How to Get a Promotion While Working Remotely

More than ever, businesses are operating remotely. For employees gunning for a promotion in the new landscape, the rules and conventions are murky at best. 

A manager might feel less accessible over Zoom, or the distance may make it harder to demonstrate success. It may also feel difficult to gauge the state of the company when you’re out of the office.

But these are surmountable hurdles, according to Lindsey Rogers, leadership coach and founder of Alchemi. Remote work may be indefinite in some companies, so it’s important to embrace the digital reality and go for it.

“It’s absolutely possible to be promoted remotely,” said Rogers. “Don’t wait.” 

5 Tips for Getting Promoted When You’re Working Remotely

Here are some of Rogers’s tips for landing a promotion while working from home.

1. Avoid Making Assumptions

Many people don’t go for promotions because they’ve made unfounded assumptions, according to Rogers. The pandemic may seem like a terrible time to ask for a promotion, for example. But while it is true that many companies are struggling, others are actually thriving. 

“I watch clients self-limit themselves all the time. They assume they know the situation the company is in,” said Rogers. “Especially with women, it’s that internal glass ceiling.” 

Rogers said that if employees are afraid to put themselves out there they should ask themselves why and avoid any conjecture. 

Until you’ve had conversations with higher-ups or consulted company job postings, you won’t know whether or not a promotion is feasible. 

2. It’s a Process, Not Just One Conversation

Employees often envision asking for a promotion as one nerve-wracking, momentous conversation. That’s a myth, Rogers said.

Even if you’re remote, you should insist on a regular weekly check-in with your manager on a video chat platform. This is a great way to discuss your successes of the week, stay on top of company information, and lay out your inquiries. 

“You don’t have to do everything in one conversation. Get into a rhythm,” said Rogers. “Being proactive with your communication shows excellent leadership.” 

Bring up your career goals one week, for example, and ask your boss if they believe a promotion is the next step. Ask what skills are needed to achieve the promotion, and demonstrate that you have utilized these skills at the next meeting. Ultimately, if your manager is on your team, they will help you get a promotion approved.

3. Proactively Build and Maintain Relationships Online

In a remote culture, it’s difficult to connect with people if they’re not directly working with you. Rogers recommended that employees proactively reach out to various colleagues and maintain those relationships, even if it’s over email.

Share work that you’re proud of and credit those involved, for example. Send colleagues praise when they hit a benchmark. Send a friendly, gracious response to emails sent to you, if appropriate. Try to work directly with as many people as possible in and out of your team, if possible.

When it comes time to ask for a promotion, you’ll have built an army of allies.

“It’s just as important as ever to have examples of your work and testimonials from others,” said Rogers. 

4. Recognize the Remote Advantages

Some aspects of remote operations could work in your favor when it comes to seeking a promotion. Use them to your advantage, Rogers said. 

Remote work gives you the opportunity to show your success in ways that have nothing to do with your office presence, for example. This is a particular boon for people who have children or busy home lives. 

“You’ll be judged on your results more than whether or not someone sees you at your desk until 7 o’clock at night,” said Rogers.

Also, many people aren’t great at communicating over Zoom, Slack or email. This makes it easy to stand out if you put in the effort to communicate well and dress professionally, Rogers said.

5. Move Up Through a Different Company

If you’re not getting the answers you want at your current position, consider switching companies and moving up via a different ladder. It may seem like a risky, impossible idea during the pandemic, but never assume. 

“If you’re seeing a lot of roadblocks, it’s time to wonder if it’s easier to get a higher level position elsewhere,” said Rogers. “That’s really scary, but people are hiring good people. If we assume that it’s not possible, it will be. If we ask how might it be possible, it’s more likely we can fi

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How To Write An Effective Cover Letter That Gets Read In 2021

Cover letters are one of the most stressful parts of a job search. How do you structure the cover letter?  What do you include in your cover letter? How do you use a cover letter to stand out in today’s saturated job market? The list of questions seems endless.

As a career coach, a professional resume writer, and a former hiring manager, I have read more cover letters than I can count. Even if you have a warm introduction to the recruiter or hiring manager, your cover letter is a strategic way to stand out in the saturated job market. The cover letter is your first opportunity to help recruiters and hiring managers to understand if, how, and why you are the right person for the company and role.

