Be Nice to the Gatekeepers, for They Hold the Key

Be Nice to the Gatekeepers, for They Hold the Key Does it sometimes seem as though hiring managers are living in some sort of gated community? As a recruiter, the key (no pun intended) to success is learning how to reach those all important decision makers so you too can enter the gates. Let?s face it, half the difficulty in approaching a potential client is actually getting in front of, or being heard by the decision maker to make your case. Gatekeepers come in various guises: the  PA who is entrusted with guarding the decision maker at all costs is one; another might be the administrative assistant, the secretary, the voicemail system or the switchboard operator. Whatever form they take, there are definite ?do?s? and ?donts? to bear in mind, in order to gain access and receive consideration by the decision maker. First and foremost: Dont  doubt for one moment that the gatekeeper is vital  to the successful outcome of your information gathering mission.  If you fall at this first hurdle, getting back on the horse to have another go could be challenging. Following these few simple guidelines could mean the difference between success and failure in your efforts to speak to your target audience. Do turn the gatekeeper into  your ally ?Treat them with respect, humour and compassion, be friendly, but not over-friendly, establish a rapport. Remember they are busy, their job can be tough too. They get it from both ends all week long. Make a special effort to regard them as people with their own personality, and not as faceless obstacles to be overcome at all costs. Do  your  research before you pick up the phone. This is vital and cannot be stressed enough. Asking for the ?Head of Sales? is vague and woolly and will immediately set alarm bells ringing with the gatekeeper. Attention to detail in your delivery is important too; ?you? have  gone to the trouble of researching the name of the person you need to speak to, so make sure you get it right when you call. For example, at Newman Stewart we had one person who wanted to speak to our Marketing Manager but merged his name with the name of the company and asked for Gary Numan, another wanted to speak to our Managing Director but asked for the legendary singer and guitarist of Squeeze, Glen Tilbrook. These are just a couple of (admittedly very funny) real life examples of my colleagues being turned into 80?s pop heroes by unwitting callers. The moral of this tale is if you know and remember correctly the name of the person you need to speak to, your chances of being successfully put through to that person will be vastly improved. Do use humour and empathy. Humour in solidarity with the gatekeeper will work, always assuming the person on the end of the phone has a sense of humour and you haven?t caught them on a really bad day if you?re having a bad day and so are they you can bemoan this together and lighten both your days. If this is the tenth time you have spoken to the gatekeeper this week, they will remember it too, so don?t pretend otherwise, make light of it?; persistence is my middle name?, ?you can?t blame a man for trying? etc, etc. Dont turn it into a 24  chapter best-seller if you?re leaving a message. Make  a voicemail  message short and sweet, direct and professional, with only the important facts included:  Your name, your contact details, the reason for your call and when you will call again should suffice. Dont  ever lie! You can be  ?creative? in giving your reason for calling, but don?t lie. Don?t pretend you?re a relative, the police or an old friend from way back ?this could backfire with unthinkable consequences for you and your job/reputation. Dont  over-rehearse ?the gatekeeper is trained to sniff out those who are reading from a script and will immediately be thinking of a way to end the call without even listening to what you are saying. Be natural, try to make an impression and use your own personality to make you stand out from the crowd. Dont be rude! Even in the face of what you see as absolute inflexibility  and downright unhelpfulness on the part of the gatekeeper, you must always remain polite and professional, never rude or sarcastic no matter how tempting it may be! Do remain upbeat. ?This  might be the hundredth call that you have made today, but this could be the one. By following these simple rules you will increase your likelihood of getting  through to the decision maker or getting the information that you require significantly which will in turn lead to a potential contact or placement.

CCG14 Podcast How To Kick Butt at Negotiating and Get That Raise You Deserve

CCG14 Podcast How To Kick Butt at Negotiating and Get That Raise You Deserve PODCAST: Click play above or right click here and save link as to download or subscribe on iTunes here on this link: Subscribe  on  your favorite platform below: iTunes Google Play Music Stitcher Radio TuneIn iHeartRadio Sound Cloud SHOW TOPICS Networking Interview with Patricia Madson:  How To Improvise â€" Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up Common negotiation mistakes Differences when negotiating with men vs. women How to succeed in salary negotiations Get the  transcript  and watch the video of my chat with Jessica here:  Networking Interview with Jessica Miller Note from Anna: Hello!  Just wanted to ask you for a quick favor.  If you listen to the podcast, would you do me a favor and leave a quick rating and review in itunes?  I would really appreciate it!  Thanks!

