5 Types of Bad Bosses, Explained

5 Types of Bad Bosses, Explained Ive been very fortunate throughout my career in that Ive worked with and for some wonderful companies, had some fantastic mentors and some first-rate colleagues They provided me a solid foundation in leadership, geschftsleben and communication that I use to this day.But if Im honest, I have learned as much if not more from the horrible bosses in my life as I did from the shining stars. Working for or with some of unterstellung people was so painful, if not downright traumatizing, that it burned into my psyche the importance of never doing these things.I encourage you, if you are working for that guy/gal to a) Get out Get out now And/or b) take heart that even the worst of bosses may be teaching you something valuable. On the other hand, maybe you are that guy/gal. If you see yourself in any of these examples, then that alone means you still stand a good chance of changing. Unless they are a dyed-in-the-wool sociopath, most people behave badeanstaltly out of either ignorance or fear.Unfortunately, there is also a tendency for people to become addicted to their perceived power and stop seeing the people they lead as human beings. Sadly, the ones these people hurt the most end up being themselves, because you can fool the world but usually your own conscience will convict you. If any of these ring true for you, consider talking to a professional and changing the course of your leadership which is also your legacy.Bad bosses can take many forms, from the outlandishly horrific, to merely annoying. Below are the top five worst offenders that can be counted on to make their employees lives a living hell.1.The Truth-ChallengedAlmost every leader has to struggle at times with how much information to provide their employees. Those who decide that less transparency is best usually cite competitive vulnerability or lack of employee ability to understand the information as reasons for keeping information close to the vest. As a leader thats up to you, but there is a line between discretion and outright lying. A friend relayed to me this story about untruthful bosses I remember one geschftlicher umgang trip my colleague and I were traveling with our boss, who told us employees that we had to stay at one (cheap and shoddy) hotel, which unfortunately was booked so HE would be staying at the 5-star down the street. Little did he know that we were close friends with the company travel agent and quickly made a call to determine whether that was true (it wasnt). Needless to say, that story made the rounds for years to come Lying about things may seem to be the simple and expedient path but being caught by your employees in a boldface lie can damage your credibility forever. Its not worth it2.The DrunkMost people enjoy a social cocktail every now and then, or maybe even more than one. To each their own, but if you have developed a dependence or an addiction to a mind-altering substance there is no way this wont affect your ca reer. Consider this account from a client I had a wonderful and charismatic mentor at one point in my career whos impact on my life was immeasurable. Unfortunately, this person also drank. A lot. Whenever we would meet, they ensured alcohol was involved and they would keep it flowing, turning every event into a party that others may or may not have wanted to attend. Worse, there were times when wed have long conversations and they would give me assignments and then clearly not remember them later. They would show up smelling of alcohol and their behavior was erratic and unpredictable. This is heartbreaking because many times alcoholics are high-achieving, sensitive and just plain awesome individuals who deal with stress or latent perfectionism by numbing it out. But once it turns into an addiction they become very hard to work for/live with and until they recognize its a problem, life for everyone involved becomes a tornado of destruction.3. The BullyWeve all experienced a bully at some point in our lives. This is the person who belittles you, demeans you or is basically just a jerk to everyone in order to get what they want. The bully likes to throw you off guard and try to catch you up. Bullies are usually fearful people who think the only way to stay ahead is by keeping other people down. They will prey on your weakness and leave you feeling exhausted and demoralized. One of the happiest days of my life was when I was finally laid off by my bully (notethe only way to deal with a bully is to stand up to them, but when they own the company it doesnt mean you will survive the stand-offand thats okay). Bullies think its okay to swear at you, yell at you and blame you for their own inadequacies. My favorite bully line? I dont understand what youre even doing around hereour culture is terrible and people are all leaving. Why dont you do your job and fix our culture?4. The NarcissistThe Narcissist and the Bully are related but separate. Whereas the Bully may not h ave gotten enough hugs growing up, the Narcissist probably got too many. behauptung folks believe to their core that they ARE the smartest, most important people in the room and you exist to serve them. Their ego knows no bounds and you are simply along for the ride. When you encounter a narcissist with a noble vision, it can be exhilarating as the power of their convictions can carry you and the company through a storm and leave you committed to achieving the greatness they know they are destined for. Just know that Narcissists are incapable of giving back, so these relationships usually end up in the painful realization that the only one the Narcissist truly cares about is themselves and you are at best a valuable tool to achieving their goals and if you lose your utility you lose your place in the sun.5.The PoliticoThis may just be the worst of the bad bosses in terms of the emotional disruption. These folks see work and life as something to be spun. They dont trade in power or i nformation so much as relationships and they are very, very good at imitating actual leadership qualities in order to build alliances. You can tell a true leader from a Politico by their fruit. Do they sow unity, growth and respect for people or are those just words that precipitate backbiting and coups? Typically these people use flattery and rhetoric to gain allies but eventually their true colors emerge as they begin to reveal hidden agendas masked as strategies and lies couched as spin. If you have a boss who has thrown their boss or other peers under the bus, stay clear. Do. Not. Trust. Them.Although these are the worst of the worst, here are some other bad boss examples to avoidThe boss who always wants to promote friendly competition between employees in order to drive performance (patronizing at best and downright destructive at worst).The boss who blatantly IMs and texts people while in a one-on-one with you, is unprepared for meetings with you or does other things that mak e it abundantly clear that you or your time are just not that important to her.So if you are working for a truly bad boss, take heart. You are likely learning a whole lot about leadership and yourself, albeit the hard way. Hopefully, you learn that your sanity and serenity is worth any price, and that you dont have to accept abuse from your employer.As well, this experience will indubitably show you the values of honesty, respect, integrity, patience, gentleness, joy, kindness and self-control. At the end of the day, your happiness is an inside job, and you dont need to let bad bosses hijack your emotional well-being no matter what--Carrie Maldonado is the founder of Todays Leadership Solutions aSeattle-based consulting firm dedicated to providingbusiness owners peace of mind and job fulfillment by ensuring their management teams are equipped to run their businesses successfully.A certified executive coach, organizational developmentexpertand HR Professional, Carrie consults with sm all to medium-sized businesses on management, leadership, and recruiting solutions in addition to providing career coaching to managers and executives in transition.