4 Steps for Writing an Effective Cover Letter

Here are four steps to write an effective cover letter in 2021:

1. Begin with what drew you to the company and position.

 Start your cover letter off strong by including what drew you to the company and the position you are applying to. This not only shows the recruiter you intentionally applied to their opening but also why you are a fit for that specific requisition.

 Be careful with length here. You do not have to go on for paragraphs. Highlight one to two key points in just a few sentences. Share what exactly about the company and position drew you to submit your application for consideration.

 While brevity is key to a successful cover letter, avoid being vague with your reasons of interest. Your reasons need to be specific enough that you can not use the same reasoning for wanting to work for Facebook that you could at LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok, for example.

 Customizing the introduction of your cover letter will take a little time, but it is one of the few aspects of your cover letter that you need to customize for each job application.

2. Highlight what sets you apart from other job applicants.

With a clear, punchy introduction of why you are the perfect fit for the requisition completed, it is now time for the body of your cover letter. A lot of job seekers use the body of the cover letter as an opportunity to summarize their resumes. This is a mistake. Simply rehashing your experience, accomplishments, and skills not only makes your cover letter unnecessary but is also a missed opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

Leverage this valuable career real estate to make a powerful first impression and help the recruiter put you in the “yes!” pile. You can do this by using a handful of bullet points to clearly explain what sets you apart from other candidates. You can also be as bold as to say, “Here is what sets me apart from other [Role you are applying to],” then include three main points, backed by documented proof from your career.

As you write the core of your cover letter, remember to be specific with stories and examples from your career. Inject numbers, percentages, and factoids where appropriate and helpful.

3. End with a clear call-to-action.

 It is true that you only get one first impression. It is also true that you only get one last impression. Avoid the mistake of ending your cover letter with a passive statement about your interest in the company and availability for an interview. Or, even worse, do not be the job seeker who forgets to include their contact information.

Use the final few sentences of the cover letter to thank the recruiter for their time and consideration. Also, use this space to reinforce your experience and interest. Harness the power of assertive communication to share you are confident and ready for an interview. This may look like:

“You may reach me at [phone] or [email] to arrange my interview.”

4. Consider a testimonial to set you apart from other job seekers.

 While you can say you are fabulous, it is much more convincing if a current or former colleague or client describes your fabulousness, their working relationship with you, and the results you deliver.

 In this article, I share three effective ways to add personality to your resume, including the use of testimonials. Consider including a testimonial in your cover letter to highlight your personality and provide the recruiter with social proof. You can include the testimonial at the top of your cover letter, in the body of the letter, or right below your sign-off.

With these cover letter tips in mind, you are ready to make a great first impression. Go out there and share what makes you fabulous. You’ve got this!

 Guest Author Kyle Elliott, MPA, CHES is the founder and career coach behind CaffeinatedKyle.com. As a result of working with Kyle, senior managers and executives have landed jobs at Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and nearly every other Fortune 100/500 company you can think of. They have also found happiness.

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What to Do Before You Start a Job Search

Sometimes, we change jobs because we want to. In other cases, we lose our job and don’t have a choice. I actually made my best career moves when I was pushed, by company restructuring one time and company bankruptcy another, into job searching. In both cases, it was a positive change that might not have happened otherwise. 

In either case, it’s important to take the time to prepare for a job search, so all the resources you need are in place before you start seeking employment. 

Before You Start a Job Search

 It’s important to have a good idea of the type of job you are interested in, to have a resume written, to have references ready, and to have the proper equipment (phone, computer, etc.) in place before you start looking for work.

It can be stressful and a waste of time, for both yourself and a prospective employer, to realize that you really didn’t want the job you just were offered. Or even worse, to realize that you don’t want the job after you already started it. 

Someone who once worked at the same company I did started a new job and knew the very first day that she didn’t want to be there. She called and asked whether she could have her old job back. It was too late. We had already hired a replacement, and she was stuck working at a job she didn’t want while she job searched, again. 

How Often People Change Jobs

Most people change jobs many times throughout their working life. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the younger baby boomers surveyed changed jobs 12 times from age 18 to age 52. Half of those job changes were between ages 18 and 25.

That’s a lot of jobs, and this statistic is good to know, especially if you’re a job changer. Unlike the past, when it was normal to work for the same employer until you retired, it’s much more common today to change jobs.

