Instructional Designer Resume Sample Writing Guide [20+ Tips]

Instructional Designer Resume Sample Writing Guide [20+ Tips] Instructional Designer Resume SampleTroy Romanotroy.romano@gmail.com4687-984-1894ObjectiveEnthusiastic instructional designer with 6+ years of experience. Introduced document-improving initiative helping to save $1M in search time. Designed 25+ associates level programs 1 month before deadline. Seeking to bring learning excellence to Pepper Course.Work ExperienceInstructional DesignerBoulevard Education, New York, NY2016Designed learning solutions to educate employees and thus improve organization-wide performance.Carried out analysis for 4,654 user implementation, which involved storyboards, participant guides, gap analysis, and two courses (CBT and ILT).Leveraged eLearning best practices to create library of targeted interactivities, which reduced design time by 80%.Localized training content for multiple geographies by partnering with vendors from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.Key achievement:Introduced document-improving initiative helping to save $1M in search time.Instructional DesignerDesign Expand, Los Angeles, CA20122016Collaborated with trainers and technical writers to create training products, which generated 50% increase in training materials.Designed and executed evaluation tools for 4+ courses, which included beta and pilot testing.Transformed culture and communication curriculum for call center agents across Australia, which helped reduce training time by 20%.Reduced course development hours by 30% by creating prototypes and storyboards for eLearning courses.Key achievement:Designed and executed associates level programs (25+ in total) 1 month before the deadline.EducationMasters Degree in Instructional DesignCalifornia State University, California, CA2012Key SkillsProblem-SolvingProject ManagementFacilitationInnovationAdaptabilityAdobe CaptivateWeb 2.0SharepointBackground learningVISIOEpic EHRCertificationsCertified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP)Certified Performance Technologist (CPT)LanguagesGermanAdvancedWant to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample Instructional Designer ResumeSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowLooking for other guides for the design industry? Check these out:Graphic Designer ResumeWeb Designer ResumeGame Designer ResumeUX Designer Resume UI Developer ResumeYoure more into educating? Heres a selection of dedicated guides:Teacher ResumeHigh School Teacher ResumeArt Teacher ResumeParaprofessional ResumeEducation Resume ExamplesNow, heres how to write an instructional designer resume that will help you rise above the noise and land your dream job.1. Choose the Best Format for Your Instructional Designer ResumeInstructional designers identify knowledge gaps of a targeted audience and fill those gaps via designing games, creating training materials, or even developing entire curriculums to achieve better learning outcomes.Youre a scroll-down away from learning how to write the best instructional designer resume. But firstPicture this:There are 217,700 candidates for instructional designer jobs out there. That makes you a needle in a haystack.The good newsYou can make your instructional designer resume magnetize.Heres how:Start with a good header for your resume. Ensure it includes your name and contact info.Create a clear order of resume sections to make it reader-friendly.Choose a good resume format. Generally, the reverse chronological works best if you have achievements and professional experience to showcase.Pick a legible font to create a great reading experience. Dont go with anything fancy. Good fonts for resume include Calibri, Helvetica, and Georgia.Make friends with white space. The hiring manager will thank you.Save your resume document as PDF and skip .doc. PDFs dont scramble across different platforms.2. Write an Instructional Designer Resume Objective or SummaryHere comes the shocker:Recruiters take an average of 6 seconds to scan a resume.If nothing grabs their attention, the resume lands in the bin.ButTheres a trick to make the recruiter stick to your resume like superglue:Write a resume profile. Its a snappy two-three liner that pulls the recruiter into the meat and potatoes of your effective instructional design resume.Heres a rule of thumb:If youve done instructional design for 2+ years and know what flowcharting is, go with a resume summary. It will introduce you as an experienced instructional designer giving proof of your accomplishments through the use of a numbered past win or two.If youre new to the game, stick to resume objective. The objective statement informs the hiring manager of your career goals as an instructional designer.Pro Tip: Write your heading stateme nt last, as you will change it again and again as you complete the rest of your resume.3. Create the Perfect Instructional Designer Job Description for a ResumePicture a recruiterLucy.She picks a random instructional designer resume to skim it.Responsible for Was part of Collaborated withThats as fun as the hierarchical analysis.Delete.Finally, Lucy picks your instructional designer resume template, AND her pupils dilate with joy.Why?Because you gave her specifics.SoHeres how to write the perfect instructional design job description:List your current/latest job first and move back.Cite your job titles, company names, locations, and dates worked.Use a three-to-five bullet point list to spotlight your key duties.Kickstart each bullet point with resume action verbs. Words like managed, coordinated, monitored, performed, etc. work best.Use numbers throughout. If you're stuck, think how many people you managed, how big of budgets you handled, etc.Tailor your resume to each position you a pply for. Itll help you please the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).4. Make Your Instructional Designer Education Section GreatHeres the thing:You need a masters to land a job in instructional design.ButDont just dump a fancy degree into your instructional designer resume and move on.A well-crafted education section can help you stand out and knock out the competition.Heres a bulletproof formula:If you have 5+ years of experience under the belt, list your masters, school name and location, and graduation year.If youve just learned what ADDIE is, list your GPA (if upwards of 3.5), extracurricular activities, academic achievements, and relevant courseworkPro Tip: If youre writing your first job resume ever, put the education section over your work history for the most impact.5. Highlight Your Instructional Designer SkillsYour instructional designer skills is what the employer is after.AndListing relevant skills in a separate section not only makes your abilities stand out. It will also please the ATS (Applicant Tracking System).Heres a sample list of good skills to put on an instructional designer resume:Instructional Designer Resume SkillsFacilitationInnovationAdaptabilityAdobe CaptivateWeb 2.0SharepointBackground learningVISIOEpic EHRSCORMArticulate StudioLMSCurriculum DesignNeeds AnalysisLearning ManagementDistance LearningMobile LearningBlended LearningEmployee TrainingAGILE Instructional DesignAudacityProblem Solving SkillsCritical Thinking SkillsPresentation SkillsTime Management SkillsInterpersonal SkillsDecision Making SkillsExcellent CommunicationManagement SkillsTechnical SkillsLeadership SkillsTeamwork SkillsCreative Thinking SkillsDo you need to cram all these skills into your instructional design resume?No.Scan the job ad, and pick the ones the employer wants the most. Include a mix of both soft skills and hard skills to give them the entire picture.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.6. Add Other Sections to Your Instructional Designer ResumeRemember Lucy?Shes still not sure if youre the cream of the crop.Soyou need to convince her.Best way to do it?Add extra sections to your instructional design resume to spotlight more than just your professional side:Language skillsCertificationsVolunteer experienceHobbies7. Attach an Instructional Designer Resume Cover LetterDo you need a cover?Some say you do and others that you dont.Heres the truth:A whopping 49% of recruiters expect an instructional designer cover letter even if they didnt say it in the job ad.SoUnless you want to sabotage your application success rate, youd better write a cover letter.Heres how:Learn about cover letter formatting rules.Start a cover letter with your successes in previous roles.Show how your instructional design ex perience will translate into their success.Plant a call-to-action in the cover letter closing.This is it!This is how you make a job-winning resume for instructional designer positions.Are you a career changer looking into starting a career in instructional design? Need some help with a resume profile? Drop us a line below. Well be happy to help!

