Company Culture Matters More Than Some Experts Will Admit

Company Culture Matters More Than Some Experts Will Admit Last night a friend asked me for some advice. He was in a job interview for a sales role and, either after the interview or towards the end of the interview, the interviewer told him that his energy level was too low. This was shocking to my friend. He is an excellent salesman, and pretty much always exceeds any quotas. His question was: How do you respond to that? The first impression was already made you cant rewind. Plus, thats his personality. High energy doesnt always mean successful, even in sales.  And he has a track record that however he does it, he brings in the sales. I dont remember what my response was to him, last night. Right now, just writing this, my thoughts are counter the claim (of low energy) with stats and facts. Let your past accomplishments tell your story. Yep. Good answer.  But that just came to me. For most of the day Ive had a different thought: If the boss wants a high energy team, and you have a different style, then perhaps you arent a good cultural fit. Trust me as good as it might seem now, and as appealing it is to have that (or any) job, let this be a yellow flag that you look at and think Hm maybe the culture here is not going to work out. Years ago someone asked me about a huge career transition. He said that he didnt care what the job was, or where it was his main criteria was the amount of money they would pay. I should mention that this person, a Baby Boomer, has a level of loyalty that is awesome for employers. He ended up taking a job, for ten years, that was horrible. Yes, the pay was great until after the first year, and they somehow figured out how to reduce his salary by 33%. Remember the loyalty thing? Thats why he stayed.  The job got worse and worse. The culture fit couldnt have been more mismatched. This professional cared about people, building teams, empowering managers but the owner cared about revenue and profit. Ten years of cultural mismatch had an impact on him.  Hes out of the situation now, and hes a great guy, but I doubt he looks back at those ten years fondly. Some experts say that company culture is non-existent. To them I say, you have never worked at a company that had a strong, great culture. I have, and it was amazing to witness. Heres what I know: when you are looking for jobs, make sure you weigh cultural fit just as much as you weigh salary and commute and benefits. If you dont, you might be setting yourself up for an unhappy work environment one thats destined to point you in the direction of yet another job search. Company Culture Matters More Than Some Experts Will Admit Last night a friend asked me for some advice. He was in a job interview for a sales role and, either after the interview or towards the end of the interview, the interviewer told him that his energy level was too low. This was shocking to my friend. He is an excellent salesman, and pretty much always exceeds any quotas. His question was: How do you respond to that? The first impression was already made you cant rewind. Plus, thats his personality. High energy doesnt always mean successful, even in sales.  And he has a track record that however he does it, he brings in the sales. I dont remember what my response was to him, last night. Right now, just writing this, my thoughts are counter the claim (of low energy) with stats and facts. Let your past accomplishments tell your story. Yep. Good answer.  But that just came to me. For most of the day Ive had a different thought: If the boss wants a high energy team, and you have a different style, then perhaps you arent a good cultural fit. Trust me as good as it might seem now, and as appealing it is to have that (or any) job, let this be a yellow flag that you look at and think Hm maybe the culture here is not going to work out. Years ago someone asked me about a huge career transition. He said that he didnt care what the job was, or where it was his main criteria was the amount of money they would pay. I should mention that this person, a Baby Boomer, has a level of loyalty that is awesome for employers. He ended up taking a job, for ten years, that was horrible. Yes, the pay was great until after the first year, and they somehow figured out how to reduce his salary by 33%. Remember the loyalty thing? Thats why he stayed.  The job got worse and worse. The culture fit couldnt have been more mismatched. This professional cared about people, building teams, empowering managers but the owner cared about revenue and profit. Ten years of cultural mismatch had an impact on him.  Hes out of the situation now, and hes a great guy, but I doubt he looks back at those ten years fondly. Some experts say that company culture is non-existent. To them I say, you have never worked at a company that had a strong, great culture. I have, and it was amazing to witness. Heres what I know: when you are looking for jobs, make sure you weigh cultural fit just as much as you weigh salary and commute and benefits. If you dont, you might be setting yourself up for an unhappy work environment one thats destined to point you in the direction of yet another job search.

