Education and Experience Don#8217;t Guarantee Success  Attitude and Habits Do

Education and Experience Don#8217;t Guarantee Success â€"  Attitude and Habits Do Education and Experience Don#8217;t Guarantee Success â€"  Attitude and Habits Do Professional success is the culmination of many factors. Your education matters â€" maybe not as much as you think, but a degree in your field can really jump-start your progress. Your experience certainly matters, but that can only come to you after years of dedication. Your talent matters, too, but aside from skills (which develop from experience), most of your talent is innate, meaning you have a natural tendency to perform well in certain areas more than in others. Your network of contacts matters, but you cant always control who you interact with. And ultimately, at least some of your career success is going to come down to a factor of luck. Looking at these things, it may seem  like there is little you can control when it comes to professional success. But thats not true. In fact, none of these things will matter if you neglect the most important factors of success â€" and these are all things  you need to create  for yourself: 1. A Positive Attitude The whole positive attitude angle might seem like a gimmick â€" after all, can you think of anybody successful who got to where they are only because they thought positive thoughts? Of course not. But you can trace almost any successful entrepreneur or professionals journey and find at least one major obstacle that nearly disrupted everything. In the face of that obstacle, these people remained positive, which motivated action rather than submission, and eventually, they rose to the top. Positive thinking is about more than helping yourself through the tough times. Research shows that  positive self-talk, rather than negative self-talk, can actively reduce your stress levels, giving you greater physical and mental health and a greater capacity to perform at  your maximum. The best part is that there arent any naturally positive or naturally negative people â€" your thoughts and your self-talk can be controlled with practice, meaning a positive attitude is something you can, and should, create for yourself. 2. Ongoing Habits Our habits make us who we are. Over time, our repeated actions become automatic. Once were in that groove, its nearly impossible to break the chain. With bad habits â€" like sleeping through your first alarm or working through your breaks â€" this unbreakable chain can be a bad thing. But with positive habits â€" like regularly reading or fact-checking all of your work â€" this unbroken chain can lead you to success. Though many habits form unconsciously through our natural actions, it is possible to create ongoing habits for yourself. The key to creating these habits is consistency: If you want to start doing something every day, you must force yourself to start doing it on a daily basis. Dont allow yourself to slip in the first few weeks. After a few rounds of consistent effort, it will become easier. Breaking bad habits  can be tougher, but its entirely within your power. 3. Goals While your specific job may have company goals that dictate your actions, your professional goals are entirely within your control.  Create goals that are too lofty  and youll never be able to make significant progress. Create goals that are too easy, and youll never reach your true potential. The reliable standby for creating good goals are the SMART criteria. SMART is an acronym that describes the five key qualities that all goals must have: They must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-specific. In addition to meeting these criteria, you should create goals on multiple scales. For example, you should have broad, flexible long-term goals detailing your plans for your long-term success, but you should also have smaller, more immediate goals that can lead you to those broader visions and medium-sized goals in between the two to act as milestones. 4. Tactical Plans Goals are good for helping you to hone your desires and set the tone for your career, but without a solid plan of execution, those desires are only pipe dreams. As an extension of your goals, you must learn to create tactical plans that detail  how youre going to achieve those goals. That might include a list of tasks you must accomplish before reaching the goal, a series of strategies youre going to use while pursuing that goal, or a list of prerequisites youll need to have before moving on to the next phase of your plan. If youre having trouble coming up with an initial plan, you may need to do additional research before moving forward. 5. A Healthy Environment As humans, we are often products of our environments. In the professional world, this is no different. If your desk is messy, your mind may be more frantic and cluttered. If you work in a noisy area full of distractions, youll never be able to focus. More importantly, if youre surrounded by  negative, apathetic, or downright lazy people, youll never be able to motivate yourself to achieve your goals. If youre working in a place that doesnt acknowledge hard work, youll never be able to progress. Create your own environment to maximize your chances for success, whether that means working within the confines of your current organization or  moving on to a better opportunity. Surround yourself with the types of people who will lead you to success, and structure your work environment so you can be your most productive. Once you start creating these things for yourself consistently and with dedication, you will find yourself naturally gravitating toward a path of success. With a strong vision in your mind and the right attitude and environment to carry you through the obstacles that lie ahead, there should be nothing stopping you from achieving your goals. â€" A version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.com.   Larry Alton is a professional blogger, writer, and researcher who contributes to a number of reputable online media outlets and news sources, including Entrepreneur.com, HuffingtonPost.com, and Business.com, among others. In addition to journalism, technical writing,and in-depth research, hes also active in his community and spends weekends volunteering with a local nonprofit literacy organization and rock climbing. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.  