The Leaked Secret to Writing a Resume for a Teaching Job Disclosed

The Leaked Secret to Writing a Resume for a Teaching Job Disclosed Arguably, teaching is among the most significant careers on the planet. A Teacher Assistant needs to be committed to the learning procedure. Teaching jobs usually need specific degrees and certifications, so be certain to highlight your education. Also, be sure to curate some skills dependent on the topic youll be teaching. When you start looking for a new teaching job, if you ask for advice, lots of people will be quick to inform you that one of the most significant characteristics of landing a teaching job is a great teacher focused resume. So as to compose a good resume the very first thing youve got to think about is your audience. Resume writing tips for teachers during work search will differ based on whos sharing their opinion alongside you. Writing a Resume for a Teaching Job - What Is It? Its too simple to kill the work even before getting the interview. Your Teacher Job Interview When you land t he work interview make sure youre well ready to stand out as an exemplary job candidate. Functional resumes mean to highlight your precise abilities and accomplishments that have been demonstrated through specific work related achievements. Getting the most of a sample resume or cover letter will allow you to finish your very first application. You may also contact us to help you compose a strong application letter for your fantasy teaching or another education position of interest. If youre asking for a job which has unique requirements, you might need another edition of your resume to completely demonstrate your qualifications. Taking time to discover a great teaching sample is a well worthwhile investment and means youre taking a step in the correct direction to have that teaching job. Definitions of Writing a Resume for a Teaching Job Teaching is a rewarding profession and an increasing number of people nowadays need to be a teacher. There are various kinds of teachers. For example, say youre a middle school social studies teacher. Although, simply because youre a dedicated and passionate teacher does not necessarily mean that your teacher resume will be selected. Your skills section, like the remainder of your resume, ought to be laser-focused on the job available. The very first thing you ought to do is carefully review the work description and musiknote any particular skills youve got or requirements you may fulfill. No targeting your resume is among the biggest mistakes, as it leads to a mediocre resume. If so, your resume can nevertheless be quantified, and provide the hiring manager a concrete idea of the range of your abilities and abilities.

