Part One: Six confidence-boosting tips for speaking up in meetings.

Some of the actuaries we interview tell us that they are not as comfortable speaking up in meetings they would like to be. If you are one of the hesitant ones, you are missing some golden rungs on the advancement ladder. The preparation to change that is not as difficult as it might seem. Here are the first three of six tips for ramping up your successful participation:

Be prepared. Make sure you are up to speed on recent developments that might impact the meeting topic. Have any materials or backup information available that could be relevant to the goals of the meeting. Make sure you know the attendee list. Check the list to see if there are people you don’t know. It’s always a good idea to know who is in the room, and what role they play. Knowing your audience will help you think about and present your ideas in context.

Arrive a few minutes early. Why should you arrive early? First it assures you a seat at the table, and allows you to choose where you want to sit. Remember, the head of the table is typically reserved for the person who is running the meeting. Arriving early gives you the edge and allows you to make good impression by greeting others as they arrive. Also, if someone you don’t know is attending, you can make your mark by introducing yourself.  Another reason to be early is that, while many people think that rushing in at the last minute makes them look important, it actually makes them look like bad time managers, and not in control of their resources. Those are two unfavorable characteristics for a leader.

Decide ahead of time that you will contribute.  If you are hesitant to speak or shy you will likely be passed over in the meeting, and that may contribute to being overlooked in other areas. Often meetings include people, some influential, whom you may not work for or with. These people will see your behavior in the meeting as indicative of your capabilities. You must find your own way to contribute. If you hate speaking up, maybe you can draft some ideas on paper and distribute them at the appropriate time. It takes a little planning to get started as a contributor, but it will be well worth the effort.

To be continued.

Oh NO! It's going to be a lunch interview.

It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes an interview involves a meal. When it does, you need to know how to handle the extra logistics of eating and interviewing. Here are a few tips to help you.

Hopefully, you will have advanced notice that the interview involves a meal. If you have been told the name of the restaurant, it’s smart to go to their website and decide in advance what to order. This removes the pressure of reading the menu and making choices on the spot. It’s a really good idea to choose a small meal that is easy to eat with a fork and knife, instead of a sloppy sandwich. Remember, that you will be doing a lot of the talking, so it’s good to choose something easy to chew! You would never want to talk with your mouth full, but chewing can be a good tactic to give you time to think about how you can answer a difficult question.

 

Be polite to the wait staff. Order without a fuss, no demands or mention of food issues or allergies. And if you are in doubt, sparkling water is a great choice for a beverage. It’s adult and non-alcoholic.

 

Because there will likely be more social time than a regular interview, it’s smart to have some relevant or casual current events you can introduce while waiting for service. Keep it simple and non-political.  

Finally, it’s perfectly fine to allow you’re interviewer to pick up the tab, you are the guest.

Do you want to be at your best for that upcoming interview?

Food might not be on your checklist when you are prepping for an interview. Perhaps the idea of a job interview might even take away your appetite, but don’t skip good nutrition before the appointment. What you eat can have a marked effect on your performance. To be at your best, plan to eat at least an hour before, so that the good-food energy is flowing to your brain.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a morning or afternoon interview, you can’t neglect the boost in energy and alertness that healthy food will provide. Don’t just grab a bagel or muffin. Carbs are quick energy, but won’t give you the staying power you may need. In fact, studies show that two hours after consumption, eating carbs results in tryptophan levels four times higher than eating protein. Tryptophan is actually an amino acid that is used in sleep medications!

What should you eat? Opt for protein. For breakfast, a spinach and egg white omelet is a good choice.  Proteins have staying power and will ramp up your mental alertness. If it’s an afternoon interview, salmon or chicken is good, but stay away from turkey (the tryptophan again!).

Of course, caffeine is one thing that boosts alertness, so if you like it, have a cup of coffee. Researchers have found coffee enhances short-term memory performance, and helps improve attention capacity and problem-solving skills. But don’t overdo. Too much coffee will not only make you a jittery, nervous wreck; even worse, you may find yourself in the position of needing a mid-interview bathroom break.  

What do you have in common with Peyton Manning?

You may not think that an actuarial career has anything in common with the career of an NFL super-star quarterback like Peyton Manning, but it does, or at least yours should.

