Why Body Language is a Crucial Part of Your Success at Work -

Why Body Language is a Crucial Part of Your Success at Work -You know your professional skill set like the back of your hand. Software expertise, analytical skills, accounting best practices, administrative expertise, management skillsyou know how that can help you get and keep a job, and help you get promotions. Same for degrees and certificates. But what about how youre presenting yourself to your colleagues and to your supervisors?Your body language is a crucial parte of your success at work. Some people have naturally positive body language and may not need to adjust a thing. Others may be surprised at the mistakes they are making without even realizing it. I spoke with Denise Dudley, author of Work It Get In, Get Noticed, Get Promoted, about the importance of body language in an office setting. She offered valuable advice and insight. If youre wondering how you can improve your body language at the office, read on.Why Should I Care About Body Language?You get your work done, you do it well, and youre even careful about how you choose your words in emails and in meetings. However, according to Dudley, thats not enough.Studies show that if subjects are given the choice between what they hearwords and voice toneand what they seebody languagewhen being sent a mixed message, they go with the visual component 100% of the time, she says.If you know youre joking, but a colleague doesnt, its going to be easier for them to figure out if youre smiling than if you keep a deadpan face.As Dudley explains, over half of the components that we use to communicate are visual. With seven components total, four are visual and three are auditory. In other words, what people see from you during an in-part conversation often has more weight than what they hear.Body language is like a huge sign you wear around your neck, written in a language thats easily decipherable by your coworkers, bosses, customers, and clients, says Dudley.What Do I Need To Pay Attention To?The four visual components that make up your body language and that you need to be aware of are facial expression, eye contact, posture, and hand gestures.You may not even be aware of your posture most of the time, and youre not alone in that. Slouching over in an office chair is certainly not unusual, nor is crossing your arms when youre sitting or standing. Facial expressions might not be something youve ever thought about trying to controlheck, you might even think youre keeping a straight face. For some people, controlling facial expressions is very difficult.But to make sure you are conveying the message you want to, whether it be the immediate message you are speaking about or the overall message about your professionalism, you need to be paying attention to what your facial expression is, what your posture is, where youre looking, and what youre doing with your hands.As Dudley explains, even a shrug of the shoulders that lasts less than a second can impart a negative message to the partie yo ure talking to. It takes time to change habits like crossing your arms, slouching your shoulders, or looking across the room, but it can be done.Five Ways to Improve Your Body LanguageOnce youve recognized that you might be sending negative messages with your body language, you need to figure out what you can shift and just departure practicing it. Literally, practicing it. She lays out four aspects of body language to work on and practice improving.1) Dudley suggests working on having an open facial expression that you deliberately use to convey that you are listening. To develop it, she recommends standing in front of a mirror and practicing your expression until you know what it feels like so that you know how to keep it in place while youre talking to a person without the crutch of a mirror. An open facial expression may look different from person to person, but it is important that you ensure you arent frowning or looking concerned. If youre trying to understand a concept, its very easy to slip into a concerned face, or what you might also think of as a hard-thinking face, but that can instead convey that you are worried about whats being said. With an open facial expression, accompanied by eye contact and occasional nods, you will find conversation flows more easily and you are better received by your colleague.2) Additionally, Dudley says that leaning forward while you listen can help convey your interest in the conversation. Dont lean forward so that youre uncomfortably close or invading their personal bubblethat would show interest but also probably scare your colleague a bit. To figure out what your leaning forward listening pose should be, Dudley suggests that you think about how you listen when youre hearing something significant. Do you incline your head and slightly tilt one of your ears toward the speaker? Do you take a half step forward? Determine this, and youll have determined the most natural leaning posture for you.3) You also need to find the right balance of eye contact. A staredown wont be productive, but neither will looking away like youre completely disinterested and disengaged. When youre in conversation with someone, Dudley says that, ideal, assertive eye contact involves looking directly at the person, mostly, and breaking eye contact just a little. Making eye contact conveys engagement in the conversation, but also makes you seem confident. Ever had a conversation with someone who was looking at their hands or shifting their eyes back and forth the whole time? You probably thought of them in one of two waysthat they were shy and nervous, or that they were untrustworthy. As the old saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul, so be conscious of what yours are doing during a conversation.4) Mirroring is the next tactic that Dudley recommends for honing your body language skills. No, mirroring isnt like playing the childrens (annoying) game where they repeat everything you say and copy what you do. Instead , its a way to build trust by subtly reflecting that you and the person you are talking to are similar in nature. Little things like crossing legs, or even using one or two of the same verbal tics they use can build trust without them even fully processing that you are mirroring them. Again, the important thing here is subtlety. Dont turn it into a game of Simon Says, but just learn to be aware if there is a gesture or posture you can imitate. You might even be doing this subconsciously already and be surprised to find yourself doing it already once you start paying attention. For more on mirroring and how it can be appropriately used in a business setting, check out this Wall Street Journal article.5) For the fifth improvement you can make to your body language, Dudley brings us a universal symbol of friendliness and approachabilitythe smile. There are countless studies on the positive effects of smiling lowered cortisol levels, increased serotonin levels, lowered blood pressure, l owered heart rate, muscle relaxation, increased blood flow to the brainfor both the smiler and the smilee explains Dudley. In a business setting, just having a small smile on your face when everyone else seems to be stressed out and grumpy can make you the approachable one in the office. The next time you enter a stressful conversation, try opening with a handshake and a smile. Chances are, it wont weaken your position as much as it will put the other person at ease and make the conversation a little bit easier.ConclusionAs important as it is, body language can be tough to control and tough to change after years of subconsciously acting in a certain way. But once you take an assessment of your body language and start to make small changes, those will become habit and you will be conveying a more confident, more approachable self at work.However, with that said, this article is just a start on the topic of body language. Ill continue the discussion, covering issues like posture, in a future article. The bottom line? Body language is important.Are you tired of your resume being rejected by applicant tracking systems? I know how frustrating it is to submit your resume and receive no response. I hate seeing qualified people never breakthrough the screening process. It shouldnt be that way. Thats why I created this guide and I encourage you to download the FREE PDF so you can start seeing better resume response rates