Divorce Tips For The Modern Woman Getting Through A Divorce

Divorce Tips For The Modern Woman Getting Through A Divorce Whether you and your partner have decided that getting divorced is the best thing, or you feel that divorce is on the horizon, preparing is important. You may feel relieved or saddened at the thought of finally ending your relationship, but either way, it is important that you prepare yourself properly. There is property to split, a home to deal with, friends and family to tell not to mention the emotions and feelings involved. Divorce, whether amicable or not, is messy. And even more so, when children are involved. You might be worrying about how each of your families will react, how you will tell the children or how everything will be divided. Or, perhaps you are concerned about how you will cover the financial cost of getting divorced? Getting divorced can be a daunting process, but if you make an effort to prepare yourself properly, it will be much easier to handle. Photo Issue With the concerning process of getting divorced ahead, the last thing you probably want to do is start preparing yourself, but it is crucial that you take the time to do so. Here are our top tips for handling your divorce like a pro: Treat your ex-partner right If you want an amicable divorce, it is important that you treat your ex-partner in the right way. Obviously, if your partner has cheated on you or has done something awful to deserve a divorce, then you may not want an amicable divorce. But if you do, it is vital that you treat them right. If you are the one initiating the breakup, make sure to tell them in a kind and gentle way. The way you explain to your partner that you want a divorce will set the tone for your divorce proceedings, so make sure to be kind and respectful. If your partner has initiated the breakup, you might be a little shocked, but don’t make the mistake of falling out with them. Otherwise, your chance of an amicable divorce will go out the window. Get your finances in order If you are worried about how you will cover the cost of your divorce fees, the first thing to do is get your finances in order. Go to the bank and ask for a copy of yours and your ex-partners joint bank account statement, get copies of the information about your debts, as well as copies of your tax returns. If money is tight, the next step is to work out how you will afford your divorce. If you are concerned, there are many charities you can contact who can give you support and advice. See a therapist For many people going through a divorce, having an objective person to talk about the breakup process with is incredibly helpful. While you could talk to your friends, if you and your partner share your friends, it could be a little awkward. Especially, as most friends don’t want to take sides. If you have children, you could also consider taking them to see a specialist children’s therapist to help them deal with your divorce. Many children find family break ups difficult and need a lot of extra guidance and support, and a therapist is the ideal person for dealing with this. Hire an excellent lawyer To ensure that you get the best result from your divorce, it is crucial that you hire a good lawyer. Even if you are aiming for an amicable divorce, it is still important to have an experienced lawyer on your team, just in case things go sour. Don’t choose an overly aggressive lawyer who promises he can get you everything. Not only will this be expensive, it may also damage your future relationship with your ex-partner. Ideally, you want to choose a lawyer who can give you a realistic idea of what you can expect the outcome of your divorce to be. For a reputable lawyer, get in touch with the Brad Micklin law group and ask to be put in touch with a divorce specialist. Just make sure that before settling on a certain lawyer, that you get to know a bit about them first. How many divorces have they dealt with? How many cases have they won? How long have they been practising for? These are all important questions to ask before hiring a lawyer. Meet with your ex-partner Before court proceeding take place, arrange to meet with your ex-partner and discuss your joint assets and debts. See if together you can work out a fair way of splitting your property, money and debts you could try using iSplit Divorce Pro app to help it’s amazing. If you struggle to deal with how to split certain things, agree not to argue about it and leave it to your lawyers to work out. Don’t discuss your divorce in front of the kids Source for picture If you and your ex-partner have children together, make sure not to discuss the divorce proceedings in front of them. Dealing with a family break up as a child is hard enough, don’t make it any harder for them by dragging them into the middle of things. As much as possible, make sure to keep the children out of the divorce proceedings. It is also important to avoid bad mouthing your ex-partner in front of the children. Keep your divorce off social media Image credit Don’t make the mistake of posting information about your divorce or ex-partner on social media. Anything that you post online can not only be copied and shared by other users, it can also be used against you in court. Before you post a status about your ex-partner, think about whether you want to end up being charged with libel in court? Libel is the written form of slander. If, for example, you put damaging claims about your ex-partner on Facebook. You could then be charged with libel, and it could affect the result of your divorce proceedings. If you need to vent about your divorce or ex-partner, do so to a close friend or even better, to your therapist. Just make sure to keep any nasty comments about your ex-partner off the internet.

