Collaboration in the Workplace Tips

Collaboration in the Workplace TipsCollaboration in the Workplace TipsSmooth collaboration in the workplace. Thats the goal for in-house creative professionals as they tackle increasingly complex projects that require partnering with peers across the organization.Stop, collaborate and listen. Thats the tune in-house creative teams are singing, according to new research for the Creative Team of the Future program. Each year, The Creative Group teams up with AIGA to find out what trends will impact creative teams in the near future. As part of the research, we surveyed mora than 800 in-house konzeption professionals and interviewed creative veterans from leading organizations to get their take on the state of the industry and where its headed.One theme stood out loud and clear the need for creative teams to collaborate with other departments - especially information technology - in order to maximize efforts, improve efficiencies and achieve the best results for the business.But worki ng with colleagues in other departments is often easier said than done, especially when teams are accustomed to operating in silos.How to fix challenges with collaboration in the workplaceTo help you build stronger cross-departmental relationships, weve collected actionable tips for overcoming the most common collaboration hurdles. The full findings are detailed in a new report, Collaboration in the Workplace How to Overcome 7 Common Challenges. Heres a glimpse1. Poor communication is crippling productivityNot surprisingly, this common workplace struggle came up time after time in our research. Carlos Estrada, an information design consultant for Herman Miller, shared his approach to opening the lines of communication At Herman Miller, were all coming from completely different backgrounds, perspectives and career levels. When meeting with colleagues in different departments, Im learning to put myself in other peoples shoes, find a common language, and ask the right questions to ensu re were all on the same page.2. Making decisions is an uphill battleIts difficult to move a project forward when youre not empowered to call the shots - or unaware of who can. Ideally, a senior-level manager on each team will have the final say. If thats not the case, the ranking team members or project manager should establish who has the authority to makes decisions at the start of an initiative.3. No one has time to meetWere all busy. Too busy. But if you dont make time to convene at the outset of projects, youre doing yourself and your team a big disservice. The key to solving this pervasive problem is planning kickoff and touch-base meetings strategically. Ed Roberts, creative lead at ElectriCities, finds tremendous value in gathering the entire project team to discuss milestones at the get-go. With a documented plan, everyone instinctively holds each other accountable, cutting down on the number of large group meetings. Door-jam meetings or huddles with one or two project con tributors at key points in the project life cycle eliminate the daunting task of syncing the entire teams individual calendars, Roberts explained.SEE THE REPORT

Military Spouses Class at RAF Mildenhall

Military Spouses Class at RAF MildenhallMilitary Spouses Class at RAF MildenhallMilitary Spouses Class at RAF Mildenhall RAF MILDENHALL, ENGLAND LONDONMORNING CLASSKathryn Troutman, Federal Resume Guru and Author, SpeakerTHE STARS ARE LINED UP FOR MILITARY SPOUSESON PPP-S AND USAJOBSFree WebinarTop Tips for Military Spouses and Federal JobsMilitary Spouse PreferenceMay 11, 12 noon to 1245Register hereApril 11, 2018. RAF Mildenhall. More than 50 military spouses came from RAF Mildenhall, Lakenheath and Alconbury to hear Kathryn Troutman who came from Baltimore, MD to speak about how to land a federal jobs for through USAJOBS and PPP-S.Here are a few of the initial questions Kathryn asked the spousesHow many of you have heard of Executive Order 13473? 5 out of 60 (Military Family Readiness Transition Staff)How many of you have a USAJOBS account tischset up? 50% yesHow many of you have applied to federal jobs on USAJOBS within the last two years? 10 (out of 60)How many of you would like to have a federal career? 90% (yea)Kathryn explained 4 of the most important lessons for spouses in landing a federal jobThere is an Executive Order for Military Spouses who accompany their military member to military base, EO 13473. This is designed to help them land a federal position in the bases.Spouses can apply for federal positions as a US Citizen, but this not be using the EO 13473. The spouse will also be completing with Veterans Preference, which allows veterans to rise to the top of a Referred List based on their preference.Spouses can apply for federal competitive positions because of eligibility for EO 13473. These positions do NOT apply Veterans Preference, and they will have an equal chance of getting Best Qualified and Referred for all applicantsAccording to the HRO and the Military Family Readiness Staff who attended the course, the MSP program is STRONGER than Veterans Preference for European Civil Service Positions.When the Active Duty military and family members receive PCS orders they can apply for PPP with the Mildenhall HRO 30 days before they leave to the U.S. And when they get to their next duty station in the US, they would simply check in with the new receiving PPP HRO.AT THE VERY END OF THE CLASSEveryone received a copy of The Stars are Lined Up for Military Spouses.How many of you WILL register for PPP-S? 90% of the class. All converts and understand that PPP-S and USAJOBS are separate job applications.TEN STEPS TO A FEDERAL JOB AND THE STARS ARE LINED UP FOR MILTIARY SPOUSES are two popular federal career studienordnung that are licensed through The Resume Place, Inc., Certifed Federal Job Search Trainer and Certified Federal Career Coach Program. Teach your customer jobseekers how to land a federal jobThe Stars Are Lined Up for Military SpousesFIRST-EVER BOOK FOR MILITARY SPOUSES AND FEDERAL CAREERSWhy a federal career for Military Spouses?Great salaries, promotion potential, family friendly, family leave, training and MORE

