11 Items for Your Career Wish List

11 Items for Your Career Wish List Throughout the holiday season, everyone will be making wish lists. Between things we plan to give and things we’d like to receive, writing it all down is the best way to stay organized. What about what you want for your career? Instead of writing a normal gift list this year, make a wish list for career. The items on your career wish list can be tangible things to make your life a little easier, but they don’t have to be. Include your short-term and long-term goals, as well. 11 Items to Help You Get Started on Your Career Wish List 1. New skills. Start with some new items to add to your resume. If there’s a skill you know will be useful in your industry you didn’t learn in school, add it to the list and make it your mission to learn that skill. Your own personal growth is in your hands. 2. Professional attire. On the tangible end of the spectrum, you may want to get some new professional clothes. Think about suits, ties, blazers, skirts, polishable shoes, button-up shirts, etc. These are especially important if you’re entering the interview stage of your job search, or if you’ve been hired by a company with a very professional dress code. 3. Business cards. It’s a really good idea for job seekers and employed professionals alike to have their own business cards. They are perfect for exchanging contact information after interviews and networking events. Include your name, email, phone number, website or social media, and a descriptor for people to remember who you are. For example, “Gen Y Career Expert and Content Marketing Digital PR.” 4. People you’d like to meet. Your list might also include the names of people you’ve been wanting to reach out to for advice. Once they’re on your list, make it your mission to reach out to them on LinkedIn or in some other way. Introduce yourself and ask them if they can make some time to speak with you. .ai-rotate {position: relative;} .ai-rotate-hidden {visibility: hidden;} .ai-rotate-hidden-2 {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;} .ai-list-data, .ai-ip-data, .ai-fallback, .ai-list-block {visibility: hidden; position: absolute; width: 50%; height: 1px; z-index: -9999;} 5. A mentor. You may want to push one of those relationships even further by finding someone to be your career mentor. A mentor will help you be a lot more successful in your career and can be your go-to person. When you find someone who agrees to mentor you, be sure to take full advantage of the opportunity. 6. A nice portfolio. Going back to the tangible, you might want to add a nice, well-made portfolio to your list. A portfolio is something you can bring to job interviews to store your resumes and work samples, and take notes. There are some really nice leather portfolios out there. Investing in one of these can boost your confidence and your professional appearance. 7. Professional website. If a portfolio you carry with you is not your style, a professional website could be your replacement. Create your own website with a resume, digital portfolio, and even a blog. A website makes you much more visible to hiring managers. 8. Companies. If you have a few companies where you know you’d love to work, add them to your wish list. Find these companies’ career pages and monitor them regularly for openings that fit your qualifications. .ai-rotate {position: relative;} .ai-rotate-hidden {visibility: hidden;} .ai-rotate-hidden-2 {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;} .ai-list-data, .ai-ip-data, .ai-fallback, .ai-list-block {visibility: hidden; position: absolute; width: 50%; height: 1px; z-index: -9999;} 9. Jobs and internships. Write down potential jobs and internships for which you’d like to apply. Keep track of the job descriptions and important links for easy retrieval when you have time to fill out the applications. 10. Volunteer opportunities. If volunteering is important to you, write in some opportunities you’d like to pursue. Whether it’s specific organizations or a general cause, writing it down will remind you to stop putting it off and start volunteering. 11. Role models. While some professionals might be out of reach from a networking perspective, you still might write down a list of successful professionals you admire. You can follow these people in the news and social media to see how they got to where they are and what they’re doing to improve your industry. Your career wish list will be unique to you, but these suggestions should get you started. Think about your short and long-term goals and use this list to make sure you pursue them. If you constantly maintain and update your list, you will have your own personal road map for your career. So use the holiday spirit to get started right now! What items would you include in your career wish list?

