How to Be Properly Assertive

By Valerie Nam on July 30, 2010

When we think about effective leadership, the first thing that may come to mind is a “pit bull” attitude, which includes such traits as competitiveness and assertiveness. Is anyone a fan of HBO’s Entourage? Unfortunately, the aggressive Ari Gold method may not work so well for most people. Others may believe in a more subtle approach – to be more collaborative, nurturing, and sensitive towards others. However, if we allow ourselves to find a balance between the two, we may just be able to have our cake and eat it too…

To be able to present your point of view while simultaneously being able to persuade others to actively listen to you is a recipe for success. Rather than characterizing yourself as powerful and strong-willed in a negative light, you can accomplish great things by learning to become a good leader.

Here are some tips that can make all the difference:

1. Agree to disagree

Hear out other people’s point of view. They may have a great counterargument that can lead to smart decision-making. If you acknowledge others instead of shutting them out, you can also demonstrate the benefits of teamwork.

2. Seek Common Ground

Understand where the other person is coming from and join forces to make the best possible decision. Remember, you both have a mutual goal for success.

3. Start a Revolution

Don’t act self-righteous because you can, and because you want others to give into your beliefs. Instead, inspire others to come together and build upon the possibilities.

4. Accept the Haters

There will always be those who find fault with authority. No matter how you approach a situation, make sure to be the ‘bigger man” …or woman. Intimidation should not be met with aggression when there are other people involved who do wish to reach an agreement.

Remember, effective leadership can lead to the implementation of changes you want to see. And it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to back down… For some laughs, check out this video on how not to handle your next conflict.

Seal the Deal

By Eve on July 28, 2010

You’re in your most professional looking outfit. You’ve done the firm handshake and the ‘thank you for meeting with me.’ You’ve answered all of their questions and gotten some answers of your own. But now you feel the interview coming to an end. What do you do to in those last few minutes with the hiring manager? What do you do to seal the deal?

Those are the questions Alexandra Levit posed in her blog post How to Close the Deal in a Job Interview. Her short list of bulleted tips might just give you that extra oomph needed to get one step closer to securing the job. Check them out:

Express enthusiasm about the position and appreciation for the time they’ve given you and the opportunity to interview.

Reiterate the problems they’re looking for the new hire to solve, and summarize exactly what you’ll do to address them.

Ask thoughtful and pertinent questions about the organization and the position to show that you are concerned about fit as much as they are.

Ask about next steps and when you should expect to hear from them regarding a decision. Inquire if they would mind if you followed up.

When leaving, drop in something personal the interviewer has shared with you over the course of the process. For example, if he mentioned his 9 year-old daughter, tell him you hope his daughter enjoys her summer.

"classic handshake with the pastor" courtesy nutmeg via Flickr Creative Commons

How to Network the Right Way

By ConnieMcD on July 23, 2010

After looking back at a number of my blogs, I realized that I frequently mention the idea of going out and networking but I never really followed through with the "how-to." I get that networking can be intimidating and a little nerve wracking, but in a world where there are far too many people looking for jobs and perhaps only a handful of jobs open that you want to take, every little bit counts. The article, How to Network Without Being Phony, Lame or Desperate gives some great tips on how to network correctly. Here is a quick run through of the main points you need to remember while networking:

Remember there's nothing phony, lame or desperate about being out of a job.

Change your mind about what you're networking for.

Remember that it's not all about you.

Be yourself.

Tell your story without the usual job-search downers.

Have a full calendar. Have an agenda.

Thank your networking partner immediately afterward and confirm you'll stay in touch.

Pay it back.

For further details on these points, read the article!

"jus'a web....with a bit of dew here and there!!" courtesy Jus'fi via Flickr Creative Commons

Moment of Clarity Upon Graduation

By Valerie Nam on July 22, 2010

As a college student, the important things in life may inevitably include parties, roommates, and cute lab partners. Unfortunately, none of those aspects of your college experience will necessarily land you the perfect job come graduation.

In reality, few college graduates expect to work for a single company or in one position for their entire lives. The common philosophy is that you will spend a few years at a decent job – approximately two or three – until you move up the corporate ladder or decide to relocate to some other company. Some other recent graduates may aspire to pursue graduate study programs; Many more to be accepted into prestigious law or medical schools.

No matter which path you decide to take, it is more important than ever to focus on creating a solid resume. Graduation comes sooner than you think and before you know it, it is time to begin that competitive job search.

Here are some tips to get you focused on finding that entry-level job:

Think about your favorite class: If you are still unsure about what career path to take, look into a class that you really enjoyed taking. Maintaining a good relationship with your professors can prove to be beneficial for the future. I am sure most of them would be more than happy to discuss possible career opportunities relevant to the class material.