Resume Writing Samples - How to Find Quality Writing Samples For Free

Resume Writing Samples - How to Find Quality Writing Samples For FreeWith the increase in unemployment and lack of quality jobs, more people are looking for free samples of resume writing. While there are plenty of places you can find these types of samples, most sites are charging a fee to get the samples.Resume writing samples are a great way to get a feel for what the resume is going to look like. After all, you want your resume to look as professional as possible and make a good first impression. That's why people who are looking for resume writing services should try to get samples from many different places.Free resume writing samples are available on the internet in many different forms. It may be as simple as a one-page resume that you can download, or as complex as a sample job application that requires you to fill out the form and submit it to many different companies. These sample applications range from simple to very complex and it is important to find the one that best suits your needs.There are certain factors that you need to consider when you are looking for resume writing samples. First, you should choose to go with a site that provides high quality writing samples. The writing samples should include academic writing samples and not just a resume sample.You also need to find a site that offers free samples without charge. It's a good idea to pay for the samples you get because this will help you make sure you are getting the highest quality possible. You do not want to spend your time trying to figure out how to fill out a resume only to find out that you were charged a fee.Finally, you should look for sites that offer free samples for you to download so that you can fill them out and print them out as needed. When you work with a site that does not offer samples for free, you are limiting yourself because you have to spend money to get the work done.The internet has made it possible for you to find free resume writing samples that are organiz ed to help you get started quickly. It is important to note that once you download a resume writing sample you are not limited in how many resumes you can use from that particular site. You can use these samples as many times as you need, whenever you need.The key to finding the right sites that offer free samples is to find the ones that offer high quality writing samples at a reasonable price. This will allow you to get started writing your resume quickly and easily.