HR Tech Recap 3 Must-Know HR Industry Trends

HR Tech Recap 3 Must-Know HR Industry Trends HR Tech Recap 3 Must-Know HR Industry Trends Last week one of the largest and most anticipated HR conferences took place in Las Vegas, NV- HR Tech. Hundreds of companies and vendors attended and even more HR professionals, thought leaders and industry experts. Simply Hired attended as well, and was delighted by the energy, technology and many conversations that were shared. The conference revealed how quickly and dramatically the recruitment industry is changing. HR technology is not a stagnant space. To demonstrate, job search has moved from scanning newspapers to searching on desktops to browsing on mobile apps. And where is the industry heading now? Data The buzz around Big Data hasn’t dwindled down yet, and we don’t expect it to anytime soon. We saw at many sessions and demos that more and more HR professionals are striving to make data-driven decisions. With the power of data, employers can identify candidates who have transferable skills, find applicants who are likely to become top performers, reduce attrition and turnover, and improve productivity, etc. Even at Simply Hired, we harness data to drive our product, analyzing job seeker behaviors to fine-tune our algorithms. Data has the potential to impact businesses in a way that was inconceivable 10 years ago. Personalization As a result of having accessible data, an emphasis on personalization arose throughout HR Tech. From candidate experience to user experience, personalization has become a hot topic and it indicates that the recruitment space is beginning to focus more on the candidate’s perspective. Part of personalization means a better candidate experience, including a strong employer brand, a painless interview process and immediate follow up. On the technology side, personalization refers to a seamless user experience, particularly on the ATS front as well as a more effective job search. We at Simply Hired focus on this concept through parsing user intent to try and eliminate irrelevant results. As the industry becomes more data savvy and sophisticated, we expect to see more and better personalization. Innovation Although not a new trend, we witnessed many new HR advancements. One notable product launch was Findly’s CX Apply, which provides an easy solution to “make your ATS mobile in just one day.” This launch demonstrates the strides this industry has made, and proves that innovation through technology is the future. But  our biggest takeaway from HR Tech is that innovation has no finish line. This idea inspires much of the work that is achieved at Simply Hired. This year we saw a lot of momentum: our mobile traffic has grown by 33% year-over-year, now at 40%, and with a high rated mobile app experience. But we won’t stop here- stay tuned for more! Read related articles: What We Don’t Want to Miss at HR Tech This Year

