Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How to be appreciated at work

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file3831269347533Many people feel underappreciated at work. Why? Perhaps the organization does not have a culture that promotes appreciation. Maybe everyone constantly feels under the gun and no one has time to stop and say thank you. You may ask, “How long does it take to say thank you?”

The reality is, in many workplaces, “thank you” is not automatic, and cannot be expected. In the cut-throat environment where many people toil away every day, it takes a lot more than a job well done to attain the acknowledgement or reward you’d like to see.

Here are tips to get the recognition you deserve when you feel underappreciated at work. (Tweet this thought.)

Identify the stars at your organization and follow their leads. 

Once you figure out who’s doing a great job getting recognition at your workplace, you can leverage that knowledge for your own benefit. Did someone get a huge shout out at the last staff meeting?

Why?

Identify key factors that often lead to recognition. For example, what accomplishment led to the appreciation? Perhaps the organization has more of a tendency to appreciate extra effort; is going above and beyond the call of duty needed to attract appreciation? Is someone appreciated in your office because he or she is a really helpful person to have around in a crisis?

Different organizations value different characteristics at work. Once you see where the bar is set in your organization for recognition, you know what you need to strive to achieve.

Offer insights instead of complaining. 

No one likes a complainer. Like it or not, if you have a reputation for always being a downer at work, it’s going to be difficult to achieve much in the way of recognition. That’s not to say you necessarily have to be a “yes man or woman,” either. Be aware of your attitude and keep it in check if you have a tendency to spout off about every single thing that annoys you. That includes comments on social media, especially if you are connected in any way to anyone connected to your workplace.

Keep in mind: your privacy settings are only as good as your least loose-lipped friend.

Be a problem solver. 

What’s the biggest problem your organization or team faces right now? If you can help take major steps to help solve the problem, or come up with a way to solve it altogether, you will earn recognition. If you still don’t feel appreciated, you may be in the wrong job.

Network in and outside of the office. 

Sometimes, appreciation comes hand-in-hand with relationships. If you’ve been skipping team nights out or prefer to lunch alone, maybe it’s time to make a change and to try to get to know some of the people at work. If you’re not a social person, consider it research instead of socializing. Make it your business to determine what’s most important (in and outside of the office) to your colleagues – and your boss, if possible. You may be surprised to find that a few well-placed lunch appointments can yield interesting information that may help you attract the appreciation you deserve.

Join professional or volunteer organizations. 

While it may not specifically land you appreciation AT work, when you volunteer for your professional association, it’s very likely you’ll have an opportunity to receive some kudos and the “thank you’s” you want at work. A side benefit, you’ll have the opportunity to network with people who can get to know you and your work ethic. Those contacts are key when it’s time to find a new job.

Ask for it. 

While it’s not ideal, perhaps you need to ask for recognition in your workplace. That includes requesting a promotion, a raise or other benefits when appropriate. (Such as after a huge win.) If you don’t get any feedback at all from your boss, request a review. Create a list of your accomplishments and ask for what you want.

It’s possible that you work in a place where the culture is to believe providing a paycheck is thank you enough. If that’s not a good fit for you, after you’ve taken these steps and still aren’t satisfied, it’s time to find a new job where you’ll feel more appreciated.

Originally appeared on AOLJobs.com.

Can you say no to your boss?

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Screen Shot 2014-07-03 at 10.38.49 PMAre you the “yes man or woman” at work? Whenever your boss or a colleague needs anything, your name is at the tip of his or her tongue? If you are the go-to person at work when someone needs a “yes,” congratulations! You’ve likely secured your place in the office. Who wants to lay off the person who can never say no? On the other hand, it’s likely you put yourself (and probably non-work relationships) at risk in favor of doing whatever is necessary for your career. That could be a big mistake.

How can you find a balance between maintaining your indispensable status at work and your sanity? Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. Everyone’s circumstances are different, and if you work in a place where you’re only as good as the last thing you’ve done, not all of this advice may work for you. However, in many cases, once you’ve created a reputation for being helpful and agreeable, carefully choosing times to say “no” may not hurt your work reputation, and may actually earn you additional respect.

