Former FBI Agent on Career Success - The Muse

Former FBI Agent on Career Success - The MuseFormer FBI Agent on Career SuccessHeres something to think about If you arent passionate about your work, if you simply tolerate that which pays the bills but have a super fulfilling life and world outside of it, is that enough? Is it an acceptable way to live? Or does it suggest settling? Recently, I broached this hot topic with LaRae Quy, a retired FBI Special Agent and author. Although I was ostensibly interviewing Quy for an article about determination and how that plays out in job searching, transitioning careers, or attempting to figure out what kind of job to go after, I was- and am- curious about the idea of whether or leid you need to love your career. And if you dont (and you arent actively trying to find something you care deeply about in the career spectrum), does it mean you have untapped potential?unterstellung are big questions, but they didnt phase Quy, who spoke with the experience of someone who has had her share of highs and lows and took risks and explored multiple career paths before finding her sweet spot. Her call We all deserve to find work that excites us.Are you sure? I prodded. Maybe not everyone needs that excitement in the workplace. Isnt it fair to assume that some people are really totally OK working a job that pays the bills if they can look forward to weekends and holidays and vacations? Lets face it Even those of us who love our jobs often anxiously await our days off with baited breath.Those people that punch a clock, who exist only for out-of-office hours, Quy said, are settling for mediocrity. They have not tapped into their potential or asked themselves the hard questions. She went on, The only difference between a rut and a coffin are the dimensions.Clearly this is something the department store-buyer turned FBI werber feels strongly about. As the former, Quy was miserable. Despite the fact her position as a buyer sounded glamorous (and perhaps was), it didnt meet her needs. Tho ugh she had no idea what was next, Quy worried that if she didnt make a move, shed face a lifetime of regret. Quy was, to put it simply, determined. Finding what ones meant to do requires digging deep, she acknowledges. It doesnt just happen. Determination isnt a trait youre born with. It needs to be fed and fostered, sought out. Finding your career path involves experimenting, trying different opportunities, and, most importantly, not being afraid to fail. Through informational meetings, Quy eventually began to feel something. She calls it a fire in her belly, and stoking this fire is something Quy feels is necessary. Its OK to be in a job, be unhappy, and not have a fire to stoke- so if thats you right now, not to worry. In time, though, if you dont make an effort to move on and find whatever it is that gets you pumped to get out of bed each morning, you might come to have major regret.It comes as no surprise that the long-time FBI agent uses words like grit, mental toughness, and self-discipline when she talks about career advancement. Opportunity, she says, isnt going to come knocking- though that much youve probably figured out.Once I felt like I understood what determination meant to Quy, I asked her to talk to me about goals. This word, goal, gets tossed around with increasing regularity, and its one that Quy embraces- at least in connection with having a career vision. She explained that, If you have a vision, then you must create goals to get to that vision, but constantly check the vision.While asking yourself what you want out of life is never easy- conjuring a vision first, and then setting goals related to it is actually doable. First, break it down into specific questions about where you see yourself in five years Are you in the same city or town or in another state or abroad? Do you have a wife or husband? Children? A house in the burbs? A cottage in the mountains? What kind of role would you like to be in? Managing a large team of people? Ownin g a business? Starting a company with a friend? Working flexible freelance hours? In other words, the vision isnt I want to earn $30 million by the time Im 45 rather, it would be, I want to be a powerful person, and in order to obtain that position of power, perhaps you strive for financial success and set goals thatll help get you there.By the end of our conversation, Id like to say that Im 100% on mainboard with Quy in that you must strive to find work youre passionate about, but Im not quite there. I feel tremendously fortunate to be doing work that I feel strongly about, but I suppose Im lucky that I didnt have to dig super deep to figure out what I wanted to do.I believe in taking risks, sure, but what if you cant break away from your less-than-fulfilling mundane job? Can you choose to enhance it, maybe even be the poster child for how to be the best in that field? I dont know the answer to that, but I do know and believe that Quy would agree youre not going to get anywhere twi ddling your thumbs. And, youre certainly not going to find a fire in your belly to stoke if youre miserable and dont try to do anything about it.As Quy says, Face your problems head on. It isnt your problems that define you- its how you react and recover from them. Your problems are not going away unless you do something about them. Photo of rock climber courtesy of Shutterstock.

