Avoid These Virtual Meeting Mistakes

Virtual interviews and meetings were becoming more common even before the pandemic but are now a common part of life, especially if you work remotely. Zoom and its sister programs make working and collaborating from a long distance easy.

While most of us have adjusted to the quirks of virtual meeting technology, there are still common mistakes to avoid! Whether you’re prepping for a virtual interview or just getting ready for your next Zoom meeting, do a little self-scouting to make sure you’re avoiding these common blunders.

Your camera is off

It’s important to be visible in online meetings, and oftentimes that means showing yourself on camera. While it may not always be mandatory, it’s generally good etiquette to have your camera on if everyone else does.

Liv McConnell says that the expectation nowadays is to have your camera on in order to create a sense of community and continuity, especially if your team only meets online. This extra step can go a long way toward building a good rapport with your team.

“This makes you invisible, and that’s not a good look if you seek to impact, influence and impress. Plus, people in the meeting think you’re hiding something—or worse, goofing off.” –William Arruda

You aren’t making eye contact

With your camera on, your team can see your face. With that in mind, you’ll want to make sure you’re providing good body language cues like maintaining eye contact.

According to LinkedIn’s Hank Boyer, participants look at faces two-and-a-half times more in virtual meetings compared to in-person meetings. There isn’t much else to look at on the screen, This means you need to be even more aware of how you’re presenting yourself. Make sure your face is properly framed in your webcam and that you’re able to make eye contact.

Indeed also says to make sure not to appear distracted. If you have wandering eyes, it’s a clue that something on the other end might be distracting you. Consider setting up a “do not disturb” setting on your devices and make sure your eyes aren’t darting toward your phone.

Distractions are abundant

Minimizing distractions in general is good etiquette for your meeting. While working remotely offers additional freedom, it’s important to treat your coworkers with respect. Keep any pets or family members out of the room, put your devices on “do not disturb mode,” and focus on the meeting.

Alison DeNisco Rayome says that you never want to be the obnoxious person on the call that forgot to mute their microphone. If your coworkers can hear you typing, making food, or dealing with other problems, you’ll be disrespecting whoever is speaking and creating additional distractions.

Your background is distracting

Going even further, you’ll want to make sure you don’t offer any additional distractions on screen when the camera shifts your way. Finding the right, neutral background is crucial.

If the room you’re working in is messy, it will be very distracting and shift focus away from you. We’re all human and often need to put messes aside to work on other things, but if you know you have a meeting, take the time to make sure the room is clean.

Or, better yet, find a neutral backdrop behind you, whether a virtual option or some sort of backdrop directly behind you, writes Amanda Augustine. Sitting in front of a blank wall, a bookcase, a door, or some sort of curtain creates a neutral backdrop and lets your face and your words be the focus.

While not always appropriate, sometimes a virtual background can hide a messy room or create an air of professionalism. Just make sure it’s an appropriate one. A background where you’re on Mars or in the bleachers of Lambeau Field is probably distracting, even though it would be pretty neat.

Your screen is messy

Even if your room is clean and you have an inoffensive background, you may need to share your screen. You’ll want to make sure your computer is just as clean as your background.

At the bare minimum, Kenneth Terrell says to get rid of any distracting tabs or open programs. Your team doesn’t need to see your fantasy football team, or perhaps something not safe for work. Likewise, keep your desktop clear of any inappropriate files or of having too many cluttered on the screen.

“Play it safe by closing all windows and applications on your laptop and muting any default notifications on all nearby devices so your interview is uninterrupted by random pings or inappropriate ads popping up on open tabs.” – Amanda Augustine

Finally, Forbes’ William Arruda says to make sure that what you’re sharing can actually be read by human eyes. Create any items meant to be shared in a font big enough to be read and don’t overload the reader will too many words.

Wrap up

Even if you use virtual meeting apps daily, it can still be easy to fall for one of these classic blunders. Make time to brush up on your meeting etiquette and clear your screen (and workspace) of any distracting elements. Then, you’ll be ready to attack your next virtual conversation with a renewed sense of clarity.

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Finding Online Support For Your Job Search

A job search is a full-time job in its own right, and it’s easy to get bogged down. The sheer amount of resources available to aid your search are both extremely helpful and overwhelming. Thankfully, technology makes it easy to find friends and allies to assist.

Networking is a job seeker’s best friend and comes in many forms. Not every contact can get you a job, but there are thousands of people that can offer insight, new strategies and information, an extra set of eyes, or simply encouragement. If you’re looking for some extra support in your search, we cover how to find the right resource or group for you.