Most popular posts of 2010

Most popular posts of 2010 Heres a list of the posts that got the most comments this year. Interestingly, the post that got the most traffic is did not make the list. That post is: What its like to have sex with someone who has Aspergers. Thank you for a fun year. I feel so grateful to have my blog. Being able to write for this community and read the consistently insightful comments has made the year so much better. Jan. How to make yourself more likable (208 comments) Jan. 8 Tips for anger management (234 comments) Jan. Do you overemphasize happiness? (249 comments) Jan. Racism is alive and kicking. Hello, McDonalds. (415 comments) Jan. How to manage a college education (185 comments) Jan. Being an expert takes time, not talent (183 comments) Feb. Test: Is your life happy or interesting? (246 comments) Mar. List of things I hate (183 comments) Apr. Turning point (294 comments) Aug. When youre feeling lost, dont hide (162 comments) Nov. Veterans Day should be cancelled (335 comments) Nov. 5 Reasons to stop trying to be happy (152 comments)

The Future of Leadership

The Future of Leadership “A mental model is an explanation of someone’s thought process about how something works in the real world. It is a representation of the surrounding world, the relationships between its various parts and a person’s intuitive perception about his or her own acts and their consequences” â€" Wikipedia DefinitionAll of us have mental models for the things in our lives.We’ve created them for everything from what success is, to what love should look like; and it’s these mental models that help us make sense of the world and in our minds keep things “in order”.evalThe issue comes into play when our mental models are limiting, when they hold us back from being the fullest most expressed version of ourselves.So I’m going to ask, what’s your mental model for leadership?When you think about the word “leader” who comes to mind first?Was it a world leader?Was it someone that you have worked for?Was it a spiritual leader?We all have different mental models for what leaders hip is. In fact, if you look up leadership on Amazon.ca there are over 150,000 titles on leadership; which points to not many of us being able to agree on a mental model for leadership!evalI wonder how many of you thought of yourselves when you thought about a leader? How many of you even consider yourselves a leader? The idea that leadership is tied to a title or a position of power is certainly one mental model of leadership but what if there was another?What if we looked at leadership as innate. Something that all of us possess and engage in on a daily basis. This is the central concept of the “Whole Life Leadership” model.Whole Life Leadership works from the mental model that we are all leaders in all areas of our lives, title or not.In this model we take the position that at work, in our communities, and in our families, we have the ability to lead authentically and powerfully only when we are clear on our vision, our purpose and our values.evalGetting clear on these three elements is the key to unleashing the authentic leader that is within in all of us.1. Our Vision acts as our North Star. It guides us and answers the question of, “what am I out to accomplish?”2. Our purpose or mission is our driver and our motivation. It answers the key question, “why do I want to do this?”3. Our values are like our compass and they help us answer the questions like, “is this aligned with what is important to me?”So why does any of this matter?Well, imagine for a moment the impact of truly being a leader in every area of your life. If you were leading from your values.If there were no hard lines between work, play, and home, just integration where you were able to be authentically you at all times.Where you were operating from your authentic leadership purpose rather than a mental model of what you believe leadership to be; how would your world be different?More and more people and organizations are adopting this Whole Life Leadership philosophy. Lookin g less for work life balance and more for work life integration- Whole Life Leadership. It’s only here that we begin to look at ourselves as whole rather than someone who is one way at work and another at home or with friends.There is alignment and synergy between life areas as opposed to tension, and we can show up as a leader in all areas our lives. Organizations are adopting this mental model as a people development philosophy not because it is an attractive concept but because it is effective and it produces results.evalWhole Life Leadership is the future of leadership and I can’t wait to see what’s possible when we have a world filled with purpose driven organizations and leaders.It all begins with a shift.A shift in what we believe about ourselves as leaders in our own lives.To find out more about Kristin Constable and the Whole Life Leadership Program or Individual Whole Life Leadership Coaching visit www.winningcoaching.ca

