With the economy spiraling out of control, each day you’re still employed is a blessing. But now is not the time to simply survive at work, it’s time to thrive and show the higher-ups how much you contribute to the team. How do you make your worth known? Try these tips:

1. Send work e-mails during non-work hours. Be willing to spend a few minutes each night getting a jump on work that needs to be done the following day. Confirm meetings, send updates to your boss and generally make yourself useful.
2. Come in early. Nothing screams “dependable worker” like someone already elbow deep in paperwork by 8:30 a.m.  What time does your boss get in to work? Make sure you’re there at least thirty minutes before that. If you have anything for them, leave it on their chair so they see it as soon as they come in and know that you are already there.
3. Speak up at meetings. I’m the youngest person in my whole company by at least ten years. Everyone else is mid-30s and up. If I’m not careful, they might mistake my quiet nature for someone who doesn’t have much to contribute. Make it a point to deliver at least one slam-dunk comment/suggestion during each meeting. If you have to, piggyback off someone else’s idea and take it to the next level.
4. Think of ways to cut costs. Even if that’s not your job, people always appreciate ways to save money or spend less. Can you think of a way to spend less on advertising? Administrative costs? For instance, as part of my job I handle all my company’s social media profiles and I always emphasize that these tools are free. No upfront costs plus big returns? They’re sold.
5. Create your own deadlines. Your boss need that report sitting on her desk by Friday morning? Have it waiting for her bright and early on Thursday. Being able to produce quickly is valued tremendously.
6. Emphasize what makes you a unique worker. Are you younger than everyone else? Do you read more? Are you a better writer? Do you have a fabulous memory or attention to detail? Use your unique viewpoint and work the hell out of it.

In today’s “Go For Mine” society, teamwork in the workplace has shaken things up a bit.

Team and group work seem to be the new fad at the workplace. For some of us, working in teams becomes a job within the job. For starters you become a psychologist because you need to analyze everyone’s attitude and discover what makes them tick, what they like, and what they don’t like. You also become a therapist because no matter what we say, we all bring our personal lives to the job and we need to make sure everyone is on board when it time to do a task, when there are people not getting along you’re the referee, etc. Working in teams provides everyone with a sense of belonging, responsibility and in the best cases, family.

Like anything else, working in teams has pros and cons. Studies have shown that those who work in groups take their jobs more seriously, call out less frequent and put more effort into their jobs just because they know that others are counting on them to get the job done. While you have extra hands to decrease the workload, there is generally a tremendous amount of work to be done to make sure the work actually gets done. People are counting on you to show up, be prepared, participate and bring things to the table. Team work can both raise and lower the productivity within any given group. You will have those who will rise to the occasion and those who will allow their work to dwindle with the hopes that one of their team mates will pick up the slack.

As a woman who works on a team, I can tell you that things can get hectic at times. Life happens and sometimes you can’t help the obvious. Working in a group at first won’t be easy but getting to know those in your team will make the job easier and also in turn you will learn more about you. Hopefully, you can be lucky (like me) and your team will end up being more like family and things will go swell.

Some Tips for Effective Teams:

• Be honest and upfront – When something bothers you get it out immediately or else tension can build up.

• Go into your team with an open mind. Drop your preconceived assumptions and ignore what others may think about you, just go in there and see what you come out with.

• Try your best to be understanding to personal situations. (Remember, it can happen to you too)

• Don’t talk be hind anyone’s back. Period.

• If you can, try to do something social to know your team outside of work. This can help to build and strengthen your relationships with your team members. This also shows that you sincerely want to get to know your team and that you are there because you want to not because you have to.

• Treat everyone as you would like to be treated.

• Utilize all strengths, assist in building weaknesses.

• Allow everyone the chance to shine. *Try to have supervisors or people who run a certain aspect of a project. This gives a sense of accomplishment and trust.

Not all teams are going to be peachy, sometimes drama can occur. Poor communication and clashing personalities are generally the reason. Everyone isn’t going to like everyone and certain personalities just don’t click but it must be realized and dealt with or else working within the team will be a living hell especially for the innocent bystanders. Being up front and communicating is a great way to eliminate the communication issue and just understanding that people are a certain way can make dealing with the personalities a little easier as well.

Picture it: A young lady sitting at her computer staring at the blank white screen of Microsoft Office Word wondering how to start creating the killer resume’ that will land her the job of her dreams. This happens all too often and many of us do not know how to prepare and present a winning resume.

Most of the time, recruiters and employers see your resume before they consider whether or not they will see you. So how do you draw them in so that you are labeled as a valuable candidate and offered that interview? I will provide a five-step method to this madness and help you create that which can lead you to your wildest career dreams.

