Top 5 Super Annoying LinkedIn Approach Styles

Top 5 Super Annoying LinkedIn Approach Styles Prospecting on LinkedIn is a huge part of many peoples roles. Its kind of what LinkedIn is for, isnt it?  We  put our  profiles up there knowing full well that people will have the option of  messaging  us. We  can also decide who we  want to connect with and even  turn off the InMail messaging function if we want to, restricting it only to introductions that are being made by people in our approved and trusted network.  We cant really complain about people prospecting to us can we? No. However what we can complain about is  the style people choose to use. It doesnt matter whether its a recruiter sourcing candidates for a role or sales person trying to sell new software to online businesses. Most sales professionals would agree that tailoring and personalising prospective approaches  is the best way to  start a potentially fruitful relationship over LinkedIn. Theres no one-size-fits-all approach or the perfect method, but generally I prefer contact to be direct, honest and clear, with the person explaining who they  are, who they  work for and why theyre  reaching out.  Prospectors  have to dangle some kind of  bait to make their message stand out and capture attention  / spark some interest in the recipient but in my opinion, some people  make pretty bad blunders! Here are my top 5 annoying LinkedIn approach styles: 1. The overly-friendly  message When youre having a busy day and some random person emails you asking how youve been, what the weathers like and whether you have any exciting plans for the weekend, I just think, who is this and why are they asking me these questions? This uncertainty / confusion kind of undermines the good intention. InMails should be pleasant and contain some niceties, however when its from someone Ive never met, I  prefer them to be more direct and open about why theyre getting in contact, without the small talk. How can they possibly  care about my wellbeing  when they dont even know me?  To me that signals they  want something from me, but feel guilty asking for it outright. 2. The cocky message Have you ever opened up a message that  includes some kind of weird, cocky attitude about it? Sometimes sales people try to get the upper hand in their LinkedIn message, and attempt to make the recipient feel like they owe this random person something. Sometimes it can come in the form of highlighting the fact that yes, its a generic approach but Im just doing my job. I really dont have time for this. While mass-sending emails is a realistic approach many sales people need to opt for, highlighting your own apathy for the task or lack of tailoring is a massive turn-off. 3. The apologetic  message I cant count how many times I have received LinkedIn InMails from people apologising for taking my time or contacting me out of the blue, before I even have any idea why they are getting in touch. If someone can truly add value to my career or workplace, why would they need to apologise? To me, apologising signifies they have done something wrong or they are going to waste / misuse my time. Positivity and openness is key! 4. The  daily  message When it comes to prospecting, persistence is key not stalking! Sending the same message or a similar one day after day after day is the perfect recipe for getting annoyed. When someone sends you a text message, you kind of feel compelled to respond within a reasonable amount of time, probably on the same day. With LinkedIn, I believe you get a bit more time. A sales person shouldnt expect to hear back from their prospects immediately or on the same day. I totally respect persistence, but daily repetition is a different story. 5. The sloppy  message Put simply, bad grammar, misspelled names and dodgy auto-fill lines that get your name wrong or accidentally pull through your surname instead of first name are just massive red flags to me. So there you have it. The annoying LinkedIn messaging styles that  are fairly annoying to be on the receiving end of. Having said this, youll notice I havent screen-shotted images of real examples nor named and shamed anyone. Why? Because thats just so unprofessional and unnecessary after all, prospecting is part of many peoples jobs mine too! Unless the message is threatening, malicious or somehow dangerous or disturbing, ignoring it will probably do the trick. Or maybe tagging them in this article No need to drag someones career down in the public eye. Theyll do that themselves with their dodgy prospecting tactics ha!