The Dos and Donts of Informational Interviewing

The Dos and Donts of Informational Interviewing The Dos and Donts of Informational Interviewing 20In part II of our series, Tom White and Maureen Mackey help job seekers learn the dos and donts of informational interviewing. If you havent read part I of this series, be sure to check out: Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview for Flexible Jobs Once you’ve got your prospects lined up, your informational interview questions organized, and your interviews scheduled, there is a protocol and propriety about the actual interviews that you should be careful to observe. Here are the dos of informational interviewing: DO make your purpose and intent explicitly clear. Tell your subjects exactly why you want to interview them. You can assure there will be no misunderstanding about your purpose by addressing the next point. DO provide your questions in advance. Most subjects would appreciate knowing what you will be asking them. It helps them prepare and reassures them they won’t be blindsided during your interview. You can simply email the questions. Perhaps four to seven general or open-ended questions, along the lines of inquiry outlined above, will be sufficient to set the scope and tenor of your upcoming interview. DO keep the interview short. Schedule the interview to be short, 20 to 30 minutes. A half hour is a lot of time to take out of someone’s busy day, especially if your subject works on billable hours. Let you subject set the tone and direction of your engagement, but be mindful of keeping the interview focused and to the point. DO show a personal interest in the person you are interviewing. Ask your subjects about the kind of work they do. Make your interviews as much about them as possible, and less about you. DO follow up immediately. This is one time when a personal handwritten thank-you note makes a whole lot more sense than an on-the-fly email. Be sure to acknowledge your subjects’ time and advice, let them know you appreciate the opportunity, and tell them something specific about what you got out of the interview. Check back with your subjects periodically, perhaps every three to six months, just to let them know how you’re doing. Many will take a personal interest in you. DO be prepared to show a brief bio or qualifications statement. Some subjects might ask about your background; it helps them to know how to frame their answers. So, bring a two-paragraph narrative backgrounder THAT DOESNT SMACK OF BEING A RÉSUMÉ. You can always offer to send a résumé later, but ONLY IF you are asked. Think of the bio as what you might read on a book jacket if you were a famous author. From your email contact, your subject should already have your name, phone number, and email address, but you can include these anyway. [NOTE: It is always a good idea to include this information as part of your email signature. Never leave an email recipient hunting for how to contact you.] DO dress as if it this were a job interview. Even though this is NOT a job interview, show your subjects the courtesy and respect that good grooming evinces. Dressing well says you take the interview seriously and you care enough to look your very best. DO pick up the tab if your meeting is lunch or coffee break. Since you initiated the interview and your subject is doing you a favor, you paying would be most appropriate. Here are the donts of informational interviewing: DONT make this into a job interview. Only discuss your skills and experience if the conversation goes in that direction and your subject asks about you. DONT focus only on you. Remember, you came to the interview to find out more about your subject and your subject’s profession, business, or industry. The subject of the interview is not you. DONT take more time than agreed to. Unless your subject insists on taking longer, graciously excuse yourself when you have used up the agreed upon time. You can simply say, “Well, I see we’ve used up the time allotted for our meeting. I know you need to get back to work. So I’ll let you go, but would it be OK for me to email you back if I have any follow-up questions? I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to talk with me. Thank you.” DONT abuse any confidences. You may find out things about people or events that are confidential and this is exactly how that information should remain. DONT ask for personal or confidential information. Your questions need to be short and focus primarily on objective information. Don’t cross into your subject’s personal life without being invited to go there. Likewise, don’t pursue a line of questioning that will force your subject to reveal sensitive or confidential information. It would be embarrassing for both of you. DONT bring your portfolio. Again, this is not a job interview. It would be tacky to show up with your portfolio (or résumé) on the off-chance you might be asked to show it. If your subject is interested, you can come back later with it for a real job interview. DONT ask for favors; let people offer. In the dynamics of human etiquette, it is always rude to maneuver someone into a corner to ask for a favor. It is more appropriate to let someone offer. It makes you look gracious when you accept and your subjects as magnanimous when they offer. A final note on informational interviewing: Remember, informational interviewing is about getting information, not about inveigling your way into a job. If your interview subject offers to refer you to someone else or asks to see your résumé, that’s a bonus. But don’t expect or try to manipulate the circumstances to these ends. You’re better offer graciously accepting whatever advice and guidance your subjects might offer, thanking them, and moving on. If you treat your subjects with deference and appreciation, you will make a professional contact that will serve you well for a long time to come. Our thanks to Tom White and Maureen Mackey, authors of this post, which originally appeared in their Independent Beacon newsletter. This husband and wife team live in Portland, Oregon, and manage a communications consulting business called the Green Galaxy Group. Dont miss part I of this series, Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview for Flexible Jobs. Readers, what are your best tips for informational interviewing? Share those and your success stories below!

