KPIs What you need to know

KPIs What you need to know by Michael Cheary Keep getting questioned about your KPIs?  Being able to demonstrate you’ve hit your KPIs in your previous or current job could be the key to finding your next perfect position. Not a fan of acronyms? We’ve got you covered.Here’s a quick guide to understanding KPIs:  What does KPI stand for?KPI stands for Key Performance Indicators.They are measurable goals set by your employers which help track your progress in a particular position.As well as matching your personal progress, KPIs should always align with and reflect the business’ goals.How do they work?KPIs work as measures for one main reason â€" they are quantifiable.Rather than being set a fairly generic task which may be hard to define and justify, such as ‘Increase sales’, your Key Performance Indicators will set you measurable targets to aim for.These targets can then be monitored throughout the year, presenting areas in which you can improve and allowing the business to see how they can s upport you more effectively.What’s more, KPIs can be extremely useful at demonstrating your previous success stories â€" something which can really help when it comes to applying for a new job.A typical KPI will follow the SMART formula, meaning that each one is:S  â€" SpecificM  â€" MeasurableA  â€" AchievableR  â€" RelevantT  â€" Time-bound  Types of KPI The way KPIs are used will vary depending on the industry you’re in. Here are a few factors key performance indicators are often based on:Business indexes. Keeping an index of business activity (whether it’s sales leads or production errors) allows businesses to create and measure accurate KPIs.ROI (Return on Investment). Commonly used to measure the profits of marketing activity, calculating ROI lets businesses know how effective their work is.Financial indicators. If you work in commercial business, you might find that KPIs are informed by things like sales figures and turnover.Customer retention. Although this KPI is foun d in many industries â€" it’s most commonly used in the retail sector, where attracting and retaining customers is key.Satisfaction metrics. These metrics can be a great way to measure customer experience, without relying on financial figures.Call times. This is a common KPI in the sales industry, as well as any other sector where effective client interaction is a priority.  When can KPIs be a problem?If set correctly, your KPIs should be achievable and quantifiable targets to aim for. However, if your targets aren’t properly defined, they can become problematic.Without putting a value against each one, there is no way of accurately keeping track of your progress.Additionally, even if there are proper benchmarks set against each area, if they’re set too high or seem unachievable, KPIs risk demotivating an employee before they really get a chance to shine.  How do you demonstrate KPIs in your CV?Throughout your CV, your KPIs can be used to make the most of your achievements.Whe ther it’s in your ‘Key Skills’ section, or demonstrating your successes during previous periods of employment, including your previous KPIs and how you hit them will be much more effective than simply outlining your previous duties.To learn more about how to include your achievements in your CV,  read our CV advice  before  downloading our free CV template.KPI examplesOK, so KPIs sound great â€" but how do they actually sound when it comes to your application?Good examples of demonstrating your KPIs include:Increasing overall sales revenue by X%X number of new clients won for the yearCutting costs by X%Decreasing customer turnover rate by X%Dealing with X customer enquiries within a specific timeframeHaving X% of students attain an A-C grade in their examsThese are just a few examples of how KPIs can be set out by the business and, in turn, used to your advantage when it comes to you application.However, this is by no means an extensive list, and your own targets should always relate directly both to your role and to the organisation goals of the company you work for.Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Career Development

Job Search Mentality Behind the Times or Forward-Thinking

Job Search Mentality Behind the Times or Forward-Thinking Are you competing with the right strategies and resources?! Even with the high demand on my specialized services, I am still surprised by the amount of people that are not aware that professional resume writers exist â€" and not because they went looking and couldn’t find any, but because they honestly never even thought to try. I meet people all the time who have never heard of my occupation and think that I am an anomaly…but let me assure you I am not. My services may be unique in the high level of standard, but my profession is a rapidly advancing trend along with a vast array of job search resources that are escalating in depth and breadth. Searching for a job today is a lot different than most people think. It is a lot more competitive and requires a lot more savvy. If you are a job seeker you need to know about (and utilize) every available tool there is to give you a leg-up in your job search. The biggest problem I see are job seekers stuck in an old fashioned way of thinking… believing that the job search process is an individual (and arduous) task. Not true. Nowadays all different types of job education personnel and organizations exist to aid you through one of life’s most stressful tasks: the job search!There are career coaches who can assess your skill sets and help you explore employment options, resume writers who can compile targeted resumes that stand out in a crowd, interview coaches who can aid you in polishing up your employment interview skills, and recruiters who can help connect you with jobs. And lets not forget about the power of leveraging your network during the job search process!   