Five everyday practices to boost your confidence

Five everyday practices to boost your confidenceFive everyday practices to boost your confidenceI often bristle at people who say women lack confidence in the workplace. Part me thinks its a thinly-veiled form of victim-shaming that puts all the blame of our patriarchal systems and structures on women themselves.But theres no denying it being seen as someone who feels confident in their own skin is a big part of managing your image. And while theres nothing wrong with being doubtful, too much self-doubt can hinder your ability to take risks, try new things, and grow.So if cultivating confidence is something youre working on now, here are 5 easy steps to departure1. PrepareAs Brad the boo always says, practice how you want to play.Nobody is born feeling confident in their innate abilities. We all have to work hard to hone our craft, whether its public speaking, programming, or leading a team. So when youre feeling that nervousness that comes with rising to the occasion and trying some thing new, the more hours you spend practicing and preparing, the more confident youre going to feel when its game time.Ive spent the last 5 years really honing my craft asa public speaker, and it truly doesnt look all that glamourous. Most of the time its just me, pacing back and forth, alone in my hotel room, standing in front of a mirror, and recording myself speaking. Then Ill play back the tape, listen and watch for whats working, and try again while eliminating what wasnt.Set aside dedicated time for focused preparation and youll feel so much more confident in whatever youre tackling next.2. Phone a friendI was recently brought in to help a national firm with sexual harassment training. Now Ive done a lot of training and development focused on gender at work in the past, but this particular subject matter was a stretch opportunity for me. So instead of subscribing to that fake it till you make it approach, that can sometimes leave you feeling a bit out of your league, I brough t in a trusted friend, and fellow training and development expert.Its not only better for me, but its in the best interest of my client to bring another persons experience and background into this particular project.When youre expanding your own skillset, it doesnt hurt to bring in some outside reinforcement. Butyouhave to take the initiative to seek out that kind of support. Whether its a phone call to a friend or colleague whos been around the block before, or a more formal partnership with some one who can help deliver on your objectives, its important to remember we dont need to go it alone.And sometimes its as simple a phoning a friend for the pep talk you need to recognize that you already have what you need within you.3. Dress the partI used to be a bit fashion agnostic. I would rather focus on the substance of what Im doing, Id argue, than the style with which Im doing it. But I was missing the point of dressing up. Its not so much for others, but looking put together is mor e about how you feel about yourself.I recently sat down with one of our Bossed Up Trainer Team members, Tiffany Ingram of thePolicy Fashion blogto talk throughhow to dress for work this themaon the Bossed Up blog. She reminded me that looking your best can help you feel your best, too.When Im having an off day, changing out of my yoga pants for a more polished and professional look gives me a boost of swagger that helps me bring my A-game to whatever the day calls for.4. Power poseSimilarly, how I carry myself matters, too. Amy Cuddy pioneered research around power posesthat shows people feel more confident when theyre in an expansive body position. Sitting or standing tall, with your shoulders back and chin held high not only makes others see you as more powerful, it can makeyousee you as more powerful, too.On the contrary, more closed-in, constricted body positions can leave you feeling less confident. Now this is a major when we think about how gender affects body position, too. As little girls, if were conditioned to shrink ourselves, cross our legs, and keep our hands folded in on ourselves, were feeding into a stereotype about femininity and powerlessness.Take up more space, and ironically, youll start to feel more entitled to that space, too. So before your next big meeting, presentation, or interview, assume a high-power body position for at least 2 minutes (preferably in front of a mirror), and youll walk in with an extra kick of confidence.5. Brainstorm a brag sheetWhen youre feeling anxious and unsure of yourself, a million reasonswhy yourenotcut out for the task at hand might be flooding through your mind.Ive never done this before.Im such a fraudIm not qualified.Take control over the voice in your head by focusing instead on the reasons why youareequipped to give this a try.Ive been working on this project more closely than anyoneIm setting aside time to figure this out.Im the only here with an MBA.Whatever it is, take control of the narrative in your head, starting with brainstorming a brag sheet listing out your past achievements and strongest characteristics. In other words, its about focusing your attention on the reasons why youre awesome, capable, and can totally handle curveballs that will come your way.Now if youre feeling so self-conscious that even beginning this kind of an exercise feels impossible, enlist the support of your friends and colleagues, who might be even better able to remind you of your strengths. Once youve got them written out, refer back to your brag sheet whenever youre feeling out of your league to remind you of how far youve come already.This article first appeared on Bossed Up.

