The Art of Giving Feedback

One of the key skills a good leader must possess is the art of giving and receiving feedback. It is essential in keeping a healthy work environment, motivating staff and encouraging a learning culture. Positive feedback can be easy to give but when it comes to giving negative feedback, it could be a difficult process. You need to build your confidence and to improve your communication skills. Akhtaboot provides you with some tips in order to master the art of giving effective feedback.

Read More

Making a Great Lasting Impression

It’s not just first impressions that count!

It comes as no secret that making a great first impression will do your career and life good on so many levels. So many business professionals get so hung up on making a good first impression and forget all about making it last. Whether you are giving a speech, going on a job interview, or delivering a presentation to your team at work, you need to plan your presence even if the crowd already knows you. Akhtaboot is here with a number of tips on how to make a lasting impression to keep yourself in line with bigger and better future opportunities.

It All Starts with the Proper Greeting

From the way you smile and remember the other person’s name to the way you shake hands and make eye contact; you should care, and it should show.  Say good morning or good bye to each of your coworkers as you walk by them, no matter how close you are to them. Although some coworkers may choose not to return the greeting, greeting coworkers properly will set a good standard for your future relationships at work.

Remember Names and Key Facts about People

Express interest in the people you meet and what they say. Remember personal details about them.  Keep track of what coworkers or clients reveal, like birthdays and the names of their family members.  Find ways to show that you remembered what they decided to reveal and try to draw on your own personal experience to show empathy. By letting people know something about you, you show them that you are an approachable person who can interact well with others.

Prove that you are Trustworthy

Although gossiping is sometimes tempting and fun to do, coworkers shy away from gossips as they never know when they’ll become their hot new topic in the future. If you treat private information with respect and only share it in absolute confidence and in a professional way, the more likely it is that people will trust you with confidential information. Make sure you only share information when you are certain that it won’t impact negatively on you or the person who told you. The more information people give to you, the more knowledgeable you will become in your role.

Looking and Feeling Good

People notice everything about you; from the choice of colors and how your jacket fits, to your hair-do and the length of your fingernails. Dress appropriately; even on casual Thursdays. Any drastic difference from the typical dress code for your position may give the impression that you don’t fit in. Keep your energy level balanced. If you always look tired, people will make the snap assumption that you're too tired to get the job done. This does not mean that you need to become a bodybuilder. But you must be healthy enough to look alert, competent, and interested.

We all know someone we would describe as charismatic. They always make a strong first impression, show strong confidence and have a captivating presence. They know how to build and maintain good relationships with people and are never forgotten. You need to understand that people aren’t born with charisma; it is a learned skill that you can actually develop to make an ever-lasting impression wherever you go.

Read More

Better Workplace Communications

Most of us think that communication is mostly done through words. This is not actually the case as body language including your movements, eyes and even hands say things more louder than your mouth. The ability to communicate with clarity and effectiveness is an imperative skill for organizational leaders. Akhtaboot provides you with some important ways to make your communications at work more effective.

1. Provide clear and complete information; make sure that you pass information correctly and accurately to avoid work redo.

2. Always be honest; never lie about anything as most lies are eventually revealed.

3. Listen actively; listening is an important skill that is rarely done well.

4. Be respectful; this means using the other person’s name, looking them in the eye, and nodding to show that you understand what they are saying.

Read More

Writing a Recommendation Letter

Whether you are writing a recommendation letter or requesting a recommendation letter, you should know what to include; every recommendation letter should include 3 key components:
1. A paragraph or sentence that explains how you know this person and the duration of your relationship with them.

2. An evaluation of the person and their skills/accomplishments. If possible offer specific examples that illustrate the person’s strengths and qualifications.

3. A summary that explains why you would recommend this person and to what degree you would recommend them.

The content of your recommendation letter will depend upon the needs of the person who is requesting it, but there are some common topics that you can address:

1. Potential
2. Skills/Abilities/Strengths
3. Dependability
4. Consistency
5. Character
6. Contributions
7. Accomplishments

Read More

GJU Partners with Akhtaboot on their 2nd Job Fair

 
The German Jordanian University (GJU) in cooperation with Akhtaboot – the career network organized the 2nd GJU Job Fair under the theme of ‘Empowering GJU Students and Graduates’. With the attendance of more than 25 international companies covering a variety of industries, the 1 day event was held on Wednesday the 30th of May, 2012 at the University’s campus in Jubaiha, Amman.