8 Red Flags Employers See on Your Resume

8 Red Flags Employers See on Your Resume8 Red Flags Employers See on Your ResumeHiring managers spend only seconds skimming your resume before making a quick decision about whether to reject you or consider you further, so its essential that your resume doesnt contain the red flags that will turn them off during that short initial scan. Here are eight red flags that will often put you straight into the no pile without further consideration.1. A history of job-hopping. If you have a history of moving quickly from one job to the next without staying very long, employers will wonder whether you get bored easily or cant keep a job. If you do have good reasons for the job changes (such as having a spouse in the military), make aya to fill in employers upfront so they dont draw wrong conclusions.2. Grammatical or spelling mistakes. Mistakes can get your resume immediately tossed, because they convey to an employer that you dont pay attention to detail. Employers assume that youve polished your resume more than you will most documents, so if you have mistakes in it, they assume your work will have even more errors.3. Bad writing. Even for jobs that dont require flawless writing, employers still want to see evidence that you can communicate well. If you dont write clearly and concisely, theyll worry about how youll communicate once on the job- and many will take your resume-writing quality as a shortcut to drawing conclusions about your intelligence.4. Overly aggrandized self-descriptions. Hiring managers generally frown on language like visionary thinker, creative innovator or respected leader because these are the sorts of things that others can say about you, but you cant say credibly about yourself. Putting them on your resume signals that youre either naive, arrogant or both. Stick to objective experience and accomplishments only.5. Lack of evidence of achievement. If your resume lists nothing but your job duties at each job- rather than what you achieved there- y oull signal that you never did more than the basic requirements. Hiring managers are looking for candidates with a track record of achievement, not meeting extremum requirements, but going above and beyond and accomplishing things that an average candidate wouldnt.6. No overarching theme to your career choices. If youve moved from one unrelated job to the next, without a clear pattern, employers will be skeptical about your commitment to the roles youre applying for now. Most employers want to be able to scan your resume and get a quick understanding of how youve progressed within one or two fields, rather than trying to work out how youve moved from tech writer to salesperson to nurses assistant to video editor.7. Lack of professionalism. If your resume includes information about your spouse and children, or other information unrelated to your qualifications as a candidate, most employers will conclude that youre naive at best and unprofessional at worst.8. Large gaps between jobs. When employers see gaps of unemployment, they wonder what happened during that time. Did you leave the previous job with nothing lined up, and if so, why? Were you working somewhere that youve deliberately left off your resume, and if so, what are you hiding? Gaps raise questions that you dont want on a hiring managers mind.Alison Green writes the popular Ask a Manager blog, where she dispenses advice on career, job search, and management issues. Shes also the co-author of Managing to Change the World The Nonprofit Managers Guide to Getting Results, and former chief of staff of a successful nonprofit organization, where she oversaw day-to-day staff management, hiring, firing, and employee development.