Be realistic about location: Most college graduates dream about promptly moving to a big city. Although it sounds ideal, housing and living expenses in metropolitan areas are usually always high. Consider other possible locations where you could actually save yourself some money.

Do a summer internship: Many companies hire recent college graduates during the summer. Find an internship you love, and you may eventually earn yourself a full time position. If you work hard and prove to be an asset to the company, you could secure yourself a prosperous future there.

Step outside the box: It is never too late to figure out what you love doing. Many college graduates find job positions that don’t necessarily relate to their college majors. If you consider other entry-level positions, your career options will not be as limited.

Look into career services: As I’ve mentioned before, take advantage of the resources available at your university or college! They are usually free and can even put you in contact with alumni. Schedule an appointment with a career counselor and polish that resume. There is always room for improvement.

Hump Day Movie Day: John McConnell and Becoming a Speechwriter for the President

By Mindy on July 21, 2010

Welcome back to ThinkTalk's Hump Day Movie Day. Every Wednesday we pull a favorite interview from the archives. This week, our feature showing is a Blank Page interview with John McConnell, speechwriter for former President Bush and chief speechwriter for former Vice President Cheney. He sat down in the ThinkTalk studios to answer student questions about how he became a speechwriter, how he works with speakers and what it was like to write for the president of the United States.

McConnell always had an interest in politics and was appointed as a U.S. senate page in high school. After graduating from Carleton College with a bachelor's in economics, he went on to study law at Yale. A post-graduation internship for a judge in the Supreme Court led to a job with Vice President Dan Quayle. Years later the opportunity arose to work on the national campaign staff of George W. Bush in Austin, Texas after which he went to work on Bush’s team in the White House. McConnell served as speechwriter for President Bush and as the chief speechwriter for Vice President Cheney during the entire eight years of their administration.

Mistakes to Avoid at All Cost While Job Hunting

By ConnieMcD on July 20, 2010

When searching for a job, it is imperative that you are on top of your game in order to stay ahead of all of the other competition. The smallest mistakes can completely change the outcome of your chances of a career with your dream company. The article, 5 Job Hunting Mistakes that Scream 'I'm Unprofessional' reviews the most common mistakes that job hunters make while searching for jobs. These “no-nos” can make or break your career. They are incredibly easy to avoid and should be fixed now before it’s too late!

1. Using a Cutesy Email Address for Correspondence

Your old instant messenger screen name inspired email address is no longer acceptable. If you need a new address, a Gmail account will work wonders. Incorporating your name into your email account is also vital so your possible employer knows exactly who they are emailing or who they are receiving an email from.

2. Putting a Silly Message on Your Answering Machine

“Hello?...Oh hey!! What’s up?..Nah, I’m just kidding, can’t get to the phone, leave a message and maybe I’ll call you back.” Yeah, we’ve all had that one friend who has the oh so hilarious voice mail that tricks you into thinking they actually picked up. Don’t let their trickery inspire you to follow their lead. Keep your voicemail message sweet and simple. Make sure to state your whole name, apologize for missing their call and ask for the caller’s name and number and a good time to reach them.

3. Sending Your Resume and Cover Letter Without Proofreading

One of the worst mistakes that you could make as a job seeker is sending in your resume without reading it and correcting errors. Do not get into the over confident mindset that you are going to get every interview that you send your resume out for. The company does not necessarily need you, you need them. Put the effort in to correct your mistakes because with the number of resumes that companies receive, the smallest imperfection will take you right out of the running for a chance to come in for an interview.

4. Winging Your Interviews Instead of Preparing Thoroughly

Even though you may think that you are great at pulling the wool over someone’s eyes, trying to wing an interview and assuming that you can just sneak your way through it without preparing is not the way to go. The chances that you are the first person this person has ever interviewed are slim to none. They will be able to spot your lack of knowledge right off the bat. Make sure to do back up information on the company you are interviewing with and be positive you know how you would fit in with that company. Figuring out the company’s most recent achievements and addressing them in your interview will give you some brownie points as well.

5. Failing to Send Thank-You Notes After Interviews

Sending a thank-you note is not so out dated as you may think. This is your opportunity to acknowledge your appreciation for the time that the interviewer took to sit down and speak with you. Sending a thank-you note can also show that you are actually interested in working for that company. It will set you apart from the other competition who might not send in a letter. Your name will stick out in the interviewer’s mind while theirs will not.

Take the extra time to fix these common mistakes and you will surely see the positive results!