4 Signs Youre Too Hard on Yourself at Work - The Muse

4 Signs Youre Too Hard on Yourself at Work - The Muse 4 Signs Youre Too Hard on Yourself at Work Quit being so difficult on yourself. Murmur. That is an estimation that is resounded around in my cerebrum for whatever length of time that I can recollect. From when I thought I completely blew my tryout to play Mother Goose in my fifth grade play to when I was persuaded that I besieged my first prospective employee meet-up, individuals have consistently been reminding me to take a full breath and show myself a little effortlessness. I'll let it be known: That doesn't fall into place for me. I'm driven, fretful, and a quintessential fussbudget. With some restraint, those can be certain characteristics. Be that as it may, when taken to the outrageous? All things considered, they regularly lead to me thrashing myself for even the littlest of mistakes. Following quite a while of doing that very thing, I've figured out how to perceive those minutes when I'm as a rule only excessively unforgiving with myself. What are the signs and indications I search for? Here are four of the most widely recognized ones-with the goal that you can abstain from falling into exactly the same snares as me. 1. You Argue With Compliments Consider the last time somebody offered you a veritable commendation. What did you say accordingly? Did you immediately begin clarifying the entirety of the reasons you really didn't merit that acclaim? I get it. Tolerating praises can be clumsy. You would prefer not to appear to be self-important or excessively braggy, so all things being equal you begin causing to notice your own deficiencies and inadequacies to infuse somewhat more modesty into that discussion. Be that as it may, stop and think for a minute: When you realize you buckled down on something and are satisfied with the general outcome, you've more than earned the consideration and energy about others. Along these lines, feel free to acknowledge that praise at face worth and answer with a basic, Bless your heart. 2. You Constantly Say However… Correspondingly, yet whistles a powerful alarm tune for those of us who are continually making progress toward additional. You found that activity you needed… however there weren't that numerous candidates. You set up a magnificent introduction… however it would've been stunningly better on the off chance that you had somewhat more time. Sound natural? I realize that I'm totally liable of rationalizing like these for why my own achievements aren't really that extraordinary. In any case, why contribute the time and vitality to destroy your own accomplishments? Skirt the however and rather center around the primary portion of those sentences-they're far all the more fulfilling (and genuine!). 3. You Always Rely on the Insights of Others There's nothing amiss with inclining toward the help and direction of the individuals you work with. It tends to be useful as a rule. In any case, in case you're continually doing it-in any event, for errands and assignments in which you're the real master? All things considered, that is an indication that you don't believe yourself as much as you should. Continually requiring the confirmation and endorsement of others will just back you off and additionally subvert your certainty. I'm willing to wager you aren't giving yourself about enough credit, so have somewhat more confidence that you realize the most ideal route forward. 4. You Accept Blame for Everything As simple for what it's worth to be difficult for yourself when things go right, that enticement turns out to be considerably more grounded when things run out of control. You start reprimanding yourself for everything-even conditions that were clearly well outside your ability to control. The bleak climate or the way that a customer was late to a significant gathering are largely troubles that you carry on your own shoulders (in spite of the way that you had no capacity to transform them). Your endeavors to be responsible are splendid. Be that as it may, state it with me now: Not all things are your shortcoming. Quit rebuffing yourself. It doesn't benefit you in any way especially when you were unable to have improved the circumstance at any rate. I'll concede that I probably won't be the most qualified individual to offer you guidance on the best way to be somewhat more sympathetic with yourself-that is something I'm still effectively taking a shot at myself. In any case, having the option to perceive those occasions when I'm being excessively merciless has been a useful initial phase in changing that conduct. Search for these signs in your own life (I'm certain you're liable of at any rate a couple!). When you catch yourself in the act? Take a full breath and guarantee to have some persistence and comprehension with yourself. Take it from me-you merit it.