Feeling special is just as important as fitting in

Feeling special is just as important as fitting in Tomorrow is Yom Kippur, and you can bet that there will be no big financial announcements. This is because Jews make up a disproportionately huge number of people in finance. So when the Jews take off work for Yom Kippur, there is not enough liquidity in the financial markets for anything really big to happen. As my hedge-fund brother says, You dont want to have to get anything big done in finance on Yom Kippur. I like learning this because I like being part of community. In general, it is lonely being Jewish. Not in New York City, where there are, really, more Jews than in Israel. But definitely in Wisconsin, where my son had to explain to a school administrator that Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday. There is part of me that likes being part of the community of Jews who almost all observe the High Holidays. But there is also part of me that appreciates being a minority, because youre different, and different often means special. And we all want to be special in some way, even at the cost of being a minority. I am fascinated with racial discrimination at work. I have felt nervous and out of place at times, like when my former bosses told offensive Jewish jokes in front of me. And when Id tell them I am Jewish, theyd say, Oh. Sorry. I didnt know you were Jewish. Like, Oh, if Id known, Id have had the decency to say it behind your back. But I have seen also how valuable it can be to be just part of the group, fitting in, not a minorityit can be the difference between a promotion or not, really. Being accepted or not. And I have seen how much it means to understand what its like for people who are treated like outsiders. I never understood this until I entered the workplace, but I like that I know what its like to be a minority. Its part of who I am. So I vacillate between wanting my kids to understand what its like to be a minority, and wanting my kids to fit in. Both are so important. But even with balanced intentions, I am never really sure what to do with myself and my kids on the Jewish High Holidays. When I was young, I went to synagogue and was bored out of my mind. But I never went to school and my parents never worked, so my kids and I do the same thing. Leading up to the holidays, I tell my kids that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a big deal. I drive this home by chanting a mantra with the kids that connects the Jewish stuff to what really matters to them: First is Rosh Hashanah, then Yom Kippur, then Halloween! I tell myself Im being a good Jew because this generates constant discussion about the high holidays. As in, When is Yom Kippur over so that we can buy decorations for Halloween? So the day before Rosh Hashanah I said to my six-year-old: Tomorrow is a big day. Well tell your teacher you will not be in school. And I will not go to work. Jewish people stay home to celebrate the new year. Rosh Hashanah is a big day. It s our new year. So we tell the teacher. And it is clear my son will be the only kid out of school. I tell him he is special. I tell him that we are lucky to have such a nice time for the New Year, and that this is the time Jewish people think about how to make next year even better. I stress that all Jewish people take time off because I want him to have that feeling of being part of something bigger than himself or our family. I think this is a path to community if I play my cards right. Then I stress again about what we will do with our day. Part of the Rosh Hashanah tradition is eating apples and honey for a sweet New Year. So I decide that apple picking maybe is within the bounds of whats okay to do. The driving is not okay. And the paying for the apples is not okay. And the carrying them is not okay. But I ignore that. I tell the kids well pick apples and bring them home and dip them in honey. We get to the apple orchardits really crowdedand my son says, Mom, look at all the Jewish kids here! I think I am making progress. I think its workingmy kids are learning what its like to be part of a special community, while trying really hard to fit into the bigger picture that includes everyone else, too. There is so much written about the challenges of handling race in the workplace, but I see so little about how to cultivate otherness at work, how to thrive on being different. It seems to me that sometimes people want to do that. Figuring out how to do that is part of understanding who we are and where we fit. And the more we understand about ourselves, no matter what the angle, the better we are able to craft a life that works for us.