Give Dad Something He Really Wants

Give Dad Something He Really Wants Maybe Father’s Day is coming up, or your old man’s birthday is creeping up on the calendar. Whatever the occasion, you need something to give to your dad. Well, Scotch gifts for dad are a great idea because they never go out of style, they are widely accepted, and they stand the test of time. No matter what your own father’s personality is, the odds are that a bottle of liquor will be greatly appreciated. If you still need some convincing, here are some great reasons (and ideas!) for presenting Scotch to your old man. It is a Timeless and Traditional Gift Let’s face it, our dads can be a bit traditional and old-fashioned. Yet that doesn’t have to stand in the way of giving him a great present. Scotch gifts continue to be popular because they hold on to the classic care and appreciation that all fathers cherish. Moreover, these types of gifts will really play to a dad’s love for the finer things in life, and a glass of Scotch truly does represent the traditional view of the hard-working and dedicated father. Needless to say, everyone respects a man who enjoys a good glass of liquor. This option also eliminates a lot of the guesswork that can go into choosing the perfect present. And he can enjoy it for years to come, unlike flowers or candies. It is Personal, Yet Social Think about it, what other item can be heartfelt while still being social and shareable? Scotch gifts are great for all occasions because they show your old man that you care, but a bottle can also be passed around and shared with anyone else in attendance. Dad can keep the liquor in his own home, but it is something that he can offer to guests or friends and family as he pleases. Even at the actual event or party, he can crack open the bottle and really get things going! Furthermore, your father will truly appreciate and place value on such a gift because it speaks volumes to how you view him: as a dependable, trustworthy, intelligent, and refined man. It is Simple and Satisfying In all honesty, giving Scotch is a no-brainer because it is simple and easy to get, but it still keeps your recipient happy. We have all had that experience of receiving a gift that we either hated or had no use for. You wouldn’t want to do that to someone else, especially not your own father! On the other hand, liquor is something that just about everyone can enjoy, and it is simple enough to purchase at the last minute. Tie a fancy bow or ribbon around it or just stick it in a gift bag with some tissue paper, and you’re good to go! Really, what could be better? Image Source