One of the Most Incredibly Disregarded Solutions for Digital Resume

One of the Most Incredibly Disregarded Solutions for Digital Resume The Ultimate Digital Resume Trick As a result of the world wide web, there are quite a lot of platforms that it is possible to use in making your on-line teaching portfolio like blog, digital resume, in addition to personal site. You may also add a portfolio section to your site and apply the purpose-built templates to showcase your very best work. In addition to the theme alternatives, theres also a drag-and-drop page builder tool to help you make a custom made website which reflects your personality. There are lots of them available online and theyre intended for different purposes. Definitions of Digital Resume The Illustrator file makes the the majority of colour to help its simplicity. Writing an effective English CV isnt that difficult if you observe a prescribed process. Utilizing an HTML template is a wonderful method to begin and to find an expert site up quickly. To begin, you have the choice to import your Word or LinkedIn resume. Odds are, your competition is, and dont fool yourself, youve got competition. You may find several great resume templates, however you will have to decide if theyre likely to help or hurt your odds of landing an interview. Perhaps youre a sales rep seeking to bring in mora leads no issue Based on the kind of application process youre addressing, it might be appropriate to include samples of your work inside your CV. Get exploring and you might be spotting something you feel is going to earn an effect on your job seeking process. Dont be shocked if you even delight in the approach. It is possible to also display your ideas and work procedure, showcase testimonials, and even consist of pricing tables if youre freelancing while looking for your fantasy job. What Digital Resume Is - and What it Is Not While it might not be the absolute most natural method of showcasing your career, the chronological timeline display and capacity to back-dat e milestones works pretty well. Much like putting hobbies and interests on your resume to demonstrate your personality is a superior fit for a business. The style that is likely to make the most compelling resume is dependent on your work history and your degree of expertise and techniques in the field you put in your application for. Like all things digital, minimalist and easy design language is the current trend. Dont feel as if you have to follow along with the conventional resume standards to find the job you desire. Create several resumes based on what turns up as youre researching your target businesses. The initial one is about outlining your abilities and your availability in a special job position. You may either make distinctive resumes for your different career strategy. The social networking integralrechnung and set of portfolio templates can help you to showcase your nature and abilities online. Share your work after youre completely satisfied with your desi gn and work, you can share it to the world via your social networking accounts, personal site, or quite a few different channels you might utilize. If you wish to apply in a digital advertising post, you ought to be tech savvy and you be know lots of things about modern-day technology as it is where you are going to be mostly working at should you get hired by a corporation. Digital marketers will need to make sure strong brand promotion and grow the on-line presence of their business enterprise. The Fundamentals of Digital Resume Revealed If you decide to click the links on our website, we might get compensation. Along with the homepage designs, in addition, there are templates for the blog and portfolio sections of your site. The contact section involves a fashionable contact form and links to your social networking profiles in addition to your email address and contact number. A testimonial section is available and you are able to incorporate clients photos and their posit ion at the organization. The Most Popular Digital Resume Recruiters will craft a work description or listing with keywords which will also be utilised in the parsing approach. Resumes are the same. Employers wish to find the individual behind the resume. They want to see how you will benefit their companies.

