5 Secrets to Career Success in 2015

5 Secrets to Career Success in 20155 Secrets to Career Success in 2015In a recent surveyof millennials and hiring managerscommissioned byElance-oDeskand Millennial Branding,Jaleh Bisharat, Elance-oDesk senior vice president of marketing, and Dan Schawbel, Millennial Branding managing partner, showcase how professionals can thrive as millennials tip the scales as the largest workforce generation next year. Bisharat and Schawbel offered the following analysis and suggestions for succeeding in the workforce1. Focus on hard skills.A majority of hiring managers (55 percent) revealed they prioritize hard skills over personality (21%) when hiring,Bisharat notes.With the rapidly changing tech landscape and a persisting skills gap, it is more important than ever for businesses to find people with the specific skills they need to deliver results. Employers will appreciate your efforts. Whether youre a millennial or a more seasoned professional, theres no excuse not to keep up to date on skil ls relevant in your field,Schawbel adds.With free and low-cost online learning platforms like Coursera and Lynda boasting courses ranging from Photoshop for beginners to the ins and outs of Bitcoin, a worlds worth of hard skills are at your fingertips.2. Be the change you want to see.Millennials are known for innovation. The survey notes that hiring managers believe millennials are open to change (72 percent), creative (66 percent) and adaptable (65 percent)far outranking their Gen X counterparts for these desirable traits.Many companies still run up against the digital divide and shrink from pushing past the old way of doing things. Thats why, if youre a millennial, you should play up your unique digital native talents (real and perceived) to spur innovation on your gruppes,Schawbel says.Companies are hungry for new ideas, and while millennials are champions of change, all professionals should strive for adaptability.3. Prove youre a team player.While they appreciate seeing specifi c hard skills onrsums, more and more employers are considering the work culture they wish to develop and seekingteam players to create it. Although millennials are seen as providing critical advantages thanks to their fresh thinking and entrepreneurialism, findings of our study showed that, when asked which generation was more likely to be team players, only 27 percent of hiring managers chose millennials rather than Gen X,Bisharat explains. This perception, whether reality or not, is a demerit that can slow career growth. If youre a member of this youngest generation of professionals, make sure to develop teamwork skills to prove this impression wrong. If youre a more established professional, be open to working closely with and mentoring millennials.4. Stand out as a loyalist.No doubt, employer loyalty is waningwith good reason. All employees are realizing that they cannot count on a corporate entity to return the favor. Despite this, its helpful to be able to tap into your passio n and interest for an organization. Simply showing you are dedicated can help you build trust with your team and organization,Schawbel says.With 58 percentof millennials reporting they expect to be in their job fewer than three years, displays of loyalty will certainly nudge employers to invest in your professional future.5. Consider alternative paths.While its great to be able to articulate and demonstrate your interest in a particular company, facts are facts. The majority of employees will not be able to expect to stay in one job for many years, and being agile and flexible enough to shift even to an entrepreneurial path will be key to success for many workers. Even if you venture out on your own, you will never be successful without involving others.Bisharat explains.Sara Horowitz, founder of Freelancers Union, believes freelancing is all about networking. She says, Freelancing successfully means building a network to line up new gigs, passing assignments to others when thing s are busy and getting referrals from friends when theyre not. You never know when these connections will turn into opportunities down the road.Miriam Salpeter,owner ofKeppie Careers, isoften quoted in major media outlets for herjob searchand social media expertise. Author of three books and a sought-after speaker and coach, she leverages her extensive background and successes to teach job seekers and entrepreneurs how to easily usesocial media marketingto accomplish their career and business goals. Salpeter also provides strategic advice and support regarding interviewing, rsum writing and personal branding.

