1 Billion LinkedIn Endorsements by the Numbers

1 Billion LinkedIn Endorsements by the Numbers LinkedIn Endorsements you either love them or hate them. Over 1 billion have now been given, and this infographic (courtesy of LinkedIn themselves) shows the breakdown. Takeaways: Since the launch of the feature, members have given over 50 million endorsements per week. More than 18 million people have endorsed other users, and over 58 million people have received endorsements for their skills. Endorsements make you 4 times more likely to be viewed on LinkedIn. Strategic planning is the most endorsed skill, with recruiting and social media also making the top ten. 410,000 people are endorsed for preaching, and 298,000 for wine. RELATED: How to Boost Your LinkedIn Endorsements [VIDEO]

How to answer Tell me about yourself in an interview

How to answer Tell me about yourself in an interview Tell me about yourself? It seems such an innocuous question, designed to break the ice and put you at ease before the real interview starts. Well dont be fooled! This question has the potential to win or lose the day, so dont sleepwalk into disaster by taking the wrong approach. Plan your strategy beforehand. What do they want to know? There is purpose behind every question, so you can be pretty certain the interviewer is asking with intent. What theyre looking for is a sense of who you are, the person behind the interview mask. Its also a good way to see how you respond to such an open, unstructured question. All too often candidates prepare for the very specific questions around job and role, but fail to tackle the broader topics with quite the same diligence. Many employers will note how confident and articulate you appear, which points you choose to emphasise and how you build rapport. Your response will set the tone for the remainder of the interview; you want to engage the interviewer and whet their appetite for whats to come. A word of warning: this is not an open invitation to share your life story. Its not a cosy fireside chat  be aware of time and place. You are in complete control of the narrative, so think trailer not directors cut! The wrong direction There are a number of ways you can take a wrong turn with this question. A pretty common mistake is to look bemused and ask, What do you want to know? Not only can this sound (unintentionally) confrontational, but it can make you seem woefully ill prepared. Many candidates perhaps overcome with nerves interpret this question literally, and start rambling ad nauseam about any and everything. Its pretty common  to hear something like this: Im a final year politics student at X University and staying on campus this year in a house-share with four friends. Ive lived in London all my life and have a really great social life, which Ive been able to continue as a student. Ive got lots of different interests and belong to loads of societies. I particularly enjoy travelling and had a Gap Year in Thailand and Vietnam before I started here. Ive seen a lot of Southeast Asia now. Last year I travelled round Europe and also completed an internship, so it was pretty hectic. My boyfriend has just secured a job with Y Company so Im really keen to stay in London and develop my career here.   This might seem a perfectly reasonable response to the question, but it doesnt stand up to close scrutiny it lacks purpose, focus and any attempt to align skills, interests and experience to the job role. Theres no sense of coherence and the balance of personal to professional is skewed.  On hearing this, the interviewer may be thinking: Can this individual focus and commit? They seem to be pretty vague on the details is there any evidence of follow through? How long have they been doing x or y? There are no specifics here which societies? What level of responsibility? Any useful skills or experience they could apply? Concerns around motivation is s/he applying because they need to stay in the area? Does the personal trump the professional? A better approach I may be swimming against the tide here, but Id caution against using this question as *just* a sales pitch. Not only will your response sound predictable and contrived, but you run the risk of alienating the interviewer within the first few minutes. Do remember, most interviewers will decide within the first few minutes whether they like you or not and likeability can often win the day. Compare this response to the one above and note the difference in content, tone and style: Im in my final year at X University studying politics which has given me a unique opportunity to understand and analyse motivations of groups and individuals and be aware of my responsibilities as an active citizen. Ive also relished the chance to hone my critical abilities although my friends may sometimes disagree! One of the things Ive enjoyed about university is the chance to broaden my horizons, and try new things. Ive even become an Exec member of the FilmSoc. This year I interned at a public affairs consultancy and was fortunate to contribute to a high profile campaign, enabling me to consolidate my research and analysis skills. This experience affirmed my desire to pursue a career in this field, which is why Im sat here today. Im not suggesting this is a perfect or definitive response but it does hit a number of key points: The candidate has summarised their motivation for studying politics and how this contributed to their personal development. Theyve even managed to inject some gentle humour. We can tell the individual has made the most of the university experience to stretch and challenge themselves which would translate well to the professional workplace. Theres a strong sense of purpose and career aspiration, and clear evidence of suitability for the role. The candidate articulates this is in a natural and compelling way. This answer moves seamlessly from the personal to the professional and the general to the specific. Why does this work? Because we see a little personality (but not too much), a good smattering of skills and strengths, and a positive attitude brought together in an engaging and coherent manner. Final tip: dont court controversy. Always err on the side of caution. An interview is not the time to spark debate or raise contentious issues. When the interviewer asks, Tell me about yourself , take a moment to pause and reflect. Dont give them cause to question your values, ethics or commitment. Clichéd it may be, but youll never get a second chance to make a first impression.

