How to Make the Most of Weekly One-on-Ones With Your Boss

How to Make the Most of Weekly One-on-Ones With Your BossHow to Make the Most of Weekly One-on-Ones With Your Boss These days, a growing number of companies are requiring that bosses and their direct reports have weekly one-on-one meetings . And while some workers - and managers - find these sit-downs to be nothing mora than a glaring waste of time, for otzu sichs, theyre a welcome opportunity to get some face time and rehash important work-related matters.Of course, the problem with these recurring one-on-ones is that they tend to be rather brief. And that makes sense. If your manager has 12 direct reports and is required to meet with all of them on a weekly basis, he or she cant exactly carve out 60 minutes or more per employee. As such, your weekly one-on-one might amount to nothing more than a 15-minute chat, or 30 minutes if youre lucky, and thats why it pays to approach those conversations strategically. Heres how.Perhaps the best way to take advantage of your weekly one-on-one with your manager is to come in prepared with an agenda. Before that meeting, jot down a list of the things you want to discuss and the questions to which you need answers. Granted, your boss might be the one who ultimately dictates how that meeting goes and what items are reviewed, but the more organized you are when you come in, the greater your chances of hitting on the talking points that are fruchtwein important to you.Its always good to build a relationship with your manager, and theres something to be said for basic conversation along the lines of How was your weekend? or Let me tell you about this great restaurant I just found. But when you only have a handful of minutes to discuss important matters with your boss, forgoing that chitchat is a better idea. So rather than engage in small talk, get right down to business. Go through the items on your prepared agenda, and let your boss have his or her say as well. If you find that you have a few minutes le ft over after all critical matters are discussed, you and your manager can then feel free to swap grilling tips or analyze your favorite sports teams performance.Chances are, your boss will want to use your one-on-one time to get updated on critical projects youre working on. But the more time you spend sharing those details, the less time youll have to ask questions or review other important matters. Thats why it pays to be as concise as possible when bringing your manager up to speed. If youre tasked with overhauling your companys website, you dont necessarily need to spend seven or eight minutes reviewing your content strategy. Rather, a simple The home page redesign portion is complete should suffice. If your manager has any follow-up questions, he or she will be sure to ask.Many managers use weekly one-on-ones as a chance to get up to date and share quick thoughts. But if youre smart, youll use that time as a chance to solicit actual feedback about your performance. This migh t get your boss thinking about how youre doing and where you can improve, and if you receive that sort of constructive criticism week after week, as opposed to waiting until your annual review comes around, itll be much more helpful.Whether you look forward to your weekly one-on-one with your boss or think its a drag, it pays to make the most of that time. Follow these tips, and youll be doing just that.

What to Do If Any of These 9 Unfortunate Things Happen During a Job Interview

What to Do If Any of These 9 Unfortunate Things Happen During a Job InterviewWhat to Do If Any of These 9 Unfortunate Things Happen During a Job Interview1Unfortunately, most of us dont live in an ideal world. Unexpected problems often pop up at the worst possible times- say, in the middle of a job interview.Do your best to prepare for these troublesome interview situations, to the extent that you can. But youll also need to deal with some things on the fly. Here are nine things that may go wrong during an interview, and how you should handle each problem.1. You show up late.Technically, this is something that happens before the interview begins, but it fits the category of an unfortunate problem. Whether you were stuck in traffic or accidentally put the wrong time on your calendar, a lack of punctuality can start the interview on a bad note. If you know youre running late, its a good idea to call ahead to let the interviewers know, apologize, and see if theyd like to reschedule. Be humble, but dont apologize so much that you sound whiny. Chances are theyve been late for something in their lives, too, so theyll probably be understanding.2. The interviewer is switched at the last minute.You usually know in advance who will be interviewing you, which gives you an opportunity to research the person(s) and prepare to talk to them. If someone else meets you for the interview when you arrive, it can throw you off your game. However, this is really an opportunity for you to get to know the new person, according to an article from The Muse.Ask questions about her position, specifically how her job relates to the one youre gunning for, and ask about her career background in case you have something in common, the article says. Although it can be disquieting at first, after you get over the initial surprise of the switch, youll likely find that you can talk just as much to this person as to the one you planned on interviewing with originally. That displays your adaptabili ty and willingness to take on an unexpected challenge.3. The technology you need for a presentation isnt working.For some positions, the interviewers expect you to prepare and present information on a topic relevant to the job. If the computer or projector wont work when you try to begin, it can lead to many tense and awkward moments. To overcome this problem, try to memorize the key points of your presentation in advance. Bring a printed copy of your slide deck with you, or hard copies of other materials that will help you make your points. Instead of wasting the precious few minutes you have with the interviewers trying to get a computer to work, move along with your presentation. This will show that you can overcome problems and stay on track even when the unexpected occurs.4. The interviewer notices an error or inconsistency in your resume.Its a good idea to bring several printed copies of your resume with you to the interview, both for yourself and the interviewers. Hopefully, that resume is accurate and honest. If you have exaggerated an accomplishment or made an error in reporting your past positions, chances are thats the one experience the interviewer will further explore. If this happens, own the mistake and correct the error. Then try to salvage the point by providing a specific example of the skills you possess.5. The hiring manager is rude or a bad interviewer.If the former is the case, you might want to reconsider your interest in the position. Stay engaged and polite during the interview, in case theyre just having a bad day, but keep the behavior in mind as you move forward. If the person simply isnt good at interviewing, The Muse article suggests that you remember the points you want to discuss about yourself and the questions you want to ask about the position. Then, take an active role in directing the conversation to keep the person on topic.6. The interview is interrupted by distractions.Hopefully, you remembered to turn off the ringer on your phone and stow it somewhere during the interview so you wont be the cause of an embarrassing interruption. If that does happen- or if the interviewer seems distracted by their phone or by people walking by- you may have to work harder to keep the meeting on track.Be polite and patient, up to a point. If the interruptions become so frequent that a meaningful conversation is impossible, ask if it would be helpful to reschedule, acknowledging that you understand unexpected emergencies sometimes develop and you want them to handle whatever has come up. No matter what, keep your cool.7. You get angry.Maybe those previously mentioned distractions are finally too much for you. Or maybe youre asked about a job from which you were fired, and old feelings of anger rise to the surface. If you feel that happening, you must get yourself back under control.Angry people are bedrngnis people employers want to hire. Angry people are not fun to work with, says an article from Job-Hunt.org. To av oid such a reaction, the article says, Stop, before you enter the employers premises, take a few deep breaths, focus on the opportunity that awaits you at this potential employer, put a smile on your face, and do your best to switch gears mentally so you are not in a bad place in your mind.8. You zone out and miss a question.You would think that an interview would make you nervous enough that zoning out couldnt occur, but if the hiring manager is droning on about something and your mind wanders, you could miss a question. That will not look good to your prospective employer, according to an article from The Balance Careers. If you feel your attention slipping away, make an effort to stay engaged. Maintain eye contact, lean forward slightly when talking to your interviewer, and make an active effort to listen effectively.9. You realize you dont really want the job for which you are interviewing.As you answer questions and learn more about the job, you may discover that the position y oure discussing isnt a good fit for you. If this happens, and youre leise interested in working for the company, dont get frustrated. Instead, continue to emphasize your skills. Talk about why you want to work for the organization and how you could help it prosper. Even if you dont get the position you were interviewing for, you may plant a seed that will lead the interviewer to suggest you for a more appropriate spot. Its always better to build bridges than to burn them.As in all parts of life, unexpected problems will pop up during a job interview. Its inevitable. By accepting that reality and mentally preparing to handle what might go wrong, youll show that youre adaptable and unflappable when it does.Find a job that fits your lifestyle Browse Open Flexible Jobs