9 Ways to Avoid Looking Tired at Work - Classy Career Girl

9 Ways to Avoid Looking Tired at Work Looking tired at work is a problem I regularly face at work, and being a woman, it takes the shape of extremely unattractive dark circles, grayish skin, and above all, considerably less attractive. Not everyone gets the privilege of a comfortable, eight-hour sleep. The end result of that is being â€" and looking â€" too tired at work. I actually don’t know how it came to be that I started waking up every morning feeling exhausted. Luckily, I’ve figured out a few ways to hack the refreshed look (i.e. looking good even if you’re actually very tired). 9 Ways to Effortlessly Avoid Looking Tired at Work 1. Sleep with an Elevated Pillow Many times, even if you’re getting a full eight hours of sleep, you wake up feeling tired and exhausted. Longer hours given to your sleep do not guarantee you a refreshed look in the morning. If you’re not sleeping well, you’ll be waking up feeling spent and cranky. A good way to avoid the swelling and puffiness of the face is elevating your head when you sleep the night before. This goes especially well for the nights you’re going to be getting less sleep. 2. Take a Cold Shower After Waking Up Taking a cold shower before work is one of the best ways to look refreshed. It also wakes you right up and you’ll even feel revitalized. Cold water constricts your blood vessels underneath your skin so that it gives you a smoother, toned complexion and successfully waking you up. 3. Review Your Diet The amount of coffee and sugar you consume will soon start to catch up to you. While they certainly help keep you awake, the inevitable withdrawal will leave you feeling drained. Junk foods like these also certainly do not help your skin in any way. In fact, they cause more harm than good. Review your diet plan. Eating greens will make your skin appear livelier and fresh. 4. Line Your Inner Lids If even a day goes by when I don’t line my inner lids, people automatically start assuming that I look tired, exhausted, or I’m just not feeling well. Truth is, applying kohl or a liner on your inner lids make the whites of your eyes appear brighter than they are. It also gives your eyes an amazing look! [RELATED:  How to Wake Up Early and Enjoy Your Morning] 5. Don’t Use Smoky Shadows! No, you’re not being smart when you try to hide the bags under your eyes, or over them, with smoky shadows. They’ll just give your eyes a heavier look, which will make them appear even more tired. Instead of using dark colored shadows, try a nude tint, and do not make the mistake of choosing a shade lighter than your own. To make your eyes shine, you can even opt for a gold eyeshadow. 6. Apply Bright Lipstick Applying bright lipstick succeeds in successfully diverting someone’s attention from the rest of your face. It livens up your face and also gives you a glamorous look. It’ll also help if you smile more often. It’ll warm up the tone of your face and diminish the dullness which comes with being tired. I don’t know about you but wearing lipstick actually makes me feel more confident. This goes the same for mascara, which I’ll cover in the next point. 7. Brush it Up with a Touch of Mascara The combination of kohl, lipstick, and mascara is sure to make you look simply smart, professional, and irresistible. Even if you don’t apply makeup, you just need to apply a dash of mascara to complete your look, and you’ll appear well groomed. Mascara also hides the puffiness of your eyes and makes them appear less closed up, so that’s one less thing to worry about too. Applying two coats of mascara can very well serve to give your eyes a wide-opened effect. 8. Eye Drops In the event when you’re just simply too tired or hung-over from the night before and you wake up feeling bleary eyed, you can apply eye drops to reduce the redness of your eyes. According to makeup artist Kristie Streicher, it also has an instant “wake up” effect. 9. Under Eye Concealer! Concealer was sure to be covered when you’re talking about the bags under your eyes. And reiterating my previous point, choose a warmer shade instead of a one lighter than your own skin tone. That’ll just accentuate the tiredness of your eyes. The cream ones work the best and blend easily. Apply to the dark areas and don’t forget the inner corner of your eyes next to your nose. They’re often the darkest. Apply a bit of concealer over your lids as well to complete the refreshed look of your eyes. Keeping in mind these tips, you can fool pretty much anyone and appear completely refreshed during the early morning meeting at nine. No one can be able to tell that you spent the night preparing for the said meeting or were just awake the whole night having a lot of fun!