Security Resume Objective Examples

Security Resume Objective Examples Security resume objective examplesA solid resume should safeguard your distribution policy in the workforce. In the past decade or so, the resume objective has been mostly replaced by the career summary. However, objectives are often helpful in touting your skills and abilities as you look forsecurity guard jobs. If its a challenge to condense your skills into a single sentence, these tips and examples can help.Creating a security guard/officer resume objectiveBefore you begin the task of constructing yoursecurity guard resume objective, write down all your skills, education, and certifications, as these can help you choose what to highlight. Also include any police or military training, as these instantly show aptitude for handling firearms and dealing with trespassers.Entry-level and experienced security guard/officer resume objective samplesAnentry-level sttte as a security guard/officer is usually a part-time job, or a good punkt to seek out aft er retirement from the military or following a position in loss prevention. There are typically no stringent educational requirements to becominga security guard, other than a high school diploma or the equivalent.Whether or not youre experienced on the job, you need to explain to a potential employer exactly what qualifications you have. This includes training exercises with weapons, certifications, and any licenses from accredited organizations, the state, or the federal government. Check out these examples of security guard resume objectives.Seeking a position as a security guard at Company X to apply the observational and communication skills learned as part of the United States Marine Corps.To obtain employment as a security guard at Casino X to alleviate the threat of theft or trickery by using the skills I learned as a military policeman in the United States Air Force.To earn a position at Company X that enables me to protect the health and well-being of all employees and vis itors of the facility, as well as the property.Professional security officer with 10 years ofexperience seeks position at Company X to safeguard the assets and employees of the business.To use my knowledge of surveillance, observation, and problem-solving skills from 21 years on the police force to prevent and deter breaches of company property.Enforce all safety protocols as outlined by Company X by using the skills I learned as a crime prevention specialist.