8 Questions to Ask During Any Reference-Checking Phone Call

8 Questions to Ask During Any Reference-Checking Phone Call 8 Questions to Ask During Any Reference-Checking Phone Call Article by Sorosh TavakoliIt is extremely hard to get an idea of what a partie will be like at work through classic interviews alone.The best way I know around this problem is by making reference calls. Done well, they are gold mine.Im not trying to capture everything involved in checkingreferences, but here are some things to consider- Always try tofind some backdoor references.Dont just rely on the applicants provided references.- Anyone taking a reference call will usually have a desire to be helpful to the applicant. Your job is to get through that initial kindness and go deeper.- Dontfocus on validating your own assumptions. Instead, ask open-ended questions and listen. Be quiet and let the reference speak.- One good way to get the reference to open up is to frame the conversation as help me best manage my future recruit. Itll be easier to get information abo ut weaknesses and how to manage them if you do this.The 8 Questions You Should Always Ask When Checking ReferencesHeres the reference-checking script Ive used for the past seven yearsWhat was your relation tothe applicant and for how long?What were the applicants major accomplishments?Key strengths? If I hire her, what are the things this person should totally be doing,the areas where she kills it?Weaknesses or areas for improvement? What things should I not have her do? Where will I get the least out of her?(Explain the role you are hiring for, then ask)Do you think she would be a good fit for this role? Why?Do you have any advice for us if we hire this person? How do I best manage her? What motivates her?Would you hire this person again? (It is important to listen to the references tone here.)Compared to all the people youve worked with, how would you grade this personon a scaleof 1-10?Master the art of checking referencesand remember its one of the best ways to spend your time. B ad hires areprobably the most expensive mistakes wemake and many of us make these mistakes often.A version of this article originally appeared on 42Hire.com.Sorosh Tavakoliis the founder of Videoplaza and entrepreneur in residence at Founders Pledge.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

The top 10 rarest yet important questions an interviewer should ask

The top 10 rarest yet important questions an interviewer should askThe top 10 rarest yet important questions an interviewer should askWhen youre interviewing candidates for a position in your company, you want to make sure that youre hiring the very best talent available. The more that you can learn about your candidates, the better informed you can make a decision on whether or not they are right for you and your company.To help you gain this information, here are 10 rare questions that you should probably ask1. What makes you memorable?This is always a fantastic question to throw in near the end. Suggest it in a way that the candidate can leave you with one point that they want you to remember them by. This says a lot about their personality.2. Which project are you most proud of?This could refer to a project the individual has been involved in or out of work, but its a great way to see what the candidate is proud of.Usually, candidates will go for what they think will look good on paper, rather than showcasing the projects that actually conveyed their skills most clearly. When we had an individual answer that question saying their home football kollektiv because it welches such an enjoyable challenge to get it off the ground, we knew we had found our guy,shares John Domson, an HR department manager forBest British Essays.3. What keeps you motivated?This question is pretty self-explanatory but can share a lot of information when it comes to the individuals performance and how they gauge their own determination to achieve. Be aware of broad answers and dont be afraid to probe further.4. How do you stay engaged?greifhand in hand with the question above, this is more generally speaking about how the individual would stay passionate about this role, should they get the job.5. How do you define success?This is a very interesting question that brings up some interesting answers. There are many answers that could be given.For this success question, the ideal candida te will refer to how success is defined within that role, rather than success as a general term,shares Susie D. Royse, a senior recruiter forBest Australian Writers.6. What makes you unique?This is another interesting question. Of course, the more unique the answer, the better.7. Have you managed a team?An important question if your candidate is applying for a leadership role, this can refer to roles both in and out of employment and is a great way to see what skills the applicant has.8. Where are those team members now?Hand in hand with the above question, asking about the performance and achievements of the people under the applicants management will also say a lot about them, especially if they dont know.9. What gives you job satisfaction?This is one of mypersonal favorite questions and will say a lot about the individual and the role of their job and how they perceive the role that theyre applying for.You can expect answers like achieving goals and targets, seeing the customer h appy, being sociable and having a good office culture, among others. However, as a recruiter, you want to look for an answer that sets them apart from the rest and aligns with the vacancy theyre applying for.10. What do you know about us?This is also another gold question as it proves that the applicant has done their research into your company. If they cant tell you anything, then theyre not going to know what your company stands for or sets out to do. By conducting research, it proves they are serious about joining your team.Jennifer Scott works as an online editor at Top Canadian Writers. She is also a business developer that works in different areas of education, technology, security and various types of online marketing. Prior to business developing Jennifer was a consultant at Deloitte, and managed security services providers and developed a wide range of security solutions.The column was originally published on YourCoffeeBreak.com with permission.

