Moving for a new job can be a scary prospect. But a recent survey shows that workers who take the plunge and change zip codes for a better position don’t really regret the decision.

In fact, there is a bevy of benefits to relocating for work—and at least three reasons you should consider making a move. According to The People Perspective on Relocation, the survey conducted by IMPACT Group, 3,078 employees report these relocation rewards:

New experiences. A whopping 71 percent of survey respondents said that moving to take a new job allowed them to enjoy new experiences, whether at work or outside the office.

Better career prospects. By relocating for a prime position, 55 percent of employees say they feel their career is on a better track, both today, in their current job, and in the future.

Better community. If you don’t love your community in the office or in your neighborhood, chances are you’ll find better ones when you move: 40 percent of respondents say they did.

And yet, we hear you: even these obvious benefits don’t make picking up and leaving your current ‘hood any easier. But with these tips, you might just find the chutzpah to pack up for a better position—and consequently, perhaps even a better life outside of the office, too.

1. Embrace change, and grieve the loss of your former home.
Maybe you’ve never moved for a job. Maybe you’ve never moved, period. No matter what, change is tough, and leaving a home can be sad. But Cynthia Bucy, career and transition coach at IMPACT Group, says allowing yourself to grieve will make the move much easier.

As she sympathizes, “You’re stepping away from what is familiar—perhaps a city you loved and a house you built. There will be challenges.” But, Bucy adds, it is recognizing challenges that will help you overcome them. You can face these challenges full-force by being open and honest about your feelings related to the move—the good and the bad—Bucy insists.

2. Make new friends.
New experiences will make relocating for work worth it—and we all like to experience new things with people we care about. So, when you move, try to “find ways to get to know your neighbors on a personal level,” Bucy recommends, adding you can get to know new people at work or in your apartment complex by asking simple questions, such as what dry cleaner to use. Once the conversation is started, “you’ll develop a meaningful relationship if you are intentional about going deeper than surface-level” with additional questions, Bucy says.

What’s more, you might want to try to invite coworkers, neighbors, and new friends over to your home. Hosting a BYOB-style dinner can be a low-pressure way to get to know people.

3. Enjoy a new beginning.
Whenever you feel alone or sad, remember that relocating for a job represents a new start, something fresh to be celebrated, Bucy instructs. “Many of the individuals I coach treat the relocation as a new beginning,” Bucy says. “They take the opportunity to do things they’ve always wanted to do but never made time for,” such as trying new foods or making friends.

As Bucy points out, when you try to view the experience of moving for work as a bold new adventure, you’ll feel excited for what lies ahead and willing to push through any negatives.

The post 3 Reasons Why You Should Consider Relocating for Work appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

The most awkward networking attempt I’ve ever witnessed happened in my senior year of college. A former executive at NBC who had started his own production company came to talk to the film department at my school about entertainment careers, and I went to check it out. The speaker was great — he had plenty of insight, advice and personal anecdotes, and I stayed after to chat with him a bit (mainly about our mutual love of 30 Rock if I’m being honest).

Ahead of me in line was another woman who, rather than asking a thoughtful question, hit him with “Can you help me get an internship at your company?” Unsurprisingly, he gave her a strange look, said that she should look up the opportunities available on their careers page, and moved on. After all, why in the world would he vouch for her when he didn’t know anything about her?

I understand why you might want to ask someone to help you get a job at their company — referrals are a powerful way to get your foot in the door, and studies have shown that recruiters view referral candidates as higher quality than other sources. But if you don’t ask for one the right way, you may be doing more to hurt your application than help it. An out-of-the-blue request like the one I witnessed can come across as pushy, crass, and just plain self-serving.

To help you navigate that fine line between polite and presumptuous, we reached out to experts to hear how they suggest approaching someone for a referral — here are their tips.

When Asking Someone You Know Well

If you’re close to somebody connected to the company — be it a friend, family member, or former colleague — you’re in luck. Assuming you have a good relationship, they will probably be happy to help you out.

“Be honest with them. Tell them what it is you’re ultimately looking for, and give them an idea of how they can help you,” recommends career coach Carlota Zimmerman.

Keep in mind, though, that a request for a referral — even when asking a close friend — is not a guarantee that you’ll receive one. If somebody can’t vouch for your work quality, they may not be comfortable putting themselves on the line for you. Because of this, it’s polite to give somebody an out, says Roy Cohen, career coach and author of The Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide.

“Build in an exit option for friends, family, and colleagues. Sometimes, and to our great surprise and disappointment, the people closest to us will act weird when these sorts of requests are made,” Cohen says. “Rather than jeopardize the relationship, let the request go if there is any waffling.”

Cohen suggests saying something like: “I wonder if I can impose on you…and it’s not an issue if you can’t. I’m trying to get a referral to [company name] and I seem to remember that you may know that person or know someone who does. It would really mean a lot to me. Let me explain why.”

If they do end up referring you, don’t take it for granted.

“Afterwards, take them out to dinner, or buy them a small thank-you present,” Zimmerman advises.

When Asking Someone You Kind of Know

Asking for a referral from an acquaintance — say, a friend of a friend or former coworker who you only talked to a handful of times — requires a little bit more finesse. One way to build goodwill and improve your odds of a response is reminding them of your connection to each other.

“It is always best if you and the acquaintance share a good mutual friend or colleague in common. That will establish your credibility as someone who is not likely to be a source of embarrassment,” Cohen says. “Send a brief note first to break the ice and to provide context as to why you are reaching out.”

Cohen suggests: “You may remember that you and I share so-and-so in common. I seem to recall that you may also have a connection to [who you want to meet or where you want to go]. I heard that there may be an opportunity there and I wanted to reach out, but I don’t know anyone at the firm. Can I impose on you? Let me tell you about my background so that you know a little bit more about me.”

This last part is key, Cohen says, as “people we barely know or know peripherally on a social basis may have little knowledge as to our backgrounds. It is always a good idea to remind them by sharing information that they may be unaware of and that may even impress them.”