Job Skills You Dont Want to be Endorsed for on LinkedIn

Job Skills You Dont Want to be Endorsed for on LinkedInJob Skills You Dont Want to be Endorsed for on LinkedInIn the last couple of years, LinkedIn included a new feature that enhanced the profile of its users, allowing connections to endorse one another for the skills we use during our jobs every day. It allows users to compliment the work of others without writing a full-on recommendation. And who doesnt like to see the graphical interface matching our skills with our endorsers. Its a great boost to the ego. But, what if, instead of endorsing connections for such skills as press releases, copywriting, public speaking, organizational development, social media marketing, we, instead, endorsed each for the skills we have mastered over the years that we would never want our employers to know. People goof off on the job every day. Some people are just better at it than others. Here are 15 skills youll never find on LinkedInWalking around the office with a paper in hand to look hard-at-w orkRushing to the copier machine to grab non-work related materialsMulti-tasking skills when hiding gchat, Facebook or a Sudoku puzzle before the boss sees itStaring at work on the computer screen while actually sleepingOffering ideas during meetings when not even paying attentionPositioning body by the water cooler to talk to co-workers throughout the dayLooking ahead blindly so as to not notice co-workers as they enter the elevator, train or busUsing the bathroom as a library, conference room and/or social gathering spaceResearch skills for locating the best cat pics, funny memes or celebrity gossip on the webUsing company resources to aid current job searchMission Impossible repelling when snacks are announced in the break roomMagician-like abilities to show up at the cute new co-workers deskHaving more office supplies at home than in the officeStrong ability to recite movie lines or make pop culture references whenever possibleInterpreting of dress code in a way rivaling all oth er employeesDid we miss anything? Feel free to tell us.Follow me on Twitter. Follow Vault on Twitter and Instagram.Read mora How to Effectively Use Social Media to Develop Your Brand Wash Your Hands and Other Great Workplace Tips Unemployment Still the Best Thing to Happen to Me