There isn’t the same expectation on the part of employers that you should stay or that the company should provide long-term employment for you. It’s not your parents’ workplace anymore, where most people worked for thirty years, then retired. There isn’t an obligation on either side. Employers don’t feel like they need to protect their employees, and workers have few qualms about quitting. 

Consider the Best Job for You

In some industries, especially high-tech ones, you are expected to change jobs if you want your career to progress. It’s the norm, not the exception. At some companies, especially smaller ones, there may not be enough options to move up the career ladder. In other cases, you may get tired or bored and want to try something different. All of the above are good reasons for changing your job.

We all change as we age. The job that was perfect when you were in school may not be what you want now. There are some people who are thrilled to have a high-pressure job; even it means working sixty hours a week. They thrive on it. Others would prefer to work less and earn less.

What we want from our job changes over time as well. Health insurance and other benefits become more important as we age. Flexibility is important to those job seekers who have a family or are planning on one. So, what we want from our work changes as we change. 

It’s important to be aware of that and consider what we actually want from employment. It’s also worth taking the time to assess, every few years or so, what it is that we want from our work. There isn’t much worse than getting ready to retire and realizing that you really hated the job you worked at for all those years. 

The jobs that are available change on a regular basis. Technology changes, industries change, and companies change. The job market changes regularly, too. The type of jobs that are considered “hot” today may be at the bottom of the list of jobs employers are hiring for next time you job search. 

Investigate Career Options

That’s why each and every time you start a job search, you should spend time investigating career options and the type of jobs you might want to do. Take a personality test (or two) to see what job options might be a fit. You may be surprised at what jobs are available, and you may generate some ideas for jobs that you had never thought of. 

What’s most important is to find the job that’s right for you. I have a friend from college who took the first job he could find after graduation. He started as a temporary mail carrier, then took the post office exam and became a mailman. After a few years, he regretted that decision. By then, he had a wife and a family and not much experience doing anything else. 

Unfortunately, at that point, it was very hard to make a change that would provide a comparable salary and benefits, both of which he needed. Perhaps he would have been better served to spend some more time on a job search. That way, he could have been sure that the first job he accepted was the right job. 

Find Career Advising Resources 

Maybe you’d like help deciding what you could or should be doing. Luckily, there are free and low-cost services that can help. 

College Career Offices

 If you’re a college graduate, check with your career services office or alumni office. Many colleges and universities offer job search assistance, resume and cover letter reviews, and access to job listings, regardless of when you graduated. 

How to Get Help: Contact Your Career Services Office

Career Counselors and Coaches

Career counselors offer personalized assistance, and the fees may be more reasonable than you anticipated. Counselors can help you explore both work and life issues. A career counselor can also help you plan and conduct a job search. I know this sounds time-consuming, but we spend a good amount of our lives working. 

If you can find a job that you enjoy that provides you with the salary and benefits you need to live comfortably, and that provides you with the opportunity to grow your career in the direction you want to move, you will have succeeded in your job search. 

How Get Help: How to Find and Choose a Career Counselor

Libraries

Public libraries often have classes and workshops. They also have computers, internet access, and research materials available to use free of charge.

How to Get Help: Directory of U.S. Public Libraries

American Job Centers (AJCs)

AJCs have experienced career counselors on staff that work with job seekers to identify their interests, assess their skill, and advise them on in-demand jobs and potential training opportunities.  Resume help, recruiting events, workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills, and job search activities are also available. 

How to Get Help: Locate an AJC

The Importance Finding the Right Job

You have probably read the quote from Confucius about work: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” If you think about it, it makes good sense. If you are working at a job you enjoy, it doesn’t feel like work. 

If you can have fun at your job, it doesn’t feel like work. If you enjoy your job, your working environment, and your coworkers, you won’t feel as much like you are working, either. 

 

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5 Reasons Your Resume Should Always Be Ready

According to Merriam Webster, the word prepare means to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity. We prepare ahead and get ready for a lot of events in life, such as the birth of a baby, our children’s college tuition, unexpected emergencies, and retirement. However, many professionals do not even think about their resume until they decide to look for a job. 

The reality is people change jobs often, with most spending five years or less in every job. You might be content in your current position and maybe even love the company that you work for, but you never know when an enticing career opportunity may present itself. 

