Wednesday, November 27, 2019

How to vent about work without it backfiring on you

How to vent about work without it backfiring on youHow to vent about work without it backfiring on youCoworkers We spend eight or mora hours a day together, we eat lunch (and clink after-hours drinks) with them, and we share the same struggles. At some point, its not only likely but encouraged that a number of them will begin to feel likework friends(or evenwork wives) - and, consequently, confidants. Unfortunately, unlike with other besties, we shouldnt necessarily complain to them when it comes to work-related problems. Intra-office venting is difficult to navigate, so we found some seasoned businesspeople to share with us whats actually acceptable.1. Leave the personal side out of it (Brittany Larsen, Creator ofLivlyhood).Today, our workplaces are more casual than theyve ever been, which can blur the lines between professional and personal pretty quickly. My mantra is to make sure that I amfriendlywith everyone, but that doesnt necessarily mean that Im best friends with every cow orker. Make sure that if youre talking about an issue at work that you focus on what actually happened and leave the personal side out of it. Venting is totally fair, but just make sure you are venting about the situation, not gossiping or calling someone names.2. Make sure it doesnt negatively impact your work (Steve Pritchard, HR Consultant forCuuver).Within reason, complaining about work to other coworkers is generally acceptable. Most of us do it at some point work can get stressful during busy periods, and venting this stress is often more helpful than letting it build up inside of us. However, this must not occur to such an extent that it begins to have a negative impact on work. Being too negative can bring down other employees morale, which consequently impacts their productivity. Making your feelings known is fine, but if you complain too much, your coworkers will end up complaining about your complaining.3. Complain to someone objective (Alex Douzet, Co-Founder ofOllie).Th e best thing is to seek advice from someone whos removed from the situation or source of complaint. If you have a mentor or someone you look up to within the company, speak with them. As someone who understands the inner workings of the company, theyll be able to give you unbiased advice. And dont discount the curative effects of venting to family and friends And if your coworker is the source of your frustration, then speak with them directly. That way, youll have a better chance of fixing the situation together rather than getting others involved and potentially making things worse and creating an unhealthy, hostile work environment.4. Be careful of your audience (Will Craig, Founder ofLeaseFetcher).Some degree of complaining about work is inevitable. After all, who hasnt been frustrated when a phone ordnungsprinzip crashes or when the internet doesnt work? The point at which that complaining turns unprofessional is if its done in front of a client or customer or if its about a sp ecific member of staff. If you have a problem with someone and their work conduct, raise your concerns in an appropriate way.5. Read the room/office culture (Peter Yang, Co-Founder ofResumeGo).Whether complaining to your coworkers about work is okay is always dependent on the work culture of the office as well as the type of relationship you have with them. If its someone youve gotten to know over the years, their image of you is already cemented and a few complaints here and there arent going to change a thing. If, instead, the coworker is someone you just met last month or maybe even your boss, its not worth running the risk of damaging your image to them by complaining.6. Vent to people outside of work (Nick Kinports, Entrepreneur and Founder oflonelybrand).Having owned businesses and worked for others, I can say, without prejudice, that nothing good will ever come from speaking negatively about your job. The best-case scenario is that nobody will bring it up ever again. Worst ca se? Youre setting yourself up to be undermined - and you might never know why. Keep work complaints that arent related to HR issues to your spouse, partner, therapist, or family. That way you know you can speak freely, let out the stress, and keep peace of mind when on the job.This article was originally published on Brit + Co.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Customer Service Cover Letter Tips to Help You Land an Interview