As part of Akhtaboot Cares Initiative - Akhtaboot’s CSR Arm, Akhtaboot’s Recruitment Specialists provided one-to-one CV evaluation for students and graduates-to-be, highlighting the areas that need to be tackled in order to prepare for the needs of today’s job market. Akhtaboot also provided GJU Students with career-related workshops on effective CV writing and interview skills. 

Rana Qubain, Community Manager and Social Media Strategist at Akhtaboot, said:

“For the 2nd year in a row, we are truly happy and honored to join forces with one of the fastest growing and reputable universities in Jordan, the German Jordanian University, in organizing their annual job fair. Our partnership with this educational institution is a true fulfillment to the mission of Akhtaboot Cares Initiative which aims to educate graduates-to-be and job seekers on how to approach the job market the smart way”.

GJU provided the perfect opportunity for qualified students to meet companies from a variety of industries while working on sharpening the necessary skills to get an advantage in the most competitive job market in decades.

Read More

How to Manage Your Manager

A good relationship with one’s manager is essential. When implemented effectively, the result is a win-win situation for both parties, as well as the company for whom they work. Boss management can stimulate better performance; improve your working life, job satisfaction and workload. Give your boss a hand and reap the rewards. Akhtaboot reveals some tips to manage up for an effective boss relationship:

1. Hold off any immediate reaction. Negativity can be perceived as rudeness, and an overly positive response may set unrealistic expectations.

2. Don’t let your emotions get in the way. Always state facts and numbers and be realistic.

3. Don’t just approach your manager with problems; approach him with solutions as well.

4. Do not assume your manager knows as much as you do, but assume he/she can understand; so educate them.

And always remember, managers are employees too.

Read More

Bad Tech Etiquette to Avoid at Work

Technology has simplified communications for most businesses, but the increased use of conference calls, video conferencing, and instant messaging has created a new list of off-putting behaviors that could put your business in an awkward situation. Akhtaboot provides you with some tips on how to use workplace technology the smart way!

1. Instant messaging works best for quick questions and updates not for long distracting conversations. Keep your chats short.

2. Avoid bright, flashy, patterned clothing when using Video Conferencing. Play it safe, wear neutral tones in solid patterns. Treat video conferences as face to face meetings.

3. Refrain from having side conversations while on the phone. Mute your phone if you have to multi-task while on a call or better yet, try not to multitask while talking to clients.

4. Make sure you have an ‘appropriate’ online presence on all your social media channels such as Facebook, twitter and LinkedIn, as your personal image reflects your company’s.

Read More

Revising Your Emails Effectively

What's the secret to writing effective emails that people actually read? You begin by writing all the ideas that come to your mind and think it’s the best written email ever! The truth of the matter is that you still have a long way to go. Writing a preliminary draft is the first thing you should do to put your thoughts in writing and revision is all about cleaning up and polishing your email to make it perfect. Akhtaboot provides some important tips to keep in mind when revising your emails. 

1. Do not be repetitive. People will stop reading and start skimming.

2. Always back up your sentences with facts and numbers. Never be vague.

3. Keep it short, direct and straight to the point. Focus on the real subject so as not to waste the time of the reader.

4. Spelling and grammatical mistakes say something about you!

Read More

Firing Employees the Right Way

The art of terminating employees the appropriate way

No matter how we try to sugar coat it, there is no pleasant way to fire an employee. However, you can’t afford to waste your time, money and effort by keeping bad performers around. While termination is a necessary part of any business setting, there are certainly right and wrong ways to go about letting someone go. Getting it wrong might cause heartache for the both of you, or worse, you may end up in court! So how can you fire an employee with minimum damage while keeping their ego intact? Akhtaboot presents you with some useful strategies to follow when terminating an employee is the only choice you have left.

