When Clients Attack!

Akhtaboot presents 5 types of clients that you most probably will face on the job and how to effectively deal with each one of them.

Clients are one of the most important assets to a company. However, some of your most profitable clients can be the most annoying as well. Like any other relationship, client relationships can be peppered with moments of confusion and frustration. Yet, with a good strategy in place you can bring harmony to your client relationships and create long term partnerships with them. Most employees who have direct contact with clients regularly face many types of clients; therefore, they should be able to handle different kinds of clients effectively. Akhtaboot presents 5 types of clients that you might meet at work and the best way to deal with each one of them.

The Bargain Hunter

Most Bargain Hunters are successful entrepreneurs who struggled their way to build successful businesses and gather their wealth. Therefore, they are not willing to spend a penny if they feel there is a way out of it. Those clients act as if the price you first offered is just the starting point for negotiations. The best way to handle Bargain Hunters is to give them a taste of their own medicine. This means to start with relatively high prices and then lowering them down to a point that is acceptable for both parties. If your company offers fixed prices, stress your service features while comparing your prices with those of your competitors.

The Urgent Client

Everything is an emergency for Urgent Clients. All their emails are of high priority. They may even stress that in the title of the email, the body and whenever they call you. They are workaholics by nature, working at night and on the weekends, and they expect everyone else they work with to do the same. Although they know that they are not your only client, they still act as if they are. The best way to deal with an Urgent Client is to make it clear from the beginning that some of their requests are unreasonable and that you need more time to be able to perfect the outcome.

The Absent Client

The Absent Client is the most stressful type of clients to deal with; they make you chase them around with phone calls and emails with no response whatsoever. An Absent Client may disappear for many days which might drive you to wonder if he is still in business. They will reappear eventually - without any warning - asking about the progress of the project. Remember one important thing; your best clients are the busy ones as they are the ones who are constantly in need of your services. Therefore, you should be able to keep them pleased by finalizing the work with minimum hassle and with the limited input you were provided with initially.

The Angry Client

The Angry Client is continuously and aggressively attacking your work, asking for changes and accusing you of not doing your job right. One important advice to take into consideration when dealing with this type of clients is to understand that they are not attacking you personally and that they are only expressing their frustration with the company as a whole. Therefore, remain calm and try to listen more than you talk. Stay patient and show them that you care by asking them more questions about the problem while assuring them that you will be handling the problem to their satisfaction.

The Appreciative Client

The Appreciative Client always praises your work and makes you feel special. They make your life easier by choosing the first prototype of every task that you finish. Appreciative Clients always refer your company to other people and might also recommend you personally to other companies. Therefore, reward goodness with goodness by giving them continuous attention and making them feel like a VIP. You can initiate a kind gesture by sending a thoughtful gift upon successfully closing the deal, as this will place you and your company name into his heart and mind.

Dealing with clients can sometimes be similar to dealing with children at their terrible twos. Clients can be whiny, demanding, impatient, moody and complaining which might result in ruining your whole day and adding more stress to your busy life. However, remember that you are dealing with a human being who is probably under a lot of pressure from a boss, a budget or a deadline. Know your clients and manage your relationship with them in order to keep them coming back for more. Keep in mind that good client servicing does not only result in building repeat business but also in acquiring referrals and generating positive word of mouth for years to come.

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Akhtaboot at AIESEC's Career Development Seminar - Al Yarmouk University

For the second year in a row Akhatboot – the career network participated in AIESEC’s Career Development seminar, which was held at Al Yarmouk University on the 7th of June, 2010.

As a learning partner for the years 2009 and 2010, Akhtaboot delivered 2 sessions on CV Writing and Interview skills to around 100 university students and AIESECers who showed great interest in the discussed topics. Both sessions aimed to provide graduates to be with the best ways to effectively tweak their CVs in today’s competitive job market while giving them advice on the best tactics to use when it comes to job interview preparation.

Akhtaboot’s participation was described by many as an “eye opener” to different career related issues and matters that would otherwise have gone unnoticed by students when approaching the job market.

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Akhtaboot and TAG-Knowledge to Jointly Organize Job Fairs

In an unprecedented step towards the betterment of the Middle East job market, Akhtaboot - the career network singed a partnership agreement with Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Society (TAG-Knowledge) on May 31, 2010 at TAG Knowledge headquarters in Amman, Jordan.

The purpose of this partnership is geared towards organizing job fairs around the Arab world, starting with a three-day Career Fair in Amman, Jordan, to be held at TAG Knowledge Center - a fully functional entity designed and built around the world of students.

The Job Fair will be co-organized and launched this year as part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of TAG-Knowledge and Akhtaboot Cares Initiative - Akhtaboot's CSR arm.