Most tech workers agree this one trait is least appealing in a boss

Most tech workers agree this one trait is least appealing in a boss Most tech workers agree this one trait is least appealing in a boss Chances are, there’s something in particular about your manager that really gets under your skin at work.New research from compensation, culture, and career monitoring platform Comparably found that 39% of employees overall say being a “micromanager” is the “worst” characteristic a boss can have while being “impatient” was the least most-common response at 9%.More than 2,200 users working at different U.S. companies - predominantly in tech - took the survey. Here are some of the results that stood out.Here’s how young workers feel about their managersThe research found that for respondents ages 18 to 25, being “disorganized” was the worst characteristic at 26%, followed by being “overly critical” (25%), a “micromanager” at 22%, a “know-it-all” at 15% and “impatient” at 12%.Among those who identified themselves as “tech designers,” their boss being a “know-it-all” was the least of their concerns at 8%, while being a “micromanager” and “overly critical” were the most common complaints at 30% each.  The most popular choice for “entry-level” workers was being “disorganized” at 25%.Men and women had the same most-popular and least-popular answers: 44% of men and 32% of women chose a “micromanager” as the worst, while only 8% of men and 10% of women chose “impatient.”Comparably CEO Jason Nazar commented on  the research in a statement.“Creating a more rewarding workplace culture starts from the top down, and according to our most recent study bosses certainly have room for improvement,” Nazar said. “The fact that thousands of employees ranked micromanager as the No. 1 worst trait in a boss tells us that workers want their managers to do a better job of delegating and trusting their teams.”So, you don’t like your boss. What now? Here’s what to do, based on the tough supervisor you have:If you have a micromanager, be your own advocateSometimes, you’re all you have - especially when it comes to your career.But if your boss micromanages you, there’s only so much you can do while preserving the balance of power at work. But keeping track of what you complete and getting things done by taking the initiative might serve you well.If your boss is a know-it-all, don’t flip outKurt Blazek, Marketing Design Director for assessment organization The Booth Company, writes on the site that you should “choose your battles.”“The temptation to argue with a know-it-all simply based on principle can be strong, but it is often not worth the effort. You will waste valuable time and energy when the chances of actually persuading them is slim,” he writes. “Also, if that person is someone with more authority, you risk coming across as confrontational or insubordinate. If a know-it-all boss gives you an unsolicited suggestion, deflect it by responding with a disarming or passive response such as, ‘Thanks for the suggestion,’ or ‘I’ll consider that for next time.’ ”If your boss is too critical, talk it outChrissy Scivicque, a writer, corporate trainer, career coach and Founder and CEO of coaching and consulting company Eat Your Career, writes on her site that you should “address it” with your manager.She provides this sample script: “I recognize that I’m falling short of your expectations quite a bit lately. What guidance can you give me to better meet - and even exceed - your expectations in the future?”

Upper class people do believe they are better than lower classes

Upper class people do believe they are better than lower classes Upper class people do believe they are better than lower classes People in higher classes have a sense of overconfidence and the idea that they are more skilled than they actually are, a new study indicates. Because of our cultural bias toward confidence, that bluster often works to their advantage in situations like job interviews, and that overconfidence is often interpreted as more capable.“Advantages beget advantages. Those who are born in upper-class echelons are likely to remain in the upper class, and high-earning entrepreneurs disproportionately originate from highly educated, well-to-do families,” said Peter Belmi, PhD, of the University of Virginia and lead author of the study, in a release. “Our research suggests that social class shapes the attitudes that people hold about their abilities.”Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!Researchers from the US and Singapore performed four experiments to example class and to gauge peo ple’s perceptions of their abilities.In one, people played a flashcard game as a cognitive test. The people with more education, income, and higher perceived social class believed they would do better on the test than others, compared with the lower-class participants.The next two experiments were online and involved over 1,400 participants. In one, researchers gave participants a trivia test. Participants from a higher social class thought they did better than most, however, they did not.The last experiment involved a mock hiring interview, which was videotaped and watched by more than 900 judges, recruited online. When the judges rated each applicant’s competence, they tended to mix together overconfidence with competence.“Individuals with relatively high social class were more overconfident, which in turn was associated with being perceived as more competent and ultimately more hirable, even though, on average, they were no better at the trivia test than their lower-class c ounterparts,” said Belmi.He pointed out the vast differences even between the middle and working class.“In the middle class, people are socialized to differentiate themselves from others, to express what they think and feel and to confidently express their ideas and opinions, even when they lack accurate knowledge. By contrast, working-class people are socialized to embrace the values of humility, authenticity and knowing your place in the hierarchy,” he said.It’s not a universal trait to think you’re better than most, Belmi said.“Our results suggest that this type of thinking might be more prevalent among the middle and upper classes.”The study was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.You might also enjoy… New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people

