How to Own Up to a Mistake With Your Client - The Muse

How to Own Up to a Mistake With Your Client - The MuseHow to Own Up to a Mistake With Your Client Gaining the love and respect of a client is the ultimate benchmark for measuring your success. While a fat paycheck and killer perks can make you feel like a rock star, deep down we all know, if our clients dont respect us, we just look good on paper.So, how do you achieve that coveted spot as the apple of your clients eye? There are scores of management programs and books out there that aspire to teach you everything you need to know to make your clients happy, but it doesnt have to be that complicated. In fact, theres one very simple rule that will get you pretty farOwn up to your mistakes.I know, it sounds a bit counterintuitive to approach client mistakes, given you want them to think youre a genius, but trust me They know nobody is perfect. In fact, your clients will probably get a bit suspicious if you never, ever, make a single mistake. Admitting when you do, however, shows them y oure confident (and humble) enough to face the music. In my experience, thats a trait most people respect- especially a paying client.Consider this When your web isnt working and you call customer service, and they tell you the issue is being addressed and should be resolved in the next 20 minutes, do you believe them? Probably not. Why? Because youve heard that story before, and it almost never works out the way they claim it will. Youve learned over time not to trust your internet service provider, and the same thing can happen between you and your clients. Without that trust, its nearly impossible to develop much of a relationship with them, let alone get any love.On the other hand, Ill never forget the first time I fessed up to a client after Id made a mistake. I was working for a large bank, and my client was one of our largest and most important. Everyone was afraid of him to begin with, and when things didnt go his way, no one wanted to be the unlucky one to call him up with the bad news.Exhausted by the usual efforts to sugar-coat the situation, I decided to bite the bullet and just be honest. I called him up and explained that Id made a mistake. Id missed a deadline, and his transaction didnt happen when it was supposed to. I apologized for the mistake, explained what I was doing to correct the issue, and offered to compensate him for the inconvenience.The line was silent for what felt like hours, until he finally spoke. He thanked me for my honesty and told me he appreciated me taking responsibility for the mistake. Were all human, and mistakes will sometimes happen, he said.Two things happened as a result of that conversation I never made that mistake again, and my client trusted me to handle his account with integrity. For my remaining years at the bank, he preferred to deal solely with me.How to Do ItOf course, breaking the news to your client should be approached with care and a lot of planning. Simply cold-calling a client to reveal youve messed up probably wont go over so well, and not being prepared for a difficult discussion wont pan out how you imagined, either. Also, sharing too much- or too little- detail about the chain of events can easily take a problem from bad to worse in a hurry. Deciding to own up to your mistake is the first step, but how you do it will play a crucial role in making the experience ultimately positive for your client- and you.Before you have the talk with your client, grab a pen and paper, and write out a brief outline of the events leading up to your mistake. Spend some time and really think about why things went wrong, and what youll do going forward to prevent it. When you confront your client with the information, try to summarize your explanation in one or two short sentences.Obviously, youll want to apologize for the mistake, identify what the mistake was, and share how youll fix it. None of these steps needs to be overly descriptive- in fact, the shorter the better. But, you should be p repared to give more detail if your client asks for it.Heres an exampleHi Bob, Im calling to follow up on the issue we had with your transaction yesterday. The issue was on our end, and was an oversight on my part. Ive pinpointed the gap in my process and have adjusted my procedures to avoid any future issues like this in the future. I apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused you and have refunded the service fee on your account to help compensate for the error.Once youve given your schpeel, give your client the opportunity to ask questions, and be prepared to listen to him or her vent. Remember, youre taking the heat for this, so dont let yourself get defensive. You did make a mistake, after all, so its understandable your client may be upset.But, after the dust settles- if there is any- most of the time youll find your clients become far less frustrated when they realize youre taking responsibility for what happened. fruchtwein people understand, as my client did, that were all human, and we all make mistakes. But, what everyone doesnt always do is own up to them.Admitting to your mistakes is an easy concept to understand, but a difficult one to put into practice. But, with patience and preparation, youll find that being straight with your clients will be the foundation for a beautiful professional relationship.

