Thursday, November 28, 2019

Write a Real Cover Letter, Not Just a Resume Rehash

Write a Real Cover Letter, Not Just a Resume RehashA Real Cover Letter, Not a Resume RehashWrite a Real Cover Letter, Not Just a Resume RehashIm always suspicious when I hear recruiters or career experts say the titelblatt letter is dead. Im sure there are some companies that dont want titel letters, but most still do. If youre looking for excuses not to write a cover letter, you can find plentyNobody reads cover letters anymoreElectronic scanners strip them outLetter-writing ability has no relevance to the job andThey didnt specifically ask for a cover letter.Fair enough. But what if nobody reads cover letters except your would-be boss? Our CEO (who has hired a lot of people in the past few years) says he wont even consider a job candidate who hasnt bothered to write a cover letter. To me, that says they dont care enough about the job to put the time and effort into it.Letter-writing may not be relevant to all jobs, but willingness to go the extra mile and attention to detail are. The presence of a cover letter helps prove you possess those qualities the absence implies you dont.I suspect the biggest reason people try to get out of writing a cover letter is that they dont know what to write. I already put everything in my resume What else can I say?Well, here are four tips for writing a standout cover letter that will invite hiring managers to read your resume, but wont rehash every detailDrop the name of someone who referred youYour former colleague Tim Williams suggested I send you my resume. He and I were discussing how easily my background in ____ could transfer to your .Spotlight a particular part of your resumeI would especially like to direct your attention, as you read my resume, to my four years as the ____ at XYZ Construction, a role that required many of the same skills as this opportunity .Point out how your past experience prepared you for the new jobMy three years producing ____ at Smith Company and two years of ___ at Jones Corporation have giv en me the multi-faceted expertise to successfully implement your ...Express your interest, enthusiasm, and gratitudeYour firms reputation for ____ and my longstanding interest in ____ make this opportunity extremely attractive to me. I appreciate the time youve taken to consider my candidacy, and am eager to take the next step.So, cover all the bases and write the cover letter (but dont screw it up.) And while youre at it, think about what youll say in the thank-you notes you send after the interview

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Jobs With a Psychology Degree

