How to Manage a High Performer - Spark Hire

How to Manage a High Performer - Spark HireNot too long ago Spark Hire discussed how to manage an under performer. We learned that communication is most important when dealing with an under performer on your team. It may be obvious that managing an under performer is a bit difficult, but did you ever think of how to properly manager a high performer? Right off the bat it seems as though a high performer is a managers dream. They get the job done, usually motivate others and keep the ball rolling in the company. However, if they are not managed correctly they could become very difficult and cause much stress and strain on you and the company.When you first think of a high performer you likely think, Great They are just what I need to get things going in the right direction for my team. That may be true, but high performers also have their own set of drawbacks. Since they are a high performer they may think they deserve special attention and are exempt from certain rules that others mu st follow. High performers are also prone to burnout, can hinder others progression and may set the bar too high for others. So you see, managing high performers isnt that piece of cake you thought it would be. The truth is, managing anyone isnt easy. Lets take a look at some of the things you can do though to make sure you are managing your high performer adequately.FeedbackWhen you have a high performer on your hands you need to be clear and careful with your feedback. Be sure that your desired outcome for their work is clear and that they know for sure what they are working towards. With a clear outcome, high performers will usually go above and beyond what is expected. However, if they do not know what is expected of them and the lines are fuzzy then it can be difficult. This goes for most workers, but high performers especially. Once they know what is expected of them, and you are clear on your desired outcome, step back and let them get to work. Micromanaging a high performer is one of the worst things you can do.If your high performing employee meets your set goals- and goes above an beyond as always- then be sure to show your appreciation for their hard work. High performers will likely need more than the cliched Employee of the Week title, so get creative. With a high performer, you need to put in a little bit more effort. Give them specific and public praise to encourage their hard work. When they really impress you, take them out to lunch or reward them with some sort of company gift. Before you say you cant afford it, know that employee appreciation doesnt have to equal out to dollar signs. Letting them leave early or come in late is a reward as well, and that is free. All employees need to be appreciated for their work and hard work must be recognized, but this is especially true for high performers. Keep this in mind.Make Sure They are Being ChallengedHigh performers need to be challenged. In fact, they live for it. This is the key to keeping hig h performers engaged with their work and keeping their high performance up. If they are bored, their performance levels will drop significantly and your high performer will no longer be a top performer. You need to make sure you are doling out challenging tasks and responsibilities to keep them busy. Be sure to lead them in the right direction and constantly look for ways to challenge their skills.Remember Your Other EmployeesThe exciting thing about having a high performer on your team is that they can positively motivate others on your team and in the department. However, having a high performer can also do quite the opposite how you manage them can make all the difference. As stated earlier, a drawback to having a high performer is that they may feel they are exempt from certain rules and feel as though they are above others in the office. As a manager or employer, you need to work against this. As stated in Your Performance Matters, you need to know when to give and take. Meanin g, you need to know when to let certain things slide with a high performer and when to catch them. For instance, if you have a high performer that constantly shows up late to meetings because they think they are privileged, then others will take offense to this. As a result, their performance levels may drop since they feel others are getting special treatment.Even though this rolle is a high performer, and a gem to your company, you still need to manage and control them. However, letting some things slide is important as well. As stated in Your Performance Matters, if you have a high performer and their office is messy, or not up to your particular standards, let it slide. Unless their office is a complete disaster, dont get on them about it. This goes for their work, too. Micromanaging is a huge no-no when it comes to high performers, so find that balance of give and take with them.Having a high performer on your team is great, and they can take your company above and beyond. Howe ver, you need to learn how to manage them successfully in order to get that high payout. Keep these tips in mind and push your high performer to the limit- avoiding burnout, of course.How do you keep your high performer motivated? Share with us in the comments section belowIMAGE Courtesy of Flickr by chicadecasa

