How to Ask for a Referral Without Embarrassing Yourself

How to Ask for a Referral Without Embarrassing YourselfHow to Ask for a Referral Without Embarrassing Yourself The most awkward networking attempt Ive ever witnessed happened in my senior year of college. A former executive at NBC who had started his own production company came to talk to the film department at my school about entertainment careers, and I went to check it out. The speaker was great - he had plenty of insight, advice and personal anecdotes, and I stayed after to chat with him a bit (mainly about our mutual love of 30 Rock if Im being honest).Ahead of me in line was another woman who, rather than asking a thoughtful question, hit him with Can you help me get an internship at your company? Unsurprisingly, he gave her a strange look, said that she should look up the opportunities available on their careers page, and moved on. After all, why in the world would he vouch for her when he didnt know anything about her?I understand why you might want to ask someone to help you get a job at their company - referrals are a powerful way to get your foot in the door, and studies have shown that recruiters view referral candidates as higher quality than other sources. But if you dont ask for one the right way, you may be doing mora to hurt your application than help it. An out-of-the-blue request like the one I witnessed can come across as pushy, crass and just plain self-serving.To help you navigate that fine line between polite and presumptuous, we reached out to experts to hear how they suggest approaching someone for a referral - here are their tips.If youre close to somebody connected to the company - be it a friend, family member or former colleague - youre in luck. Assuming you have a good relationship, they will probably be happy to help you out.Be honest with them. Tell them what it is youre ultimately looking for, and give them an idea of how they can help you, recommends career coach Carlota Zimmerman .Keep in mind, thoug h, that a request for a referral - even when asking a close friend - is not a guarantee that youll receive one. If somebody cant vouch for your work quality, they may not be comfortable putting themselves on the line for you. Because of this, its polite to give somebody an out, says Roy Cohen, career coach and author of The Wall Street Professionals Survival Guide .Build in an exit option for friends, family and colleagues. Sometimes, and to our great surprise and disappointment, the people closest to us will act weird when these sorts of requests are made, Cohen says. Rather than jeopardize the relationship, let the request go if there is any waffling.Cohen suggests saying something like I wonder if I can impose on youand its not an issue if you cant. Im trying to get a referral to company name and I seem to remember that you may know that person or know someone who does. It would really mean a lot to me. Let me explain why.If they do end up referring you, dont take it for gr anted.Afterwards, take them out to dinner, or buy them a small thank-you present, Zimmerman advises.Asking for a referral from an acquaintance - say, a friend of a friend or former coworker who you only talked to a handful of times - requires a little bit more finesse. One way to build goodwill and improve your odds of a response is reminding them of your connection to each other.It is always best if you and the acquaintance share a good mutual friend or colleague in common. That will establish your credibility as someone who is not likely to be a source of embarrassment, Cohen says. Send a brief note first to break the ice and to provide context as to why you are reaching out.Cohen suggests You may remember that you and I share so-and-so in common. I seem to recall that you may also have a connection to who you want to meet or where you want to go. I heard that there may be an opportunity there and I wanted to reach out, but I dont know anyone at the firm. Can I impose on you ? Let me tell you about my background so that you know a little bit more about me.This last part is key, Cohen says, as people we barely know or know peripherally on a social basis may have little knowledge as to our backgrounds. It is always a good idea to remind them by sharing information that they may be unaware of and that may even impress them.This will also allow them to give hiring managers and recruiters a better idea of what you have to offer, which is key if you want to get their attention.And just as you would with a friend, its nice to express your appreciation for a referral by thanking them with a phone call, note or small gift.If you dont know somebody who works at the company youre interested in, all hope is not lost. These days, you can easily go erreichbar to figure out who works at a company and reach out to them. Its best to seek out a recruiter, the hiring manager for the role or someone who is on the team youre interested in joining. Make sure that youre not a sking for too much too quickly, though, as that will turn people off of helping you.Once you reach out to someone via LinkedIn or email, always begin by expressing your gratitude, and repeat that message at the very tail end of your request, suggests Cohen.Then, use your interest in a position at the company they are working at as a way to get to know this person, advises J. Kelly, author of BUILD YOUR DREAM NETWORK Forging Powerful Relationships In A Hyper-Connected World .Kelly suggests saying I know weve recently connected on LinkedIn through XYZ, and I recently saw the X department at your company has an open position. Im intrigued by it. Any chance I could ask you a few questions about the company and the role? Use your interest as the way to start a conversation and be open to where it leads to, she adds.Ask a few questions about the company culture, responsibilities of the role, what they love about working there, etc. Then, you can begin a gentle segue into mentioning that you too would like to work for that company, shares Sara Causey, CEO of SEC Technical, LLC. Have a strong pitch ready as to why you want this referral, your goals, what you bring to the table (education, experience, expertise) and crucially, why you believe this person can help you, Zimmerman suggests. Remember that youre essentially asking a stranger to open doors for you, so how you present is how youll be perceived.Dont forget to thank the person for their time, and if they do end up providing you with a referral, keep them looped in on next steps.In any situation where you ask for a referral and someone grants it, circle back with that person on the outcome Nothing is worse than being left in the dark as to whether or not an introduction or interview came through, Cohen says. Not to mention, by following up, youre also more likely to receive help from that person again in the future.Asking for a referral may seem intimidating, but its often an effective way to head to the to p of the candidate list, so its worth the request - as long as you handle it delicately. But if you demonstrate respect for the other person, show thoughtfulness in your approach and thank them for their time, youll have nothing to worry about.