The Job of a DNA Analyst

The Job of a DNA AnalystThe Job of a DNA AnalystThe widespread use of science to help solve crimes is a relatively recent development in criminology. Largely perceived by the general public as standard operating procedure in fighting crime, DNA analysis is essentially a brand new concept in the history of forensic science. DNA analyst jobs offer an opportunity to work in a cutting-edge field, using unique skills and knowledge to help others. Thanks in large part to high-tech crime dramas like CSI, the use of DNA in solving crimes has taken the place of fingerprints as the be-all and end-all tool for crime scene investigators and police detectives. These shows may sometimes paint an overly rosy picture of how efficient and effective forensic science actually is, contributing to a phenomenon known as the CSI effect. Nevertheless, its fair to say the discovery and identification of DNA evidence have changed the way crimes and criminals are investigated, prosecuted, and convicted. The Indispensable DNA Tool Now almost universally accepted as a koranvers thing, as recently as the late 1990s juries were reluctant to convict criminals based on DNA evidence. They were unsure of the technology and the concept. In a very short time, DNA has usurped fingerprint analysis as the primary means of identifying victims and suspects, as well as placing people at crime scenes. DNA has become an indispensable tool for identifying suspects and also eliminating them. Thanks to advances in science, DNA analysts can determine with relative accuracy when they have a profile match. More importantly, for the wrongfully accused, they can say with almost absolute certainty when theres no chance of a profile match. What DNA Analysts Do DNA analysts work primarily in a laboratory setting, examining evidence gathered by police officers, crime scene technicians, and investigators. They may work for a criminal investigative agency, central crime lab, or large police or sheriffs departme nt. In some circumstances, they may also be called to report to a crime scene to assist in collecting evidence, but this is most often done by law enforcement partienel. DNA analysis is a very meticulous job scientists must identify, isolate, and even copy small amounts of DNA within biological evidence. They then compare those strands to strands from a known source to determine whether or not there is a probability of a match. In this way, analysts can place criminals at a scene, identify victims, and even determine if a missing person or deceased victim was in a certain location, such as a car or home. The job of a DNA analyst often includes Working in a laboratoryExamining biological materialsReport writingProviding courtroom testimonyWorking with law enforcement entitiesWorking closely with other forensic scientistsUsing sensitive lab and computer equipment DNA is located in biological substances, including saliva, semen, blood, sweat, mucus, skin, and even ear wax. DNA can also be located in vomit and fecal matter. In light of this, a career as a DNA analyst is definitely not for the squeamish. Fortunately, large quantities of these materials are not necessary analysts can work with trace evidence. Analysts isolate biological material and DNA evidence from a variety of sources, such as clothing, hats, brake and accelerator pedals, and weapons. Any surface that a person has come in contact with can potentially contain some measure of biological material. Because of this, analysts are trained to find all manner of biological evidence to examine, on all manner of materials and surfaces. Education and Skill Requirements for DNA Analysts DNA analysis is a highly specialized scientific field. While it may be possible to begin work as a technician without a four-year degree, it is generally understood that a masters degree or doctorate is necessary to gain employment as a DNA analyst. Degrees should be in the natural sciences, particularly biology. It is adv isable to have some background in criminology or criminal justice, perhaps as a minor or elective. It may also be a good idea to earn some combination of a degree in forensic science as well as a masters in biology or vice versa. Naturally, analytical skills are a must. Budding analysts should comfortable with technology and computers, and they should also be able to clearly articulate their findings in both written and oral reports, making communications skills essential. The Salary for DNA Analysts DNA analysts can expect to earn around $54,000 annually, on average, according to salary database PayScale. The lowest 10 percent earn about $38,000, and the highest paid 10 percent earn more than $80,000. Salary will vary based on location, the level of education, and length of service in the field. Job Opportunities for DNA Analysts The job outlook for growth in all forensic science fields is expected to be around 19 percent through 2020. A study by the National Institute of J ustice indicates that DNA analysis may be useful if expanded to property crimes, such as theft and burglary, in addition to the violent crimes it is currently used for. Thus, as DNA analysis is becoming increasingly effective and efficient, it is reasonable to expect better than average job growth in the field. A Career as a DNA Analyst If you have an analytical mind, enjoy working in a laboratory setting, and have a strong desire to help others and to serve justice, you may enjoy working as a DNA analyst. In fact, it may just be the perfect criminology career for you.