How to Create an Irresistible Resume

How to Create an Irresistible ResumeHow to Create an Irresistible ResumeWe all remember that very first time we saw an adorable, fluffy kitten in the window of our local shelter. Or, perhaps, the initial impressions of our spouse or significant other. Maybe it was that designer purse or luxury sports car that you idealized and swore to land the six-figure job for. Whatever the goal, one word can sum up the characteristic that had you saying I need that in my life.Were talking about the quality of being irresistible, but elend necessarily in the materialistic sense. When out on the job market, one of the greatest assets you can utilize for a callback, interview, or job offer is that hard to define it-factor that makes you a candidate that is impossible to pass up. Simply put, you want to be irresistible and you want your resume to reflect that trait to any and all potential employers. How to go about that, however, is easier said than done. With that in mind, here are a few real-world examples to help employers in specific employment scenarios instantly recognize that you are a talent that should not be passed up.First Corporate JobMaybe youre fresh out of college or have a few internships under your belt and are ready to launch into the world of big corporate. While that school credit position you took at the local regulatory agency may be a big selling factor, your summer gig flipping hamburgers will probably send a few hiring managers running for the hills due to your inexperience. Craft your resume in such a way as to accentuate the pre-corporate America work that will be the most applicable to your given job, despite work history or length of time accumulated in individual roles. In addition, highlight the job roles that your employer will find advantageous to avoid leaving the position off of your CV altogether.For ExampleOriginal Resume gutachten Took customer orders and disbursed appropriate change at a local burger restaurant.Instead, TryLed a team of f ive service professionals in a fast-paced shift resulting in a 25% increase in quarterly sales.In short, focus on results rather than actions, especially for jobs that dont quite fit the professional role you may be applying for. These characteristics will be more easily identifiable and translatable by employers to a different position. In addition, focusing on accomplishments allows the resume reviewer to more easily identify your overarching qualities that would apply to any position, no matter the industry or experience level required.Early or Mid-Career MoveAfter you get past that initial entry level position, chances are you will have other roles to include on your professional resume. The trick with these mid-level positions, however, is to focus on the foundational tasks you learned earlier which will allow you to be a better employee as you advance throughout your career. Need an example of what it takes to convince a prospective employer that youre ready to make that next career step? Dont worry, we have one at the ready.For ExampleOriginal StatementAs an account manager, I successfully handled 15 individual clients and maintained their contracts.Better StatementAs an account manager, I successfully identified the needs of a variety of individual client accounts and was able to increase productive interactions and accounts payable turnaround times.Instead of using generic qualities, focus on your actions and outcomes to illustrate within your resume. This will allow potential employers to successfully picture you in the role and will help demonstrate how the skills you achieved earlier in your career influenced your current capabilities.The Final WordAs you can see, the ideal irresistible resume focuses more on goals and action items than on a description of your individual job responsibilities. Focus on your strengths and building blocks gained earlier in your career instead of generic qualities you believe you possess. As the saying goes, actions s peak louder than words. When it comes to your resume, demonstrable results will always outspeak any narrative you may craft.

