Easy Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills

Easy Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills Prepare, Prepare, Prepare In todays world of work, everyone has to give presentations. Whether its a formal talk to a big group, or a short proposal in a team meeting, public speaking is part of everyones job. But not everyone loves it! What  about you? Do you hate speaking in public? Does your mouth go dry and your heart race at the thought of giving a presentation? You’re not alone! Almost 75% of us experience anxiety about public speaking, according to glossophobia.com. If you have presentation jitters, or worse, take heart. For most of us, a few simple tips can help. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare The work starts long before you step out on stage. First, think about your topic. What do you want the audience to remember when they walk away? Write down a short sentence that summarizes your most important take-home points. Start by writing down the most important take-home points Next, think about your audience: what is their age, level of expertise in the topic, whether they are already passionate about your topic. Is the audience diverse? What characteristics do they share? This helps you get into their heads and understand what will grab their attention. Now that you know something about your audience, and what you want them to remember, you can start writing your presentation. Build it around one or two core messages, and include explanations of why these messages are important, or why your audience should care. Keep it Simple The old KISS principle (Keep It Simple and Straightforward) is the best advice. Your points should be clear enough that you can give the talk, and people can understand it, without the help of slides. If slides are required or expected, keep them as simple as possible. Avoid jargon, buzzwords, and slang.  Too many words, complicated graphs and tables, and fancy animations often distract from the message rather than supporting it. Simple slides with a few key words or an illustrative graphic are all you need to be reminded of key points, and they help your audience listen to you instead of reading. Think of your presentation as a story Think of your presentation as a story; people are more likely to learn and remember stories than lists of facts. Practice, Practice, Practice Written words are different than spoken words. When you practice your presentation out loud, you will better understand how it flows, whether the message is clear, whether you can say it smoothly and how long it will take. There is no substitute for this, so repeat your presentation for friends, family or even your cat. Practice your presentation at least 5 times before the big day. Doing this will help you understand how long it takes, where to pause for breath or for emphasis. Practicing your presentation builds your confidence Try to learn your talk by heart: not the actual words, but the general sense of it. If something goes wrong with your projector, you will still be fine! Making a powerful presentation when the projector fails leaves an even better impression! Practice automatically reduces nerves; practice enough and your presentation will flow from the first word, with much less effort. Power Up A few easy steps help you be at your peak of energy and self-confidence when you speak. Eat before you talk: a light meal or a protein-based snack and a glass of water an hour or so before you go on stage will give you energy. Avoid alcohol until the talk is over; you want a clear head. Just before walking on stage, take 3 deep breaths to get oxygen flowing to your brain. Give yourself a short pep talk. Remind yourself that no one knows this talk better than you do. Remind yourself of the one or two key messages you need to get across. Some people repeat the first line of their talk to themselves once or twice to warm up. When you go on stage, you’ll have the right messages in the right format, with plenty of energy. Take one more breath, count to 3, smile at your audience. Then put up that first slide and shine! Image credits. Main.    Prep.      Practice.  

6 Steps to Deep Dive Company Research CareerMetis.com

6 Steps to Deep Dive Company Research â€" CareerMetis.com Whether identifying companies to target or preparing for an interview, research is a critical component of any successful career strategy.Most career coaches and interviewing experts agree that researching a company is key to formulating astute interview questions; in large part, because employers recognize that those who took the time to uncover information about a company are enthusiastic and invested in the potential opportunity.evalBelow are five sources to help you uncover details about private, public and nonprofit organizations ranging from general information like history and financial stats to HR perks and benefits.1) Company WebsitesSometimes the source is the best place to start. Locate the company in question online to see everything from press releases and news appearances, and to gain an overview of the company’s benefits.It’s important to note that oftentimes a website’s layout, style of writing, and willingness to share more information versus less is often indi cative of the company’s culture and vibe.2) Best Of ListsWhen looking to create a target list of companies potentially well-suited to your personality and aspirations, take advantage of “Best Of” where others have already done some of the leg work for you!Lists include everything from “Best Companies to Work For” to “Best Companies for Women” and even “Best Companies to Work in HR.” Major cities often create “Best of Lists” for local companies.3) Public Company OverviewsWhen it comes to public companies, two great sites to dig some surface dirt and gain insight are Bloomberg and Hoovers. While you have to pay to get a full report at Hoover’s, it is free of charge to uncover who is on the board, how the stock has fared and who are the company’s major competitors.4) Private Company OverviewsIt’s a little tougher to gather information on private companies, but not insurmountable.evalForbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies is a great place to sta rt, as is 24/7 Wall Street’s list of The 20 Largest Privately Held Companies inAmerica and Inc.com’s list of Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies.5) Nonprofit Organization OverviewsThere are thousands of nonprofits covering everything from social issues to animal welfare. To help narrow your focus and research, TopNonProfits.com has compiled a list of the 100 nonprofits that have gotten the greatest web traction.Also helpful is GuideStar’s self-proclaimed “most complete source of information about U.S. charities and other nonprofit organizations there is.” The site’s directory boasts details pertaining to 1.8 million IRS-recognized organizations.6) Industry InsightsIndustry overviews are helpful to understand a company’s challenges and can provide you with a great foundation by which to formulate discerning interview questions. While market research companies will charge for reports, the U.S. Small Business Administration The Federal government’s SBA blogs featur e five free sources of data to boost your research efforts. Likewise, the Business Journals’ sites feature industry news from 43 different U.S. markets.

