Look At That Confidence!

Have you ever noticed how most successful people are extremely confident? This is because in order to achieve your goals, you have to be confident in your own abilities!  People who lack that intrinsic confidence doubt their abilities to overcome obstacles, giving up on their goals too early. Finding ways to boost your confidence can be the key to achieving your goals whether they be academic, professional, or other.

Make sure you learn your strengths and weaknesses. Understanding what your strengths allows you to focus on tasks you know you can complete, boosting your confidence exponentially. Your weaknesses often are what bring your confidence down, but if you know what they are you can strengthen them, reducing their negative impact.

To build your confidence, you should find ways to celebrate small victories. While they may not seem like much, if you enjoy small achievements, you will have more motivation to complete future tasks. These compound, motivating you to complete even more tasks, and a series of these small victories can boost your confidence for months.

While confidence is definitely important towards achieving your goals, you don’t want to be arrogant. Confidence is based in reality and what you have actually accomplished, while arrogance is simply bragging about yourself. Being too confident makes you feel as if you can’t fail, significantly reducing your effort, which will inevitably lead to failure.

So have confidence in your own abilities, and continue taking the world by storm!

If you have any questions, or want some more development tips, please contact Connor|Caitlin Talent Solutions.

www.connorcaitlin.com 

I Want to Change the World

In a recent LinkedIn article “10 Cherished Beliefs of Highly Successful People,” Read Here the tenth belief is “They believe they can change a small slice of the world – and will.”

Entirely too many people have decided they cannot make a difference. They think “What could I possibly do to change the world? I’m only one person.” Steve Jobs said, “The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do.” So be crazy; believe you can change the world.

Whoever decided that in order to change the world you had to come up with the solution to world hunger or create everlasting world peace? Why can’t changing the world be as simple as volunteering at your local soup kitchen once a week, or becoming a big brother or big sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America? Heck, why can’t changing the world be helping with the fight for equal pay for women, or solving a reoccurring problem in your office?

Perhaps these suggestions are not as glamorous as solving world hunger, but we cannot all be Norman Borlaug. We can all make a difference though. Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Start there. Simply think about what you want to change in the world and what you can change in your daily life to help start that change.

At this point you may be wondering what on earth changing the world has to do with business or talent solutions. Change is constant. It is continuously happening all around us. If you are not the one influencing change in your company, community, country, world, who is? Someone is, there are people changing the world right now while you’re reading this. Just ask yourself, why not you?

Connor | Caitlin would love to discuss changes with you and your company’s talent changing the world. Contact us at info@connorcaitlin.com.

Awesome People, Here’s Why You NEED to Fill Out Your LinkedIn Profile

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are 27.9 million small businesses and 18,500 firms with more than 500 employees. Due to such a large number of employers, there is sure to be overlap in the meaning of job titles causing the titles to be completely ambiguous. They lack clarity, true meaning and concrete value.

Essentially, your job title does not matter. Sure, some titles are universally recognized, but that does not mean that each person with that title does the same thing. As an example, let us examine the title “sales manager.”

Just looking at three different LinkedIn profiles of people with the current title “sales manager,” you can find three very different jobs. The first profile has no direct reports and manages a sales territory including only two cities. The next profile manages four to six sales associates in a territory covering three states. The last profile manages a sales force of 21 and is in charge of all their training. These three people have very different backgrounds, but they all have the same title. Each person has an excellent profile with details of each of their past positions, so you can tell what each of them really did.

When a recruiter or hiring manager is looking to fill a position, it is crucial that they be able to easily view past history in order to find you. You are awesome. Companies will want to hire you, but if you are not giving them the right information, they cannot even find you. Do yourself a huge favor, and complete as much of your LinkedIn profile as possible. Your dream job could be out there just waiting for you to fill in the details.

If you have questions about how to best fill out your LinkedIn profile, contact us at info@connorcaitlin.com.