This will also allow them to give hiring managers and recruiters a better idea of what you have to offer, which is key if you want to get their attention.

And just as you would with a friend, it’s nice to express your appreciation for a referral by thanking them with a phone call, note or small gift.

When Asking Someone You Don’t Know

If you don’t know somebody who works at the company you’re interested in, all hope is not lost. These days, you can easily go online to figure out who works at a company and reach out to them. It’s best to seek out a recruiter, the hiring manager for the role or someone who is on the team you’re interested in joining. Make sure that you’re not asking for too much too quickly, though, as that will turn people off of helping you.

Once you reach out to someone via LinkedIn or email, “always begin by expressing your gratitude,  and repeat that message at the very tail end of your request,” suggests Cohen.

Then, “use your interest in a position at the company they are working at as a way to get to know this person,” advises J. Kelly, author of BUILD YOUR DREAM NETWORK: Forging Powerful Relationships In A Hyper-Connected World.

Kelly suggests saying: “I know we’ve recently connected on LinkedIn through XYZ, and I recently saw the X department at your company has an open position. I’m intrigued by it. Any chance I could ask you a few questions about the company and the role?”

“Use your interest as the way to start a conversation and be open to where it leads to,” she adds.

Ask a few questions about the company culture, responsibilities of the role, what they love about working there, etc. “Then, you can begin a gentle segue into mentioning that you too would like to work for that company,” shares Sara Causey, CEO of SEC Technical, LLC.

“Have a strong pitch ready as to why you want this referral, your goals, what you bring to the table (education, experience, expertise) and crucially, why you believe this person can help you,” Zimmerman suggests. “Remember that you’re essentially asking a stranger to open doors for you, so how you present is how you’ll be perceived.”

Don’t forget to thank the person for their time, and if they do end up providing you with a referral, keep them looped in on next steps.

“In any situation where you ask for a referral and someone grants it, circle back with that person on the outcome! Nothing is worse than [being] left in the dark as to whether or not an introduction or interview came through,” Cohen says. Not to mention, “by following up, you’re also more likely to receive help from that person again in the future.”

Asking for a referral may seem intimidating, but it’s often an effective way to head to the top of the candidate list, so it’s worth the request — as long as you handle it delicately. But if you demonstrate respect for the other person, show thoughtfulness in your approach and thank them for their time, you’ll have nothing to worry about.

The post How to Ask for a Referral Without Embarrassing Yourself appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

We show you how to answer one of the trickiest questions that might come up in your interview: Why did you leave your previous job?
It’s one of the most feared questions in an interview: Why did you leave your last job?
But it doesn’t have to be something to worry about. We’ll help you through that potential interview minefield and show you how you can not only answer the question but also use it to your advantage. The interviewer might be seeing if they can trip you up. You’re going to show them you can smash through any obstacle.

Why do interviewers ask why you left your last job?
An interviewer will want to know why you’re leaving (or have left) your previous role for a number of reasons.

Do you have a good reason for leaving your job?
If you left without good cause, or just because you were in a bad mood that day, your interviewer might doubt they can trust you and suspect you’ll do something similar to them.

Were you fired?
If so, your interviewer will want to know whether this was for bad performance, behavioral issues or something out of your control like a business restructure.

Did you burn any bridges?
If you still speak to your old manager or better yet have them as a reference, it shows you were good at your job and didn’t leave by flipping your desk and smashing your computer.

Do your values match theirs?
If you left for ambitious reasons like a greater challenge or more responsibilities, that shows your values are good and can benefit your new employers. If you left because you were bored or felt underappreciated, you might need to word it in a smart way to show you’re not difficult to work with.

How do you explain your reasons for leaving a job?
There are three main reasons for leaving a job, and some of them are easier to explain than others.

1. You’re leaving for career progression
This reason is perhaps the one interviewers are happiest to hear. If you’re leaving your job to further your career, you can explain how your previous role has helped you develop the skills you need to take that next step, and how excited you are to show what you’re capable of in this new position.
It also plays into one of the key rules of a job interview: you’re looking to move into something better, not leave something bad.

This positive outlook shows you’re ambitious without bad-mouthing any previous employer. It tells people that you’re confident and up for a challenge, ready to develop and learn new skills, and capable of moving up, instead of sideways.

2. You left your last job with nowhere to go
This reason is a little tougher to talk about, but it can still be done in a positive way. Many people will leave their jobs with nowhere else lined up, and there could be several contributing factors as to why. You might not have fit into your old employer’s way of working, your values might not have aligned, or you might have left for personal reasons such as your family moving away.

Whatever it is, you can explain in a way that shows you in a good light:
• You knew you were capable of doing more than your old job allowed.
• You knew you would find something better with the skills you possess.
• You hold your values dearly and were unwilling to let them go for the sake of your work.
All these answers show you to be confident and capable. Even if the real reason you left is that your boss was driving you insane, you can say that you were looking for a better cultural fit where your strengths could be put to better use.
Don’t interview angry. Interview smart.

3. You were fired
Maybe the most challenging reason to explain in an interview is that you were fired. It’s happened to the best of us, and it’s never easy to show a sudden career change like that on your CV.
However, you can approach it creatively.
Being fired isn’t always a bad thing. It can take you out of a situation that wasn’t right for you and give you an opportunity to find somewhere you can thrive. Make sure you mention everything you learned at your old job, talking about how the experience helped you and showed you what you really wanted in your career.
Keep your answer positive. You were fired because the business and you were moving in different ways, and now you’re moving in a better direction.

10 GOOD reasons for leaving a job
Whatever your reason for leaving, there’s a way to make it work in your favor. Try using one of our examples the next time you interview for a role. You’ll see how easy it is to turn a potentially negative situation into a positive outcome.

Example 1. This job was too good to ignore
“It’s not so much about why I’m leaving my current role; it’s more that this is a role I couldn’t ignore. I’ve loved my time at <current company> and learned so much about <examples of what you’ve learned>, but now I’m ready to put those skills to use in a new challenge. When I saw this role, I knew now was the time for me to step up and prove what I was capable of.”

