.Capital EfficientFor comparison, here is one terrible and boring way to make the same point as above.If you are looking to make more money, perhaps you should start with more expensive daily purchases*. The New York Times did a study that said much coffee costs an average of $6 over a few days** Cut out coffee to save money and feel morerich* **.*Telling people what they SHOULD do scares them**Please stop putting studies in your posts because Mr. Benjamin P. Hardy does it***If this were any more on the nose, we wouldnt even be able to see the rest of your face****.****I know that doesnt make much sense but I think you get it now.3 PersonalityWriting like yourself is when you tell yourownstories, share your own insights, and connect yourownpieces of yourownpuzzle with your own experiences and yourownadvice. Read yourownbooks and watch your own movies and do yourownwork and tell us what you learned.(Was that subtle enough?)Check outDervla McTiernansHow I Knew It Was Time to Quit My JobBattle mode. Old habits. I kept my job at the Commission and wrote at night. My husband stayed in his job, too, though he wanted something different. We kept writing down tasks and ticking them off. Every now and again, we would take a breath and look at each other and try to remember if life had always been like this. Hadnt we been fun, once ? Hadnt we laughedmore?We had forgotten how to do anything but work, as if work were the solution to every problem.Do you see what just happened? You read someone elses story and learned something about your own life. heidewitzka Turns out you are pretty smart I guess you dont need to be hand-held through self-improvement after all.Surely there are a million and one ways to go about writing better, but these three are my favoritesmetaphor, pacing, and writing like yourself.Happy writingDont Let your Book LaunchFlopGet my Solo Book Launch Checklist, as well as the swipe files for every single email I sent to help me make $5,000 in the first week of my book launchDownload the goods here for the price of an email address.This article first appeared on Medium.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