Why Your Resume Should Always be Ready

Here are 5 reasons your resume should always be ready:

1. You’re an at-will employee

Most employees in the US are considered at-will employees and can be terminated for any reason or no reason at all, without explanation or warning. Employees can also leave an organization for any reason or no reason at all, without notice. However, it is best practice to provide two weeks’ notice. 

Many loyal employees have been caught off guard by the proverbial pink slip and a brown box to pack up their belongings, because they missed the warning signs. Now they are forced to update their resume while also dealing with the emotions and financial stress that comes along with losing a job. If you stay ready, you don’t have to be forced to get ready.

2. An unexpected opportunity may knock

According to LinkedIn Talent Solutions, the #1 reason people change jobs is career opportunity. Oftentimes, an opportunity is presented when least expected. You might be scrolling through your LinkedIn feed and see a job recommendation based on your profile. One of your Linked connections may post that their company is hiring for a position that aligns perfectly with your long-term career goal. 

A position may open at your current company that you did not anticipate. Companies occasionally reorganize their structure and create new positions. In some instances, internal applicants are preferred, and in others, it’s fair game for anyone who applies. If your resume is ready, you should only have to customize your resume, rather than completely rewrite it.

3. Someone in your network may want to refer you for a position

Not all jobs are posted. Many employers save money and reduce the time it takes to fill a position by using the hidden job market. In addition to using a recruiting firm or headhunters, they rely on referrals from current employees. If someone in your network asks for your resume so they can get it into the hands of a decision maker, you want your resume to be ready.

Remember, one of the reasons employers use the hidden job market is because they want to fill positions quickly. If you don’t get your resume in front of the decision maker quickly, you might miss out on the opportunity because your competition beat you to it. 

4. Your accomplishments will be fresh in your mind

One of the biggest challenges people have when updating their resume is capturing their accomplishments. Typically, they don’t struggle because of a lack of noteworthy accomplishments. Instead, they struggle because they don’t remember what they accomplished or they don’t know how to include their accomplishments on their resume. 

Depending on how success is measured for a particular job, it may be hard to identify accomplishments. Some accomplishments can be easily cited in quantifiable results in terms of dollars and/or percentages. Others, can be better articulated in qualitative terms using action words such as enhanced, resolved, and upgraded, to name a few. 

If too much time passes between when the accomplishment was achieved and when you update your resume, you may forget about the great work that you did.

5. Passive job seekers may be more attractive to recruiters

Perhaps you have heard the anecdotal saying, “it’s easier to find a job when you already have one.” In part, that may be true because passive job seekers are often considered to be more attractive than active job seekers. Why? Passive job seekers are not typically courting other companies, meaning less competition for the hiring company. Passive job seekers are believed to be happy in their current role, hence the reason they are not actively looking. It is also believed that passive job seekers are less likely to be a flight risk and will stay at the company longer than an active job seeker might.

Though you may not be actively looking for a job, as a passive job seeker you might be curious to learn more about a potential opportunity that piques your interest. That is why it is a good idea to keep your resume ready, even for informational interviews.

Proactive career management is a major key to achieving professional success. By planning ahead and being prepared with an updated resume, you will be ready for a career opportunity that may come your way, even when you least expect it.

Ready to get started? Resume Basics: Writing and Formatting Your Resume

Guest Author Ricklyn Woods is a career coach, job search strategist, and certified Human Resources professional with a unique ability to help people see their significance and articulate their awesomeness, so they can get the job they desire and the salary they deserve.

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How to Handle Work-From-Home Burnout

If you drive a car hard, foot flat on the accelerator, then slam on the brakes, then accelerate quickly, the car will break down faster than if you accelerate/decelerate smoothly and service the car regularly. The same theory applies to our bodies – specifically, our adrenal glands. 

Why We Get Burned Out

In today’s challenging work environment, too many people have been spending long periods of time in overdrive, with their foot flat on the accelerator, draining their adrenals – and their resilience. 

Our adrenal glands produce cortisol so that we can rise to the occasion with confidence.  To recover quickly, they then need relaxation. Without that, cortisol levels remain too high for too long – leading to adrenal fatigue (burnout). Signs of burnout are a heart that is racing, grey skin tone, digestive issues, not stopping for even the shortest break, getting frequent colds, and making minor mistakes, diary errors etc.