How to Make a Successful Cold Call in a Job Search

How to Make a Successful Cold Call in a Job SearchHow to Make a Successful Cold Call in a Job SearchMaking an unsolicited call to an employer to schedule a meeting or job interview is challenging. It can be nerve-wracking to pick up the phone to call someone you dont know and ask them about job openings, but it works. If you can get to the right person, youll have an opportunity to pitch your skills and start the process of being considered for a job. How to Use a Cold Call to Connect With Employers A careful approach and some persistence will enhance your chances of success.Providing the employer with a blick auf den kommenden of your qualifications prior to your call and referencing a referral can help you get access to company insiders. Are you ready to give cold calling a try? Review these tips for connecting with employers by cold calling and give them a try. You have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain, by spending some time cold calling. 11 Tips for Making a Successful J ob Search Cold Call 1. Send your resume and cover letter ahead of time and mention that you will call to explore opportunities. Your contact will be more likely to take your call if you have sparked some interest with your documents.Also, if your call is screened by a gatekeeper, you will be able to say that you are calling to follow-up on a communication.Heres an example of a cold call cover letter you can edit to fit your own circumstances. 2. Cold calls will be more likely to get results when you connect with department managers than with human resources staff. Try to identify the person who would supervise the type of job youre interested in and reach out to that person. 3. Offer to schedule a time to talk. Recognize whether your contact seems too busy to talk. If so, ask for a better time at a later date to discuss opportunities. If you can achieve this, you have converted a cold call into an appointment. 4. Reach out to your LinkedIn contacts, family, friends, college alumni, and other professional associates to identify contacts at your target organization. Ask for a referral to the hiring manager who you plan to call.If you source a referral, then you can open your call with a statement like John Brown suggested I reach out to you. 5. Prepare a concise and compelling opening statement that summarizes your reason for calling. Emphasize your high level of interest in exploring options at the organization and how you can add value.A brief elevator pitch will help you get the conversation started. 6. Share your qualifications. Be ready to support your case with examples of how you have successfully applied your skills in the past. 7. Be prepared for resistance. Anticipate objections like lack of experience or skills on your part and prepare counter points proving that you could excel if hired. 8. Ask for the next step. Close the conversation with a specific request such as an in-person meeting or referral to another individual involved in hiring. If the e mployer states that no jobs are available, ask about the possibility of an informational meeting to explore future opportunities. 9. Follow up with a communication thanking the individual for their time. Reaffirm your interest and briefly reiterate how you might make a contribution. Provide a link (such as your LinkedIn URL) to your portfolio and recommendations to provide further evidence of your viability as a candidate. Forward another copy of your resume in case they havent seen or saved your document.Here is a list of thank you letter examples for a variety of circumstances. 10. Dont give up if you cant get through. Many calls will be routed to voicemail. Be ready to leave a short homilie highlighting the basis of your interest and the key assets that you would bring to the employer. Request a call back to explore options but also mention that you will reach out to them again, so you dont lose control of the initiative. There is a fine line between admirable persistence and pes tering an employer. Wait a week between calls and limit yourself to three total calls in most cases. 11. Keep trying. Cold calling is a numbers game, so be prepared to make many unsuccessful calls before experiencing success. Try setting a goal of making ten calls a day to stay fresh and spread out the frustration. Do your best to keep it positive to maintain an enthusiastic tone for each call despite the tedium of repetition. After all, each call is a new opportunity to connect with a company youd like to work for. Try Cold Calling Networking Contacts Too Reaching out to networking contacts who can help your job search is another effective use of cold calling. People who you can talk to on the phone, and perhaps meet in person, are more likely to help than those who receive a random email or message from a connection. Take the time to try a few networking cold calls, and if it works for you, add cold calling to your list of job hunting and career building strategies.

