Dr. Nara Venditti

In the Workplace Take Humor Seriously

2012-01-11T08:29:00.003-05:00

We all know that humor is good for you. It is well known that lighthearted laughter will regulate one’s blood pressure, accelerate recovery from illness and decrease stress in the workplace. In other words, laughter can be good medicine. It's true that all cultures enjoy humor and laughter, but how people perceive humor is culture specific. With increasing cultural diversity in the workplace, we need to keep in mind that humor is meant to be funny, not insulting. What perceived as funny in one culture, might not be understood or might even be insulting in another. Some cultures use sarcastic or put-down humor in conversations so as to tease each other. Other cultures do not use sarcastic humor and find this type of humor offensive. Often in a diverse gathering an inappropriate joke may misfire. So I do not recommend poke fun at other groups and individuals in professional and business gatherings. How to determine what kind of humor is appropriate? If you want some fun, have it at your own expense - the safest type of humor is self-depreciating humor Do not tell jokes related to physical appearance like a person’s height, weight or the size of their nose. Keep in mind that humor does not translate well because very often it is based on word plays or puns, and these do not translate easily into another language. Do not tell political, religious, ethnic, racial jokes and other jokes that ridicule peoples’ beliefs or affiliations or even accents. In one organization I recently presented at, a manager was demoted for repeatedly ridiculing an employee’s accent. As you can see, sometimes “humor” is no funny business! So know what, when, where, who and how to kid around. Nara Venditti, Ph.D., is a platform speaker, educator and author. She is the president of Succeed in America, LLC and author of “How to Get A Job in the USA ” and “Ameri$peak.”. She is an expert in foreign born employee development, global diversity and business English and a frequent presenter at conferences, companies, public libraries, and educational institutions. She speaks on careers, communication and global and multicultural diversity. She can be reached at +1 203 791 1107 or http://www.succeedinamerica.com/.

Cultural Differences: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

2011-12-12T08:51:00.003-05:00

The American attitude towards appropriate and inappropriate gender interaction may vary from many cultures of the world. What is proper etiquette between genders in one culture may be considered inappropriate, shocking, or even morally reprehensible and subject to legal action in the United States, in other words, it may qualify as sexual harassment.
What is sexual harassment? Simply put, it is inappropriate (from an American standpoint) behavior when interacting with the opposite sex.
Often, when immigrants and foreign-nationals move to the United States, they have no time to adjust to a new set of rules and socially acceptable behavior. Socially acceptable behavior varies across cultures—what holds right in one society may not be so in another.
Consider this example. It may be normal in some countries to whistle when an attractive woman will pass by. Whistle – is not something you would expect a man to do in American streets or workplace, even if you are a Sophia Loren or Miss America. Men in some countries are notorious for whistling at attractive women in such a manner that would make most American construction workers blush. ... Women in those countries may not take offense at such behavior and even take it as expression of appreciation. As a rule, professional women in the US would not appreciate it. This can be very disturbing and threatening for Northern American women and they may consider this humiliating and discriminating.
Here is another example of two foreign-born male employees working in a warehouse in US. They habitually made inappropriate comments about their female coworker. She filed a complaint for sexual harassment against them and when confronted, they did not have a clue what was that they did wrong. In their country of origin this would be considered normal gender interaction, and no subject to legal action or simple reprimand.
Newcomers to the United States must consider the unspoken rules of gender interaction accepted in this country. Not knowing the rules may have a traumatic effect and even be dangerous from a legal perspective — the employer may be sued for sexual harassment.
Excessively gallant behavior like kissing hands and complimenting on appearance may be viewed as annoying and inappropriate. As a nation, Americans are committed to equal rights for women. For this reason, women are expected to be treated as equal to men.
In the business world, lack of information about etiquette and unspoken rules on gender interaction and norms can create misunderstandings crucial for an individual’s success.

Succeed in America: Asking For and Getting a Raise

2011-09-28T07:15:00.001-04:00

Asking For and Getting a Raise
If you haven’t had a raise every year you work for a company, the value of your salary has gone down. Even a cost of living increase of 4 percent is not a raise. It just keeps your salary even with inflation.