How To Write a Letter Of Interest for a Job

How To Write a Letter Of Interest for a Job How To Write a Letter Of Interest for a Job It can be both frustrating and exasperating having to go through hour after hour of job searching. When you add up the amount of time that you have spent scrolling through job sites or searching LinkedIn for job opportunities, you can often be left wondering if you will ever find that perfect job.Despite you sending in potentially dozens of applications per month, you still havent landed yourself an interview, or even heard back from many of the companies. You can start to doubt that there is a job out there that is a great fit for your skill set. Seriously, its enough to make you want to throw your laptop at the wall!However, there is still one more tool in your toolbox at your disposal that you may not have thought about using. Actually, this particular tool could open doors that were previously closed to you and could be your key to a rewarding career.So what is this secret weapon we are talking about here?   A letter of interest, of course!What is a letter of interest?To put i t simply, a letter of interest is used as a prospecting tool to help you uncover up and coming job vacancies that may be on the horizon.A letter of interest is also known as a letter of inquiry, and this is exactly what you will be using it for. So rather than applying for a particular job that is being advertised, you are using this letter to approach a company that you are interested in working for to ask if they will be hiring in the near future.Many companies have a plan to hire more staff during the next year, but they havent as yet posted any specific job openings.You can send these companies a letter of interest to see if they are planning to advertise any jobs that would be a good fit for your skills and work experience.Help break the ice with a letter of interestA letter of interest is a very versatile and useful tool because you can use it to break the ice with a company and open up a valuable line on communication between you and the company hiring manager or Human Resour ces department. Your letter could be used to get one foot in the door by arranging an informal meeting with a company representative to enable you to gather more valuable information.Familiarity builds trustUsing your letter as an ice-breaker and getting yourself known by the company can stand you in good stead for any future job interviews with them. Through your inquiry letter, you will already be familiar to them.Hiring managers are generally more inclined to hire someone that they are already familiar with and have some previous background knowledge about over a complete stranger that they are not already familiar with.At the end of the day, if you are really keen to work for a particular company, then it is worth the extra effort of sending them a letter of interest. You may end up getting some excellent insider information about an upcoming job that is perfect for you before the vacancy has even been advertised.This can help you to keep you one step ahead of your potential competition and give you a lot more time to prepare your job application, do your company research and prepare for an interview.Impress your chosen companySending a letter of interest to a company that you have a particular interest in working for can work both ways. From your chosen companys point of view, receiving a letter of interest from you will impress them.Your letter of inquiry will show that you are a very keen and pro-active person and that you are serious about getting yourself a job. Not only this but by targeting their company with your letter, you are expressing that their company is worth working for.Everyone likes to be flattered, so by expressing your desire to work for their company is in itself a form of high praise. This will make you a notable and memorable person to them, so when you apply for a job vacancy with their company, you will already stand out from the crowd.But isnt a letter of interest the same as a cover letter?Actually, no. Not at all. While it m ay be true that your letter of interest may contain a lot of similar information that you would include in your cover letter that accompanies your resume, they are two different things.Your cover letter is used with your resume when you are applying for a specific job opening. You would also send a cover letter when a company posts a job vacancy and asks candidates to send one in rather than a full CV or resume. This could be for a temporary contract or a seasonal job for example.The great thing about a letter of interest is that you can send one into a company at any time of the year, regardless of whether or not that company is actively recruiting new staff.If you are now keen to get started on creating your own letter of interest, lets make sure that you get it right.How To Write a Letter of InterestAlways remember that you will be using this letter as an opportunity to introduce yourself to your potential new employer. You will want to make sure that your letter showcases your b est skills and experience that will make you an attractive candidate.As you will already know from the information contained in our other blog posts, you need to tailor your letter content to fit with the company language, culture, aims and ethos. Do your company research to make sure you understand the company inside out.Creating a generic letter here will not serve you well. Take some time to tailor your letter before sending it off. There is no deadline to meet here, unlike when you are replying to a job advert.Example letter of intent formatHere is an example of a basic format to follow when creating your letter. Keep it simple and as easy to read as possible. This will help you to create the best first impression with your letter.Your Contact Info: Name, address, telephone number, email and your LinkedIn details.Todays date.Company Contact Info: Try to find a specific person to address your letter to within the company. This is better than starting with to whom it may concern. This will show that you have done your homework.Opening Paragraph: Introduce yourself and explain your inquiry.Qualification/Experience Paragraph: You will have two purposes in mind here:Showing how you add valueDemonstrating you have the skills and experience they valueDont list your job history: This is something that you need to save for your resume.Closing Paragraph: Always thank them for their time and say that you are available to meet for an informational meeting at a time that suits them.Sample letter of interest templateSo lets look at an example of a letter template that you could use â€" but remember to tailor it to fit each company that you approach with your letter:Your Name Address Phone Number Email LinkedIn contactDateName (the hiring manager) Job Title CompanyDear (remember to address a person!):My name is Cecilia and I am writing to you today to inquire about any possible up and coming openings with your company.I am highly interested in working with your company a nd believe I have the right skills and work experience to match your company aims and objectives, culture and ethos.Graduated from the University of (add your university) with a degree in (add your qualification). I have over six years of work experience in sales and marketing as well as a Marketing Manager.Please, do not hesitate to contact me to discuss the possibility of arranging an informational meeting, I can be reached anytime by calling, 555-555-5555 or by email at youremail@address or you can see my professional profile and leave me a message on LinkedIn (add your LinkedIn profile link).Thank you for your attention and consideration. I appreciate your time. I look forward to speaking with you about any up and coming opportunities with your company.Sincerely,SignatureSummarySo there you go. This is just an example of what you start your letter off with. You will need to tailor it to make it specific to your skills, qualifications and experience, but remember to keep it short and targeted to raise their attention. previous article The Front Row Candidate Free Professional Resume Template next article Salient Power Subtle Modern Resume Template Freebie you might also likeThe Best Way to Explain Your Sabbatical To a New Employer