Here is why nothing fails quite like success

Here is why nothing fails quite like successHere is why nothing fails quite like successWhere were you on January 28, 1986?If youre American, and you were older than six at the time, the chances are that you know the answer to that question.On that morning, the space shuttle Challenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven members of its crew.A special commission appointed by President Ronald Reagan determined that the explosion resulted from a catastrophic flaw in what are called the O-rings. unterstellung rings are like rubber bands that seal the joints of the solid rocket boosters that launch the shuttle and prevent hot gases from entering into it.The problem with the O-rings wasnt new. NASA had been flying its shuttles with damaged O-rings as far back as 1981. Engineering documents described the O-ring erosion as an acceptable risk, the standard way of doing business. As one flight after another was completed successfully despite dangerous levels of erosion, NASA be gan to develop institutional tunnel vision.The anomaly eventually became the norm.Seventeen years later, it happened again.On February 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia blew up, killing all seven astronauts onboard. This time around, the culprit was a large piece of foam that had separated from the shuttles external fuel tank during its lift-off and struck its left wing, leaving a gaping hole in the thermal insulation.The foam debris had struck and damaged the shuttle in the past numerous times. These launches were all characterized as successes since the damage from the foam didnt compromise mission safety. As a result, foam shedding, as it was internally called at NASA, became an acceptable way of doing business, despite the serious risks it presented.NASA was able to successfully launch numerous shuttle missions, despite the erosion of the O-rings before Challenger and despite the foam shedding before Columbia.In each case, success created complacency with the status quo. Succe ss boosted egos. Success put blinders on the most capable engineers and managers working at NASA.When we succeed, we assume that everything went according to plan. When were too busy lighting cigars, we fail to see that we succeeded despite making a mistake or despite taking a serious risk. We ignore the warning signs, the near-misses, and the necessity for change. We chalk up our successes to our skills and genius even where blind luck deserves the credit.Just because youre on a hot streak doesnt mean youll beat the house.The moment we think weve made it is the moment we stop learning and growing. When were in the lead, we assume we know the answers, so we dont listen. When we think were destined for greatness, we start blaming others if things dont go as planned. When we declare ourselves to be an expert on something, we begin asserting confident conclusions without bothering to gather all of the facts. We launch shuttle missions despite glaring problems with the spacecraft.The au thor Elizabeth Gilbert sums up the same sentiment in her brilliant teddy boy talk Creativity, she says must survive its own success.You must survive your own success.The next time youre tempted to start popping champagne corks following a victory, stop and pause for a moment. Ask yourself, What went wrong with this success? What role did luck, opportunity, and privilege play? What can I learn from it?And the next time youre tempted to fear failure, keep in mind the words of English author Dean Inge Nothing fails like success.Ozan Varol is a rocket scientist turned law professor and bestselling author.Click hereto download a free copy of his e-book, The Contrarian Handbook 8 Principles for Innovating Your Thinking. Along with your free e-book, youll get the Weekly Contrarian - a newsletter that challenges conventional wisdom and changes the way we look at the world (plus access to exclusive content for subscribers only).Thisarticlefirst appeared onOzanVarol.com.