Background Checks for Employment

Individual verifications for Employment Individual verifications for Employment Reviews show that up to 95% of bosses expect workers to experience some kind of record verification â€" here and there including a credit check â€" during the recruiting procedure. For what reason do bosses need this data? It could be for a few reasons. For example, if government exceptional status are required for the activity you are meeting for, a business individual verification might be required. For positions including bookkeeping or budgetary obligations, credit reports can give understanding into how monetarily reliable you are. Before you consent to permit a business to run a historical verification during the recruiting procedure, discover what sort of data they can find â€" and what your privileges are. What is a Background Check? A historical verification is an audit of a people business, criminal, and (at times) money related records. Normally, a business will contract with an outside seller who has practical experience in personal investigations. The individual verification organization will audit your records to decide whether you are who you state you are and whether there are any warnings in your own or expert history. Contingent upon limitations forced by state law, these records may incorporate criminal history, work record, financial record, driving record, and even clinical history. In any case, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alerts bosses against utilizing clinical history or hereditary data in recruiting choices. Why Employers Conduct Background Checks There are numerous reasons why record verifications are generally utilized in employing. The business might need to ensure you are coming clean. Its assessed that over 40% of resumes can contain bogus or changed data, so businesses need to guarantee that you can do what guarantee. (When they recruit you, a business may tout your capabilities to customers - in the event that it is uncovered that these capabilities are bogus, it ponders ineffectively the business.) The business may play out a record verification to see if you really moved on from the school you said you did or to affirm that you worked at your past employer(s) during the time expressed on your resume or your request for employment. These checks can likewise be utilized to shield businesses from risk issues - if representatives carry on ineffectively, managers can now and then be considered answerable for carelessness, or neglecting to do the exploration required. For instance, if a transport organization employs somebody with a poor driving record, they can be considered capable if the driver gets into an accident; the desire is that a transport organization should check the driving records of any competitor before recruiting. Bosses Must Ask Before Doing a Background Check Before doing a foundation or credit check, businesses must ask for and get composed authorization from you. In the event that anything in the reports prompts the organization ruling against recruiting you, they are required to illuminate you and give you a duplicate of the report. These principles are directed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and are intended to secure you. For example, maybe something that turns up in your individual verification is off base approaching the report will permit you to connect with the essential associations and offices to address the blunder. While some data on your individual verification might be of real worry to bosses, these checks can't be blamed so as to segregate. Managers must demand individual verifications of all candidates similarly for instance, it is illicit to check the criminal records of male employment competitors yet not female. Furthermore, businesses can't utilize foundation data to segregate. Contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the event that you speculate the personal investigation was utilized in a biased manner. It is segregation to settle on a recruiting choice dependent on race, national inception, sex, religion, inability, hereditary data, and age (for up-and-comers 40 or more established). Work Background Check Timing Numerous businesses direct foundation and reference checks during the employing procedure, preceding extending to an up-and-comer the employment opportunity. Nonetheless, at times, a bid for employment might be dependent upon the consequences of the individual verification. That implies the offer could be pulled back if the association discovers negative data. In the event that the checks arent completed before your beginning date, you could lose your employment. Reference checking firm Allison and Taylor reports that [m]any business understandings and agreements incorporate a specification that says the business can employ you with a 90-day probation period. During this time, they won't just assess your activity execution however, in certain occasions, will do foundation and reference checks. During this time, if the outcomes are unsuitable, they have the lawful option to fire you. Data Included in a Background Check Whats remembered for a worker personal investigation? The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) sets the norms for screening for work. The FCRA characterizes an individual verification as a purchaser report. Before a business can get a buyer report or run a credit check for work purposes, they should advise you recorded as a hard copy and get your composed approval. In certain states, there are confines on what bosses can check. Business History VerificationYour business history incorporates all the organizations you have worked for, your activity titles, and the dates of work and compensation earned at every one of your employments. A work history confirmation is directed by a business to affirm that the work data remembered for your resume and additionally employment form is exact. What Other Information Will Employers Seek? Work individual verifications are being directed by bosses more every now and again than before. That is for a few reasons, including worries over careless recruiting claims. In any case, personal investigations don't give all the data numerous businesses look for. In case you're meeting for a new position, you can hope to experience a portion of these solicitations for data: Occupation Applicant Credit ChecksIts getting increasingly regular for organizations to run credit keeps an eye on work candidates just as representatives being considered for advancement. Discover what data organizations are permitted to check, how to deal with a credit check, and how it may affect employing. Whats in your credit report and for what reason is it applicable to work? Data accessible from your credit report can hamper your pursuit of employment and can be justification for taking you out of conflict for an occupation. Particularly with regards to employments where cash and money related data is included, terrible credit can be an issue. Medication and Alcohol TestsThere are a few sorts of medications and liquor tests that contender for work might be approached to take. Recruiting can be dependent upon breezing through pre-work tranquilize assessments and screenings. Survey data on the kinds of tests used to screen for tranquilize use, what appears in the tests, and how work medicate screening can affect recruiting choices. Criminal Records and Background ChecksLaws fluctuate on checking criminal history relying upon your condition of living arrangement. A few states dont permit inquiries regarding captures or feelings past a specific point previously. Others just permit thought of criminal history for specific positions. Business VerificationWhen recruited for a new position, representatives are required to demonstrate that they are legitimately qualified for work in the United States. Bosses are required to check the character and qualification to work for every single new worker. An Employment Eligibility Verification structure (I-9 Form) must be finished and kept on document by the business. One of the inquiries work searchers habitually pose is What can a business state about previous representatives? Some activity searchers assume that organizations can just legitimately discharge dates of business, compensation, and your activity title. Notwithstanding, that is not the situation. While most organizations will avoid castigating a previous worker to a planned manager, they are lawfully permitted to do as such. Know about what a previous business may state before you start the prospective employee meet-up process. The data contained in this article isn't legitimate exhortation and is certifiably not a substitute for such guidance. State and government laws change every now and again, and the data in this article may not mirror your own state's laws or the latest changes to the law.

