Busy Toddler on Instagram has some simple ideas to keep your offspring busy at home. 

25 Minute-To-Win-It Games for kids 

Art Projects For Kids (Art Camp LA Blog)

How To Talk To Your Kids About Corona Virus 

Talking Toy Your Teens and Tweens About Corona Virus 

What To Do And Not To Do When Children Are Anxious 

Homeschooling Resources

How To Stay Sane While Working From Home With Children

The post Resources for Parents During Shelter-In-Place appeared first on netPolarity.

For those of us who may have to take a Zoom video meeting in a room Mari Kondo would have a total field day on, Zoom has some nifty tools to get you over this hurdle. Here are two of our favorites:

Virtual Backgrounds
Zoom has pre-loaded virtual backgrounds or you can upload your own. As you can see, I had a little fun with it. You can find all of this under “Settings.”

Touch Up My Appearance
Sometimes HD is not my friend. I’m all about having a positive self-image, but no one needs to see the chicken pox scar on my forehead in detail. Under settings, choose video, you can uncheck the “Enable HD” box and click on “Touch Up My Appearance.” and Zoom will smooth and filter those out.

We wish you a productive week sheltered in place!

The post Two Of Our Favorite Zoom Tricks appeared first on netPolarity.

Have a separate space dedicated to work. 

Designating an entire room for a home office is likely a luxury for most of us in Silicon Valley, but a dedicated space will do. Whether it’s a spot on the kitchen table or — like me — a corner in your bedroom, keep this space exclusively for  work. This helps you focus. Here’s the tiny dedicated corner in my bedroom from which I’m blogging.

Maintain routines.

We are in uncharted waters and routines help instill some sense of normalcy. Wake up at the same time as you would if you were going to our physical office. Have your coffee and toast or whatever it is you do in the morning to mark the start of your day.

Dress for work. 

Perhaps you don’t have to dress as you would when you’re reporting to our physical office, but if you’re like me and your workspace is in your bedroom, a change in outfit helps my brain compartmentalize work from all the other things I do in the same room.

Dress for the camera! 

To dress — put clothes on — is listed twice because it’s important. We have the technology for video meetings. Please dress appropriately for the camera. Pants, too, please.

When in doubt, use your voice.

Tones and emotions do not translate well over email or chat and can be misunderstood. If you’re ever in doubt about how a piece of communication might be received, have a  conversation.

It is not lost on us how fortunate we are that we are in a business where we can continue to operate and support our clients despite everything that is going on. With the technologies we have in place, we might even find new ways to be even more productive.

Lisa Amorao is the Marketing Manager at netPolarity. 

The post The Basics Of WFH appeared first on netPolarity.

• 55% appeared disinterested.
• 53% spoke negatively about current or former employers.
• 49% answered their cell phones or typed a text message during the interview.
• 39% appeared uninformed about the role; 33% failed to provide examples.
• 20% provided too much personal information.
• 17% asked the hiring manager personal questions.
• 70% failed to make eye contact.
• 44% failed to smile.
• 35% had bad posture/fidgeted too much in their seat.

Don’t be that candidate! Download our Comprehensive Interview Preparedness Guide by clicking here.

The post Comprehensive Interview Preparedness Guide appeared first on netPolarity.

The goal of the job interview is to determine whether you are the right candidate for the role, that you have the right skills required for the job, and that you fit in with the team. While each interview is different, some questions are asked frequently because they accomplish the objectives. The following are some of the most common interview questions and some tips on how to answer them.

How would you describe yourself?

This is your chance to introduce your qualifications, your work habits, your attributes, and achievements that make you a valuable employee.

What was your greatest accomplishment and how did you achieve it?
Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on the back, promotions, pay raises, or other commendations. Talk about what the achievement means to you.

What is your biggest weakness?

Everyone has a weakness. Your interviewer is interested in hearing about how you overcome adversity and challenges. For every weakness you state, talk about how you work around it or what you are doing to improve.  

“Why do you want to change jobs?”
Avoid negative talk and resist the temptation to criticize current/former employers or coworkers. Answer this question in a positive manner and focus on what you seek to achieve with the role you are interviewing for: “I’d like to advance my career,” or “I would like to focus on xyz technology…”

If your reason for leaving is because your current employer is downsizing or shutting down, you can say that you are looking for a new job due to changes happening at your current company.

“What did you like/dislike about your last position?

