Friday, November 29, 2019

What to do if you submit a job application with mistakes

What to do if you submit a job application with mistakesWhat to do if you submit a job application with mistakesJob candidates know they should present employers with flawless application material that demonstrates their best effort.But sometimes despite careful proofreading,a mistake you should have caught doesnt come to light untilafterthe submission leaves your hands.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreInevitably, youll sigh, shake your head, and scold yourself for the error. At some point, however,youll need to move on(hopefully sooner rather than later). Humans make mistakes, and they learn from them. (Bet all company names get triple-checked moving forward after spelling one wrong)The question then becomes how to proceed.Point out the mistake to the hiring manager and risk drawing attention to it? Let it go and hope for the best?Sorry to say, no easy solution exists, but answe rs to the following questions can help with decisions on what to do if you submit a job application with mistakesHow bad is the mistake?A grammar error certainly wont earn a candidate any points, but it definitely does not hold the same danger as something such as putting in the wrong graduation year.If you discover a major factual error in your resume or application, it would be best to resubmit it, says Certified Professional Resume Writer Kelly Donovan, principal atKelly Donovan Associates. Facts such as dates of employment, job titles, and degrees are critical.Discrepancies in those areas can lead to being terminated if theyre discovered after youre hired.Even if you were to tell the employer about the mistake verbally or through schmelzglasle during the interview process, that information might be forgotten or lost.Since employers oftentimes skim during the early stages of the hiring process, a typo might not even get noticed. Letting it go may prove the best solution. An inco rrect telephone number, however, spells disaster and demands rectification.What is the job?Consider how the mistake affects candidacy. An employer may frown at amisspelled word on an applicationfor a restaurant manager position but overlook it because the person has a wealth of industry experience and superior customer service skills. A job seeker looking to secure work as an editor may not be so lucky andbe better off admitting the error, which at least shows dedication to getting things right.Is there an easy fix?Finally,consider what actions would be necessary to solve the problem. If you applied online, the employers applicant tracking software might allow you to log in and upload an updated resume. The beauty here is that you dont have to point out why youre submitting a new version, and chances are the old file simply gets deleted.Unfortunately, not all cases resolve so simply.If you sent your resume to a specific person, you could email the corrected version with a short note in the email body, Donovan says. Briefly mention what the mistake was and that you felt it was important toensure your materials were accurate.Made a factual error deemed not significant enough to warrant resubmission but still worth correcting at some point?Bring it up at the interview.Briefly clarify the information when an interview topic ties in with it, Donovan says. For instance, while discussing your team leadership, you could say, By the way, after submitting my resume I realized that it should have said 10 rather than 14 for the number of people on my team. The other four I was thinking of were cross-functional resources I helped oversee.Yes, owning up to an error can feel a bit uncomfortable. However, it alsodemonstrates honesty and conscientiousness- two great qualities for any prospective employeeThis article first appeared in Flex Jobs.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