If your boss does not give you a raise, you need to ask for it. When is a good time to ask for a raise?
 When you are very good at what you do
 When you have taken on more job responsibilities
 When you have learned that you are being underpaid

According to Wall Street Journal, nowadays, employers give out raises more based on performance than on years with the company. It is important to develop strategy to get a raise. Here are some tips
 Toot your horn (promote yourself). Make sure that your boss knows what projects you work on. Keep a diary or a special file of your accomplishments (results of your work) and learn how to make them known to your boss.
 Do not ask for a raise. Prove that you deserve it. When discussing the raise keep in mind that the challenges your company and supervisor face and how you with your own work help to overcome those challenges.
 Figure out what is competitive salary in your field. Two most known websites that provide information on salaries are www.SalaryExpert.com and www.Salary.com. This information comes at a price starting at $29. The Department of Labor site www.bls.gov offer data that although could be somewhat obsolete, will not cost you anything.
 Don’t wait to ask for a raise until for appraisal process begins. By that time the resources will be distributed and decisions made. So, start asking for a raise well before appraisal process begins.
 Don’t expect to get a raise right away. Rather, view it as a campaign and expect to win after several interactions.
 If you asked your boss about a raise and did not get a definite answer. Wait a week or so and ask again. Ask him or her “What do I need to do to make it happen?” “May we talk about this again in four months?”
 If everything fails and you think that you are treated not the way you deserve, start looking for another job. It is always an option. Good luck!

On Cultural Values and Attitudes in the Workplace

2011-06-09T07:42:00.005-04:00

Cultural values often govern how people perform, react to aspects of their work, and interact in the workplace.

What are cultural values? There are many defitions of cultural values. Many scholars define values as consciously and subconsciouly held set of beliefs and norms - often reflected in the morals, laws, customs, and practices of the society. Simply put, cultural values are the basis for establishing a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct within the culture.

Because of increasing diversity in the American workplace, successful mangers and employees need to understand how cultural values play out in the workplace.

Consider this example. An American and Asian employee were assigned to a particular project. Their manager criticed their work. The American employee spoke up in defense of his performance while the Asian employee remained silent. The manager may mistake the Asian's reaction to signify agreement or incompetence. Since respectable assertiveness is valued in the American workplace, the manager would likely think more highly of the American employee. The result could affect promotion opportunities. The assertive employee is more likely to move up in his career than the Asian employee.

Four Vital Steps to Network for Employment

2010-05-29T07:48:00.005-04:00

I am Nara Venditti and the topic I've chosen today is networking. This is the subject I talk often about in my presentations and I have dedicated almost two chapters in my book "How to Get a Job in the USA". I will summarize it in five minutes for you today.

I am sure you all practice networking.
There are many of aspects of networking.Networking is very important in all aspects of your life, whether it's for getting jobs, for growing your business, for social situations, or in community gatherings. I talk about it in detail in "How to Get a Job in the USA". Today I want to highlight major points in networking that I consider important in finding a job. And finding employment is a very hot topic today.

As a matter of fact, did you know that, according to DOL, 9 in 10 jobs in this country are found through networking?

First, I’d like to share a quote with you. I thank Harvey Mackey every day for this quote.

“People aren’t strangers if you have already met them. The trick is to meet them BEFORE you need them.”

And, as a matter of fact, what is networking? It is making contacts for business purposes.

Before engaging in any networking activity, keep the following steps in mind

Step 1: Develop networking tools. One such tool is a self-introduction – think how you can describe yourself in a few words. Rehearse variations of your self-presentations tailored to the situation. For instance, I am a photographer and I take some special family portraits. Or: I am a chef and prepare some unforgettable meals.

Step 2: Set up goals for yourself before each event. For instance, your goal may be to make three or more contacts at an event; two may become promising job referral, another may be a good friend or acquaintance with interests similar to yours. Write your goals down and review them before the event. If you do not write down your goals it will be just a dream!!

