How to Write the Perfect LinkedIn Invitation

How to Write the Perfect LinkedIn Invitation LinkedIn is a great tool for keeping in touch with useful contacts you make throughout your career and even for making new connections who may be able to assist you along the way, so therefore it is important that you give off a good impression when using the network. Saying this, people will always cut corners where they can and  this is a particular issue on LinkedIn  when it comes to sending invitations to connect with people. Yes, LinkedIn do offer a generic message to be sent alongside your invitation if you wish to do so, but think about it this way, would you approach someone at a networking event without as much as properly introducing yourself? This is why it is crucial that you put the time in to customise your invitation messages on LinkedIn and this infographic by Webquacker  explains how to write the perfect connection request. TAKEAWAYS: Make sure you have a  good quality photograph of yourself on your profile.  The person that you are connecting with will build a first impression of you based on this, so make sure it is professional and gives a positive representation of who you are. Selfies,  party pics and low resolution photographs are best avoided. Address the individual by name.  By beginning your message with Hi [name] it gives a more personal feel, rather than giving the impression  of you sending out connection requests willy nilly. Just be careful to spell their name correctly as a mispelling will suggest a lack of care. Introduce yourself or explain how you know them. If  youve met before, chances are that they will remember who you are without prompting, but just in case, its always good to remind the individual where you met. Alternatively, you may be sending the invitation because you read their work or would like to do business with them and in this case tell them just that. Be sure to introduce who you are and explain what you do. Explain why you would like to connect with them.  People are more likely to accept a connection invitation if the sender has a proper reason for reaching out and is not just looking to expand their network by any means. End on a positive note.  Finishing your message with a warm sign-off will make you appear approachable and users are much more likely to accept an invitation with a welcoming tone. RELATED: LinkedIn Invitations: Everything You Need to Know (and Then Some!)

Writing a Professional Resume for Experienced Professionals

Writing a Professional Resume for Experienced ProfessionalsIf you are a professional looking to break into the job market, then resume writing for experienced professionals is a very important step. You may have the right education and experience, but if you do not include the right keywords in your resume, you will not be able to get the job you want. This article will discuss the importance of resume writing for experienced professionals.A resume is a document that contains information about yourself and how you can help a particular company. It includes your skills, knowledge, and achievements and gives the employer a sense of your worth as a professional. The key to success is to use the right keywords in your resume. The following paragraphs will give you an idea about how you can write your resume to get the job you want.Remember that writing resumes for professionals can be challenging because many companies now use online resumes instead of traditional ones. Most companies do not hire someone to write a resume anymore. Therefore, you need to make sure that you know how to write a good resume.You should remember that your resume is like your 'home' on a resume, it should include all of your information about your education, experience, educational credentials, and any achievements you have that would qualify you for the position you are applying for. You should also include keywords that relate to the type of work you are applying for. The keywords that relate to your job requirements should be placed above the job description.A resume is not just a sheet of paper filled with your name and contact information. The resume is the first impression that you make on the employer. So, your resume should be interesting and provide the employer with information that they can use to make a decision about you. With the right keywords in your resume, you will be able to get the job you want.You should include all of your accomplishments in your resume. Use the word s 'Acquired' instead of 'Moved up'. This will help show the employer that you were able to move up in your current job. After you learn how to write a good resume, you should keep it updated. To do this, you should check for outdated information on your resume and add new information so that your resume will look professional and current.Take your time to make sure that the resume is flowing well. Most people tend to rush through resumes and leave them in the recycle bin. Make sure that you write a good resume. That way, you will get a better chance of getting hired. If you are interested in some ideas for resume writing for experienced professionals, there are some professional resume writing services that can help you out.Using a professional resume writing service can help you put together a great resume for the job you want. There are a number of companies that provide resume writing services. If you know how to write a good resume, you can also create one that is professionally written. Use the ideas discussed in this article to get you started on writing a good resume.