Why it works:
You show that you’re ambitious. You’ve studied the job posting and know you have what it takes to make it your own. You’re not bad-mouthing your former employers, and you are subtly praising your potential new ones.

Example 2. I’ve achieved all I can and I’m ready for a new challenge
“In my current role, I’ve achieved all that has been asked of me. I’ve won the business new work, earned them more money, and hit all my KPIs. There’s nothing left for me to prove, and I’m ready to take on a new challenge. This role represents new opportunities for me to test myself, using the skills I’ve learned in my current job to step up to the plate and do even more.”

Why it works:
You show how much you’ve already done and how you’re ready to do even more. You might be bored at your current job, but you don’t say that. Instead, you say you’re ready to push on and achieve great goals.

Example 3. I believe I can offer more to you than them
“I’ve enjoyed my time in my current role, but I believe the job description for this role better aligns with my skills and values. I’m capable of doing more than my current role requires, and this job would give me the room to grow.”

Why it works:
You demonstrate that you’re ready for the next step. You understand how your values match and how well you could work with a potential employer.

Example 4. The company was struggling
“Unfortunately, my old company lost one of its biggest clients and had to make structural changes. I was one of the last people in through the door, so I was also one of the first out. My former manager was sad to see me go, as they believed I would have been of huge benefit to the business in different circumstances.”

Why it works:
Your job loss was for business reasons, not personal ones. You’re still in touch with your former employer, which shows you build good relationships.

Example 5. Management changes
“A change in management meant my role was no longer best suited to my strengths. They brought in new people to deliver the kind of work they wanted. Ultimately, this taught me where my true passions lie, and when I saw your job ad I knew I could better express them here.”

Why it works:
You don’t sound negative or defensive. You explain the situation in a straightforward way.

Example 6. Relocation
“The business announced it would be merging with another company, meaning its head office would move to a new location. My family lives here, and I knew that leaving them behind wouldn’t be good for my professional or personal life. I chose to pursue a job I could thrive in closer to home.”

Why it works:
You care about your family and put your mental health before corporate restructures. This shows you have strong values.

Example 7. Our values are better aligned
“Looking at your website and the work you produce, I can see that our values are very closely aligned. My current company sees things in a different way than me, and I would love the chance to work somewhere I can be truly proud of.”

Why it works:
Values matter. Companies are keener than ever to promote their beliefs and hire people who share them.

Example 8. Family reasons
“My partner was offered an exciting role in a new area, and I chose to move with them to support their career goals. Unfortunately, this meant I could no longer work for my old company, so I am looking to bring all my knowledge and experience to a role in the area I now call home.”

Why it works:
Family comes first. This shows you’re loyal and committed, two traits any good employer would be happy to bring on board.

Example 9. It’s the right job at the right time
“I believe this role has come about at the perfect time for me. I’ve loved every second at my current company, but having worked there for a number of years, I know I need to step up in order to advance my career. I don’t want to wait around for the chance to come – I want to chase what I know is best for me.”

Why it works:
You’re not happy to sit and hope for the best. You’re pursuing the right job, which shows ambition and determination.

Example 10. You want better pay (but be careful)
“I’m motivated by achieving the best results for my clients, something I had a great track record of doing at my previous role. I’m also motivated by career growth, and being compensated fairly for the work I do.”

Why it works:
We all want to be paid more money. This shows people that you are willing to work for it. However, make sure money isn’t the only thing you talk about. Hiring managers will want to see your passion for the job and a commitment to the cause. If money is your only motivation, it might look like you’d be willing to jump ship if a better offer came along.

How NOT to explain your reasons for leaving a job
There are a few reasons for leaving a job that an interviewer just doesn’t want to hear (no matter how true they might be). If any of these are why you left your job, it might be best not to mention them. Use a more positive reason such as career progression or a new challenge, and leave the manager hate behind.

Bad example #1: You hate your boss
Lots of us have worked for people we just don’t like, but that hatred will only hold you back at an interview. Instead, say you’re looking to work somewhere that better fits with your values. It’s the same thing, just done in a smarter way.

Bad example #2: You’re bored
If we were all being honest, boredom would be the reason behind many job switches. But saying it out loud is a lot worse than just thinking it. Instead, say you’re looking for an exciting new opportunity.

Bad example #3: You thought the company was rubbish
Worked somewhere terrible? Join the club. But it sounds a bit unprofessional to slam your old employers in an interview. You never know, the interviewer might have friends who work there, so don’t burn any bridges you might still need to cross.

The post How to explain your reasons for leaving a job (and still get hired) appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

With the increases in vaccine distribution, it seems like the usual ways of networking could be back soon enough. If you need a refresher on how to prepare, check out this list put together by Money Crashers. In the meantime, there are still plenty of ways to build your network and connections online.

Here are four tips to help you improve your virtual networking game—and some recommended tools for maximum success.

1. Find thought leaders and influencers
Let’s say you want to find a job as an interior designer. The first step is to follow thought leaders and influencers in the industry. You can find them by searching “interior design” on Twitter and Instagram. One way to make your search more strategic, however, is to use a tool like Followerwonk. Search “interior design” + “blogger” or “writer,” and you will get a list of people who write about interior design, ranked by their number of followers.

See who they follow to grow your network. Through the people you follow, you are likely to learn about important industry news, online events, webinars, and webcasts. Sign up and participate when interesting ones come along.

2. Start listening
Once you’ve found the right people to follow, start listening to what they have to say and gathering the latest and greatest news and insights in your industry. Follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Quora, Yelp, Meetup, and Listly. Download their podcasts. Put their names in Talkwalker and Newsle so you get emailed when they appear in the news. Subscribe to their newsletters and YouTube channels, and subscribe to their content on Patreon.