At its most serious, burnout can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Thankfully, most of us only ever experience mild burnout, an increasingly common condition.  (In fact, in 2019, the World Health Organization officially named burnout a syndrome described as the ineffective management of workplace stress.) 

Boundaries Between Work and Home

With the shift to working remotely, many people are struggling to establish clear boundaries between work and home, which is draining resilience and increasing mild burnout. 

It helps to make a clean break, close your computer and remove yourself physically from your workstation. Ideally, have a change of scene and get some fresh air and exercise before segueing into “home life.”  

Burnout Warning Signs to Watch For

If that isn’t possible, keep an eye out for early warning signs of low resilience:  high blood pressure, low level anxiety, mood swings, inability to cope well with change, feeling regularly fatigued, going into over-drive, obsessing over things, and being short-tempered.

How to Avoid Work-From-Home Burnout

At the first sign of even one of these, intensify your use of resilience techniques to stop yourself from tipping in to burnout. 

Things like physical fitness, good nutrition (especially vitamin B and magnesium) and hydration, meditation, massage, sunshine, and effectively processing negative events (to regain optimism) all build resilience.

To help you allocate sufficient time for rest and recovery and create a resilient lifestyle, one simple tip is to write the word REST in blocks in your calendar every week.  Guard those windows and encourage loved ones and colleagues to do the same.  REST stands for:

• Retreat is the equivalent of a tennis player putting a towel over their head between sets – find a few moments each week to completely disengage from the world around you.
• Eat (healthfully). A diet high in sugar, simple carbohydrates and with lots of meat and dairy creates more acidic conditions in the body, increasing cortisol higher than it should be. We should be primarily eating green and bright colored vegetables, fruit, nuts, fish, meat twice a week, rice, wholegrain bread, and good quality dark chocolate.
• Sleep is the most powerful performance enhancer we have, more vital for brain function and good decision making than any waking activity. Countless studies recommend 7-9 hours per night.  Inch up your hours of sleep with power naps, going to sleep 15-30 minutes earlier and sleeping in on weekends.  Sufficient sleep is critical because if cortisol is too high, melatonin cannot kick in and our serotonin supplies won’t be renewed while we asleep, leading to brain fog and being short-tempered.  Creating a sleep protocol with a wind down strategy and using techniques, such as sequential relaxation can help you fall asleep. 
• Treat – There are two types of treats – those that can be mildly addictive (sugar and alcohol being the main contenders) and those that are truly restorative. Minimize the addictive treats and indulge in the latter. Think beyond food…a long bath, calming music, a good book, a hike or bike ride, weekly football match or round of golf, watching a film, playing with the children…whatever rejuvenates YOU. Restorative treats boost dopamine (pleasure/reward chemical) and serotonin (happiness and status chemical).

Adjusting to a New Normal

When life does return to whatever our new normal will be, continue your resilience protocol.  Be on the lookout for burnout in yourself and your team members and ask everyone across your team and circle of friends and family to do the same.

When we invest time in this kind of ongoing REST, we build resilience over time so that we can rely on our ‘bounce back’ mechanism and can more consistently perform at our peak.  Establishing clear boundaries and creating a rest and recovery discipline will create a solid foundation that you and those around you can use to achieve more, stress less, and live and work more happily that lasts well beyond the end of the current crisis.

Claire Dale and Patricia Peyton are the directors of workplace performance and wellbeing consultancy Companies in Motion and authors of award-winning wellbeing book Physical Intelligence (Simon & Schuster), available now in ebook and hardback.

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Personality Tests for Jobs

Have you been asked to take a personality assessment by a prospective employer? A relatively new addition to the world of talent acquisition is asking job seekers and employees to take personality tests. Those unfamiliar with how personality tests work often feel anxiety over the prospect of a new set of ambiguous criteria. But there’s really no need to fear, as personality tests can provide benefits for employees and job seekers alike. 

You may even want to take some personality assessments on your own, to get an idea of what careers could be a good fit for your interests. It’s always interesting to see the results, and they can give you insight into what you could be doing with your working life.

Here is our quick guide to what personality tests are and why they should matter to you.

What are Personality Tests?

Because skills matter to employers, it is important to include hard and soft skills in your resume and job applications. Your hard skills are the technical skills you can demonstrate, such as writing, computer coding, CPR, etc. Soft skills are those that are more intuitive, such as active listening, leadership, and teamwork. 