How to Decode Non-Verbal Communication in Interviews

How to Decode Non-Verbal Communication in Interviews “Electric communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who with their soul encourages another person to be brave and true.” â€" Charles Dickens It is said that if you interview for employment and answer all questions correctly while effectively selling yourself, you might get the job. Honestly, it is easier said than done. While articulating properly is important, it’s imperative to understand that little things, too, can make a world of a difference between pass and fail. You might think that non-verbal behaviour is incapable of sinking the ship. According to CollegeJournal, an interview comprises of 55% body language, 7% verbal communication, and 38% paralanguage or intonation. Hence, non-verbal communication is not just essential, but exceptionally vital to ace the process. There have been numerous cases where qualified candidates did not make the cut due to their behaviour or manner of dressing. Body language in its entirety can wheedle out the no-getters from the go-getters. It is to the applicant’s advantage to fully grasp the fundamentals of non-verbal behaviour for ultimate success. Basically, non-verbal cues: Supplement verbal communication. Example: nodding your head when saying “yes”. Define relationships between two people. Example: shaking hands when exiting the room. Convey information about the emotional state of the applicant. Example: blinking too much or tapping your feet (nervousness and anxiety). Give definitive feedback. Control the flow of communication. Example: signalling to start or stop speaking. Before we go any further, let’s throw some light on the different components that define non-verbal behaviour: Body language or kinesics: Body movements include posture, gestures, hand and head movements, or movements of the whole body. Body language constitutes a vital part of communication as it reinforces what an individual is trying to say while offering information about their emotions and attitudes. Sometimes, it’s possible for body language to conflict with what is being said. For example, when answering questions in an interview, a seasoned observer could pinpoint discrepancies in behaviour and use them to reach a certain conclusion. According to research, body language can be broken down into the following categories: Emblems: Gestures that mean the same as what is being said. For example, the sign for “OK” and “V” for victory. However, the interpretation of these gestures can wary internationally. “V” could mean the number two in US and the symbol is downright offensive in Australia. Illustrators: Gestures that supplement verbal communication. For example, pointing to something that you are talking about. Such signals reinforce what is being said. Illustrators, too, are different from culture to culture. ‘Looking into the eyes’ while emphasizing a point is considered rude in Asia, but shows interest and confidence in America. Affect Displays: Gestures or facial expressions that show emotions. They are normally unintentional and may easily conflict with what is being said. For example, shaking when in anger or using silence to show displeasure. Regulators: Gestures that provide feedback during a conversation. They modulate, regulate, and maintain the flow of speech. For example, using sounds like “uh-huh” when nodding your head to indicate understanding. Adaptors: Gestures that satisfy a physical need. For example, scratching an itch or biting fingernails when nervous. Such body movements are carried out at a low level of awareness. Eye movements or oculesics: The magic of sight can make or break your chances of landing a lucrative job prospect. Staring at the panel with a look of utter terror on your face is a sure shot ticket to instant dismissal. Pupil dilation, blink rate, frequency of glances, and the intensity of your gaze can publicize hidden intent during an interview. Eye movements are a window into ones soul and have a tendency to divulge information, unintentionally. To avoid embarrassment, it’s best to focus at a point close to the interviewer’s eyes, maybe the nose, while glancing briefly at the other interviewers when addressing them directly. Maintaining eye contact indicates interest, which is one way to give and receive feedback. Oculesics cultivates relationships. For example, you avoid eye contact when you are uncertain about answering an interview question, whereas, you maintain a positive eye contact when you are eager to respond to a query. A steady gaze forms a bridge between speaking and listening. Eye movements have a tendency to imply different emotions. For example, looking down when you are unsure of an answer, or blinking too much in a state of confusion. Voice modulation or paralinguistics: Paralanguage refers to all those aspects of speech which are not directly related to “words”. Voice modulation includes intonation, pitch, tone, and audibility level of your baritone. When answering questions in an interview, always be aware of how you enunciate, the volume and speed of your message delivery, and the pauses between words. Emphasis on certain words can be easily picked up by the hiring manager. Paralinguistics indicate feelings about what is being said. Emphasizing certain words gives way to prompt feedback. Voice modulation helps in judging your situational temperament. Girls generally have a shrill voice which can be mistaken for nervousness, whereas boys have a deeper baritone which could indicate ignorance. Personal space or proxemics: In today’s multi-cultural society it is very important to understand the detailed nuances of personal space expressed