No Problem. Is a Problem

No Problem. Is a Problem No Problem. Is a Problem Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts.- former Vice President, Dan Quayle, who was leid an astronaut CHOICES/Image Michael MoffaOne gauge of the state of manners and civility in modern professional and partal life is the ritualized expressions- both verbal and non-verbal- that characterize our interactions. The triumph of the expression no schwierigkeit over youre welcome is one such barometer of our changing social and (un)civil climate. As such, it constitutes a warning of social clouds overhead.Ask Your GrandmotherThere once was a time when if someone said, Thank you, the natural and virtually universal reply would have been youre welcome. Check with your grandmother to confirm this. In the highest-levels of professional or formal interaction, this is probably still the norm. Likewise, among non-native English speakers, who generally learn the most polite English from their formally-trained instructors, y oure welcome prevails, despite their fondness for the too casual gonna (going to).But ask yourself whether your typical response or the one you hear most often among recruiters, between recruiters and candidates or between recruiter and client is youre welcome, or no problem.In all likelihood, quite accustomed to saying or hearing no problem, most people wont give it a first or second thought. Its as natural as put a shrimp on the barbie, mate is in Australia- even if no prawblem conceivably may have not originated there.You enter any shop or store, you pay for your purchase and say, Thank you. If the assistant, clerk or Star Bucks barista is under 40 (as they all seem to be at any Star Bucks Ive been in around the world), it is as predictable as saggy pants on a rapper that youll hear no problem in response.The problem with no problem is that it is absolutely the wrong thing to say- including for recruiters.The Problem with No ProblemWhats wrong with it is that it distorts thank yo u into Im sorry. Think about it Thank you- No problem you didnt cause me any or much trouble or inconvenience. (Giving you my money inconvenienced you?) Or, No problem just dont do it again. (Dont buy another Super Mocha Grande?) Or, No problem it wasnt important, anyway. (Ah, my business is unimportant?) Or, No problem no big deal for me. (My patronage doesnt matter?)- the latter being subtly different from It wasnt important, anyway. These are not responses to expressions of appreciation. They are responses to an apology for wrongdoing.Now, imagine saying no problem to a client who has just said thank you for your candidate search and recommendations. If you are younger, rather than older, you may be at risk of saying no problem as a reflex, like Im like., since its part of the MTVocabulary (not to be confused with empty vocabularyor at least not by anyone who speaks MTV).Whenever I elicit a no problem, I cringe and think, Im sorry, but did I just apologize to you, instead of than king you? If I do say, Im sorry, but did I just apologize to you?, then no problem ironically becomes the appropriate reply to me, since, indeed, I will have just expressed a real apology at that moment (for having confused thanks with Im sorry). My bad.Of course, no problem is supposed to be casual, non-formal, just as its OK is. The problem with this equivalence is that its OK should also be used only in response to an apology. Im sorry Im late.- No problem/Its OK. Besides, why should being casual legitimize such a mismatch of remark and reply?The Problems of Illogic and Being Ill-ManneredPerhaps the evolution of such an accusatory acknowledgement as no problem is the result of flawed MTV logic Casual is good. Therefore non-polite is good. Therefore impolite is good. This kind of thinking clearly underlies about 95% of the taunting banter between adolescent males who otherwise call themselves friends Yo doofus, wus up?They can get away with that illogic you cant- unless you are re cruiting mall-rat saggy-pants teenagers for executive posts.Another possible explanation for the displacement of thank you by no problem is that those who say no problem really do feel annoyed, inconvenienced or otherwise negative about the person thanking them and are letting their true feelings leak out- in the culturally driven spirit and priorities of authenticity, being oneself or integrity that have similarly and generally displaced courtesy, politeness, respect and sensitivity (sensitivity of the second kind, viz., altruistic, rather than the currently more common hyper-sensitivity to umbrage).If I were in a recruiting situation in which I actually harbored such negative sentiments, I would resist the temptation to let my feelings leak so casually. No, instead of no problem, I would say in response to thank you, This is not an issue. (Just kidding.)The Wisdom of Robert Downey, JrA third hypothesis is suggested by Oscar-winning actor Robert Downey, Jrs response when asked in a n interview how he would characterize American youths. His answer fearful narcissists. As an intriguing speculation, his characterization suggests that no problem may be designed to convey two things- first, that the stance or attitude of the thanked was actually defensive, borderline fearful, in expecting some huge imposition second, that self-absorption makes the thanked party oblivious to any pleasure in being helpful- the kind of pleasure youre welcome ritualistically or sincerely conveys.For the fearful narcissist, youre welcome sends entirely the wrong message, on two counts, viz., it is an existentially inauthentic lie to suggest that the thanked party actually felt comfortable in being asked for help and a second lie that he or she is truly happy to have made someone else happy.With that cleared up, if you want to thank me for my analysis, go ahead. My response?Ill be thankful if there were no problems with it.