3. Build awareness
Now that you’re aware of them, you can start making them aware of you. The key to successful networking is not to go around begging people for favors and being a nuisance, but to create value for them, too. Retweet their content, +1 their posts, share their content on Facebook, comment (insightfully) on their publications and videos, and include their insights in your content (with appropriate attribution, tags, and hashtags).

4. Connect 
Only then—once you know a little bit about them and have a clue about what’s going on in the industry, and once you’ve created some value for them through retweets and shares and engagement—should you reach out. Friending them on Facebook will likely come across as creepy because it is more of a personal network. But reaching out on LinkedIn and other professional network platforms is totally appropriate.

Lead with a sentence that starts with something like “I loved your article last week about…” And then let them know what you want (e.g., “I’ve written this … and would appreciate your advice” or “I’d appreciate the chance to interview you about your career for my blog” or “I’m starting out in the industry and would appreciate your mentorship. Are you available for a quick virtual coffee meeting?”

If you don’t hear back, send a quick follow-up message about a week later. Chances are the person you’re contacting is busy and misses messages from time to time due to the high volume of incoming requests. Don’t harass the person, though. Stalker is not the impression you want to leave. After two or three follow-ups, it’s time to move on to the next person on your list. But keep the door open by continuing steps 1, 2, and 3. The first secret of success is showing up—even when the room is a Zoom room.

The post 4 Tips and Tricks for Networking Online appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

During the first half of 2020, security experts, educators, and average users criticized Zoom on several fronts, which we’ll elaborate on momentarily. That said, in terms of features, stability, and reliability, Zoom remains one of the best video calling apps you’ll find. There are plenty of alternatives should Zoom not meet your standards. We’ve listed some of them below with links to in-depth reviews where available.

If you use Zoom, we recommend taking a moment to get acquainted with the tool’s key features. While Zoom is an Editors’ Choice, we’ve bumped the score down by a half point in light of recent events. For its stability and reliability, however, Zoom remains a go-to app, particularly for business meetings and personal get-togethers. For government and healthcare use, be sure to look closely at Zoom’s offerings as those sectors tend to have more stringent security and privacy requirements.

Not every setting is available to free Zoom users, and when that’s the case, there’s a note at the top letting you know. Beyond maintaining control of your meeting, here are some other Zoom tips that will help you look like a pro.

1. Update Your Zoom Apps

If you want to see that new Security option in your meeting toolbar when you host meetings, you must update our app. Check for and install updates on all devices where you use Zoom.

2. Use a Unique ID and Password for Calls

When you create a Zoom account, the app assigns you a Personal Meeting ID (PMI). It’s a numeric code that you can give out to people when you want to meet with them. However, you have a second option, which is to generate a unique ID instead of using your PMI. Let me explain how they’re different.

The PMI is handy in specific circumstances. It’s wonderful for recurring meetings with a small group, like a weekly team meeting or a one-on-one. You can use it over and over, and it never expires, so people can join without having to hunt down this week’s login code or link. It’s always the same. However, once you give out your PMI, anyone who has it can try to butt into your meetings at any time. If someone knows you’re due for a meeting and has your PMI, then it’s very easy for that person to crash it. The unique ID is different every time you schedule a new meeting. As a result, it’s inherently more secure.

There’s one more layer of security you can add here, a password. Previously, when you scheduled a Zoom meeting, the app would use your PMI and no password by default. Now those settings are swapped. The default is a unique ID with a password, which Zoom generates automatically. You can change that password if you like. You can also choose to add a password to a PMI meeting, and in that case, you must choose your own password, as Zoom will not generate one for you. Once you set a password for PMI meetings, all future meetings will require it, too.

3. Create a Waiting Room
A Zoom call can start one of two ways. It can start the moment the first person logs onto the call, or it can start when the host says it should start. For small groups of people who know each other, it’s common for people to log in and make small talk while waiting for everyone else to join. Chit-chat can be beneficial, especially for remote workers and classmates who don’t get much face time with one another. For some kinds of calls, however, you might not want to let participants chat with each other or even let the call officially start until you, the host, are ready.

In that second case, the solution is to create a Zoom Waiting Room. When participants log into the call, they see a Waiting Room screen that you can customize. They can’t get into the call until you, the host, lets them in. You can let people in all at once or one at a time, which means if you see names you don’t recognize in the Waiting Room, you don’t have to let them in at all.

The new Security button has an option to enable a Waiting Room after your call has already started. Creating a Waiting Room, in this case, will prevent anyone from popping onto your call unexpectedly.

4. Make Sure Only the Hosts Can Share Their Screen
Don’t let anyone hijack the screen during a Zoom call. To prevent it, make sure your settings indicate that the only people allowed to share their screens are hosts.

You can enable this setting in advance as well as during a call.

In advance, go to the Zoom web portal (not the desktop app) and in the settings navigate to Personal > Settings > In Meeting (Basic) and look for Screen sharing. Check the option that only the host can share.

During a call, you can use the Security button to change the setting. You can also click the up-facing carrot next to Share Screen and choose Advanced Sharing Options. There, choose to only let the host share.

While sharing your screen or an image, Zoom has a great feature that lets participants annotate what they see. For visual collaboration, it’s amazing. For naughty participants, it might seem like an invitation to bomb your call. You can disable the annotation feature in the In Meeting (Basics) section of your web account.

5. Create an Invite-Only Meeting
This feature is for paid Zoom accounts only.

One way to restrict who can join your Zoom call is to make it an invite-only meeting. That means the only people who can join the call are those you invited, and they must sign in using the same email address you used to invite them. It gives you much more assurance that people are who they say they are.

There are a few ways you can enforce an invite-only meeting, depending on the type of account you have. The long and short of it is to look for an option called Authentication Profiles.

Once you have that setting enabled, anyone else who tries to join your meeting will see a notification on screen telling them that the meeting is for authorized attendees only.

6. Lock a Meeting Once It Starts
If you start a meeting and everyone you expect to join has, you can lock the meeting from new participants. While the meeting is running, navigate to the bottom of the screen and click Participants. The Participants panel will open. At the bottom, choose More > Lock Meeting.