Are you?!If you are one of the many job seekers out there slogging through a tough job search alone, consider swapping your old fashioned approach for a new age one and seek professional help.If you are hesitant about doing so, or believe you have what it takes to attempt it on your own, take a moment and imagine another (savvier) job seeker that IS making use of top-notch assistance during their job search. This forward-thinking job seeker is potentially increasing their chances of: locating the job of their dreams, getting their resume noticed in a massive pile of others, connecting with the interviewer and making the best sale of their unique skills and abilities, and ultimately landing a job in a faster, easier, and less stressful manner. And that job they are going after… what if it is the same one you want?! Still confident you can compete against them? The simple truth is this, if you don’t make use of the resources out there during your job search, you are taking a gamble with inadvertently showcasing your weaknesses to potential employers, who have raised their own standards and won’t pass up ‘mistakes’. These mistakes could be the lack-lustre resume you submitted with formatting that is not reflective of current times, or it could be your inability to effectively communicate your skill sets on paper or in person.Don’t raise red flags on old fashioned thinking (nobody wants it); instead get with the times and seek assistance where you need it.

Re-Enter The Workforce with Confidence

Re-Enter The Workforce with Confidence There are many reasons people take time away from the workforce: to start a family, travel, pursue further education, or because of an unexpected job loss. No matter the reason, a common challenge remains: how to get back into work after time away. There are gaps to explain in the resume, interview skills that are rusty, and sometimes a great deal of stress about how to approach a modern job search. Tackling a job search after an employment gap should include: • Networking! Speak up and let everyone know exactly what you are looking for. Over 80% of jobs are not posted on public job boards, and networking has proven to be the most tried and true method of securing a new role, so get out and make connections; leverage your network.  The more people who know you are looking for a job, the more eyes and ears that will be available to help. Identify everyone in your personal network and make a plan to engage. • Social media. This one might be surprising to those who haven’t job searched in awhile, but the truth is the majority of employers use social media to advertise roles or pursue candidates. According to the 2013 Jobvite survey: 94% of employers use or plan to use social media in their recruitment efforts.  LinkedIn is the top site for searching, contacting, vetting, and keeping tab of candidates, but Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ all offer job search benefits.  Do your research on each. • A current resume.   Simply adding your recent work experience to your resume will not suffice. Todays resumes involve a lot more strategy; they must be leaner and cleaner in content and specifically tailored to targeted roles.  If you are not familiar with up-to-date resume trends or how to manage the gap in your work history seek professional assistance.  Know which resume format to use when:  you need a certain resume version  for networking and another version for online applications through ATS. • Polished interview preparation. Again, if you haven’t interviewed for awhile, your interview skills are likely not up to par. You must be confident relaying your value proposition and key messages in a variety of interview settings.  Most importantly, are you well prepared to handle the question about the employment gap in your career history?  Research and prepare for every interview; most candidates boast that they are excellent interviewers, yet the vast majority are not.  A recent employment agency survey noted that candidates make the most mistakes during the interview stage (interview blunders top the list at 43%). • Sharpened skills. If you have been away from the workforce for a very long time, or you are looking to make a career change, you almost certainly need to update or acquire certain skill sets and abilities. Keep your skills up-to-date by engaging in regular professional development or community activities related to your targeted role. Take a course, volunteer, and be prepared to demonstrate to employers how your skills are still sharp and relevant. • Sound career advice. If you are not completely confident about what type of role you should pursue (time for a career change?) it would be a very wise decision to seek the assistance of a trained career coach. These professionals can walk you through skills assessments and help you research roles that are a good fit to your aptitude and lifestyle. Finally, keep in mind that looking for a job is a full time job of its own, and your search requires a lot of investment.  Devote  focused time to every step of the process; never assume that all you need is just a good resume or only brushed-up interview skills. A complete package of well prepared documents and tactics are necessary. Learn more about current job search trends in my post: Make it Happen!

