Talented People
I was asked last week for an article about employment, "What is your favorite 'employment phrase'?" Wow, talk about tough questions! What sprang to mind were all the phrases that people should avoid like the plague, so I had to do some fast thinking to come up with one that I loved. After mentally narrowing down my options, I settled on one: 'talented people'. When used correctly, this has an 80% chance of success. Here's how to use it: in the interview, when asked why you want to work at XYZ corporation, you reply, "I would love to work at XYZ because I really want to work with a group of talented people, and your reputation in the field is incredible." This implies that you, Joe Jobseeker, are brighter than the average job seeker and either possess talent as well or strive to be in that realm of talent so as to challenge yourself. It also implies that you want to work with the best of the best, in a dynamic atmosphere, where ideas flow and the energy is high. You get the idea! This phrase compliments the company, states something about your character, and lets the hiring manager know that you not only have researched the reputation of the company but also know something of the corporate dynamic, and perhaps even the personalities of the people that already work there. Whew! That's pretty powerful! When NOT to use this phrase? If you are applying for a job that is known to be repetitious or you would be working solo. In either of those cases, it probably wouldn't be the best idea to work the 'talented people' phrase into the interview, and may make you seem as if you didn't know anything about the company or the job for which you were applying. So, for all of those 'talented people' out there, good luck, and don't forget to use this phrase! Laura Innis Yaldo http://www.apexresumes.com/ Laura Innis Yaldo brings several years of scientific recruiting for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, laboratory bench experience, and certification as a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (PARW) together to her new post as owner of Apex Résumés. | | | | RELATED ARTICLES Helping Mid-Life Employees Find Meaning People work to live, but most also live to work. A study on the meaning of work conducted back in 1987 revealed a strong attachment to work as a way of life. The study found that 86 percent of people would continue working even if they had enough money never to work another day. There could be no better indication that work is not simply a matter of putting food on the table, but is core to the being of most adults. How To Become A Computer Consultant Have you ever wanted to become a computer consultant, but you weren't sure if you could cut it? Do you have a basic understanding of computer-systems, strong problem-solving skills, and a desire to help other people? If so, then you already possess the main abilities and traits that you need to become a computer consultant. Career Search from Within Seeking meaningful and fulfilling work can become a discouraging, confusing and overwhelming journey. Beware spending too much time looking for your answers outside of yourself. Ultimately, coming to know our right livelihood is the inner work of our whole being. Useless Resume Objectives What's wrong with an objective on a resume? The problem with objectives on resumes is that a typical objective is self-centered and self-serving; therefore, it is useless. Instead of an objective, use a power statement. How to Turn a Job Search into a Career Find The only way to find a new career is to stop looking for a job Career success requires the identical effort and targeting as setting a course for continuous professional development. Job Interview Preparation - What Employers Are Looking For When an employer decides to conduct an interview with you, there are certain things that they are looking for from you. Naturally, you are likely to focus on these things during an interview, but you should remember all of the tips in this manual because following those tips is what is going to make the employers see all of those things in you. Making Sure You Get a Good Reference You've had 3 interviews with a potential employer and they've asked you for references from your prior job. The problem is that you didn't leave on the best of terms and now you're a bit worried about the kind of reference they'll give. Follow these simple rules and you will be able to handle this without any problem. Job Search Tips - How to Increase Your Success Finding a job can be a painful and difficult experience. Here are three things that you can do to minimize the pain and increase your chances of success. The Top 10 Reasons to have a Career Coach Many people in the last decade have experienced for themselves either a layoff or termination. Some of these people affected have experienced outplacement-consulting services. This is a fancy word for "help" in finding a new job. Many have also heard the adage that it is better to get a new job while you are still employed. Write Resume Keywords That Gets Your Application Read As children we often used to read stories where magical words can