7 Habits of Highly Productive Women - Classy Career Girl

7 Habits of Highly Productive Women I enjoy  getting organized and having something personalized to do it with is all the better.   A few months ago I received my May Designs notebook (photo below). Ive been using this notebook for some time now, on a daily basis to document my ideas, thoughts, and projects. As a Social Media and Brand Partnerships Manager it is important that I stay organized, which is something I always worry about when it comes to my planning systems.  I need a planning system that is not only functional but one that I can take with me when on the go ? and if it’s as beautiful as this one even better. What I love most about May Designs is that you can design your own  notebook. You can choose the cover design, add a monogram or name, and you choose which package of pages that you want. You can get plain notebook pages, a monthly planner, a monthly and weekly planner, graph paper, etc.  The choice is yours.  The pages I chose were the grid paper because I think it’s really versatile and I am not restricted to a particular format.   7 Habits of Highly Productive Women With so many daily demands, it is easy to feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to accomplish all that we need to do and lose control. Although we may know what’s really important, we still need a few practical suggestions to assist us in organizing our time more effectively. Especially, if you’re an entrepreneur.  Here are my tips and advice for staying productive and  organized: 1. Get a Head Start. Start by planning ahead. I typically plan on Saturday mornings. This allows me to have the rest of the weekend to spend with my family. Most importantly, though, it allows me to have my plans ready for the start of the workweek. 2. Write Things Down and Put It on Paper. Outlining your issues, tasks, ideas, and projects on paper is going to assist you in sorting it all out. Create a list of all possible solutions to accomplish those things. Identify the steps you need to take to accomplish each task. Get those thoughts out of your head and onto paper. I am using the bullet journal method. [RELATED: The Top 10 Processes You Need to Organize Your Life] 3. Schedule the Most Important Tasks First. If you take the time to accomplish your most critical tasks first, you’ll be able to complete those noncritical tasks with less pressure. You will then have additional time to complete those tasks that do not require top priority. 4. Track Your Time and Turn Off Distractions. Many times we can become easily distracted by unimportant tasks and we lose time and focus. We must turn off distractions and start tracking our time.  For example, schedule tasks with specific times such as social media for 1 hour on Mondays and Wednesday, housework on Tuesdays for 1 hour and emails for 30 mins daily, etc. If you track what you are doing each day of the week; you’ll be able to not only see where your time is going but also where your distractions are coming from. Then, you’ll be able to come up with solutions to get rid of those time-wasting tasks. Some solutions may be to block off parts of your day where you’ll have no distractions until you complete your tasks. I recommend turning off your phone if possible and turning off social media notifications and any other reminders that may cause you to lose focus. 5. Schedule Less. We can become overwhelmed, frustrated, and discouraged if we have too many things on our schedule.  You have to be realistic when it comes to your planning and what you schedule each day. You can’t have an appointment 12pm and then another at 1pm when it takes 45 mins to get there or a phone conference at 9am and another at 10am when it’s going to take you some time to gather your information. Be reasonable with yourself, know your limits. Remember, it takes baby steps. 6. Take Occasional Breaks. This may be one of the most important tips. Remember that after 45 minutes, our ability to focus  starts to taper off.  Take at least 10-15 minutes to stretch, get something to drink, take a quick walk; anything that can shift your focus for just a moment. Those 10-15 minutes can bring about new ideas and you’ll be better prepared to continue your tasks. 7. Sync All Calendars and Batch All Processes. As professionals or entrepreneurs, we may have multiple calendars. If you happen to have multiple calendars such as, on your computer, a daily planner, and on your phone, all of them must be synced and say the same thing. Be aware that having too many calendars can cause confusion and stress; too many to manage at one time. Try to stick with 1 or 2 that work the best and be sure they are synchronized.   How to Design Your May Book Interested in designing your our May Book just like I did? Here’s how to design your own book: Visit MayDesigns.com.   Select “notebooks” and begin selecting your elements. You’ll begin by selecting your print.   There are over 200 patterns to choose from.   Once you have chosen your cover pattern, you’ll be taken to a new page where you can customize the remaining parts of your notebook. You’ll be directed to customize your monogram if you choose to do so. If so, choose the text you would like on the cover, the background shape and the color you would like for it, and the font style and color. Then you’ll be directed to choose the layout of the inside pages.   There are six standard options, eight agenda options, eight lists options, and four specialty options (like an adult and kids’ coloring books and a calligraphy practice book, just for fun). You can also preview each one so you know what they look like. My favorites are the organizational options which include: 40 days of prayer gratitude, an address book, an agenda in quite a few different formats, an academic option, a menu planner, a health fitness planner, and a wedding planner. Not to mention a variety of basic options: lined pages, graph/grid pages, dot pages, black pages, and lined pages. How do you stay organized and productive? Share your tips in the comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Photo credit: MayDesigns.com