10 Ways to Be More Confident at Work

10 Ways to Be More Confident at Work10 Ways to Be More Confident at Work Whether a bad days got you down, you dont love speaking up, or youre constantly playing the comparison game, chances are good that you could use an added dose of confidence at work.In some cases, decision-makers in any job setting put more stock in confidence than competence when theyre making picks for a promotion or filling out a performance review. Dont get overlooked or undervalued because youre elend projecting your best.Try behauptung ten bits of advice on how to effectively communicate, counter negativity, and generally how to gain confidence in the office and beyond.You know that nagging sense that youre not as good as the people around you and you got to where you are through luck or timing? Hopefully, you dont. But if you do, its called imposter syndrome and its extremely detrimental. Its especially common for women and minorities in largely male- and white-dominated industries, but no matter who you are, giving in to the feeling that youre not good enough is a surefire way to hold yourself back.To nip the terrible disease of imposter syndrome in the bud, catch yourself when you think those damaging thoughts, and counter each one with a compliment to yourself. When people give you praise, accept it politely, and dont doubt whether you deserve it. Act confident, and be confident.Demonstrating a positive attitude- even if your pet just died- and showing resilience- even if you just got yelled at- are two ways to come across well among people you work with. And heres a secret projecting positivity and showing that nothing gets to you are great ways to become more positive and actually not let anything get to you.Pay attention to how youre coming across in interactions with coworkers and especially bosses. Try to control your facial expressions, body language , the words you use, even your tone of voice. Some blend of polite, engaged, motivated, willing to help, and interested in the conversation should add up to a strong vibe of confidence.If you mentally take a step back from time to time and observe your behavior, you can make adjustments to make sure youre coming across just how you want to.Speak in a clear and level voice and choose your words deliberately. Company buzzwords are a good bet, but avoid irritating workplace no-nos . Body language is important, too posture, polite head nods, and other ways of showing youre engaged.We think eliminating likes and ums goes without saying, but there, we just said it. Now you have no excuse.When youre trying to boost your confidence game, if you take it a step too far, you could wind up in cocky territory. Shades of difference are key here when you get praise, respond with a humble thank you the team worked really hard, not I knew my ideas would pay off. The difference between confidence and arrogance can be a fine line, but once you see someone doing the latter, youll know its not a good look.A da ily to-do list can help you keep track of what you accomplish on an everyday basis. A list of big projects (and even minor wins) can remind you of those successes- which, incidentally, will also come in handy if you need to update your resume or apply for a new job.If you identify your strengths, its harder to get bogged down thinking about your weaknesses. Having an extra dismal day? List the skills you know set you apart (or better yet, make the list on a day when everythings going your way so you can return to it when things arent so bright). After all, even if the project youre working on seems like it cant be solved by those abilities, or if youre in a really low state of mind, reminding yourself of your past accomplishments and top skills should both boost your mindset and get you on track.Yeah, we just said to focus on your strengths and not get bogged down thinking about your weaknesses. However, if you identify areas for improvement, you can be aware of potential issues and areas where you might need to ask for help. Work to get better in those areas so that you can turn them into strengths.Build on the strengths list from tip No. 7. Use it for a reminder of the big projects youve completed. Create a file (some call it a kudos doc) of emails, performance reviews, and emails or notes from others referring to things you achieved.Or, create tactics to cheer yourself up, like a favorite song, animal picture, or music video of Christopher Walken dancing like a maniac (and occasionally flying). Hey, hes not the best dancer, but you cant deny hes got confidence. Channel that.The good little things, that is. If you let a passive aggressive email ruin your day, well, you clearly need to go back and read this from the beginning. But if someone passes you in the hall and says nice presentation yesterday, hold onto the good feeling you get from that all day. If you allow the little bits of positive feedback- whether from others or your own sense of a job well done- to grow into something big, then youll gain the confidence you deserve bit by bit.And in the end, the more you act confident, the more youll be confident . So go out, paste on a smile, fix your posture, kill any negative thought that pops into your head, and constantly tell yourself that youve got this. Try it out by the end of the day, youll realize that you really do.This article was originally published on Grammarly . It is reprinted with permission.