Stay Positive

            “Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard

Negative thoughts and doubts are often times easier to believe than positive thoughts simply because it’s more difficult to be optimistic. However, there are a few things you can do to have a more positive outlook. Positivity can have a huge impact on your life, business and personal!

First, try and become more conscience of what goes through your mind. This way when once you realize you are thinking negatively about something you can let it go easier and avoid talking about it out loud. The most challenging part is changing the way you feel about a situation. This is a time where being optimistic is a great advantage; start visualizing and coming up with more desirable outcomes regarding the condition. After you visualize, begin to take action towards your new goals. Go about your normal day, learn new things, and if an opportunity comes about, then take it!

This is a no brainer… Make sure you surround yourself with positive people. Their attitudes and perspectives will soon wear off on you; this is also a way to get feedback.

Lastly, it could never hurt to take some time out of your routine to look up some positive or inspirational quotes. Or if the situation calls for it, a funny cat picture! Whenever you feel like giving up or are feeling down about something, try adjusting how you perceive things with these easy yet very helpful tips. 

Get more out of your positive lifestyle.  Contact one of the positive people at Connor | Caitlin for more tips and tricks.  

info@connorcaitlin.com 

Make Time your Partner, Not your Opponent

Time is the most precious resource we have as human beings.  When it comes to your job, time management is definitely something you need to master sooner rather than later to avoid being swamped. There are a few key tips to keep in mind when managing your time during work.

Always be a good listener. It’s critical to listen to your colleagues in order to learn, receive some advice, or come up with new ideas. Often times this helps get tasks done faster.

Deadlines are also very important, so the more successful employees tend to be more organized and productive by keeping track of time. Planning ahead is a tactic that is needed in order to meet deadlines and will benefit you in the sense of keeping your day on track.

In today’s society, technology and social media are becoming large aspects in the business world. Technology should be used as a resource, but a lot of times it can be a distraction. It’s vital to be in control of technology so it doesn’t control you and affect your work ethics. Take initiative and handle these circumstances and diversions that are best for you.

Another tip is knowing your limit, so never bite off more than you can chew because in the long run that will end up slowing you down.  Going back to planning out your work day; it’s a clever idea to set a time for yourself that you want to work until and a time you don’t want to work past. By choosing a time to leave work by will help you be more proficient during the day, as well as keeping up with plans outside of work. 

The real and utmost trick to time management is organization. Being organized helps you stay at the top of your game, so go ahead and make a to-do list and organize your information. You will find yourself moving at a faster pace and work will seem that much easier with a little bit of organization skills.

Manage your time; don’t let it get ahead of you.

Please contact Connor | Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com for more information. 

Why it’s Okay to Have an Off Day

Let’s get real. Everyone has off days. Sometimes it’s the weather, sometimes it’s morning traffic, and sometimes you just can’t find your motivation. In case no one else has told you this, I will: it’s okay.

Today is an off day for me. I have not accomplished nearly as much as I would like to. I have not been proactive in asking for tasks or seeing if I could help anyone with what they’re working on. However, I am still writing a blog and I did accomplish what was asked of me. Still, today is an off day.

It’s okay to have off days because you cannot give 100 percent all the time. You can try, but you will fail and you will just disappoint yourself. This is not to say that it is okay to give 50 percent all the time, just to say that you do not need to beat yourself up over a crappy day.

Today could have been better and maybe it should have been, but because today was like it was I know tomorrow will be better. I let myself have an off day because if I had tried to force myself into an exceptional day I would have produced mediocre work that I would have to fix tomorrow. I stayed on top of all my required tasks and made sure I did not fall behind. I did not get ahead either, but that’s okay.

Everyone has off days. It’s okay to let yourself have one and not feel guilty. No one is perfect and your bosses do not expect you to be either. Give 100 percent as much as you can, go above and beyond when you need to, and give yourself a break when you need it. Ultimately being honest with yourself about your capabilities each day is going to lead to long-term higher productivity. So really, it is okay to have an off day!