7. Kick Someone Out or Put Them on Hold
Sometimes an unruly participant manages to slip through the cracks. As the meeting host, you do have the power to kick someone out of a call or put them on hold.

To kick someone out: During the call, go to the Participants pane on the right. Hover over the name of the person you want to boot and when options appear, choose Remove.

By default, an ousted guest cannot rejoin. What to do if you make a mistake? You can allow a booted party to rejoin. Enable this feature by going to the web portal and navigating to Settings > Meeting > In-Meeting (Basic). Toggle on the setting called Allow removed participants to rejoin.

Alternatively, you can put someone on hold. During the call, find the video thumbnail of the person you want to put on hold. I like to think of it as putting someone in a time-out. Click on their video image and select Start Attendee On Hold. Once they’ve learned their lesson, you can press Take Off Hold in the Participants panel.

8. Disable Someone’s Camera
Hosts can turn off any participant’s camera. If someone is being rude or inappropriate on video, or their video has some technical problem, the host can open the Participants panel and click on the video camera icon next to the person’s name.

9. Prevent Animated GIFs and Other Files in the Chat
In the chat area of a Zoom meeting, participants can share files, including images and animated GIFs—if you let them. If you’d rather not, then be sure to disable file transfer. It’s on by default, so you have to actively disable it.

For your own meetings, open Settings in the Zoom web app (it’s not in the desktop app). On the left side, go to Personal > Settings. Then click In Meeting (Basic). Scroll down a little farther until you see File Transfer. That’s where you can disable it.

Administrators of paid Zoom accounts have even more options for exactly how to disable file transfer for certain meetings or certain groups.

10. Manage Who Can Chat
If you’re hosting a Zoom call and have invited strangers to join, someone in your crowd could harass another participant by sending them private messages. Or people could start talking behind your back. You can prevent this by disabling private chat. When you disable private chat, it doesn’t affect the public chat, which everyone on the call can see and participate in.

Open Settings in the Zoom web app (it’s not in the desktop app). On the left side, go to Personal > Settings. Then click In Meeting (Basic). Scroll until you see Private chat. When the button is gray, it’s disabled.

You may want to manage the chat in other ways, too. From an active meeting, click on the Chat icon in the toolbar at the bottom. A chat panel opens on the right side. At the bottom, click on the three dots and decide who participants can chat with: no one, host only, or everyone.

Use These Additional Settings for Large Meetings
Not all Zoom disruptors are bad actors. Sometimes participants make mistakes and don’t realize that a yapping dog or crying child is causing a disturbance for everyone else. Or someone might accidentally upload a file they didn’t mean to. Any time you host a meeting of more than one or two people, there are some settings in Zoom you should review and familiarize yourself with before the call.

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Take these steps to grow your professional sphere from the ground up.

One word that makes professionals cringe is networking—especially now that we’re trying to network during a global pandemic. But a strong group of industry contacts is key to helping your professional development blossom. Granted, if you’re a newly minted college graduate hunting for a job, you have to build a network from scratch, which is no small feat. The bright spot: Learning how to network for a job is a science—if you combine the right ingredients, you’ll achieve a successful result.

Here are six steps to take to build your job search network.

Know how to make your pitch
A key part of effective networking is being clear about your job search goals and the value that you bring to an employer, which is where an elevator pitch comes in.
In a nutshell, an elevator pitch is a sound bite that explains to people who you are, what you do, and what kind of position you’re seeking. Why so short? “People are busy,” says Atlanta career coach Hallie Crawford. Recruiters don’t have time to hear your whole life’s story. So, keep your pitch to less than a minute.

Check out this well-crafted elevator speech from Monster Career Expert Vicki Salemi: “I’m Vicki Salemi, a career expert for Monster. Author, speaker, career coach, columnist, and former corporate recruiter, always interested in speaking with job seekers to help them find a better job—fast!”

Stay organized
As you build your sphere, make sure to keep detailed records of your networking activity: people’s names, where and when you met, and what topics you discussed. You’ll also need to develop a reliable follow-up system. “You need to stay in touch in order to stay on top of someone’s radar,” says Kelly Kennedy, director of career readiness at the University of Virginia Athletics. Keep those who are interested posted on the progress of your job search.

Leverage your alumni network
Your degree comes with a secret weapon: your college’s alumni network. In fact, many schools maintain a list of alumni who have expressed they want to help new grads with their job search. Still, you need to take a tactful approach when reaching out to alums, says Denise Rudolph, assistant director of employer relations and recruiting at James Madison University. “You can’t just send someone an email and expect the person to help you get a job,” she says.

Some guidelines: 1) introduce yourself and include your school year and major; 2) explain how you got the person’s contact information; 3) be specific with what you’re asking for from the person (e.g., “I’d love to hear more about what you do”); and 4) attach your resume.

Expand your horizons
When it comes to how to network for a job, you need to cast a wide net. Wider than you may think. In addition to alumni, you’ll want to tap every networking resource that’s at your disposal. Here’s a list of other sources for finding networking contacts:

• Community job clubs
• Fraternity or sorority groups
• Friends: Local and out-of-town
• High school and college classmates
• Hobby groups: softball team, running club, yoga group
• Managers and peers from your past internships
• Members of your church, temple, synagogue or mosque (some religious organizations also sponsor job search groups)
• Neighbors: Past and present
• Political groups
• Relatives: Local and out-of-town
• Service groups: Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks
• Volunteer groups

Build your circle remotely
In the age of social distancing, you may find you have fewer opportunities to network with people in person. Fortunately, social media can enable you to build relationships with people that you haven’t met—including recruiters at your target employers. (According to a survey of HR professionals by the Society for Human Resource Management, 84% of employers use social media to recruit talent.)

Specifically, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook can be powerful networking tools. You’ll have the most impact if you’re using social media on a regular basis—meaning you should be reaching out to new contacts and interacting with people in your network daily, not occasionally.

Rock informational interviews
The informational interview is an often-overlooked—and often misconstrued—form of networking, but going on informational interviews can be a great way to build your network.