Three Cheers for the Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018

Three Cheers for the Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018Three Cheers for the Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018Three Cheers for the Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018 President, www.resume-place.comMarch 19, 2018Resume Place, inc. online forum and message board for discussion of issues in the field of resume writing, career development and federal employment.REGISTER FOR OUR FEDERAL JOBS WEBINAR, Mar. 22, 2018CLICK HEREAs any military spouse will tell you, being married to the military with moving up to 10 times in 20 years, can make it almost impossible to have a career for the spouse As any military spouse will tell you, being married to the military is like living the life of a gypsy family? Moving every 2 to 4 years, new location, new state, new country and NEW JOB OR NEW VOLUNTEER JOB at every location.MilitarySpouseAppreciationDay milspouse MilitaryAppreciationMonthMILITARY SPOUSES HAVE 12 TO 24 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENTAnd for too many spouses, maintaining even the sem blance of a career is a bridge too far. Roughly 12 percent to 24 percent of military spouses want to work but are unemployed, compared to 4.1 percent of American workers overall. Thats a shameful inequality.MILITARY SPOUSE PROGRAMSThe leaders of our Armed Forces have long recognized the hardships of military family life, and theyre very concerned about the effects on retention of career servicemen and women. Existing responses to the problem are only very partial solutions. Theres the spouse hiring preference available through Executive bestellung 13473 and Program S, and the financial support of MyCAA, the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program. But sad to say, awareness of these programs is sorely lacking. Many military spouses dont even know that they exist.2018 MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 2018, TIM KAINE, D-VirginiaNow, in 2018, there is new hope for better solutions for our ambitious military spouses and their families. That hope is embodied by the Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018, a bill sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, co-chair of the Senate Military Family Caucus and father of a Marine. The proposed legislation is co-sponsored by two U.S. senators who are mothers Kristen Gillibrand of New York and Patty Murray of Washington. Kaine anticipates that the bill will eventually become part of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.NEW PROVISIONS OF THE BILLA key provision of the bill would give federal organizations more authority to fast-track the hiring of military spouses. Its often the case that federal jobs are the best career opportunities on or near a military base.The legislation, if enacted, would improve military spouses access to career training and scholarships and provide transition counseling, while also boosting professional training of career counselors at military installations.The law would support spouses efforts to achieve professional recertification when they move from state to state this would include financial assistance with professional recertification and credentialing exams.Its no small thing that the law would also promote greater access to child care, a key career enabler for military spouses with kids at home.The bill mandates that the Defense Department study the feasibility of allowing spouses to run their own businesses on base and enabling those businesses to operate without paying excessive fees.Finally, the bill directs the Defense Department to expand awareness of these programs with publicity measures such as an online advertising campaign.You can track the progress of the Military Spouse Employment Act here.GET HELP WITH YOUR FEDERAL RESUMEGET A FEDERAL RESUME QUOTEFor comprehensive information on federal employment opportunities and programs for spouses, landsee my book, The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses. Or contact The Resume Place.The Stars Are Lined Up for Military SpousesFIRST-EVER BOOK FOR MILITARY SPOUSES AND FEDERAL CAREERSWhy a federal career for Military Spouses?Great salaries, promotion potential, family friendly, family leave, training and MORE