How to Use Emotional Intelligence to Network

How to Use Emotional Intelligence to NetworkHow to Use Emotional Intelligence to NetworkIn your job search arsenal, you should have a really great resume, a creative (and customizable) cover letter, and an awesome interview suit.But what about networking know-how? Even if you feel meh about it, networking is a great way to establish new contacts, rekindle older ones, and potentially open doors to new possibilities- and a job.Assuming, that is, that youre likable.According to the Fast Company story, Do These 5 Emotionally Intelligent Things Within 5 Minutes of Meeting Someone, it turns out that showing up to networking events isnt enough- you have to be likable, too. This ability to create deeper connections (even within minutes of meeting someone) is called emotional intelligence, and its something that anyone can benefit from. After all, a likable connection might be mora likely to help you in your job search than someone whoisnt.Build a strong network connection using emotional int elligence in these waysDont curb your enthusiasm.When meeting a new person, dont just shake their hand in a detached manner and mumble a hello. The emotionally intelligent will open themselves up to new connections with a more enthusiastic greeting, including a warm handshake and eye contact. They will also open themselves up to meeting new people- literally. Straighten out your posture by opening up your chest and standing more broadly its more welcoming than someone who is hunched, or fails to look a person in the eye.Be complimentary.Within the first few minutes of meeting someone, if you feel that you can compliment the person, you should. It shouldnt be forced or fake, but be open to finding genuine and honest ways to make the person feel good.Ask questions.Being a good listener is a cornerstone of being emotionally intelligent. And while you might think that meeting an important new connection would warrant you talking about yourself in the hopes of solidifying help down the r oad, it actually works the opposite way. Take a few minutes to simply listen to the other person- and really remember what theyre saying. No fidgeting with your phone or looking for the nearest exit. Listening to what someone has to say can be more meaningful to someone than if you try to interject every few seconds with your own opinions.Dig deeper.As you hold conversation with someone, dont just ask yes or no questions. Instead, ask questions that require longer answers, especially on a topic that your potential connection finds interesting. This canlead to people liking you more if theyfeel that you are taking a genuine interest in them and their likes. In turn,your networking efforts can be more fruitful.Make the connection.To truly establish a connection with someone, youre going to have to look for common ground. It might be something as simple as liking the same football team, having the same alma mater, or even having the same number of kids. But try hard to find a way to fo ster a deeper connection with the person. Look to see what the person finds interesting (physical cues such as becoming more expressive or smiling more as he speaks are good ones to watch out for), and then see which ones match your own interests.Know their name. Theres no point in taking the time to establish a connection, only to forget the persons name right before parting ways. One way to remember the persons name is to repeat it immediately upon your introduction, and then learn to sprinkle it naturally into your conversation. And when youre about to leave, you can say something like, It was great to meet you, John. Lets be in touch soon. Just saying someone elses name can make you more likable, which in turn, ups your chances of solidifying the connection.Dont forget the details.Lets say that your new connection talks about his new baby girl, or the fact that hes just recently moved to the burbs. When you follow up with the person, be sure to touch on those topics, which can a utomatically make you much more likable than if you just reached out asking for career advice.Being emotionally intelligent isnt just something that can help you be a better job seeker, but an overall better person, too. So the next time you hit a networking event, connect to your emotional intelligence, which will help you connect better to others as well.