How to Answer College Job Interview Questions About Stress

How to Answer College Job Interview Questions About StressHow to Answer College Job Interview Questions About StressJob interviewersknow how tough college academics can be, especially for certain majors, and theyll want to know how you handled the pressure and how this will translate to their workplace. They might ask this as an ice-breaker to begin theinterview (Wow, you went to MIT? How did you deal with that crazy workload?). They might want to gauge your ability to prioritize and persevere. Most likely, the job youre interviewing for will have plenty of stress baked into its work environment, and the interviewer wants to know if you can hack it. There are plenty of angles you can take to answer this question, but above all, be honest. Dont start twisting your answers to present yourself as some kind of invincible wunderkind. Interviewers want to know yourstrengths and weaknesses, and they know that nobody is 100-percent perfect or has superhuman strength. Everybody has their kryp tonite. The key is to tell the interviewer how you take your kryptonite and make it work for you. You might be one of those people who do your best work when the stress is on. In any event, these suggestions will help you craft a convincing answer that stays true to who you are. Heres how to turn stress into a positive attribute in an interview. What Employers Want to Know During an interview, a potential employer wants to filter out any candidates that seem like they might have a melt-down under stress. They want to make sure that, in tense situations, you dont become overly emotional, disruptive, overwhelmed, or allow your feelings to get in the way of completing an assignment. Employers want candidates who can channel a healthy level of pressure into energy, efficiency, and focus that they apply to their work. Telling employers that you typically plan ahead lets them know that you wont be caught unprepared in a stressful work situation. Employers also want to know that you ca n communicate in a constructive way during tough times, maintain healthy boundaries, and have a coachable mindset if you need to improve certain traits such as reactive tendencies. Answers for When You Thrive on Stress You may thrive in a stressful environment, buthowdo you thrive? Youve of course researched the company where youre applying, so your answer should show how you will use that stress to succeed at that particular company. Here are some sample answers. Edit to fit your personal experiences and background I find that when Im under the pressure of a deadline, I can do some of my most creative work. (Great answer for a job that requires a lot of creativity.)Im not a person who has a difficult time with stress. When Im under pressure, I focus on the task at hand, and I get the job done. (Demonstrates the ability to focus in a distracting environment.)I find it exhilarating to be in a dynamic environment where the pressure is on. (Hints at being a great team player.) E xplain the Steps You Take to Handle Stress You dont have to like stress. One way to answer this question is to describe the steps you take when the stress is on. Share examples to illustrate how you handled a specific stressful time, whether at a job you had in college or during a time when the academics were crushing. When I am under pressure, I stop and figure out my priorities. I make a listto rank what is most important, and then I work through that list step by step, getting each task done.When Ive been in stressful situations, I try to figure out what is causing the stress. Its not always time-drivendeadlines. Sometimes its other people disagreeing on how to move forward. I figure out what the problems or disagreements are and work to get past them so we can all be productive.I do my best to anticipate stress and to plan for it. In college, you have the advantage of knowing when your crunch times will be when a midterm is scheduled or an essay is due. The same things true in the business world production cycles are predictable based on the calendar. So, my approach is to plan ahead by breaking projects into phases, setting myself early deadlines for their completion, and making sure all of the prep work is completed before a big exam or a final due date. I find this greatly relieves the amount of stress I feel when deadlines loom. Keep it Positive No matter how you answer, keep your response positive and focus on conveying how you will be an asset to the company.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Steps to Finding Your Passion

Steps to Finding Your Passion Steps to Finding Your Passion 1. Understand that it will take time to discover your passion and shape your vision.There are too many people who get frustrated and give up on finding their true passion. Realize that this process will involve trial and error. Learn from Generation Y. Generation Y is known for changing their focus. According to Millennialleaders.com, Generation Y will have multiple careers during their life.Keep in mind there will be jobs you do not like however, work hard to make progress. Do not look at your circumstances but look forward to your vision and future. While working jobs that are not that pleasant, remember it is temporary and you can improve your situation. It does not matter where you are, it only matters where you are trying to go and how you plan to get there.2. Do your research and explore.Lets be honest. You cannot expect to discover anything without exploring different options. Get out and do your RESEARCH Research c an involve talking with others in areas that interest you. Browsing and surfing the Internet. Socializing and networking with co-workers and friends. Get out and network at job fairs, business conventions, seminars, social events, and conferences. Do not under estimate the power of networking3. Establish a plan with main goals. Include items that can hinder you.Planning is necessary to achieve any greatness. However, realizations of plans are subject to change and there is nothing wrong with plans that change. Change can be good and advantageous. Life happens and brings about many unexpected issues to handle, when this happens adjust accordingly and keep working towards your goal.Goals are necessary in any plan to measure your progress. Keep in mind goals are not final and can be changed and restructured to fit the given situation. Give yourself the flexibility to strive for excellence.4. Take action based on your plan.Now that you have a plan it is time to use it. Divide your main goals into sub-goals so you can work slowly to achieve your main goals. Youll find setting smaller goals will ultimately lead you toward your main goals.5. Track your progress.It is important to track your progress document and remember your small successes. Small successes can lead to larger successes. Tracking your progress can be informal. Grab a spiral notebook and start writing.Remember you can find your true passion and purpose in life but it is going to require patience, diligence, and lots of work