11 Professional Development Tips From Great Bosses -The Muse

11 Professional Development Tips From Great Bosses -The Muse11 Professional Development Tips From Great BossesSome anfhreres really stick in your memory. Often, its two kinds that leave the most indelible marks the horrible anfhreres and the amazing ones. The former teach you what kind of boss you want to actively avoid going forward (and the kind you never want to become yourself). The latter, on the otzu sich hand, might become your mentors. But even if thats bedrngnis the case, tzu sichbeies a good chance youve still carried the lessons you learned from them to your next job and every one after that. We asked 11 people to highlight lessons learned from their favorite managers. No matter what kind of boss you have right now, you can apply these valuable pieces of advice in your own career.1. Own Your WorkEarly in Alisha Chochas marketing career, her boss asked her to redesign the monthly email newsletter. She told her to figure it out and come to her if she got stuck. I almost died . How could my manager really give me an assignment that vague? she recalls. She knew only very basic HTML at the time, but she did her research and came up with a new template that increased both clicks and sales. If she told me how to do it, I would rely on her for every assignment, expecting a 1-2-3 step guide. She welches training me to be independent, self-motivated, and take pride in my work, Chocha says. She ended up co-founding her current company, Your Marketing People, with that very same boss. Weve discovered some incredible talent who rise to the occasion, she says. And were training a gruppe to be true go-getters.2. Remember the GoalWhen Muse sales development representative Megan Cull was working as a program director, she was also frequently on the receiving end of customer complaints. There was one customer in particular who seemed to have an endless supply. She really did not like me, says Cull, but seemed to love her boss when he got involved. Cull asked her manage r to meet to learn how he turned a negative customer into a positive one. He told me that sometimes its less about proving youre right, and more about how you make someone feel, she explains. He taught her to always remember what the ultimate goal is. So the next time she had a complaint- which she did- then I focused on making her feel understood because my goal was to have a happy customer, rather than discounting her claims.As a reminder, she printed out WHAT IS THE GOAL?? and hung it over her computer. 3. Listen MoreIn her first post-MBA job, Paige Arnof-Fenn was a bit of a handful, she admits. I was often impatient, brash, frustrated, outspoken, and did not like being at the bottom of the totem pole. But then she got a new boss. She was a quiet leader who never tried to talk over people but when she made a comment everyone listened, explains Arnof-Fenn, now the founder and CEO of global branding and marketing firm Mavens Moguls. I saw how effective her style was and how people reacted to her and decided I wanted to be smart like her. I made a very conscious effort to listen more and only make comments when I had something big to say, she adds. When I left that job I just started being that way from the start in meetings and people never knew that I was more of a pop off before.4. Ask for What You WantToday, Antonella Pisani is the founder of the startup FACT goods and the ecommerce and digital marketing firm Eyeful Media. But two decades ago, she was working on creating partnerships at a company called WebSideStory. While reviewing business development contracts with the CMO, he used the phrase No asky, no getty It may sound simple, but Pisani found it helpful in that role and every job shes held since (and has passed it on as she became the boss). This applies to everything from asking for additional discounts when buying advertising, to negotiating a job offer, she explains. And its catchy enough to stick with people.5. Focus on the WhyMuse editor Alys e Kalish learned from her favorite boss to focus on the why. When I was handed a project, she always did her best to explain the why behind it- this made me feel like the work I was doing was valuable, whether for my personal growth or for our team, Kalish says. When I launched a project or suggested an idea, she encouraged me to think about why it would be worth pursuing, what goal it was tied to, and why it would help our team.This lesson has helped Kalish prioritize, stay motivated, and be transparent in her own projects. If I make a major prfungswesen on an article, if I push back a meeting, if I decide not to continue a project, she explains, I want people to know why so they can also make smarter decisions going forward.6. Keep Things Moving and DelegateNothing will ever be perfect. You also cant do everything yourself. Theo Lee, co-founder and CEO of KPOP Foods, learned both of these lessons when he was the manager of finance at a fintech startup reporting directly to his CEO .Startups are constantly strapped for resources, such as money and manpower, but maybe one of the most important is time, Lee says. Its more important to get things moving than making things absolutely perfect.Part of this, he adds, is learning how to delegate. In the early days, Lee would often start off projects, such as designing the website and creating an Instagram account. But he realized he couldnt keep his hand in every project, remembered his former bosss example, and passed over various components to his team. 7. Be CuriousBrian Sowards, Enterprise Account Executive at The Muse, previously founded and ran his own startup, USEED, a crowdfunding platform for higher education. The chairman of his board taught him, by example, how important it is to be curious. I never met someone who genuinely asked so many questions about so many things, even when I knew he was tired or stressed, Sowards says. I found its helped my career a ton because people really enjoy when you are curiou s about them and what they do. It actually makes it easier to deal with difficult situations because curiosity is like a smile, its hard to feel anxious when youre doing it8. Always Carry a NotebookJessica Peters, Business Operations Project Manager at The Muse, recently spoke to one of The Muses founders in passing. Their spontaneous conversation was a spitfire of ideas and questions to clarify. Luckily, Peters had a notebook on her, and she wrote everything down. Its one of several lessons she learned while working for the chief marketing officer and CEO at Overstock. Peters was one of two executive assistants who worked with the CEO. He was excited to see she brought a notebook everywhere, and, well, not so excited to see that her counterpart didnt. Needless to say, Peters went on to always carry something she can use to jot down notes.9. Make Yourself IndispensableNiyati Desai attributes her professional growth at least in part to a lesson she learned from one of her first bosse s If your boss doesnt miss you when youre not around, you arent doing your job well and you wont find success.She learned to anticipate her bosss needs and questions- basically, to make herself indispensable. I saw my boss do this daily for her boss, Desai says. To this day as a PR manager for the software company PlanGrid, Desai makes sure shes chasing down missing information or items she knows her boss needs to deliver on a particular project, and offers to handle tasks on her bosss plate. In a nutshell, if my boss doesnt see my value, he or she is also not likely to advocate for me behind closed doors, and I probably wont see that promotion or new project assignment I really want. 10. Build a Solid NetworkFor several years, Dave Yonkman worked as the director of communications for then-U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra. One of the lessons that stuck was to create a solid network. Yonkman, now founder and president of DYS Media, made a habit of collecting hundreds of business car ds and writing notes on the backs about the people hed met and their interests- a practice he continues to this day. 11. Do Small Tasks ImmediatelyAnytime Jennifer McDermotts about to add something to her to-do list, she asks herself, Or could I just do it now?Its a lesson McDermotts boss emphasized when she was part of a PR team at The Travel Corporation. She hated to see items on there that potentially made me look busier, but only took a few minutes to complete, says McDermott, who now heads communications for the personal finance website finder. The change of habit became so deeply ingrained that its now part of her daily routine. I start my day with a to-do list and while I have my morning tea, work through and do anything that can be done immediately such as a quick email reply, making an edit to a webpage, or making a booking, she says. You may not have a role model in your professional life right now, but that doesnt mean you cant adopt some of these lessons. Theyll certainl y help you grow, and they might lead you to a new opportunity- and your own great boss.