At the 2015 Leadercast Live event broadcast worldwide from Atlanta in May, Manning’s 20-minute presentation was one of eight from impressive leaders who spoke on the conference theme “The Brave Ones” all about breakthrough performance and leadership.

Manning is a lively and engaging speaker. His talk enlightened the audience about the focus, dedication and determination it took for him to become the best at his craft. He made it clear it wasn’t supreme talent as much as a singular relentless pursuit to improve his skills. He attributes a major part of his success to his father, and the coaching he received from him and others. Manning says that even today he absolutely wants and relies on coaching. As a matter of fact, he gets angry if he doesn’t get it.  “It doesn’t matter how seasoned we are, everyone needs a coach . . . As soon as someone stops wanting to be coached, taught or mentored I think they are in big trouble,” said Manning. 

What he made so clear was that the invaluable thing about coaching is the perspective gained from having a person who is looking out for our best interests. Our coaches can see the areas where we could benefit from some feedback and guidance on how we can become he best we can be. Everyone’s career goals should include the guidance of a coach.

Our survey says . . . seeing is believing.

Everyone wonders how their compensation stacks up to others in their industry. Actuaries never have to wonder. They have the benefit of actual salary survey information collected from their peers, and the amazing survey query tools we provide. We don’t just publish reports, we allow actuaries to query the data we’ve gathered. It easy to see what’s going on with the salaries in each specialty area. It allows them to compare, and begin to target their future dream jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                        Our data is collected from actuaries who respond to our confidential salary survey, as well as the data we gather on a regular basis from the actuaries we interview and place. We also include salary information from the companies we recruit for. 

The highly interactive charts allow exploration of actuarial salary ranges in relationship to: industry/specialization, geographic location, professional designation, number of exams completed and years of experience.  We hope you will take a look and explore the information and possibilities!

http://www.actuarialcareers.com/interactive-tool-new.php

 

A little cell phone etiquette

It’s not unusual for companies to have cell phone polices that dictate how you can use your personal cell phone during office hours. Whether or not you are allowed to use your phone at work, it’s always a good idea to practice good cell phone etiquette. Here are a few reminders:  

·       Be considerate of those around you if you are at work, set the notification on vibrate.

·       In the company of others, it’s considerate to only use your phone for important calls. Casual chatter can wait. If you aren’t sure, let the call go to voice mail. If you do answer an unimportant call, it’s okay to tell the person it’s not a good time for you to talk. Get off the call quickly.

·       If you have to take a call that you believe to be important, apologize for the interruption and indicate that you believe the call can’t wait.

·       If you are at work, find a private place to make your call. It’s just considerate find someplace to talk where your conversation can’t be overheard, even if what you are discussing isn’t personal.  

For whom the bell tolls . . .

You already know that shutting off your cell phone is an absolute must before an interview. In fact, we suggest that you just leave it in the car. If you don’t have it to distract you, you can be fully present while you are waiting to be interviewed, and won’t have to remember to shut it off.

But what about when you get a job? Do you take your cell phone to a meeting? If you are part of the Millennial generation, mobile devices are second nature to you, a natural extension of your life. Studies suggest that Millennials tend to think that using a smartphone during a meeting is okay. Those over 40 years old don’t agree. Why is this difference important? Because Millennials need to be aware of the opinions of the people who are in a position to advance their careers.

When asked about cell phone usage in meetings, a nationwide survey of 554 full-time professionals working in companies with at least 50 employees showed that the more money people make the less they approve of smartphone use. In fact:

• 86 percent think it's inappropriate to answer phone calls during meetings

• 84 percent think it's inappropriate to write texts or emails during meetings

It’s also important to know why people find smartphone use in meetings to be inappropriate. The feeling is it indicates:

• Lack of respect. It demonstrates that what’s on your phone is more important than what’s going on in the room.

• Lack of ability to focus. It can be seen as evidence that you are unable to stay focused.

• Lack of listening. It’s a clear sign that you aren’t actively listening and can’t fully or appropriately interact.

• Lack of control. It indicates you are a “slave” to responding to the “call” of your phone.

• Lack of self-awareness. It shows that you are unaware of how your behavior negatively reflects back on you.