Free Webinar How To Ditch Your Dead End Job - Classy Career Girl

Free Webinar How To Ditch Your Dead End Job Are you struggling to figure out  exactly  what you should be doing in your job search to find a career you love? Are you tired of worrying about whether or not you are job searching correctly or just wasting a bunch of time?   In this day and age, none of us have time to waste on things that don’t generate results.   I’ll be the first to admit that getting out of a job you hate can be really frustrating and overwhelming. Ive done it myself. But don’t fret.   I’m here to help you say adios to your dead end job and find a fulfilling career you love for the rest of your life.     I would be honored to be your trusted advisor and help you navigate the (sometimes tricky) waters of job searching to increase your happiness and success.   If you can stay one step ahead of your competition, you are sure to see a steady stream of quality opportunities come your way.   So how do you stay one step ahead?   You need to create a job search action plan with the foundation of the plan built on your unique strengths and your personality, interests and motivations  (and not 100% reliant on your resume or online job postings). That way you can easily attract networking opportunities that will lead you to a job you love.   To help you put this strategy into action, next week Im hosting a live workshop, How to Ditch Your Dead End Job and Find a Career You Love. Join me and I will show you how to do it step-by-step. ?? Click here to register for my free training - Heres what well cover in my action-packed training: To make finding your dream job quick and easy for you, we will break it down into three core principles:   Understanding Yourself, Time Management for Efficient Job Searching and a Networking Action Plan. Understand Yourself:  Ill show you how to narrow down your search by self-reflection to discover your Ideal Workday   a fabulous workday that you would love to have from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed.   Time Management For Efficient Job Searching:  Its not about how much time you spend job searching. Instead, its about having an effective and strategic job search (Ill show you how to save 1 hour everyday to devote to getting results job searching). Networking Action Plan:  Discover whats working right now with LinkedIn and social media networking to turn your network into dream job opportunities. (You can find hiring managers and recruitiers for your dream job and Ill show you how.) This webinar is for YOU if you want to finally create a plan that will produce REAL RESULTS for your job search.   Click here to register for my free training -   Can’t wait to see you there! Anna

Morning motivation 5 simple ways to get your day off to the best start - Debut

Morning motivation 5 simple ways to get your day off to the best start - Debut At this time of year especially it’s easy to wake up and want to go straight back to bed. It’s dark out, the wind is violent, and the cold is biting. But, as ideal as it would be, we (sadly) have to get up and get on with it not matter how ideal another day in bed would be (that’s what weekends are for, right?). But, there are ways to wake up the right way, and get your day off to the best possible start: Meditate   Don’t worry, we’re not going all hippie on you but trust us, this can make all the difference to your day. Instead of opening your eyes and reaching straight for your phone, take ten minutes to just lay in bed and get your head in order. It can be all to easy to try and ignore the tirade of urgent ‘to dos’ that flood your mind first thing by scrolling mindlessly through Instagram, but you’re going to have to face them eventually. Taking the time to set things in order, clear your mind, and create a loose structure for your day will make getting out of bed a whole load easier no matter how much you’ve got on   Exercise No matter how sluggish you start off the day, even the tiniest amount of exercise can wake you up and make you feel good. You know, endorphins and all that… Stretching is always good and it doesn’t have to be too intense, we’re not talking Olympic training here! Learn a few yoga moves, work on your core, do 20 star jumps… anything to get your blood flowing and your body moving. The first few mornings it can seem a drag, but you’ll soon get into it (and maybe even enjoy it!). Eat the right way It’s become something of a cliche, but breakfast is SO important but you have to do it the right way Coco Pops and toast might seem like the perfect trip down memory lane, but it’s not going to give you all the nutrients that you need for the day. Neither is a cup of coffee, no matter how large. That’s not to say no coffee at all (ever we’re not that good), but balance it out with something nutritious. A small glass of fresh fruit juice grapefruit or orange are always good and a bowl of oats or granola with greek yoghurt will be far more beneficial than a sugar-filled bowl of cereal. If you’ve more time, avocado and rye bread is always a winner, and season with chilli flakes for an extra kick to wake you right up. Shower last Save showering until you’ve finished everything else. This may seem trivial, but is all about what you do after… If you shower before eating, then you’re going to settle down and, before you know it, you’re rushing out the door in a fluster. But, if you save showering until the end of your routine, you’ll be far more awake and on your feet, ready for the day. Dress to impress For no one else but yourself, it’s crucial that you dress in something that looks good and feels good. Let’s face it, no one feels good looking like a sack of potatoes, right? If you know that you look good, you’re going to be more confident and ready to make things happen. But, comfort is everything, and shouldn’t be compromised at any cost. Killer heels are never a good idea… never! And nothing too tight, it’s just a bad idea. The key is to not look like you’re trying too hard make it look natural! As long as you feel good, it’ll work, and you’ll ace the day. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