HMV X-Factor Firing Fiasco What Lessons Can We Learn

HMV X-Factor Firing Fiasco What Lessons Can We Learn Poppy Rose Cleere (@Poppy_Powers) yep this lady nailed it. She stood up for the little people, and stuffed the suits. The cheeky Social Media Coordinator at HMV as good as live-tweeted the financial circumstances-led removal of 150+ people at HMV last week, and became a cult hero and with the added amusement that she still had access to the  @HMVtweets  Twitter account. Clumsy HMV, clever Poppy. She used the power of social media say commentators. She showed them a thing say others. Apparently her brother said that she has been offered jobs galore since. So I recruit social media people and instantly the thought is, this girl will be hot property. But then we have to step back, and consider the bigger picture. Its not as clean cut as that. If Poppys CV landed on your desk, would you really be thrilled? If you consider the matter of compliance on social channels by your average employer, then Poppy broke all those rules. If you are looking for a beacon of professionalism, acceptable face and brand advocacy through thick and thin then Poppy broke those rules too. She probably even broke the terms of her contract too. Not  employee of the month  substance. Ok, she was understandably angry. The circumstances were not good. But this is a company she has represented since August 2010. The company that introduced her social media career with an internship opportunity and progressed her through the marketing ranks while she undertakes her degree at Hertfordshire University. Its been a setback what has happened to HMV in the past fortnight but if brand loyalty was ever someones to cling onto, its was Poppys surely? Given the opportunity they gave her? Ideal employee? Not so sure. We can go further to assess skills, we look at the HMV Twitter feed she managed, and search for spectacular and you dont find it. Its a feed of news, articles and announcements but no customer interaction. Maybe they were the rules but when we look for proof and characteristic of work in assessing capabilities, we have to look at this stuff in relation to the hiring company. It must be said that Poppy is not the only Social Media Coordinator at HMV, but its important we as recruiters get a feel for her thoughts and feelings of achievement on the profiles they have managed. What one person regards as a major success, may be paltry success in others eyes. Its important to understand the context of a social media role for the organisation being represented, and what merits a successful company profile in these channels. Sometimes on the face of things, a social media professional is assumed to be a star and a prized catch. Often, it isnt necessarily the case. Its important to understand the depth of someones experience and its relevance to specific roles. Just because a Social Media Manager ran a big name account, it doesnt mean they are as good as the brand. A brilliant comment from a client of mine who was presented by a recruiter, with the CV of her direct competitors Head of Social Media was: Why would I want THEIR Head of Social Media? Their social media presence isnt very good! Could the recruiter not see that, compared with ours??!! The recruiter didnt ask the right questions, and didnt do the right research. And didnt understand social media roles (surprise, surprise!) Now this is not designed as a dig at Poppy at all. Id love to meet Poppy and talk about this stuff. Its my job to understand this stuff, and make pre-assessment on the basis of existing roles and her suitability. It would be wrong of me to write her off. However, the knee-jerk support and suggestions of job offers, seemed very premature and seemed to come from notoriety over responsibility. I bet recruiters swamped her with attention, without understanding the irresponsibility of her actions, and the consideration of the points I have made in this piece. Good luck to Poppy Rose Cleere. She has herioc qualitys that I admire, and maverick tendencies that win me over 100%. I would employ someone like that. But then thats me all over. But just because I like her, it doesnt mean my clients would. It may be less easy, or right, for Poppy to get 100% credibility running social media for a corporate presence. In a world where people dont stay in jobs more than 12 months on average, consideration in hiring, of all the factors relating to career development and opportunity, is essential. Knee-jerk hiring is bad for all concerned. Poppy is 21 years old, with an undoubtedly great potential career in front of her.  I hope someone hires Poppy responsibly. For her own good. RELATED: How To Dazzle Recruiters with Your Social Media Profiles

Computer Programmer Writing Servie: Tips on Resume Writing

Computer Programmer Writing Servie: Tips on Resume WritingA resume that will be acceptable for an entry-level job in computer programming, or any other field of engineering, will require a good deal of work and attention. It will include details of education, experience, academic qualifications, work experiences, and references.The first paragraph on the resume is the most important, because it sets the tone for the rest of the document. When making a computer programmer writing servie, the key to writing a good one is to convey a message that is clear and concise. When you make sure that the information is accurate and well-presented, it will be easier to find when you are looking for a position.The computer programmer writing service needs to know the skill set you will need to have, as well as the kind of position you want. It should also know if you have had previous work experience in the particular field you wish to apply for. Knowing these things will allow them to suggest the best course of action to get you the work you need.After a resume has been written, the next step is to send it to various employers. This is where you will learn about how to word the language properly, as well as how to make sure that the employers understand what the resume is trying to convey. You may use different services to create your resume; however, the best ones are those that can give you feedback about the writing. After all, you want to get a good job that will help you move up the ladder.The computer programmer writing service will need to know who you are, and what kind of people you are looking for. It will also need to know if you are a self-starter, and how you can best be of service to the company. There are many different types of programming, and each company may be looking for a different type of person.The programmer writing service can help you identify what kind of work you are seeking, as well as which type of skills you should have. These are important, because it will help the employer determine what type of job you can do. For example, if you want to be a software engineer, a computer programmer writing service can tell you that the type of positions that are available will be something that has a lot of technical work to do. These are some of the skills needed to get these jobs.You should send your resume to more than one employer, and they should be given a chance to read it before they choose to offer you a position. Once you have received several offers, you should see what kind of positions are available and then talk to your computer programmer writing service. They can tell you whether there are any positions open in your field, as well as the salary that are being offered. They can also give you guidance as to which position you should take or offer you the chance to study the information to see if it might be a better position.After you have sent your resume to a programmer writing service, you can make sure that you hav e received a response. If you don't hear back right away, this could be because the company did not hear back from the top employer within your field. In this case, it is worth asking if you were considered, so that you can send your resume to the right company.