1. Less Is More.

As someone who has recruited and interviewed several candidates before, I can honestly tell you that every word is not read on a resume, so it’s best to keep it short. Make sure that your resume does not exceed two 8″x11″ pages. I’ve seen resumes tossed to the side and put at the bottom of the pile because the 5 stapled pages full of education and employment experience overwhelmed the recruiting team member to the point of disinterest. ‘Tis a gift to be simple, ladies!

2. Action!

Let’s face it. Resumes can be pretty boring documents, so liven yours up but be sure not to lose the purpose of your message. Don’t merely state what your job description was or is. Instead, vividly tell the recruiting team how you did that job, list the accomplishments you made on that job, and hone in on how those accomplishments were able to benefit your previous or current company but most importantly how you will add value to the employer’s organization. Action words such as “implemented”, “designed”, “collaborated” and “achieved” are your friends when creating a resume.

3. Does It Apply?
Depending on the role you are applying for, it may not be necessary to include all employment experiences on your resume. For instance, if you are applying for a software sales role, it will not be necessary to include and provide detail on your mechanical engineering internship at NASA that took place 10 years ago. Although it’s an impressive internship opportunity, it doesn’t apply to the role you are going for. However, it would behoove you to include information about a retail management job that you recently held while in graduate school obtaining your MBA. The value of the MBA is obvious to most employers; however, the retail management role will also give the recruiting team the opportunity to receive even more insight into your interpersonal skills, negotiation skills, and your business acumen and how they can be applied to the role and the organization. Those areas are major ticket items that go a long way in sales. Build a verbal bridge and connect the relevance between your previous roles that will lead you to your future, dream role!

4. Think SMART
When discussing your current and previous roles and responsibilities, do so by using SMART objective statements that match the skills set of the job you are applying for. Ensure that those entries reflect Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-oriented, and Time-sensitive (SMART) activity. If Microsoft is seeking a Marketing Manager who “has a proven track record in leading the development and execution of high profile healthcare-based programs and campaigns”, your resume must go above and beyond to prove that you are, in fact, that candidate. An example of a SMART resume entry would be: “Successfully served as project lead for collaborating with business partners to create health insurance advertising/marketing program for Aetna that increased customer base by 30% over 18 months.” The employer now knows specifically what was done, how it was carried out and achieved, and is able to measure the activity’s results and impact over a period of time. This helps to further convince him or her that you are capable of meeting their leadership, development, and marketing execution needs. You are well on your way to more opportunities to be SMART with your new employer!

5. After 5 Attire
Current and previous employment experience are certainly the main areas of focus when reviewing any resume. However, most employers are looking for candidates who excel and make an impact inside of AND outside of the office. Your future boss and co-workers need to see other dimensions of you as an employee as well as a person. If you are on the same level with another candidate in regards to experience, how do you produce additional shine to pull yourself above the other person? It’s all about what you do after 5pm or after your work day is over. Are you a member or an officer in a business organization related to the role you are applying for? Perhaps someone on the recruiting team is a member as well, so that will stand out to him or her. Are you involved in community service? Perhaps your future boss spends a great deal of time volunteering in the community and tutoring inner-city children. He or she will definitely be able to relate to your commitment to your community, and that could mean brownie points for you! What are your hobbies and interests? It’s common knowledge that most business transactions and deals are made on the golf course. Add that as an interest on your resume, and brush up on the latest golf tips and news so you can share your knowledge during that interview that you are sure to be invited to! After all, who can toss your killer resume to the side now?!

If you have further questions or need one-on-one resume’ writing or career guidance, please feel free to ping me at quianas@gmail.com.

Continued success and blessings!

America is in a recession right now, and according to statistics 4.8 percent of this country is already unemployed and as of last month, an additional 71,000 were laid off. Moreover, since the official declaration of the recession, over 350,000 Americans have lost their jobs through company cutbacks and layoffs. Due to the decline of the mortgage and real estate industry, as well as the current war on Iraq , America is suffering a huge economic loss. Companies are scrambling to keep their revenue and their ass-ets while simultaneously giving hundreds and even thousands of workers the pink slip at a time. It is almost as indiscriminate as life or death, being unemployed can happen to anyone—it can happen to you.

I lost my previous job five months ago, and I have to tell you it was the most agonizing experiences—at first. It was frustrating, depressing, and self-depreciating. I wallowed in self-pity for a long time; simply because I lost something that I felt was the only source of income, which I practically defined my whole life by. However, after some time I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and did some things which I will explain over time through this blog to make your life a little more bearable if you ever encounter this life changing experience.