Customer Service Cover Letter Tips to Help You Land an bewerberinterview Customer Service Cover Letter Tips to Help You Land an Interview 5interview for a customer service job, knocking your titelseite letter out of the park can help bring you closer to your goal. Crafting a great customer service cover letter that hits all the right notes, and grabs the attention of hiring managers, can take a bit of time and effort that are well worth your while.To be sure, every good cover letter, no matter the industry, requires basics like careful proofreading, addressing the right hiring manager or supervisor, and using succinct, on-point language.Customer service jobs often demand specifics that lift your job application above the crowd. For a bang-up customer service cover letter, consider a few more specific elements that can make the case that youre the best candidate for the job.Highlight your customer service and technical skills.Given the high-pressure nature of some customer service job s, your cover letter may want to mention your facility for dealing with people in potentially stressful scenarios. Emphasize your abilities to stay cool under pressure and to be even-handed and innovative. Consider highlighting the skills below.Interpersonal Communicationbedrngnis only do you need the ability to communicate well with your manager and team, you also need great communication skills with customers. Being able to relate to your audience, understand their situations, and empathize with them will be necessary to the job. Highlight your abilities to communicate with ease, both verbally and in writing.Upbeat AttitudeNo company wants to hire a customer service rep who is negative. Mention your ability to stay positive when dealing with challenging customers or hard-to-resolve situations. Provide examples of how you stayed upbeat during a trying time and how you resolved any issues.CollaborativeDepending on the role, you may need to work closely or brainstorm with your cowork ers or boss. Touch on your ability to be a team player and work with others to get things done. How have you collaborated with team members in the past?TroubleshooterA part of customer service is helping find solutions and make repairs. Discuss your ability to identify problems and offer a fix. For example, did you troubleshoot and problem-solve a tricky issue for a customer? Discuss how you used your knowledge to create a solution.Computer-SavvyComputer skills will be necessary for any customer service role. Talk about your technology skills in the context of accuracy and speed in documenting customer service interactions, by phone, email, or other platforms.MultitaskerAs a customer service professional, you may be handhabung multiple customers at once, with multiple conversations happening across many different platforms. Discuss how youre able to multitask and keep everything straight and efficient. Do you utilize to-do lists or a type of program to help? Mention it.Conflict Reso lutionMention your ability to resolve conflict. Have you had experience with an angry customer that you managed to appease? Talk about the steps you took to calm the situation and how the you resolved the situation.Use the right keywords.There are many different customer service jobs, so be sure to carefully read the job description to help you rise above the competition and optimize your customer service cover letter. Using the right keywords is an especially smart strategy if youre trying to beat an applicant tracking system, or ATS, and get past the electronic firewall many employers use to sort through the deluge of applicants they may get for a customer service job opening.In your customer service cover letter, avoid using specific words multiple times, even if they seem on point for the job. Potential terms to consider highlighting in your cover letter include variations of the followingMultitasking skillsConflict resolution experienceActive listenerProblem-solverPerformance d rivenEven-temperedFlexibleThe list above is partial customize your keywords to fit each job you applying for. Whats more, knowing which words and phrases to avoid in a cover letter can help you overcome hurdles, snag an interview, and, ultimately, land the job and advance your customer service career.Emphasize relevant experience.In your customer service cover letter, go beyond whats listed on your resume to explain how your past career experiences are relevant to the job at hand. In particular, call attention to related positions. Being able to show rather than tell how your past experience relates to the job youre seeking can resonate with hiring managers and potentially lead to a job offer.A lack of customer service experience may not be a make-or-break obstacle. Instead, emphasize other experiences that may relate to customer support- for example, mention an instance where you used your problem-solving and people skills to resolve a problem. For inspiration, thesuccess stories o f members whove found customer service jobs offer lots of instances where people transition to customer service from other careers.Radiate confidence and enthusiasm.How do you radiate enthusiasm? That simply means avoid using a cookie-cutter approach and generic language that could be addressed to any hiring manager or any organization. Instead, youll want to showcase your knowledge of the company and explain why youd be a good hire for them.A great way to broaden your knowledge about a specific flexible employer is to research companies in the database that hire for jobs with remote, part-time, alternate schedules, or other flexible options. Once you have a solid understanding of what the organization does, youll be better positioned to spell out how your skills can help your potential employer meet its mission.CONNECT WITH FLEXIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE JOBS NOW

Thursday, November 21, 2019

7 social media habits that disqualified candidates, according to hiring managers

7 social media habits that disqualified candidates, according to hiring managers7 social media habits that disqualified candidates, according to hiring managersIn 2017,1.96 billion peopleworldwide were social media users it is projected that this number will increase by .54 billion to a whopping 2.5 billion this year. Being that 81% of the US uses social media, chances are, you are active on at least one account.Whether you post regularly, once a week, or every now and then on social media can not only affect your public persona but determine whether or not you get thejob.But what posts will keep you in the running? And which are potential red flags? Hiring managers share with us examples of what job candidates should stay away from when posting onsocial media. Take a look at what they had to say.What are one or two real examples youve seen on candidates social media accounts that kept them from getting the job?Not using their real anthroponymand/or usingoffensive photos. - Natasha Taylor, Recruiting Hiring Manager for Rhino StagingJob candidate applies for regional director. It seems like a good fit On social media, he posts a rant stating that people who watch football or participate in it are pieces of expletive, callous foul football causes brain damage, and those who watch it are complicitHissocial opinions colored his effectivenessas regional director and could make people feel uncomfortable. - Erica Holloway, Hiring Manager for Digital Media AcademyI dont necessarily look at every candidates social media accounts. I usually do when Im skeptical on whether or not to bring them in. For example, if a candidate seems underqualified, things Ill look for include whether or not theyve been involved with the community and learned skillsets that would apply. First example, I looked at a candidates Facebook page and saw that he was really into music but some of his pictures were rather strange. He wouldpost a lot of things that were hatefuland cuss a lot or wo uld brag about his drug usage and very derogatory topics. I automatically deemed him unfit for this work environment. Second example, I had a candidate whose Facebook was full of insulting picture towards womenand a lot of inappropriate pictures. I didnt think that would be a good fit either. - Rebecca Del Cid, Hiring Manager for BrandRepWe dont typically look at candidates social media pages due to HR protocols. But if we did, I would definitely look at their pictures and how they present themselves and the language they use. Sarah Schroeder, Hiring Manager for Americanabsatzwirtschaft Publishing, LLCWe cant keep them from getting the job based on their social media accounts that would be discriminatory. Potential red flags to look out for areexcessive drinking, acting in a manner with friends, excessive drunk pictures, andoverly aggressive posts about politics and religion It shows there could be a cultural problem and the candidate might not be able to work with other people. - Melissa Richardson, Hiring Manager for Deacom, Inc.Job seekers, keep this advice in mind the next time you post on social media your job candidacy may be affected by it.This column originally appeared on Fairygodboss.com.