14 Ideas For Standing Out In Your Online Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

14 Ideas For Standing Out In Your Online Business - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Every smart brand has an online presence today, utilizing some combination of social media, business pages, websites and review sites. But with so much noise at each destination, how can a brand use web tools or its online identity to stand out in a way that attracts clients and customers? These answers are provided by  Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the worlds most promising young entrepreneurs. YEC has also launched  BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. Optimize Your Website Its said that after all the efforts of getting people to visit your website, more than half of them will leave within the first 15 seconds. Creating a brand impression that lasts starts with formulating a strong visual identity, which is why you need to focus on the look and feel of your website. A good website is one that is devoid of clutter and relies on a consistent style guide.  Derek Robinson,  Top Notch Dezigns 2. Offer Relevant Information Providing authentic and useful information helps in attracting customers to your brand. The information should be focused on resolving customers problems. Dont  settle for content quantity. Instead, write strategic, quality content. Writing highly-relevant, educational content and making it available when the customers need it will attract them toward your brand.  Liam Martin,  TimeDoctor.com 3. Leverage Influencers No matter how much content you post online while adhering to a strict/themed content schedule, you will never be able to reach all of your customers â€" at least not as well as running a paid promotion can. Roping in influencers allows you to leverage creative energy that you may otherwise never have had access to, while at the same time being able to dictate how youd like the material to be produced. Utilizing content that has already been created by real customers is another way that you can attract new customers to the fold because it allows others to see that theres a community of people just like them. This system of encouraging customers to post pictures, videos or Boomerangs of themselves (and their companies) using your products can give you an even greater insight into how to improve your product and CX.  Cody McLain,  SupportNinja 4. Be Visually-Oriented The evolution of internet content seems to be favoring longer essays these days. Granted these can be high-quality articles, but brands should very concise in what they offer online. We try to hold onto the goal to be the expert in our field and hope that bolsters our brand. We also try to present a consistent visual to the general public. In so many words, a logo that conveys the right message is a handy thing to have.  Brandon Stapper,  Nonstop Signs 5. Hire A Specialist   A lot of businesses have someone from their marketing team posting on social when they have a spare moment, but if you really want to create an online presence that stands out, you need to give it the attention it deserves. Hire a social media specialist who knows how to navigate through all the noise and come out on top. A social media coordinator will be able to be a voice for your brand and get your company the attention it deserves within the socialsphere.  Dave Nevogt,  Hubstaff.com 6. Focus Your Efforts Not only is there a surfeit of noise on every platform, theres also an excessive number of platforms. Too many businesses feel obligated to have a presence on every channel. Creating engaging, relevant content requires significant resources, and to be effective it needs to be unique to each platform. Focus your efforts on the platforms most relevant to your business. For example, LinkedIn for B2B.  Thomas Smale,  FE International 7. Guest Post Elsewhere When it comes to getting your name and brand out there, dont be afraid to look beyond your own channels. Lets assume you have a fully optimized website featuring quality content and a solid social media strategy in place. Now its time to explore other avenues. Guest posting is a superb way to position yourself as a thought leader in your field and help your brand gain access to new audiences.  Ismael Wrixen,  FE International 8. Target Your Audience I often talk about the “rule of seven” (touches) in brand-building. The idea is that once a prospect has seen your brand and message seven times, across various media, they are more likely to remember it.  Branding  is about building a mental path back to your business. Use targeted advertising (Facebook, retargeting, etc) to stay in front of your ideal customer, and forget the rest.  Jeremy Brandt,  WeBuyHouses.com 9. Creating Something Truly Unique Every single channel is so saturated, that brands should be truly unique and creative to stand out.  Instead of creating dozens of small, boring campaigns, they should focus on a few truly authentic, unique campaigns that present information or content that has never been seen before.  The era of regurgitation is over.  To stand out now, its important to create something truly unique.  Marcela De Vivo,  Mulligan Funding 10. Amplify Your Offline Presence Being online is important, but it isnt the magic pill. There are almost zero tools that will work for you online if you are not actively pounding the pavement and pushing your brand. An ad impression will never take place of a free T-shirt and a good conversation, so dont get lost in the hype. You can be a millionaire with very few online followers or none at all.  Jason Criddle,  Jason Criddle and Associates 11. Segment Your Email List One way that you can differentiate yourself from all the noise is to do a better job than your competition at segmenting your email lists. You can do this by creating a different list of actions such as first time visitor, cart abandonment, customer and more. This will make your emails more relevant and targeted to each individual user.  Jared Atchison,  WPForms 12. Research Keywords One well-proven strategy is to start a  blog  on your website to increase traffic  to your site. Use Googles keyword planner to find high-volume keywords with low competition and write blogs using those words. This will ensure you get consistent  traffic to your site without having to break the bank on paid advertising.  Syed Balkhi,  WPBeginner 13. Use Video A lot of brands are still afraid of video, especially live video. Start incorporating more videos into your content marketing strategy to show a more human side to your brand. You can use sites like YouTube, Facebook Live and Instagram Stories to get started.  Chris Christoff,  MonsterInsights 14. Create Evergreen Content Online presence is not enough; you need evergreen content. Profile page, social media accounts and a website is standard, few get visibility and very few tap into the online marketplace in ways that increase their revenue. Fresh, quality, frequent and dynamic content requires a content process. Once you design your content process you’ll be able create enough content to make an impact over time.    Matthew Capala,  Alphametic