Marine Corps Special Reaction Teams (SRT)

Marine Corps Special Reaction Teams (SRT)Marine Corps Special Reaction Teams (SRT)By Cpl. Ryan Walker CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan Outfitted in ballistics gear, a gruppe of Marines slowly moves toward their objective waiting behind a protective shield for the command from their unit leader to explode through their entry point to arrest their suspect. Ten Marines from the Provost Marshals Office make-up such a team. The Special Reaction Team is specially trained to handle missions beyond the call of duty for basically trained military policemen. Were a S.W.A.T. team for the Marine Corps said Staff Sgt. Steven Rowe, commander, Special Reaction Team, Provost Marshals Office, Marine Corps Base. Our mission is to train, practice and rehearse for any situation, such as hostages, barricaded suspects, and felony arrests. A military policeman is selected to be a member of SRT after he completes an indoctrination, which is an evaluation of how quickly he can learn the units special tactics, Rowe explained. Once they become SRT, we send them to SRT School at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Rowe said. After SRT School, their training is endless there are so many schools we can send them to. As the only military SRT on Okinawa, the unit constantly trains to hone the tightly knit teams skills, often training six or seven days a week. Today were going over basic entry and room clearing, Rowe said. These guys do this a thousand times, and they know how to do it, but as a team, youre not a really well-rounded team until you do it a thousand times together. Once the Marines get into their building, either by kicking it in or using one of their many sophisticated breeching methods, they wait for the commands from the shield. The shield is the nachhall boss who runs the team, Rowe said. Hes the man up-front in ballistics from head-to-toe and can take a couple of rounds. I wear a lot more protection than the other team members, so my job is pretty much to get shot, said Cpl. Edd ie L. Tesch, who serves as the SRTs shield. After receiving the command to enter a room, two or more Marines buttonhook or cross into the room to either locate their objective or ensure its clear. Once we dump into a room, we take it over as quickly as possible, Rowe said. With danger around every ecksto, many men may not be fearless enough to be a member of such an elite squad. We expect to get shot in every structure, Tesch said. Around every corner, every angle and every door I think the bad guy is waiting for me. Thats how I psyche myself out, so when I turn that corner or open that door, Im ready to pounce on him. Though the SRT has not had a real-world situation to respond to for many years, that hasnt stagnated their training. We havent had a situation in years, which is good because we dont have those problems here, and we have more time to train, Rowe said. We also send our guys out to all the search and rescues here. Regardless of whether or not the Marines have had a real -world situation to respond to in recent years, the team considers themselves a group of elite Marines. We take pride in ourselves for what we do, Tesch said. Its just the pride of being the best of the best.

4 Easy Steps to a Powerful Resume Objective

4 Easy Steps to a Powerful Resume ObjectiveResume Objectives - A 4 Step Guide4 Easy Steps to a Powerful Resume ObjectiveDespite its name, your resume Objective is not supposed to state your objective. At least not exclusively. Like every other part of your resume, the Objective should demonstrate the value you can bring to the employer. Dont waste valuable resume space with a generic Objective about wanting a challenging opportunity in a growth-oriented company, or a self-centered wish list for a fun and creative location in a firm that will respect my unique ideas. Use it to sell yourselfHeres a before-and-after example to illustrate how you can take a boring Objective, apply the four steps, and turn it into a strong marketing toolBeforeOBJECTIVE A responsible administrative position in a non-profit organizationAfterOBJECTIVE To transfer the office management expertise gained during eight years in a corporate setting to a managerial-level position for an established non-profit that needs fundraising and event-planning talentIm about to give you the easy four-step system for building an impressive Objective that will contribute to your real objective of getting an interview and getting hired. But first consider this Do you even need an Objective on your resume? Many job seekers dont. If youve already established a career path and youre not veering from it, skip the Objective and use a Summary of Qualifications instead.You only need an Objective if your career goal is not obvious from your work history, as is the case with most students and entry-level applicants, people switching careers, or those returning to work after an extended absence. If thats you, read on.Your Objective in 4 Easy StepsChoose one option from each of the four sections. Fill in the blanks. Edit as needed. Put them all together, and youll have a solid Objective that helps make your case.1. Opening To contribute or transfer if youre changing careers To apply To build upon2. Relevant Exper ience X years of progressive experience in the ____ field a solid X-year education in X, along with ____ the expertise and skills gained during X years in the ____ industry3. Job Type and Level to an entry-level ____ position to a ____ position in ____ in a responsible role as a ____4. Type of Organization with an organization that values ____ in a growing business than can benefit from ____ for an established firm that needs ____The beauty of this system is that its flexible. Mix and match, play around with the wording, and customize the Objective to match specific employers terminology.