What Not to Include in a Cover Letter

What leid to Include in a Cover LetterWhat Not to Include in a Cover LetterAcover letteris an important part of your job application. In some cases, employers require a cover letter to be submitted with your resume. In others, a cover letter is nach eigenem ermessen or not required. A cover letter can boost your application for a job. It can also cost you an interview if it doesnt include the right information or if its sloppy or badly written. Its always a good idea toprovide a cover letter if you have the option. Your cover letter can make the difference between getting selected for an interview or not. It gives you an opportunity to sell your qualifications to the hiring manager. A well-written cover letter gives you the opportunity to frame your background so that employers draw the right conclusions about your qualifications as they review your resume. The Purpose of a Cover Letter In your cover letter its important to convey how your character, interests, motivations, know ledge, skills and experiences equip you to excel in the job.This is your opportunity to show the employer why youre a strong candidate for the position and should be considered. Here aretips for matching your qualifications to the job. What Not to Include in a Cover Letter However, there is such a thing as too much information when it comes to cover letter writing. Your cover letter should be short, concise and focused on what you can offer the employer. You dont need to share non-relevant information, personal information or anything else that doesnt connect you with the position for which youre applying. Your letter should avoid making the wrong impression about your candidacy.Furthermore,it shouldnt provide useless information that makes it more difficult for the recruiter to focus on your most compelling qualifications.Here are 15 things not to include in your cover letter. 1. Any Spelling or Grammar ErrorsYour cover letter is viewed as a sample of your ability as a writer a nd evidence of your attention to detail. Even a minor typo or error can knock you out of contention for the job.Review these proofreading tipsto make aya your letters are perfect. Even better, if you can get someone else to review it for youthen do that too. It can be hard to catch our own mistakes. 2. The Wrong Company Name or the Wrong Name of the Contact PersonDouble-check to be sure that youve addressed your cover letter to the correct person at the right organization. If you get it wrong, it is a tip-off that you are mass producing your documents and may lack attention to detail. Nobody likes it when they are called by the wrong nameand thats especially true when youre reading letters from someone who wants you to hire them. 3. Anything That Isnt TrueFacts can be checked and lies are grounds for rescinding offers and dismissing employees.Ive heard from job seekers who were in a panic because they stretched the truth or outrightlied in their cover letter or resumeand didnt know how to rectify it. You dont want to be one of those people. Make sure your cover letter accurately reflects your qualifications for the job. Dont embellish your work history or qualifications. Employers can and do check with references and previous employers. 4. Paragraphs That Are Too LongEmployers will skip over your cover letter and move right to your resume if it is too difficult to read. Each paragraph of your letter should include 5 - 6 lines of text with no more than three sentences in each.Include plenty of white space at the top and bottom of your letter and in between paragraph. Hereshow long a cover letter should be. 5. Your Salary Requirements or ExpectationsDont include salary requirements or expectations unless directed to do so by the employer. Its important to demonstrate to the employer your interest in the job itself and not make it seem like money is your primary motivation. Its always wise to let the employer mention salary first, if possible. Hereswhen and how t o mention salaryto a prospective employer. 6. Negative Comments About a Current or Past EmployerAvoid including any negative comments about your current or previous employer as part of why you are looking for work. Employers tend to view such comments as an indication of possible attitude or performance problems. Keep your letter positive and focused on why youre the right person for the job. 7. Information Not Related to the JobDont include any text that is not directly related to your assets for the position or why it appeals to you. Empty language can distract the employer from your core messages.Its better to write a short letter than one filled with irrelevant information. 8. Personal InformationThe employer doesnt need to know you want this job because of personal reasons. Keep your focus on the professional reasons youd love to be hired, and keep the personal ones to yourself. Your goal is to sell yourself to the hiring manager as a quality candidate, not to get someone to co nsider you because you would really love the employee discount or the hours, for example. 9. Any Portrayal of the Position as a Stepping StoneMost employers will be looking primarily for someone who is motivated to do the job that they are advertising for a reasonable length of time. Mentioning future advancement can lead them to believe you would not be satisfied doing that job for long. The exception, of course, would beif the employer has referenced the issue. 10. What You WantDont mention what you want to get out of the job or the company. The precious space in your cover letter should focus on what you have to offer the employer. Heres what to include in thebody section of your cover letter. 11. What You Dont WantDont mention anything you dont like about the job, the schedule, the salary or anything else. Save your thoughts for when youre offered a job and in a position to negotiate. There are many applicants for most jobs, and the ones who get the interviews will be the candid ates who dont have a list of requirements. 12. Qualifications You Dont HaveAddressing what might be missing in your candidacy with statements like Despite my lack of abverkauf experience... is not a good idea. Dont draw attention to your limitations as a candidate. Keep the focus on your credentials and how they will enable you to get the job done. 13. Explanations for Leaving Past Jobs Which Sound Like ExcusesAny excuses may needlessly direct attention to less-positive chapters in your work history. Pointing out that you were recruited for a better job is fine, but theres no need to mention that you were fired or had difficulties in previous positions. 14. Excessive Modesty or Overly Flattering LanguageYou need to convey positives in your letter but do so in a matter-of-fact way.Speak about accomplishments and results but avoid using adjectives to describe yourself thatmaysuggestyou are arrogant or conceited. 15. An Overwhelming Amount of Interest in the JobExcessive interest can hint of desperation or undercut your leverage for salary negotiation. Youre pitching your candidacy, not begging for an interview. Showing desperation is a surefire way to turn off the hiring manager. What to Include in a Cover Letter Keep in mind that your cover letter has one goal to get you a job interview. Take time tomatch your qualificationscarefully to the job requirementsand towrite a personalized cover letterthat shows the hiring manager, at a glance, why youre a terrific candidate.