How can you say no without risking it all at work?

Choose the situation carefully.

If everyone is stressed to the hilt, you’re up for a promotion and the boss comes to you with a desperate request for help, it’s probably not the time to decide you’re going to change your reputation as the “can-do” person in the office. On the other hand, if things are a bit more stable, and it seems like there are plenty of people who could help out, you should have more leeway to indicate if your plate is already full. See the following suggestions for ideas to say no instead of yes.

Learn to say no, without saying no.

Perhaps your boss forgot about all of the other crucial work you are doing. Instead of saying, “No, I cannot take on one more project,” say, “I can see how important this project is. Can we sit down for a few minutes so you can help me prioritize my work? I want to be sure to focus on the most important things.”

In this meeting, make sure you don’t forget to include any key projects (or even day-to-day work) you’re managing. If you can make a solid case indicating that you really don’t have time to handle another thing, it’s possible you can say “no” without actually uttering those words.

Suggest an alternate solution.

Perhaps you are too busy to take on the work by yourself, but you can handle one part of the project. If you have a specialty area (for example, you’re the best at analyzing data), suggest that you could manage that piece of the project in partnership with someone who specializes in the research piece.

No doubt, this is a tricky conversation, as you are trying to deflect pieces of a project away from you. However, if you maintain an enthusiastic, “can do” approach and communicate in a way that will resonate with your boss, it’s possible you can trick him or her into thinking you’re still saying “yes,” even though you are really saying “no.”

Put your foot down, but have a really good reason.

What qualifies as a “good reason” will vary from office to office. Condolences to you if you work in a place where there are no good reasons – perhaps you are in the wrong job and it is time to look for a new job that values your time outside of work.

If you already have planned time off to attend a family wedding or your child’s graduation, and this new project will interfere with that, you may choose to tell your boss you cannot help. Ideally, you won’t lead the conversation with the word “no.” Instead, choose your words carefully, remind your supervisor that you always like to say yes, but the circumstances this time mean you’d like to help by coming up with another solution.

Originally appeared on AOLJobs.com.

What NOT to say at a job interview

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Screen Shot 2014-07-03 at 10.34.28 PMInterviews. They’re a necessary evil for both job seekers and employers; no one seems to love them. There’s lots of advice out there about what to say and what not to say in an interview. Today, we’re going to explore the topic of what you wish you COULD say in an interview, but shouldn’t – that is, if you want the job.

Why do you think I am looking for a job? My boss is a real jerk.

It’s common knowledge that one of the biggest reasons people leave their jobs is because their boss or manager is difficult (at best) or horrible (at worst). The interviewer may even assume you have a bad boss. But, that doesn’t give you the green light to say anything about it.

Why? Because no one wants to hire the person who is going to be bad mouthing him or her in another year’s time. Dissing your current or recent boss is a big mistake. It’s a huge red flag that is unlikely overlooked in the hiring process. Throw your boss under the bus (figuratively) and you can kiss the new job potential goodbye.

You will not believe the things going on behind the scenes at my job. My employer makes T.V. shows like Scandal seem tame.

If you’re effectively fleeing a shady operation, a toxic workplace or your employer regularly seems to sidestep ethics in favor of profit, it’s great that you’re interviewing. What is not great is if you discuss your experiences with your interviewer.

That’s not to say you should never consider being a whistle blower. Although, you wouldn’t want to take on that role without first considering all of the possible ramifications, and consulting an attorney. It’s just that spilling your guts about all the wrongdoing at your current or past office, even in hushed tones, while looking behind you to see if anyone else can hear what you’re saying, is bad form for an interview.

Could you BE less prepared for this interview?

Career coaches are always harping on how important it is for job seekers to be prepared for interviews. Meanwhile, many employers, especially the ones who don’t have many opportunities to interview candidates, often seem totally clueless when it comes to what to ask. Some don’t appear to have even reviewed your resume. What a waste of time!