How to Answer Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job

How to Answer Why Are You Leaving Your Current JobHow to Answer Why Are You Leaving Your Current JobDont let that question stymie you. For flexible job seekers in particular,tough job interview questionscan hold special challenges. People looking for remote work, for example, may face additional questions based on concerns about their ability to work independently, or whether theyre self-starters.But look at it this way. The why are you leaving your current job question can be a fantastic opportunity to emphasize your desire for work flexibility. Be prepared to answer this question with confidence to boost your chances of getting hired.Check out these suggestions on how to answer, Why are you leaving your current job?Youre looking for greater work flexibility.The why are you leaving your current job question can open the door for you to talk about any past success working remotely, your technical know-how in operating from your home office, and your steadfast dedication to flexible w ork.Youre looking for new challenges.Use the opportunity to talk about your professional skills and how youre looking for fresh challenges in your career that make the most of your abilities. Avoid describing your current job as dead-end, which may come across as bad-mouthing your current employer.Youre seeking to advance your career.Put a long-term spin on your answer by explaining that your overall career goals include achieving a specific job level or title in your profession. Follow up by saying that, in your experience, your current job doesnt allow for the kind of advancement youre seeking.You want to take on mora responsibility.Put yourself in a good light by presenting yourself as a highly responsible job candidate whos willing and capable of taking on even more. This forward-thinking approach signals a maturity and level-headedness that could be appealing to a potential employer.You believe the prospective employers job opening is a great fit for your skills and experience. Get specific and offer a litany of reasons why youre tailor-made for the job. Heres where you can elaborate on the skills that have gotten you thus far (to the interview stage) in the hiring process. Talk about the specific requirements of the position and how your background makes you a good fit.Youre seeking better work-life balance.Employers are increasingly sensitive to the demands of millennials, working parents, caregivers, and others who want a healthier work-life blend. Being upfront- not pushy- about the importance of work-life integration is a great comeback to questions about why youre leaving your current job.Youre looking to move your career in a different direction.Circle back to your resume and all the accomplishments spotlighted there, and then mention that youre ready for acareer pivotthat will allow you to try new things. Focusing on your achievements can helpYoure looking for an opportunity where you can make a difference.Its OK totalk about frustrations in your c urrent job that make you feel youre unable to make the contributions youd like to make in your career. Talk about the specific impacts the employers organization has made to the profession (or in general), and discuss how youd like to be a part of that effort in the future.You werent looking to change jobs, but came across their posting and think it would be a great fit for you.Make it seem like kismet- that the job opening found you as much as you found it. This is a great answer that has the advantage of portraying you as content enough in your current job, but ready to leap for a great job opportunity when it arises.Thinking of Leaving Your Current Job? Start Your Search for Flexible Work.

Job One for Marketers Marketing Yourself

Job One for Marketers Marketing YourselfJob One for Marketers Marketing YourselfAn analysis on the marketing services sector as the economy remains challenging for job seekers.Marketing is the first to go. Marketers will tell you themselves. They dont need research to tell them geschftliches miteinander lines too often see marketing as expendable when an enterprise hits hard times. They might argue that the business stands little chance of selling, producing or providing anything without market awareness, but that position feels rather academic when the marketing, advertising and public-relations budget is slashed and jobs are cut.Most marketing professionals will tell you they arent surprised that their job prospects were among the first to plummet when the economy began to drop in 2007 and 2008. The craft trains individuals to know the market and the audience and what to expect from the business.The problem, according to recruiters who specialize in executive-level marketing jobs, is that those who practice the craft too often fail to apply its principles to their own careers. Chief among the errors, said several recruiters who spoke to Ladders, marketing executives typically neglect to target their search or aim their applications at the most suitable positions.Everyones throwing Hail Mary passes, said Jim Brown, president of Jim Brown Associates, a boutique recruiter in Richmond, Calif., outside San Francisco, that specializes in retained search in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. I have very few positions Im working to fill, and theyre highly specific. Im getting hundreds of e-mails from candidates looking for work, a lot of who dont have the foggiest notion about requirements for the position.By the numbersGood news is hard to find during this recession. The silver lining many found in the reduction of jobs schwefelyperit in January was retracted when the February numbers were released, according to the 2008 National Employment Report released b y ADP, a national payroll provider, noting that 697,000 jobs were lost, an increase from the 693,000 in December 2008.But there are jobs to be had in the field, particularly for specific skills. Postings on MktgLadder for statisticians rose 200 percent from January 2008 to January 2009 demand for individuals with skills in e-mail marketing was up 25 percent in the saatkorn period copywriters, 14 percent catalogue skills, 13 percent and SEO (search-engine optimization) declined only 1 percent in 2008.Several marketing functions are also outperforming their counterparts. Product marketing, a mere 5 percent of overall jobs posted on MktgLadder in January 2008, now make up 19 percent of the postings strategy and business-development positions rose from 5 percent to 30 percent in the same period communications rose from 2 percent to 9 percent and online marketing went from 1 percent to 5 percent of posted marketing jobs.Tactical targetingThe available jobs are targeted, and to improve th e odds that you will get one, your search should be just as targeted. Taking a stab at a job ad just because youve filled a similar-sounding role in a completely different company and unrelated industry is a waste of your time and the recruiters, Brown said.If I get a resume from someone at Ladders, theres a good chance it could be interesting, that she might have the right background, Brown said. If shes a regional account executive when theyre looking for a national account manager, or hasnt had any reimbursement experience, or managed-care experience, or marketing to the professional side physicians and nurses rather than consumers it probably wont work. Ive never been able to place generalists, but employers are even more specific because they know how many candidates are out there.Some recruiters including Harold Laslo, staffing specialist at Aldan Troy Group, a recruitment firm in New York said they believe the employers selectivity may prove self-destructive, ignoring oth erwise qualified candidates because their resume deviates slightly from the experience specified. But in certain fields, such as medicine and pharmaceutical marketing, its not just a best practice, its regulated. Medical, pharmaceutical, law, even real-estate industry requirements and federal regulations set standards on the industries messaging and marketing practices that require years of experience.The best solution is to target your attack to focus on the companies that need your type of skills and then focus your research and efforts on them, said Robert Neelbauer, owner of StaffMagnet.com, a recruiting consultant in Washington, D.C. If you really want to stand out from the crowd, do something radical and actually call the relevant hiring manager to make your pitch, he said.Many people spend so much time responding to ads and sending out resumes that they ignore the human element of the process, he says. Some hiring managers dont want to be flooded with calls, but many are look ing for something that gives them some insight on a candidate they cant get from paper or e-mail.A new path on the same trailRather than trying to switch to a new industry, specialty or function which employers today consider akin to fitting your square peg in their round hole recruiting specialists advise clients to remain where they have proven credentials, but to put themselves in the in the path of the next wave of technology, business or skill, said Lindsay Olson, lebensgefhrte and recruiter at Paradigm Staffing.Olson recommends her clients add online marketing, social media and business-to-business marketing to their tool belt. She advises clients to learn the skills on their own if they must and practice it as a freelancer, volunteer or even on their own blog or business.Were seeing a lot more demand in business-to-business services, rather than consumer, Olson said. Almost all our clients are asking for PR or marketing people with knowledge of social media digital strateg ists and people who can teach a company how to engage using digital media, or using digital services to engage with clients.I think thats something particularly marketing people can start getting up to speed on, especially when theyve been downsized, she said. Companies are looking for a lot of specialty skills. Training in social media, people who are bilingual and knowledgeable about social media. There are lots of niche things out there.