Contact Connor | Caitlin with your questions about workplace productivity!   

info@connorcaitlin.com 

What Our Intern Had to Say

One of my mentors favorite expression is “Plans are fluid.” This could not be truer for my life, or my internship.

Each day is a new experience. I really never know what is going to happen when I walk into the office in the morning. There is always something new to be learned and a new task to complete every single day, and I love it!

I really get to be a part of the team and help with major projects. I am pushed past my limits and forced to learn new things. I get to work with people who genuinely care about my experience and want to help me improve my skills. Not only that, but they truly value the skills that I do have. Nearly everyday, someone asks for my opinion on something because they really want to know what I think about it.

The best part is being a part of such a wonderful company culture. We talk about the “three I’s” a lot, which are intensity, integrity, and intelligence. Connor | Caitlin has all three of them. We work intelligently with intensity and integrity to solve our partners’ problems. I firmly believe Connor | Caitlin is so successful because we also employ the intensity “I” in our fun as well. When we have fun, we HAVE FUN, and we have fun all the time.

The entire environment in the office has taught me the kind of culture to look for in a company. I am exponentially more productive and happier because of Connor | Caitlin’s dedication to creating such a great place to work.

If you have questions about how to create excellent internships in your business, contact Connor | Caitlin!

info@connorcaitlin.com

Tell Them What They Need to Know

Nearly all studies and surveys about what companies are looking for in their next hire result in the same top answer: communication. Employers need to know that a person can effectively communicate with others in order to complete tasks, make improvements, develop culture, create change, and many other things.

The first way employers will begin determining communication skills occurs in the interview. More and more interviewers are asking candidates vague questions. This is not because the hiring authorities do not know what they want to ask, it is because they want to know if a candidate can provide them the information they need.

In the past, many interviewers would ask something like “Tell me about a time you managed people and if it went well.” Now they will say something more like “Have you managed people?” While these questions may seem very different, it is more than likely that they are looking for the same kind of answer. The employer still needs to know if a candidate can manage people and how they did it, but they are also using the question to gauge the candidate’s communication skills.

This is the time for a candidate to show the employer that they are not only qualified for the job, but they bring excellent communications skills to the table as well. If a candidate answers “Yes” to the second version of the question, they are technically answering what was asked of them. However, a candidate could answer, “Yes, I have. At my current position I manage a team of 6 individuals who each have at least three reports. I have had to resolve conflicts and help make group changes. It is an environment I have really enjoyed and have also learned a lot from.” This answer gives the hiring authority detail that a simple “yes” did not. It shows that the candidate has real applicable skills and can communicate that clearly.

In your next interview, be sure to listen for opportunities like the one described here and showcase your communication skills when you can.

Contact us at info@connorcaitlin.com for more information. 

Put Your Best Foot Forward-In Your Resume!

Creating a good resume is one of the most important parts of finding a job. Your resume is the first thing a potential employer will get to see about you, so it’s important to make a good first impression. Avoiding these common mistakes can help you get more calls from employers and a better chance of landing a job.

1. Make sure your resume is free of grammatical errors. Typos in your resume can lead a potential employer to believe you can’t write well or you lack attention to detail.  Proof read your resume a few times through to ensure your resume doesn’t have any errors.
2. Be specific! Often people write about their previous positions and the duties associated with those positions. Employers want to know about your accomplishments and projects you completed at your jobs, not the fact that you had to attend daily meetings. Doing this can give your employer a better idea of your skills and proficiencies.
3. Job seekers often also send the exact same resume to all employers. It is important to tailor resume to the job you are applying for. You don’t have to do a complete overhaul of your resume for each job, but highlighting skills you have that complement each job you are seeking will make it look like you are a great fit for each position.

If you have any questions, please contact Connor | Caitlin Talent Solutions.

www.connorcaitlin.com

info@connorcaitlin.com 

Don’t Live a Life of “What Ifs”

As you know, and probably have felt before, most of the time people don’t like stepping out of their comfort zones, especially when it comes to the business world. However, if you have an opportunity in your life that will benefit you in the long run, then take the risk. If not now, when? If you don’t take chances that require a leap of faith, you may end up regretting it later on.