in different ethnic groups. Violating an individual’s space can be highly offensive and completely open to misinterpretation. In Western society proxemics is defined by 4 types of relationships that are internally divided into a close phase and a far phase: Intimate (up to 45cm): This distance stretches from “touching” to 45cm. Invading an individual’s intimate space without permission can be very disturbing. Personal (45cm â€" 1.2m): This is the most appropriate distance for having a conversation. Handshaking takes place within this boundary. At this distance it is very easy to see and analyze the other person’s body language. Social (1.2m â€" 3.6m): This form of proxemics comes into play when sitting for an interview. It is the normal distance for impersonal business. This is where the different aspects of non-verbal communication like facial expressions, eye movements, posture, etc. become prominent for observation. Public (3.7m â€" 4.5m): At a far distance of 4.5m it is essential to exaggerate non-verbal cues for effective communication. Facial gestures are normally lost at such long distances so bold hand movements are employed as a clear substitute. Study of time or chronemics: The language of time can be very technical to understand. Getting a hang of chronemics makes for good interview ethics and bodes well for your character in case you get hired. The concept of time in interview preparation pertains to interactions, punctuality, patience, and willingness to wait. Your time-usage acumen can define whether you are suitable for a particular job position or not. The simplest example is reaching the interview venue on time. Chronemics across cultures in divided into: Monochronic time: Everything is organized, scheduled, and pre-planned. Events and occasions are conducted at one particular point in time. Switzerland, Germany, and Canada are monochronic. Polychronic time: Multiple proceedings are conducted at once, and scheduling time is highly flexible. Latin America, Africa, and Asia are polychronic. Pointers to impress: It’s easy to simply talk about non-verbal behaviour, but it’s quite a different story when it comes to practising it in real time. There are no tips or pointers about non-verbal cues that you can mug-up before giving an interview. These are inherent traits which could manifest themselves in any form on the final day. However, to abate nervousness and gain some confidence, keep these suggestions in mind when preparing for an interview: Dress appropriately for the interview â€" business formals, polished shoes, and ties for men. Keep stray hair in check by clipping them properly. It is a massive turn-off for an interviewer when a candidate’s face is obscured by tufts of hair. Tone down the bling when it comes to jewellery, makeup, and especially fragrance. Ensure that tattoos and piercings are well hidden. Bring several copies of your resume to the interview centre. (organized) Smile when you meet the hiring manager for the first time. (openness) Glance at the interviewer from time-to-time but never stare or avoid eye contact completely. Be attentive and pay attention to detail. Sit confidently and do not shrivel in your own space. (strength of character) Relax your limbs and sit naturally. NEVER start scratching in front of the manager. Control the itch if required. Take care of your intonation, pronunciation, and rhythm. Do not shout or raise your volume. Be positive when narrating experiences and avoid negative comments. Remember to listen attentively. Keep your emotions in check, always. Prepare interesting questions to ask the hiring manager. Thank the interviewer for his time and patience. Never: Chew gum in front of the hiring panel. You will find yourself walking out the door the very next instant. Proceed with a “limp fish” handshake. Keep it firm, but not bone-crushing. Lounge in the chair. Sit straight, preferably at the edge of the seat to appear eager and attentive. Flail your hands around when enunciating. Wipe sweat off your body indecently. Stop speaking abruptly in the middle of a sentence and trail off. Tap your feet, doodle, drum your fingers, or keep touching your hair incessantly. Lean too much towards the interviewer. It is a clear violation of his personal space. Demean or speak ill of your previous employer. Bring a cell phone, gum, iPod, candy, cigarettes, dirty clothes, or a soda can to the venue. Interrupt the hiring manager. Glare at the manager out of anger. Use words like um, er, uh, like, you know. Slouch, slump, or drag your feet. Behave indecently on being rejected. Keep your cool and accept defeat gracefully. Be completely expressionless. This behaviour can be quite irritating. Hiring managers are interested in people, not robots. Come armed with a bag full of attitude. It is never cool to act haughty and superior. Final thoughts: Non-verbal communication is an essential part of a candidate’s profile. Several job seekers are unaware of this form of communication; hence, making mistakes is quite common. With sufficient practise and repeated interview sittings, you will not only grasp the minute details of this daunting process, but will begin to understand the non-verbal cues of the interviewer as well. An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the aforementioned pointers will lead to greater shared interaction, which is the sole purpose of effective communication. Author:  Tina Jindal is a professional content writer who works on a variety of topics like employment, real estate, and education. A career advisor for naukri.com, she has been involved with renowned publications and has tried her hand at editing works on Cookery, Gardening, Pregnancy, and Healthcare.