What You Dont Know About How to Make a Reference Page for a Resume

What You Dont Know About How to Make a Reference Page for a Resume Definitions of How to Make a Reference Page for a Resume Instead, explain what specific part of classical conditioning yur scene illustrates. All you need to do is complete the empty fields and your professional reference sheet will be prepared very quickly. From that point, a form will pop up and show you all the info you ought to look for in your source. Capitalisation practice ought to be consistent. Below youll discover a sample reference list. The reference list template will help to sketch the precise idea of the content of the reference which is to be places. You are able to use a sample reference page for a guide. The sample reference page provided here can readily be adapted to satisfy your requirements. In reality, you use the word References at the peak of the page before you get started listing your sources. You can also produce a reference list from the menu alternatives. If you must pick a s tyle thats not in the list, click Browse to locate it. Place your flagship reference on top. How to Make a Reference Page for a Resume and How to Make a Reference Page for a Resume - The Perfect Combination Actually, at times its a poor concept to include resume references. Your essay description is easily the most important portion of the purchase procedure, but it doesnt need to be complex. Nonetheless, the references you suggested should do just fine. Remember your references ought to be on a single parcel of paper. Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About How to Make a Reference Page for a Resume Is Wrong Irrespective of whether its going to allow one to land a project is contingent on the language together with also region. The tender knowledge you hone as you generate a living, can definitely aid in improving your specific relationships and also your ability to get resolutions because a customer. With the reference list template one gets lots of idea of the way the things must be made. If a person pauses or seems to be uncomfortable at all, thank them and continue on to the upcoming possible reference. When you summarize somebody elses information, especially if you are going to be spending plenty of time summarizing (for example, your assignment is to summarize a report or a chapter in a book), its important to introduce your source without delay. As it requires time to produce the reference list thus the template makes it feasible to finish the job punctually and also get together with the different choices. The reference list template was designed to help the man whos need of referring to business together with companies or another thing. Each and every day news may well be to ascertain your total performance inside hack into. What Everybody Dislikes About How to Make a Reference Page for a Resume and Why Youve cultivated many foreign contacts in various fields, including manufacturing. Take a look at our writing services reviews and find out how top rated essay writing companies get the job done. Along with the reasons mentioned previously, citing sources in academia offers evidence of your research procedure and aids you stay away from plagiarism. The Characteristics of How to Make a Reference Page for a Resume Obviously, only choose references you know will offer you a glowing commendation. Only submit your references if youre asked to. After you have decided on who you need to put in your reference list you must receive their permission. You have many formats at your disposal to make a list of references. The How to Make a Reference Page for a Resume Trap Also, share with them a copy of the resume youre submitting so they can be on exactly the same page if and as soon as the hiring manager calls them up. Gloria is confident that shes prepared to start her organization, and she would like to quit her existing job to achieve that. When composing your resume, be sure you are also armed and prepared to decide on a good collection of current references should the chance for an interview arise or if a possible employer is very interested in you for the position available. Its rare an employer will request references in a very first interview, but its possible that is why you wish to get them with you. Normally, employers are not going to ask for your references until theyve made the choice to hire you. When an employer doesnt ask by the conclusion of the interview, you should ask them if theyd like reference details. Offering The Reference Sheet Theres no use in figuring out how to compose a reference page for employment, if it never gets in the hands of your prospective employer. If you wish to get a nice job, you require a good resume. For instance, if youre going into the work market for the very first time, you might just should list three references. If there isnt any author whatsoever, move the title to first position.

The Good, the Bad and How Does Writing the Story of You Help You Plan Your Job Search and Craft