Communication

There should always be an open dialogue between you and your employees from the very start. You should outline your performance expectations and make sure that your entire team understands their job description really well. If an employee is performing poorly, don’t hesitate to bring it to his attention before it’s too late. Keep in mind that poor performers can be turned to company superstars with the right motivation tools and mentorship style. Have a clear warning system in place that gives your employees multiple chances before the final cut is made.

Treat People Fairly

Since you are not perfect, an employee who does a mistake deserves a second chance. Find out the reason behind a work-related mistake; explain to him what he should have done differently to get a better outcome. Never make decisions based on your emotions rather than facts. You can't fire people based on personal clashes that has nothing to do with the actual job. It has to be about the impact on the organization, accountability and getting the job done. Your firing decisions should always be fact-based.

Be Honest and Firm

If after several warnings and second changes you decided that firing an employee is in the best of the company, remember to be honest, firm and always back up your speech with performance related facts. Get straight to the point and don’t label the employee himself, but the actions he has committed. Keep in mind that you should also allow the employee to vent. Listen to him, help him out and give him some useful advice. After all, he was one of your employees and you don’t want to have someone out there badmouthing your company.

Make it a Learning Experience for the Employee

Make sure that the terminated employee understands that any experience, is a learning experience. Pinpoint exactly what he did or didn’t do that led him to this point. Talk about what he can do differently in the future to improve his job. Offer to help your terminated employee with finding another job that fits his skills and strengths.

It’s a Learning Experience for YOU

The success of your company depends on its people. It all starts with hiring better! If the company’s turnover rate is high, something wrong is going on for sure. It’s either that the management isn’t doing a good job, employees are not well informed about what is expected of them, or you are just not hiring the right people in the right positions! Successful recruitment is never an easy task; you should have a clear idea of what you need exactly in an employee and look for successful patterns that have worked in the past to guide you through. Super performers are out there, but just as in the old days, you may need to do some detective work and actively seek out the people who will make your company great.

Read More

Writing a Thank You Letter: An Email Employers Rarely Receive After a Job Interview

Writing a thank you email after a job interview is a must. In fact, some employers think less of those interviewees who fail to follow up promptly. Plan to send a thank you email as soon as possible after your interview. In addition, thanking the person you met reinforces the fact that you really want the job.

1. View your Thank You Letter as a sales letter; restate why you want the job, what your qualifications are and how you are planning to make a significant contribution to the company.

2. Follow up with any information the employer may have asked you to provide after the interview.

3. Remember to Proofread; check spelling, grammar, typos, etc. If in doubt about the correct names, spellings or titles of your interviewers, call the office to double-check. Your efforts will be worth it!

Read More

Job Interview Etiquette

The first step into getting an interview is a stellar CV. Your CV has to stand out of the crowd and must look and ‘sound’ special. When you finally get the call you’ve been waiting for, you need to go to the job interview prepared, confident and knowing some interview etiquette. Akhtaboot is here to help you.

1. Be assertive and give a firm handshake to each interviewer.

2. Address each interviewer by name as he or she is introduced.

3. Speak clearly and avoid using “ums”, “uhs” and “you know”.

4. Avoid using slang.

5. Sit up straight in your chair.

Read More

Wow the Crowd with your Outstanding Presentation Skills!

Public speaking can be very stressful. It takes a lot of discipline, practice and preparation to pull off a good presentation. Becoming a competent, rather than just confident, speaker requires a lot of experience. Here are a few things you can do to start sharpening your presentation skills now:

1. Don’t Read- Go prepared, do your research and expect all sorts of questions.

2. Try making eye contact with each person in the room.

3. Engage the audience by asking them questions and by getting their opinion on specific subject matters.

4. Be Entertaining - Include appropriate humor, but make sure it doesn’t insult anyone.

Read More

Not a Morning Person?

Are you one of those people who really struggle to get out of bed in the morning? Most employees hate mornings and find a hard time waking up to a new day, every day! Becoming a morning person won’t happen overnight; it’s an ongoing process that takes time and dedication. Here are some tips that really work:

1. Try to go to bed earlier than you usually would; such an obvious tip but it makes all the difference. If you can't sleep right away, read a book or a magazine!

2. Set your alarm clock on the weekends as well! Keep your biological clock intact and make it a habit to wake up a bit earlier than you usually would on your days off.