However, personality tests (also known as psychometric tests) are not related to hard or soft skills. They evaluate beyond your skills and inform employers of your approach to communication, conflict, and general problem-solving. If you are being asked to take a personality test, your skills are not under scrutiny.

Instead, the employer is thinking about the chemistry of those that make up his/her workforce. Are you a good fit? That is what the employer wants to know. There are no right or wrong answers to questions on a personality test. If administered correctly, it merely uncovers your personality, and it can be as insightful for you as it is for your future employer.

Types of Career Tests

There are a variety of personality tests and career tests you can take to help you figure out what type of job you would like:

• There are tests that help you analyze your skills. These tests will then connect your skills to appropriate jobs and careers.
• Other tests will measure your aptitude for a certain profession or a certain type of work.
• Counselors can use career tests as part of the career counseling process. Tests administered by a counselor will help you and the counselor determine what the best career options are for you.

Tests are also used as part of the hiring process. If a company is hiring salespeople, for example, they may want to ensure that the candidates they are interviewing have the type of personality they need to achieve the goals the company is trying to reach.

Career tests measure a variety of abilities, skills, and personality traits. They are designed to assist in the career planning process and to generate ideas for career options. Some tests are simple and fun, while others are more complex. Some are free, while there is a fee for others. All of them are designed to help job seekers measure their skills and relate them to job options. The different types of tests include:

• Aptitude tests: These tests gauge your ability to do a certain job or your ability to gain the skills necessary to do a job. 
• Career tests: These tests can help determine what type of position is suitable for someone with your personality. 
• Career inventories: These measure how what you are interested in matches what is required to work in different occupations. 
• Career personality tests: Career counselors use these tests to analyze the type of personality you have and to connect your personality to related career options. Keep in mind that no test is a perfect indicator of what you should do. However, career tests will give you an idea of the types of positions that might be a good fit for your skills, experience, and background. At the very least, they will give you a starting point for narrowing options and focusing your job search. At best, they can help you define quite specifically the type of position you want. 

What Can Personality Tests Accomplish?

There is currently quite a bit of controversy about how employers use personality tests. One of the most controversial functions of a personality test pertains to the hiring process. Many employers utilize personality tests to screen applicants before they choose to bring them into the company. From the employer’s point of view, this helps them maintain the status quo in their  workforce.

In contrast, some employers actively seek diversity in their work culture. From their point of view, carefully integrating teams of diverse personality types can help the team work together instead of competing with one another.

Companies that seek greater diversity understand that the best way to disrupt a market or break up apathy is to introduce more variety in thought (which is the key to healthy collaboration). In fact, many studies show that diversity is often responsible for elevating a company to greater market share within its industry. Personality tests help these employers know whether or not they have the diversity that they seek.

Finally, employers might use personality tests to vet for a specific position. Certain jobs require a unique personality, such as sales or customer service roles. These companies often train their employees from the ground up rather than hiring someone who already has the required hard skills. Therefore, before they expend the resources budgeted to train you, they want to make sure that your personality can handle the demands of the job.

How Do Personality Tests Work?

You might be asked to take a personality test before or after you’ve been hired. These tests can take you a few minutes to over an hour to complete, and they usually follow a certain model that has been peer-reviewed (that is, the model has been rigorously tested by scientists in academic fields such as psychology, anthropology, and organizational behavior).

MBTI

The Myers Briggs Type Indicator is probably the most famous and established personality test. However, the creators are insistent that the test should not be used to screen during the hiring process. You might be asked to take an MBTI after you’ve been hired or for the purpose of mentoring.

While the scientists that created the test are, in fact, named Myers and Briggs, they attribute their research primarily to psychologist Carl Jung. Myers and Briggs created the test to help people match their personality with their ideal career. They based their results on comparing the following types:

1. Extroversion versus Introversion
2. Sense versus Intuition
3. Think versus Feel
4. Judge versus Perceive

Each type comparison assumes the types as polar opposites, and the test helps you see which polar opposite you favor. For example, in the E (extroversion) and N (introversion) portion of the test, the way you answer the test questions reveals your tendency toward one type over the other. At the end of the test, you end up with four letters identifying your personality type, such as ENTJ or ISTP.