How to look for a job on Twitter

How to look for a job on Twitter How to look for a job on TwitterPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie Chun Twitter may be an entertaining way of keeping up-to-date with the latest news and gossip, but for job seekers its becoming an increasingly useful way of tapping into professional networks and job opportunities. If you learn how to use it effectively, you just may be able to tweet yourself into a job Set up a professional Twitter profile The first step on your professional Twitter journey is to set up an appropriate Twitter profile. Choose a professional-looking profile picture or avatar and a username that matches your other online usernames, such as on LinkedIn or your blog (if you have one) so your online presence is consistent. Its important to fill out a complete profile so people know who you are and why it would be worthwhile following you. You may want to include a brief job pitch in your bio and link to your online resume in it. You can also add to the lustre of your profes sional image by creating a professional-looking, customised Twitter background. This allows you to personalise your profile and add additional information, while enhancing and reinforcing your brand. You can create a customised background where you can choose your own colours and format, and add additional information that isnt included in your Twitter profile, such as your website and other details. There are numerous sites that will help you to set this up, such as MyTweetSpace, TwitterBacks, TweetStyle, TwitBacks, TwitterGallery, Twitpaper and Twitterimage. Build a relevant network Twitter, like other forms of social media, is all about connections. You need to develop a network of relevant contacts that will include both personal and professional acquaintances. You should also follow industry leaders and professionals, thought leaders, and companies that interest you. Look for public lists that are related to your field or industry to find appropriate professionals and organisat ions to follow, as well as common interest and professional interest groups. You can use the Twitter search function, Twellow (a directory of public Twitter accounts with hundreds of categories and search features to help you find people relevant to your profession and interests) and TwitDir, a directory of Twitter users that allows you to search by different attributes, including favourites and top 100 posters. Remember to get your Twitter username out there as much as you can add it under your name in emails, personal messages on other social networks and blog posts. Add a follow me on Twitter signature to your email accounts. Its important to let your networks and interactions grow organically. Once you develop a core network and get the Twitter ball rolling it tends to gain momentum, and people you follow will often start following you back. Interact with your network Perhaps the most important step is to interact and stay active with your network. Twitter is an incredi bly fast and dynamic medium, and if youre too quiet youll simply get lost in the Twittersphere. The way you interact with your network will determine what you get out of Twitter. The more dialogue and interaction you create, the better. Share information and promote others instead of just yourself. You can tweet or re-tweet interesting articles, start a conversation with someone in your field, ask a question, respond to someone elses comment or mention someone by name by using the symbol followed by their username. Chat with other industry professionals, recruiters and current employees about your industry, and join Twitter forums for your profession. Stay in the loop so you know whats going on and will hear about possible job openings. Try to be consistent in how often you tweet. Engage with others and be responsive, but dont push yourself onto others or their discussions. Once youve made a good connection with someone it would be helpful to talk to, if it seems appropriat e you can take it offline and arrange a face-to-face meeting. Add value and demonstrate your expertise By engaging with your network in this interactive and mutually beneficial way, you will add value to your followers and whatever conversations you join, and at the same time establish your credibility. Its important to write posts that show insight and demonstrate your expertise, but tread a fine line because too much self-promotion will turn off your audience. Concentrate more on producing interesting content and sharing information, and this will naturally attract attention including that of prospective employers. Just remember that every tweet contributes to your online persona and personal branding, so you want to portray yourself as a knowledgeable professional with worthwhile thoughts and ideas. How to look for a job on Twitter There are a number of direct ways to use Twitter when looking for a job. The first and most obvious thing to do is tweet about your job search so your contacts know youre looking you never know who might have a job opening. Use hashtags to look for job openings as well as general job search advice. For example, look up jobs, recruiting, jobsearch or jobadvice, and search for specific jobs such as salesjobs, prjobs or mediajobs. You can also search in a specific location, such as jobs_Sydney or JobsnAdelaide. If you know which companies you want to work for, check out their Twitter accounts to see if theyve listed any job openings. Reading their bios and their tweets will also give you a good idea of their corporate culture and help you decide if theyre a company youd like to work for. Many recruitment companies also list jobs on Twitter or you can contact them directly by sending them a Twitter message. Industry conferences are another good idea get active with other attendees on Twitter and seek out local associations or industry meetings. Chat with others about your job search on forums like jobhuntchat, careerch at or hirefriday. Anyone can join the discussion and youll learn a lot from sharing with other job seekers as well as recruiters, resume writers, HR pros, students and working professionals. Finally, for more general job search and career advice, look up things like career, careers or employment. For resume-writing tips and to view other peoples digital resumes, try resume, resumewriting and CV. And of course, dont forget to check out Career FAQs sample resumes and cover letters and career advice, as well as our Twitter page. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchescover letter legal jobenrolled nurse jobs in newcastle nswjob guarantee courses melbournelibrary assistent jobjob interview question what animal are you CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire zugnglich Enquire Onl ineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJosie ChunRelated ArticlesBrowse moreCareer progressionPart-time/flexible workWorking two jobsMortgage stress, rent increases, fuel costs and rising food prices mean Australia is experiencing a moonlighting boom as we sign on to more than one gig to supplement our income.Dressing for workWhat to wear to workWhether you are starting a brand spanking new job or youve been with the same company for the past 10 years, what you wear to work each day is important.Allied HealthMidwiferyThe Hunt is On for Australias Best NurseNominations for the 2018 HESTA Australian Nursing Awards have opened, with communities asked to shine the spotlight on Australias most over-worked and under-rated worker the nurse.