How to Spot a Top Sales Producer - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Spot a Top Sales Producer - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The question arose whether a Hiring Manager should select extroverted or introverted salespeople who interview. There isn’t a definitive answer to the question, because it’s the wrong question to be asked. There are far better indicators that will reveal the potential each candidate may bring to the company. Perspective Before any interview takes place, it is best for the Hiring Manager to recognize the interview itself is a sale. The Manager is the client and the candidate is the salesperson. Observation of candidate behaviors will provide great indication of how the person will perform if hired. Congeniality A smart candidate will greet everyone with a smile and friendly hello. The person will thank the Manager for taking the time to see them during the introduction, and will say something nice about the office. Leadership Qualities The better salespeople ask questions first before they ever begin speaking. A great conversation starter is to ask, “You must receive so many resumes, what caught your interest on mine to invite me in today?” This type of question indicates the candidate is willing to take the lead on sales calls and knows how to get to the direct path of conversation. Conducting conversations in this manner will eliminate many objections. It will be evident that the better applicant did much research ahead of the meeting as the conversation develops. This is an excellent indicator the applicant is a goal setter and high achiever leaving no stone unturned. Being an introvert or extrovert does not matter compared to whether listening followed by asking intelligent questions is the natural instinct of the candidate. In the QA conversation, another indicator is honesty. Does the applicant indicate the unknown and a need to know more? This is an essential quality that Hiring Managers should seek out. Story-Telling During the conversation, the sales applicant should be very comfortable sharing stories to find elements of commonality. The stories should be engaging, factual, and to the point of the questions asked. A great indicator of whether to hire the person is would you welcome a return conversation. Follow-Up Most salespeople do not follow-up with clientele. The person loses their nerve and makes excuses for not making one more call. This is a major reason that sales fail to materialize. Accordingly, review which applicant being considered actually asked for a return appointment prior to leaving the office. Did they send a thank you note after the fact and again indicate interest? All of this gives indication to the person motivated and goal driven. Closing Many salespeople are fearful of both negotiation and asking for business. Did the candidate indicate a desire to work at the company? Did they ask how training and the job will unfold should they be hired? Did they ask for next steps? When the salary was revealed, did the applicant automatically step out of their comfort zone to ask for more providing  a reasonable story behind the expectation? It’s evident from all of the above, that when the Hiring Manager treats the interview process as a sales call, indicators of the applicant’s sales capability will be very apparent as will their personal brand. Introvert or extrovert traits do not matter nearly as much. Just like negotiation of a meeting of the minds, the balanced ego and combination of extrovert-introvert will produce the salesperson better positioned to do well. In the end, all parties will encounter the Smooth Sale! (http://www.smoothsale.net/blog/)

How the Best Resume Writing Questionnaire Helps You Get Your Best Work Experience

How the Best Resume Writing Questionnaire Helps You Get Your Best Work ExperienceThe best resume writing questionnaires are those that serve the needs of the job applicant, while achieving the objective of the HR department. In the age of automation, no doubt, some of the latest software tools are designed to simplify the task of resume writing. However, there is still need for an applicant to put forth a personal touch in order to qualify for a job as well as make his or her resume stand out from the crowd.Resume Writing Quiz provides a methodology for writing a resume that covers all aspects of the job, with the sole focus on your resume that will stand out from the crowd. Resume Writing Quiz is designed by a professional resume writer to meet the specific needs of applicants who want to be hired. The most important objective of this program is to help you make the best resume possible.You do not have to travel to the office and take an appointment for a formal interview. In fact, it is not necessary for you to send the resume to an employer before the due date. The best resume writing questionnaires ask for an application form to be filled out within a specific time frame. Resume Writing Quiz makes sure that you get the information you want, that will be of value to the employer when he or she looks at your resume.All you have to do is answer the right questions accurately. If you are unsure about a question, simply stop typing until you feel confident enough to move on. The best resume writing questionnaire is user-friendly, which means that you can accomplish the job within a day without much effort.Some questions may seem boring, but that does not mean that you should turn down a particular service just because you are not familiar with the topic. That way, the question becomes more interesting to you get more satisfaction from the program as a whole.One reason why you need to give more emphasis to your resume is because employers are looking for a person al touch in order to hire the right person. It is this personal touch that makes a resume stand out from the crowd. The best resume writing questionnaire helps you have this personal touch, which makes your resume more appealing to the employer.You also have the opportunity to submit your own data into the database. This can be helpful to give you a better picture of the type of data that is required for a certain position. This is a great way to bring in personal ideas or information that will make your resume stand out from the crowd.When you first start the program, you can start with one job on your resume. Then, as your skills improve, you can add another resume to your page. In other words, you can create a portfolio of resume, which is all yours to use.