Jobs With a Psychology DegreeJobs With a Psychology DegreePsychology majors study menschenfreundlich behavior. If you enjoy learning about the mind, how it works, and why people act the way they do, earning a degree in this majorcould be the perfect choice for you. But what will you do after you graduate from college? The obvious choice for some people who get a degree in this field of study is to apply to graduate school where they can earn a doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology and become a psychologist. Not everyone wants to do that, however. For one thing, learning about menschenfreundlich behavior as a student doesnt necessarily mean you will want to spend your career working with people in that capacity. Even if you decide you do, in fact, want to spend your career helping people deal with mental health issues, you may not want to spend at least five years studying to become a psychologist. Admission to graduate programs in psychology is very competitive, and it is an expe nsive endeavor if you are accepted. Fortunately, you can use your degree in psychology for many other careers. Some of them require that you earn an advanced degree and others do not. Lets take a look at several of them. Here are ten occupations and skills psychology majors have upon earning a bachelors degree. Some of these occupations involve helping people who have amental illness or an emotional disorder. Many of them just use your knowledge about human behavior to do other work. School Counselor Guidance counselors help students with school-related issues, including course selection, academic difficulties, and social skills. They work in elementary, middle, and high schools. Counselors may identify problems and refer students and their families to resources both within and outside their schools. A masters degree in school counseling is required for this occupation. While applicants to graduate counseling programs dont need a bachelors degree in psychology, taking courses in this subject provides a good foundation. Psychology coursework is even a prerequisite for admission to some programs. Teacher Teachers instruct studentsin a variety of subjects. To reach children, it helps to have a good understanding of how the human mind works. The education you received as a psychology major will allow you to notice when students are having academic problems. It will also heighten your sensitivity to the presence of other issues, such as mental illness, substance abuse, and conflicts at home. Teachers usually need a bachelors degree in education, but many choose to either major or minor in another subject as well. Psychology is an excellent choice. Depending on where you live, you may have to earn a masters degree. Human Resources Specialist Human resources specialists help companies fill job openings with suitable candidates. They also help retain employees by resolving conflicts with coworkers and supervisors. An understanding of the human mind and beh avior will make you especially well-suited for this occupation. Your problem-solving skills will also contribute to your success in human resources. While you need a bachelors degree for most jobs in this field, you have some flexibility regarding your area of study. You may want to get a bachelors degree in human resources or business with a dual major or minor in psychology. Clinical Social Worker Clinical social workers diagnose and treat clients who are struggling with emotional, behavioral and mental disorders. The connection between a hintergrund in psychology and this career couldnt be more clear. A masters degree in social work is required to practice as a clinician, but you do not need a bachelors degree in that major to be admitted to a masters level social work program.An undergraduate degree in psychology will provide great preparation. Marriage and Family Therapist Marriage and family therapists work with families, couples, and individuals who need professional help with disorders including anxiety, depression, addiction, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. They take into account the effect family dynamics have on individuals mental health. You will need a masters degree in marriage and family therapy. While most programs dont require applicants to have a bachelors degree in psychology, courses in this subject are often among the prerequisites. Additionally, by studying psychology as an undergraduate, you will already have some of the skills needed to succeed in this career, for example, the ability to convey information to others and good listening skills. Special Agent or Detective Special agents and detectives examine evidence and interview victims, suspects, and witnesses when crimes have taken place. They typically begin their careers by working as assekuranzbrief officers. While a college degree isnt always required for admission to the police academy, many municipalities prefer to hire job candidates who have one, or at least som e college coursework. As a psychology major, you will bring a keen understanding of the workings of the human mind to this occupation. Your good interpersonal, listening, and verbal communication skillswill also help you do your job well. Market Research Analyst Market research analysts help corporations and other organizations learn about consumers preferences. They monitor trends and develop methods for collecting data. They use statistical software to analyze data and then prepare written reports, charts, and graphs to present their findings to their employers or clients. A bachelors degree is all you need to qualify for an entry-level job. Courses in statistics and research design, which are part of an undergraduate psychology curriculum, provide those who major in this subject with some of the skills market research analysts need. In addition, as someone who studied psychology, you understand peopleand have strong critical thinking skills, attributes market research analyst s need. Survey Researcher Survey researchers design and conduct surveys to learn about people and their opinions. Many jobs require a masters degree that can be in a social science like psychology. You may be able to get an entry-level job with a bachelors degree. A psychology majors coursework in statistics and research design provides an excellent background for people in this career as it does for market research analysts. Your critical thinking skills again will benefit you if you choose this occupation. Your knowledge about human behavior puts you one step ahead of other people. absatzwirtschaft Manager Marketing managers are responsible for companies marketing strategies. Along with their teams, including marketing research analysts and survey researchers, they determine who will buy their products and services, and how much they will pay for them. You need only a bachelors degree to work in this field. Since majoring in psychology will give you good problem solving, c ommunication and interpersonal skills, as well as knowledge of statistics, it is a good choice. Supplementing it with either a minor or dual major in business, with some coursework in computer science, will round out your qualifications. Sales Representative Sales representatives work for wholesalers and manufacturers, selling products on their behalf. They contact current and new customers, demonstrate products to them, and negotiate prices and service agreements. While you dont necessarily need a bachelors degree unless you plan to sell scientific or technical products, having one can give you a competitive edge. A psychology degree would be a good choice. Sales representatives need to understand how people think and behave to decide how to sell products to them. Your training in psychology will serve you well. Find out if a career in clinical psychology may be a better fit.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