How I Conquered My Deadly Fear In Public Speaking - Cubicle Chic

How I Conquered My Deadly Fear In Public Speaking - Cubicle Chic How I Conquered My Deadly Fear In Public SpeakingCareer, Climbing the ladder, Corporate Life, Development October 10, 2016 0 CommentsThe truth is that most people have some form of fear of public speaking, We’ve all been there: dealing with the knot in our stomach, the sinking feeling of doom, and that the world is going to end when people find out about your deadly fear of speaking in front of a crowd.   For those of us that want to become better speakers, we try to find articles on how to improve presentation skills, find resources to get practice like joining a Toastmaster group, or going through paid trainings like the Dale Carnegie programs. Here is my confession: I have tried them ALL. I’ve even seen therapists for my stage freight. My fear was THAT real. What you’re about to read next is not written by some expert or experienced speaker. It is written by yours truly, who’s had a severe, diagnosed form of public speaking anxiety. After a lot of trial and tribulations, I am proud to say that I can now finally give presentations and speak to a crowd well. However, the road to this blissful destination was no walk in the park.  I lived and breathed this debilitating fear for years. First, there were 2 years of business school, where presentation was required for almost every single class. After that, I entered into the workforce in the field of marketing, where I regularly had to report-out business analytics to teams of 5+ people, often involving upper management. I’ve had countless moments where I contemplated faking a car accident or wondering what would happen if I just dashed out of the meeting room door and never came back. “Is it better for people to think I’m weird/crazy/unreliable, or that I’m bad at public speaking?” was a constant question in my head, whenever I was tasked to speak publicly. Preface: Here’s My Motivation To Become A Better SpeakerFor most of my 20’s, the idea of being a poised speaker one day was an eternal i mpossibility to me. I knew the problem was in me: that fear was in my head, deeply rooted based on traumatizing experiences and negative self-talk. I read and read, researched and researched; I even sought help from therapists about this anxiety. For years, I was trapped in this cocoon of “I’m just destined to be bad at it”, despite my outward effort in trying to get better. Yet, I kept at it. There was something in me that kept pushing myself to be a better speaker. In hindsight, I attribute it to the people that I was surrounded by. They believed in me and they constantly told me that I DO have what it takes, that I do have a way of garnering attention when I DO speak without anxiety kicking in, and that I always had unique and distinct points to share. This mirrored my internal drive of becoming a successful businesswoman, having my own ground to stand on, and the ability to realize my own aspirations and inspire people to do the same. So, I never stopped attempting to bett er my public speaking skills. After having said all of that, I want to share with you the things that I’ve done that helped me along this journey. I am not where I want to be yet, but recent experiences have shown me that I can at least be comfortable in speaking in front of a crowd. But there are MORE, oh SO MANY MORE areas that I can improve on. So here it goes: 7 Things That I’ve Done To Curb My Deadly Fear Of Public Speaking:1) Find out what the root case(s) of your anxiety is (are)This may sound really abstract at first, but here’s what I mean. Psychologically speaking, our emotional reactions, especially the more extreme ones, often have external triggers. These triggers are usually associated with life events where we may not even be aware of their effects. Regardless of our natural tendencies as introverts or extroverts, what were your experiences like growing up when it comes to public speaking? Were your parents and close ones not supportive and encouraging of you to express your opinion? Are there people around you that are afraid of public speaking or just expressing their opinion? These are all factors that could contribute to us having fear or anxiety in speaking publically. Perhaps you’re like me in that English wasn’t your mother tongue or native language. For those of us who learned English as a second language, we may have beliefs in our head that we just don’t’ have as good a command of English. Or maybe, you actually have a lot of good public speakers in your life as positive influence. They are great examples of what good speakers should be like, but they make you feel like it’s an unreachable goal and that you could ever be like them. All of these could contribute to your anxiety toward public speaking. If you can’t figure this out on your own and you REALLY want to find out, find an anxiety specialist to talk to. I have seen a few in my late 20’s and I have learned different things from each and every therapist. Often times when our anxiety kicks in, we’re not able to stop it because each thought is so closely associated with the emotion it triggers; seeing a therapist can sometimes help you learn how to slow that thinking process down which is the first step in taking control of your anxiety.  