Know what you’re looking for

Just as it’s important to narrow down your job search to specific roles and industries, it’s important to have a clear picture of what type of support you need. Are you looking for an in-depth look at your resume or just need a friendly look over it? Do you have questions targeted toward a specific industry or are you looking for general advice? The clearer your needs are, the easier it will be to find the right resource.

It’s worth taking the time to email a group or community beforehand to get a better idea of what they can help with, writes Briefcase Coach’s Sarah Johnston. Some groups are all-purpose while many are geared toward a particular niche. A little research can help you find the right group for you.

Utilize community resources

Even if you plan to do most of your searching online, there still may be resources in your local area that can assist your search. Look into the resources you have available near you and start there.

Indeed suggests community centers and libraries are vital local organizations. The exact resources available will depend on your area, but you may be able to find local job boards, career services, or coaching available. Libraries are particularly valuable because they often have career coaching as well as reliable access to computers with internet access.

FlexJobs’ Rachel Pelta also suggests utilizing an alumni association. These groups will help any graduate no matter how long ago they graduated. Not only will they have resources to help you, but they can point you to other organizations or support groups.

“Alumni organizations help people stay connected with others they met at high school or college. Similarly, this is an excellent channel for job opportunities and networking.” –Indeed

Try something new

Once you’ve looked into local and familiar options, don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new! Part of networking is growing your network, and you’ll have to leave your comfort zone to do so.

Rachel Pelta mentions state job banks and job fairs as potential avenues worth exploring. A job bank is more than an online job board and can offer ways to learn or advance your skills or find resources specific to your needs. Meanwhile, job fairs have always been a valuable way to make connections, but now can be done virtually. A virtual fair means you can cut some of the stress associated with going to a big event and focus on the job opportunities and networking opportunities.

Join a group

If you want something more ongoing than the above options, consider joining a job search group online. Just as having good coworkers can make work better, having allies in your job search can make the process more positive.

Both in-person and online job search groups are available, with many more virtual groups forming after the pandemic. Career coach Bob McIntosh said that the switch to virtual job groups has vastly increased attendance thanks to ease of access and allows job seekers to share their screens with one another.

Make sure you can find the right group for your needs. McIntosh says there is a difference between networking groups and job search groups. Sarah Johnston says to make sure your group is well-organized and goal-focused.

You can find many of these groups on LinkedIn. FlexJobs’ Jennifer Parris compiled an excellent list of some of the best job search groups on LinkedIn, which you can find here.

Wrap up

Whether you need a few questions answered or you’re looking to develop new relationships, there are plenty of online resources available to help your job search. Joining a job search group can be particularly rewarding, and you might make lifelong friends along the way. Whatever your needs are, there is support out there, and you don’t need to tackle your job search alone!

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Career Lessons From The 2023 Masters Tournament

The beginning of spring not only means warm weather is finally arriving but also one of the most exciting events in professional sports—the Masters Tournament.

One of the four major events in professional golf, the Masters is an iconic tournament where legends are made at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club. Each individual storyline at the Masters is fascinating in its own way, and we can take many lessons from the pros for our own life. If you’re looking to advance your career, take these cues from golf’s most iconic event!

Consistency is key

Masters’ Sunday gets most of the hype since it’s the culmination of the event, but all four days matter. A consistent approach all four days is key to winning the tournament, and we need to be consistent in our own lives.

Victor Hovland made the news on Masters’ Thursday thanks to his dominant start and eye-popping shirt, but Hovland wasn’t able to keep the lead. Each day, he played a little worse, ultimately finishing at -6 and tied for seventh overall.

While it’s important to start strong, you need to put in the same work day after day in your career. Find out what works and doesn’t work early on and find a sustainable method to success. With practice and effort, you’ll outlast the competition.

Never count yourself out

At some point in your career, you’ll apply for a job with strict requirements, accept a challenging project, or add a new skill set to your repertoire. This may be intimidating, and you might think you can’t handle it. But give yourself a shot, and you may be surprised by the results.

Sam Bennett, a college amateur, shocked the patrons at Augusta. It’s hard enough to earn the right to play at the Masters, but it’s even more impressive to make the tournament as an amateur and keep climbing up the leaderboard. Bennett finished tied for sixth on Day 1 of the tournament, tying with 2022 winner Scottie Scheffler. Bennett went on to finish tied for 16th through the weekend, a phenomenal finish for an amateur. Bennett had an incredible first showing and shows that even a newcomer can keep up with legends.

We all have to start somewhere. It’s easy to get discouraged by new challenges in our careers. But never count yourself out. You too could end up impressing your bosses early on.

Perseverance pays off

Even if you’re a career veteran, you may face setbacks in your career. We all face different challenges and have different strengths and weaknesses. Stay resilient and believe in your capabilities even when things look grim.