Police Inspector Direct Entry Eligibility - What You Need to Know

Police Inspector Direct Entry Eligibility - What You Need to Know Before you apply, there are some key facts that you need to know when it comes to Police Inspector Direct Entry eligibility. Firstly, the Police Inspector Direct Entry Programme is only open to the very best candidates, which is why applicants need to go through such an extensive application process. In addition to this, there are further restrictions on who can apply for the role, otherwise known as the eligibility criteria. Below we’ve provided a summary of what requirements you’ll need to meet, and some other important facts that you’ll need to know about the course.Age LimitOne of the most basic elements of the Direct Entry eligibility criteria is the upper age limit for applicants, which is 57. Also, you must be 18 or older to apply. Candidates for the Direct Entry programme can apply as many times as they want. However, should you fail the assessment centre twice, you will need to wait a total of 5 years before applying again.Nationality/ResidencyCandidates from outside t he EEA must have leave to remain in the UK for an indefinite period, without restrictions. The police require a three-year history when vetting, meaning that you will need to have been a resident of the UK for three years prior to application.TattoosThe police have a very strict policy on tattoos and piercings. Tattoos and piercings are not deemed acceptable by the police, if they:-Are seen as undermining the dignity of the employee.-Risk causing offence to members of the public, or police staff.-Are particularly garish/prominent.-Could be seen as discriminatory to any group of people.FinancesWhen applying to join the police, your financial history will also be taken into account. You will not be accepted if you have an existing County Court judgement against your name, or if you have remaining debts that are a result of bankruptcy. Likewise, you will be rejected if you are the subject of an Individual Voluntary Agreement.Candidates who have been previously registered as bankrupt, w ill only be considered if they have been discharged from their debt for a period of three years prior to application.EyesightEyesight also comes into the Direct Entry eligibility criteria. The requirements are as follows:-You must be at a level of 6/12 or better in either eye, or 6/6 with both eyes together, when testing long distance vision.-You must be at a level of 6/9 with both eyes together, when testing near vision.-The police does not accept the use of colour correcting lenses. Nor do they accept radial keratotomy, arcuate keratotomy or corneal grafts.ProbationOnce you have been accepted onto the course, you will be on a period of probation for the duration of the programme. This means that you will need to prove to the assessors that you have what it takes to succeed in the role, or risk being removed from the programme. All candidates who successfully complete the programme are guaranteed an offer of employment.Chosen constabularyThe application process allows candidates to apply for more than one force. On the application form, you will be asked to list your preferred ranking of the forces that are taking part in the programme/which of these you would like to work for. If you do receive a place on the programme, then this list will be used to determine which force you might work for.Past convictionsAs you would expect, the police are very strict on the criminal history of their candidates, it’s a key part of the Direct Entry eligibility criteria. Below we’ve included all of the information on how past criminal convictions could impact your application.When considering criminal convictions, each case will be judged based on its own merits, and therefore it is up to the police to decide on whether the exact past conviction will prohibit you from joining. That being said, applications will not be accepted if a candidate (of any age) has previously been convicted or cautioned for:-Murder-Treason-Manslaughter-Rape-Incest-Offences that fall under the s exual offences act of 2003-Sexual activity with a child-Hostage-taking or torture-Involvement in espionage or terrorism-Any driving offences which have resulted in a death-Firearms offences-Domestic violence offencesOther offencesSimilarly, you are highly unlikely to be accepted if you have been convicted or cautioned on charges of:-Violence-GBH-ABH-Unlawful possession of firearms-Gross indecency-Abuse or neglect of children-Public order offences-Burglary-Fraud-Any offence which involved acting in a dishonest or corrupt manner, invoking loss to others involved.-Possession with, or involvement in, class A drugs or class B drugs.-Reckless or dangerous driving within the 10 years preceding application, including drink driving or driving under the influence of drugs.-Convictions that are a result of driving without insurance, in the past 5 years. Likewise, failing to stop after an accident.Your age at the time of offence, and other circumstances, will be taken into consideration for the following cases:-Being drunk and disorderly.-Minor drugs offences or substance abuse.-Common assault.-If you have outstanding charges or court summon requests.-If you have been convicted of an offence by a military tribunal.-If relatives or associates of the applicant are found to be have engaged in activity which could lead to embarrassment for the police, or risk discrediting the police as an organisation.Substance misuseAs per standard police regulations, you will need to take a substance misuse test during the application process. Failure to take part in this, or failure of the misuse test, will result in you being removed from the process.Shift workYou will need to be prepared to work shifts. Shift work is an essential part of policing, and there are times when you will need to work at nights and at weekends. You will be required to work approximately 40 hours per week.Education/Past EmploymentHaving a degree may benefit you in the application process, although it is not an es sential part of the Direct Entry eligibility criteria. There are no educational qualifications required in order to apply, and candidates will be judged based on how well they meet the police criteria, and not on their academic background. Existing police employees are welcome to apply, and will face the same tests as everyone else. That being said, existing employees are eligible to participate in a Fast Track programme, which accelerates the process.Direct Entry Eligibility â€" a conclusionSo, in order to successfully apply to this prestigious programme, there are a fair amount of (not too unreasonable) stipulations! For more information on Police Officer selection processes, click on the link below.How to become a Police OfficerLike How2Become on Facebook! This entry was posted in Police, Career Advice. Bookmark the permalink. Henry Hunter Police Sergeants’ and Inspectors’ Exam: Sample QuestionsPolice Sergeant and Inspector UK: An Introduction