Tips On Talking About Your Greatest Weaknesses in a Job Interview

Tips On Talking About Your Greatest Weaknesses in a Job Interview The one question that everyone dreads in a job interview is about your biggest weaknesses. Most of us throw up either a clichéd answer such as “I am a workaholic” or come up with something totally weird like “I always need something to eat while working.” Such misleading answers might have worked in Stone Age, but not today. The interviewer is too smart for this. This post talks about some of the best ways to communicate your biggest weaknesses to the interviewer. Ask any self-confessed career expert and he will tell you that most candidates are super worried about the “What’s your greatest weakness?” question more than anything else in an interview. Most candidates hate this question while interviewers love it even if they know that they won’t be getting honest answers. After all, which job candidate will be willing to give interviewers a reason not to hire them? So how do you go about answering it? Don’t get nervous Most people become a little nervous when they are asked about one of their weaknesses as no one likes to talk about them, least of all with a total stranger in a job interview. However, you should be able to overcome your apprehensiveness and be comfortable about it. Recognize that it’s not a bad thing. It’s only in your best interests that you know the job ahead doesn’t play to your weaknesses. Besides, candidates who can talk about their strengths and weaknesses come across as humble, and self-aware. The interviewer might also get impressed that you are as concerned about making sure that you are the right candidate for the job as he himself is. Don’t be dumb The most stupid response that anyone can give to this question is “ I don’t have any weaknesses’ . Well every human is born with some inherent natural traits which put him or her at disadvantage against other humans. If you really think that you don’t have any weaknesses, you lack self-awareness. Beware of using the old trick of turning a weakness into strength by saying, “I work too hard”, or “I am a workaholic”. Interviewer has heard all of them before and that too from innumerable candidates. Again don’t be come up with a weakness that directly relates to your current job. For instance, if you are interviewing for an accountant role and you say, “I am bad at numbers”, nothing can save you. Here are some ways in which you can tackle this question: Tell about a weakness that you are working on You can tell the interviewer about some recent shortcomings that you are already working on. Let it be organizing work or time management. For the same, come prepared with an honest analysis of yourself. What would you like to change about yourself? Make sure to have all the data ready before you apply to a new job on a job site. Once you have that answer, think about responding with what you’re doing to fight those weaknesses. For instance, if you find it hard managing multiple tasks at a time, you can tell the interviewer that you are learning to better prioritize your work through use of different tools. This will give the message that you have acknowledged what you are lacking and are taking a proactive interest in removing it. Talk about the weakness and ways in which you are controlling it. Just know this, there are very less hiring managers who are not going to hire you just on the basis of your admission that you have some weaknesses. Instead, they will respect your honesty and straightforwardness. Turn your positive to negative Another option you have is to take one of your strengths and turn it into a weakness. This will present you as humble and modest professional. For example, your need to be a perfectionist, wanting to triple-check every item in a list can be referred to as a weakness in certain circumstances (when you have a meeting in 15 minutes time and your manager needs a quick estimate of sales figures). Why is interviewer interested in your weakness? Why do interviewers ask about weaknesses when they know there are few honest answers for it? The interviewer’s efforts are to get past the nice, deceptive disguise that you have put on for the interview and get an idea of the real you. Even a dishonest or clever answer ends up telling something about you as a person. An interviewer can assume that you might be secretive, less self-aware or too self-obsessed. Some sample answers I used to have difficult time managing multiple tasks at a time couple of years back but now I have learned to prioritize my tasks according to urgency and with the help of different tools. Sometimes I go too far owing to my perfectionist nature, spending more than necessary time on a task. Although I haven’t missed deadlines, but I have to make extra efforts in the end to get everything completed on time. I am using various time management techniques and tools to counter this.