The Decision That Transformed My Confidenceand My Career

The Decision That Transformed My Confidenceand My CareerThe Decision That Transformed My Confidence- and My CareerI will never forget what a man at a bar told me after my college graduation. Cupping a beer bottle, he gave me a hard look and said, Youre perfect- other than those teeth. Doesnt that bother you?Somehow, I eked out a response and told him I didnt need to be perfect. (a.k.a., Of course it bothers me, jerk.)For years, my smile held me back, both in and outside of the office. My teeth were crowded and misaligned, and my canines pointed out enough to look vampy. I constantly covered my mouth when I spoke and never flashed an open smile in photos. If I did without thinking, Id beg friends to take my photos down from Facebook. I had a tight-lipped smile reserved for close family, friends, and colleagues- everyone kept telling me I should really smile. And I always agonized during job interviews that hiring managers would remember not my credentials, poise, and quick responses t o curveball questions- but my teeth.Last month, I finished orthodontic treatment to fix my smile. I couldnt be more in love with the end results, but even a month or two into treatment, Id already noticed an extra boost of confidence from my teeth moving into the right alignment. In fact, in the time I had braces, I powered more business relationships and found more career momentum than ever before, even moving into a management role at work. And immediately after feinschliff treatment, I landed my dream job (with a smile).Heres the story of how I decided to get braces at 29 years old- and why its the best decision Ive ever made for my career.The DecisionFor years, people always pushed me to get braces (although most of them more diplomatically than the man in the bar), and for years, I put treatment off. I welchesnt a candidate for the clear, nearly unnoticeable aligner treatment systems like Invisalign. The idea of metal braces was terrifying- reruns of Ugly Betty flashed through my head- and I didnt think I could afford the treatment costs.So, I never seriously considered them- until I had considerable wear to my tooth enamel and an occasional chipped tooth because of my overbite. Before getting braces, I talked to my orthodontist, Dr. Charles Wait. I was undecided, and he made me take a real look at how putting off treatment would continue to affect my oral health. Because I had a deep overbite, my teeth would run together, causing irreversible enamel damage. He told me that, by my 50s, my lower teeth would be down to nubs. As I learned, most of us dont realize that crooked teeth or uneven spacing between teeth can actually cause gingivitis, TMJ, or eventual tooth loss.In my case, I decided I owed it not only to my current self, but to my future. I wanted to network like a boss, present and lead meetings with complete confidence, and of course continue moving up the ladder into more challenging roles. Looking ahead, I wanted to see 50-year-old me as a high -powered executive, not someone struggling to make it through the corporate world with baggage about her smile and tooth loss. I knew it was time to make my move.Getting StartedSo, what about my concerns? First off, I didnt have to suffer through metal, train-track teeth. Most orthodontists, like mine, now offer cosmetic braces to adult patients. The cosmetic braces I wore actually used a special color-matching technology to blend to the color of my teeth. A matching tooth-colored arch wire and rubber bands made my braces basically invisible. Most people didnt notice I had braces immediately, and if they did, they were excited for me or commented with approval or envy, I need those, tooAdditionally, the cost wasnt excessive- in fact, it was easily covered by cutting back on non-necessities and shopping trips. While I opted to pay in full upfront, my doctor offered different billing options, like making small monthly payments.After my consultation, a dental tune-up, and some X-rays, I had my braces. My orthodontist gave me a rough timeline of a year and a half to two years. I was extra compliant with rubber band wearing and dietary restrictions, (no popcorn, peanut butter, or tragically, red wine). I ended up wearing braces for almost two years, but it was worth every moment. (Plus, it didnt hurt that they made me look younger.)Gaining ConfidenceI knew my smile would be different once the braces were removed, but I was clueless as to how much I would change before even enjoying the final results. I never realized how much I hated my teeth, and when they started aligning after just a month, my confidence doubled.I started becoming the person and the professional Id always wanted to be, navigating social and professional situations with more grit and assurance than ever. I no longer dreaded meetings with my boss or exchanges with colleagues at conferences. When I met with upper management or interfaced with the CEO directly, I didnt have to hold back anymore. Wor king with outside agencies, publications, and vendors, I quickly built relationships without insecurities about my teeth unternehmensverbund me back.As I became more visible at the company, my smile did, too. I smiled at everyone, bringing more energy into meetings and encounters with the executive team. I was known for my constant smile and positive attitude, which made me approachable, and I was able to build some of the most real and meaningful relationships of my career at that company. I think that, plus the fact that I was making a visible investment in my quality of life, made me more credible as a leader. It didnt take long in braces for my new tenacity and continued hard work to pay off in the form of a promotion.Days after having the braces removed, I had an interview for my now-current gig. I didnt agonize over my crooked teeth- instead, I pushed my portfolio and knowledge with a permanent smile. I think people know when youre holding back, and for the first time, I didnt . And it helped me land my dream job.Looking back after feinschliff my treatment in braces, its hands down the most positive decision Ive ever made for myself. My only regret is not pursuing treatment sooner, but taking action on my own as an adult and paying for treatment was empowering.If youre considering braces- or anything else, for that matter- Id encourage you to think about how it can affect your confidence, your relationships, and your career. For me, it was an investment in my future- and one thats already paid more dividends than I could possibly have imagined.Photo of woman with braces courtesy of Shutterstock.

Friday, December 20, 2019

10 Career Quizzes to Help You Find a New Job for the New Year

10 Career Quizzes to Help You Find a New Job for the New Year10 Career Quizzes to Help You Find a New Job for the New Year Youve got big job questions - and ansicht 10 career quizzes and personality tests have the answers. From figuring out what job youre best suited for to whether youre a natural-born leader, these quizzes will help you find the perfect new job or career in the new year.This quiz, created by Glassdoor, is all about helping you find a job that works for you. While many quizzes are designed to suss out whether youd fit a certain job, this quiz is meant to help you see how well a job would fit into your life by looking at what you do and how you spend your time outside the office. If youre looking for a career change , this quiz is for you.The Myers Briggs Type Indicator quiz is one of the most respected and used personality tests by both career centers and hiring managers- and theres a reason This test (or quiz, if you will) helps define how people see and perceive the world, using four psychological functions, including sensation, intuition, feeling, and thinking- four things that can really help you determine what career field and specifically, what job, fit your personality best. Nowadays, its not always enough to have a stellar resume and cover letter. To snag your dream job, its sometimes also necessary to have a personal brand . But how do you define and exhibit your personal brand best? Thats what this quiz, developed by Glassdoor, was designed to do. It will help you hone your brand- and use it to get a new job or career.Are you considering taking a step up the corporate ladder in your next job? Then this quiz is for you. Designed by Glassdoor, it will help you figure out how ready you are to lead and manage a team or even an office. As it points out, while being a natural isnt required to be a good leader, its important to know how your competencies line up if being a role model and guide is your goal. This quiz will show you where you stand now- and how to grow. According to its website, the O-Net Interest Profiler can help you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work, making it a great quiz to take if youre just starting out in the workforce- or if youre trying to change your career path.If youre not happy at work , is it automatically time to find another job? Maybe- or maybe not, and this quiz will help you figure out if you should change things up at your office or change jobs- or careers- entirely. The quiz, created by Glassdoor, looks at many things that could be making you unhappy at work, from company culture to lack of advancement opportunities to uninspiring management. No matter what your situation, it will help you begin to figure out whether youre in the wrong job and need to plan an escape, ASAP.According to its website, the MAPP (Motivational Appraisal Personal Potential) career assessment is perfect for students, graduates and working adul ts. Youll get a wealth of information to help find the right career that matches your unique assessment profile.When youre ready to find a new job, it will inevitably be time to update your resume. But what kind of resume is right for you ? This quiz, made by Glassdoor, will help you answer that question- then write a resume that fits your personality and brand best, and get a job.This quiz is a free, psychological assessment to help you discover how you measure up in the five factors of personality openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Knowing these measurements will help you find a job that fits your strongest personality traits- or avoid jobs that wont align with who you are as a person. Would you move for the right job ? If so, then where would you move? Thats a big question to answer- but this quiz can help you narrow down the right region for you. After you answer a few questions about your lifestyle, professional interests, and prefere nces, this quiz- created by Glassdoor- will tell you the perfect city for you to find your next position.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Essential Roles Within a Project Management Team