You Lost Me At Hello! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

You Lost Me At Hello! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career One of the most memorable lines from the 1996 classic movie “Jerry McGuire” comes at the very end. “I love you. You . . . you complete me. And I just . . . ,” Jerry stammers to Dorothy. “Shut up. Just shut up,” Dorothy, Jerry’s love interest, responds, “You had me at ‘hello.’” In other words, Dorothy was telling Jerry that he had “won her heart” after hearing just the very first word out of his mouth, “Hello.” Could there really be that much inherent power in a SINGLE word? You bet there can be and is! OK, you’re probably saying at this point, but what in the world does any of this have to do with BRANDING oneself in today’s job market, anyway? Actually, quite a bit. Let me explain. Typically, when you call up another person, what is the first word out of that person’s mouth when they answer the phone? “Hello,” of course! Right? Right! So what? You may say. Well, here is the “so what.” I have found that the vast majority of job seekers I call (as the result of having my interest piqued by their résumé or by some other response to a career opportunity I have posted, etc.) pronounce “hello” in this manner: They say, “heh low,” with the emphasis being placed on the “heh.” You know what? That immediately brands the person as probably someone who has a low energy level, little enthusiasm, is not very optimistic or positive-thinking. Let me assure you, then, that the person certainly doesn’t have ME at “Hello.” Quite the contrary, actually. Usually, they have LOST me at “Hello”! Is my perception “unfair” or unnecessarily biased? Not really. Bear in mind that, when I am communicating with you on the telephone, the only “clues” I am getting about you and your personality are AUDIO clues. I can’t see your facial expressions, hand gestures or the many other physical “clues” one experiences in face-to-face conversations. So, yes, it matters a great deal how you pronounce words, the inflection you use, your tone of voice, the volume of your voice, etc., etc., etc. And, yes, it really does begin with the FIRST word out of your mouth, “Hello.” But, you might be protesting at this point, a telephone call such as I’m describing really isn’t an “interview,” so what’s the big deal? Fair question, but you couldn’t be more off the mark if you honestly think this initial phone call from me (or any other “headhunter,” hiring manager or Human Resources professional) is NOT a “real” interview. (The proof of this statement is this: If you don’t “pass” this initial call you won’t have to worry about any future “real” interviews.) By taking such an apparently uncompromising stance regarding this initial phone call am I perhaps missing out on some good candidates? Maybe, but to be honest about it, I don’t have the time (or the inclination) to wade through too many “maybe” candidates. I am looking to present only people in the top 20% of their bracket to my clients. In turn, my clients want to hire only the top 20%. So when your “Hello” is a real downer to begin with, you have just lost me. I am already thinking about my next phone call. And this is especially true if you have sent me your résumé for a sales position. Let me digress for just a moment here to put this issue into greater focus. If you have been following this blog, you know we are in the most hypercompetitive job market EVER! Manpower, Inc. (the largest staffing firm in the world) states in its most recent survey that 84% of currently employed people want a new career opportunity. LinkedIn’s survey puts that number at 79%. For all practical purposes, those numbers are basically the same. Translated, that means there are 8 MILLION currently employed people wanting a new opportunity. Combine that with the 14 million unemployed and we have 122 million people who want a new job! What that means to you is this: Companies can afford to be picky. Very picky. And they are! Now the reality is this: Not every person in this group of 122 million is an ACTIVE job seeker. More realistically, the job seeker “pool” will closely mimic a traditional “bell curve” distribution, i.e., about 25% will indeed be ACTIVE job seekers (posting their résumés, responding frequently to online postings, etc.); another 25% will be SEMI-ACTIVE (have their résumé ready to go, probably have some search robots set up to send them postings in a particular area and will respond very selectively to online postings); another 25% will be SEMI-PASSIVE (open to a call from a recruiter or referral from a colleague); and the remaining 25% will remain PASSIVE (though they would like a new opportunity, they will never really have the inner-fortitude and stomach to actually do anything about it). So, the magnitude of just the ACTIVE and SEMI-ACTIVE job seekersâ€"fully one-half of the entire “pool,” or 61 MILLION peopleâ€"goes a long way toward explaining why our executive recruiting firm, on average, gets 200+ resumes and 30 to 40 phone calls each and every business day, as well as why some large companies get literally THOUSANDS of résumés and phone calls each business day. What this means, then, is that, of necessity, the hiring game for both our firm and the hiring companies today is one of EXCLUSION. In other words, we are looking for ways to ELIMINATE as many candidates as possible, as quickly as possible, until we get to a “short list” of candidates. Now, back to the initial phone contact with a potential candidate. Sometimes, though not always, I may give a potential candidate a “second chance,” even if they have already blown the “Hello” portion of the initial phone contact. I’ll usually say something like this: “This is Skip Freeman with The HTW Group and you sent us your résumé in response to such-and-such posting.” Now the candidate has an opportunity to redeem himself/herself, but alas, all too many continue to brand themselves as someone in the bottom 80% of candidates when the SECOND word out of their mouth is simply, “Yeah?” or “OK?” I really would like to think that, if most candidates actually stopped and thought about what kinds of things precipitate a call from a “headhunter,” hiring manager or Human Resources professional in the first place, they might take an entirely different, far less careless approach when they answer the phone. (Hey, I’m an eternal optimist!) As we tell you in “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets, “headhunters,” it’s crucial to keep in mind that hiring managers and Human Resources are interested in learning the answers to basically FOUR questions when considering you (or anyone else) for a any given position: • Can you DO the job? (Do you have the skills and technical qualifications?) • Do you WANT to do the job? (Are you enthusiastic, motivated, hardworking, energetic?) • WILL you do the job? (Will you go above and beyond? Do you get along with people and work well in teams? Will you be excited about being with the company?) • Are you a CULTURAL FIT? (Dress, mannerisms, pace of work, attitude) So, when I (or anyone else) pick up the phone and give you a call, it is because I (or we) have already determined from the information you sent to us (résumé, cover letter, email, voice mail, etc.) that there is a higher degree of probability than most that you “can DO the job”, i.e. the information you provided suggests you have the right educational background, experiences and skill sets. And, when we call you, we are already focused on the next three questions in the process of elimination noted above. And, literally, it is often the very first word out of your mouthâ€"“HELLO”â€"that can make or break the entire phone call, as well as your potential candidacy. Cruel? Arbitrary? Perhaps, but that’s still the way it is! Whether you want a new career opportunity, someone in customer service to help you, or just doing your current job on a daily routine basis, don’t “lose them at ‘Hello.’” While I’ve shown you how you can brand yourself as someone who is NOT a prime candidate simply by the way you say, “Hello,” it’s important to point out that you can just as well brand yourself as someone in the Top 20% with just that one word. You can be perceived as someone with a high level of energy, optimism and enthusiasm with just that one word too! Say “Hello” with ENERGY and ENTHUSIASM! Or better yet, don’t say “Hello” at all! Rather, try answering the phone by saying something like this: “Hi, Jill speaking” or “Smith residence.” But if you do choose to answer the phone with just the word “Hello,” after I hear it don’t make me be thinking, “Yeah, hell is a little low.” Try “hi”…it is a little closer to heaven.” Author: Skip Freeman is the author of “Headhunter” Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever! and is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The HTW Group (Hire to Win), an Atlanta, GA, Metropolitan Area Executive Search Firm. Specializing in the placement of sales, engineering, manufacturing and RD professionals, he has developed powerful techniques that help companies hire the best and help the best get hired.