For example, let’s say you find something that you are extremely passionate about, but it doesn’t have anything to do with your current job. Go for it. Try something new, because if it will benefit you in some way then it’s worth it.

When taking chances you may not have all of the answers, but there are always lessons to learn about determination, leadership and courage. You are responsible for creating the life you want and the career that will satisfy you. Fear is the main factor that holds us back from reaching our greatest potential; therefore we won’t know what is achievable until we try.

People are inspired by the idea that they can own their life and meet their own ideal success. Next time there is a promotion at work or an opportunity that you wouldn’t normally take simply because of fear, just remember that life is about risks. Don’t let the “what ifs” in life stop you, because they might end up being the best decisions you ever made.

Please contact Connor | Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com for more information, or for help to reach your next goal.

The Secret to Getting a Promotion

When a topic regarding promotion is brought up, it often leaves people quite perplexed. In many situations people complain about the unfairness of how promotions are chosen. So, what is the secret to getting a promotion?

For one, start associating yourself with other people who have been promoted and those who are highly respected within your company. Habits rub off; therefore it is important that you gain the right ones. Along with the correct skills for the job, you should also strive to have the best attitude you can.

           

Communicating is one of the most important characteristics you need to maintain in the business world. Know how to effectively and appropriately discuss your accomplishments and strengths with your boss. Also, try giving your boss a weekly update so they are aware of what’s going on in your department; this displays your attention to the company. With that being said, “don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk”. While communication is vital, so is participation. It’s always noble to get involved, particularly when it comes to meetings and business socials.

You have to be willing to show your boss you can handle responsibility and be more involved than the average Joe. One thing yo

u never want to do is obsess over getting a promotion, just go with the flow. If you ask your boss over and over again then you will end up seeming desperate and that is not a quality they are looking for. Don’t stress too much over whether you do or don’t get a promotion, its nothing personal, so all you can do is strive to be the best employee you can be.

Please contact Connor | Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com for more information.

Average Hiring Times Getting Longer

The Interview and Hiring process is taking much longer than in previous years. Average hiring times have increased from around 12 days in 2010 to around 23 days in 2014. This is due largely to the more in-depth screening process being used by employers today. Studies show that panel interviews can add almost a week to the hiring process and things like IQ tests and personality tests can add as many as 4 days.

While it is important for an employer to make sure they are making the right decision, taking too much time can actually lead to weaker hire. This seems counter intuitive, wouldn’t taking more time allow the employer to find a better candidate? However, if you take too long with the hiring process, you give the strong candidates time to accept other offers, leaving you with a weaker pool of prospective hires. Taking too much time can also result in loss of productivity. The more time the hiring process takes, the more time the empty position goes unfilled.

It is important to balance the time it takes to effectively screen potential candidates with how much time it will take. If you leave out key steps in the hiring process, you won’t be sure exactly who you are hiring. If you take too long with the hiring process, you could lose strong candidates to other companies and lose productivity.

If you have any questions about hiring practices, please contact Connor | Caitlin Talent Solutions. 

www.connorcaitlin.com

info@connorcaitlin.com

Tips and Tricks for Skype Interviews

Skype interviews are becoming more and more prevalent as of recently. They are halfway between a face to face interview and a phone interview, so it’s understandable to have questions about them. Many often wonder how they should dress or if they should look at the interviewer on the screen or the camera that is recording them to give the impression of eye contact.

Don’t try to get too comfortable just because you are in your own home. Since the Interviewer can actually see you during the interview, you should dress as you would for a face to face interview. You still want to present yourself as professionally as possible.

Make sure you are mindful of your background. The focus of the interview should be on you, so having things like a television on or children running around can be distracting for the interview. Remember to also make sure the interviewer can see you, if you have a bright light or a window in the background, you end up looking like a dark blob.