Salary negotiation tips from Uber executive Bozoma Saint John

Salary negotiation tips from Uber executive Bozoma Saint JohnSalary negotiation tips from Uber executive Bozoma Saint JohnJust because you may know your worth doesnt mean you know how to ask for it. Asking for the salary you want can be a stressful negotiation at any stage of your career. We know that our starting salary in one job can set the tone of how much we earn in anotherbei. No one wants to have a botched salary negotiation follow them throughout their career.To get the best possible outcome for your paycheck, you need to arm yourself with knowledge about best practices. As part of your battle preparation, consider the advice of Bozoma Saint John, a powerful brand executive who has been given the monumental task of re-hauling Ubers tarnished brand image1) Say a number firstPrior to working at Uber, Bozoma Saint John ran advertising for Spike Lee and worked as an Apple Music executive. In a CBS interview after being hired at Uber, she shared her best tips for salary negotiatio n with Gayle King.Give the number first, Saint John, the Chief Brand Officer at Uber, toldKing. Make it high as hell because then you can be lowballed.Saint Johns advice is backed by science that finds that the first number given in a negotiation becomes the anchor for the rest of the conversation. Take control of your career by putting down the first anchor.2) Do your homeworkOf course, before you can shoot your shot and aim for the salary of your dream, you need to do a reality check of what are industry standards for your salary. Before giving a high number during negotiations, Saint John advises employees to walk in prepared Do the work. Dont just call a number out of the sky.Discussing salaries can be difficult, but ask trusted colleagues what they are earning, so that you can have a ballpark number of what you should be earning. And if your colleagues are not forthcoming, turn to the internet The Bureau of Labor Statistics has average salary datafor over 800 occupations. And i n some industries like media and entertainment, employees are sharinganonymous salary-transparent databases online.Knowing what numbers your peers are earning allows you to shoot above them, Saint John says Know the range and then exceed the range, because then you negotiate down just a little bit. But if you allow someone to give you the number and its too low, theres no way for you to go back up.3) Bring your whole self to the tableDoing the work is not just about the research and stats you learn, but its also about how you present this information. You may think you need to perform as someone else to do the work, but to get rewarded with the salary and job you want, you need to discuss your unique attributes.For Saint John, doing her job well means not playing games and being her whole self at workBring your whole self to work. I think its really important because bringing your whole self is a very human thing, she told Glamour magazine. This is not the resume, this is the stuff that makes you, you. Its what makes your story interesting and unique. Bringing your whole self to work is the mantra for me as I sit in my office and do the work.