What does one do when they lose their job? When I first got notice that I would be losing my job soon, and I had thirty days to get my affairs in order, I was mortified. I didn’t know what to do. I cried to my boyfriend in despair. “What do I do?” I sobbed. However, after the crying was done, I pulled myself up and buckled down.

1. First thing I did was to get my resume together. Mo put together some pretty excellent ideas to spruce up your resume. Depending on the nature of your termination, you can still list your current job as part of your experience. I do warn you though, do be prepared to explain to every interviewer (as I did) as honestly as possible how and why you lost your job.

2. Put together a list of references from your current job. If you have gotten in the good graces of others through your experience and time on the job, take their names, emails, and phone numbers down. Make sure you ask them if you can use them as a reference. This will prove helpful when looking for work, especially if you are going to list your current job on your resume.

3. Start applying to jobs immediately. Assess what jobs will suit your needs, skill set, and career path. Then start directing your resumes and cover letters toward them. Good places to post your resume and look for jobs are: idealist.org, craigslist.com, monster.com, and careerbuilder.com. Some of them even have job targeting searches and features that can even send your resume to mass employers simultaneously.

Chances are you may get hired before you’re laid off, and you can resign from your current place of employment without suffering any real feelings of loss – money, pride, or otherwise. Unfortunately, not every one that does the above (such as myself) escapes the dreaded pink slip. Not to fret though, there are other things you can do besides pulling your hair out of your head.

1. File for unemployment, immediately. Yes, as young as you are, if you have worked at a company (any company) for over six months you qualify for unemployment! Although your company may not want to offer you a pay check, they still will have to compensate your pay through unemployment benefits insurance. Most states have a website that residents can go to once they become unemployed and apply; just search the word “unemployment” and your state abbreviation. During my five months of unemployment I never had to go in person to an office to apply or pick up my benefits. Specifically, NY State Unemployment offers direct deposit as well as debit cards provided by Chase bank to disperse monies to recipients.

2. Apply for health insurance benefits. Many of you may be aware of COBRA and its health insurance package so you can still retain your benefits. However, COBRA itself costs an arm and a leg when depending on your unemployment benefits. There are many state supplemented programs for the unemployed. NY grants Medicare and Medicaid, as well as supplemented health insurance through Healthy NY, which gives you several providers and plans to choose from according to your county and your income.

3. Get a support group. As closed in or vulnerable you may feel at this moment, please do not go into seclusion! Studies show that depression from job loss can be just as impactful as or even more impactful than losing a loved one. To add insult to injury, many people even after becoming re-employed never regain peace of mind. Please do not allow this to happen to you! Make sure that you have some loved ones to lean on and lend a hand during this season of drought in your life. They will serve as an aid to help lift your spirits and even lift you out of unemployment in helping you find a job.

4. Do not lose hope! Remember, this is only for a season. Despite your current circumstances, be positive and continue to be diligent in your job search. Eventually, a job will come your way.

I hope this helps anyone who is down on their luck at the present moment. In the future, I will be elaborating more on this topic. Be blessed all and have a wonderful week.

-LD

So you are finally done with school and ready to get paid… or you work long hours for little pay and want to step it up… or you love your career, but just want to poke around and see what else is out there. Whatever the case may be, the following paragraphs could be helpful to any SASSY woman that is interviewing for an internship, graduate program or career upgrade.

Each March I receive over 250 applications for a competitive summer internship at my organization. The summer internship attracts many passionate and over-achieving college students. This week alone I interviewed about twenty Ivy league-ers and the outcome was less than fierce (think Christian from Project Runway). These soon to be professionals touted 3.7 GPAs from Brown, resumes that listed references from the District Attorney’s Office, and their application essays were flawless. What they lacked was some serious interviewing prep. Come on everyone, we prep for the SATs, for prom, for the dentist (you know you floss double time a week before your appointment); it’s time to put in the A for effort when it comes to preparing for your next interview.

Step 1: Make the cover letter good.

I am really tired of skimming stock cover letters. The cover letter is a candidate’s chance to say, “Hey, pick me!” Instead, most letters have typos, are very vague, and are even geared towards unrelated careers. The best cover letter I’ve ever read was written by my boss. When she applied to be the new executive director, she got straight to the point. Her cover letter had bullet points, folks. Each bullet point had a clever little headline that showed the readers exactly what she wanted them to take away from what they were reading. She then broke down the bullet point with clear instances in her career that illustrated her point and then ended with a basic, “so now you know why I am the shiiit” closing paragraph. Sounds simple but you wouldn’t believe how many of us don’t do this. Point is: cover letters should be full of action statements that you can back up, they should be well written and most of all they should be specific to the job you are applying to. When job hunting you must accept that you will write several excellent cover letters without using cut and paste.