Business Goals For Freelance Resume Writing

Business Goals For Freelance Resume WritingThis article discusses the four characteristics of a good business plan and how to write a business goals for freelance resume writing. Any resume writer can quickly become frustrated by writing the perfect resume, but if you follow these simple rules you will be much better off. You will be able to use this information to help you get your resume on the desk of any employer in minutes instead of days.Business goals are made for freelance resume writing, but it is a good idea to have a separate business plan just for your personal life. This will ensure that you have some direction to follow when it comes to your career. This might seem obvious, but a freelancer is expected to write multiple resumes for different employers.For most freelancers this can prove to be very frustrating because they do not get the quality information they need to know. A business plan can be written using business goals for freelance resume writing as a guide. You should plan it around your own personality and how you intend to use your skills. This should help you write the perfect resume.Having done several different jobs before and maybe even sold some of your work will help you get more information when you start writing. This way you will be able to add value to the company. A plan should be written around a specific set of skills or traits and also who you are, your past employment, the skills you have and the current employment. These factors should all be included in the business plan.Business goals for freelance resume writing should also include some sort of outcome. This is very important because it tells the person reviewing your resume what the next step is. If you do not mention the outcome, you risk losing the person's attention because they might think you do not know what you are doing.People who plan out their goals usually know where they want to go and how they want to get there. For example they might want to change care ers, go into accounting or find an area of interests that they can devote their time to. The details of their goals should be listed in the plan so that you know where you need to be and what steps you need to take to get there.One of the other things that should be included in the business plan is how you plan to measure your success. If you are hoping to sell your services to a client they will expect the outcome to be a sale and you can use a sales goal. For instance, they might want a sales goal of 1000 a month, but you might try to write it as 100 a week.Using the advice given here, you should be able to come up with a great business goals for freelance resume writing. Then your next challenge will be to craft a business plan that gives you the goals you have been given as well as the details you need to get there.