While the official MBTI costs money and is best administered by someone certified to do so, here are a few free personality tests that are based off the MBTI model:

• Human Metrics
• Truity
• 16 Personalities
• Similar Minds
• Keys 2 Cognition
• Discordia
• Psych Central

DiSC

The DiSC assessment does not attribute itself to any one scientist, though many of the principles behind it were first introduced in the book Emotions of Normal People by 1920s scientist William Marston. The creators of this test desire that those taking the test increase their overall emotional intelligence. That being said, some employers use this assessment when screening employees.

The test measures four attributes:

1. Dominance
2. Influence
3. Steadiness
4. Conscientiousness

After you’ve finished the test, your results are shown as a dot on a pie chart with four pieces (each piece representing one of the four attributes). For example, if you tested strongest for i (influence) and S (steadiness), then your dot will be located on the right side of the pie chart.

You can purchase a test package for yourself and others in your organization, or you can try one of the free online personality tests based on the DiSC model:

• 123 Test
• DiSC Personality Testing (the free version)
• Open-Source Psychometrics Project
• MyDiscProfile
• Institute Success (the free version)

Caliper

When it comes to employment and job screening, the Caliper Test is perhaps the most common. It is also one of the longest tests for the individual taking it. If an employer asks you to take the test, it is best that you plan on taking at least two hours in order to answer each question thoughtfully. 

As you sit down to take the test, you’ll notice that the multiple choices available are all positive. Therefore, while there is technically no right answer, which positive answer you choose helps the employer understand who you are and whether or not you are a good match for the company or the position.

Your results often go straight to the employer giving them a percentage match to the job and company (between 0 and 100). Ideally, your percentage score is over 50 for the open position. While Caliper tests are not typically open to the public (Caliber Corp services employers), here are a couple of free practice tests you can take that are based on the Caliper assessment:

• Test Prep XP
• Practice4Me

The Big Five

Unlike the other assessments above, the Big Five test, also known as the Five Factor Test, does not have an official administrator or brand. Most of the Five Factor Tests are completely free but are no less popular than the tests above.

As the name implies, the test measures your tendency towards five attributes. At the completion of the test, you are given a percentage of 0-100% for each category:

1. Openness
2. Conscientiousness
3. Extraversion
4. Agreeableness
5. Neuroticism

Also, unlike the other tests, one of the attributes is clearly negative (neuroticism), and employers may use a test such as this to screen out those that are emotionally unstable. As already noted, most Five Factor Tests are free to take, but here are among the most popular:

• Psychologist World
• BigFive
• Open-Source Psychometric Project
• Truity
• 123 Test
• Discover My Profile (University of Cambridge)

In Conclusion: Why Do Personality Tests Matter for Job Seekers?

It is true that many people spend years in a particular career before they realize that they are not a good fit for the job.

Tip: The sooner that you can find the career best suited for your natural abilities (such as your personality), the more satisfied and less burned out in your career you will be.

Therefore, if you find yourself between jobs or looking for a career change, you might consider taking a few career tests to find out if you are applying for jobs that are a good fit for you.

On the other hand, these tests are not always accurate, and not every employer uses a personality test to screen you. As such, if you take a personality test for an employer, and the employer says that the test indicates that you are not a good fit, trust your own intuition.

You know yourself better than a mere test. Don’t be afraid to remind yourself about the fallibility of a personality test if you love what you do, and you are confident in your skills to handle the job. Simply move on to the next interview.

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How to Get Ready for a Job Interview

The old saying that “practice makes perfect” is appropriate when it comes to interviewing. If it doesn’t make you perfect, it will, at least, help you interview effectively. Don’t start getting ready late the night before the interview. Take time in advance to prepare for your interview. 

If you have a family member or friend who will spend some time helping you, ask them to ask you some typical interview questions. The more you practice answering, the more comfortable you will be with your responses. 

If you can, record your practice interview so you can watch what you look and sound like. You’ll be able to see what you need to improve. Then do it again. Keep practicing until you’re comfortable with your responses and comfortable watching yourself interview. 

Check your nonverbal communications as well as your verbal responses. Be sure you’re not fidgeting or twitching or disconnected—pay attention. Employers notice these nonverbal responses, so be aware of the demeanor you portray and try to stay calm and quiet while waiting for the interview and during it. Your goal is for your entire package, your image, to be perfect.