Creating a More Captivating Web Presence

Creating a More Captivating Web Presence As the New Year approaches we all want to optimise our chances of success, and one of the most important for the majority of creative ventures is that of having a captivating web presence.  Notice, the term “presence” rather than website, as in today’s world, the majority of the ways in which we interact are via social media rather than static websites. Furthermore, with advances in aspects such as AI and gartner master data management, we are becoming more empowered to deliver tailored and automated services that are much more relevant to the individual user. Whilst social media is huge, and ever expanding, your website acts as a positioning platform and the base of your digital triangle.  Yes, you can use a variety of interesting platforms to tour your creative wares (e.g. Etsy) yet your website is the hub that everything links back to. In this article, we’re therefore going to look at how to create a more captivating website: SPEED The back end of a website, meaning the technology and code that delivers the content and design onto a computer screen are of critical importance to the performance of your website, yet they are often overlooked.  The key metric, when it comes down to the back end is that of speed and efficiency. See, you can have the most beautifully crafted website, yet if it’s slow to load most people aren’t going to stick around to see it.  In fact, research demonstrates that you have roughly three seconds for your entire site to load before people click off. Of course, with the introduction of 5G coming in 2019, slow internet speeds are in the mostpart becoming a thing of the past, yet, there are still plenty of people in rural communities that don’t have access to lightning fast broadband.     It’s therefore worth considering how quickly your website loads, as speed will captivate a lot more users, on the basis they cannot engage with something that they have to wait to load.  CONTENT ARCHITECTURE If we think of web design as akin to building a house, the architect draws up the plans to ensure your house is functional and convenient for instance, they are likely to build a walk in wardrobe in the master bedroom rather than the downstairs toilet, as it just makes more sense.     Similarly, when it comes to content architecture you need to make sure that everything is laid out in a sensical way that makes it easy for users to find what they are looking for.  AESTHETICS Staying with the metaphor of building a house, the design of your website extends beyond the paint and wallpaper you choose it has to be functional just as much as it has to be attractive. When it comes to your website, you want to ensure you don’t have a distracting design that detracts from your content.  You want your content to be the primary focus where the design aspects around the content are there to compliment it.