However, your best recourse is to take advantage of an unprepared interviewer and volunteer information you want him or her to know. Do not wait for someone to ask you about the best accomplishment that qualifies you for the position – you make sure to fit it into the conversation. And, no – you can’t suggest the interviewer may want to prepare better the next time if you want a chance to advance in the process.

I know you aren’t going to hire me because I’m twice your age.

Ageism is alive and well, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get a job with a younger boss. If you could be the interviewer’s mom, it’s likely clear to everyone in the room. Instead of focusing on the age difference, make a point to avoid highlighting the generational gap. For example, also avoid colloquialisms such as, “When I was your age” or “Back in my day.”

Let’s cut to the chase: what does this job pay?

It would save so much time if employers and candidate could always be upfront about salary expectations. Unfortunately, it’s usually a guessing game, where each sizes up the other and hopes for the best. Under most circumstances, it is not appropriate to bring up salary until you’re offered the job, so this is just one more on the list of things you wish you could say at the interview.

If you have a lot of hostility or secrets to keep while you’re interviewing, consider practicing what NOT to say as equal in importance as planning what TO say at an interview. You’ll be glad you did.

Originally appeared on AOLJobs.com.

 

Use social media to get a job

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Screen Shot 2014-07-03 at 10.08.10 PMAre you discounting social media as a way to land a job? Or are you relying 100 percent on LinkedIn to help you create your digital footprint? If so, you’re making a mistake. Research shows employers benefit from using social media to attract candidates. The Society for Human Resource Management’s 2013 survey, Social Networking Websites and Recruiting/Selection, found 77 percent of organizations use social networking sites to recruit potential job candidates. They also found 69 percent of organizations use social networking tools to target and recruit candidates with specific skill sets, 67 percent use social networking to increase employer brand and recognition and 57 percent use it to allow potential candidates to easily contact their organization about employment.

The study further indicated that while a majority (92 percent) of employer respondents used LinkedIn, 58 percent also tapped Facebook, 31 percent use Twitter and 25 percent use Google+. Less than 10 percent of employers used sites such as YouTube, Pinterest, Myspace and Foursquare.

Candidates can take advantage of employers’ interest in reaching out to them via social media to find their next jobs. Stéphane Le Viet, founder and CEO of Work4, has worked with companies of all sizes, industries and locations to implement hiring strategies on social media. He offers the following tips to job seekers on best practices to leverage social media tools during job search.

Use every network that makes sense for you. Don’t limit yourself to “professional” social networks. As SHRM research notes, employers are not only looking at LinkedIn. “At a minimum, most companies today use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to reach job seekers,” Le Viet notes. “At the very least, job seekers can follow companies and brands through these channels to stay updated on new employment opportunities directly within the social networks where they already spend a lot of time.”

Does this mean every job seeker should actively post on all of these networks? Not necessarily. While you can use the various networks to follow information and insights from different companies, if you’re not capable of sending out short messages, you probably shouldn’t tweet.

Find the networks that take advantage of your best skills and become active there. If you like to create short updates, use Twitter. If you are a talented writer, blog on LinkedIn’s platform or start your own blog. Are you in a visual field? Did you know you can create photo collages on Twitter to post via tweets when you use the mobile application? Or upload your photos on Facebook and be sure to make those posts public and searchable. If you’re capable of posting great content on all of the major social media networks, by all means, do so. However, only participate where you’re showing off your best professional content.

Identify your target audience, “like” and engage with them. “Social networks are no longer just about connecting with friends,” Le Viet says. “Both Facebook and Twitter have evolved into an ecosystem of individuals, brands and employers. Companies are investing in their social media presence, giving job seekers plenty of options for interesting content to like and follow.”

Don’t underestimate how interested hiring managers are in finding you online. Many of them believe they can connect with the best candidates using social media. If you want to be considered in that group, you need to be sure to spend your time in networks where you’ll be able to connect with them.