7 personal branding tips for introverts

7 personal branding tips for introverts 7 personal branding tips for introverts Moving out of your comfort zone can be daunting, but the workplace rewards are worth the risks.In the workforce, having a successful career can often be about personal branding and forging connections with others in the industry. But these things can be tough for introverts, who are naturally prone to desire time alone, prefer personal reflection and thought, and are often very shy.This can be intimidating when entering a professional world where you must compete with extroverts, who are typically very sociable and draw their energy from other people. Still, the workforce doesn’t have to be a daunting place for those who aren’t as comfortable spending a lot of time around others.Here are seven tips to get introverts on the path to personal-branding success:1. Speak up about your accomplishmentsIntroverts often don’t get the recognition they deserve because they have a difficult time promoting themselves or bringing themselves attention. But it’s unwise to rely on others to sp eak up about your accomplishments, and letting them go unnoticed could get in the way of opportunities for promotion. Think carefully about what you can say about your accomplishments, and to whom, to ensure you receive credit where credit is due.2. Forge strong relationships.Many introverts may find it helpful to have a mentor or trusted supervisor to help them succeed. Forging strong relationships with those who are more apt to speak up on your behalf can be beneficial when you need someone to vouch for your abilities.3. Share your ideas.You don’t have to force yourself to be a chatterbox, but when you have a new idea or opinion, share it. This is one way that a boss or superior will really recognize your contribution to the organization. It can often help to mentally lay out what you’re going to say before you say it.4. Don’t over-analyze your performance.Introverts can be particularly hard on themselves because they often become self-conscious when on public display. Remem ber not to dwell on “mistakes.” Focus on your successes, and don’t over-analyze your situation.5. Rehearse.If you have an interview or presentation coming up, practice a few times in front of the mirror or in front of a friend. The more you do something, the less foreign it becomes.6. Have a plan.Prepare for networking events by having a plan laid out. Have a few conversation starters ready, like comments about things most people can discuss, such as current events, movies or books. Making small talk comes more naturally when you find common ground. Or, prepare a 60-second elevator pitch as a quick way to forge relationships.Take advantage of your strengths.Many introverts find that they communicate much better online than in-person. Make sure to take advantage of online networks like Twitter, LinkedIn, and any other site for young professionals to gain contacts in a stress-free environment.Remember, although the workforce can seem overwhelming to an introvert, anyone can lear n proper networking and interviewing skills. Good luck!Reposted with permission from Personal Branding Blog