"office worker luchador" courtesy istolethetv via Flickr Creative Commons

Summer Reading That Will Help You Get Ahead

By Eve on July 16, 2010

Happy Friday ThinkTalkers,

Since it's the end of the week we'll keep things nice and light this afternoon. Wanted to tell you all about a book written by a favorite blogger of ours, Lindsey Pollak. Pollak is a bestselling author and nationally recognized expert on Generation Y career and workplace issues. Her book is called Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World and it looks like a smart purchase for those of you that intend to be an employed part of society after graduation. Amazon provides this description of the book:

How do you get a job without experience and get experience without a job? It's the question virtually every college student or recent graduate faces. In Getting from College to Career, Lindsey Pollak offers the first definitive guide to building the experience, skills, and confidence you need before starting your first major job search. Her action-oriented tips include strategies ranging from the simple to the expert. Getting from College to Career gives you the essential information and guidance you need to get your foot in the door of the real world. Don't start your first job search without it!

I highly suggest checking it out and gathering all the help you can before diving into the job search.

Have a great weekend!

"Getting from College to Career..." courtesy lwtclearningcommons via Flickr Creative Commons

Nicholas Sparks Gives Advice to Aspiring Writers

By Mindy on July 15, 2010

Here at ThinkTalk, we've been lucky to interview a bundle of successful and very talented writers, but one of my favorite Blank Page interviews was our talk with bestselling author Nicholas Sparks. He graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Business Finance. He received a full track scholarship to the university and after breaking a school record was hurt and couldn't run for an entire summer. To ease his boredom his mother sarcastically suggested he write a book, which is exactly what he did.

Sparks joined ThinkTalk host Nellie Yangmi to talk about the film adaptation of his novel Nights in Rodanthe. Sparks also took questions from students concerning the romantic nature of his novels, the adaptation process from novel to film, and about his personal writing process.

Sparks has devoted an entire section of his Web site to tips and advice for aspiring authors. He says that "learning to write is like learning anything else, and can be broken down into three general parts: research, read, and write." Check out what he has to say about writing and getting your first book published!

Twitter Sized Career Advice

By Eve on July 14, 2010

Alright ThinkTalkers, we're halfway through July and some of you might still be struggling with the job search. Monster Blog anticipated this (you're not alone -- the reality is that 8 percent of college grads under age 25 are still job searching) and gathered some tips from their Twitter community. So here is some advice from career experts and recent college grads in 140 characters or less:

@MeghanMBiro: Make the absolute most of internships. Find a mentor(s) - listen closely, ask ?'s. The career search is a full-time role.

@HRmajesty: #1 advice...Get rid of the cutesy e-mail (sexygirl69@hotmail.com) and use something more professional (your.name@gmail.com)

@phyllismufson: I'd like to see every parent give their graduating sr. a graduation gift of career coaching. It's criminal what these kids don't know.

@cargillcreative: My tip for college grads would be to join Toastmasters and develop a great set of public speaking skills.

@Red_Inc: Everyone LOVES to help fresh-eyed college grads. Network with anyone and everyone! Spread the word!

@EmilyBennington: Volunteer! Will help grow your network, allow others to see you in action, and develop your leadership skills @ same time.

@JackieLennartz: If recent grads can't find permanent work, they could consider doing internships. Great way to gain experience and network.

@Deferocoach: Reconnect w/ past professors. They often have inside info on new positions in a particular industry, you just need to ask!

@saran28: Learn to use the latest tools/technology in your field. That is what I am doing.

"Twitter Wallpaper" courtesy JoshSemans via Flickr Creative Commons

Summer Volunteer Work

By ConnieMcD on July 13, 2010

A few days ago I had a lengthy conversation with my younger brother about how he is spending his free time this summer. He is a rising sophomore in college and has a part time job that keeps him busy for about half the week. On his days off my brother, Chris, always complains about having nothing to do. I finally recommended that he look into volunteer opportunities.

Working as a volunteer is a great way to help out an organization and community in need. Not only are you aiding people that need your help but it also can help you grow and learn some life lessons like working in a group atmosphere in order to accomplish a goal. Volunteering can also help you learn more about what you may want to do as a career. Helping out at day camps or maybe prepping packages for military troops deployed overseas can answer some questions you may have about your interests in future careers and the type of environment you would be in.

Working as a volunteering is also a great way to network and create relationships with people that you could then use as references on your resume. Volunteering is also great for your resume because it shows that you are an active member of society and that you enjoy working with other people as well as helping people in need.

If you have free time this summer you should seriously look into volunteering somewhere near you! Finding an organization to work with is incredibly easy. Just Google "volunteer work" and your city which will bring up a number of pages to choose from, and usually a home page for your area with a list of places and a description of what the work will entail.

"WM2006 Fan Fest Stuttgart - Volunteer" courtesy dheuer via Flickr Creative Commons