2) Know what is driving you in wanting to become a better public speaker  For me, it’s the fact that that I have this intrinsic belief that I have the potential to be a great speaker; it’s an identity that I feel the urge to realize. On top of that, being a marketing professional, I know the power of persuasion of a great speech. Therefore, all my efforts has been toward aligning my external behavior to this internal belief. What is your motivation to become a better speaker? Is it a good grade you need in a class? Is it to impress someone? Is it because it feels like everyone else is a good speaker and you’re not? While all of these could be legitimate reasons to fuel you and keep you in your eff orts, they’re not lasting motivations. Because they’re not aligned with your internal values and are not based on things that define who you are. Find out what your intrinsic motivations are by asking yourself this question:o     If I don’t master public speaking, I will feel ____, because I won’t be able to ____. Take some time to think about it if the answers aren’t immediately clear. But you should be able to complete the sentence with clear words to fill in the blank if being a good public speaker is aligned with your intrinsic values and motivations. 3) When you’re not confident, try memorizing your script and practice endlessly.  You will likely hear mixed opinion on this suggestion, but it worked for me. The fact is that if you’re shaking and not able to even speak, it’s better to sound like you’re reading from a script than just freezing in front of the crowd. Also, practice your speech/presentation till you have nothing left to practice. Practice it so wel l that when you’re saying one sentence you already know what’s going to follow next. Just face and embrace the fact that when you’re less skilled in public speaking, this is what you have to do to make up for the lack of experience. 4)    Pay attention to your body language.If you haven’t yet, watch Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk on the power of body language. It changed my life, and it could change yours. The science on this method is controversial, but I know for a fact that it worked for me. More importantly, it gave me something to work on when I’m dealing with the jitters. What I used to do 10 minutes before I had to give presentations was to lock myself in an empty conference room or even in the lady’s room, and just spread my arms, stand tall with my chest up, telling myself “You’re going to OWN that audience.” A more advanced tip along the same line is to watch your body language during your presentation. This also applies to when you’re in a business setting in general.  I’ve included a few good ones here:    A.         Sit in the front of the roomB.         Don’t play with your hairC.         Speak UP when you are speakingD.         Speak TOWARD your audience and not the computer screen or projector screen Remember that great mentor I talked about a few weeks ago? I learned all of these tips from her. 5)    Seek help. Seek professional help.Go to a Toastmaster meeting. I have gone a few times and the format of my local meeting didn’t work for me so I didn’t necessarily benefit from the Toastmaster group. But thousands of people have. Give it a try… it can’t hurt.  If your company has development funds set aside for employees, take one of those public speaking trainings. They typically last 2 days, and you are required to give presentations based on particular topics. The best (or worst) part is that you are taped and a professional speaker will then review the tape with you to find out ways you can improve for your next spe ech. I know Dale Carnegie and American Management Association both offer classes like this. And if you feel like you’ve tried everything and you still find the fear overwhelming (which I did), find a psychologist or psychiatrist to talk to. Not all psycho-therapies are made equal and everyone needs different levels of interference.   I am simply making this recommendation because it worked for me, so take it with a grain of salt.  6) Learn how to channel your jitters and re-process it as excitement instead of nervousnessResearch has proven it again and again that the the way our body reacts in response to fear and excitement are very similar, if not identical. Learn techniques on how to convince yourself that you are positively excited for the event, as opposed to being scared and wanting to escape. It’s reported a lot in research that when people are told they are “excited” about something, that are much more likely to report higher rate of success than people that are tol d they are “nervous”.  