The Good, the Bad and How Does Writing the Story of You Help You Plan Your Job Search and Craft To an excellent extent if a work activity cant be portrayed as an accomplishment it might not be worthy of mention in your resume. If youre doing your work right, at the conclusion of the very first draft you will laugh at what an amateurish bit of junk your initial design documents were. Well, you dont need to clean out the toilets, but a tiny self-flagellation is most likely great for you. The One Thing to Do for How Does Writing the Story of You Help You Plan Your Job Search and Craft The best writers are also keen readers, and reading on a normal basis is an effortless method to get started developing your writing abilities. Writing a brief story will enhance your writing skills, as youre able to apply a number of the techniques you master in the process to longer forms. If you would like to increase your writing skills, writing on a normal basis is not only going to diminish your fear of the blank page (or blinking cursor), its also going to help you build a distinctive style. When writing an academic paper, attempt to bear in mind that your instructor isnt the only member of your audience. How Does Writing the Story of You Help You Plan Your Job Search and Craft Ideas Writing short stories enables you to concentrate on characters immediate objectives, by bringing them closer in relation to the range of pages you need to help (or hinder) their reaching them You may always return later and repair it when you comprehend the story better. In a brief story, youve got to prepare characters and convey their distinct personalities fast, using key particulars. The attractiveness of writing a quick story is you could test and expand character ideas a bit more. If youre writing a proposal of some kind, the intended audience could be a skilled but not someone with whom youre intimately acquainted. After you know who youre writing to or for, you can start to think about the ideal approach to deal with your audience and customize the paper meet their requirements. When you compose a brief story, consider altering the point of view throughout the whole story as an exercise. Knowing your audience enables you to make decisions about what information you should include, how you should arrange that information, and what type of supporting details will be essential for the reader to binnensee what you are presenting. Its difficult to know exactly whats going to help you stand out and boost your odds of getting work. Identify what it is which you enjoy about their work, and see if youre able to use it in order to boost your writing skills. Oftentimes, understanding just how to receive a job can be challenging. When youre in the center of a work search, it may feel just like youre increasing your odds of obtaining a job if you try to apply for as many jobs as possible. How Does Writing the Story of You Help You Plan Your Job Search a nd Craft at a Glance Writing should be fun, and together with the thrill of seeing your byline for the very first time, seeing how far youve progressed is among the most satisfying pieces of being a true writer. As an example, Write a book within the next year can be overwhelming. You daydream about the way in which the storys going to get the job done. If a story is only a few thousand words long, you have enough time to pore over every word.

Finding Top Talent in the Job Seekers Market

Finding Top Talent in the Job Seekers MarketFinding Top Talent in the Job Seekers MarketIts a dog eat dog world out there in the professional career space. Employers are increasingly finding themselves competing for top talent to staff essential leadership and professional positions. If youre a job seeker, the upside is that the ball is in your court and you will often have the ability to pick and choose between numerous companies. As a recruiting professional, however, a job seekers market can mean that youre left scrambling to staff openings, sometimes for months at a time. Add in the tendency for employees to move positions at a mora frequent pace, and the situation starts to get untenable. Savvy recruiters need to be able to adapt to lean hiring markets. This may entail shifting away from traditional approaches to hiring and adopting innovative strategies for identifying and attracting candidates. Here we break down the keys to finding top talent in the job seekers market.1. Iden tify Transferable SkillsBefore you start interviewing candidates with the same title or progression track as the position youre hiring for, start by preparing a list of essential job skills. Focus less on individual tasks, assignments or qualifications and list out traits such as managerial ability, attention to detail, ability to prepare budgets or multi-task. Much of this information can be gleaned from the job description of the position but also feel free to have a conversation with the hiring manager or direct report of the position to pick up on any nuances that may have been missed.Once you have this list, define what a successful candidate would be able to accomplish in the role. The individual characteristics combined with long-term goals will help you paint a picture of the ideal professional to fill the vacancy.The next step is to seek out professionals in related fields or at similar levels of experience but that doesnt necessarily share the job title you may be hiring f or. This is the essence of the transferable skills approach to recruiting. When the market is lean, you can think outside the box and attempt to find someone who has the right strengths to step into the role without previously having held the exact title.2. Redesign Job RequirementsIn a lean job market, you may find yourself struggling with a lack of applicants that exactly meet the requirements of the job. This can often feel like youre left trying to fit a square peg into a round hole during the candidate search. If this scenario sounds familiar, consider modifying the minimum requirements for the position. Instead of 4 years of relevant experience, reduce the number to 2. Consider adding in recent grads who may be bright and capable of being molded to fit the needs of the position. Unique requirements such as experience in specific software platforms may be helpful, but ask yourself whether this exact function can be trained quickly for the right person.If youre leery of complete ly removing requirements, consider revising the job description to include preferred qualifications and specifically spell out that while an ideal candidate may possess x certain traits, the right person can certainly be trained in one or more of the areas. This will encourage additional applicants and can also be a great solution to help conquer the this is the way weve always done it mentality within the position and company as a whole.3. Interview and Network for CompetencySetting your interview and minimum qualification standards for a position around a narrow definition of skills can remind many applicants of those fairway sharpshooter games of luck. Sure, you may have decent aim and a steady hand, but the whole shebang is rigged against you and youll only ever get near the bullseye at best.To help conquer this unproductive approach, and to attract a greater number of quality candidates, try drumherum up your interviews around basic competencies. Instead of asking have you used x software try asking about the various software systems they candidate may be familiar with. Often times you will find commonalities that will make cross-training in a new program a breeze. Similarly, take some time to review your company culture and mission statement. Quiz recruits on their professional experience that may be relevant to these skills, regardless of their individual job title previously.Final ThoughtsIf you find yourself stuck in the recruiting process and unable to locate just the right fit for the position, go back to the drawing board and examine what is working in similar roles within your company. Think of your current top performers and the individual traits they may possess. Refocus your recruiting process on talent with those individual traits to not only locate a great individual candidate but also someone who is more likely to work well within your existing team. Remember the old adage if it isnt broke, then dont fix it and go back to what works for your company to help identify talented individuals that could be potential diamonds in the talent pool rough.