The Top 5 Regrets of Midlife Professionals - Kathy Caprino

The Top 5 Regrets of Midlife Professionals Part of Kathy Caprinos series Finding Brave To Build Your Best Life and Career     I’ve spent 14 years now focused on career coaching, teaching and training, helping mid-career professionals “dig deep, discover their right work, and illuminate the world with it.” I’ve seen several core themes emerge around what makes mid-career professionals (and middle-aged people in general) feel the deepest regret. Below are the top five regrets I’ve heard from mid-career professionals around the world: 1. I wish I hadn’t listened to other people about what I should study and pursue. Many people believe that when you reach 40, you’ll certainly be living your own life, and making your own authentic choices.   Sadly, I’ve found that it isn’t necessarily true. So many thousands of people around the world feel deep regret and pain because they’re actually living someone else’s life â€" not their own. Most typically, they’re living a life their parents told them to live, and engaging in careers their authority figures demanded or strongly encouraged they pursue. I’ve heard from so many people aged 40-55 who now realize they’re in the completely wrong career, pursuing the wrong goals, because they studied in college what their parents and authority figures told them was the right thing, for security, stability and status.   They also admit that there was a some unconscious or “hidden” cultural mandate they somehow felt, to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, architect, etc., for the recognition and status that their parents thought would be achieved in these fields.  The reality is that these professionals didn’t muster the courage to change directions, or say “No, I don’t want this!”  And now many years have passed and they’re still not living life as they want to. To live a happy, rewarding life on your own terms, it’s critical to starting saying “yes” to your authentic beliefs and values, and stop living someone else’s life that feels so wrong., even if it’s the one your beloved parents wanted for you 2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard and missed out on so much. So many men and women in middle age share that they regret what they’ve missed out on in life, by working so hard. They missed being in the fabric of their children’s lives. Or they missed the chance to have children. They missed the opportunity to build true intimacy and closeness with their spouses, family and friends. They missed experiencing adventure, travel, enjoyment, vitality, learning, spiritual growth â€" not having the chance to stop and relish life, nature, good health, peace, or relaxation. They missed so much and sacrificed so much to pursue work goals that now feel meaningless and empty. I’ve seen that too that when people get to the end of their lives â€" in their 80s and 90s â€" they’re not thinking at all about the work goals they strived so hard to achieve. They’re thinking about love and family, about the people that matter deeply to them, and how they made a difference to these people. And they deeply regret what they didn’t do with and for these loved ones. 3. I wish I hadn’t let my fears stop me from making change. We have many different fears that stop us from taking action, but the biggest fears are around failure, loss, and pain.  Mid-career professionals share with me that they have so much fear and resistance around making change, particularly if it means they have to stretch out of their comfort zone, speak up and stand up for themselves. They fear failing, going broke, not being able to care for their families financially. They fear leaving their “comfort zone” yet they see that perpetuating the status quo is excruciating and damaging. The fears mid-career professionals, particularly women, often emerge from a lack of healthy boundaries, from intense people-pleasing behavior and a drive toward “perfectionistic overfunctioning” â€" doing more than is necessary, healthy or appropriate. Until we can get in the cage with our fears and address them head on, fear will keep us stuck in quiet desperation. 4. I wish I had learned how to address toxic situations and people. When I wrote the post “6 Toxic Behaviors That Push People Away,” I heard from thousands of people (and still do) who shared how toxic their lives and relationships have become. And they shared that they have no idea what to do about it. Toxicity is rampant today, and so much of it comes from stress and from negative, damaging ways we were raised and parented, and what we were taught (or not taught) about acceptable and unacceptable behavior. It also emerges from people whose self-esteem has been severely hurtâ€" through childhood pain, trauma in later life, and crushing experiences at work that shatter them. Toxicity â€" at work, in relationships, and in our own thoughts â€" hurts us terribly, but often we don’t see it clearly enough until our bodies break down, or other crises hit that focus us to take brave new action to learn to love, protect, and heal ourselves. 5. I wish I hadn’t let myself become so trapped around money. Finally, the money issue â€" this comes up in almost every conversation I have with mid-career professionals. Their fears around money, or their slavery to it, generate deep regret. People share that they know they’re not living the life they long to, and they’re sick and depressed about it, but they simply can’t see a way out because they’re trapped about money. Either they feel they need to keep making exactly the same amount as they are today, so they won’t change directions or leave their toxic jobs or careers, or they’re desperate because they’re not making enough, so they want to pursue something “safe” that they know will make them miserable in the end. I’ve learned that our relationship with money goes very deep, and stems directly from our wealth programming  and what we learned from childhood about it.   The negative, fear-based stories we tell ourselves about money keep playing out in our lives, despite all our best efforts. If we don’t get to the bottom of our own money story, and heal it, we remain trapped in unhappy, desperate situations for the entirety of our lives. If you’re like me, when you hit 50, it was a huge awakening. I felt as if I were suddenly in a new “club” and that club allowed me to be stronger, braver, and bolder, and stop wasting time.   Suddenly, seeing that the number of years you have ahead of you in life is smaller than what’s behind you, is a very motivating experience. For many, it elicits an urgency to address what’s wrong in our lives â€" what makes us sick, sad, depressed and angry. It catalyzes us to muster the courage, fortitude and commitment to finally do what’s required to start living the lives we long to. And for that, we need to brave up. To learn if you are experiencing one or more of the 7 damaging power gaps that keep professionals stuck in regret and helplessness (98% of professionals surveyed are!), take my new Power Gaps Survey, and join me in a Career Breakthrough Coaching program that will help you transform your career.  CLICK HERE  to learn more about working together and complete the application. And don’t miss a single episode of my weekly  Finding Brave.