Looking for a Business Opportunity Why Not Try Franchising

Looking for a Business Opportunity Why Not Try Franchising Plenty of people want to get into business by being themselves. They want to try and bring new products to the world, they want to introduce unique services and some of them want to do crazy things that no one has ever thought of. However, there are safer routes to take in business and one of them is franchising. Franchising simply refers to the concept of becoming part of a bigger company. For instance, starting a new McDonald’s store would be franchising and it usually offers some compelling advantages. However, it can also bring some downsides which you might find difficult to cope with. In this article, we’re going to be talking about franchising and explain some of the ups and downs before you consider investing in it as a business opportunity. There’s a lot of choice It’s difficult to pick the best franchise to own because there are simply so many out there. With so much choice, you can hand-pick a business or company and have their goals fit your location and your ideas. Since there’s so much choice, you might find it difficult to pick the “best” option, so it does take a lot of research and you might find yourself spending far too much time picking a company before you send in an application and speak to their representatives. But the choice ends there There’s very limited flexibility when it comes to owning a franchise. You have to do everything in the franchisor’s way and there’s really not much room to make decisions on your own. Want to change a menu item or add a promotion? Too bad! Unless it’s approved by the franchisor, you won’t be able to do it. This lack of control can put off many entrepreneurs, hence why franchising isn’t always the best solution. It’s likely going to be successful Franchises are well-known because they have thousands of stores around the country. When you buy a franchise, you’re getting plenty of ideas that already work, you’re getting products that are in demand (albeit maybe not in your particular location) and you’re going to appeal to a customer base that is already well-established. This will ensure that you make a decent amount of profit and it also means that you don’t need to do things like market online or change your products to suit your audienceâ€"everything is already done for you! It’s extremely competitive Although you’re likely to be successful thanks to the franchisor’s brand and image, keep in mind that it’s an extremely competitive environment especially if you purchase a franchise that isn’t as well-known. If a business is offering franchising opportunities then you absolutely need to do your research to ensure that it’s an opportunity that you can actually take advantage of. If you pick a brand that isn’t very successful then you’re absolutely not going to get customers. At the end of the day, everyone wants a slice of success and while franchising is an easy way to get yours, it might not be the safest way to do so if you’re buying a lesser-known franchise.

Career Corner Online Networking Tips for College Grads - Hallie Crawford

Career Corner Online Networking Tips for College Grads In addition to in-person networking events, the web is the perfect place to meet professionals who are searching for your brand of talent. If youre nervous about networking, dont be. The internet is a great ice breaker and way for shy networkers to ease in slowly and get to know people over time. You can really make some strong professional bonds if you do it right. In the next few posts are some tips for leveraging your online networking effort. Tip #1 Participate on a regular basis. You may be young, but if you have skills then youre just as valuable as anyone else who you may meet online and in some cases, maybe even more so. As a newbie to the professional world, youre in a great position to find a mentor who can bring you into their circle and get you some needed contacts and professional experience. So jump in, be curious, talk to people, ask questions! Log in on a regular basis and just put it out there. Offering help to others can be a big boost to your career so share what you know. The more you participate, the more connections you’ll make. Good luck! Career Transition Coach

Free CV Templates

Free CV TemplatesFree CV templates are available online for free to help you get started. These templates are a great tool to get you started when filling out your resume and cover letter as well as creating and sending them in. A little research will show that these free templates are free because it's not costing you anything in the way of time, effort or money.Using free templates can be a great help for getting your resume in front of more than one person before you start the job hunt. It can also help to make your application look more professional looking. The first thing that you should consider when getting a resume or cover letter is that they should be professional and have a professional touch.A great way to get some free CV templates is by visiting the Internet. There are lots of sites where you can find free CV templates online. These templates are usually used to help create a professional appearance for your resume. A professional looking resume will help you get a hig her job interview as well as help you get a higher salary.Free templates can be found all over the Internet. These templates are free to use and can even be downloaded. Using a template will save you time because you will be able to fill out the details and add attachments with ease.These free templates are also easy to use. They will help you with the many details of your resume and cover letter.Personal details such as your employment history, educational and work experience, achievements and awards are often part of your resume. These details can easily be left out if you have a CV. However, when you use a free template you will still get the same information as a professionally written CV.Free CV templates can be downloaded from many websites. If you want to create a professional looking resume, then it would be better if you use a professionally designed template.