Report 80% of workers would turn down a job that didnt offer flexible work

Report 80% of workers would turn down a job that didnt offer flexible workReport 80% of workers would turn down a job that didnt offer flexible workFlexible work the right to manage your own hours and choose where you work from, at least some of the time has become the new normal, according to a new survey. Flexible workspace provider IWG released its 11th annual Global Workspace Survey, which gathered the opinion of over 15,000 people in geschftsleben across 80 nations online. Just now normal has it become? A full 74% of the respondents thought it was the new norm.That was in the U.S. countries that think flexible work is even mora normalinclude China, Canada, and India (all 77%), Belgium (78%), South Africa and Mexico (both 79%), and Japan (80%).Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWith that comes a cascade of new ideas about work, how we do it, and how we choose what kind of co mpanies to work for.For example,80% of U.S. workers would turn down a job that didnt offer flexible work.And 53% of U.S. workers said that being able to choose where they work is more important than working for a prestigious company.Almost a third (30%) of people value being able to choose their work location over an increase in vacation time.More than half (52%) of those surveyed said that they now work outside their companys main location for at least half the working week or more, and for 71% of people, a choice of work environment is key when evaluating new career opportunities.Businesses are embracing itBusinesses, too, now see flexible work as a way to attract and retain talent.Findings show that 78% of businesses believe that offering flexible work situations lets them grow their talent pool. (This technique is also popular in the UK, Australia, India, and Poland). In fact, 81% of businesses are changing their ways to improve retention by introducing flexible work.In the last ten years, 83% of U.S. businesses have introduced a flexible workspace policy, or are planning to create one.Productivity and wellnessWhen workers are encumbered as to where and when they work, they can really get things done 85% of businesses confirm that productivity has increased in their business because of greater flexibility.And 63% of those surveyed report at least a 21% improvement in productivity because of flexible work.Another bonus flexible work is seen to improve work-life balance by 82%.In conclusionSure, you may have to ask your boss permission to have a work-from-home day now or maybe you even work in an office that frowns on it but the flex-work revolution is coming for you, sooner or later. Some countries, like Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, and Australia, have embraced flexible work even harder. So say good-bye to your commute (at least some of the week) and say hello to a life of productivity, concentration and maybe even quiet.You might also enjoyNew neur oscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