The event will be held with the participation of a number of leading Jordanian companies and educational institutions covering different industries, while providing employment and training opportunities to both job seekers and graduates-to-be visiting the Career Fair. Any proceeds raised from the Career Fair will be used to support the CSR activities of the Akhtaboot Cares Initiative and TAG Knowledge Society programs.

Eng. Yousef Shamoun, co-founder of Akhtaboot and head of the Akhtaboot Cares Initiative said:

"Organizing a Career Fair has been a topic of discussion for some time now, especially after our successful participation in numerous job fairs in the GCC and Levant region. It is our hope that we will be able to create a yearly job fair where job seekers will walk away with a better idea of their career options and a great sense of accomplishment, and we believe that through our partnership with TAG-Knowledge, we can launch a series of successful job fairs starting with Jordan."

Meanwhile, Mr. Tareq Hammad, TAG-Knowledge executive director said:

"Joining forces with Akhtaboot aims at exploring new strategies in organizing job fairs that we might call a unique experience for job seekers and employers alike. Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh made it clear that students are the future and we, at TAG-Knowledge, feel that it is our duty to translate this into action."

The Career Fair will be co-branded and co-organized by both Akhtaboot and TAG- Knowledge and is scheduled to launch in a unique way where both job seekers and companies have the chance to meet face-to-face and take full advantage of career and training opportunities.

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Akhtaboot Participates in King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Job Fair in Dahran, KSA

As part of Akhtaboot’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its presence as the leading recruitment solution provider for the Middle East and GCC region, Akhtaboot has participated in King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Open Day for Employment, which was held on KFUPM campus during the period 17th - 20th of May, 2010, in Dahran, KSA.

The annual job fair was organized by KFUPM and was held under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Governor of the Eastern Province. For the 27th year in a row, around 120 government organizations, private companies and institutions were invited to exhibit their field of activity, offer employment and training opportunities as well as to become acquainted with the University and its range of specializations.

The job fair was attended by 2,500 university students and job seekers, as the first 2 days were dedicated for KFUPM students only and the other 2 days were open for the public. Akhtaboot’s booth was approached by about 1,000 high caliber job seekers who truly reflected the high educational standards that KFUPM is known for.
Akhtaboot’s participation in this event marks its commitment to establishing a cooperative partnership between Akhtaboot and KFUPM, while maintaining an ongoing presence within KFUPM campus through the Akhtaboot Cares Initiative – Akhtaboot’s CSR arm.

Akhtaboot’s recruitment services were described by both companies and job seekers as unique and effective due to the user-friendly website, unique brand and excellent team, which as a result attracted a number of major companies who were looking to recruit high caliber candidates through Akhtaboot.

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Akhtaboot Participates in Meydan Launch at Zara Expo on May 15th

Meydan, a new age accelerator for Business Start-ups with focus on reducing time from Idea to Revenue (I2R), announced its official launch at Zara Expo Hall B - on the 15th May, 2010. The non-traditional event gathered under one roof a number of pioneers, thinkers, entrepreneurs, businessmen, investors and other Meydan community members to celebrate what might just be Jordan’s platform to develop a growing economy that rivals the best in the near future.

Initiated in 2010 by Al Jude for Science Care, Meydan runs three programs almost in parallel; the Accelerator, Idea Space and Volunteer program(s). These programs provide the Jordanian creative and innovative minds with the platform and support system that enables them to generate ideas and build upon them.

The value created at Meydan is 80% from wisdom and knowhow, and 20% from money with major focus on creating value@speed using packaged knowledge, proven tools, smart and hard work and the passion to make a difference.

With Meydan’s focus on innovative companies that are not afraid to show their thinking muscles in public, Akhtaboot was chosen to participate in the whiteboarding session of Meydan’s launch, which is a tool presenters use to illustrate their big ideas, both its value and business model. Presenters use 2X3m white-boards, 4 pens, and an eraser.

Akhtaboot showcased its recent CSR service - Akhtaboot Microsite Solution - a fully integrated job board which will be provided to universities and educational institutions, free of charge, to enable their job seekers and site visitors to benefit from the full features and targeted job content of http://www.akhtaboot.com directly on the university website as part of the Akhtaboot Cares Initiative - Akhtaboot’s CSR arm.

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Adapting to a New Work Environment

Akhtaboot presents a number of tips to help you overcome the challenges that might face you when starting a new job.

Have you ever been in a situation where your family had to move away and you were forced to change schools? Moving to a new job can have quite the same feeling. You will be going to a new position not knowing the kind of boss or colleagues you might face or the type of environment you might have to work in. Some companies may use the interview to brief potential candidates about their corporate culture, their policies and their work environment. However, you will not be able to fully understand the whole picture until you are actually put in the situation. The most difficult thing in getting a new job is the stress you might feel as a result of seeking a new support system within the new company while trying to fully comprehend the new rules and regulations.
It is very important to remember that it takes time to adjust to your new surroundings. The time span depends mostly on the people who comprise the organization; they might actually help you get accustomed to the new environment or may try to make it hard for you to cope. Here are a number of helpful tips to help you adapt to your new environment.