Build your Business Brand with Social Marketing

Build your Business Brand with Social MarketingBuild your Business Brand with Social MarketingBuild your Business Brand with Social Marketing Blaszczyk, Managing Editor, Resource CenterSocial marketingcan be a goldmine for small geschftsleben. But if youre busy running a business day in and day out,it candifficult toland the right mix of marketing mojo andsocial media best practices for your company.The good news, as marketing expert Jeff Korhan points out in his new book, Built-in Social Essential Social Marketing Practices for Every Small Business (Wiley, 2013) is that social marketing can leverage your current experience and expertise. In other words, you dont have to reinvent your business tomake your business brand mora likable, trusted and engaging.In this interview, Korhan explains the ins and outs of social marketing for small business.Monster In your book, Built-in Social, you say that, In order to get work these days, it is necessary to show that you want the work, you appr eciate the work, and that you are easy to work with.Has social media become the best way for small businesses to demonstrate that they want work?Korhan Most businesses want more work, but leid all of them are willing to earn that opportunity, and the amplifying qualities of social media tend to make that evident.So, the best way for a business to use social media to earn more opportunities to serve its ideal customers is to be service oriented. This is accomplished with content marketing, typically using a blog or similar platform to provide relevant solutions for a defined community.The value they derive from that content creates alignment with the business publishing it, thereby leading to new business opportunities.Monster You differentiate brands as likeable and businesses as friendly. What are the easiest ways for businesses to show that theyre friendly in the social media space?Korhan Likeable and friendly are both desirable qualities, but friendly is more intimate and persona l, and that is what earns the trust that is necessary for buyers to step forward.If a consumer knows and trusts just one person in a business, they will generally trust the business as a whole, especially if that person is one of its leaders. This is why it is essential for small business owners and their leading managers to be participating in the conversations on their social media channels.The first step in accomplishing this is often being responsive to the comments that otherwise go unanswered.Monster Many small companies create a Facebook page that quickly languishes. What recommendations do you have to keep it vibrant and fresh?Korhan It is indeed challenging to keep a Facebook page vibrant, even when the business is actively making the effort to keep everything fresh.My experience, and that of many others, is that you have to occasionally promote posts and use other forms of Facebook advertising to reach your fans and followers that are being filtered by Facebooks EdgeRank f ormula (discussed in detail in Built-In Social).It is also helpful to vary the content mix to determine what works best to get more folks tuning in on a regular basis.Monster You talk about the importance of social entrepreneurship. Can you explain what it is and how it can be useful for a companys social media profile?Korhan Social entrepreneurship is hybrid business model that is not purely capitalistic or social, having a traditional profit motive while also making a contribution to community in some way.This may be the local community the small business serves, or it could be special interests or causes that transcend local to even include a multinational community.The value of this model in terms of social media is the social or community focused efforts tend to get readily shared. This humanizes the business, thereby making it more approachable.When all other things are equal, consumers will tend to favor those businesses with a higher purpose that serves the greater good of t he community.Monster How should companies respond to negative online comments that are directed toward their business, an employee or the business owner?Korhan Negative comments directed at anyone in particular should be either deleted or edited to preserve both the intent of the message and the decorum of the community.I did this recently on my blog and the commenter privately thanked me afterwards.One likely reason for this is that the two people having that somewhat heated conversation actually entered into a business transaction as a