The most important thing is to ask meaningful questions when you meet someone for an informational interview, says Jeff Neil, a New York City career coach and author of Informational Interview Handbook: Essential Strategies to Find the Right Career and a Great New Job. “You’re not there to ask for a job,” Neil says. “You’re there to establish a relationship and build rapport.” A good icebreaker: “How did you get started in the field?” “People like to talk about themselves,” Neil says.

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More than ever before, many companies are asking their employees to work from home to remain safe and unaffected. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to capture headlines in the news and spread rapidly, employees are struggling with finding a sense of calm and stability throughout the ever-changing updates and reality that this virus has become our new normal for the time being. So what does that mean for the employees who are fortunate enough to work remotely?

Although working from home has many benefits, some being flexibility, increased productivity, zero-commute, and more quality time with your loved ones, working remotely also could make it more difficult to power off and unplug from your workday, ultimately decreasing your work-life balance. Work-life balance, especially during uncertain times like COVID-19, is essential to employees’ growth and personal happiness and company retention. When employees are encouraged to find a positive work-life balance, they tend to be more motivated to produce great work.

Here are our 11 tips to achieve work-life balance when working remotely:

1. Set a structured work schedule.
To maximize your productivity and your workday while working remotely, it’s imperative to set a cohesive schedule for yourself to guide you through the day. Given that working from home can be more comfortable and a bit relaxing compared to being in the office, imposing a structure on your day will limit the distractions and keep you focused on the tasks at hand.

2. Make a to-do list to start your day productively.
In addition to crafting a specific structure for your day, curating to-do lists are helpful to ensure that you’re being productive and accomplishing what needs to be done in your role. Physically crossing tasks and projects off a to-do list can be gratifying – especially if you are questioning your productivity levels and progress.

3. Get grounded.
Try not to roll out of bed to start working right away. Instead, before firing up your laptop, attack your morning routine: shower, grab a bite too, meditate and yoga vinyasa flow (totally up to you!). Take the time you need before the workday starts to maximize success later in the day.

4. Set boundaries.
Living with roommates, a significant other, or children? Take your space when you can and communicate your needs, time restraints and work schedules clearly and ahead of time. Communication is key! Be mindful of proactively communicating your needs regarding your upcoming work schedule and commitments beforehand, so everyone is aware of various time restraints and your personal needs as you journey through your workday.

5. Hit your stride.
Develop a workspace cadence with your roommates to ensure that you’re all able to work from home comfortably and without any distractions. Although working from home tends to be more laid back than working from the office, it’s crucial to be professional at all times. Develop a workspace cadence with your roommates or significant other to limit potential issues, especially during video conference calls.

6. Designate a workspace.
Establish a dedicated workspace within your home to help you create a consistent routine for when it’s time to work. When it’s time to clock in, you’ll know to go to a specific area within your home, similar to being in the office.

7. Take breaks.
Stretch or take a walk to rest your eyes often from your computer screen in 10-15 minute intervals. To not get bogged down or overwhelmed with your workday, take some time to get up, stretch, and move around your home. Taking a break from staring at your computer screen will help you maintain productivity in the long run.

8. Claim your lunch hour for self-care.
The beauty of working from home is it truly is what you make of it. Get creative during your lunch hour by dedicating yourself to practice acts of self-care. Some ideas: a light stretch, yoga exercise, eating something healthy, a call with your therapist or a close friend, or guided breathing.

9. Get organized.
Use organizational tools like Google calendar, Asana, etc. to block off specific periods of your workday to amplify workflow. When working from home, teams usually pile on the conference calls to ensure that deadlines are being met and communication doesn’t falter. However, you can still leverage time gaps on your calendar to make sure that you’re being productive and getting your work done.

10. Transition out gracefully.
Don’t rush or cram to accomplish tasks that can be easily finished tomorrow. Instead, gently bow out of your workday by wrapping up current projects and prepping your to-do list for the next day.

11. Mark the end of the day.
Schedule some time to celebrate the end of your workday with your loved ones and/or roommates with 1-2 fun activities. You made it! It’s now the end of your workday and you’re feeling accomplished and capable. What better way to celebrate with loved ones or your roommates? Think of a bonding activity that you could do together to close out the day.

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The coronavirus pandemic has not only had a significant impact on the global economy but also your job search. It has caused stock market volatility and impacted various industries. If you have a current job, most likely you’re doing it from your home. Some small businesses have been forced to close temporarily, whereas large businesses have been affected by the strain of losing business and a disrupted supply chain. There are predictions that the unemployment rate in the U.S. could reach 20%, according to NBC News reporting.

Some companies have responded to the health crisis with layoffs, furloughs, cutting hours and overtime pay, and implementing hiring freezes. Other companies are actively hiring and posting new jobs daily. Right now, there’s a lot of uncertainty about what the national and global impact will be on hiring, but there are ways you can stay positive and proactive about job searching during this tumultuous time.

Engage your network

People understand that this is a difficult time and they want to help however they can. Let your friends and family know that you’re job searching and tell them about the types of jobs you’re looking for and your target companies so they’ll be on the lookout for openings. They’ll notify you if they hear of anything. Ask them if they would be willing to do an email intro to people who work at the company or, even better, the hiring manager. Those email intros, or having people in your network send your resume and cover letter on your behalf, can get your application to the top of the pile even if human resources isn’t done sorting through the applications that come in through the ATS.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to former colleagues and bosses if you see openings at their companies. They’re more likely to hire you than the competition because they know your skills and work ethic. Even if they aren’t hiring, they can be references for your other applications. Since they’re in the industry, they may hear of other jobs through their own network and they can recommend you.

Practice phone and video job interviews

Now that many people are working remotely, job interviews are being done by phone and video instead of IRL. It can be more challenging to have a phone interview because it is harder to interpret someone’s reaction and have a conversation that flows naturally. It can be trickier to have a video interview because it can feel awkward to be on camera. You’ll stand out if you learn the ins-and-outs of phone and video job interviews. And we’ve got the phone job interview and video job interview tips and tricks you need to know.