How you can start writing with clarity and conviction

How you can start writing with clarity and conviction How you can start writing with clarity and conviction I am genuinely crippled by the fear of everyone finding out that I’m an idiot. Cause I am. I’m a real idiot. But I’m also a junkie for lyrical turns of phrase, even though I don’t really know how to use them. I mean I’ll still use them but usually at the expense of clarity.For years, insecurity made my writing aimless and obscure. I only started the process of correcting this after discovering something remarkable: you can be an idiot and a good writer. Isn’t that crazy? It just takes us a couple more seconds of meditation and a pinch more self-control.Mistaking density for sophistication is a symptom of the kind of bad writing that tends to go undetected because it’s often encouraged by misleading praise.“What a lovely metaphor you’ve used here! ‘A flower shackled by the maw of despair.’ That sounds so cool! I mean I still don’t understand how bitcoin works but I’m probably just dumb.“What a striking quote!  I’m not sure what Schopenhauer  has to do wi th the stock market but man, this author is well-read!”“What colorful vocabulary!  I had to read this article with a dictionary close at hand.  I don’t think  excessive  mastication means what the author thinks it does, but boy, whatta sentence!  I can empathize with the desire to rush the development of voice, but thesaurus writing isn’t a shortcut, it’s a diversion â€" the scenic route has to be earned. A command of the English language isn’t evidenced by an itch to employ ten-dollar words nor an eagerness to boast exercises in extravagant anecdotes. A competent writer embraces brevity. Cogency is their master and the words they choose a reflection of such.Of course how you say a thing is just as important as what you’re saying, but the former should never be at odds with the latter. On the subject, a  colleague of mine summated it as neatly as one could:  â€œA strong voice shows a writer comfortable enough with the source material to take risks.”Style should be a mark of strong ideas not a “smokescreen” for soft-under baked ones. Anyway, interesting thoughts don’t need much dressing. Voice and clarity are only in conflict when the former is an apology for a “lack of understanding.” In other words: you don’t get to play outside until you’ve finished your homework.Writers reporting on subjects that they aren’t well-versed in are susceptible to the kind of doubt that invariably leads to witless-cryptic-verbiage. “How do I provide validity to a piece penned by a fraud? I know! I’ll just stuff it with phrases like ‘standing disgrace’ and words like ‘malapropism.’” You don’t have to ape the parlance of an academician to convey a sense of authority. The fear of coming across like a simpleton is the most obvious feature of one.Why you “shouldn’t writeWriting that aims to impress is doomed to do just the opposite. It’s much more difficult to write plainly. It’s a skill I’m still working on. As a literature fanboy, I can’t write a check without the ghosts of my heroes sneering at my shameful stabs at elegance.It took me a long time to be at peace with the fact that if some miracle of science brought Orwell back from the dead,  he  might soon thereafter publish a piece titled “Shooting A CW.”Hemingway would give me a swirly, Sylvia Plath would go to IKEA,  Virginia Woolf would file a cease and desist and Larkin would have just a hair more things to fuel certain opinions of his. Acknowledging those that have influenced you isn’t the same as writing with them constantly in mind. If you write to be understood, and not simply to be marveled at this will take care of itself with some practice.Style and Substance as oneWriter and comedian Emily Winer recently made news with a piece she published for the New Yorker entitled I Got Rejected 101 times.  In it, she commands the virtues of clarity and voice to work toward a shared goal. Upon reading you immediately get a sense of who the author is as well as what she is trying to convey at that particular point in time.Though Winter acknowledges the craft at work, the gears remain unseen.   As an admirer of her attention to word economy both on stage and the page, I was compelled to inquire exactly how much clarity informs her process. She answered:“I’ve scrapped many ideas because I couldn’t find the words to make it come alive the way it is in my head.   On the other hand, I don’t hold onto a joke simply because it’s a good turn of phrase. This is the most cliche writing adage in the world, but you gotta kill those babies.”She concedes: “A perfectly-constructed joke could ruin a script or essay simply because it doesn’t fit tonally. It’s important to recognize when that’s happening and cut those puppies loose.”Fat becomes the enemy of writing that aims to entertain by calling attention to itself. As Winter puts it: “You don’t see a gorgeous dress and admire its seams; you see a gorgeous dress and admire it in its entirety. Drawing attention to how it’s constructed takes away from its overall purpose.”Purpose is key.   Let’s all make an effort to be more mindful in our inspection of words and their purpose. “Ill-placed, overabundant, or awkwardly-worded details can weigh a story down, but when done right, it’s what gives a project its flavor and makes it memorable.” she punctuates artfully.When writing professionally or creatively, whether in the hopes of landing a job or contributing pieces for the job you already have, establish clarity as an absolute priority.