No Brainer Tip #1: As for resumes, all I can say is, “down with the ‘Objective: To gain entry level experience’ line.”

Step 2: Enter stage right with confidence.

Every September I help prepare 30 bright 8^th graders to enter and thrive in the top high schools across the country. Students write several drafts of their application essays, put together portfolios of their best work and most importantly, undergo mock interviews with school admissions teams. This interview practice has proven to be the cornerstone of our successful admissions acceptance rates. My students have been able to talk their way into full-ride scholarships, gain acceptances to schools that are outside of their given district/school zone and forge relationships with key admissions stakeholders. I realize that some of the lessons my students learn need to be taught to an older crowd too. It all starts with a solid hand shake. A good handshake is firm, strong and no shorter than two Mississippi’s, no longer that four Mississippi’s. The handshake should be coupled with direct eye contact and your most genuine smile. The handshake-eye-contact-grin is a winning combination that exudes confidence and warmth.

No Brainer Tip #2: Don’t try to get away with mismatched H&M gear for the interview. Go classic and invest in a well fitting dress suit.

Step 3: Reflect on your past experiences before the big day.

I recently read an article about the strong correlation between interview questions that asked candidates to reflect on past work experience and later employee success rate. The article prompted me to revamp all of my interview questions from the previous “What if” types to the “How did you react when” types. The difference was stark. Candidates spent more time thinking between questions, they often said “That’s a good question” and the answers offered true insight as to how people may act and perform in the future. Although all this was great, there were also several times candidates were just so caught off guard that they said nothing. They would ask me to rephrase the question and sit silently for more than 3 minutes. Shame, they were unprepared.

As more employers begin to use this experience based line of questioning, potential employees need to come ready! Reflect on your past professional experiences prior to your interview. When applying to business schools, my fiancé took this advice to the next level and created a list of commonly asked interview questions and wrote answers for each. Before his interviews he would review his answers and add additional questions post interviews. I am attaching his list of questions so you can check them out too.

No Brainer Tip #3: Try your best to use professional examples (like work, internships or school) when reflecting on your past experience. In a recent interview, one candidate kept using interactions with her best friend as examples of her character. I found this to be unprofessional and it didn’t help me assess what she is like in a work environment.

Step 4: Go out with a bang! (or, at least a couple questions)

Every interviewer will end with the same question, “Do you have any questions for me?” You should always have something to ask at this point, and it needs to be something that cannot be found on the website, or answered with a yes or no. This is really your chance to flip the script on your interviewer. The best questions I have been asked similarly force me to reflect on my experiences at the organization. You can also use these questions as a plug for any strengths you didn’t get to talk about in the interview. For example, “I really thrive in a collaborative environment. Can you tell me about the culture and the level of teamwork at this organization/company/school?” Point is: make sure your interviewer knows you have thought through why this place is right for you, and not just why you are right for them.

Well, that’s all folks. Follow the steps above and truly become fierce for that next interview.

-Mo

Manuel’s Pre-Interview Prep Questions

• Why do you want this degree/career/internship? Why now?

• What will you bring to X school/company?

• If you were admitted/hired, how do you think you would get involved in this community aside from work/class?

• Tell me about a time you led an individual at work. What style did you use?

• What motivates you? Where did you get it from?

• Tell me about a leadership experience that’s not in your essays.

• Tell me about a time when you led a team – one time at work, and another time outside of work

• Is there anything else you wish I had asked?

• Tell me about a time you failed, or a decision that you regret

• Tell me about a conflict you had to deal with

• Tell me about a conflict that wasn’t resolved the way you wanted

• What role do you typically play on a team?

• What do you think will be most difficult for you at XX school/company?

• What makes you unique?

• What makes you different from other candidates?

• Tell me about a professional setback, and how you dealt with the frustration

• What are your professional strengths and weaknesses?

• Tell me about your typical responsibilities at work

• Why don’t you walk me through your resume? Tell me about your career choices, and why you made them

• 20 years from now, what book would you write about yourself? What will the title be?

• How has your leadership style changed?

• What is your dream job?

• Which of your accomplishments is most special to you? Why?

• What is a common misperception of you?

• What decision would you change if you were in the past?

• What improvements do you need to make on your leadership style?

• How do you motivate others in XX organization/company?

• What book have you read most recently? Did you like it? Why?

• Who do you admire? Why?

• A CEO, aside from your employer, that you admire?

• Why have you been successful at XX job?