Prepare Yourself for Your First Day

Your first day will always leave an unforgettable and lasting impression on your coworkers and your boss. Start by getting a good night’s sleep in order to be well rested for the next day. Arrive to work ahead of time to show that you are organized and punctual. Moreover, dress professionally as people often judge you based on the way look. No matter how professional and experienced you think you are, many people will think less of you when you do not dress professionally. To learn more about workplace dress codes, read the article “Dressing for Success in the Workplace”.

Concentrate on Your Work

A great way to adapt to your new environment is by doing what you do best; work. Your colleagues will come to respect and admire you when they acknowledge that you are a well experienced, skillful person, they may even come to you for help in some areas where you are more knowledgeable than they are. Nevertheless, no one expects you to know everything, therefore, do not hesitate to ask questions when you feel there is a need to it. People usually like to help others and it generally makes them feel good about themselves.

Listen and Observe

Each organization differs in the way co-workers interact with one another and the way employees communicate with their managers. Therefore, spend the first few weeks observing and listening to your colleagues and managers in order to figure out the best way to function. By doing this, you may save yourself from making a public mistake. Do not try to impose new ideas and suggestions until you feel that the company has accepted you and that you fully understand the way they work. Otherwise, any comment from your side would be perceived negatively.

Make Friends

Making friends might not always be easy; it actually depends on the culture of the organization and on your own personality. If you have a shy personality, then you need to sharpen your people skills to actually get along. Be friendly, smile as much as you can even to people who you don’t know and initiate discussions about interesting topics. If you find resistance then stop trying too hard. Give it a break and mind your own business until your colleagues approach you.

Stay Away from Gossip

Gossip is very risky as it is almost always based on unverifiable information. You may gain a few friends through gossiping but you definitely do not want to start your career with a reputation for being a gossip. Remember that we live in a very small world where your reputation may follow you for many years. Therefore, you should ask yourself the question “Am I willing to trade my reputation for a few friends who might end up gossiping about me?” If not, make sure that you stay away from gossiping and do not give your feedback on something you are not sure about. Pretending to be busy with work when gossiping starts is a great way to survive a situation like this.

People prefer to stay in their comfort zone by staying in one company for many years and building upon their experience and seniority. Yet, if you feel unhappy, bored or unchallenged in your current job then you should realize that it is about time to start thinking about changing it. No matter how challenging the transition period may be, do not allow it to stop you from seizing new opportunities. Believe in yourself and follow the above tips in order to be able to start a new and exciting chapter in your life.

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Akhtaboot Sponsors the Career Wellness Area at INJAZ 8th Annual Job Fair, LINK2JOB – April 28-29, 2010 at Zara Expo, Grand Hyatt - Amman

For the 3rd year in a row, Akhtaboot - the career network has partnered with INJAZ for it’s annual Job Fair, LINK2JOB City 2010, which once again proved to be a first class hiring event in Jordan. The job fair was held at Zara Expo, Grand Hyatt Amman on the 28th and 29th of April, 2010. As a main sponsor of the Career Wellness Area, Akhtaboot Co-organized and managed the Career Wellness Area (Hall C) which was divided into 4 main sections, including The CV Clinic, Mock Interviews Area, The Career Intelligence Area and The Entrepreneurial Area.

The CV Clinic was comprised of HR professionals who provided personalized guidance to job seekers on how to write a professional CV in addition to one-on-one consultancy on the common mistakes they should avoid when writing their CVs and important elements they should include to stand out from the crowd in today’s competitive business world. Furthermore, job seekers were given the chance to test their interview skills at the Mock Interviews section before they actually head to company booths for the real thing.

Job seekers were also given the chance to test their English language proficiency as well as personality in The Career Intelligence Area in order to effectively choose the right job that matches their skills and character. The English Placement Test was provided by the University of Cambridge to determine the fluency level of each candidate. The MBTI Personality test was provided by Akhtaboot, the only career site in the Middle East that is qualified as a Myers-Briggs © (MBTI) provider, which is a tried and true indicator of your personality type in a career context

The Entrepreneurial Area, featured two round tables conducted by a number of well-respected local Entrepreneurs, such as Dr. Nader Atmeh founder of Keenwash and Hussein Natsheh, founder of Ciapple, who gave job seekers the opportunity to listen to some of the most astonishing success stories and to learn about the steps they need to take to fulfill their dreams.

The job fair aimed to link job seekers to the local business community where some of the largest companies in Jordan participated in order to perform instant interviews, screen candidates and provide them with work opportunities. Moreover, job seekers were given the opportunity to attend many career-related lectures that were given by professional trainers on CV writing, interviewing skills and workplace success.

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