Top 5 Questions to Ask References About Job Candidates

Top 5 Questions to Ask References About Job CandidatesTop 5 Questions to Ask References About Job CandidatesWhether you want to hire a new company executive or a personal assistant, hiring the right candidate isnt always easy. After youve waded through all of the applications and resumes, you still have to interview a range of individuals, and then reach out to references to determine who is best qualified as the right fit for the job. If youre tempted to skip calling references altogether, dont make that mistake. The best way to background check a candidate about his or her skills, employment record, and qualifications is to verify them personally. You can learn everything about the candidate from their personal sense of integrity to how well they interacted with their fellow employees. What should you ask when you call references? What questions will give you the best insight into a potential candidates dependability and skills? How do you make the fruchtwein of the reference check s youre doing? These reference checking questions are recommended for employers to ask about candidates regularly but if you want to start with just a few recommended questions, try asking these five. Top 5 Questions to Ask as You Check References To help answer these questions and to simplify the reference-checking process, here are five specific questions you need to ask. What responsibilities did the candidate have while working with you? This is a basic question that allows you to gain objective information on the work the candidate has done elsewhere. Did a previous job involve the same responsibilities as the one for which youre hiring? (Some research indicates that potentially, your most successful hires are people who did a very similar job successfully for another employer.) Or did this previous job involve a completely different set of skills? Does this reference give you confidence that the candidate can fulfill the responsibilities of the role for which youre hiring or not? What were the candidates strengths as an employee? This question gives the reference a chance to sing the candidates praise, something most references are prepared to do, particularly if the candidate has warned the reference that you will call. What were the areas in need of development that were communicated to the candidate, and how did they respond to them? You dont only want to know about strengths, but you also want to know the candidates weaknesses- information that is harder to glean in a quick reference check. This is a question that allows you to fish for more information. According to Miriam W. Berger at national executive recruitment firm DRG, This question is a good way to get information regarding performance weaknesses that may not have otherwise been volunteered by the reference.Listen carefully as the reference describes how the candidate responded to performance improvement needs and direction. Can you tell me about the candidates tenure with your company- did he or she receive any raises, promotions, demotions, and so forth? Why did he or she leave? While this question is fairly objective as well, it will give you valuable intel on the details of the candidates former work. Advancements and raises show you that the candidate was moving forward and growing. Demotions may reveal problems you wont want to deal with in your own business. Likewise, discovering why the candidate left a previous role lets you know upfront about potential character issues relating to the candidates being fired or asked to leave a job, if applicable. Is there anything else I should know before hiring this candidate? Whenever youve made a connection with a reference who is willing to talk with you, make the most of your good fortune by asking open-ended questions that call for in-depth answers, says HCareers.com. Within reason, give the reference ample opportunity to answer as comprehensively as they are willing to. Not only will giving the person a little ext ra time and opportunity to give you feedback help you gain more information, but it will also round out the perspective youre able to have about the candidate. Always conclude your conversation by asking if theres anything else you should know. Give the reference a chance to fill in the gaps with other pertinent details. In plus-rechnen to the questions above, pay attention to nonverbal communication- how the person pauses, hesitates or has a hard time answering a specific question. Some references are reluctant to relay bad or negative information about a candidate, but by carefully listening to verbal hints, you can gain valuable clues that the candidate has a potential issue that you will need to address when you have hired the candidate.