open caves filled with treasures or magicians using words like abracadabra... sim sim.. and magically things appear out of thin air. Who Do I Have To Kill To Get A Job? I have had more than my amount of trouble in getting a job. I did everything I was supposed to do. I went to an Ivy League school, got a 3.75 grade average, and then graduated as president of his class. Then I entered the job market. How Hedgehogs Hire In my last column, I explored Jim Collins' "hedgehog" principle, and how powerfully this can be used to attract great employees. After many dozens of CEO interviews, I'm convinced that leaders with well-defined hedgehogs deploy the most successful hiring models. Networking Masterclass - Part 1 - Practicing Empathy Practicing Empathy A vital part of your networking skills is your ability to build rapport quickly and effectively with others. To build rapport successfully with another individual you need to understand 'where' they are coming from and have 'empathy' with them.  People often think of empathy as a mystical commodity, a special, almost uncanny ability to experience the thoughts and feelings of someone else. In fact 'empathy' is quite simply applied imagination and only requires a little exertion and discipline. The next time you are sitting in a room conversing with three or more people, try this very simple activity: Temporarily remove yourself from the conversation. Be very quiet for a few moments. Pay particular attention to the person doing the most talking. Imagine the following things: Imagine the physical sensations the speaker is experiencing. Mentally place yourself in that person's body, sitting or standing in a particular position, eating the same food, drinking the same drink. Mentally become that person. Do you feel energised? Tired? Irritated? Imagine what kind of day the speaker has had - using all your knowledge about the speakers' day. If you know little about the person, guess. Continue to imagine yourself as that person. How does your day colour and affect what you are saying? Imagine the person's relationship's to everyone in the room - including yourself. Continue to mentally be that person. What kind of feelings are generated by the people around you? How do they affect the things you say? Now step back into yourself and rejoin the scene. Does your own role in the conversation feel different?  Empathy, like memory is a creative act, not a mystical property and it requires imagination and practice. It lies within the grasp of all of us. Tackling Your Unemployment Creatively Are you unemployed or been laid off? You are not alone if that is any comfort to you. Worldwide millions of people are in the same predicament as you are. Unemployment and lay offs are stark realities of the downsizing, reengineering, restructuring, and automation in a sluggish global economy where corporations are trying every trick in the book to reduce costs, increase productivity and keep the organization lean, mean and profitable. Every one of us has gone through the phase of being unemployed once or more in our careers. What is a Career Anyway? A career is the sum total of all of your work-related contributions to society in a lifetime. This includes time and effort spent to provide goods, services, or benefit to others. A career includes paid, un-paid, volunteer, part-time, and full-time positions. Your career includes many life roles you may not think of: student, homemaker, babysitter, office worker, doctor, lawyer, etc. A career encompasses all the roles you play and duties you perform. You may have many jobs or positions that make up your career, but you only have one overall career. There are various career options in the modern world of work: Self-Employed, Organization Employed, or Project-Employed. Ten Tips to a Job Winning Interview These days, interviews don't come easily. When you get The Call, make the most of your time -- and go for it! Take This Job and...Re-staff It Deciding to leave a job isn't easy. In fact, quitting a job requires courage, especially in today's soft economy when the unemployment rate has reached 6.4%. However, in a tight job market, some people consider leaving their jobs without having another "lined up". You Can Identify a Problem Solver As an executive recruiter, I interview a lot of people. And while most candidates find a way to look good on paper, their resumes don't always reveal how good of a problem solver they are. Yet all of my clients want to hire problem solvers - people who can walk into their operation and make their problems go away. This is understandable. Business, of course, is all about problems. In fact, whether your business is in growth mode or decline, you will always have problems. And it's management's job to either come up with the answers, or hire people who will. This article is about the latter. How We Learned about Solving Problems Growing Up On A Delaware Farm Growing up on a Delaware farm was a wonderful and rewarding experience for me. Surviving The Technical Interview Ah, the technical interview. Nothing like it. Not only does it cause anxiety, but it causes anxiety for several different reasons.
|