In a normal interview, eye contact is very important, so it is important to give the interviewer the impression of eye contact. This means looking at the camera rather than the screen. It may seem awkward, but the interviewer won’t be able to tell the difference.

Electronic interviews are rapidly becoming the standard for first time interviews.  Polishing up your presence on camera not only helps you land that job, but also gives you confidence in making presentations.  These skills are highly desirable, regardless of if you are working in a lab or customer facing. 

If you have any questions, or want more information regarding electronic interviews, please contact Connor | Caitlin Talent Solutions.

www.connorcaitlin.com

What’s your best practice?

The phrase “best practice” is tossed around all the time, especially in human resources and recruiting. What does it really mean though?

A company begins to call a procedure a “best practice” after it is proven to provide results. Companies love hearing about “best practices,” sharing theirs with others, and learning new “best practices” from others. When just thinking about it on the surface, that makes a lot of sense. However, if the surface of the idea is scraped just a tiny bit, the idea begins to fall apart.

If there is one thing that is constant in the world it is change. Change is necessary for progress and progress is vital to continual success. If these ideas are held true, then the idea of “best practices” is almost a laughable one. How can one expect to change and progress while using the same procedures over and over again?

The other vital piece to consider is that all businesses and people are different. What works best for one may be a catastrophic failure to another. Learning from others is a great practice and can lead to miraculous innovation, but only if done while still considering differences. 

All of this is not to say that you should throw all procedures and practices out the window. Some consistency and much organization are both also key factors of success. However, it is important to regularly examine everything being done to insure no updates or improvements can be made.

Contact Connor | Caitlin to talk about “best practices” and continuous improvement by emailing info@connorcaitlin.com 

Managing Stress to Achieve Your Goals

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by work or school, unable to unwind after a demanding day? Often, this is due to an unhealthy level of stress, making you feel trapped and unable to complete any of your tasks. These levels of stress can cause things like obesity, depression, and decreased cognitive ability.

While too much stress can make you feel overwhelmed, too little stress causes you to feel bored and uninterested. A healthy level of stress motivates you to work productively, allowing you to reach your full potential. The key to being successful is being able to manage your stress and keep it at a healthy level.

There are many ways to help manage stress. Exercise is a great way to beat stress. It is proven to reduce stress hormones and calm your mind. Meditating is also known to relax your mind and body, reducing stress. Eating and sleeping well are also important when it comes to managing stress. Foods rich in vitamin C are known to reduce stress hormones, while a good night’s sleep can help energize you the next day, so you don’t feel so overwhelmed.

If you have any questions, please contact Connor | Caitlin Talent Solutions at www.connorcaitlin.com.

Talent of a Lifetime

Talent is essential to everything a business does. Talent needs nurtured, tended to, and at times even created. Each member of the team brings something different to the table with their individual talents and abilities. When complacency is allowed, the talent plateaus and can even decrease.

Expecting excellence from employees and creating an environment where their talents are valued and sincerely appreciated develops exceptional employees. Having exceptional employees leads to higher output and greater results.

The question then becomes how to insure talent is truly being tended to. A lot of companies have created superior leadership and training programs. These programs allow companies to teach employees company standards and specific operating procedures.

All of this is wonderful, however it is important to consider the negative effects as well. When companies rely too heavily on these programs, they effectively toss talent management to the side. This is the exact opposite thing the programs were intended for, but it is what is happening.

Successful talent management happens daily and involves all levels of employees! When employees are directed to foster talent in each other it creates stronger teams and individuals. Talent management cannot be a once a year, or worse, once a career thing. It is a continuous process of self-improvement and awareness.

Contact Connor | Caitlin with any questions about developing talent in your business at info@connorcaitlin.com

Expansion With The Help of Social Media

Social media is rapidly changing the ways we do business. It is a great way to expand your business and increase name recognition. A study by the Internet Advertising Bureau UK found that 80% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that has a big social media presence.