When Your Interview is Remote

Virtual interviews can be easier than in-person meetings. You don’t have to worry about getting there on time or stress over the details of interviewing in person. However, it’s still important to prepare in advance and pay attention to all the details of a remote interview so you can make the best impression. 

Tip: Not sure what to wear? Here’s how to look stylish and maximize your Zoom presence during a job interview. 

When You’re Interviewing In-Person

There are some things you shouldn’t plan on bringing with you to the interview. If you’re a smoker, leave the cigarettes at home or in your car. Make sure you use a breath mint before you enter the building. 

Don’t chew gum or munch on candy either. Silence your phone. The same goes for coffee and soda. Don’t walk into the interview carrying a cup of coffee, however much you might think you need it. Interviewees who have done some or all of the above have jeopardized their chance of getting the job.

Tip: Not sure what to wear? Here’s the best interview attire for every type of job interview. 

Interview Preparation Checklist

Here’s an interview checklist to use to get ready for your interview.

[ ] Review job posting. 

[ ] Research the company. 

[ ] Review interview questions. 

[ ] Generate a list of questions to ask. 

[ ] Review your resume. 

[ ] Itemize the qualifications you have for the job. 

[ ] Directions to the interview location. 

[ ] Get your interview clothes ready (the evening before). 

[ ] Pack your portfolio with your resume, a notepad, and a pen. 

[ ] Double-check the name of your interviewer, so you know with whom you are meeting. 

Review Your Resume

Reviewing your resume sounds a little odd, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, I’ve interviewed job applicants whose answers didn’t match what was on their resume. They either didn’t remember what years they had worked at which job, or they were fuzzy on the details of what they had done at their previous jobs.

Tip: Make sure you know what you put on your resume and make sure your answers match what you tell the interviewer. 

Research the Company

Researching the company is important, too, for a couple of reasons. First of all, one of the questions you may be asked is “What do you know about this company?” and you need to be able to provide an informative answer. Secondly, you want to know as much about the company because you need to decide if you want to work there. 

Visit the company’s website (the easiest way to find it is to search for the company name on Google), and look at every section. Read the company mission statement and goals for the future. Learn what the company does and how they do it. Understand the products or services the company sells and how they market them. Review senior management bios as well as the information about the company and benefits available in the Careers or About Us section of the company website. The more you know, the more effectively you will be able to interview.

Check out the company’s LinkedIn profile, Twitter feed, Instagram, and Facebook page, if they have them. You’ll find a wealth of information about the company, its management, and its employees. Use LinkedIn to see who you know at the company. Those connections may be able to give you insider advice and tips on interviewing strategies. 

How to Handle the Interview

Keep it Professional

Professional communications are as important during the interview as they are when you submit your resume and cover letter. That means all communications from the time you arrive at the interview until it’s over.

Arrive on time for the interview. On time means a few minutes early. You may need to complete an application, and you don’t want to be rushing into the lobby of the building at the last minute. If you aren’t sure where the office is located, do a trial run the day before so you know exactly where you are going, where you can park, and how long it is going to take you to get there. Give yourself a little extra time, so you have a cushion just in case you’re delayed. 

If you’re nervous (and that can happen to anyone, even those who interview a lot!), visit the restroom, wash and dry your hands so your palms aren’t sweaty, and get a drink of water. If sweating is an issue, keep a tissue in your pocket so you can dry your hands discreetly before you shake hands with anyone. 

Manners Matter

Next, consider manners, because they do matter. Remember that teacher who used to tell you to sit up straight and pay attention? Well, that’s exactly what you need to do during the interview. Don’t slouch or recline in your chair, even when you’re interviewing from home. Listen attentively to the interviewer and don’t interrupt.

Pause Before You Respond

Do take time, if you need to, to consider your response, so your answer is complete. Don’t talk too much. I have interviewed some candidates who talked way too much. They were trying so hard to sell me on hiring them that they didn’t listen to a word I said. Rambling on and on didn’t make a good impression on me and isn’t going to make a good impression on any interviewer.

Send a Thank-You Note

Sending a thank-you note or email is the best way to cement the good impression you just left the interviewer with. Reiterate your interest and excitement about the opportunity, and use your message as a chance to mention anything you neglected to say during the interview.

More About Interview Preparation: Job Interview Questions, Answers, and Best Tips to Prepare

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