Learning from TED Talks: Public-speaking 101

9 Public-Speaking Lessons From The World's Greatest TED Talks

Depending on your perspective, 2006 was either a really bad year for public speaking or the start of a world-changing transformation. In that year the famous TED conference began streaming 18-minute presentations from the world’s top minds for free. Today TED talks are viewed more than two million times a day and, in my opinion, they have become the gold standard in public speaking and presentation skills. It also means that, like it or your not, your next presentation will be compared to a TED talk.

During a trip to Paris last December I met with a group of young business professionals who said they were tired of speakers who gave “old school” PowerPoint presentations.

“What exactly would you consider ‘new’ school?” I asked.

“You know, like TED,” they said.

The South China Post newspaper recently reported that TED-style events are exploding in Hong Kong “in a big way.” Independently organized “TEDx” events are catching on across Asia. On a trip to Japan where I gave a keynote I was approached by several people who said, “We love the American style of speaking.”

“The American style?”

Yes, you know, like TED.”

FIND THE NINE LESSONS ON PUBLIC SPEAKING AT FORBES:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2014/03/04/9-public-speaking-lessons-from-the-worlds-greatest-ted-talks/

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How to Answer the Most Common Interview Questions

Wouldn't it be great if you knew exactly what a hiring manager would be asking you in your next interview?

While we unfortunately can't read minds, we'll give you the next best thing: a list of the 31 most commonly asked interview questions (and, of course, some expert advice on how to answer them).

While we don't recommend having a canned response for every question (in fact, please don't), we do recommend spending some time getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers are really looking for in your responses, and what it takes to show that you're the right man or woman for the job.

Consider this your interview study guide.

Can you tell me about yourself?

This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it's crucial. Here's the deal: Don't give your complete employment (or personal) history. Instead give a pitch—one that’s concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you’re the right fit for the job. Start off with the 2-3 specific accomplishments or experiences that you most want the interviewer to know about, then wrap up talking about how that prior experience has positioned you for this specific role.

How did you hear about the position?

Another seemingly innocuous question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. For example, if you found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name drop that person, then share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what, specifically, caught your eye about the role.

Find more of the most common interview questions, with detailed advice for each one:

HOW TO ANSWER THE 31 MOST COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

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270+ FREE, Professional Resume Templates for Microsoft Word!!!

Visit HLOOM's website and choose your next resume template from their vast selection of free Word docs!

From Basic to Modern, to ATS-Optimized, HLOOM has you covered with professional resume templates that are sure to impress your next employer.

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The Biggest Mistakes I See on Resumes, and How to Correct Them

By Laszlo Bock, SVP People Operations at Google

I've sent out hundreds of resumes over my career, applying for just about every kind of job. I've personally reviewed more than 20,000 resumes. And at Google we sometimes get more than 50,000 resumes in a single week.

I have seen A LOT of resumes.

Some are brilliant, most are just ok, many are disasters. The toughest part is that for 15 years, I've continued to see the same mistakes made again and again by candidates, any one of which can eliminate them from consideration for a job. What's most depressing is that I can tell from the resumes that many of these are good, even great, people. But in a fiercely competitive labor market, hiring managers don't need to compromise on quality. All it takes is one small mistake and a manager will reject an otherwise interesting candidate.

I know this is well-worn ground on LinkedIn, but I'm starting here because -- I promise you -- more than half of you have at least one of these mistakes on your resume. And I'd much rather see folks win jobs than get passed over.

In the interest of helping more candidates make it past that first resume screen, here are the five biggest mistakes I see on resumes.

READ ABOUT THE FIVE BIGGEST RESUME MISTAKES HERE:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140917045901-24454816-the-5-biggest-mistakes-i-see-on-resumes-and-how-to-correct-them

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Email, snail mail, phone, social media: rules for connecting with a potential employer.

Carrie Holler, a former HR executive for Rodale Inc. in Emmaus, PA, remembers a woman “who wanted to work for us in the worst way. She sent her resume to everyone from Mrs. Rodale on down, and she called us all several times a week.”

On paper, the woman wasn’t a good fit for the family-owned publishing firm. “Her resume didn’t have enough horsepower,” says Holler. Just to get the woman to quit bugging everyone, Holler invited her in for an informational interview. To Holler’s surprise, “She turned out to be so likeable and enthusiastic that I actually ended up hiring her,” Holler says with a smile.

Though that job seeker’s example might tempt you to follow her lead, don’t—she was the rarest of exceptions, says Holler. In fact, speed dialing a prospective employer and filling hirers’ inboxes with emails rarely pays off, whether you’re hoping for an interview or following up on one. Professionalism and strategic communications will serve you much better, says Karen Lippman, a managing director for Howard-Sloan-Koller Group, an executive search firm in New York City.

>>Read the article and learn the new rules for connecting with your next employer: http://workreimagined.aarp.org/find-a-job/how-often-should-you-contact-a-potential-hirer/

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Before and After - Improving a Real-life Cover Letter

Before Version

Here’s the before version. It reads like 95% of the cover letters out there. Like those other 95%, it basically says, “I know I need a cover letter, so here are some paragraphs of blah.” You can imagine multiple candidates for this position submitting this letter; there’s nothing especially personalized about it.

Dear Hiring Manager:

Your posting on LinkedIn for a Sales and Marketing Coordinator recently caught my eye, and I think you will find I am an exceptional candidate for this position.

I am an accomplished administrative professional and a junior in the Marketing & Management program at Riverrun University. Over the past ten years, I have provided high-level support in a variety of industries and across multiple functional areas. I am now seeking a position that will make the most of my administrative experience while offering additional opportunities for personal and professional development.

In exchange, I offer exceptional attention to detail, highly developed communication skills, and a talent for managing complex projects with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and multitask.

My accomplishments and qualifications are further detailed in the attached resume. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the value that I can bring to your organization.

Warmest regards,

Catelyn Stark

After Version

Here’s the after version. It’s awesome. It tells us who the candidate is and why she’s great at what she does. And she’s genuinely enthusiastic. This isn’t a generic letter; it’s a letter about her.
>>
Read the 'After Version' at Alison Green's excellent career advice blog: 
http://www.askamanager.org/2014/02/heres-a-real-life-example-of-a-great-cover-letter-with-before-and-after-versions.html

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Objective Statements Out, Executive Summary's In

Are you “looking to obtain a challenging position that will facilitate your work ethic”? “Seeking to obtain this challenging position in,” oh, let’s say the music industry? Perhaps you want to win “this challenging position that will utilize your expertise and education.” In other words, your objective is to get a job.

The recruiters and hiring managers who received your resume already knew that. That’s why you sent them your resume. Professional resume writers call this the “Duh! Factor.”

Unfortunately, it’s also the core of an old-fashioned objective statement.

Besides being self evident, an objective statement focuses on the farthest thing from hiring managers’ minds: your personal satisfaction. Instead of telling employers what’s in it for them, you’re telling them what you’ll get out of the deal (a job). That’s just bad marketing.
>>
Read the article here, and find out how you can improve your resume with an executive summary:
http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/trade-up-to-executive-summary

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