I personally make little flash cards (very little for ease of storage and carrying around) that helps guide my thinking and keep my thoughts going in the positive direction. Notes on these cards include “You’ve prepared for this for so long. You are ready” or “No one is as much of an expert as you are on this topic. They are here to learn from you.” or “This is your chance to knock them out with your awesomeness and preparedness. You are going to rock the audience!” Yes, they borderline sound hypnotic, but this is the nature of our thought processes: very malleable and so easily influenced by our surrounding. Learn how to take control of it.  7)   Lastly, volunteer to speak publicly.This is the last step for a reason â€" do this ONLY after you’ve done all of the above, and know what you have in the tool kit for dealing with the queasiness and jitters. Then, look for those opportunities where you’d be able to put all the skills you’ve ac quired to use.I recently started volunteering to speaking engagement and it has been incredibly rewarding. 2 months ago at Taiwanese American Professionals, I was part of a panel of 8 and spoke about my heritage, cultural shift as an immigrant, and my views toward the future as an immigrant young professionalt. Just this past weekend, I was invited to speak at PoshFest as a panel of 2 for a workshop on sales and marketing tactics for how to improve your Poshmark closet.In both events I was able to share my personal stories, my perspectives on various issues, and provide information to educate, inspire and empower the audience. Both times I had people that came to me after the event to tell me that they learned something new from me and that I have inspired them. Yes, it’s an ego booster and huge compliments. But more importantly, it made me realize that what I have to say is valuable and worthwhile, that my life experiences haven’t been for nothing. All the ups and downs I’ve gone through have put in in the position I’m in today and someone else benefits from my experience as a result of my speaking engagement. It’s so, so, so empowering.What’s your public speaking story? Career, Climbing the ladder, Corporate Life, Development October 10, 2016 0 CommentsThe truth is that most people have some form of fear of public speaking, We’ve all been there: dealing with the knot in our stomach, the sinking feeling of doom, and that the world is going to end when people find out about your deadly fear of speaking in front of a crowd.   For those of us that want to become better speakers, we try to find articles on how to improve presentation skills, find resources to get practice like joining a Toastmaster group, or going through paid trainings like the Dale Carnegie programs. Here is my confession: I have tried them ALL. I’ve even seen therapists for my stage freight. My fear was THAT real. What you’re about to read next is not written by some expert or experienced speaker. It is written by yours truly, who’s had a severe, diagnosed form of public speaking anxiety. After a lot of trial and tribulations, I am proud to say that I can now finally give pres entations and speak to a crowd well. However, the road to this blissful destination was no walk in the park.  I lived and breathed this debilitating fear for years. First, there were 2 years of business school, where presentation was required for almost every single class. After that, I entered into the workforce in the field of marketing, where I regularly had to report-out business analytics to teams of 5+ people, often involving upper management. I’ve had countless moments where I contemplated faking a car accident or wondering what would happen if I just dashed out of the meeting room door and never came back. “Is it better for people to think I’m weird/crazy/unreliable, or that I’m bad at public speaking?” was a constant question in my head, whenever I was tasked to speak publicly. Preface: Here’s My Motivation To Become A Better SpeakerFor most of my 20’s, the idea of being a poised speaker one day was an eternal impossibility to me. I knew the problem was in me: that fear was in my head, deeply rooted based on traumatizing experiences and negative self-talk. I read and read, researched and researched; I even sought help from therapists about this anxiety. For years, I was trapped in this cocoon of “I’m just destined to be bad at it”, despite my outward effort in trying to get better. Yet, I kept at it. There was something in me that kept pushing myself to be a better speaker. In hindsight, I attribute it to the people that I was surrounded by. They believed in me and they constantly told me that I DO have what it takes, that I do have a way of garnering attention when I DO speak without anxiety kicking in, and that I always had unique and distinct points to share. This mirrored my internal drive of becoming a successful businesswoman, having my own ground to stand on, and the ability to realize my own aspirations and inspire people to do the same. So, I never stopped attempting to better my public speaking skills. After having said a ll of that, I want to share with you the things that I’ve done that helped me along this journey. I am not where I want to be yet, but recent experiences have shown me that I can at least be comfortable in speaking in front of a crowd. But there are MORE, oh SO MANY MORE areas that I can improve on. So here it goes: 7 Things That I’ve Done To Curb My Deadly Fear Of Public Speaking:1) Find out what the root case(s) of your anxiety is (are)This may sound really abstract at first, but here’s what I mean. Psychologically speaking, our emotional reactions, especially the more extreme ones, often have external triggers. These triggers are usually associated with life events where we