3. If a cup of coffee is all you need after you wake up, then make sure to prepare all the ingredients the day before to help you kick-start a productive day.

4. Have your outfit prepared the night before. Have your laptop, keys, phone, and whatever you take with you all in one place, organized and prepared for you just to grab on your way out.

Read More

Strange Interview Questions: Akhtaboot Hashtag Campaign on Twitter Concludes

As if job interviews aren’t tough enough, hiring managers nowadays are going for weird and hard to answer interview questions that can put an A-lister in the hot seat. To being with, you must keep in mind that many of the toughest interview questions don’t necessarily have right and wrong answers. The real purpose of such questions is to find out more about the true personality of candidates when put under pressure and how they form decisions when faced with tough situations.

If candidates knew the exact questions to be asked in a job interview, they will rehearse beforehand, preventing their true personality from coming out. As a result, employers won’t be able to compare candidates based on certain personality traits.

Strange interview questions can reveal a lot about you as a job seeker, will you panic? Get angry? Give up? No matter what an interviewer expects to learn from such questions, no one wants to hire someone who is easily irritated, has no opinion or who is a quitter.

We decided to ask our @akhtaboot followers on Twitter what is the strangest job interview question they have ever faced. Here are some of the most interesting - yet weird – questions provided by our dear followers:

“Are you an only child?”
“Do you think we should mourn Saddam?”
“Would you spend your lunch break with your boyfriend?”
“What do you think about loving a woman?”
“What picture do you have hung above your bed?”
“If you were a tree,what kind of tree would you be?”

Job seekers need to understand the kind of analytical skills being sought by hiring companies. Think out of the box, be creative, organize your thoughts in a logical manner and never let your fear overcome your true identity. Just remember that the interviewer is just trying to find out how quickly you can think and how you stand up before stress or pressure.

Read More

Learn How to Manage Job Stress

The ability to manage stress in the workplace can not only improve your physical and emotional health, it can also make the difference between success and failure on the job. Being stressed can have a great impact on the quality of your interactions with your colleagues, boss, family and friends. The better you are at managing your own stress level, the more you'll be able to positively affect those around you:

1. Take responsibility for improving your physical and emotional well-being.

2. Avoid people with negative attitudes. Surround yourself with people who are enthusiastic and hard workers.

3. Revive the great lost art of conversation; improve your communication skills to enhance your relationship with your coworkers and boss.

Read More

Being a Great Leader

Some people believe that leaders are born with the necessary qualities that make them successful as leaders. While others believe that leadership, like many other similar characteristics, can be learned and developed through life. We at Akhtaboot believe that it’s a mix of both. That being said, one fact remains the same; you should work hard to become a great leader. Below are some tips to help you improve your leadership skills:

1. Work on improving your communication skills and abilities, especially your ability to listen to others.

2. Be willing to take risks.

3. Focus on working and living with integrity and respect for others.

4. Have confidence in yourself and in your abilities.

Read More

How to keep your boss happy?

Having a smooth and successful relationship with your boss is key to success at work and to help you climb the corporate ladder. Akhtaboot is here with some work behaviors that will keep your boss happy and help maintain a good fit on your boss’s time:

1. Find out what is important to your boss and make it important to you. Prioritize your tasks according to your boss's agenda.

2. Discuss your boss's work opinions and decisions, more often than not, and respect final decisions without compromising your own values.

3. Respect your boss's time and privacy; do not stand at his or her desk chattering away when you can clearly see they are busy. Catch him at another time when they’re free and in a good mood for a work-related chat.

4. Make your boss look good; finish tasks on time, dress professionally and maintain good manners with your clients and customers.

Read More

Staying Happy at Work!

If you’re looking for a happier time at work, don’t immediately go looking for another job. Never be a quitter! Akhtaboot is here to provide you with some tips to staying happy at your workplace.

1. Keep Personal Problems Personal: It's important to leave personal worries at home so you can focus and be productive at work.

2. Be Organized: Create a manageable schedule to handle all of your tasks. By taking control, you can feel a sense of satisfaction, enhanced confidence and motivation.