Pro Tips for How to Send a Thank You Note After an Interview

Pro Tips for How to Send a Thank You Note After an InterviewPro Tips for How to Send a Thank You Note After an InterviewSending a thank you musiknote after your interview or phone screening with a hiring manager is a crucial step in the hiring process. fremdlndisch from the general good etiquette of the practice of writing thank you notes, they are another opportunity to interact with the hiring manager while they screen other applicants and eventually make a decision about whom to hire for the position. Use our Pro Tips as a guide to writing a thank you note following your interview.Pro Tip Timing is everythingWe at Resume Yeti recommend that you send a thank you note to your interviewer either the very same day or the day after your interview. Youll want to give them the impression that you enjoyed the interview and that youd like to move forward with the hiring process. Writing a prompt thank you note to the hiring manager is a great way to prove your genuine interest in the posit ion and company. If a couple days have gone by and youve just realized you havent written a thank you note yet, you should still send one over. Sending a note a little later is certainly better than not sending one at all.Pro Tip Remind them why they should hire youIn your interview you probably made a case for why the company should hire you. When you write a thank you note to the hiring manager, you should summarize this pitch in one or two sentences, alongside expressing your gratitude for their time and consideration.Pro Tip Tell AND showOften during interviews, you talk about successful projects youve completed yourself or that youve been a part of. Sometimes there is no way to quickly access a project in your portfolio in the moment when youre talking about it with the hiring manager during the interview. If you discussed any past projects or items in your portfolio during the interview, your follow-up thank you note is a way to provide that access to the hiring manager.In gen eral, Its important to have your portfolio uploaded and ready to be viewed online. It makes it convenient for you to share it easily on the spot if you need to. In your thank you note you can say something like, I wanted to pass along the links to the projects we discussed during the interview. The first project ________ can be seen here insert URL, and the other one, _________ is available here insert URL. Provide the name of the project and the year, as well as a link so the hiring manager can view the projects at their convenience.If youre stuck on formatting your thank you note, you can check out these different examples for various purposes. And before you hit Send on that schmelzglas, be sure to read over these quick tipsQuick Tip Use your professional email addressIn a world where its so easy to switch between accounts and be connected across multiple devices, sometimes you can accidentally send a professional email from one of your personal accounts. Do a quick double check to make sure your sent from address is the right one.Quick Tip Spell and grammar check.Its an obvious tip, but youd be surprised how many people send grammatically incorrect emails with spelling errors. Spell/Grammar check is just as important in professional correspondences as it is in your resume writing.Quick Tip Check your valedictionMake sure to sign off cordially, using valedictions like Sincerely, Regards, or All my best.Quick Tip Update your signatureIn addition to their name and phone number, many people include links to their social media, website, portfolio, current organization, or LinkedIn in their automated signature. Double check the links in yours to make sure they are up-to-date and functioning.