may not even be aware of their effects. Regardless of our natural tendencies as introverts or extroverts, what were your experiences like growing up when it comes to public speaking? Were your parents and close ones not supportive and encouraging of you to express your opinion? Are there people around yo u that are afraid of public speaking or just expressing their opinion? These are all factors that could contribute to us having fear or anxiety in speaking publically. Perhaps you’re like me in that English wasn’t your mother tongue or native language. For those of us who learned English as a second language, we may have beliefs in our head that we just don’t’ have as good a command of English. Or maybe, you actually have a lot of good public speakers in your life as positive influence. They are great examples of what good speakers should be like, but they make you feel like it’s an unreachable goal and that you could ever be like them. All of these could contribute to your anxiety toward public speaking. If you can’t figure this out on your own and you REALLY want to find out, find an anxiety specialist to talk to. I have seen a few in my late 20’s and I have learned different things from each and every therapist. Oftentimes when our anxiety kicks in, we’re not able to stop it because each thought is so closely associated with the emotion it triggers; seeing a therapist can sometimes help you learn how to slow that thinking process down which is the first step in taking control of your anxiety.  2) Know what is driving you in wanting to become a better public speaker  For me, it’s the fact that that I have this intrinsic belief that I have the potential to be a great speaker; it’s an identity that I feel the urge to realize. On top of that, being a marketing professional, I know the power of persuasion of a great speech. Therefore, all my efforts has been toward aligning my external behavior to this internal belief. What is your motivation to become a better speaker? Is it a good grade you need in a class? Is it to impress someone? Is it because it feels like everyone else is a good speaker and you’re not? While all of these could be legitimate reasons to fuel you and keep you in your efforts, they’re not lasting motivations. Because they’re not aligned with your internal values and are not based on things that define who you are. Find out what your intrinsic motivations are by asking yourself this question:o     If I don’t master public speaking, I will feel ____, because I won’t be able to ____. Take some time to think about it if the answers aren’t immediately clear. But you should be able to complete the sentence with clear words to fill in the blank if being a good public speaker is aligned with your intrinsic values and motivations. 3) When you’re not confident, try memorizing your script and practice endlessly.  You will likely hear mixed opinion on this suggestion, but it worked for me. The fact is that if you’re shaking and not able to even speak, it’s better to sound like you’re reading from a script than just freezing in front of the crowd. Also, practice your speech/presentation till you have nothing left to practice. Practice it so well that when you’re saying one sentence you alre ady know what’s going to follow next. Just face and embrace the fact that when you’re less skilled in public speaking, this is what you have to do to make up for the lack of experience. 4)    Pay attention to your body language.If you haven’t yet, watch Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk on the power of body language. It changed my life, and it could change yours. The science on this method is controversial, but I know for a fact that it worked for me. More importantly, it gave me something to work on when I’m dealing with the jitters. What I used to do 10 minutes before I had to give presentations was to lock myself in an empty conference room or even in the lady’s room, and just spread my arms, stand tall with my chest up, telling myself “You’re going to OWN that audience.” A more advanced tip along the same line is to watch your body language during your presentation. This also applies to when you’re in a business setting in general.  I’ve included a few good ones here:    A.         Sit in the front of the roomB.         Don’t play with your hairC.         Speak UP when you are speakingD.         Speak TOWARD your audience and not the computer screen or projector screen Remember that great mentor I talked about a few weeks ago? I learned all of these tips from her. 5)    Seek help. Seek professional help.Go to a Toastmaster meeting. I have gone a few times and the format of my local meeting didn’t work for me so I didn’t necessarily benefit from the Toastmaster group. But thousands of people have. Give it a try… it can’t hurt.  If your company has development funds set aside for employees, take one of those public speaking trainings. They typically last 2 days, and you are required to give presentations based on particular topics. The best (or worst) part is that you are taped and a professional speaker will then review the tape with you to find out ways you can improve for your next speech. I know Dale Carnegie and American Management Association both offer classes like this. And if you feel like you’ve tried everything and you still find the fear overwhelming (which I did), find a psychologist or psychiatrist to talk to. Not all psycho-therapies are made equal and everyone needs different levels of interference.   