Look the Part to Get the Job

Look the Part to Get the Job Have the rules changed for corporate dress?   Young workers and jobseekers seem to think so.   “The idea that you have to wear hose and heels to the office every day died a decade ago,” one 20-something staffer told me.   “In Florida?   In July?   I don’t think so!”   It certainly seems that office dress codes are much more relaxed.   Men have ditched ties and jackets unless they are meeting with clients; women are not concerned about bare arms or a little cleavage in the conference room.   But what about the job interview?   Have the rules changed there, too? Not according to 500 recruiters surveyed by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).   67% of recruiters listed inappropriate or provocative dress by applicants as the factor most likely to kill a job offer (see nearby survey) followed by Having a typo on your resume (58%) and letting your cell phone ring during the interview (40%.)   “No matter how casual you think the office will be, the interview is still a formal business meeting â€" a sales presentation to a very important client,” one college recruiter told me.   “If you don’t understand that, you’re not really ready for our company.” The first thing your interviewer will do is scan you from head to toe â€" that critical first impression.   You may not get any extra points for your sense of style or designer labels (so relax, guys) but you may lose an offer if you don’t match your attire to the occasion. To make the cut, avoid these fashion missteps (courtesy of Yahoo! Jobs): For women, short skirts and open-toed shoes are not appropriate for interviews. Bare legs are also a no-no. Always wear skirts that come to or near the knee, closed-toed shoes and stockings. Avoid floral prints and brightly patterned blouses. For men, an ill-fitting suit sends the wrong message and can imply that youre not attentive to detail. A few dollars spent on tailoring is well worth the expense. Don’t neglect your shoes â€" again, a great polish indicates attention to detail. Men should also avoid eccentric or flashy ties, since they can look unprofessional or overly casual. Other items to steer clear of include casual shoes and turtleneck or polo shirts.