Why raising a polite kid still matters and how to do it

Why raising a polite kid still matters and how to do itWhy raising a polite kid still matters and how to do itRaising polite children feels like an odd priority during an era of cultural and personal incivility - all those screaming headlines and angry texts. Digital communication has rendered certain rituals ofpoliteness- formal salutations, thank yous, clear responses to invitations - virtually obsolete. But humans still interact in person and the interface that children present to the world still has to be user-friendly. Good manners help immeasurably. Teaching children politeness not only makes socialization easier, it prepares kids for jobs,friendships, andrelationships. It also, research suggests, may help with theirmental health.Raising our kids to say please and thank you, to use mister and missus, to look someone in the eye and shake their hand, or begin and end a conversation appropriately right - these feel like old-fashioned things we teach, says Dr. Robert Zeitlin, p ositive psychologist and author of Laugh More, Yell Less A Guide to Raising Kick-Ass Kids. But this is a way of communicating and communication is not dead. We should look at what we need to do to communicate effectively - to recognize another person is there.To Zeitlins point, polite children sometimes seem like theyve arrived via time machine. Some of this is due to culture itself getting less formal. Children may not be taught to deploy honorifics outside of school because parents see this as stilted. Thats not necessarily a bad thing, but it can become problematic when being informal turns into being thoughtless, which does happen.Zeitlin notes that when parents teach children to be polite, they are also teaching them active listening and empathy. The rituals of politeness may feel rote but politeness is, at its core, a sort of codified kindness and having a muscle memory for how to be kind is important. Behavior affects well-being.Theres something about listening and waiting y our turn, recognizing there is another person in the room, that puts a structure to things that place your needs next for a second, says Zeitlin. Understanding social codes helps kids develop frustration tolerance. Kids learn to put off smaller, immediate rewards for greater rewards down the line. Politeness (Yes, Ill reisepass the candy bowl) is essentially an exercise in social investment versus personal payoff. Zeitlin notes that children who can eschew short-term rewards tend to do better in life.You know the ability to really tolerate that frustration for a moment goes a long way in terms of connecting with someone else, he says. And its basically at the roots of politeness manners that we teach.Importantly, children dont necessarily have to understand why they are being polite to get the benefits. In fact, they may not even have the ability to understand, considering younger kids are less developed in their ability to think about thinking, also known as metacognition.Dr. Andre a Hussong, a professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC, conducts research into gratitude, which is often a function of politeness. She notes that true gratitude has four parts. First, kids must notice and think about what another person has done for them. Then they have to feel the gratitude and offer gratitude through words and actions. But younger kids cant really perform the thinking and feeling parts of gratitude as much as the doing parts.For the younger kids, its more about the actions and theyre not really understanding it yet until they get older, Hussong says. parte of it is that as their brains mature they literally have to have more advanced brain structures to do perspective taking.So, kids may not get the idea that their show of gratitude is a heartfelt reaction to another persons selfless behavior. They may not, to put it slightly differently, mean it. It doesnt matter. Developmentally, the emotions will sort themselves out. Creating habits is a totally fine place to start.We like to talk about how often we catch kids having gratitude moments rather than if they are a grateful kid, Hussong says. And it might be the same with politeness. Because the deeper motivations of politeness - those feelings that make it genuine and sustainable - may need to develop with age. Marking politeness moments, however, is a good way to establish a benchmark and continue the development of a working, mature politeness that pays dividends in better relationships.Socialization is like learning to read and write, explains Hussong. Politeness is like learning your letters.This article was originally published on Fatherly.