The Hidden Truth About Resume Microsoft Word

The Hidden Truth About Resume Microsoft Word To learn to compose a resume you should invest a whole lot of thought and effort in what you can do to help an employer. Sure, it appears that way as youre speaking about yourself, but its really about the job the organization is hoping to fill and the way you can meet that need. Microsoft Office is a strong and elaborate suit of programs that let you to receive a good deal of work done. Your work is your source of revenue and you need to never, at all potential expenses, let another individual or a little issue stop you from making money which you or your family members may have to survive. The only exception when you shouldnt incorporate the formal salutation is when you know of the firms culture, and its well known theyre more casual. In the event you lack plenty of experience on the job its important to adhere to a resume objective. Since everybodys experience differs, its no surprise which their resumes will be too. Resume Mi crosoft Word Ideas As soon as youve replaced the resume placeholder text with your information, youre ready to start your job search. Your resume summary is among the most significant sections of your resume. There are some dozen different resume vorlages readily available online, but many of them suck. A resume template will provide the essential information that is necessary for a resume, in plus-rechnen to the format and the way to present your working details in a logical and appealing way. Employing a template can cut the quantity of time youve got to spend formatting your document, which permits you to concentrate on adding content and polishing your resume. Free resume templates for work in the health care market. To put it simply, employing an Acknowledgement Receipt Template Microsoft Office speeds up the practice of producing a winning resume and ensures that it is going to stick out in the application approach. Click the Create button and a couple of seconds later , youre going to be in your document and prepared to edit. PDF documents look the exact same on every computer, and that means you wont have to be concerned about any formatting inconsistencies. Creating a resume can be a difficult job. All our resume templates are in Microsoft Word, thats the simplest program to use. New Ideas Into Resume Microsoft Word Never Before Revealed It is quite easy to generate a great looking resume in Word and one can even utilize templates to assist them. After you create something you prefer, you can save yourself the template and reuse it repeatedly. Our creative templates permit you to stick out from the crowd. Sometimes all you will need is a timeless style template thats clean, clear and right to the point. One of the absolute most important design choices you can possibly make on your resume is your font. An excellent design utilizes the fundamentals of typography and layout design to present your info in a dynamic way. A fantastic moder n resume template provides you with a beinahe and effortless method to update your resume with clarity and fashion. Once you have decided on your perfect resume template from our selection, follow our totally free expert guidance about ways to craft the ideal modern resume. Its fast and simple to use. The Acknowledgement Receipt Template Microsoft Office may also be structured in the way which best presents your abilities and experience. You want one which is flexible and simple to update. In 2018, you have to be format-flexible. Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Resume Microsoft Word Is Wrong Now that you have all of the knowledge needed to create a Cover Letter, you can just select a single cover letter sample and get started personalizing it for your fantasy job. Resume Templates is an excellent method to take away the stress from writing and presenting a resume so you can concentrate on what you have to do when youre given the interview. Resume Microsoft Word When you spot a job that you like, go right to the work opening on LinkedIn to find out more regarding the chance and apply. Each job will call for various abilities and experiences, so make certain you read the work description carefully and center on the appropriate job skills listed by the employer. The most suitable job for you is closer than you might imagine. Thus, when you sit down to compose your first resume, attempt to consider your prior jobs in a new light. Choose which sections you have to have in your CV (dependent on the job that youre applying for), and which ones it is possible to remove. Recruiters will input combinations of search words to get the specific candidate they are searching for. A template is able to help you craft the ideal nursing resume to submit to a possible employer. Deciding upon the right resume template will not simply enable you to highlight the best aspects of your experience and techniques, but nevertheless, it will also focus your foc us to demonstrating what value you are able to provide prospective employers.