Step 3: Then, attend Networking Events
Now that you have your self-presentation and goals in place, it is time to get down to business – attending networking events such as social or professional gatherings. Make sure to schedule your networking systematically. By these, I also mean both face-to-face and on-line ones like Facebook and LinkedIn. You can meet your contacts practically anywhere: parties, weddings, places of worship, volunteering, seminars, health clubs, professional associations, even waiting in line in the DMV or on-line.

Step 4: Always, Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up
Keep records of your contacts. Always follow up after networking events. If somebody promised you valuable information, call that person and politely remind him/her about the promise. Say

“It was a pleasure meeting you this morning at NCC and I certainly enjoyed our brief conversation. I wanted to provide you with my contact information and would love to hear back from you and hopefully meet up at a future event.”

“Hi, how are you? (or I hope you are well). Just a quick follow up. Did you have a chance to look up the information for me? (Did you have a chance to speak to… about…?). "I am calling to follow up on information that we talked about…”

Maintain your old contacts by checking in from time to time. Remember, following up will considerably increase the probability of your success. To be more effective, organize your contact data and use Outlook or some other organization tool.

Cultivate and expand your network. Your contact may introduce you to others, refer you to someone who may know about job openings, give feedback on your resume or suggest organizations that you might join. Whatever advice or help your contacts offers, be sure to thank them for their time and effort. See a sample of a thank you letter in Chapter 8, Letters of my book "How to Get a Job in the USA." Send each person a thank you letter or an e-mail. Or better yet, mail a thank you card with your words of appreciation.

While each of these steps I’ve mentioned could be a session in itself, I hope that in this brief lesson, I have given you a few tips that will help you to be an effective networker and help in achieving your career and employment goals.

Finding Employment: Craiglist

2010-01-10T20:29:00.004-05:00

Are you a person “in transition” (that is between jobs) and need to find full time employment? Are you a college student that needs to find internship? Or maybe you are gainfully employed full time and need a supplemental income?

If you your answer is “yes” to one of these questions, then maybe Craiglist could be your answer.

What is Craiglist? It is a huge collection of on-line classified ads organized by location. It attracts job postings from small and midsize employers. Keep in mind, that small organizations seldom advertise on-line.
CAUTION
It is free or just about free to employers and costs nothing to job seekers. However, when using Craiglist, protect your privacy and beware of scams. To help visitors to the site avoid scam Craiglist provides PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS and AVOIDING SCAMS AND FRAUD links right on the top of listings pages. Read them by all means!
How to start job hunting using Craiglist? Here are the steps to follow:
• Because Craiglist is organized by location, start with the desired location.
• Find the column heading “jobs” – top middle of the home page
• Click subcategories that fit your criteria

Note: Part time jobs and gigs are listed at the end of the “jobs” column.

Keep in mind that meeting people and making connections is the key to being successful in any endeavor and job search is not exception. One of the way to network is to attend community event events. If you are near Fairfield County, CT, USA, check out this one by clicking this link or cutting and pasting it in your browser http://shrmwc.org/Portals/0/Ridgefield%20Crossing%20Event%20Jan%2013.pdf

How to Find a Job When Others Can’t

2009-10-28T13:41:00.003-04:00

This program is designed to give participants the confidence and skills to survive and thrive in the unsteady job market. We will cover the six steps of getting gainful employment, provide valuable communication tools, turn you into a confident job seeker, and help you getting hired in this shaky economy.

NEW MODULES:
• Job Leads Internet Resources
• Web 2.0 as Branding Tools for Career Success
• Seven Top Skills for Career Success

You will also learn and reinforce:
 What Professions are in Demand
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 How to Market Yourself to American Employers
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 How to Find job leads
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 How to Dress
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 How to Promote Yourself at the Interview
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 How to negotiate a job offer and discuss salary

“Dr. Nara Venditti helps [job seekers] to become more successful in the job market, so that they can start supporting themselves and their families.” – Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary of the State of Connecticut

"...I attended ...your seminar....I applied for the job of my dreams...and I got it! First, I thank God and I also thank you for everything you taught us that day!
– Norma Santos, seminar participant

For more information and pricing contact us at http://succeedinamerica.com/book.html or nara@SucceedinAmerica.com.