The One Thing You Need to Re-Enter the Workforce

The One Thing You Need to Re-Enter the WorkforceRe-Entering the WorkforceThe One Thing You Need to Re-Enter the WorkforceWeve heard plenty about the cultural phenomenon of career-oriented people leaving the workplace to become at-home parents (either stay-at-home or work-from-home). What we dont hear enough about is the other end of this odyssey, when you realize the time has come to RETURN TO WORK. This is often the point when you realize you no longer possess the single most important thing youll need in order to re-enter the workforce. Nope, its not a suit that fits (though thats probably an issue as well.) Its self-confidence.For at-home parents, theres no single POP of the confidence bubble its more of a long, slow pfffffffffffffttttt. After one, two, maybe even 10 or more years without external validation that is, no accolades from respected colleagues, no glowing performance appraisals, no promotions, no raises ones professional confidence dissipates.And now they expect you t o go on interviews and speak coherently about things having nothing to do with other peoples ingestions or excretions? Who remembers that kind of stuff? Its a serious problem.The solution to getting over this overwhelming emotional hurdle will be different for everyone, of course. But the best thing I did to boost my confidence enough to re-enter the workplace after 10 years of working from home welches to take a temp job that I was overqualified for.Temping or contract work or whatever you want to call it provided just the safety net I needed to bridge the gap. I had been a corporate technical editor in my previous life, and even though I had kept my skills fairly sharp over the years, I was overwhelmed at the thought of jumping back into a permanent, full-time gig. So I signed up with a staffing agency. I told them up front that I would be looking for a real job and might need time off for interviews. I told them that if my kid got sick, Id need to take a day off. To my surprise, that was OK with them.I soon accepted a three-month job as a proofreader of retail sale flyers. Proofreading was something I could do in my sleep (which was a good thing, as my body took awhile to readjust to a desk job.)Heres how it wentDay 1 Arrived before boss. Waited awkwardly in lobby for 15 minutes. Watched people streaming in to work. Became painfully aware of being overdressed. Boss arrived, showed me where the bathrooms, elevators, fire exits, and my cubicle were. Yikes My computer was a Mac (Id been on a PC for several years) and the company was using newer versions of Word and Outlook than I was used to. Filled out papers. Didnt really do any work. No one talked to me. (Nobody ever talks to the temp. I think its a rule.)At exactly 500 p.m., I high-tailed it to my car. The longing to see my kids was a physical ache. I pictured them lying on their beds in fetal positions, wondering why their Mommy had abandoned them (I should probably mention that Id abandoned them to Dad, whod rearranged his work schedule to be home in time for the school bus). I quickly broke down and sobbed the rest of the way home. At 530 I ran into the house, grabbed my sons (then ages 9 and 7) in a bear hug, and cried, Oh my babies, my babies Im not making this up. They gave me strange looks and inquired what the heck was wrong with me. We had all survived. Even my husband was fine.Day 2 and Beyond I knew what to wear. (Yay) My new ID badge let me enter the building all by myself. (Yay) And they finally gave me some WORK to do. They put a proof sheet in my left hand, and a red pen in my right and Stella got her groove back I wowed them with my speed and accuracy. More importantly, I wowed myself. All my fears that Id lost it were brushed away as the weeks went on. My confidence seeped back in.About six weeks into the three-month temp job, they offered me a permanent position. I knew it wasnt the right fit for me, long-term, and by then I was so confident I turned it down.Tempin g wont be the right move for everyone, but it worked wonders for me. It allowed me to brush up my rusty skills, readapt to the working world, and get my family over the logistical and psychological hump of Mom not being always-available. And it prepared me for the job that later led to this oneDo What You Need to DoIf youre approaching the back-to-work transition, consider what will make it less intimidating for YOU. Some people return to their old employers (perhaps in different capacities). Others take continuing education courses to brush up on the latest skills or technologies. And everybody should start tapping into their networks former colleagues, friends, or family members can help you get up to speed on what its like in that jungle out there. If they dont know of any job openings, they might at least be able to help you get an informational interview, which is just what it sounds like an interview where you gather information (about the company, the industry, or a certain t ype of job) with no expectation of hiring.Go on as many interviews as you can land (informational or real), and pay attention to everything. Even unsuccessful interviews are valuable for seeing the kinds of questions hiring managers ask, what people wear to work in various settings, and a number of other details. The first one is always the worst, so try to get it out of the way as soon as you can.Once you break the barrier of your own self-confidence, youll be ready to tackle the rest of your career.