New York City Drivers Group Sues Uber

New York City Drivers Group Sues Uber A group representing 5,000 Uber drivers in New York City filed a lawsuit on Thursday accusing the ride-share company of depriving drivers of various employment protections by misclassifying them as independent contractors. The proposed class action lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance on behalf of 10 drivers is the latest to claim Uber drivers should be considered employees entitled to minimum wage, overtime pay and reimbursements for expenses. Uber spokesman Matthew Wing said in a statement that the lawsuit was “a thinly veiled stunt” and criticized the Taxi Workers Alliance for suing on behalf of Uber drivers and not its other members. The group said it filed a separate complaint on Thursday with the National Labor Relations Board claiming arbitration agreements Uber drivers signed illegally prohibit them from bringing class action claims. The Taxi Workers Alliance criticized a recent deal between Uber and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union to create an “independent drivers guild” for the company’s New York drivers, highlighting a sharp divide among labor groups grappling with the rise of the “gig economy.” The group’s lawsuit said Uber expanded aggressively in New York beginning in 2011 by promising drivers decent wages. Instead, the group said, most of the drivers’ pay went toward car payments, maintenance and surcharges from the company. “Uber, through its practices and broken promises, severely harmed the thousands of drivers they recruited and have contributed greatly to a ‘race to the bottom,'” the lawsuit said. It alleges violations of state and federal employment laws. Taxi trade groups have opposed Uber’s rapid expansion and said the company should be required to fingerprint drivers and make cars accessible to people with disabilities, as required of taxi companies. In April, Uber agreed to settle a major class action lawsuit that also claimed drivers were actually employees, brought on behalf of 385,000 drivers in California and Massachusetts for up to $100 million. A federal judge in San Francisco is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday on whether to approve the settlement, which has drawn about three dozen objections. At least eight similar cases are pending in seven states including New York and Texas, and four others have been sent to arbitration, where drivers can bring only individual claims. The case is New York Taxi Workers Alliance v. Uber Technologies Inc, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, number 1:16-cv-04098.

3 Ways To Make The Most Of A Networking Event - Work It Daily

3 Ways To Make The Most Of A Networking Event - Work It Daily Having a strong professional network is important, whether you are in the midst of a job search or settled in your current position and looking to advance your career. But the thought of attending a large professional networking event with potentially hundreds of attendees leaves many people feeling apprehensive or overwhelmed. Related: 18 Easy Conversation Starters For Networking Events Here are three tips that will help to ease the anxiety and make sure you’re maximizing your time and efforts: 1. Use The Buddy System Your objective is to expand your network by meeting and developing relationships with people that you don’t already know, so inviting all of your friends and turning it into the equivalent of a happy hour probably isn’t the best strategy. That said, it can be a great idea to partner up with one friend or colleagueâ€"sort of like having a workout partner at the gym. You’ll have the comfort of having at least one person in the room that you know, plus he or she can help introduce you to people and potentially bail you out if you happen to get trapped in an uncomfortable conversation. 2. Set A Goal If you don’t feel particularly skilled at working the room, you’re not alone. Even the most outgoing person can be off their game from time to time. Don’t head to an event feeling like you need to meet every single person in the room. Set a modest goal for yourselfâ€"for instance, try to meet and exchange business cards with at least three people. The day after the event, use LinkedIn to support your real-life networking. Seek out the people you met and invite them to join your network. 3. Focus On Giving, Not Receiving The best way to build and maintain a strong network is to offer your assistance to the people that you meet. When you’re reaching out to connect on LinkedIn, for instance, personalize your invitation a bit. Try this: It was great meeting you last night at _____. I enjoyed discussing _____ with you. Let me know how I can help you going forward. If you can help someone else meet a business challenge, introduce them to a colleague, resource, or potential employer or employee, you’ll help make a strong real-world connection, while also building your reputation in your network, which makes it more likely that help will be there for you when you need it. Networking events don’t have to be intimidating or tedious. If you have the right plan, you can quickly build connections as well as your reputation. Remember, the best time to build your network is before you need it, and, like a garden, your network needs to be maintained in order to stay healthy and robust. Focus on making and maintaining real-world connections, and use your online social networking in support of your efforts. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts 10 Tips For People Who Hate Networking 5 Ways To Break The Ice At Networking Events 5 Ways To Prepare For Your Next Networking Event   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!