"How to Get A Job in the USA" to help Inroads Spirit Award Recipients

2009-09-10T16:14:00.009-04:00

INROADS Spirit Awards recognizes interns who not only meet the INROADS requirements of good standing and academic standards, but have also demonstrated exceptional leadership among their peers. This year's scholarships have been financed by the Patterson family.

About INROADS: Founded in 1970, INROADS, Inc. is the nation's largest non-profit source of salaried corporate internships for excelling Black, Hispanic/Latino and Native American Indian college students. INROADS has graduated over 22,000 leaders, providing them with the professional skills and competencies necessary to be successful in advanced careers. With over 40 offices throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, INROADS trains and places nearly 4,000 young men and women each year in salaried corporate internships. Since 1993, INROADS has consistently been named one of “America’s Top 10 Internships.” INROADS top corporate clients include UTC, Deloitte, PwC, Boeing and MetLife. To learn more, visit http://www.INROADS.org.

PHOTO: Ten Spirit Award 2009 INROADS graduates were presented with a copy of the book "How to Get a Job in the USA" by Dr.Nara Venditti. In addition, Jasmine Grant, Matthew Pacheco and Crystal Davis are the recipients of SOCT SHRM 2009 Scholarship. The author is in the front row in the middle.

Self improvement: 3Ps of Job Hunting Success in Downturn

2009-08-11T11:32:00.004-04:00

Hiring freeze, job loss and companies going under are all results of the economic downturn we are now experiencing. Nearly 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008 alone. Experts predict that it is going become worse before it gets better. These conditions stimulate negative outlooks and may paralyze job seekers when they need to concentrate the most. Letting negative thoughts paralyze your actions is not an option in difficult times.

With the buyers’ market in full fling, and so many people looking for so few jobs, job seekers often need help in navigating the rough sea of job hunting. In my seminars on employability across the country, one piece of advice is how to accept the rejection and not consider it personal rejections if you’re laid off or are screened out in your job search. Though it is not personal, it does devastate some people sending them into despair. It helps to keep 3P formula in mind – Persistence, Patience, and being Positive. Click http://succeedinamerica.com/coaching.html for more information.

Career coaching will help you position yourself for success: manage emotions, refocus your job search, and may even point out opportunities for promotion in difficult times. Above all, my advice is to refocus, rethink and regain momentum towards your goal. An experienced career coach can help you to do it right without wasting valuable time in trial and error by using the resources available in the library or on-line. This includes
 working on your 60 second elevator speech (self-introduction)
 describing your accomplishments,
 teaching you how to follow up on your leads effectively,
 how actually get those leads, and much more. http://succeedinamerica.com/coaching.html

How to Get a Job in the USA

2009-07-18T17:51:00.006-04:00

Businesses and organizations face the worst economic times since the Great Depression. Those who have to enter the workforce in these challenging times can be especially vulnerable. This is especially true for immigrants and foreign nationals.
Let me tell you about my book that will guide you through the process of getting hired in the United States. It is a unique book of its kind because it emphasizes American business communication basics. It enables the reader to compete successfully in
the American job market: it explains the job search process from a foreigner's perspective; it provides practical advice on what to do and what to say every step of the way. The reader will learn how to find out about job openings, network and make useful contacts, how to prepare for a job interview, increase your chances for getting hired by following up and get the job you want! And it will give you critical communication tools that you may apply in your business and social life in the USA! So, I invite you to visit my website http://www.succeedinamerica.com/ and read the excerpts from "How to Get a Job in the USA" www.succeedinamerica.com/books.html, read free articles on employment and careers, cultural diversity and business communication.

Networking: Four Critical Steps to Boost Your Job Search

2009-06-30T17:48:00.000-04:00

Following my presentation at a local college, while autographing a copy of “How to Get a Job in the USA” for a career adviser, she asked me an interesting question: “If you are to share just ONE single tip for international students who are aspiring to find employment in the United States, what would it be?” Based on many successful outcomes that I’ve seen, I would advise that the single most important step would be to begin developing networking skills very early in their careers.