6 Science-Backed Memory Recall Tactics You Havent Tried

6 Science-Backed Memory Recall Tactics You Havent Tried6 Science-Backed Memory Recall Tactics You Havent TriedYouve taken walks in nature - or as close as you could get by the koi pond - and youve got the mosquito bites to prove it. Youve played memory games on various apps that cost you several pretty pennies and cramped up your fingers. Youve eaten walnuts and blueberries, but your gut didnt communicate with your brain to the necessary degree. Who? What happened? Nah - dont remember.While you may see a few improvements in your memory, most of what youve tried didnt stick in the long run. You definitely remember the mosquito bites and sadly choosing blueberries over chocolate, but you have yet to find what works for you. Here are six ways to improve memory you havent tried yet.1. Involve more sensesThe reason experts suggest you focus on mindfulness or meditation to boost your memory lies behind using the sensory experience to heighten memory retention. Your five senses all pick up different details that make memory recall more powerful.You likely heard that smell is the strongest sense and closely tied to memory. You might look a little strange trying to sniff an object in public, but the key to recall is involving more senses in the process.Multi-sensory learning improves retention, and many learners gain a performance benefit when they focus on audiovisual stimuli over modality-specific stimuli.The Montessori form of education employs this technique, also, and some studies also found that engagement with multi-sensory stimuli helps stroke victims to recover.Imagine talking with someone whose language you dont comprehend. While listening, you also listen to their body language with your eyes, incorporating more than one sense. You do this in everyday conversation, but when you employ multi-sensory focus to a task, your memory boosts. Dont watch TV while studying, but actively focus your senses on the task at hand.2. Use humorYoure more likely to remember an occasion or detail when it tickles your fancy and makes you snicker. Humor triggers the reward center of the brain, stimulating long-term memory and goal-oriented action.Your sense of wonder and your funny bone are connected. Humor invokes a sense of community and social learning, which is why when you tune into Ellen Degeneres youre more likely to recall nachrichtensendungstories.Faced with a long Spanish vocabulary list? Make a song about a cactus and an eagle falling in love. Peligroso.3. Swap beer for red wineStay close to me, red wine. Now that that song is stuck in your head, did you know red wine helps your brain retain information? So, cancel that beer order, and tell the bartender you want a glass of cab sauv.Researchers conducted a study on aging rats and resveratrol - a chemical in wine known to protect against obesity, cancer and other conditions - and found it had beneficial anti-aging effects on the hippocampus, the region of the brain associated with mood and mem ory. A separate study also revealed brain operations decline less quickly in moderate drinkers, so choose that red, red wine as you age - or whenever you need to take the edge off.Different kinds of alcohol affect your recall. Researchers say that if you indulge and want to improve memory, its best to consume under 14 units a week. A 750 ml bottle of wine holds 10.5 units with an average of 14 percent alcohol per volume (APV) compared to a 50 ml double of vodka, which holds two units and 40 percent APV. A strong beer pint contains 2.7 units and 4.8 percent APV.Wine keeps you steady whereas you might end up under the table with hard liquor - plus, beer makes you feel heavy. Ready for a nap or want to focus? Choose the red wine.4. Wrap yourself in a blanket burrito and snoozeFan of the all-nighter? Stress and perceived lack of time affect your ability to recall details and be productive. You need sleep to skip the mental fog and get a better memory recall weather report. Heres your permission to get the eight hours you deserve - or at least a nice long power nap. Neurons utilized during learning activate again during non-rapid eye movement sleep, resulting in integrating and storing that memory into your long-term memory. When you sleep, the brain rids itself of unnecessary neural connections stored throughout the day and keeps what matters to you.A good 90-minute nap on a Sunday afternoon will make sure you cycle through all the stages of sleep at least once.5. Stop memory-shaming Talk to yourself in third personBad at remembering names? Tongue-tied when a friend asks you what you had for brunch last Sunday? Dont know where you put the tickets? Feel like you just suck at remembering anything and everything? You probably remind yourself of that fact all the time, too.Stop jinxing yourself with memory-shaming. Whats true is that people are their own worst critics, and negative self-talk doesnt get the memory gears going. You wind yourself up, the specific wor ds you choose affecting how you see the circumstance or memory - and pronouns especially matter. Those who use the third person are more likely to offer words of support to themselves and positivity spreads, triggering reward centers of the brain - and memory storing6. Walk through the door againWhen you lose something, friends suggest you retrace your steps, but you end up on a wild goose chase all over town. Your brain feels overwhelmed with the possibilities of where you - or someone else - might find your lost object.Retracing your steps is better utilized with something you just lost, such as an idea or object. Wonder why you forget what you were doing the instant you walk through a doorway? The doorway is literally like a portal or gateway that jilts your thinking - passing through an entryway triggers an event boundary in the brain. Your memory corresponds to your changing environment. So, walk through the door again and pause to try to recapture your fleeting memory.Sim ilarly, this technique works for dream recall, too. When you wake up, lie still in bed and hold on to the last detail you recall. Be present within it and use your senses to absorb what comes to you like asponge. Write it down to cement it when you feel ready.These six enticing and science-backed spins come from what experts say you should do. Plus, they give you permission to take a power nap or have a glass or two of red wine. Dont you just love science?