4 Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence as a Leader CareerMetis.com

4 Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence as a Leader â€" CareerMetis.com Photo Credit â€" Flickr.comEmotional intelligence is an often misinterpreted term. Some people think it is just a theoretical concept, while others reckon it is just a fancy term for common sense.There are many more misconceptions, but the fact of the matter is that to be a good leader, emotional intelligence is paramount. Don’t believe me? As per an article on Harvard Business Review â€" Emotional intelligence has become an key leadership skill.Firstly, let’s understand what is Emotional intelligence According to Howard Gardner, your Emotional Quotient is the level of your ability to understand other people, what motivates them and how to work cooperatively with them.As a leader, you obviously have to work with others and if you lack EQ, you will find it hard to handle them and get the best out of them. If you think you have a low EQ, worry not. EQ can actually be improved, provided you make a conscious effort to do so.Here are a few tips for leaders to help boost their emotiona l intelligence:1) Learn to handle stress more effectivelyevalLeaders will often face stressful situations. If you let it get you, it will have an adverse effect on how you manage and interact with your teammates, often resulting in a toxic work environment.Tips to manage stress better:Take a break â€" go out for a walk and take that time to clear your head. Then, reflect on what happened, pay attention to your thoughts, and come up with a plan of action to deal with it. Pour some cold water over your face â€" proven way to reduce stress.Don’t get defensive and start justifying your decisions.Refrain from blaming or finger-pointing immediately.Instead of thinking about the problem as a whole, break it down into small pieces. Then, try to address it one by one.Stop being self-critical.Don’t let negative emotions to pile up.2) Learn to put yourself in others’ shoesEmpathy is a critical aspect of emotional intelligence. Lack of it makes communication harder, something a leader can ’t afford. Everything from your tone to the words used could end up being inappropriate or getting misinterpreted.Tips to help you develop empathy:Keep asking yourself what this person might be feeling, and adjust your communication accordingly. If you think a teammate is demotivated, try to understand what could be the reason behind it, and then adjust your communications accordingly.Maintain a journal to record how your teammates are responding to your communications.Learn more about body language and nonverbal communication.Encourage your teammates to share their work-related problems with you.Along with the perception of the individual employees, you should be in touch with the group perception as well.You should be able to anticipate their reactions and respond effectively.3) Work on your relationship skillsAs a leader, you will have to cooperate with your teammates, investors, customers, etc on a regular basis. Empathy alone is not enough for this, developing a good rapport with them is also very essential.Ways to improve relationship skills:Make a conscious effort to build a personal relationship with these stakeholders. Ask if their personal lives are going well.You can share your problems too, especially teammates â€" good way to let them know you are human.Strike up conversations on mutual areas of interest.Be consistent and fair, and make sure to deliver on your promises.Give a platform for your teammates and customers to get their voices heard.If you have committed a mistake, be humble enough to acknowledge it.Make sure you acknowledge your teammates for their contributions.If you say ‘No’ to something, make sure you provide a valid reason for it.Learn how to deal with angry customers.4) Stay connected to your purposeWhen leaders lose sight of their goals, they tend to lose their drive. The end results â€" indifference, giving up rather easily, wasting time on unnecessary and unproductive pursuits.evalEmotionally intelligent people never fail to see the bigger picture. That is what drives them even in the face of adversities. So, as a leader, it is crucial that you stay connected to your goals.Here are a few tips to help you stay connected to your purpose:Keep a journal, and record the progress you have made each day.Before every major decision, think about how it will contribute to the end goals.Make sure you and your teammates are working towards the same goals.Be realistic â€" if your teammates are not rising up to your unrealistic expectations, it could also lead to disharmony and exhaustion.Give due consideration for the opinions of your customers, teammates.Don’t be afraid to review and adjust your goals.Don’t be afraid to say ‘No’ when it is against the values you stand for.WRAPPING-UPevalAs a business leader, you will have to interact and manage a lot of people â€" customers, employees, investors, the press, competitors, government, etc. on a regular basis. They all come from different backgrounds, their motivations and mentality will be different too. To deal with all this with a sane mind, you need to be emotionally intelligent.