How E.ON put on a networking event like no other - Debut

How E.ON put on a networking event like no other - Debut Networking. Let me ask you. Did you get a shudder down your spine reading that word? A New York Times survey in 2010 once ranked the fear of networking higher than the fear of death. So if you did, youre certainly not the only one. It doesnt have to be scary, though. E.ON  ran an event at Debut HQ with the aim of meeting the best and the  brightest Debutants to see if there were any who seemed like a good fit for the E.ON family. The last thing they wanted was to intimidate. So, what do you do to make a networking event fun? We here at Debut HQ can tell you. You take out the dress code, you let the attendees ask a ton of questions, and you serve enough pizza to feed a village. Hats off to E.ON who put on an incredible show. They brought in actual E.ON graduates to speak about the schemes available. They were able to answer tough questions about company culture, career progression and perceptions about the energy industry with grace and a fantastic attention to detail. We spoke to five young people who were there at the event. Here were their thoughts  about E.ONs friendly approach to networking: Minh There was so much information in this event!  I honestly think this event  has  really helped to shape my path after university. Ali I think this event was really great, because they got actual experts. Since theyre experts, it felt that they were the right figures of authority to be speaking to us about potential opportunities at the company. I found it very informative listening to their real-life experiences, and Ill share this information with others later. Kenny I originally came here with an interest in analytical marketing, but now Ive attended the event, customer ops has piqued my interest. The speakers vision of transforming the company and optimising everything, making it more efficient its right up my street as a mechanical engineering student. Geoffrey Olivia Geoffrey: This event gave us an insight into a range of opportunities with E.ON. As engineers, we often are pigeonholed into one area of the business, but actually thats not true there are so many areas. This was the perfect opportunity to learn more about other experiences. Olivia: I agree. It was nice to hear about the sheer variety of opportunities and all of the different roles. Before this I only knew about E.ON as an energy company. It was nice to see a different side, the strategic business side of the company. Seems like everyone had a swell time at the E.ON event. We sure did! Networking could lead you to incredible opportunities. All you have to do is take a deep breath, enter the room, and go with the networking flow.   Heads up! E.ON  has a variety of amazing opportunities on the  Debut app. Download the app today to check out their jobs on offer. Follow us on Twitter @DebutCareers and like us on Facebook!

How E.ON put on a networking event like no other - Debut

How E.ON put on a networking event like no other - Debut Networking. Let me ask you. Did you get a shudder down your spine reading that word? A New York Times survey in 2010 once ranked the fear of networking higher than the fear of death. So if you did, youre certainly not the only one. It doesnt have to be scary, though. E.ON  ran an event at Debut HQ with the aim of meeting the best and the  brightest Debutants to see if there were any who seemed like a good fit for the E.ON family. The last thing they wanted was to intimidate. So, what do you do to make a networking event fun? We here at Debut HQ can tell you. You take out the dress code, you let the attendees ask a ton of questions, and you serve enough pizza to feed a village. Hats off to E.ON who put on an incredible show. They brought in actual E.ON graduates to speak about the schemes available. They were able to answer tough questions about company culture, career progression and perceptions about the energy industry with grace and a fantastic attention to detail. We spoke to five young people who were there at the event. Here were their thoughts  about E.ONs friendly approach to networking: Minh There was so much information in this event!  I honestly think this event  has  really helped to shape my path after university. Ali I think this event was really great, because they got actual experts. Since theyre experts, it felt that they were the right figures of authority to be speaking to us about potential opportunities at the company. I found it very informative listening to their real-life experiences, and Ill share this information with others later. Kenny I originally came here with an interest in analytical marketing, but now Ive attended the event, customer ops has piqued my interest. The speakers vision of transforming the company and optimising everything, making it more efficient its right up my street as a mechanical engineering student. Geoffrey Olivia Geoffrey: This event gave us an insight into a range of opportunities with E.ON. As engineers, we often are pigeonholed into one area of the business, but actually thats not true there are so many areas. This was the perfect opportunity to learn more about other experiences. Olivia: I agree. It was nice to hear about the sheer variety of opportunities and all of the different roles. Before this I only knew about E.ON as an energy company. It was nice to see a different side, the strategic business side of the company. Seems like everyone had a swell time at the E.ON event. We sure did! Networking could lead you to incredible opportunities. All you have to do is take a deep breath, enter the room, and go with the networking flow.   Heads up! E.ON  has a variety of amazing opportunities on the  Debut app. Download the app today to check out their jobs on offer. Follow us on Twitter @DebutCareers and like us on Facebook!