Take on a temp or freelance gig

If you don’t currently have a job, apply to temp and freelance work to pay the bills. It could lead to a full-time job when you impress your co-workers. It’s also a great opportunity to gain some in-demand skills. If you’re currently working from home, remember that employers are looking for people who are self-disciplined enough to work from home, have the excellent written and verbal communication skills necessary to communicate with colleagues and clients remotely, and are organized and efficient.

Show off your transferrable skills

There’s so much competition for jobs, so it’s important to up your game right now. First, prioritize jobs that have been posted most recently because that’s a sign that the company has a current role that needs to be filled. If a posting has been up for weeks, it may be less of a priority for the company right now. Be confident when you’re reading job postings and remember that you can still get the job even if you don’t meet all of the job qualifications. Use your resume and cover letter to show you have transferrable skills employers are seeking.

Customize your application for each job

Spend more time on each cover letter and resume so your job application gets seen. It takes more time to modify them for each job application but it’s necessary. When you apply to a job online, your application often goes into an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), software that reviews your resume to determine how well you’d fit the requirements of the job posting. The secret to getting past the ATS is written right in the job posting—keywords such as the job title, responsibilities, and skills. Don’t copy everything word for word, but make sure a majority of the most important aspects of the job are in your resume and cover letter. Nearly 75% of resumes that go through an ATS are eliminated because they don’t meet the requirements the hiring manager specified, such as the right skills, education level, or job titles, according to Monster research so it is key to getting your resume in the hands of a hiring manager.

Stay up to date

With so much uncertainty in the world right now, it can be overwhelming to try to conduct a job search. Don’t get discouraged. Need help staying focused? Join Monster today and start getting weekly email updates with the latest expert advice on how to find a job, write a resume, and prep for an interview. You can also upload your resume so recruiters and hiring managers can find you and get in touch as soon as a new position gets posted. Think of this as the first step in finding the right fit.

The post How to find a job during the Coronavirus Pandemic appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Let’s begin with a story of our time. Joe is a recently unemployed IT specialist who is a whiz at network infrastructure. O irony of ironies. He is about to attend a meeting of a local professional group to “network” with people who might help with his job search. He has 500+ LinkedIn contacts and he tweets every day, but let’s watch him as he tries to mix and mingle.

Needless to say, he is not looking forward to this at all. Joe creeps into a room full of people who are standing around, talking in groups of twos and threes. They all seem to know each other–unlike himself. Joe spends some time at the buffet, picks up a brochure and feigns interest. He almost approaches someone standing on his own but settles for getting a drink instead. Looking for comfort, he takes out his iPhone, checks his email and Twitter messages. He then walks around a bit nibbling on some peanuts. After 45 minutes he can’t bear it any longer. He leaves, having wasted his evening and feeling unsatisfied, unfulfilled, and undiscovered.

Enter Elias Howe, the 19th-century inventor of the sewing machine and the zipper. What could Joe possibly learn from Howe? Quite a bit it seems; because Elias Howe knew a lot about people as well as technology. Turns out that, in addition to being a fine inventor, Howe cut a fine figure in the ballroom and he knew a thing or two about how to behave in social situations. Which is important today, because research confirms that the extent of your real professional social network can have a significant impact on your promotion prospects and your salary.

A recent study of 6,000 executives at 3,000 companies in the U.S. and Europe found that executives with 50% more professional contacts above the average, had a salary 3.5% or $15,000 higher than their less gregarious/friendly/sociable colleagues. So the conclusion seems simple: increase your professional contacts and get a raise. Hundreds of contacts on LinkedIn and Facebook? That’s a no-brainer. But creating “real” contacts is not as easy as it sounds.

1. Understand that networking is not “selling yourself” or self-promotion–it is about developing and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with professional colleagues.
2. Understand that you do not have to change your personality to succeed–turning yourself into a pushy salesperson won’t work. Networking has to be authentic. You can and should be yourself.
3. Get over rejection–tell yourself that a turndown is your counterpart’s loss, not yours. Besides, recent research demonstrates that people overestimate the likelihood of rejection anyhow.

Whenever people gather together in a room, known social patterns emerge; patterns which often have well-defined rules. Some are unwritten and can only be learned from the “invisible teacher” (also known as “the way things are done”). But long before the Internet, people turned to etiquette teachers and social guidebooks for written networking advice. One such guide was published in 1858 by our sewing machine inventor friend Elias Howe, whose “An American Ballroom Companion: Handbook for Ballroom Etiquette” provided valuable advice for 19th-century “Joes.” And so from the ballroom in one elegant glide to the meeting room and all you need to know to work a room with grace.

Start networking before attending the event.

1. Start with an event where it will be particularly easy to meet people, for example, a speed networking event where short three- to five-minute meetings are pre-arranged. Meeting people this way will help build your confidence.
2. Warm-up before the show–reach out to see who will be attending the event and set up appointments to meet. Most conferences today publish a list of attendees prior to the show via event-specific social networks, mobile apps, or Facebook pages.
3. Change your mindset from “I hate working the room with strangers” to “I like meeting people.”

When you arrive at the event, survey the landscape and create a plan for how to work the room.

1. Apply the 1-2-3 rule–people at events tend to congregate in groups of ones, twos, and threes. Approach the “ones” first. They are people just like yourself, shy to engage with others; they will be the most welcoming. Twos and threes are more difficult to approach, but read on.
2. Look for Twos Standing in a V Formation–when two people are standing in an open V formation, they are usually open to others joining their discussion. Avoid people standing directly across from each other; this indicated they are engaged in a closed conversation.
3. Use the ballroom waltz trick for joining a closed group of two–follow this advice for “breaking in” to talk to someone you know. Approach the other person he is speaking to and ask permission from him to join.
4. Use the O or U Rule for groups of three or more–a group of people standing in a circle is the hardest to join. Look for groups arranged in a U formation.
5. Be professional in men/women interactions–professional is not flirtatious and flirtatious is not professional. Decide which one you want.