result of that discussion.Every situation and community is different, but most important is to give people freedom of expression, even if it happens to be negative.If the business skillfully manages these conversations they will find they usually lead to favorable, or at least, acceptable outcomes.Monster You say that collaboration is the new marketing. What opportunities does this new model create for small companies?Korhan The value of collaborati on is that it engages buyers with the business, essentially giving them the opportunity to prove their worth.In a world that is commoditizing just about every product and service, collaboration is a means for any business to achieve differentiation.What is necessary is a well-designed and orchestrated sales process that keeps the collaboration progressing toward desired objectives.When a collaboration results in a customer getting something that exceeds what they had imagined, the business now has an advocate that will do their marketing for them. That is arguably the most powerful form of marketing today, because it travels well on the social networks.Monster You list a company website, blog and schmelzglas newsletter as essential digital business assets. Are those in order of priority? Must the three platforms be interconnected to succeed?Korhan Email is without question the most powerful means a business has for quickly and reliably reaching its community and customers.Most of us consider our inbox to be a special place one that is by invitation only, and that we check obsessively.Thus, it is wise for everyone to honor that earned trust by using their email newsletter to deliver their very best work.In regards to integration, what is shared in an email newsletter could certainly be a unique perspective on what is already published on a blog or website. The trick is to make it better, such that the subscribers feel they are getting additional value, not just a replication of old news.These three digital assets do not necessarily have to be interconnected, but when they are, it can produce a deeper and more contextual experience.Monster How can a small business that operates within a niche market create a small business blog that turns into a social media hub?Korhan When a business operates in a niche market and thoroughly understands the needs of that market, it only needs to consistently use its blog to provide fresh perspectives that address those needs.T he feedback that follows in the form of social shares and comments is invaluable for refocusing the blog content to make it even better.While it may take months or even years for a community to develop around a blog, the business has to stay the course until it does. Its a marathon not a sprint.Ideally, the business will want a self-hosted WordPress blog on a domain that it owns. They may have to pay a designer and developer to create it, but after that it is easily managed with basic technical skills.Monster Built In Social includes a chapter on selling. Has social media significantly changed the sales process? How so?Korhan Social media has literally revolutionized the sales process, and where that is going will very likely be the subject of my next book. Consumers now have access to abundant information resources that make them better buyers.If the business is contributing to that body of information, it instantly becomes more attractive to consumers searching the web for solutio ns to needs and problems. If it isnt, it may not even get the opportunity to engage its traditional sales process.Several recent studies conclude that buyers make their decisions based on one of two criteria, referrals and online information. My personal belief is they use both, with one validating the other.Thus, today the challenge is to both run a better business to earn referrals, while concurrently building a vibrant online presence that speaks to the strengths of the business.Author BioJeff Korhan is a marketing speaker, coach and coach. Korhan helps small businesses use social media and Internet marketing to create exceptional customer experiences that accelerate business growth.He is a former Fortune 50 sales and marketing executive who later founded a landscape services company that was twice named Small Business of the Year.Jeff is a syndicated publisher and regular content contributor to leading business publications, and his New Media and Small Business Marketing site is ranked among the Top 100 Small Business blogs in the world by Technorati Media. He lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois.

Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Entry Level Resume Objective Is Wrong and What You Should Know

Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Entry Level Resume Objective Is Wrong and What You Should Know Entry Level Resume Objective Can Be Fun for Everyone For example, the use of form and from may be a critical typo which you did not consider but it can affect your capacity to impress prospective employers. Attempting to land work which is high in demand is similar to fishing in a massive ocean populated with fishing vessels but with hardly any fishes. Employing entry-level resume examples can provide you a tried-and-tested structure to take as a starting point and also provides resume help to learn how to finish each resume section with guides regarding what to include and exactly what you ought to avoid to be able to entice the appropriate employers. ur resume builder makes it simple to create a well-written resume in a couple of minutes. Its better to remain prepared with distinct resumes written for different jobs. Determine how much you are eager to compromise and exac tly what you will do if you arent offered a salary you find acceptable. Dont forget to discuss the quantity of experience you have if it can help you negotiate a greater salary. Irrespective of whether the back up plan meets the claim, in case it needs a very long investment to meet the claim its positively not an alluring circumstance for group of the protected to be in. Each guide consists of step-by-step explanations and examples, and that means you know just how to create a winning one. There are lots of great Resume examples online by which you can learn the correct use of job-specific skills. Figure out the reason why is among the best resume writing companies around. Certifications also prove that youre determined to stay informed about the most recent developments in manufacturing technology. Hence, you have to be in a position to present your aims clearly and carefully in your CV. Sample Entry Level Recruiter Resume Objectives A resume objective is a brief statement which goes close to the peak of your resume. Make sure you highlight technical info and certification. Writing good resumeobjectives is important to provide your resumea striking start. With a well written resume, you ought to be invited to interview more frequently than you believe. The newest tool to utilize for writing a good resume is the vorlage which is readily available online and for free in addition to paid versions. Once more, should you happen to try free resume examples on-line, you will observe that it isnt crucial to exceed a single page. In addition, its simple to find experience fast for just about any job. The work market is quite challenging, and when you dont have any prior expertise in a specific industry, it s tough to crack an interview. You should incorporate the information which can highlight your interest in that specific job. Be certain you incorporate all proper information that can be pertinent to the work publishing. Organizations are routinel y trying to find the very best in the business. Remember you wish to sell yourself, your experience and any contribution youve got to offer you the business. To begin with, consider the job description to see whether it indicates the sort of skills the provider is seeking. Resume creators enable jobseekers to make and download their finished resumes right from the world wide web to get started applying immediately. Therefore, you will need experience to find an entry-level job, but minus the job, you cant acquire experience. When you submit an application for the job advertised, you will most likely be welchesting your time and will find a notification that the job was filled by somebody better qualified than you. Learn how to fill up your resume to assist you land the job. Writing a winning college student career objective is a rather simple approach to bolster your application for this internship or job youve got in sight. In addition, you can find out more about IT careers on Monster. If youre switching careers and you just have volunteer experience in your new field, that needs to be next to the peak of your resume. Administrator seeking role youre looking for career change.

Life, Death and Help Writing a Resume for Cashier

Life, Death and Help Writing a Resume for Cashier Who Else Wants to Learn About Help Writing a Resume for Cashier? Besides helping your resume get selected, its also going to help the hiring manager see how your abilities and experiences make you a perfect candidate for the particular job. Typically, a high school diploma is sufficient. Figure out the demands then check in case you have the skills. Conclusion The retail cashier job is somewhat competitive to acquire as a result of how many men and women go for it as it doesnt demand much experience and training to meet the requirements for it. You dont need to be certified to be a Cashier. To be able to impress your future employer, you are in need of an ideal cashier resume. Furthermora, there are some of different ideas for you to produce the very best cashier resume. The cashier in such a situation is going to have to take care of cash in a variety of transactions with clients. The 5-Minute Rule for Help Writing a Res ume for Cashier The cashier is just one of the more important links between the customer and the small business. If you merely provide a lengthy collection of meaningless info, no employer or HR manager will be considering calling you for an interview. For serious issues, you will most likely be in a position to summon a manager or customer service representative. Contact customer service managers to deal with pricing difficulties and complaints. To aid you in getting started, have a look at the sample job descriptions below. There are a number of locations where you might acquire good resume examples. Although your employer is searching for particular key phrases in the summary statement, make certain your precise statement matches up with your special set of skills, talents and accomplishments. Special cashier resume skills ought to be put in their very own section near the base of your document. The Advantages of Help Writing a Resume for Cashier Youre an accountant as you keep tabs on the money. If you truly want your cashier resume to stand over the rest you want to understand what the rest are doing. The best method to receive a great cashier resume is researching the work description. She is an excellent entry level job, chances are you have several openings in your area. Cashier generally dont need much difficult abilities and its sometimes tricky to stick out from applicants. 11 Executive Recruiter Resume Examples Once you will need to land that supreme job then you need to have a stellar resume. Get the Scoop on Help Writing a Resume for Cashier Before Youre Too Late Hiring managers are seeking individuals with strong interpersonal abilities, and revealing a little more information could take your resume to the cover of the pile. Regardless of what your job field could possibly be, cashier job descriptions for your small business sector will list exactly the same group of desired qualifications utilizing the exact same set of wor ds and phrases. Keep in mind that your resume is your very first line of defense in the event of landing your preferrred job.