Marketing Resume Example Tips

Marketing Resume Example Tips 1 Actually, in absatzwirtschaft, its what you say and the way you say it. Marketing is among the most diverse professional industries in existence and many companies rarely just employ a marketer. Because it involves knowing how to use specific tools, especially ones such as Google Analytics, you might want a hard-skills-heavy resume. Your absatzwirtschaft resume should consist of keywords which are searched by marketing managers if you are looking for suitable applicants. It is vital to compose a strong digital advertising and marketing manager resume, especially if youre asking for a position which requires you to be new-age. Firstly, as a way to compose a standout marketing resume you will need to learn your target, as you will never begin an advertising campaign before defining your intended market or customer profile. When you begin an internet marketing campaign, your very first decision is who you wish to achieve. As a promotion manager, youre more aware than most that superior advertising is required to sell an item. Social networking specialists communicate with the general public through online social networking platforms that enable users to produce and share content online. Think of the social networking marketing resume examples above. Content marketing is inescapable in the current digital advertising and marketing landscape. Marketing in the 21st century demands intimate understanding of social networking platforms. Well, regardless of what stage youre in your career, youre likely to should understand how to make a resume for a job interview and we will demonstrate how Each time you put in an application for a new job, check your resume to guarantee that it is not only targeted, but in addition current. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously provide you an advantage. The answer obviously, lies in the work post. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better prospect of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. For almost whatever you want to include on a resume, theres a category to help organize it. If you can place a number to your social networking efforts, your resume will stick out in comparison to others. The following resume examples are thoroughly professional and theyre very likely to maximize your odds of being selected for the interview. Type of Marketing Resume Example When you write your achievements, concentrate on the what and the outcome, but never speak about the how. Below youll be in a position to observe a one-page resume that has excellent formatting making it effortless to read and has all of the compulsory resume sections recruiters expect to see. Resume Help It is a wonderful case of a timeless CV that may work whatever position youre applying for. Employing a resume template is now an acceptable and smart practice for numerous factors. Type of Marketing Res ume Example You need to be able to show that you delivered results for your prior employers or clients. Limit your resumes to a single page if youre able to. No other details are essential, especially if the jobseeker graduated some time ago. Your resume should also be suitably organized. You have to invest time into each application and be certain that your resume is tailored to every employer and the job which youre applying to. Resumes ought to be targeted effectively at the particular kind of marketing job applied for. Our advertising officer CV sample stipulates a framework that you could follow. If you previously live close to the businesss office, great Youre going to see an ideal marketing and advertising manager resume sample. Ultimately, save your advertising manager resume in PDF. The Little-Known Secrets to Marketing Resume Example As long as you give off a very good impression of having the perfect skill set that matches the role, an advertising role is abou t collaboration and communication, both internally and externally based on the function. Use a resume summary when you have a lot of experience and abilities. Youve got a unique blend of skills, characteristics and experiences which make you different from every marketer looking for employment. Landing a coveted job interview may seem to be an uphill battle. You typically desire a bachelors degree to be a social networking specialist, so make sure to include information regarding your degree in your resume. Remember any certificates you could have or any personal awards you could have received. If youre attempting to obtain work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. A legal professional seeking the most suitable job ought to have a strong resume to be able to be noticed by the employers.

GF Education Group Calls for Employer Feedback

GF Education Group Calls for Employer Feedback GF Education Group are the creators of the CBL Exam (Certified Business Laureate) exam, which is a business test that qualifies and quantifies the skills of recent college graduates. The career test attempts to remedy a common hiring problem assessment of applicants with little or no real-world experience. The CBL Exam offers testing in the core skills andcompetencies required for working in business. Employers can receive top scoring candidate profiles for free (note Recruiter.com is one of the distribution partners of the CBL Exam). For recruiters, its a way to receive entry-level college graduate resumes for free, while being able to more easily judge their core skills and strengths. For candidates, the test is a way to solve the familiar catch-22 of job seeking you need skills to get a job, but to develop the skills, you need a job. Additionally, test takers that score well on the exam will receive a mentoring session with leading employers in their chosen field of interest.To make the test more precisely useful for recruiters and employers, the GF Education Group has issued a survey for assessment of candidates. The simple survey asks the topproficienciesand skills that you look for when interviewing and assessing a candidate as a potential hire. By surveying major employers and experienced recruiters, the GF Education Group will be able to ensure the CBL Exam offers the best assessment available to assist in hiring decisions. They encourage both corporate and agency recruiters to take a few minutes to complete the survey. They also cite an iPad giveaway for people who complete the survey.