How you present yourself projects a lot more about yourself than you may realize.

1. Stand tall, smile, and say something friendly and intelligent–follow your mother’s advice and don’t slouch. For more on this, view social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s excellent TED video on the significance of body language.
2. Act like the host–introduce people to each other. Acting as an agent for others removes some of the self-consciousness of social interactions.
3. Pay it forward–help your counterpart; helping people build trust and belief. The most useful thing you can say in a social-professional setting is, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
4. Be bold–blaze your own trail. Take a chance. Mimic Collins in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. In response to Elizabeth’s expression of horror at the thought of Collins approaching a social superior without an introduction, he replies, “Indeed I am. I shall entreat his pardon for not having done it earlier.” If Collins could do this in the rigid rules of 1800s social etiquette, you can certainly do it in 2013.

So go and meet the folks knowing that the real reasons are not to increase your chances of getting a job, get a raise or build social capital–all of which are benefits found in Berardi’s and Seabright’s research. The real reason is this; nobody’s heart was ever warmed by the glow of a screen like the way it is by chatting to a live person, and people talking to people has always been the way business gets done.

The post 15 Tips To Master The Awkward Networking Waltz appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Your 120-character headline (The One Thing That Improves Your LinkedIn Profile), done right, will land a recruiter or hiring manager to your LinkedIn profile. But, even if you’re perfect for the job, you can still get dropped from consideration faster than a Boeing 737 Max without the software fix.

Huh?
Recent scientific research’s proven first impressions are made in the one-tenth of one second.  When that picture is worth more than your first one thousand words, what does your LinkedIn profile photo say about you?

Your LinkedIn profile photo is your first and only chance to make a lasting positive impression. That photo has the power to make or break your online connections. It humanizes you. It may lead to expanded career opportunities and increase your networking reach. If nothing else, it will allow connections to recognize you when they meet you in real life.

Maybe you don’t consider yourself photogenic. Or maybe you prefer to be mysterious. Or you don’t want to be bothered with taking the time or money to do this right. So, you decide you’ll bypass all that just do nothing, and use LinkedIn default.  Think again. LinkedIn members with a profile photo receive 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests.  Will any photo do?

Nope. Not any more than any candidate will.

Read on for the Do’s and Don’ts of LinkedIn Profile Photos and rock your way to your next awesome job!

Don’ts (because sometimes it’s easier to start with what not to do).
Here are some classic bad LinkedIn profile photos image characteristics…

• Blurry
• Poor lighting (shadowed or washed out on face or background)
• Face obscured
• Squeezed (there needs to be appropriate “white space” and no hair or facial parts hacked off) or distorted
• Tiny photo/subject miles away
• Sweaty or shiny-looking face
• Unprofessional photo (alcohol is present, look hung-over, at a party, day-old beard, hankies, other’s body parts in image … the list is endless)
• Screenshot (only 72 dpi – the quality is not there) – use a real photo instead

Photo? What photo? It is not ok to stick with the LinkedIn silhouette or logos when you’re serious about job-hunting.
Some profile photos are so close, but…

Do’s for a Job-Winning LinkedIn Profile Photo
Ideally, use a professional photographer who specializes in professional headshots.  Otherwise, follow these tips for a job-winning profile photo….

• Be Engaging and Professional
• Show your face, your whole face, evenly lit
• Make eye contact with your viewer
• Smile, flashing your pearly whites
• Wear what you’d wear to work (unless it’s a t-shirt)
• Background Basics
• Choose a background that isn’t distracting
• A flat or simple background is best; an artfully blurred background can work
• Bonus points — use a background that contrasts with what you’re wearing
• Warm-colored backgrounds get higher click-through rates, according to some research
• Proper Cropping & Sizing
• Head to shoulders or head to waist
• Your face and body show make up 60% of the frame
• The maximum file size is 8MB, 400 x 400 pixels, and file type must be PNG, JPEG or GIF (click here if you need help properly sizing it)
• Mobile-Test

57% of LinkedIn profiles getting checked out on mobile (according to LinkedIn)
Mobile LinkedIn views centers then crops banners around the image
Check and if needed tweak your banner image to make sure it’s effective in mobile view

Wait! Before You Hit “Publish”
Get feedback on your photo to make sure it’s “saying” what you want it to say about you.
Choose a photo that looks like you, today
Power Tip — run your profile image through www.photofeeler.com
You’re Almost But-Not-Quite Done – Your LI Picture Comes with a Frame…
LinkedIn profile headers form the frame to your picture. It’s a large, visible piece of real estate on your LinkedIn profile. Make the most of it! A well-thought-out banner image takes your profile to the next level.

Deyth Banger, author of How to Talk to Anyone suggests you “Control the frame of the discussion.”  How do you want that banner to position you? Choosing the right photo comes down to what you want viewers to think about you when they view your profile.

Key LinkedIn Banner Considerations
Make sure it’s the right size. The official size of the LinkedIn background photo is 1584×396 pixels.  Not all of that space is usable.  Much of it gets cropped out on smaller screens and mobile devices.  The safe usable space is around 1000×120 pixels at the top of the image or to the righthand side of the image. That does not leave much room for a logo or a call to action, but if you want everyone to see it, regardless of screen size, that’s where it needs to be.
Choose a scene that reflects the type of work that you do, an image of your current location/geography or an emotion that you’d like to impart when someone views your profile.

A good background or cover photo image can include a phrase or a few words that reflect the type of work you do or a call to action to email or call you.
Make sure that your profile photo does not cover the phrase, logo or other copy on all devices/screen sizes.

The image you choose should be crisp and clear
Test and retest your background cover photo before you publish it. Run it by a few friends to get their input to ensure the image you choose gives the impression you want.

If you don’t have or can’t create an image that works, using the standard LinkedIn default is okay (albeit a missed opportunity). That’s better than using an image that gives a negative impression.

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