The Good, the Bad and Resume Skils

The Good, the Bad and Resume Skils What Everybody Dislikes About Resume Skils and Why Try to remember, the majority of the exceptional skills that you place on your resume ought to be job-related skills taken from the work description and your best transferable skills. If you think in the corporate mission, and whether or not it meshes with what you wish to escape the job, you get a great foundation to be motivated. Besides the obvious financial advantages, very good negotiators provide companies the capability to persuade different folks. If it comes to training, theres no need to include things like every continuing education course youve completed. Communication is a top skill valued in virtually every profession, but it gets especially significant in the plan industry. A Key Skills section, on the flip side, is listed at the very top of a resume. They are work-related skills that you need to do a job. Technical skills are either something youve got or you dont, but theyr e always something which you are able to learn. Each career category contains a list of the conventional functions, tasks and abilities related to jobs that fall within the category. In them, youll find an assortment of work in the chemistry industry which can help you tailor your own resume according to a particular position youre seeking. fruchtwein jobs require that you have a fundamental comprehension of computer programs including Excel and Microsoft Office, and skills in internet navigation, social networking sites and email systems. Most standard resume formats incorporate a skill section at or close to the bottom of the resume. As you proceed through the list of skills above, make a distinct list with the skills which you already possess. Skills If there are several kinds of skills which are important to the job that youre applying for, you can include multiple skills list in your resume. The particular skills you should excel in the working world will differ based on y our area. The Resume Skils Game Employing the most suitable keyword phrases in your resume is critical to getting your resume read. Before you start writing your resume, its important to comprehend the difference and the worth of each. There are three sorts of resumes, each with its own benefits and pitfalls. Giving presentations demonstrates you can engage with large audiences. The Fundamentals of Resume Skils That You Can Learn From Beginning Today Since many job seekers may list skills in a different section of their resume, additionally, it is important to weave them into descriptions under every one of your prior positions. You have to compose a resume which is a small different for each work application. Your resume should quickly persuade the prospective employer that youre a great candidate for the nanny job and the most suitable person to look after their children. Your resume will never please all the people all the moment. Job are always showing signals of change and developing, and you need to demonstrate an openness to raise and learn with that shift. Many jobs out there require that you work in the existence of different people. When there are available work in the area, there could possibly be lots of competition for coveted positions in some specific facilities. Youre so ready for your very first job for a phelbotomist First thing first, if youre serious about producing a great resume, make sure that you download our resume samples for your particular job title. If youre on the lookout for a job for a sommelier, list your understanding of wine fundamentals and food pairing, along with your experience with inventory administration. There are a few skills that will be utterly necessary for any successful candidate. For instance, if youve got a strong history with word processing and a work description necessitates experience with a particular processor you havent used, you may use your experience to demonstrate the employer that yo uve got zero issue working with new word processors.