“Look, I’ve been around the game long enough to know what to do in these situations. So it’s just kind of take the rough with the smooth and just go out there and do as best you can when you are out there.” -Shane Lowry

Jon Rahm, a favorite to win the tournament, had a disastrous first hole on Thursday. Rahm had a six on the first Par 4, including four put attempts. Yet Rahm stayed true to himself and recovered, finishing tied for second on the second day. Rahm had a short memory after that first step back and gained ground and never looked back. Rahm continued to persevere, and on Sunday, he emerged as the tournament champion, winning his first Masters.

Like Rahm, we can’t get hung up on small failures. The best athletes have a short memory after a setback. Learn from them and attack the next obstacle with tenacity, and you too can take strides in your career.

Be prepared for anything

Augusta National is a beautiful course. The broadcast will show the beautiful flora and the start of spring offers new beginnings.

But the weather wasn’t kind through the weekend. Both Friday and Saturday were delayed due to inclement weather. On Friday, trees fell due to the strong winds.

Yet the tournament had to go on, and those running that tournament were prepared. They made the correct design to postpone the rounds and organized new start times and pairings each day. This made for a long Saturday and Sunday, but the tournament finished strong.

Things will inevitably go wrong in your career, whether it’s not getting a job you want, a project failing, or some other setback. Be prepared for anything by doing your research, creating contingency plans, and learning how to pivot. By being prepared, you can weather any storm, literal or metaphorical.

​​”If there’s a word any golfer has to be, it’s adaptable.” –Jon Rahm

Wrap up

This year’s tournament was an exciting one as we saw old winners succeed, new players starting a strong career, a first-time champion earning the coveted green jacket, and the tournament runners keeping things moving in the face of bad weather. Our own careers might be vastly different, but we can learn valuable lessons from our favorite players. Embrace these winning mindsets and attack any obstacle in your way like a pro!

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How To Create A Post-Interview Thank You Note

During a job search, there are a plethora of little details a candidate can make that can lead to landing the job or being rejected. Perhaps one of the easiest—and most forgotten—tasks a job seeker can do is to send a “thank you” note after their interview.

In fact, ZipRecruiter CEO Ian Siegel called not sending a thank you note the No. 1 mistake job seekers make. Taking the time to send a note of gratitude shows that you’re truly interested in the job and willing to go the extra mile. If a hiring manager is between two candidates, the thank you note could be the deciding factor. If you’re looking to craft the perfect thank you note, consider the following tenets.

Send it soon

While you don’t need to send your note the second you leave the interview, it’s best to do it quickly while the interview is still fresh in your interviewers’ minds and while you remember key points you’d like to address.

Sending one too quickly risks your note looking canned or generic, but you should strive to send it within 24 hours after your interview, writes Upwork’s Sean Cope. Indeed says that 24-48 hours is acceptable, adding you want to do it quickly but to make sure you carefully craft your note. Context is important as well. If your interview was at the end of the day on a Friday, waiting until Monday to make sure it doesn’t get lost in the weekend shuffle is fine.

Send it to everyone you spoke with

You want your thank you note to be as personable as possible, so if you had more than one interviewer, make sure they each get their own note.

“Remember If you are talking to 3 or 4 people in an interview it is crucial to make a good impression with each one. A thank-you note goes a long way towards this step.” –Apollo Technical

If you can add a personal anecdote specific to each interviewer, thank will make your response much more genuine, show that you’re a good listener, and prove that you’re willing to put in a little extra work. Christopher Littlefield adds to make sure every name is spelled correctly and to address each person by the name they introduced themselves to you.

Be brief

A good thank you note doesn’t need to be long. If you are clear and can address your points quickly, the note should only be around 300 words or so.

Ian Segal says that if you address the following points with one or two sentences each, you’ll be covering the necessary ground:

  • Thank your interviewer for their time
  • Reiterate your interest in the role
  • Mention a detail you learned about them or their experience
  • Remind them why you’re the right candidate for the job

“Your follow-up is not the place to add all the things you wish you had highlighted in your interview,” –Lourdes Olvera-Marshall

Be specific

When answering the above prompts, make sure that your responses are as specific to the job and interview as possible. Sending a thank you note is good, but if that letter sounds generic or scripted, it won’t come off as sincere.

How can you make your note sound personal? MasterClass says to include something you learned about the workplace culture, something you discussed during your questions, or new insights about the job. Tying it back to something you discussed shows that you’re a good listener and that what you discussed really stuck with you.

“If there was an anecdote or a shared interest that both you and the interviewer seemed to connect over, you may briefly nod to that in your email, but only if it feels natural and appropriate.” –Deborah Acosta

Add value

While you don’t want to rehash your entire interview and cover things you forgot, you do want to point out the value you’d bring to the position and to reiterate your sincere interest in the role.