Tips For a Writing Tutor On a Resume

Tips For a Writing Tutor On a ResumeWhen you are applying for your dream job, a writing tutor can make your resume stand out among the competition. Writing is an essential skill, and many employers prefer applicants who have previously worked with words. A writing tutor can give you that experience and give you the knowledge and skills you need to write an excellent resume.Many people choose to take a writing course for the first time in their lives, and this can be a great opportunity to start building an excellent resume for yourself. Many college programs these days offer writing courses that you can take online or at a local community college. This can be a great option to get you started on a career in writing, and the classes you take will give you the skills to present your information in a way that will be impressive.Many people already have some experience writing, and they can use this to turn their writing experience into different things, such as a new skill. By giving wr iting a shot on your resume, you can expand your skills and offer them to potential employers. You can also become an expert at writing resumes.Take the first step and enroll in a college program, even if it is just for a short term. There are courses that can teach you all you need to know about what it takes to write a professional resume, and this will be a valuable benefit as you begin to work towards your own writing career. If you are offered an internship at a writing company, take advantage of this opportunity to learn as much as you can from the experts.When you are taking the time to gain writing experience, you will also benefit from having a polished resume. Showing off your skills is important for both your education and your career. Any experience you can provide will only benefit you in the long run.Writing is a great career choice for people who are good with words. Because they have written for other people before, they are more likely to learn from others and apply their writing skills when writing a resume. There are many ways to learn how to write a resume, and if you do not have experience with this, take the time to get one.A college program is an investment in your future. People want to know that you are serious about a career in writing, and that you are taking the time to earn your degree. Taking online classes are often the best route, because you can get the education that you need in a way that is convenient for you.Always consider your writing skills, but also consider the different skills that you can gain from working with a writing tutor. Your resume will speak volumes about your skills, so take the time to talk to a professional and see how much better you can write your resume. A writing tutor can help you with the technical aspects of the writing process, and this can result in a more polished resume for you.