8 Questions to Ask in an Interview

8 Questions to Ask in an Interview8 Questions to Ask in an InterviewAre you interviewing for a new job? The employer isnt the only one who should ask good questions. The questions you ask your interviewer can help you glean key information about the work environment, while also demonstrating your strong interest in the job and your beyond-the-basics knowledge of the company.Here are eight questions to ask in an interview, along with the reasons why1. Can you describe your company culture?Since youve researched the firm, you should have some understanding of the company culture. You may also want to hear a personal take on what makes the organization work. Keep an ear out to binnensee if the interviewer mentions how employees are rewarded and appreciated. What are the firms core values? Is employee feedback encouraged?2. Is this a new position or am I replacing someone? If so, why did that person leave?Ask this question to see if the company has retention issues. Sure, the position ma y be new, or your potential predecessor may have left for purely personal reasons. But if the company has problems with employee turnover, its best to find out the reasons for that now.3. What does success look like in this role?Youve read the job description, and the interviewer should obviously be quite familiar with it too. Make sure youre on the same page about the job responsibilities and all thats required of the position. In addition, keep an ear out for talk of career paths and advancement opportunities.4. Can you tell me about your time with the company?Everyone likes a good success story. Pose this question to get an idea of how your potential manager rose through the ranks of the firm. This answer can spotlight the personal attributes and nontraditional skills the firm values.5. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?Turn the tables on the interviewer with this common interview question. Make a mental notenzeichen if he or she only speaks of strengths .LOOKING FOR JUST THE RIGHT FIT?6. What types of professional development programs and learning opportunities are available to employees?Workers often say that making progress - and making a difference - drives them more than anything else. While salary and benefits are clearly key considerations to ponder should you receive an offer, career development opportunities are important factors too.7. How do you empower your employees?You can respect a good leader, but no one likes a micromanager. Ask this question to get a sense of the interviewers leadership style, particularly his or her willingness to trust employees to make decisions, and even mistakes, when handling projects.8. How do you ensure employees have adequate work-life balance?Ask this question to see how much the potential employer respects their employees need to juggle their professional and personal lives.And now Are there questions NOT to ask in an interview? Definitely, and here are five.