4 Vocal Traits That Keep You from Getting Hired

4 Vocal Traits That Keep You from Getting Hired My wife is a brilliant woman, in spite of having married me. She has two masters degrees (exactly two more than I have), but was having trouble getting hired and then promoted. Why? Shes a non-native speaker, and herbei accent was holding her back. She took apublic speaking course tailored to non-native speakers. It worked on her accent and, just as important, her inflection. Its too soon to see if the results have paid off for her professionally, but I have noticed her public speaking has improved.Why relate this anecdote? A Fast Company story on Four Speech Habits that Are Undermining Your Job Choices specifically dealt with the problem of inflection.Not only how you talk, but also the way you say it, can hurt you in a job interview. As Fast Company points out, uptalk is a problem, like, you know? Or as they observe, You might know this as Valley g irl speak, but its creeping into Silicon Valley boys clubs, too.According to the BBC, men and women both are increasingly guilty of ending statements with the inflection of questions. It sounds insecure, and it can keep people from taking you seriouslyThe BBC article says the findings were presented as part of a study at the Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in California. Claire Nance, a linguistics lecturer at Lancaster University, commented to the BBC that the research reinforced the fact that uptalk was increasingly widespread across all kinds of people. Typically, women are trail-blazers in language change and take up innovative features first, then males start using them later.So neither a Valley Girl nor Valley Boy be. It can only hurt your career advancement or hiring prospects.The next phenomena is called vocal fry, and I have to admit it was one I had never encountered before. According to the Fast Company article, vocal fry is the creaking, drawn-out tone that emerges when speaking below your normal register. It affects first impressions for both men and women.Fast Company links to audio files with examples. Once you hear them you will know exactly what vocal fry is. It also has a scientific name glottalization.The article cites research in PlosOne, an international, peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication. It says, In a large national sample of American adults we find that vocal fry is interpreted negatively. Relative to a normal speaking voice, young adult female voices exhibiting vocal fry are perceived as less competent, less educated, less trustworthy, less attractive, and less hirable. The negative perceptions of vocal fry are stronger for female voices relative to male voices. These results suggest that young Americexprean females should avoid using vocal fry speech in bestellung to maximize labor market opportunities.The next bad habit is pitch problems. The article succinctly addresses the pitch you should achieve more Jam es Earl Jones (This is CNN) and less Gilbert Gottfried, former pitchman for AFLAC.The final speaking error that torpedoes job interviews and promotions is bad grammar. The article quotes Diane DeResta, who says, The interviewer may question your education when you use incorrect grammar or slang. Expressions such as aint, she dont, and me and my friend arent appropriate. Be sure you speak in complete sentences and that tenses agree. The interview is not the venue for regional expressions or informality.Add to that list my personal pet peeve saying axe Im writing phonetically instead of ask. Im trying to get my goddaughter to drop it from her lingo. Shes only 10, so Im hoping I succeed before she hits the job market.