I am simply making this recommendation because it worked for me, so take it with a grain of salt.  6) Learn how to channel your jitters and re-process it as excitement instead of nervousnessResearch has proven it again and again that the the way our body reacts in response to fear and excitement are very similar, if not identical. Learn techniques on how to convince yourself that you are positively excited for the event, as opposed to being scared and wanting to escape. It’s reported a lot in research that when people are told they are “excited” about something, that are much more likely to report higher rate of success than people that are told they are “nervous”.  I personally make litt le flash cards (very little for ease of storage and carrying around) that helps guide my thinking and keep my thoughts going in the positive direction. Notes on these cards include “You’ve prepared for this for so long. You are ready” or “No one is as much of an expert as you are on this topic. They are here to learn from you.” or “This is your chance to knock them out with your awesomeness and preparedness. You are going to rock the audience!” Yes, they borderline sound hypnotic, but this is the nature of our thought processes: very malleable and so easily influenced by our surrounding. Learn how to take control of it.  7)   Lastly, volunteer to speak publicly.This is the last step for a reason â€" do this ONLY after you’ve done all of the above, and know what you have in the tool kit for dealing with the queasiness and jitters. Then, look for those opportunities where you’d be able to put all the skills you’ve acquired to use.I recently started volunteering to speaking engagement and it has been incredibly rewarding. 2 months ago at Taiwanese American Professionals, I was part of a panel of 8 and spoke about my heritage, cultural shift as an immigrant, and my views toward the future as an immigrant young professionalt. Just this past weekend, I was invited to speak at PoshFest as a panel of 2 for a workshop on sales and marketing tactics for how to improve your Poshmark closet.In both events I was able to share my personal stories, my perspectives on various issues, and provide information to educate, inspire and empower the audience. Both times I had people that came to me after the event to tell me that they learned something new from me and that I have inspired them. Yes, it’s an ego booster and huge compliments. But more importantly, it made me realize that what I have to say is valuable and worthwhile, that my life experiences haven’t been for nothing. All the ups and downs I’ve gone through have put in in the position I’m in today and someone else benefits from my experience as a result of my speaking engagement. It’s so, so, so empowering.What’s your public speaking story?

Writing an Effective Resume Cover Letter

Writing an Effective Resume Cover LetterWriting an effective resume cover letter may not be a difficult thing to do, but it can be a very tedious task if you make a wrong move or miss out on a vital point. Since so many people are looking for a job and are struggling to find the right one, you will find that the competition is very intense.That is why the following points need to be made regarding the role of the resume cover letter. It is not just a piece of paper you put on the desk of your interviewer. Even though your employer can look at it, the resume cover letter has to give them something to think about.The time spent putting in to preparing your resume cover letter is going to pay off when you are involved in a job hunt. Even though you are going to be conducting your search online, this does not mean that you should ignore what it is like to go out and get yourself a job. Having the skills needed to write a great resume cover letter can help you earn the first interview and show that you are ready to learn about the job and what it entails.When preparing a resume cover letter, there are certain things you should consider. Make sure that the information provided is correct. This includes the contact details of the prospective employer and your schedule. While you may not need to provide all the details of your previous jobs, it would be a good idea to show that you have experience in some of them.If you want to be more creative when writing an effective resume cover letter, you can use some emojis to show that you have some creative skills. These can be found on most job-seeker websites as well as social networking sites. If you do not feel confident enough to ask for help with the writing, do not worry because there are plenty of professionals who can help you.Another important thing you need to consider when writing an effective resume cover letter is to make it interesting. You should write a personal description about yourself. In other words, you should let the employer know a little bit about you before you even explain anything to them. Show them that you can relate to the problems that they are facing.It is also important to get to know your previous employers. Do they provide the kind of work environment that you are looking for? Maybe your new employer will be able to relate to the kind of work environment you had at another job. Knowing this information can help your resume cover letter becomes a success.Writing an effective resume cover letter is not a difficult thing to do. If you take the time to spend some time on it, you can get the results you want.