5 reasons successful people need grit in their lives

5 reasons successful people need grit in their lives5 reasons successful people need grit in their livesIm not going to lie to you and pretend that I loved my 4 months at the FBI Academy at the Marine Corps kusine in Quantico, Va. The purpose of the academy was multifold, but the bottom line was to produce successful people who had the grit to confront obstacles in both business and life.Unlike Hollywoods depiction of FBI agents, mental disciplines are far more effective than gadgets or technology when it comes to real life. The training at the Academy is rigorous because the stakes are high. Agents are taught how to prevail in their circumstances rather than hope their circumstances will change.The same mental disciplines I learned in the Academy can be applied to corporate and private life. They produce successful people who can land on their feet when confronted with the unknown.Life is hard. Pain is inevitable. Growth is optional. It takes grit to look at life as a series of prob lems to be solved.Here are five reasons successful people need grit1. Life is not always lived in ur comfort zoneIf the coaches at the FBI Academy didnt push us past ur comfort zone, they didnt do their job. For me, it was physical fitness. For others, it was firearms or the academic tests.The bottom line is this Always push yourself to a level a bit above your current capability. Experts believe that reach should be 4% above your last success. This 4% will push you to perform better than last time and yet it isnt enough to discourage you.This is not for the faint of heart or those in denial about their capabilities. One of the toughest aspects of the FBI Academy was that weaknesses were identified 1) quickly, and 2) publicly. We marched through as a class. Everyone knew I had a hard time with pushups because we tested together. Firearms and academic scores were published so everyone knew where they stood in relation to everyone else in the class.No hand-holding and no excuses. It r ested upon the shoulders of each agent-in-training to buck up and improve their score.How to make it work Successful people put their ego on hold and identify areas where they can improve. It will be scary because, guess what, theyll probably fail at first. But if they keep at it, theyll see improvement over time. The goal is not to turn a weakness into a strength that is a waste of time. The goal is to understand their level of competence in many areas so they can manage their response when confronted with obstacles and roadblocks.2. Setbacks can happenThe academy taught me that obstacles are a part of life so get used to it. The sooner, the better. Stuff gets in our way, and we need to change our plans. Yet we often react as though were surprised, unprepared and frustrated.Seneca was a stoic who suggested that we contemplate events in advance so that nothing ever takes us by surprise. He encouraged us to imagine every conceivable setback so that we can strengthen our mind to cope with them. In other words, develop psychological resilience and grit in the face of adversity.Stoicism suggests that we transsumpt a reverse clause into our plans. A reverse clause is a backup option so you dont crash and burn when things dont always work out for you. It allows you to recognize that you have total control over your reaction, even if you cant control the outcome. When you focus on what you can control, you give yourself a plan of action.When you remind yourself of the worst that can happen, it isnt pessimism. Its being realistic. When you think about the downside, you experience those bad feelings in advance. And guess what? According to research on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we can decatastrophize the situation and realize it wont be the end of the world.How to make it work Successful people are not thrown off guard when things dont go according to plan. If there is a technical issue, theyve prepared to make their presentation without audio/visual aids. When they re stabbed in the back by a colleague, theyve prepared how to move on and learn from the encounter. Their progress can be impeded or disrupted, but they have the grit to retain the will to redirect their path.3. Goals can changeWhen I first started working counterintelligence and espionage, my goal was to recruit a foreign intelligence officer to work for the US government.Later, though, my goal had shifted. Now it wasnt enough to be working cases. I felt drawn to tell others about how a huge organization like the FBI could be nimble and flexible enough to react to the demands of terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11.My vision had not changed - I mucksmuschenstill wanted to be an FBI agent - but my goal had. I became the spokesperson for the FBI in Northern California. Im glad I made the move because my long-term goals had shifted.Vision is where you see your life heading. Goals are the stepping-stones to get there. Goals should be reviewed and revised on a yearly basis. If you dont, goals can end up obstructing your original vision for yourself.Vision and passion are linchpins of grit. Vision allows us to follow a dream that gives us both value and meaning.How to make it work Successful people never forget why they want to accomplish their goals. Even a slight shift in thinking calls for a realignment of their priorities. As in my case, it may not require them to throw up their hands and quit, but it may suggest that they rethink where they fit into the larger picture.4. Struggles are inevitableQuit is the only four-letter word I never heard while in the FBI. Cases can be complicated and difficult to work. But, there is a difference between knowing when to quit and knowing when to stop the struggle against something that we cannot stop.When we quit, we throw in the towel, admit defeat, and feel like a victim of our circumstances.When we take the time to examine our struggle, however, it often means that we need to look at our situation in a different way. We m ay need to redefine how we plan to move forward. Struggles may actually allow us to detect new possibilities that would not have otherwise revealed themselves.Grit can be counterproductive when the focus is too narrow. For example, if youre determined to move into a new market at all costs, you need to remain open to new information that suggests the market is going in a different direction. Leaders, business owners, and entrepreneurs need to step back every so often and look at the big picture. Pivot if need be and move in another direction.How to make it work Successful people do not quit when they feel they can no longer deal with a crisis. Instead, they find ways to adapt to their new circumstances. They have the grit to stay in the game but are flexible in their attempts to correct a situation according to their idea of what is right.5. Failure is a great teacherMost of the successful people I have met over the years got to where they have the grit to do what it takes to succee d. Grit is what sets them apart from the quitters. Vince Lombardi once said, Remember, the man on top of the mountain didnt fall there. People who reach the top arent afraid to climb.People are often so afraid theyll fail at something that they dont even try Entrepreneurs know better than anyone that businesses cannot invent the future without taking risks. The J-curve of return on investment indicates that failures come early and often while success takes time.America has embraced the fail-forward mentality better than Europe. In Europe, bankruptcy can end a career, while in Silicon Valley, its almost a badge of honor.How to make it work Successful people develop a mindset that looks at failure as a source of information. Each failure informs them of what doesnt work and how they need to change their approach to get the results they want next time. To be successful, they need to be willing to fail hard and then bounce back.LaRae Quy was an FBI undercover and counterintelligence age nt for 24 years. She exposed foreign spies and recruited them to work for the U.S. government.Quy is the author of Secrets of a Strong Mind and Mental Toughness for Women Leaders 52 Tips To Recognize and Utilize Your Greatest Strengths. If youd like to find out if you are mentally tough, get her free 45-questionMental Toughness Assessment. Follow her onTwitter.This column was originally published on SmartBrief.com.