Gender Studies

Gender StudiesGender StudiesThoughts and notes from Ladders editor-in-chief on why the glass ceiling is leise firmly in place.Does the boys club still present barriers to women seeking $100K+ positions?After decades of legislation and corporate policy intended to level the playing field and let qualified women into senior positions, disparities remain - but experts tell Ladders that the real problem may lie in the sociology of networking tactics.Professional women looking for high-powered jobs have the career-development and job-search savvy they need. However, many of them still lag behind their male counterparts when it comes to working their networks, according to George Washington University sociologist Lisa Torres and others who study corporate hiring patterns.The Catch-22 Women and men tend statistically to network with members of their own sex - and because men have historically been in more influential positions, male networks are often more powerful.Women have tended to be better connected overall, but they and many of their female contacts tend to work in more female-dominated jobs, sociologist William Bielby, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, told reporter Kevin Fogarty. So their networks may be wider, but dont reach to as high a level as men, who tend to be better connected, particularly in getting professional news, to more high-status people.Bottom line Women who understand these networking tangles can take better steps to address them, both by strengthening their personal pitches and extending their networks to span the gender gap.

How to Build a Culture of Accountability

How to Build a Culture of AccountabilityHow to Build a Culture of AccountabilityA culture of accountability is an organization of accountable employees. Results are communicated and understood by everybody. Accountability is determined proactively, before the fact, not reactively, after the fact. When a mistake is made, the response is not finger pointing and excuses it is about solving the problem and learning from mistakes. Every employee feels a sense of ownership for organizational results and will do what it takes to achieve those results. Now, who wouldnt want to work in that kind of culture? Even more importantly, how do you create a culture of accountability? It starts and ends with leadership Leaders - starting at the top, and at all levels will send a clear and consistent message (good or bad) about how we do things around here. So, what can leaders do to encourage a culture of accountability? Walk the Talk Nowadays, organizations are so afraid of lawsuits that they w ont admit mistakes. That kind of excuse making and blaming others will cascade down and permeate throughout the organizations. When a leader can stand before their employees and say I made a mistake and this is what were going to do to fix it it tischsets a positive example of accountable behavior that employees wont be afraid to emulate. Define Results and Expectations Dont wait for a mistake to happen and then waste energy finding who is to blame. Instead, set clear standards and expectations before the work even starts. Then, make sure all employees are aware of and understand what results the organization is trying to achieve and what the expectations are for all employees. Every employee should have a line of sight to the organizations desired results. Gain Commitment Without commitment, we get complianceor even resistance. Ill try is not commitment. Ask Do I have your commitment?, and listen to any concerns. Work with the employee to overcome barriers and figure out w hat needs to do to obtain their commitment. Be Open to Feedback and Problem Solving In other words, never shoot the messenger.Have an open-door environment where any employee is empowered to bring any problem to anyone in the organization without fear of repercussion. Hire Accountable Employees Dont just hire for technical skills and experience, hire for cultural fit. Look for a track record of admitting mistakes and overcoming obstacles. Coach Employees on How to Be Accountable Many individuals come from backgrounds where they never had to be accountable. They are used to awards for 5th place. They may have to learn new skills and behaviors, like critical thinking and problem before they can begin to thrive in a culture of accountability. Consequences and Reinforcement Ultimately, there has to be consequences for consistently poor performance and reinforcing for positive results and behaviors. Without this, employees will soon catch on that accountability is all tal k and no action. Hold Each Other Accountable ? In a culture of accountability, leaders dont just hold employees accountable for results. Everyone holds everyone accountable Every employee takes ownership of organizational results, not just their own little part of the world. Again, leaders can role model, teach, and reinforce this kind of ownership mentality. Culture will change in a positive way when leaders consistently practice these 8 principles. If they wont or cant, then perhaps its time to find new leaders.