Even in the Worlds Oldest Profession, Branding is Important

Even in the Worlds Oldest Profession, Branding is Important I recently watched a piece on 20/20 about an Internet site called Seeking Arrangement that positions itself as a money dating site where   singles   can find wealthy money daters for mutually beneficial relationships. HmmI dont think I need to check Wikipedia to realize that this is code for prostitution.But Brandon Wade, creator and CEO of the site says that money dating is not the same as prostitution. “Money dating is a way for daters to screen potential partners on the basis of their financial compatibility”.   Huh? Whatever window dressing you apply, its prostitution. Women, mostly twenty-something students, single moms, and struggling actresses, are offering sex and companionship for money and in return, the older men who are wealthy enough to pay them their $1,500K and up monthly stipends get the illusion that someone more than half their age actually worships them.But I have to give Mr. Wade credit because it looks like he has created quite a powerful brand. For the men (referred to as the sugar daddies), the brand represents wealth, power, and sex; for the women (the sugar babies), the brand represents financial security. And these are perhaps the most powerful brand attributes there are.So by now you are probably wondering what the career lesson is here. I think the takeaway is that every product and every person needs a powerful brand and people to support, embrace, and even evangelize that brand. The personal attributes of the brand need to appeal to the base needs of your audience. So for the job seeker, the career brand must convey immediate value to the employer and satisfy the core needs and emotions of the hiring authority. And it must support your passion for what you do. There is no doubt that Mr. Wade has achieved this on his site. How could you re-brand yourself to achieve your own professional, mutually beneficial relationship with an employer?