Leading with Empathy - Wolfgang Career Executive Coaching

Leading with Empathy - Wolfgang Career Executive Coaching Over the last several years, there has been no shortage of information about the importance of soft skills in today’s work environment. Empathy often leads the list of the most vital soft skills. A recent study by Development Dimensions International (DDI), a leading global leadership development company, compiled research involving over 15,000 leaders from 300 different organizations. In this study, which measured the leadership conversational skills having the most impact on overall performance, leading with empathy ranked number one. The DDI study is not alone in confirming the power of empathy. In a contribution to CLO (Chief Learning Officer) Magazine, leadership expert, Ken Blanchard shared, “Being sensitive to others’ feelings â€" recognizing ourselves in each other â€" opens the door to trust. In a 2011 speech at Brigham Young University, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg stated that empathy was a guiding principle of his company. He believes that the number of Facebook connections symbolizes “empathy developing in the world” that will lead to “a greater understanding of how we are all connected.” Empathy is at the heart of servant leadership. It is an essential skill that encourages active listening, transparency, and provides a leader an opportunity to demonstrate authenticity. Dr. Stephen Covey’s best-selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, includes the habit of, Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood ®, and to be able to do this effectively, you need empathy. Empathy is not sympathy. It can be easy to confuse the two terms. Jacob Morgan, leading author and expert on the future of work commented on how organizations can confuse the two terms: A lot of times we confuse empathy with sympathy. In the past organizations have been good with being sympathetic to employees, but in the future of work, it is empathy, not sympathy that is crucial for organizations to have. Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone else’s circumstances, empathy on the other hand, is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It means putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to not just say you feel sorry for them, but to actually imagine how hard it must be to be in that situation. There are proven benefits to being a leader who understands the importance of empathy. Empathy is not a weakness, it is a leadership strength. Leading With Empathy Increases Engagement Reduces Turnover One of the core elements of employee engagement is providing a sense of belonging within the organization. Empathetic leaders are more likely to develop a deeper bond with their team members. These leaders walk alongside their people. This deeper connection creates an environment of open communication and transparency. People are less concerned about “fearing” if their leader will understand. They are more motivated to share opinions and information. Other benefits of leading with empathy include: higher employee satisfaction rates reduced turnover better performance increased profitability higher levels of loyalty and customer satisfaction Empathy matters and has a direct impact on engagement and talent retention. According to the 2017 Businessolver Workplace Empathy Monitor: The majority (85%) of employees agree that empathy is often undervalued. 60% of employees surveyed would be willing to take slightly less pay if their employer showed empathy. 77% of employees would be willing to work longer hours for an empathetic employer. Employee turnover is driven by a lack of empathy. 72% of employees would consider leaving their current company if they displayed less empathy. Empathy reduces turnover. 92% of employees would be more likely to stay with a company that empathizes with their needs. Leading With Empathy Influences Culture Empathetic Leaders create a workplace culture that encourages collaboration, transparency, values, and a greater sense of purpose. When empathy is a core value, it impacts a company culture at a foundational level. Having a culture where empathy is a core value impacts recruiting efforts. According to UndercoverRecruiter.com, Empathy can impact your company culture on a deep level, so it should be a key component of everything from team leadership to customer relations. A culture that has empathy as an attribute is beneficial in attracting new talent to an organization. As long as workplaces have humans, life events will happen, and empathic leaders understand the importance of their people being able to count on them in good and bad times. A culture that is influenced by empathetic leadership has strong open communication streams, a safe environment that is free of fear, and a genuine interest and concern for everyone. Understanding your people as individuals is a strength of an effective leader. Each person has unique gifts, experiences, and talents that make them who they are. Increasing Cultivating Empathy Empathy comes more naturally for some than others. It can be developed, like a muscle. Regular exercise is needed to build its potential. Developing a culture of empathy does not happen overnight. There are a few things that leaders can do to develop their empathy. This will have an impact on your culture over time. There are two approaches that I use when working with clients who have a desire to improve their empathy and create a culture that is emblematic of their empathetic leadership. These approaches are personal and organizational. Personal Empathy Development The personal approach involves working with a leader in finding their empathy or learning how to apply it to their leadership style. Helping a leader measure and understand their self-awareness, blind spots, and level of self-expression are starting points for understanding the degree of empathy used in their leadership. This approach requires the leader to be honest with who they truly are. Since we are all wired differently, we use different degrees of empathy. How empathy is used can be situational to events and individuals. It is more common for a leader to demonstrate a higher level of empathy with a family member than with a work peer. One situation may also require a higher level of empathy than another. It is crucial to understand the level of empathy desired by the person needing your understanding. Organizational Empathy Development The second approach to helping leaders build empathy involves the development of an organizational culture that is reflective of their focus on empathic leadership. A great place to start is to implement some initiatives that are supported by this type of leadership approach. Remember, you can experiment to see what works within your organization. Not all ideas will fit every work environment, so customization is a great idea. Here are a few ideas: Launch a mentoring program. This program would align people within the organization with a senior level peer or manager who can be a great listener and idea generator. Invest in coaching. This could be a formal, internal coaching program or using the resources of external coaches. Develop a passion for learning. Development of your talent should always be a priority with leaders. If your people do not grow, neither does your organization. Recognize your people. People want to know they did a great job. They also need to know they are valued. This has nothing to do with their compensation. Learn how your people need to be recognized. Leaders who allow empathy to influence their organization also understand the importance of celebrating successes and supporting failures. You have to be with your team members in the great, good, and really bad times. How you support your people is a hallmark of leading with empathy. They will remember how you demonstrated your leadership during all of these times. Many exit surveys have echoed the horror stories of leaders who demonstrated little or no empathy. You do not have to leave a legacy of being uncaring and aloof. Being an empathetic leader does not make you weak. Your impact will be reflected by increased employee engagement, stronger communications, lower turnover, and an enhanced “word of mouth” about your organization. Empathy takes time to develop, and it can be more challenging for some leaders. Remember, your approach to empathy needs to be authentic. If leading with empathy is not part of your natural leadership style, and you start applying too much, you may experience an initial lack of trust. Empathy is also shown in your actions and not just words. Make sure your approach to becoming an empathetic leader is genuine. By Steve Graham|2018-12-01T16:07:00+00:00December 5th, 2018|Performance|0 Comments

