tips – Resolution Technologies

Hate Public Speaking? Upgrade the Way You Present

October 5, 2016/in Career Guide /by Resolution Technologies

The fear of public speaking is one of the most cited phobias amongst working adults. This can lead to notable challenges for those who must speak in front of groups on a regular basis. Luckily, there are a variety of techniques available to help you work through discomfort, allowing you to not just cover the material, but present it in a new, “upgraded” way.

Gain Confidence in the Subject

Most people who are asked to speak to a large group are being asked to share their area of expertise. Having confidence in your understanding of the subject matter, as well as the content of the presentation, can help boost your confidence overall.

Instead of focusing your energy on the idea of speaking, focus on the material instead. You may find yourself comforted by the fact that you are familiar with the information, which may make the entire process less intimidating.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Public speaking is a skill. As with any skill, practice makes (reasonably) perfect. After you have developed your material, rehearse your speech out loud, and then do it again and again. By going through your presentation completely, including verbalizing your points, you will become more comfortable with how you intend to present the material. Additionally, it will allow you to smooth out any transition statements to help your speech feel more natural and flowing.

Memorize Your Slides

Knowing the order in which your slides will appear can also help relieve a level of anxiety regarding the presentation. Not only will you look for professional, as you will not have to refer to the slide visually at every transition, you may also be more comfortable since you are confident in what to expect as you move forward.

Prepare for Tough Questions

If your presentation includes a question and answer session, prepare answers for any difficult questions or challenging aspects of the material. This can be especially helpful for items that require specific statistics or other concrete data to support your answer. If appropriate, prepare additional slides that cover the information, just in case the question arises. Not only will that provide you with a reference point for your response, it may also make the answer easier for audience members to understand.

Presentations are Not Performances

Regardless of how many people are in the room, presentations are not performances. Instead, they are structured conversations. Your primary goal is to inform, not to entertain. By keeping that thought in the forefront of your mind, you may find the situation less stressful.

Do Not Focus on Audience Expressions

When under stress, we tend to misinterpret the true nature of facial expressions. This issue can be compounded by the fact that audience members are less inclined to produce positive visual clues even when they are enjoying the content. Many audience members will appear to have a blank expression due to the fact that audience members listen in a different way than those engaged in a social interaction. The shift in the paradigm causes them to focus more on the content of your speech and less on providing you with cues regarding their receptiveness to the content.

Visualize Success

Visualization is a powerful tool that anyone can develop, and can also be as effective as actual practice. The key is too actually imagine yourself giving the presentation, from beginning to end, in detail. This can include every step of the walk towards the podium, looking out over the audience, and reciting each line of your presentation.

Don’t Fear Silence

When you are presenting, even a small pause can feel like an eternity of silence, even though it isn’t. Fight the urge to rush through material by allowing yourself to pause regularly. You can use the time to regain your composure or even squeeze in some deep breathing. By keeping the pace methodical, you may feel less frantic than if you try to rush through the material as quickly as possible.

Are you looking for a new job in the IT field?

If you are looking for more on how to upgrade your public speaking skills, or are interested in finding a new position in the IT field, Resolution Technologies has the answer to your most burning questions. Contact Resolution Technologies today!

5 Tips for Beginning Your Job Search

August 4, 2015/in Career Guide /by Resolution Technologies

Looking to make a career move? Maybe it’s been a while since you last searched for a job, or you’re looking for a new way to tackle the search for your next opportunity. We believe in equipping you with the best tools to make you successful. In this post, we’ll outline our suggestions and tips for your job search. It’s important to equip yourself with the best knowledge in order to ensure a successful search.

Set goals.

Rather than jumping in and looking for any and every position available in your desired field, you should set specific goals for what jobs you’re looking for. Do you want to take a step up from your current position or look for the same position at a different company? Is there a certain geographic location you’re looking in? By narrowing your search with important details, you’ll make it easier to find a position that’s a perfect fit for you. Setting goals will slim down your search and make good use of your time.

Update your resume.

Before submitting your resume to a potential employer, make sure your resume is up-to-date with your most recent and relevant skills and experience. Upload your most current resume to career sites like Monster, CareerBuilder and Dice so recruiters and companies can find you based on the most accurate information. For more information about perfecting your resume, view our blog post “6 Things You Shouldn’t Put on Your Resume.”

Tune up your LinkedIn.

At the same time you update your resume, you should also check your LinkedIn to make sure you have all of your skills and jobs listed. Much of the job search has gone social, so recruiters and hiring managers are also looking for top talent on LinkedIn. Much like search engine optimization (SEO) for websites, having the right keywords on your profile will ensure that your profile comes up when decision-makers are searching on LinkedIn. We’ve got more tips for your LinkedIn profile here.

Conduct a self-assessment.

Required skills for a job may have changed since you last applied. Especially in an age of ever-changing technology, needs are always changing. Is there any additional training you’ll need for the job you desire?

Another thing that falls under self-assessment is your energy and passion for what you do. You’re likely to get asked during an interview who you are and what you’re about. They may also be wondering why you’re choosing to make a move to their company. Be ready to answer these questions so potential employers can learn more about why you’re a good fit for their company.

Brush up on your interview skills.

It’s not enough to just look great on paper. You may do a great job of selling yourself on your resume or LinkedIn profile, but in order to land the job, you’ve got to nail it in the interview. Example interview questions can be found online from credible sources. You can even find top questions related to your position or industry. Still not comfortable? Find a friend to ask you questions to make sure you’re prepared with the best possible answers.