7 Signs Your Boss Hates You (and How to Handle It)

7 Signs Your Boss Hates You (and How to Handle It)7 Signs Your Boss Hates You (and How to Handle It)This article is from our friends at DailyWorth, a premier site on all things related to money, career, and entrepreneurship.Ever had a co-worker you just couldnt stand? Your dislike probably biased you when it came to judging his or her work, right? Well, imagine what happens when its the anfhrer who dislikes someone.If your boss has a bias against you (whether its conscious or leid), it can color all her interactions with you- whether its not giving you the same amount of coaching and development that she puts in with mora favored team members, giving you less interesting or lower-profile assignments, or not recognizing what youre doing well. It can even affect how youre compensated and whether you ultimately keep your job. But it can be tricky to figure out whether your boss has legitimate beef with your work- or just a beef with you. Here are seven revealing signs that your boss jus t isnt that into you and what to do about it.1. Youre Being MicromanagedShes checking up on your work before its due, dictating details that she should trust you to figure out, and generally displaying a lack of confidence that youll do your job well.What to Do About ItFirst, make sure your boss doesnt treat everyone else this way, too. While that would leise be a problem (because micromanagement is unpleasant to experience and will generally make you less productive), that would indicate its not about you at all, but just an example of poor management skills.If the behavior seems isolated to her relationship with you, ask yourself whether youve done anything to warrant the lack of confidence. Have you been dropping the ball on tasks or making significant errors? If so, then realize that a good manager should get more closely involved- because ultimately her job is to ensure that the work is done well, and youve given her reason not to take that on faith. If not, then its time to as k her if theres anything youre doing that makes her feel she cant trust you and how you can work with more autonomy. Try suggesting other ways to keep her in the loop, such as weekly reports or weekly meetings, so that she doesnt feel she needs to check in as much. And if shes resistant to that, ask if shed be willing to experiment with giving you more autonomy on one specific project to see how it goes.2. You Never Get FeedbackSome managers are just bad at giving positive feedback, but if he praises others and leaves you unrecognized, thats a sign that it reflects something about his assessment of you.What to Do About ItTry asking for feedback directly, saying something like, Id love to hear about what you think is going well and where I could focus on doing better. Or, if that feels too daunting, try asking for feedback on a smaller scale for instance, ask to debrief a recent project, share your assessment of what went well and what could have gone better, and ask for your manager s thoughts. Then, listen to what he says. His response will give you more insight on how he sees you- which is helpful information for you to have, whether or not you agree with his assessment.3. You Get Turned Down for a Raise Without Much ExplanationTurning down your raise request isnt the sign of a problem on its own, since there can be reasons that have nothing to do with you, like budget constraints. But if your manager values you, shell explain why she cant grant the raise, and often explain when you can expect an increase in the future or how to earn one.What to Do About ItAsk something like, What would it take for me to earn a raise in the future? A manager whos invested in retaining you and who believes in your value should be willing to talk with you specifically about what youd need to do to hear yes next time. If that doesnt happen, then as with some other flags on this list, this is a data point for you to factor into your overall thinking about whether you should stay in this job.4. You Cant Get Your Managers AttentionShe regularly cancels your meetings, forgets to return your calls and emails, and generally doesnt seem to have you anywhere on her priority list. What to Do About ItDoes she treat everyone like this or primarily you? If its the former, she may just be flighty (or overwhelmed). But if youre a particularly low priority, talk to her. Tell her that getting a chance to talk at least once a week is important to you, and ask if theres a way to have the meetings happen more reliably. Would it help to change the day theyre scheduled for? Or would she be more able to make them happen if you both committed to a particular day without nailing down a specific time period, so that she has a larger window of time to make them happen? Or something else? You can also be more assertive about following up when the meeting doesnt happen. The day after a missed meeting, go back to her We didnt get a chance to meet yesterday. Do you have a few minutes t o talk this morning?5. Youre Left Out of Important MeetingsDoes your manager meet with your colleagues to discuss key updates or projects that youre a part of when youre not there? Do you hear after the fact about decisions that were made that you should have had input on?What to Do About ItApproach your manager directly to address the problem. But dont be accusatory youll get better results if you work from the assumption that it was an oversight to be corrected, rather than an intentional exclusion. For example, you could say, I would have liked to have been included in the meeting this morning on the Smith account, since Im working closely with them. I noticed I havent been included in several account meetings recently. What can I do to ensure that Im part of those discussions in the future?6. Your Boss Continuously Criticizes Your WorkEveryone hears criticism sometimes. But if your manager regularly and harshly takes issue with your work and nothing you do seems to please her, t hats a big red flag for the relationship.What to Do About ItIn the short-term, you might try putting extra energy into getting aligned about expectations at the start of a project. Try talking through exactly what a successful outcome would look like, and afterwards email her a summary of what you both agreed to with a note like, Just want to make sure were on the same page. That type of upfront alignment can boost your chances of a project going smoothly. It might also be worth having a direct conversation about what youre noticing to try and understand whats going on. Say something like I want to have a strong working relationship with you, and I hoped you could give me some feedback. I have the sense that you might not be happy with my work, and I wonder if we can talk about where Im going wrong? This might bring to the surface issues that you can work on changing. But in the long-term, if your boss truly dislikes you or your work, youre probably better off going somewhere where youre valued.7. Your Boss Doesnt Seem to Care if You LeaveSmart bosses will go to great lengths to keep an employee they really value- but they wont object when an employee they dont much care for considers leaving.What to Do About ItIf your boss doesnt value you much, youre less likely to get the kinds of mentoring, raises, professional development opportunities, and high-profile or interesting projects that a boss who is firmly in your corner might offer. It can also make you more likely to end up at the top of the list if your company has layoffs. However it manifests, working for a boss who doesnt care if you stay or go isnt great for your career, so factor it into your thinking as you consider your timeline for your next career move.More From DailyWorthBully-Proof Your Workplace7 Soft Skills You Need for Career Success6 Ways to Win People OverPhoto of co-workers meeting courtesy of Shutterstock.