Engineering Students Start Your Engines

Engineering Students Start Your Engines Engineering Students Start Your Engines Steve Daum, collegiate projects manager for SAE International, Warrendale, PA, has watched many students find a career in the automotive industry through the Formula SAE Series, a popular car designing competition.Its definitely evolved over the years. You originally had the tube frame car but now the work on the engine, chassis, and structure has become very sophisticated. Though Daum says they cant race at top speeds for obvious safety reasons, these events still have the feel of high-level competition. Judges look at areas such as cost justification, while a panel plays the role of potential investors. Theyre asking, Why did you do the suspension this way? What research did you do? Why this engine setup? What if we made this change? he says.A lot of things to answer. Other events include a measure of acceleration and a 22-kilometer endurance race.Getting StartedA typical team forms when they start the fall semester, and the designing for that years car can take four to five months, Daum says. You may not be making your own tires or microchips but just about everything else is you, he says. Welding all the tubes together, how you want it to be constructed to hold things together.For many students, its their first chance to do anything like this. And some get very serious. Cornell actually wont add anything to their car unless theyve tested it for a year. Daum says the size of the teams vary, usually ranging fromsix to forty. Some have just had four but its usually a struggle that way, he says.University of Kansas, Lawrence welches awarded the First Place Overall finish at the 2012 Formula SAE Lincoln competition. Image SAE.orgBut beyond competition is the chance for another kind of learning. What isnt covered heavily in many engineering schools is how to manage products, Daum says. You think of this as an engineering competition but its even more a product management competition.I ts not all planningsometimes its quick thinking. Take the Rochester Institute of Technology, years ago. When the car got to the line for competition, it was spraying gas out of the injector, he recalls. Youre not allowed to run that way. They were the tenth car from the end and they asked if they could still run if they could change the injector before their turn. The team members found what they needed and ran to the engine hot area, handing tools and the parts, they somehow changed it in time. leid only did they run the event, they won it.Undergrads, grads, and doctoral students are all allowed to compete, and it may just lead to another finish line.Many people who work in the auto industry are former competitors, he says. Employers want to know how you solve problems and you have the answer many times through this experience. If you were on a good team, then you learned efficiency. Its also easier for the potential employer to relate to someone talking about their experience in a car competition than work they did with a professor on some widget drill.Eric Butterman is an independent writer.Employers want to know how you solve problems and you have the answer many times through this experience. If you were on a good team, then you learned efficiency.Steve Daum, collegiate projects manager, SAE International