5 Tactics to Improve Focus During a Long Work Week

5 Tactics to Improve Focus During a Long Work Week5 Tactics to Improve Focus During a Long Work Week If youve ever had one of those 40-plus hour-long work weeks, you know exactly how draining they can be. After enough time, every task feels like it takes an eternity to complete, and its easy for the mind to wander. Maintaining your focus , however, is critical to doing your job right. The issue then becomes, how best do you improve your focus even when mental fatigue sets in? Here are some strategies that can help you stay focused, even as the work week drags on.Working for 8, 10, or 12 hours straight (or more) can be a grind. While most companies are legally required to offer employees breaks, sometimes those arent enough to keep you feeling mentally refreshed. So make sure you take the initiative to give yourself breaks on a regular basis. Even tiny breaks can make a difference. Spend 5 minutes to take a brief walk. Take a moment to get a breath of fresh air. Eve ry little bit helps. Companies should support these types of breaks as well. In a 2016 Business Advantage Survey from Staples, more than half (52 percent) of respondents said that an employer who encouraged breaks significantly helped them to avoid burnout.Taking breaks is great and all, but what about taking a nap? Of course, this doesnt mean taking a 2-hour siesta, but a brief 15-minute map can do wonders to help you stay focused and improve your productivity. NASA ran experiments on taking short naps at work and found them to be extremely helpful. Many companies soon adopted this strategy. Zappos, for example, has a nap room in their Las Vegas headquarters, complete with recliners, a couch, and more. As one representative explains , It was born from our focus on employee happiness and wellness. We know how much sleep impacts well-being.Its harder to focus if youre unhealthy. Thats why you should make sure to always eat a healthy diet to ensure both good physical conditioning a nd mental clarity. One growing field focused on this idea is nootropics, something that might sound new to you. As the Neurohacker Collective puts it, nootropics consist of supplements and substances which enhance your cognition, in particular when it comes to motivation, creativity, memory, and other executive functions. Drinking energy drinks and caffeine pills may provide a temporary boost, but nootropics looks at long-term benefits for mental and physical health. By following these guidelines and practices, you may be able to improve your focus.One of the most basic ways to stay focused is simply to avoid distractions. You know what distracts you the most. If theres a particular website that you tend to spend a lot of time on, dont visit it while youre on the clock. If you keep getting text messages, turn off your phone. Even unnecessary or long meetings can be a distraction, and many companies have found ways to minimize them so employees can get back to work. In a TED Talk , thought leader Nilofer Merchant suggested adopting walking meetings as a way to shorten meeting times. This involves going for a walk while discussing business. Not only does it help people get to the point, but it helps you stay healthy.Another way for you to keep focused is to create a to-do list and distributionspolitik the most important tasks you need to accomplish first. This can help you concentrate on those items that need the most attention. Checking off items on a to-do list can also serve as a helpful motivating tactic, pushing you forward to get to the next item on the list. Some companies have even adopted policies that involve motivating employees to get stuff done. For example, Cargill Inc., a food producer and distributor, established a new Everyday Performance Management System which involves encouraging workers daily while giving constructive feedback with an emphasis on looking ahead rather than reviewing past actions. With that type of policy, along with th e right incentives, its easy to see how workers will be able to stay focused and prioritize their tasks.