In a foreign land, international students most often are missing the resources and connections they would have back home. However, using the internet to search social networking groups, meeting people and having person-to-person interactions provide the resources to build a network of professional and social organizations. Making connections is the key to being successful in any endeavor - job searching is no exception.

Four steps for successful networking:

Step 1: Develop networking tools

Developing networking tools, such as your contact list and self-introduction, and learning how to use them can go a long way in getting a job. Start with a list of people who might be able to help you find employment. Develop a self-introduction – think how you can describe yourself in a few sentences. Rehearse variations of your self-introduction. Continue updating your networking list.

Step 2: Set up goals for yourself before each event

For instance, your goal may be to make three or more contacts at an event; two may become promising job referral, another may be a good friend or acquaintance with interests similar to yours. Write down your goals and review them before the event.

Step 3: Attend Networking Events

Now that you have your self-introduction and goals in place, it is time to get down to business – attending networking events. Make sure to schedule your networking systematically. Attend networking events such as social or professional gatherings. By these, I mean both face-to-face and on-line ones like Facebook and LinkedIn. You can meet your contacts practically anywhere: parties, weddings, places of worship, volunteering, seminars, health clubs, professional associations, even waiting in line in the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) when registering your car or getting your driver’s license.

Step 4: Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up

Keep records of your contacts. Always follow up after networking events. If somebody promised you valuable information, call that person and politely remind him/her about the promise. Say: “Hi, how are you? … Just a quick follow up. Did you have a chance to look up the information for me? (Did you have a chance to speak to… about…?), or, I am calling to follow up on information that we talked about…” Maintain your old contacts by checking in from time to time. Remember, following up will considerably increase your chances to get hired. To be more effective, organize your contact data and use Outlook or some other tool.

Cultivate and expand your network. One contact may introduce you to others, refer you to someone who may know about job openings, provide feedback on your resume, or suggest organizations that you might join. Whatever advice or help your contacts offer, be sure to thank them for their time and effort. See a sample of a thank you letter in Chapter 8, Letters.

In chapters 3 and 8 of my book “How to Get a Job in the USA”, I cover in detail these steps and provide templates for self-presentation and other tools and techniques for effective networking in job hunt. See http://succeedinamerica.com/books.html

Nara Venditti, Ph.D., is a platform speaker, educator and author. She is the president of Succeed in America, LLC and author of “How to Get A Job in the USA ” and “Ameri$peak.”. She is an expert in foreign born employee development and a frequent presenter at conferences, companies and educational institutions. She speaks on careers, communication and cultural differences. Her audiences are educators, library staff, business people and students. She helped thousands of multicultural and foreign job seekers and students get employed and succeed in the American workplace. Nara can be reached at +1 203 791 1107, nara@SucceedinAmerica.com or http://www.succeedinamerica.com/.

Six Steps to Getting Employed in the U.S.A.: Advice for International Students

2009-06-21T21:52:00.000-04:00

College seniors will not be thrilled with the news that came out recently saying that less than 50% of employers are planning to hire college graduates. For international students getting a work visa might be easier these days; however, there are fewer jobs available. According to USCIS as of this May, there are 23,000 H1-B visas unfilled this year due to job shortages. So, what you should do? Consider the following steps to getting employed in the US.

Step 1: Assemble your paper work. Understand if you are legally authorized to work in the United States and get a Social Security number. Put together an American-style résumé. Translate your transcripts and evaluate your educational credentials. Learn how to fill out a job application.

Step 2: Look for job openings. Look in newspapers, on-line and apply with employment agencies. Headhunters can help you if you are looking for a job that pays more than $50,000 per year. Check openings on the Internet. Network, network, network—nine in 10 jobs in the United States are found through contacting other people. Learn how to socialize American-style, how to do “small talk” (non-business-related conversation), and how to work the room (socialize and make business contacts at an event). I dedicate two chapters I my book “How to Get a Job in the USA”. http://www.succeedinamerica.com/books.html . Do not forget to utilize web 2.0 opportunities – LinkedIn and others.