The Essential Roles Within a Project Management TeamThe Essential Roles Within a Project Management TeamThe types of projects that professional project managers run are usually large scale and complicated. They require the input of many people, including you as project manager. Roles Within a Professional Project Management Team The following roles typically make up a professional project management team Project Sponsor Often in a large organization, a high-level person, possibly a senior manager or director, will act as the project sponsor. This role can often be like the working relationship a chairman of a company would take with a CEO that of critical friend/moral support/key communicator to a variety of audiences (taking on the appropriate role depending on the context). But the role is slightly mora complex than this. The project sponsor is your advocate at the highest level, working with you more closely than anyone else in the senior management team. They present your pro gress to the senior management and are responsible, with you, for the success or otherwise of the project. They have a wider view of what is going on across the organization as a whole and can see where the project fits into the bigger picture. They will be able to steer the project to achieve its goals as set out by the senior management and within the context of the organizations direction of travel. They can make arrangements for additional resources to be made available and open doors which may be shut to you as project manager due to your relative lack of seniority. Essentially the project sponsor exists to take ownership of the business opportunity or need and take it forward to ensure the issues are dealt with and the benefits realized while being able to resolve matters outside of the control of the project manager. Project Manager The project manager is the center of this project. They need to know what the goals are, and where this fits in the bigger picture while at the s ame time having a handle on much of the detail at every stage. This person is the planner (including maintaining the Gantt chart), the organizer and implementer and the one who has to have the project management skills to ensure everything, including success, is measured and reported accurately. Finally, they need to be an objective judge of much of what is going on, while at the same time being at the subjective heart of all which is happening. Project Customer/Client This is the person who is responsible for paying for the work. Often this is the team responsible for the problem or opportunity the project has been established to look at. They are the people with most to gain from the project, hence it is their budget which is at risk. Suppliers When your project requires niche skill sets, ansicht are often found outside of your organizations in-house staff. Materials required for a project often also come from outside your organizationwhether paper stock, asphalt or aerial photogr aphy drones. These additional skills or materials will often be vital to the success of a project. Not having the correct professional or the bricks arriving too late (or early) can have a detrimental effect on the success of your project. The Project Board The groups mentioned prior usually form the Project Board. The board usually has key people who can be seen to represent the different interests in the project. These are often viewed in groups made up of Supplier groupsUser groups The board is usually chaired by the project sponsor and is the forum where the project is driven forward to a conclusion. The project manager is part of this group and uses it to communicate with ansicht key stakeholders, report back and take direction on how the project needs to develop. Project Coordinator Big projects may also benefit from a project coordinator to help with the admin. This ensures the mundane, yet vital, tasks get done. This can cover minutes of meetings, invoicing, or the stationer y order. Project managers can sometimes be tempted to just do these simple tasks themselves, but each can be a drain on time. You should be managing the project, not managing the admin - that is an important skill set, but project managers should know when to delegate.