The Basics of Resume Hobbies

The Basics of Resume Hobbies Students should not feel alienated for speaking in their normal dialect. They will come from an array of backgrounds and have different dialects. The students want to visit a relation between different portions of the curriculum, and its the teachers job to create the connection. They will follow the teacher, so it is necessary to set a good example by using SAE. Your employer might never know you dont surf or construct models, but he will likely discover that youre not a risk-taker or patient. Both are important, especially if youre asking for a client-facing position. Try to remember that your resume is your very first field of protection with respect to touchdown your excellent job. One reason employers like to observe hobbies on a resume is to find a sense of your personality and to see whether youre a superior fit for the position. The Resume Hobbies Game Currently a days almost anything can be bought by means of the net. A superb descri ption functions as a possible organic advertisement and encourages the viewer to click through to your website. Any sort of information on any topic can be found on the web. You can have a service about your connecticut abilities. Drug addiction isnt glamorous, regardless of the media seeking to portray it that manner. Individuals also use the web to auction goods. An across-the-board dating ban may also not be possible to enforce. Reading isnt a special interest. A custom of reading books cannot be developed in 1 day. You can search for a book club that has already started, or you can begin your own. Now you need to promote your book club. Choosing Good Resume Hobbies Writing a resume is an intimidating job. If at all possible, dont forget to have the Kroken chair appraised by means of an expert prior to purchasing. People today hire for cultural fit together with skill. Education is necessary for good use. Resume Hobbies - Overview You must distribution policy the right books on the appropriate pedestals so that you will have the ability to read the book in the middle of the room. The ideal soil is to get a blend of sand, clay, and loam. There are a number of places where you might acquire good resume examples. If you need assistance and want feed back I would like to know and I would be pleased to look at your resume. Thus, lets look at some good and not so excellent examples. For example, a desk job will ask that you devote a whole lot of time seated facing a computer. Only a little confusion to be spread through the ranks of the folks attempting to talk and find some work done. Sometimes your very best work may not be the absolute most relevant to the goal youre attempting to do. The Resume Hobbies Cover Up As a way to read Part VI of Waking Dreams, you must set the books on the right pedestals. Second Life is among the most common digital worlds currently readily available for its target demographic (16 decades and above). Bal ance is very important within the curriculum. The Key to Successful Resume Hobbies Your interests help them know that youre exactly the sort of person they want to get. It is not always simple to initiate a craft enterprise. You could argue that the very best craft business to begin is the one which lets you do what you enjoy doing most. Starting a craft company isnt as difficult as it appears. Gold panning and mining is an excellent hobby, and the excellent berichterstattung is that the simple gold mining equipment for the weekend recreational prospector isnt going to cost you a lot of money. Pit bikes are like the typical dirt bikes but the primary difference between them is that a pit bike is a more compact version of a dirt bike. You truly could make your own custom made game to choose the game board you presently have. The scavenger hunt game can function as a superior icebreaker for folks that are just getting to understand one another, or it is sometimes a wonderful way for already close friends to have plenty of fun. Finding Resume Hobbies on the Web It is essential for the activity to have the ability to create a complete image of an applicant. The best method to evaluate craft business potential is to check at start up costs and possible profit. Its not overly hard to find that theyve earned a great quantity of money over time. On the flip side, there are a few craft businesses you may start on a shoestring and which provide a fair demand. Youre permitted to dress casual. All rec forms have a place that asks what a PNM would love to chat about. Some people believe they will need to update their resume once during work search and submit that same resume to all the jobs theyre applying for.