Step 3: Prepare for the interview. Put together your portfolio. Research the company, its products and services, industry buzzwords, who the leaders are, and how many divisions the company has. Rehearse the most common questions and answers. Prepare your own questions. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

Step 4: Promote yourself confidently at the interview. Dress business-like. Arrive on time but not too early. Understand the interview stages: arriving, small talk, answering questions, asking questions, concluding. Smile and give a firm handshake when greeting interviewers. Listen to their questions with attention. Maintain good posture, keep smiling, and maintain eye contact. When leaving, ask for business cards, as you will need them when writing a thank you note or letter.

Step 5: Increase your chances by following up. Write a thank you letter or note. Make follow-up calls. In the United States, following up is part of job search etiquette—recruiters expect you to follow up. If you will not follow up, other job candidates will.

Step 6: Finalize. Consider and negotiate the offer. Understand salary ranges and how to negotiate effectively. Accept or reject the offer, or deal with rejection and move on. Continue looking for jobs, submitting applications, and the like. Remember, that it is a numbers game—the more résumés you submit, the more chances you will have to get hired soon.

*Adapted from “How to get a Job in the USA” by Nara Venditti, Ph.D.

Nara Venditti, Ph.D., is a platform speaker, educator and author. She is the president of Succeed in America, LLC and author of “How to Get A Job in the USA ” and “Ameri$peak.”. She is an expert in foreign-born employee development, employability and multicultural customer service. Nara isa a frequent presenter at conferences and business and educational organizations. . She can be reached at +1 203 791 1107 or http://www.succeedinamerica.com/.

Thank-You Letters: A Few Tips to Increase Your Chances of Getting the Job

2009-06-21T16:17:00.000-04:00

In job hunting, the last impression you make can be just as important as the first. The post-interview thank-you letter is your opportunity to remind the employer of your visit and reinforce your qualifications and desire for the job.

Keep in mind, your thank-you letter is more than a simple courtesy; it is an essential component of the self-marketing campaign and a final chance to market yourself. Follow-up is very important for two reasons. First, employers appreciate candidates who follow up effectively. Therefore, it is to your advantage to be proactive and “strike while the iron is hot”. Secondly, job-hunting in the US is competitive, especially in a bad economy; if you don’t follow up, your competitors will and it will give them an advantage over you.

During my seminars, people often ask me “When should I send a thank you letter?” My advice is to always send a thank-you letter within 24 hours after every employment interview. Here are a few more tips
§ Remember to write to each person you spoke to during the interview. Try not to send an identical letter to each person on your list; rather personalize your letters by making each one a little different from the others.
§ In your letter 1) thank the interviewer for his or her time, 2) express your continued interest in the position and your suitability for the job, 3) mention anything important that you either left out during the interview or wished you handled better in your answers. See a sample follow-up-thank-you letter at http://www.succeedinamerica.com/howto.html
§ You can handwrite the letter on a thank-you card (if your handwriting is legible); or you can send a typed letter. If you know your interviewer’s e-mail address, you can certainly both send a thank you letter via e-mail…and mail a letter or a thank you note as well. This way you will be more confident that your message did not get lost in the junk mail of the recruiter’s inbox. However, keep in mind that a neatly typed or handwritten letter has a more formal quality and therefore can be a plus in your favor.

In my book “How to Get a Job in the USA” I cover in detail three follow up media, letters, e-mails, and phone calls. Following Up is the fifth step in my Succeed in America Six Step System of getting employed in the US.

Nara Venditti, Ph.D., is a platform speaker, educator and author. She is the president of Succeed in America, LLC and author of “How to Get A Job in the USA ” and “Ameri$peak.”. She is an expert in foreign born employee development and a frequent presenter at Conferences, Companies and educational institutions. She speaks on careers, communication and diversity. She can be reached at +1 203 791 1107 or http://www.succeedinamerica.com/.