Royal Navy Psychometric Test Mechanical Comprehension

Royal Navy Psychometric Test Mechanical Comprehension As part of your Royal Navy Recruiting Test, you will be required to take a Mechanical Comprehension test; one of four sub-sections of your assessment and the Royal Navy psychometric test. The Mechanical Comprehension part of your Royal Navy Recruiting test is to assess your mechanical and technical understanding. These types of questions often relate to:Gears and Pulleys;Springs;Weights;Levers;Rotating objects.Within a Royal Navy psychometric test, Mechanical Comprehension tests are there to measure an individual’s ability to understand mechanical concepts. The tests are usually multiple-choice and present simple encountered mechanisms and technical situations. The majority of Mechanical Comprehension tests require a working knowledge of basic mechanical operations and the application of physical laws.On the day of your RN assessment, you will have 10 minutes in which to answer the 30 questions relating to Mechanical Comprehension. In your real test, please note that you will be gi ven a separate sheet of paper in which you indicate your answers, however for the purpose of this book, we would like you to indicate your answer underneath the question by highlighting or writing your answer.In order to gain some understanding of the types of questions you will face during this sub-test, and how you go about answering them, check out the following pages of example questions. These examples provide clear and detailed descriptions of how to answer the question correctly, what to expect, what to look out for, and useful tips regarding each question type.Examples of Mechanical ComprehensionLevers and ForceA lever consists of a bar which is balanced on a fixed point, known as the fulcrum. If you needed to lift the weight, you will need to calculate the weight placed at the opposite end.Formula:Force needed = (weight x distance from fulcrum to weight) ÷ distance from fulcrum point where force is being applied.Example:F = (weight x distance from fulcrum to weight) ÷ dis tance from fulcrum to point where force is being applied.F = (80 x 9) ÷ 12F = 720 ÷ 12F = 60kgAnswer: 60kg.  Single and Double PulleysWith fixed pulleys, the way to ascertain the force required to support the weight is dependent on two variables, the supporting ropes and the conversion between Kg and Newton 1kg = 9.8 Newton.Diagram A = there is only one section of rope supporting the weight. Therefore, this can be worked out by just converting Kg to Newton: 10 x 9.8 = 98 N.Diagram B = there are two ropes supporting the weight. Therefore, this can be worked out by: 10 (weight) ÷ 2 (number of ropes supporting the weight) = 5, then 5 x 9.8 = 49 N.  GearsIf gears are connected by a chain or belt, then the gears will all move in the same direction.If the gears are touching, then adjacent gears move in the opposite direction. In the example below, X and Y will move in opposite directions.  Springs  CircuitsQuestions regarding circuits usually follow a simple circuit as above, which wil l include: a power source, switches, bulbs and a path of wiring.Royal Navy Psychometric Test: Sample QuestionsQuestion 1:Which weight requires the most force to lift it? Choose option A or B.  Question 2:How much weight is required to balance point X? Choose from options A-D.A = 5kgB = 10kgC = 15kgD = 20kg  Question 3:If cog C turns anti-clockwise at a speed of 10rpm, which way and at what speed will cog B turn? Choose from options A-D.A = 10rpm / anticlockwiseB = 10rpm / clockwiseC = 20rpm / anticlockwiseD = 20rpm / clockwiseQuestion 4:Which tool would you use to claw nails from wood, 1, 2, 3, or 4? Choose from options 1-4.  Question 5:If bulb 2 is removed which bulbs will illuminate? Choose from options A-D.A = NoneB = OneC = TwoD = ThreeAnswers to Sample QuestionsQuestion 1. A.Explanation = when answering questions where there is a single pulley system, if the pulley is fixed, as in A, then the force required to lift the weight is the same as the weight, i.e. 5kg. However, where the pulley system is not fixed and it moves with the weight, as is the case with pulley system B, then the weight required to lift it is half the weight. This means that the weight required to lift B is 2.5kg. The answer to this question is therefore A, as pulley System A requires the most weight to lift it.Question 2. B = 10kg.Explanation = Point X is twice the distance from the balance point. Therefore, half the weight is required. The answer is B, 10Kg.Question 3. B = 10rpm / clockwise.Explanation = if cog C turns anti-clockwise at a speed of 10rpm then it is relatively straightforward to determine that cog B will rotate the same speed but in a clockwise direction.Question 4. A = 1.Explanation = the only tool you can use from the selection to claw nails from wood is the claw hammer, due to its claw. The claw hammer is option A.Question 5. D = none.Explanation = no bulbs would illuminate because the circuit in its current state is not working. This is because the switch is open.A few final words on the royal navy psychometric testWe hope this blog has given you a greater understanding of what a Royal Navy psychometric test is like, especially ob questions to do with mechanical comprehension. Follow the links below for more content on this, and good luck for the future!For more guidance on any Royal Navy test, focusing on the Recruiting Test, follow the link to access our resource.Like How2Become on Facebook!Looking for more Mechanical Comprehension test questions?  Download your free guide to The Core Concepts of Mechanical Comprehension.Includes:Practice questions and answers;Top Tips to passing mechanical comprehension tests;Proven strategies to boost your scores. First Name * Email *   Download Now This entry was posted in Armed Forces, Career Advice, Testing. Bookmark the permalink. Henry Hunter British Army Recruitment Process â€" Detailed Step-by-Step GuideStrength Based Interview â€" Interview Strengths 2 thoughts on “Royal Navy Psychometr ic Test: Mechanical Comprehension” sue says:can you send more tests please January 13, 2019 at 11:47 am Reply Jordan Cooke says:Hi Sue,We have a variety of test books which you will find useful. Are you looking for mechanical comprehension specifically, or alternative tests?Sincerely,The How2Become Team January 17, 2019 at 9:48 am Reply