Name Change Kit FAQ - United States

Name Change Kit FAQ - United StatesName Change Kit FAQ - United StatesWhy do people change their anthroponyms?People decide to change their personennames for a variety of reasons. Some situations which may give rise to wanting a name change include if you are married and you want to restore your birth name if you are divorced (or your marriage has been annulled) and you want to restore your previous name if you are a divorced parent and you want you and your child to share the same belastung name if you are the legal guardian of a child and you want the child to share the same last name if you are an immigrant and want a name that reflects your new surroundings if you are trying to reconnect with your ancestral roots and want your name to reflect your heritage if you are a transgender person and want your name to reflect your gender or if you simply feel that your name does not suit you.The fact that you do not want your current name is all the reason fruchtwein people need to chang e their name. In most circumstances, a reasonable explanation should suffice for the courts to grant the change.Do I need an attorney to represent me?In most circumstances, you do not require an attorney to represent you in a name change petition.Why do I have to make a court petition to change my name?Previously, you could change your name by simply adopting a new name and using it consistently over a period of time. This is no longer the case. Given the possibility of identity theft and security breaches, you will now require official recognition of your name change. In most circumstances, you must have a court bestellung to prove that your name has legally been changed.When is a court petition not required to make a name change?Sometimes it is not necessary to make a formal petition for a name change. If you are getting married and both of you want to change your name all you have to do is provide a certified copy of your marriage certificate as proof of the name change.Also , if you are currently involved in some form of ongoing proceeding where name changes are granted, you may simply ask the court to provide a court order for a name change. The following proceedings allow you to make a name change without a formal petition Divorce Proceeding - If you are involved in a divorce proceeding in California, you can simply make a request to the judge handling your case to restore your previous name. U.S. Citizenship - If you are applying for U.S. Citizenship, you can enter a new name in Part 1 Section D of your Application for Naturalization N-400 form. After the swearing in ceremony, your new name will be official (the swearing in ceremony must be performed by a judge for this to work). Adoption - If you are involved in an adoption proceeding, you can ask that your adopted childs name change be included in the adoption order.Are there any requirements I must meet to make a name change application in California?In order to make a name change you must meet the following requirements you must be over the age of 18 you must be a resident of the state of California and you must be a resident of the county where you will file the petition in Superior Court.What are the types of name changes available to me?LawDepot provides name change packages based on 3 different scenarios Basic name change - This name change is available for individuals who want to petition the court to change their own names or the name of a child. Divorced individuals who want to return to their former name - This name change is available to divorced individuals (divorce must have taken place in California) who wish to return to their birth name or a name from a previous marriage. Name and gender change - This name change is available to individuals who want to petition the court to change their name and their official gender designation.Does LawDepot provide a name change package for each state?Currently, LawDepot provides a name change package only for the state o f California.

The Dos and Donts of Free Resume Templates 2016

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Millennial Unemployment Rate Nearly 4 Points Above National Average

Millennial Unemployment Rate Nearly 4 Points Above National Average Generation Opportunitys Millennial Jobs Report for January 2013 reports that Millennial employees experienced an 11.5 percent unemployment rate in December with African-American Millennials experiencing a 22.1 percent rate. Hispanics unemployment within the group was at 12.2 percent while female Millennials saw a 10.4 percent rate. In addition, about 1.7 million Millennials are now going uncounted by the U.S. Department of Labor in calculating the unemployment rate due to dropping out of the labor force. Were these individuals included, the unemployment rate would rise to 16.3 percent. Expected seasonal hiring is likely keeping youth unemployment artificially low, and young people know all too well that a temporary job over the holidays is not a long-term solution, Matthew Faraci, senior vice president for communications at Genera tion Opportunity, said. The fact is that 2012 marked yet another year in which Millennials were unable to find real opportunities in the vocations for which they trained and are qualified.This meant another year just scraping by, falling further behind on student loan payments, living at home with mom and dad, sending out hundreds of resumes, and filling out numerous job applications, all with little or no result. This was another year without hope for a generation eager to apply their skills and get in the game. As Washington argues over short-term fixes, Millennials are wondering why their elected leaders continue to ignore critical issues such as unprecedented youth unemployment as well as the larger challenge of addressing the nations underlying fiscal challenges.