4 ways to Avoid Becoming a Workaholic

4 ways to Avoid Becoming a Workaholic 4 ways to Avoid Becoming a Workaholic A recent report came out on NBC titled, “Are you binge working? The question is deadly serious.” According to Wikepedia, the definition of workaholic is a person who is addicted to work. While the term can be used to mean that a person enjoys their work and is devoted to his or her career; it is generally used to imply a person feels compelled to excessive work-related activity. The NBC article cites actual cases of people dying from working too hard, but admits those are extremely rare cases. I’m not a doctor or psychologist and there is no generally accepted medical definition of a condition called “workaholism.” But it is something we have all been touched by; whether we realize we are afflicted or know someone who is. After reading the article, I interviewed some of my peers and thought long and hard about my past 30 years of working for multiple companies. As a result, here are my top recommendations to avoid workaholism, and to concentrate on healthy â€" and productive â€" hard work: 1. Choose to Stay… or Move On. If you are in a workaholic-driven company or division, and don’t want to perform at the expected level, get out. I hear so many people say, “My company makes me work so hard that it’s wrecking my life.” or “I have no life outside work.” One thing for sure: you’re not going to change the company culture or environment you came into. Managing your career is all about choices. If you don’t have choices, then you become the victim and you’re stuck. So it’s up to you to build choices while employed. 2. Know Your Success Metrics. Too many employees are overwhelmed and, therefore, spend too many hours on the wrong priorities. When was the last time you asked your boss, “What are my top priorities?” or “I have so much on my plate; can you help me prioritize them?” I’ve had a number of great bosses, but one in particular did a very good job of defining my priorities and the metrics of success for me. It made a direct impact on my productivity, how I scheduled my time, and how I could avoid falling into workaholic mode. Minimize work which gives relatively little or no benefit for the time invested. Knowing what your success looks like will also help you avoid excessive perfectionism in everything you do. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good, to paraphrase Voltaire. 3. Use your own calendar to prevent working ridiculous hours. Robert was out of control. He wasn’t seeing his kids often enough, his marriage was in trouble, and he was gaining weight. Finally, a friend recommended a great tactic to manage his schedule. Robert blocked his morning work-out on Mondays and Fridays, he blocked lunch time to run home and have lunch with his wife, then he made an appointment with himself to leave at 6pm to have dinner with his family. 4. Allow yourself to be a workaholic for a brief time… then consciously stop. We all have “crunch times” at work that require extra hours. It’s important to know when you are in that situation, and then be deliberate in getting out of it! If you are a manager, you can set a great example for your direct reports and peers. If you are new to an organization, be careful that you do not start with a work tempo that encourages others to assume you are a workaholic. I made that mistake and was branded as, “that person who works really hard and can get anything done.” So what happened? I kept getting assigned more and more; I didn’t learn how to say, “I’m maxed out,” and just worked harder and harder to keep up. Not good! Watch yourself! Are you a current workaholic or a workaholic in training? Only you can make the appropriate changes or the big decisions to get out of the environment you’re in.

How to Build Your Support Group (in 3 Easy Steps!) - When I Grow Up

How to Build Your Support Group (in 3 Easy Steps!) - When I Grow Up I know that finding your support network can be super duper uper hard, which is why  I thought it would be fun to lay down a How to Build Your Support Group (in 3 Easy Steps!) video (and seriously, the steps are  easy  and theres even a bonus tip at the end!). I mean, I live in freakin New York City and when I was starting out as The When I Grow Up Coach, I felt all alone having to build it (and connect with others!) from my cubicle. Thankfully there was The Interwebs, and I can say now that Ive found some of my current bestest friends online. OK, I know that makes me sound like a loser to The Normal World, but if youre here hangin on my blog I have a feeling youre pickin up what Im puttin down and you  know that your Tribe is out there. Lemme help ya find em by watchin the video below!