The key to using social media as a means of expansion is to understand your target audience and what social media sites they use. For example, if your audience is younger, you might consider using Twitter, while you might use Facebook if they are older.

Remember that it takes time to build up a large follower base that will make a difference in your business. Don’t expect instant results and stay with it! Also, respond to feedback. No one wants to follow a page that doesn’t interact with them. This will help you keep your existing followers as you try to gain more.

Most importantly, remember that social media is simply a tool to increase exposure and to connect with your customers, so don’t spend too much time focusing on it! You still need develop products, grow your mailing list and sell your products. Social media shouldn’t replace marketing activities, it should complement them.

If you want more information, please contact Connor|Caitlin Talent Solutions.

BASF, Making a Difference

In a world where we hear far more about the bad than the good, it is vital to recognize exceptional actions when taken. BASF continues their partnership with the Louisiana Arts & Science Museum to provide a hands-on learning experience for children ages 6 to 12.

BASF The Chemical Company started the partnership four years ago in the company’s continual effort to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in the region.  

“BASF encourages an interest in science at an early age,” said Tom Yura, Senior Vice President and Manager of the Geismar BASF site. “Our goal is to have kids interact with the basics of chemistry and the products that surround them daily so that they can explore the connections to chemistry in their world. Through Kids’ Lab we provide hands-on learning that helps today’s students become the innovators and leaders of the future.”

More than 10,300 people have participated in the program at the museum since its induction. This has allowed children and adults alike to explore chemistry in safe, supervised experiments as well as demonstrations. By exposing young children to science, BASF truly opens the door for new explorations and interests for the children. Additionally, the company is giving back to the community around them in a very positive way.

This is just one example of coatings companies getting involved in their communities to make the world a better place.

Contact Connor | Caitlin at info@connorcaitlin.com to talk about how your company can give back.

Be a Learner!

Whenever a person is recognized as being successful, people always want to know how they did it. One thing that nearly every successful person will contribute his or her success to, is lifelong learning.

Successful people never stop learning; they learn from every opportunity they can. They’re continuously looking for new opportunities to grow and develop. This allows them to constantly be at the top of their game and know what is going on in their market.

There are tons of ways you can develop lifelong learning habits. Read a book a month, an article a day, or a newspaper every weekend. Go to a conference. Set up a training program at work. Sign up for something you have never done before. The important thing is to set goals for yourself and make sure you are making progress towards them.

Once you have your goals set, decide how you will use your new knowledge and make the most of it. Talk about what you are learning with others. Write about it in a journal, or keep notes in the margins of the book you are reading. Teach others what you have learned. Surround yourself with other lifelong learners that will challenge your ideas and push you to try new things.

If you dedicate yourself to being a lifelong learner, it will impact far more than just your professional life. Lifelong learning can create new friendships, develop new skills and hone existing skills, keep your mind sharp, help you adapt to change, lead to higher levels of self-fulfillment and it can even help make the world a better place. 

If you have any questions about lifelong learning or how you can promote it in your workplace, please contact Connor | Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com.

Happiness is the Ultimate Key to Success

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer

If you want successful employees, you need happy employees. This begs the question, how do you get happy employees?

Hiring people who really want to work for your company is key to employee happiness. By creating a friendly work environment and being great at what you do, your company will attract excellent candidates. 

The best thing to do is simply open the dialogue with employees. If you do not really know what your employees need to be happy,

you cannot provide it. Every workplace is different and every employee is different, but having a common understanding of employees in your workplace will allow you to cater to them, which will create success. Additionally, simply making sure that your employees know that their happiness is important to you will contribute to higher employee morale and better company culture.

There are a lot of great articles about research done by Shawn Achor on happiness contributing to success. A great place to start making employee happiness a priority is checking out this research and sharing it with your employees.

Please contact Connor | Caitlin to talk about the happiness and success of your business.

www.connorcaitlin.com