20 Questions You Should Absolutely Never Ask in an Interview

20 Questions You Should Absolutely Never Ask in an Interview Preparing questions to ask your interviewers, is an important part of job interview preparation. Your interviewer wants to know that you are genuinely interested in the role and have the ability to engage in conversation. Questions to the interviewer help to achieve this. The questions you ask will also provide you with insight as to whether or not the employer is a fit for you. In this post we share 5 types of interview questions you want to avoid at all costs. We also share 20 sample candidate interview questions as examples to avoid. “Do you have any questions for me?” is the standard final question you can expect as your interview nears the end. If you’ve been properly prepping for the big interview, then you have been researching the company and you have intelligent and engaging questions ready for the interviewer in response. Remember, interviews should be a two-way street, a conversation. The company wants to know about you just as much as you want to know about the company. You’re both aiming for a win-win situation. Asking great questions can turn even the most hopeless interview around; conversely, asking bad questions can be a death sentence for what started as a great interaction. If you want to avoid asking bad questions, follow these tips: 1. Avoid Personal Questions In general, it’s best not to ask personal questions or questions relating to any personal items (desk photographs, marital status, etc.). These can sometimes create awkward situations. Some examples of personal questions to avoid: What is the astrological sign of the president/CEO? Are you single? Did you adopt your child? Do you like being a parent? 2. If You Can Easily Google it, Don’t Ask it! The interview is a crucial opportunity to sell yourself by demonstrating that you are interested in the job and eager to find the right career match (i.e. the company for which you are interviewing). Asking questions about information you should have picked up in your pre-interview research will make you look unprepared and oblivious. Here are a few examples of obvious questions you should already know the answers to: What does your company do? How many offices do you have? Do you do business with companies that violate human rights? See these interview prep tips to discover everything you need to know before stepping foot in the interview room. 3. Avoid Questions that Demonstrate a Lack of Interest in Work Your boss is more interested in hiring a hard worker or high achiever than someone who is looking to simply pay rent and just get by. If you are interviewing for your goal position, whatever you do, you’ll absolutely want to stay away from these questions: What will my salary be? Will I have to work long hours? How soon can I take a vacation? Whats the vacation policy? Yes, your salary and vacation time are important information, but you’ll want to save these questions for later in the interview process. These are questions that Human Resources will typically raise at the appropriate time and before you receive the offer letter. Be patient. Do you know how to answer the salary question? Heres what you need to know before your interview.   4. Avoid Questions that Demonstrate Self-Entitlement No one wants to work with an egomaniac. Or the opposite, someone who needs constant reinforcement. Some questions that will lump you into this category: When will I be eligible for a raise? A promotion? Do I get my own office? What happens if I don’t get along with my boss or colleagues? I won’t have to work for someone less educated, will I? How did I do? Did I get the job? I found myself in a pinch as I had an interview looming, at one of my target companies and wanted to “blow the cobwebs out.” It had been years since I interviewed for a position. I was referred to Noelle and she was great! Her questions and feedback were thought provoking. I felt much more prepared for my 3-hour interview. As a result, I was asked to come back for the final interview! Susan, Hospitality Professional 5. Avoid Questions that Point to Drama When it comes to your future employer, drama queens need not apply. You don’t want to come across as having a pension for gossip or trouble! These questions will be sure to set off red flags for your interviewer: I heard a rumor about the CEO/company/stock. Is it true? Do you monitor emails and phone calls? How many warnings do you get before you’re fired? Is it easy to get away with stuff around here? Instead, Try This Interview Question Strategy The best interviews are interactive, so ask open-ended questions that will get the conversation flowing. Ask Why questionsâ€"as they pertain to the goal of the position. Ask How questionsâ€"they will help you do your job if you get hired. Asking these types of questions will demonstrate to the interviewer that you have the right motivations and want to be successful in the role. Don’t Wait Until the End to Ask Engaging Questions Walk into an interview with your ears wide open and a receptive attitude. Be prepared to ask questions during the interviewâ€"it shows you’re listening. If you are really interested in the company and the position, you should naturally have questions anyway. If necessary, jot down questions before you go to the interview. You can also jot down questions during the interview as new information is revealed. These conversations are never predictable, and you don’t know the interviewer’s state of mind (Energetic? Tired? Excited? Apathetic?), so don’t expect a set script or plan of action that you can follow. Just use your resume to answer as many questions as possible and remember why you are there: You are the best candidate! If you want to be fully prepared for your interview, with the best questions and self-confidence, check out our interview coaching packages. They cover all the basesâ€"asking the best  questions, how to construct powerful answers, insight into the hiring managers top  candidate  needs, and full support from our interview strategy expertsâ€"to give you the best chance at getting hired.