The Top Secret Truth on Acting Resume Sample Uncovered

The Top Secret Truth on Acting Resume Sample Untiteled The Appeal of Acting Resume Sample Furthermore, you can look for acting jobs on Monster. Just like any resume, you would like to include skills that are related to and desirable for the roles youre auditioning for. The Professional Acting Resume is intended to help actors seeking auditions gain an opportunity to demonstrate a casting director their talent. Many professional acting resumes do not expect a listing of skills as its assumed they are trying for a particular role that theyre suited for. If you own an agent, it would be helpful to keep them updated periodically on what youve done, and list them as your agent when you have the chance to audition. A great sample acting resume will be in a position to demonstrate that the actor is ready to do other activities since they are applicable to the job. In case you have talent for a singer list your vocal type too. As soon as your acting resume is finished, its prepared to send out. The Bad Side of Acting Resume Sample Before spending reference from the angeschlossen sample maintains, think on what kind of resume test format will match the needs youve got. You are going to have the samples for each and every kind of job application. Besides altering the dummy text there may be additional information which you need to include. Irrespective of length of experience in the company, a 1 page resume is all that is needed. The letter should convey a feeling of the contribution youd be contributing to the small business. Then, the sample gives a summary of the absolute most relevant responsibilities and duties performed. Recognizing precisely how to tailor your work application will probably obviously supply you with a benefit. Understanding Acting Resume Sample Odds are you could wind up excluding some important locations and such as other individuals that are not that necessary. Making your resume is vital. If youre looking for Acting Resume Te mplate For Beginners youve come to the correct location. The Basics of Acting Resume Sample Before you even attempt to ready the letter ensure youve researched each one of the important information about the business. To begin with, youll need to list you name and contact information on top. If not, you can choose to compose References located on request. Usually, you can opt to compose References on request. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Acting Resume Sample Often as the business receives a great deal of words, then they may use application to scan the letter. A resume cover letter is meant to be an intro an individual to a prospective employer. Its crucial that you customize each resume cover letter to the job which youre using. Anytime you can create your application letter customized and private, you may have a better response. The Benefits of Acting Resume Sample Imagine you are making a template of your resume. ZipBooks invoice templates are flexible t o meet your precise requirements. Simply check the payment techniques that you wish to accept when sending invoices and were likely to incorporate a payment link by way of your invoice. You want to create an invoice which will be entirely professional and easy to comprehend. The Key to Successful Acting Resume Sample You would want to list in-depth truth about your responsibilities and achievements, and that usually means youre likely to have all the info you wish to turn in an application for any job. First things first, take note that a resume cover letter is like a tool marketers use to keep a place to get customers to acquire something. The letter ought to be greeted and addressed to the correct individual. Hence before you begin on your cover letter writing, list of positive actions is to carry out a lttle bit of investigating to give you a great edge over the others wholl be attempting to find the same position. The employer ought to be considering hiring you. Functi onal Sample whenever youre referring the internet curriculum vitae samples, you are going to need a functional test whenever you have employment spaces inside your past. You also ought to put down if youre union eligible. Make it appear professional.

Top Choices of Resume Formats 2018

Top Choices of Resume Formats 2018 The very first thing you ought to do is make sure a prospective employer knows whose resume theyre taking a look at You could say its as its something new and you will be right There isnt any reason to skimp on space. The very last thing you would like to do is receive a job which you cant do. There is additionally a reverse chronological element, since the introduction is followed by details about your experience and education, in addition to any additional data that you include. To compose a resume, youve got to gather all the essential data and data about you in 1 place. When youve reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to learn how to vary using action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a highly effective accomplishment statement. The Battle Over Resume Formats 2018 and How to Win It Creative While its important to get a professional resume, sometimes just a little creativity and innovation is acceptable. S ince you wouldnt have plenty of expert experience, it would be hard to group your resume points into skills. For some jobs, you will want to highlight certain abilities, while for others, you will want to demonstrate related experience. Submitting a resume to reveal youre a valuable education leader is critical to securing interviews. What Resume Formats 2018 Is - and What it Is Not There are different kinds of CV possible based on the goal of its use and the expectation of the targeted audiences. The usage of lines to differentiate section titles assists the eye locate the information it needs. Picking the most suitable font can look to be an impossible endeavor, especially because there are dozens and dozens of choices out there. ur free of charge featured box CV template is the ideal approach to list your very best achievements in every single role, in an eye catching yet professional manner that will stand out to prospective employers. Employers care a lot more about yo ur successes, and the way youre able to mirror them at their company. They are looking for concrete skills. Recruiters have a job to do and will need to do it quickly, which is the reason why it is vital that they be in a position to rate your experience, education, and skills in only a couple of seconds. They spend just a few seconds looking at each CV and therefore its really important to make your CV easy to skim through. What You Should Do About Resume Formats 2018 Starting in the Next Two Minutes If you have to, you may also add an expert summary section above the job history section to drive home your private brand. It is possible to see our deutsche post dhl to find out more and examples to help you compose a resume with minimal or no work experience. Yes, the guy or maybe woman reading the fine resume posting examples should be bought on why they have to bring you in. You may find several great resume templates, but youll have to decide if theyre likely to help or hu rt your odds of landing an interview. What Everybody Dislikes About Resume Formats 2018 and Why While its not a resume in any way. You may also download totally free templates from our Resume Library to get going on your best resume. A Secret Weapon for Resume Formats 2018 Regardless of the demand to advertise oneself uniquely, remember that nearly all major organizations utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan submitted applications. Resume formats make certain that your best achievements are right there on the top, prepared to be noticed. Even youre using non-traditional job searching approaches and dont use any on-line sources. The hybrid format isnt an effective way for individuals without a work experience to break into a business. A Resume Template is a very important document thats employed in the case when an individual or an applicant is applying for employment, a volunteership, an internship, an educational course or another thing. Well, that and wheth er you truly wish to get that job. When youd like to land that ideal job then you definitely have to have a stellar resume. Simply because youve got zero experience or its your very first job. Resume formats do change over time and it is necessary that you stay informed about the latest so your resume will have an opportunity to become noticed. Ceative Resume Templates must be drafted utilizing an official format and a professional tone. However, it might not be possible for all to receive it right. As previously mentioned, you need to select a resume format thats suited to your personal profile. You ought to understand, that resume format is crucial, as it can boost your odds to get invited for an interview. Each format serves a specific purpose. Each resume format was made to boost your odds to find the job in 2018.