This helps the interviewer decide if you will be a good match for their work environment. Resist talking about conflicts with other team members or managers. You can say that you enjoy(ed) the challenges that came with your last position.

“In what ways are you qualified for this position?”

Hopefully, you came prepared to the interview and reviewed the job description. To answer this question, pick out the particular skills and relevant experience you possess that will help you carry out the role. Talk about your ability to work in a team environment, your leadership skills, technical skills, or a story about your personal success.

“Describe your most important strengths”

Identify five strengths that you feel are most in line with the position for which you are interviewing. Talk about a situation, the task required, what you did, and the outcome.

“What is your ideal work environment?”

Show that you are interested in the job. If the job requires that you work alone, indicate that you like being a team player, but also enjoy working independently.

“How do you handle criticism?”

Talk about being receptive to valuable feedback and using it to improve upon your work.

“How do you handle pressure and stress?”

Talk about how you mediate work-related stress. You can talk about your time management strategies, routines you have incorporated into you rday to lower stress levels, such as exercise.

“Explain a time when you overcame an obstacle…”

The interviewer is evaluating your problem-solving skills. This is a good opportunity to highlight your organizational and leadership skills, as well as personality traits such as perseverance and diplomacy. Talk about a past situation, the task involved, what you did, and the outcome.

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Talk about a career advancement that is in line with the job for which you are interviewing. You can talk about management aspirations in general, but probably not a good idea to tell the hiring manager you are going after his or her job.

“Why should we hire you?”

Point out your positive attributes, technical skills, and relevant experience related to the job for which you are interviewing. State the key aspects of the job and describe how your qualifications meet the job’s requirements.  

The post Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them appeared first on netPolarity.

It is normal to be nervous about a job interview, especially when it is for a role you really want. Knowing what to expect can help reduce interview anxiety.

Most job interviews can be broken down into three phases: Introduction, Getting to Know You, and Closing.  Here’s what you can expect at each stage:

I. Introduction:

This phase is where the small talk happens and is typically when the interview provides an overview of topics to be discussed.

The Introduction phase is your opportunity to make a positive first impression: be aware of your non-verbal cues. Remember to turn off your cell phone before stepping into the interview. Do not chew gum or eat candy. Offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. Wait for the interviewer to offer you a seat. Find a comfortable, relaxed sitting position. Lean forward slightly to convey interest, and smile naturally at appropriate times. Convey confidence: keep your arms and legs uncrossed.

Show enthusiasm. Be positive and upbeat.

Appropriate questions for this phase:

• Why are you hiring for this role?
• What is expected of a person in this role?
• What does the day-to-day look like for a person in this role?

II. Getting to Know You
This is the question and answer phase of the interview. Be prepared to talk about your work experience, skills, education, activities, and interests. You will be evaluated on how well you will perform in the company’s environment.

Be prepared with specific examples of past accomplishments, and technical experience. Be sure to highlight your strengths. Convey knowledge and interest: read through the company’s website before the interview.

The interview is looking for clear and effective communication skills and ability to work effectively with other team members. Show willingness and ability to adapt. Show enthusiasm and interest. Talk about your relevant experience.

Common questions you can expect at this phase:

• “Tell me about yourself” — Briefly describe your experience and background. If you are unsure of what the interview is seeking, clarify: “are there any areas in particular you would like to know about?”
• “What is your greatest weakness?” Pick a skill you are trying to get better at and talk about what you are doing to improve.
• “What do you know about our company? Why do you want to work here?” Be sure to review the company’s website prior to the interview. Convey your interest in working for the company by showing that you took the time to learn about them. For example, “your company is an industry leader and growing…”
• Stay focused:
  Avoid oversharing about your personal life. Keep all answers professional and work-related.
• Avoid answering with an opinion, a theory, or a vague response.
• Avoid saying anything negative about past employers or co-workers. This will leave the interview wondering what the other side has to say about you.
• You do not have to talk continuously. The interviewer needs time to take notes and think about questions so don’t worry about periods of silence.

Questions you can ask for this phase:

• What are the company’s current challenges?What does a typical day look like for this role?How long has this position been open?

III. Closing

This phase is your opportunity to ask questions that haven’t been discussed as well as get information about the next step in the process. Take advantage of this opportunity to bring up additional benefits to hiring you. Tell them why you would make a good fit and why you are excited about the position. Ask when the decision will be made and what the next steps will be.

And most importantly, ask for the job!

The post The Client Interview — The Three Phases And What To Expect appeared first on netPolarity.