JobHero suggests that you elaborate on something you discussed in that interview, such as adding a suggestion or an idea that can highlight the skills you’d bring to the position. That’s why being specific can help—you can add to the points you’ve discussed with tangible ideas to show your knowledge and passion.

Be sure to actually directly thank the interviewer as well!

Wrap up

If you’ve embraced these tips, you’ll have created a brief but value-loaded note to your interviewers in a timely manner. Crafting the perfect thank you note only requires a little bit of time, and you can even have a template to work off of to save you even more time. But that little extra time will be noticed after your next interview!

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Self-Promoting Without Being A Burden

Whether you’re looking for a new job, highlighting your latest project, or sharing your noteworthy deeds, chances are you’ll want to promote your accomplishments online. Self-promoting is great, but if you go about it the wrong way, you’ll earn animosity!

“In today’s business world, self-promotion is indispensable. It is the key to landing a new job, securing a client or running a business altogether.” –Nancy Marshall, Forbes

Promoting yourself is crucial, but going about it the wrong way will come across as obnoxious, annoying, or bragging. If you want to make sure your accomplishments are being noticed, and noticed in a good way, stay true to these vital thoughts as you craft your posts.

Don’t spam

While this first tip may seem obvious, sometimes, you get excited and want to shout your accomplishments to the world. But resist the urge and make sure to choose your moments wisely.

Mike Ghaffary, general partner at Canvas Ventures, recommends reading more than you post, the online version of “listen more than you speak.” You’ll gain a broader view of how others post about their accomplishments and you can learn to mirror the well-forged posts.

Find the right channel

More than just not screaming your legend into the void, you need to find the right channel to promote yourself. Make sure to truly understand the tools at your disposal and use them correctly. Take advantage of tools like company newsletters and choose the right, appropriate time during a meeting,

Author Meredith Fineman suggests three primary online spots to list your accomplishments: your LinkedIn biography, your website and social media profiles, and your email signature. These are places where your accomplishments would be expected to be found and come across as organic. Your LinkedIn “About Me” in particular is one of the best marketing tools at your disposal. Make sure to use it wisely!

But coach Kim Neeson warns about overly selling yourself on social media. Try to use those profiles to add to a conversation rather than to solely advertise.

Focus on results

Now that you know when and where to promote, what should the content look like?

Fast Company’s Dina Smith says to stay focused on the facts. By focusing on the tangible outcomes and how they relate to important adjectives, you’ll not only show that you’re credible, but your accomplishments will seem factual and honest. You aren’t bragging when you’re stating indisputable facts.

“Like how you might write a résumé’s bullet points, briefly state what you accomplished, or contributed, and the impact or results of your efforts.” -Dina Smith

The Muse’s Anne Libby says that good self-promotion isn’t just about you. When you focus on these facts, you’re making the entire organization—and your bosses—look good.

Build credibility

The more you accomplish, naturally, you’ll be viewed as an expert in your field of choice. But that doesn’t just mean bragging about your accomplishments.

TopResume’s Tyler Omoth suggests becoming an industry expert by engaging with others on social media and commenting and sharing their posts. By joining the dialogue, and not just pushing your points, you can add your own credibility and value to posts. Soon, others may turn to you for your expertise and find your accomplishments organically.

“Beyond the virtual world, you can promote yourself as an expert by writing or speaking about your area of expertise. Industry publications and websites often need contributors—check out the guidelines for the ones in your field, and propose a topic or submit an article.” –Anne Libby

Intoo’s Caroline Vernon adds not to actually call yourself an expert, though. Calling yourself an expert makes it appear that you believe you have nothing more to learn and becomes braggy again. Show, don’t tell. Find ways to add value and help share your knowledge rather than announce it.

Share the credit

The best way to promote your accomplishments and gain positive notice is to make sure to elevate everyone on your team that helped. If you’re taking credit for the work of others or hogging the spotlight, you’ll turn your audience off.

“By offering support after completing your work, you demonstrate your proficiency at accomplishing important job tasks, and you can also have the opportunity to assist coworkers with your unique knowledge and skills.” –Indeed

Dina Smith says that by elevating others you appear authentic while also showing appreciation and generosity. These are the kinds of traits you want to be noticed for. Not only will your accomplishments be noted, but you’ll appear as a great team member people want to work with—providing more opportunities for great accomplishments.

Wrap up

If you’ve followed the above strategies, you’ll position yourself in a positive light without going overboard. By choosing the right time and place, showing that you can provide value without bragging, and using your space to elevate others, you’ll be noticed in a positive light!

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