3. Don't Try to Change Your Coworkers: You can't change anyone; you can only change the way you react to them.

4. Eat Healthy and Drink Lots of Water: Maintaining a good diet and keeping yourself properly hydrated throughout your workday can really make a big difference in your energy level and attitude.

Read More

The 3 True Job Interview Questions

The only 3 true job interview questions are:

1. Can you do the job?
2. Will you love the job?
3. Can we tolerate working with you?

That’s it. Those 3! Each question may be asked using different words, but every question, however it is phrased, is just a variation on one of these topics: Strengths, Motivation, and Fit.

Read More

Motivating your Employees without Breaking the Bank!

Many employers to this day still believe in the good old saying that “more money equals happier employees”. But, contrary to popular belief, it is important for managers to focus on the top non-monetary motivating techniques that put employees at the core of your business strategy and stop them from jumping ship once a better offer is on the table. While non-financial motivation can be a challenging task, if done with the right combination of leadership and management skills it can increase job satisfaction and employee morale.

While employees wouldn’t mind a good pay raise, there are also other ways to motivate staff for higher productivity and to push them to go over and beyond established goals, without breaking the bank. Fortunately, Akhtaboot is here to give you some “out of the box” motivation tips without busting your budget.

Flexible Working Hours

From family obligations, friends, sports, hobbies to other activities, a flexible schedule or the occasional afternoon off can definitely help employees meet some of these commitments. Many companies are witnessing the benefits flexible working can bring to staff performance, motivation and productivity. In today’s hectic business world, more and more employees are demanding more flexibly in working hours in order to achieve work-life balance. Most flexible working hours schemes have a “Core Time” period during the day when employees must be in the office. A typical core time would be between 10 am to 4 pm. With the exception of core times, employees have the flexibility to start and finish work within flexible timelines at the beginning and end of each working day.

Invest in Social Functions

Holiday parties and company outings are some of the tried benefits that help boost employee morale. Companies have found that events such as parties and outings promote a team atmosphere. Create some casual days where employees can dress casually before a certain holiday or on their birthday. Launch contests where the prize entails getting some time off. Decide on specific days throughout the year where employees can go out of their offices and work outdoors. These are perfect opportunities that create a sense of belonging to the company and for employees to bond. You will be surprised that many employees will actually prefer time off over extra cash.

Fair Treatment

Employers must understand the fact that employees unconsciously assign values to each of their various tasks and accomplishments. Employees who are highly motivated are the ones who perceive their compensation to be equal to their contributions when compared to peers. It is important for companies to recognize this and reward employees based on their contributions to the success of the organization. Keep in mind that fair treatment does not entail that all employees are treated in an identical manner. For example, flexible working hours might be effective for motivating a working mother even more than a pay raise, while additional training may motivate younger employees.

Consider your Employees’ Career Goals

While it can be difficult to get a precise answer to the different career goals of all employees, companies that show interest in the career paths and personality types of their staff are considered employers of choice! Have your employees describe a previous project that they felt good about, then see what aspects of that can be repeated. Keep in mind that some employees may say that they want to work on a prestigious project, only to discover that it isn’t what they expected. Matching the right person to the right project is no easy task. To identify the right person successfully, relevant qualification and work experience should also be considered as primary determinants.

Managing the Learning Curve of your Top Talent

When it comes to motivating and retaining your best employees, always remember that they are on the look to bulk up their CVs with exceptional information. They will stay long enough to prove their worth as long as they are on the fast track. Once they feel that their learning curve is going straight, they will start looking for employment elsewhere. It is important to allow all your employees a chance to reach their career goals at your organization. Training is one way to do that. Organizations sometimes use seminars as a contest prize or to show appreciation to employees. The ability to change rapidly, be flexible and learn quickly are highly valued in the workplace, and these are skills you can teach your employees.

It is an expensive mistake for companies to base employee motivation on money only. Fair and competitive compensation will always be a vital element to finding and retaining key personnel. However, additional cash is not always the only answer to motivate employees, and in many cases not even the best answer. Keep in mind that non-monetary incentives have trophy value and are more likely to be acknowledged than would be the case if the award were in cash. Using a variety of financial and non-financial motivation techniques without over-reliance on monetary compensation will lead to long term organizational success and staff motivation.

Read More