How Not to Reconnect With an Old Contact

How elend to Reconnect With an Old ContactHow Not to Reconnect With an Old ContactYou know by now that there are many reasons why a strong network is invaluable. One of the best is that your network is a group of people with whom you dont have to start at square one Meaning, you dont need to build rapport before you pitch a geschftsleben opportunity or potential partnership.The problem? People take advantage of this all too often. Remember Just because you didnt have to work to get an introduction, doesnt mean you can simply wing the rest. Its tempting to think, My contacts already know Im smart and professional, so obviously, any opportunity I approach them with is a good one. But even if people believe in you, and even if they believe youd be a great hire, business partner, vendor, or whatever, people arent just looking for a good opportunity, theyre looking for the right opportunity. And selling anyone on the right opportunity takes prep work and a solid approach.So, how can you e nsure your contacts give your pitch serious consideration? Pitches are, of course, as unique as the products or experiences themselves, but I can tell you- across the board- there are four things you must avoid at all costs. Read on to make sure you dont make any of these mistakes when reconnecting with an old contact for a business opportunity.Mistake 1 Using the Wrong MediumInstead Use What You Would for Any Other Professional CommunicationI recently had someone reach out to me with a business opportunity- via Facebook messaging. Facebook, Twitter, Gchat- if its a platform where glaubenszeugniss are often sent for social purposes, your contact may assume youre reaching out to reconnect socially (rather than professionally). Moreover, limited characters will truncate your pitch, and emoticons dont exactly scream professionalism.So, what should you do? Reach out by email, LinkedIn, or phone, just as you would for a prestigious client. Only connected to the person via Facebook or Twi tter? Send a short message that asks for his or her contact information, and proceed from there.Mistake 2 Being Overly Friendly Instead Be Pleasant, Then Get to the PointWhen youre reaching out to an old contact, some niceties are obviously appropriate, but too many catching up messages will seem inauthentic. If you spend too long framing your interest as reconnecting, one of two things will happen 1. Shell take you at your word and not be interested anything other than chatting, or 2. Shell see through it and wonder how much time youre going to spend buttering her up before you get to whatever youre trying to sell.Instead, send a message thats a complete first impression. It should be friendly enough to demonstrate that youre already connected, but straightforward enough to show you mean business.For example, Hi Sara, I hope this email finds you well. As cold as it is here, I can only imagine what it must feel like in Maine I am reaching out because I recently launched a new fitnes s company that Id love to discuss with you further. When might be a convenient time, and what is the best way to reach you?Mistake 3 Assuming Someone Will Be Interested Instead Make Sure Your Pitch is Professional and CompellingAgain, your contacts know youre great- but that doesnt mean that theyll immediately know your business idea or sales opportunity is. Even if youre excited to get started, remember that you should show people you know the same level of professionalism youd show anyone else. What do you need before youd feel comfortable approaching someone random- a killer phone pitch? A website thats up and running- or at least a landing page? A professional PowerPoint presentation? If you want someone to hire you or invest in your product, you need to bring your A-game.Of course, theres a time and a place for reaching out to people for advice before your pitch is polished and perfect. So, group your contact list. Contacts you feel comfortable asking for advice go in a differe nt column than contacts you are trying to impress. Wait to reach out to the group you want something from until you know exactly how you want to present what youre selling.Mistake 4 Skipping the Follow UpInstead Be Present (But Not Annoying)So, your contact is interested or wants to learn a little more? Great. Now is not the time to assume everythings in the bag- its time to follow up the same way you would with anyone else. For example, I once had a contact pitching me on an opportunity who, upon being asked a question (that I can only assume she wasnt prepared for), fell silent for one week. Think Id want to work with someone who, when thrown a curveball, disappears for a week? Not exactly. (On the flip side, of course, dont harass people if you havent heard from them right away- and wait at least five days between your initial inquiry and when you check in. You want to come off as proactive, not needy.)Another common follow-up mistake? Not listening. I had someone approach me, an d when I asked for a link to learn more, she said she only wanted to follow up by phone. Perhaps she had her reasons, but if you want to impress someone, be the kind of person he or she would want to partner with- knowledgeable, accommodating, and kind.If you want to get an old contact on board with a new project, lead with a strong, professional pitch, and then be responsive to the follow-up that works best for him or her. If you start out with a solid plan and are prepared to regroup when necessary, youll do just fine.Image of conversation courtesy of Shutterstock.