The Bottom Line

Don’t waste your time by being unprepared. Treat your job search almost as if it were like another job itself. By getting yourself organized and setting proper goals, you’ll be ready to tackle your search effectively.

Once you’re ready for your first face-to-face interview, check out our post “How To: Dress for Interview Success” to learn how to put your best foot forward.

Click here to view our IT and business job board.

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.

How To: Dress For Interview Success

July 1, 2015/in Career Guide /by Resolution Technologies

You’ve landed an interview and now you’re struggling to decide what to wear. The old saying is true — perception is reality. Your first impression to a recruiter or employer can occur the moment you walk in the room. What you’re wearing can tell a lot about who you are, so it’s important to dress your best and present yourself appropriately.

Tips to dress your best

It’s always best to be overdressed than too casual. A well-fitting business suit is your safest and best bet.
Make sure you have your clothes cleaned and pressed.
Prepare your outfit the night before so you don’t waste valuable time the day of. Don’t be late!
Wear makeup and jewelry that are appropriate.
Avoid wearing strong perfume or cologne.
Make sure any facial hair is well-groomed — get a haircut if you need one.

Men’s Interview Attire

Suit (solid color – navy or dark grey)
Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
Belt (that matches your shoe color)
Tie
Dark socks, conservative leather shoes

Women’s Interview Attire

Suit (solid color – navy or dark grey)
The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably.
Coordinated blouse
Conservative shoes

Dress smart, get hired

A sharp suit alone isn’t going to get you the job, but your chances of getting a job are higher if you dress to impress. Having a well-prepared interview outfit shows that you care about yourself and can even reflect your job performance.

Paying attention to the little details can not only reflect your personality in your outfit, but can also transfer to how you handle tasks at work. You want the recruiter or hiring manager to take you seriously, so take the steps to take yourself seriously. Best of luck in your next interview! Have confidence, dress sharp, and adequately prepare yourself in order to get you to the next round.

Looking at connecting with recruiters or employers on LinkedIn? View our blog post, How To: Create the Most Effective LinkedIn Profile to revamp your profile before you connect.

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.

6 Things You Shouldn’t Put on Your Resume

June 24, 2015/in Career Guide /by Resolution Technologies

Formatting your resume can be tough. Sometimes, it seems like there are a billion ways to create a resume and there’s really no right formula to do so. Although you should create a resume that best reflects you as a candidate for a position, there are things that could hurt you in your job search if they’re included.

You could be up against a handful of other candidates, so it’s important to make sure you take your time to take a hard look at your resume to remove any errors or inconsistencies. A resume is often an employer’s first impression of you, so you have to create a resume that stands out and doesn’t get tossed aside. Below, we’ll outline SIX elements that should NOT be included in your resume.

1. A list of references

When writing down a list of references or saying “references available upon request,” you’re wasting a valuable line of your resume. Unless an employer or recruiter specifically asks for you to list references on your resume, you should leave them off. If an employer wants to speak with your references, they will most likely ask you to provide that information separately.

2. Personal information

Don’t include things like your height, weight, marital status, and religious or political preferences on your resume. Not only is this irrelevant and inappropriate, it’s also illegal for an employer to ask this information in your interview. You should leave room for professional experience instead.

3. Pictures or images

A headshot or other pictures of yourself or work takes up valuable space on your resume to talk about past roles and experiences, but it’s also inappropriate. Including images on your resume makes it appear less formal. If you have work or projects that you’d like to showcase, prepare a portfolio that you can offer to show recruiters or employers in addition to your resume.

4. False information

Even when you’re trying to expand upon your experience, it’s important to keep it as true as possible. You don’t want to say you’re an expert at a certain software or platform, get hired, then not be able to use it in your new job. Be honest with recruiters or employers and let them know, “Hey, I’m not extremely proficient in using this software, but I’m willing to learn.”

5. Links to unprofessional content

Many individuals are beginning to create professional social media accounts on sites like Twitter and LinkedIn. If you’re tweeting or posting professional content that relates to your industry or the job you’re looking for, feel free to provide your Twitter handle or LinkedIn profile link on your resume. However, if you have a personal account that might have inappropriate pictures or content, it’s best to leave this off your resume.

and the biggest mistake of all…

6. Grammatical errors and typos

Always make sure you read and re-read your resume before you send it out. You can even ask other people to look over it for you to check things you missed. Grammatical errors will show an employer that you don’t pay attention to detail and could get you automatically rejected for a position. Also, make sure your contact information is correct. You’ll want the employer to be able to get in touch with you in the best way possible.

Ok, so what’s the big takeaway?

At the end of the day, creating a resume is all about presenting the best version of yourself. You want to include valuable information that will get you hired and keep off the things that won’t, because every inch of your resume is precious space. Recruiters and employers often look at hundreds of resumes a day. You don’t want to make a mistake that will get yours tossed in the trash. Pay close attention to detail and spend some time creating and perfecting your resume — it’ll be worth it in the long run!

You’ve perfected your resume and now it’s time for an initial phone interview. Check out our blog post for 5 Tips for Your Next Phone Interview! To apply for one of our latest IT or business positions, visit jobs.resolution-tech.com.

Here at Resolution Technologies, we understand that serving our clients and consultants is what matters most and promise to never lose sight of that! We take the time to understand your individual needs through face-to-face interaction and strive to always make sure your objectives are met. Resolution Technologies is a full-service Information Technology Staffing firm offering flexible solutions for our clients ranging from contract, contract-to-perm, and direct perm placements. Whatever your needs are, we promise to provide unrivaled quality and service.

Posts