You Cant Dodge The Salary Question (Heres How To Answer)

You Can’t Dodge The Salary Question (Here’s How To Answer) You Can’t Dodge The Salary Question (Here’s How To Answer) Most job seekers dread being asked about their salary. Some are uncomfortable revealing personal information. Many are concerned that sharing their current salary will influence potential job offers. The truth is, you can’t dodge the salary question.*** But, to some degree you can control it. You do this by understanding the process and being prepared. Why do recruiters ask about your salary? As a former recruiter, I know they don’t ask your salary requirements to put you on the spot. They ask because they need to know if you are in the salary range for the position they are filling.  Remember, recruiters don’t work for you, they work for the employer. Each job has a predetermined salary range which has been provided by the hiring manager and/or human resources. Experienced recruiters know that salaries at the higher end of the spectrum will go to the most desirable candidates, those who have everything they are looking for, and salaries at the lower end will go to those with fewer skills or less experience. Basically, recruiters need to know if you are affordable. While there may be some flexibility or “wiggle room” in the salary range, there is still a limit. Employers will only go so high even if the “perfect” candidate, or proverbial “purple squirrel” in recruiter speak, comes along. Learning candidate’s salary requirements is a fast way to weed out candidates who are too expensive. No matter how awesome you may be if the top of the salary range is $175K it’s highly unlikely they are going to pay you $225K. Although I’ve spoken to candidates who don’t believe this. On the other hand, your salary range may signal the recruiter that you are underqualified for the position. If the salary range is $150K to $175K, for example, and you say your target salary is $100K it makes the recruiter wonder if you are not experienced enough. The recruiter wonders if you are underpaid or exaggerating your qualifications. How should you respond to questions about salary? If you want to be considered for the position you need to have an answer regarding your salary.   You can begin by asking what the range is for the position and they may tell you. They may not. Should the recruiter give you the salary range you can say either that’s within your range or, if pressed, you can pick a number somewhere in between. Just remember that the highest salary in that range will go to a candidate who meets most if not all of the requirements. This may mean having experience in that industry as well as holding a similar position. It may include having particular skills and several years in a comparable role.  For example, if you’re a creative director whose primary experience is with print you probably won’t be commanding a top salary at a digital advertising agency. If the recruiter won’t share the salary range, the ball is in your court. To keep the conversation going you can give the recruiter a salary range. Most employers will see the lower end of your salary range as your bottom line. So, make sure that is a number you can live with. Not every recruiter will ask your current salary. But, if they do be honest with them. Some companies ask for W-2’s as part of the background check. If an employer discovers that you lied during the interview process your offer may be rescinded. One thing to remember, when stating your current salary be sure to note whether that number includes your benefits.   While many companies have more standard benefits such as health insurance other companies offer professional development, tuition reimbursement, and more. ***Recently, some states have passed laws prohibiting employers from asking job applicants about their salary history. Here is a running list of Salary History Bans.     How to you decide on a salary range? Research, research, research. The best way to be ready for the dreaded salary question is to prepare in advance. There is plenty of information readily available. One of the easiest ways to find out salary information is online. There are websites that offer solid salary information. Start with these: Salary.com Payscale.com Bureau of Labor and Statistics (Wage Data by Area and Occupation) Occupational Outlook Handbook (Earnings) After conducting some online research get additional information by talking to people either familiar with or working in your target position. Start with your friends and family. Next ask for introductions to anyone they know who might be helpful. Don’t forget your college or university alumni association which can be an immense resource. Remember that compensation is more than just salary. Compensation includes numerous benefits including: healthcare, vacation, tuition reimbursement, flexible schedules, summer Fridays, etc. Don’t discount the value of a corporate cafeteria with discounted, healthy meals or the option to work remotely even if it’s only one day a week.  Make a list of the criteria that’s most important to help you evaluate job offers. Talking salary is tricky for both sides. Therefore, there will always be some anxiety when the topic of salary comes up. However, until people start working for free, there’s no way to avoid it. Prepare your answer to the salary question before you begin your job search to avoid getting caught off guard. Updated 8/1/18