Keep Your Jargon to Yourself

Keep Your Jargon to Yourself Have you ever wondered how your website is doing in the SERPs? What about your PPC? Are you getting a good CPA? What about the CPM? Are you tracking all of your KPIs?Was that paragraph obnoxious or what?Theres a good chance I almost lost you. Maybe I did lose you, and you just skipped down to this paragraph in the hopes it would be better. I certainly couldnt blame you if that were the case.I spent many years as a digital marketer in the corporate world. Ive led plenty of teams and projects centered on acquiring new customers online. Those acronyms I threw at you are part of the jargon digital marketers use every day. (In case its killing you to know, they stand for, in order, search engine results pages, pay per click, cost per acquisition, cost per thousand, and key performance indicators.)Industry acronyms and jargon can be necessary and useful ways to communicate in certain situations like when youre working with a te am of fellow marketers and you all share the saatkorn lingo. Other times, however,using jargon simply obscures your homilie. It can even be downright rude, depending on whom youre speaking to. Im sure you can relate Who among us hasnt felt talked down to by someone just tossing around their industry jargon with no regard for their listeners? It can feel like the person has something to prove.If you can communicate your message to someone simply and without jargon, do it. Only use industry-specificterminology when theres no way around it.You need to be especially cognizant of your jargonwhen talking with colleagues or clients who work in other departments, industries, or companies. You should also be careful when interviewing. Nothing turns off a hiring manager or a candidate faster thana barrage of impenetrable words and phrases.In any professional interaction, it is important to communicate respectfully. Speak to people in a manner that shows you believe youre on the same levelas they are. Assume they will understand the relevant concepts, but dont assume theyve been studying from the same dictionary.One of the highest compliments Ive ever received cameafter giving a presentation to a few hundred franchise owners on the topic of digital marketing. When the session was over, one of the owners approached me. He said nobody else had ever spoken to him about the internet in a way he understood so clearly. He appreciatedthat I took the time to deliver an important message in plain language.This moment has never left me. It showed mehowsetting aside the jargon can allow the real message to come through. It taught me I canspeak with people who areoutside my fieldabout important thingsin plain language and they will understand what I am sayingThe next time you give a presentation, go on a job interview, or sit in a meeting, look for the most straightforward way to explain your point. Your message will get through to everyone, no mattertheirbackground. Best of all, you will gain respect and understanding from the people around you.A version of this article originally appeared onCopeland Coaching.Angela Copeland is a career coach and CEO atCopeland Coaching.