Even if you don’t spend a lot of time posting content to various networks, be sure you visit, “like” or “follow” the companies that interest you – especially if you’re not in a confidential job search. “Hiring managers are always looking for good cultural fit, so the fact that a candidate is already a fan is a good start. You can take it a step further and show a prospective employer you’re really engaged and interested in working for them, simply by commenting on and sharing company posts,” Le Viet says.

Be searchable. Make sure to optimize your online profiles by identifying keywords that employers will use to search for someone like you. Don’t forget to add professional skills to your Facebook profile and make those sections public. “With the introduction of Graph Search, recruiters are turning to Facebook to search for individuals whose profile details match open jobs,” Le Viet says. “Additionally, companies are using Facebook ads to target people by location, interests and other criteria.” You can keep friends, photos and other aspects of your timeline private while making other profile details like job history, skills and location visible to the public and to your next potential employer.

Originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report

How to get a job when you work the night shift

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Night ShiftDo you work two jobs or odd hours? Are you a freelancer, but you’d prefer a more traditional job? Perhaps you’re sick and tired of your unconventional schedule and hours, but you can’t figure out how to break out of your current work situation.

You’ve heard that networking is the key to landing a new job, but you don’t have any time to attend events or hob nob with people who may be able to influence your job opportunities. Is there hope for you?

There is, if you’re willing to take a few key steps to manage your career. If you continue on your current path, you may eventually luck into a new opportunity. However, finding a new job that fits your best-case scenario isn’t likely if you don’t make a concerted effort.

How can you find a new job when you’re so busy keeping up with the odd hours or inconvenient oddities of the job you have?

Make a plan

You’re never going to get anywhere if you don’t know where you are going. Having a general idea that you’d like “better hours” or a “different” job is a first step, but it’s not specific enough to help you make a change. Write down exactly what type of job you want. Include target companies, hours you’d like to work and what you want to do. Don’t be afraid to be very specific. Once you specify your goals, it is much easier to reach them.

Research people

Even if you work odd hours, you can turn to Google or LinkedIn at any time of the day or night to research people who work in places where you want a job. If you’re already using LinkedIn, see if the company has a page there and determine if you have any contacts that connect you to people who work there. Look in LinkedIn’s advanced search to find possible contacts, and investigate the “Education” section to see if you should connect with fellow alumni. Don’t forget to check out Groups. This is a great place to meet new people, and your odd schedule doesn’t prevent you from connecting with new people who may be able to refer you to job opportunities.

Expand your network on your own time frame

One thing a lot of people don’t realize: even if you can’t meet people in person, when you connect online and share information and resources, you can win friends who may open their networks to you and help connect you with opportunities. No matter what type of work you do, there is likely to be a community online of people who can help you along the way.

For some professions, it’s most obvious to turn to LinkedIn’s groups to connect, but what if your profession doesn’t have an obvious professional arena? Look for interest groups unrelated to work. Do you have a hobby or interests that could help you connect with people you don’t know online? Search Facebook or Google+ for an interest group. Maybe you like to cook or are passionate about ultimate Frisbee. Even if you can’t participate with in-person groups, you can still extend your network. Look on Twitter to see if there is a chat about something you like to do. Even if you can’t attend a Twitter chat “live,” you can still connect with the people who participate and get to know them online.

Network everywhere

The best networkers look for opportunities to meet new people wherever they go. In the grocery store at 2 a.m? You probably have something in common with the person in the line behind you. At the gym in the wee hours of the morning? Say hello to people working out beside you. You never know how a smile and a hello can influence your future.

Don’t ask for a job

Even if your primary purpose for using social media may be to increase your network for job opportunities, avoid telling people you’re looking for a job when you first meet them. Even though you’ve heard you should let everyone you meet know you are looking for work, it’s better to get to know people first and share your professional goals later. If you play your cards right, you could be quitting that job before you know it.

Originally appeared on AOLJobs.com.

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