How to Make a Memorable Introduction - Career Advice Blog for Millennials

How to Make a Memorable Introduction - Career Advice Blog for Millennials First impressions can set the stage for your interaction with a client or coworker â€" or even a whole conference room of people. You want to come across as memorable, friendly and respected when you offer a few lines about yourself, so how can you nail it every time? According to a Princeton study, people can form judgments about others in under one second, and thats just based on appearances. At first glance and with the following introduction, you have a short time span to establish how others see you. Here are six ways you can introduce yourself so that people remember you. 1. Describe Yourself and Why You Matter You might be tempted to give a canned response when someone asks you about yourself and what you do. Dont fall into the trap of responding quickly to get it over with. Rather than stopping after your name, title and location, keep your introduction going with significant details about yourself. Communicate your value to new people, whether youre in a meeting or networking. Go a little further than sharing information that an acquaintance could also rattle off about you. Explain your experience, give a summary of your past accomplishments and present your current goals. In the workplace, this strategy will help people recall your name and face later on. 2. Distinguish Yourself When you work in a setting where new people drift in and out, you might begin to tune out the basic details of an introduction. And the people you meet operate in the same way. Listening is a unique concentration skill that falters when information is repetitive and begins to blend together. Set yourself apart from other introductions by grabbing peoples attention. Break away from the repetitive or predictable pattern that most people use during a first meeting. Include why youre passionate about your position and what you hope to accomplish through it. If youre meeting with a client, tell them what you aim to do for them and why youre different from the competition. 3. Watch Your Body Language Your body language can impact someones impression of you just as much as your words can. People make judgments based on posture and gestures, and you probably dont pick up on these habits and behaviors in the moment. Strive to maintain eye contact and comfortable but straight posture during an introduction. Fidgeting, crossing your arms and interrupting can be perceived negatively, especially during an introduction. You can be remembered for the wrong reasons in this case. In the workplace, be aware of negative body language so that you can redirect your actions for a better impression. 4. Bridge Cultural Gaps If you work with people from multiple backgrounds and cultures, you need to consider how your actions come across. In a diverse setting, you can prepare to interact with people in a polite and intentional way. While there are no universal manners, you can show kindness and positivity in your interactions. Research international and regional differences so that you dont accidentally offend or miscommunicate during an initial meeting. Cultural gaps arent easy to bridge, so thoroughly prepare before you introduce yourself. 5. Practice Beforehand Speaking to yourself in the mirror or to a nearby pet may leave you feeling silly, but you can gain confidence when youve prepared a polished introduction. Repeating the right posture, gestures and verbal introduction can improve your performance. You can effectively make a memorable impression by practicing in front of an audience, even if its a small one made up of just your friends or family. Preparing your interesting opening lines can reduce nervousness and uncertainty. 6. Consult Your Inner Circle If youre struggling with what intriguing facts you can share with new acquaintances, ask those closest to you. Sometimes your coworkers, friends and family can identify your strengths better than you can. Also, ask for honest feedback from your inner circle. Open the floor to hear how you can improve your introduction and make yourself more appealing. You can benefit from accurate feedback when you implement it at your next meeting. Be Sincere and Follow Up Even though practice is helpful, keep your introduction authentic. One quality that people identify quickly on the first impression is trustworthiness, so your sincerity can increase your chances of being remembered. Follow up with the people you meet so that you can lock down your face and name in their memory. This strategy, also known as the mere exposure effect, aims for creating an increasingly better opinion of you with more interaction. If this article helped you improve your introductions, leave a comment below or share it with a coworker. Subscribe for more tips on advancing your career. Get everything you need to build a career you love by signing up for the newsletter.