Health and Human Services Professional Development

The Role of Body Language and Nonverbals by   Jill Bowers   on   June 30, 2013 As you prepare for job interviews, conferences, career fairs, or other networking opportunities, have you considered the role of your body language? This could include posture, handshakes, and facial expressions. In this Ted Talks video, Amy Cuddy (social psychologist, professor and researcher at Harvard Business School) talks about her research on  nonverbal cues, how they can influences others’ perceptions of you , and how  you may be influenced by your own nonverbals .     Watch the Ted Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?language=en   *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers)

Self-Confidence, Humility, and The Job Market by   Jill Bowers   on   July 13, 2013   Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, author of  The Power of Positive Thinking , said, “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” You have to have to believe in yourself to even apply for jobs (you will not know until you try). Further, many jobs are very competitive… beyond your skills, knowledge, or credentials, your self confidence can make you stand out from your competitors  who are also qualified for the jobs (for example, in cover letters or interviews).   If what you say about yourself or how you say it (your body language) portrays confidence rather than uncertainty, others will be more likely to have confidence in you rather than uncertainty about you or your ability to handle the job . See this article on qualities of confident people (for e...

The Power of a Handshake by   Lisa Brooks   on   August 13, 2013   What does your handshake say about you? Does it convey that you are confident and self-assured? Or, does it suggest that you are insecure, an emotional bully, or overconfident? Research shows that not only will you be judged by your handshake, you will be forming an impression about the other person when shaking hands. During my etiquette training at the Protocol School of Washington, I was taught to see the right hand as a sensor for discovering the type of person with whom I was dealing. Once you understand the subtle messages of a handshake and learn how to deliver the correct handshake, you will have a significant advantage in mastering your professional image. This article provides guidelines for delivering the correct handshake, as well as it will help you interpret (and avoid) some of the most common types of undesirable handshakes, such as the “dead fish,” the “fingertip holder,” the”glo...

What Do You Wish You Knew Before College? by   Mikki Sherwood   on   February 9, 2014 What do you wish you knew before you went to college? Do you have any hints for those starting an academic journey? Hannah Flom writes of the 14 things she wished she had known before college. I think her list is fun; you can go over to  Thought Catalo g to read the entire post. Some of her thoughts: • Making real friends takes time • It is hard to be away from home • Go to your professors’ office hours • Transferring schools is not the end of the world • College is a time for mistakes I especially like the fact that she allows for mistakes to be made. College is about trying new experiences. Some of those experiments are going to go very well, some….not so much. But, if you are afraid to try something new, and afraid of possible failure, you will miss so many opportunities. *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Impression Management and the Power of Your Handshake by   Constance Harriet, Guest Author   on   August 25, 2014   From previous experience, I have learned that the first impression can make a significant impact on the tone of the rest of a job interview. It has also been documented that handshakes influence first impressions; see our  Power of a Handshake  article. Indeed, handshakes can influence whether the people we meet trust, like, or want to work with us. Bernieri and Petty (2011) took this a step further and examined the links between impressions and perceived traits that convey something about one’s professional work ethic. These researchers found that a well-rehearsed handshake can convey traits such as conscientiousness and extroversion without using words.  Employers who are looking for employees that are detailed-oriented and thoughtful about their work may look for employees who reveal conscientiousness in their handshake, wherea...

8 Steps Towards Professionalism by   Jill Bowers   on   September 6, 2014   In need of a job? Want to avoid living on Mom’s couch forever? Professional demeanor can be the difference between being hired or fired. Here are 8 simple tips that you can use to make certain you are prepared to behave like the professional that you are or have the potential to be. 1. Dress “appropriately” Media Source:http://media1.giphy.com/media/uFcNbEr46h9Is/200_s.gif What is appropriate? Well, this may vary by position. Yet, as a general rule of thumb, if the attire is appropriate for a night club or party, it most likely is NOT appropriate for the workplace. 2.Speak with substance Media source: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTwbhpSWYRQQkm6K_PESA6l6yo1mRmvulanArcevwe5dGBwXgIT Make meaningful conversation, and answer questions directly, rather than talking in circles. Do not over-disclose, revealing information about your personal life or pe...

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Are you a Social Animal? by   Mikki Sherwood   on   September 15, 2014   “David Brooks: The Social Animal”   is a brief video on Ted Talks. Mr. Brooks is a NY Times columnist and he has identified characteristics of individuals that have positive social skills. Jessica Reynolds, a graduate student at Eastern Illinois University, reviewed the video. Mr. Brooks pointed out that people trust those that are attentive and put them at ease. Brooks also noted that people with great social skills make eye contact and remember the names of those they meet, which makes others feel comfortable and valued. Mr. Brooks stated that we can be more social by choosing to change our focus from the more tangible (e.g. material wealth) to the more intangible (e.g. relationships with others). For instance, when we are focused on one another, and not distracted, we are actually able to read facial expressions more accurately, leading to a stronger emotional co...

Constructing Food Choice Decisions by   Jenna Carlson, Guest Author   on   September 27, 2014   Have you ever thought about how many food choices you have to make in a day? Eating is something that is required for survival and health, and is an activity that is repeated when making food choice decisions. Each time you eat it requires decisions including: what, when, with whom, how long, how, and how much to eat. It is estimated that most people make over 220 food decisions a day (Sobal & Bisogni, 2009). The course of your life includes events and experiences that affect your food choices now and in the future when deciding what to eat. There are also many influences that determine your food choices such as your culture, your personal values, and your resources. The food choices you make occur frequently and are complex, due to the need for survival, and the changes that occur personally and historically, so next time you grab a bite to eat, ask yourself wha...

Don’t Let Credit Card Use Drown You in Debt! by   Ashley Bigard, Guest Author   on   November 17, 2014 It is not uncommon to graduate from college with a high amount of debt. While student loans can quickly add up, another contributing factor is the use of credit cards. Credit cards are more available than in the past, enticing a majority of today’s college students to use credit cards to pay for their living expenses. This is making it even easier for students to end up in debt upon graduation. Knowledge about positive financial behavior is related to responsible credit card use among college students. Luckily, there are many tools that can help students gain the knowledge they need to live within their means so that credit cards do not have to be an option. There are apps, websites and calculators that can assist with budgeting. In addition, many universities provide financial literacy education to students. The best thing a student can do is figur...