Introducing Two New ASME E-Fests Student Volunteer Programs

Introducing Two New ASME E-Fests Student Volunteer Programs Introducing Two New ASME E-Fests Student Volunteer Programs Introducing Two New ASME E-Fests Student Volunteer ProgramsMay 25, 2018 (Left to right) Karen Ohland, member of the ASME Board of Governors, with ASME E-Fests Leadership Program members Trisha Satish, Isabel Gutierrez and Mirza Wali Ali Baig at E-Fest West in Pomona, Calif.ASME recently launched a new initiative, the ASME E-Fests Leadership Program, to recognize the student volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to ensure the success of the Societys Engineering Festivals (ASME E-Fests). Organizers are also now accepting applications for a second program, the ASME E-Fests Student Advisory Panel, which is open to students who attended one of the ASME E-Fests in the United States this spring.Six ASME student members have been named as the inaugural members of the ASME E-Fests Leadership Program, which is one-year program that spotlights the hard work and d edication of ASME student members from an ASME E-Fest host university who were actively involved in the coordination and planning of the event at their school. Isabel Gutierrez, Trisha Satish and Mirza Wali Ali Baig from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, were named as three of the ASME E-Fests Leaders for 2018-2019 for their support of E-Fest West in Pomona, Calif., in March. Three of the student volunteers from E-Fest East Marie Horomanski, Jennifer Lynskey, and Matthew Semanick of Pennsylvania State University were also selected as members of the program in recognition of their work at E-Fest East. Marie Horomanski and Matthew Semanick, who were student volunteers at E-Fest East at Penn State University, have been selected as two of the members of the ASME E-Fests Leadership Program for 2018-2019.Members of the ASME E-Fests Leadership Program will assist volunteer and staff organizers by promoting future ASME E-Fests at student section meetings and on social medi a, engaging with the new ASME E-Fests host schools, providing guidance for the planning of future ASME E-Fests based on their own experiences as a volunteer, and helping to create promotional materials for the next season of ASME E-Fests. They will also have the opportunity to speak about ASME E-Fests at various ASME events and to write articles for the ASME E-Fests website describing their experiences as student leaders.Applications are now being accepted for another new student initiative, the ASME E-Fests Student Advisory Panel, for students who attended an E-Fest East or E-Fest West this year. As a member of the Student Advisory Panel, students will be able to provide feedback on ASME E-Fests sessions, the student competitions that take place during the festivals, social and networking activities, and new competitions and challenges that could be held at future festivals. Student Advisory Panel members will also have the aussicht to work with other students, ASME staff, and volu nteers to provide direction for the next season of ASME E-Fests and take part in focus groups to help shape other ASME student programs. (Left to right) Paul Stevenson, senior vice president of ASMEs Student and Early Career Development Sector, presents Penn State students Marie Horomanski and Jennifer Lynskey with volunteer recognition plaques at this years E-Fest East. Horomanski and Lynskey were recently named members of the ASME E-Fests Leadership Program for 2018-2019.To be considered for the ASME E-Fests Student Advisory Panel, applicants must be an ASME student member who attended either E-Fest East or E-Fest West this year. Candidates should also be current mechanical engineering undergraduate or graduate students or an early career engineer who is prepared to make a two-year commitment to the program.To apply, e-mail a rsum with a cover letter describing why you would make a good Student Advisory Panel member to Valentina Alayon, ASME Student and Early Career Engagement E xperience Coordinator, at alayonvasme.org. The deadline to submit an application is June 15.For more information on ASME E-Fests, visit https//efests.asme.org. If your university is interested in hosting a future ASME E-Fest, check out the Host Application for more information and instructions on how to apply.