FBI instructor on how you can help prevent workplace violence

FBI instructor on how you can help prevent workplace violenceFBI instructor on how you can help prevent workplace violenceFor the past 30 years, Laurence Barton, the highest-rated instructor at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy and a consultant for Fortune 500 companies, has studied what turns our co-workers into threats. Unfortunately, his knowledge is in increasing demand. There have already beenseven workplace shootingsin the U.S. in the belastung 28 months. To save lives, preparation needs to start before a disgruntled employee enters your building with a gun.Barton talked with Ladders about how employees can identify and stop unstable, at-risk employees before its too lateWatch out for grievance collectorsWe first need to understand that unhappy employees are bedrngnis necessarily at-risk employees. Many grievances - whether they are about race, pay scale, or whatever - are legitimate, Barton told Ladders. But when co-workers cannot stop talking about their grievance , and they keep blowing it out of proportion to the actual grievance, they become grievance collectors, and this personality type is the kind of employee on the path to self-harm or harm to others.Grievance collectors track minor slights against them obsessively. They call CEOs out in alarming social media posts. Barton said they are likely to keep a timeline of who did them wrong when in a diary or journal. Complaints leave the everyday world of bad bosses and terrible coworkers and into the nefarious world of conspiracy. They become convinced that their company is out to get them. They become dangerously determined to settle the score without a lawyer.Anyone can have a bad day, but when they become repeated bad days, we need to get them counseling or separate them from the firm, Barton said.Address the grievance seriouslyYou are an employee, not a cop or a psychiatrist, but you can still help people by treating grievance collectors with the dignity and respect you would want to re ceive if you were in distress.Building your situational awareness means not looking the other way when people are clearly troubled.When people send up a signal that somethings wrong, we need to be listening, Barton said. Instead of bypassing the co-worker who is crying uncontrollably or making wild claims, address them.Im a big believer in just asking, are you okay? he added. Most people can be talked off the ledge.Of course, use your judgment to see if you are the right person to be having this conversation. If the employee is volatile and argumentative, extricate yourself from the situation and escalate conversations to human resources.Barton said he has asked his clients, Have you thought about the employees tried giving them a week off with pay, and explaining that their comments are inaccurate, irresponsible, that they are causing alarm for other people?Words matter. Barton suggests using the word separate over fire. Instead of playing into the grievance and saying, I agree, te ll your aggrieved colleague that you understand. These words may not matter to you, but they may make all the difference to an at-risk employee feeling isolated.The person needs to be validated that you, at least, are listening to them, Barton said. He advises not taking notes in these conversations, particularly if you are HR. They make the conversation seem mora like an interrogation. If you want me to tell you how I feel inside, and youre sitting there like a transcriber, it feels like a setup.Dont humiliate employees during their exitBe careful when and how you terminate someones employment if the situation escalates to that point.Humiliation is often the tripwire for when the person who has risk factors may act on those grievances, Barton said, citing incidents where an embarrassing exit was the final trigger.In 2010, for example, Omar Thornton fatally shot eight of his coworkers after being confronted with video of him stealing beer. After being told he could resign or be fire d, he chose the former and let himself be escorted from the building. Then he returned back toHartford Distributors with a gun.Firing does not even mean you are freed from the persons endangering influence.You may exhale more easily, but having the person out of sight does not necessarily mean the company is no longer on aggrieved persons mind. Sometimes firing is the worst thing people can do, Barton said. Once you separate a person, you lose the ability to have accurate surveillance.Once the aggrieved person is physically gone, you do not know what he or she is doing.Ultimately, safety comes with building your instincts and thinking through how you would react to volatile situations. Pay attention to your intuition, Barton cautioned. At work, we turn it way down. Im not saying be paranoid, but be situationally aware.