Alumni Networking Rules

Alumni Networking RulesAlumni Networking RulesLeverage your alumni association to find and win a job, but know the rules about what is and isnt fair play.Jamal, a young finance executive, just two years out of business school, applied for a business analyst position at a large bank. He met with the banks recruiter at a job fair in Los Angeles and both agreed he would be a good fit for the job.On the drive home from the job fair, Jamal discovered he might have a secret advantage the banks CIO graduated from the same college as Jamal, but 22 years earlier. He thought it would be worth the effort to contact the CIO to leverage the college camaraderie to his advantage. Surely, he would have the home-field advantage, making every other applicant the away team in front of a hostile crowd.Not so, said alumni affairs and networking experts who spoke to Ladders. Jamals presumption was more likely to eliminate him from competition and alienate him from his fellow alumnus.Few applicants would go so far as Jamal (the individual did not give permission to use his real name) considered going bothering the CIO of a large bank with a cold call on as weak a pretense as wearing the same colors at the pep rally two decades aparte but most professionals do consider alumni association a primary connector to job opportunity. And many wonder where is the line between real connection and mere association?Alumni associations are a great jumping off point to networking, but its just the start. A job seeker is mucksmuschenstill obligated to make a genuine connection before leveraging an alumni connection for a job opportunity.Dont assume that it gives you an advantage, said J.T. Forbes, executive director of the Indiana University Alumni Association.Forbes said his organizations core mission is to connect alumni, giving them an opportunity to network and stay attached to their alma mater. Its important to keep in mind, however, that the job search is a process and alumni contacts are not built overnight, he added.Theres never any harm in reaching out to somebody, he said. If you want to approach somebody, youre better off seeking advice as opposed to (saying), were from the same school hire me. Forbes suggests a simple introduction where you disclose that youre up for a job and just ask if he has any advice about the industry in general. A better way than a basic cold call, he added, would be to meet him through a mutual contact or via a regular alumni association networking event and start up a relationship from there.If youve never met someone before and theyre a high-ranking officer where you want to work, then simply being a fellow alum is way too much of a stretch to be calling on them, said etiquette consultant Nancy Mitchell, founder of The Etiquette Advocate.You could look at the bio of any officer and find some connection to anybody you want to if youre creative enough, she said. I wouldnt play that card.Mitchell says that such cold calls are risky bec ause any sense that youre attempting to take advantage of a nonexistent relationship could have disastrous consequences.Would you ever pick up a phone and call a CIO of a major corporation, if youve never met them, for any reason? I dont think so, she said. The worst that can happen is they hold that as a strike against you because you did something thats not appropriate. Its too aggressive.Even if you dont get through to the high-ranking officer youre trying to contact - which Forbes and Mitchell agree is the most likely outcome - the assistant screening the call could report it to human resources and remove your application from the running for the open position. On the other hand, if you get through and somehow use your collective school pride to finagle a job, theres still a downside because your status at the company will be seen as tainted.Its not the way you want to be known, Mitchell said. First impressions die hard.When to Play the Alum CardIts not that networking with fe llow alumni is unwise thats a significant part of why these alumni associations exist in the first place. Its mainly a matter of etiquette and tact.Associations hold networking events many times throughout the year. Large alumni organizations, such as Forbes Indiana University association, host events nationwide. The gatherings are wonderful opportunities to meet other professionals who have a shared interest and to build genuine business contacts.Networking 101 tells you, you go to these events to build connections, not to get hired, Mitchell said.Forbes suggests using such opportunities to grow a network of mutual mentors who serve each other as career advisors.But what if there isnt time? Often job seekers are well into the companys recruitment process when they first learn the companys leadership includes a fellow alum. Is there an appropriate time to play the school-pride card?Mitchell says there is when youre finally face-to-face with your fellow Hoosier (or Wolverine, or Ti ger or Bruin, etc.)It would only be OK once the applicant gets to the sit-down interview with that CIO and then mentions the alumni thing on the way out nice to meet you by the way, she said.A similar tactic could be used when crafting your follow-up thank you note. After saying how much you appreciate the fact that they took time out of their busy day to meet with you, you could close on a lighter, yet still professional, note with a little college-dropping or even reference a big football game thats coming up that weekend.