Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Writing the Chronological Resume

While there is no one correct resume style, there are some general guidelines to follow to prepare a high quality resume. Plan to group information under category titles that employers will easily recognize, such as objective, work experience, and education. Follow the step by step outline below to write and lay out your resume into a chronological resume style.

  1. Provide your full name, address and telephone number with area code.

  2. Objective
    Write only one objective statement per resume. The objective should state what position you are applying for, and include a couple of reasons why you should be considered for the job. It is a good idea to write the objective to aim toward the employer's job duties and needs.

  3. Work Experience
    • Begin with your most recent employment and continue backward to report your work history or volunteer activities.

    • List the dates of employment.

    • List the name and address of the employer.

    • List the job title.

    • Explain job duties and responsibilities in one to two sentences followed by a bulleted list.

    • Try to begin each bulleted sentence with an action word.

    • Write about your experience and skills to aim toward the job requirements.

    • Provide the most information about your most recent job. For example: write a brief description consisting of a few sentences followed by a short list of bulleted items.

    • Provide less information about your remaining employers with a briefer description and fewer bulleted items.

    • Show growth and progress with responsibilities.

    • Stress achievements and accomplishments.

    • List any volunteer work or civic activities that you are involved with that are related to the job. Include the dates of your volunteer service.

    • Example:

      (Date)

      2000 to present Job Title Employer's Name and City and State

      Explain job duties with one to two brief sentences. Then add a bulleted list that explains your responsibilities and accomplishments. Begin each sentence with an action word.



      • Built . . .

      • Installed . . .

      • Repaired . . .

      • Ordered . . .


      1997 to 1999 Job Title Employer's Name and City and State

      (As above, except briefer. See "Sample Chronological Resume" below.)




  4. Education
    Under education, start with your highest degree.
    Avoid using dates.
    Include academic honors.
    Leave out high school information if you have college education.

  5. Licenses or Certificates
    List job-related special licenses or certificates that you may have, such as special class drivers license, guard card, or certified nurse assistant certificate.

  6. Activities (Optional)
    List community activities or club memberships that you are involved with that are related to the job.

Monday, August 24, 2009

What to do what not to do in an interview

What to do:

• dress smartly, look bright and attentive, and speak clearly and confidently. Don't forget that only 7% of the interviewer's opinion of you is formed by what you say - the rest is judged on how you look, act and sound
• find out where the venue is beforehand, how to get there and how long it takes
• get your outfit ready the night before
• find out what kind of interview it will be so you can prepare
• examine the person specification and your CV/application form, and think about what type of questions they will ask you
• prepare answers for the main questions - for example, why do you want the job, what are your strengths and weaknesses, what are the main tasks in this job
• make about three or four points in each answer
• quote real examples of when you've used certain skills - just saying you've got a skill isn't enough
• take your time when answering the questions. Make sure you understand the question and take your time if you need to think
• sell yourself. No-one else is going to! Be positive about yourself and your experiences
• prepare some questions to ask at the end - use it as an opportunity to find out more about the role and the company. But don't ask about money or perks just yet!
• when discussing salary, know your market worth and start by quoting a little higher than this
• get feedback on your performance, whether you were successful or not
• turn off your mobile! Treat the interviewers with respect and give them your undivided attention
• keep your answers focused on what you can do for the employer, not what they can do for you

What not to do:

• don't be late!
• don't swear or use slang words
• don't slouch in your seat or do anything else that makes you look disinterested
• don't smoke
• don't lie! The interviewer may see through you. Even if you get the job, your employer can dismiss you if they find out
• don't let your nerves show too much. A few nerves are normal but extreme nerves will affect your performance. Use breathing techniques and try to remember that it's not a life and death situation - there are plenty of jobs out there!
• don't be arrogant and assume you've got the job. Nothing turns off employers more than someone who is disrespectful and over-confident
• don't discuss controversial topics such as religion, politics and gender relations
• don't read from notes or your CV. You should be familiar enough with your own history to be able to talk about it unprompted
• don't criticize former employers or colleagues. Interviewers may mark you down as a troublemaker and a gossip
• don't argue with the interviewer, no matter what. Remember to keep things positive!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Atmospheric Scientist

Careers in NASA

Atmospheric science is the study of the physics and chemistry of gases, clouds, and aerosols that surround the planetary bodies of the solar system.

Research in atmospheric science focuses upon such areas as:
  • Climatology. the study of long-term weather and temperature trends,

  • Dynamic meteorology. the study of the motions of the atmosphere,

  • Cloud Physics: the formation and evolution of clouds and precipitation,

  • Atmospheric chemistry: the study of atmospheric chemical reactions,
  • Oceanography: the study of the Earth's oceans and how they affect the atmosphere.


Some atmospheric scientists study the atmospheres of the planets in our solar system, while others study the Earth's atmosphere.

Atmospheric scientists may work in the following areas: field research, laboratory studies and/or computer analysis and modeling. Good communication skills (oral and written) are necessary as atmospheric scientists attend conferences and workshops, where they share their results with other researchers. They write papers and technical reports detailing the results of their research, give progress reports, and disseminate information on satellite data.

The majority of atmospheric scientists in the United States work for the Federal Government. The largest number of civilian atmospheric scientists work for the National Weather Service and other branches of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy.

Atmospheric scientists may also be found working for private weather services, television and radio stations, commercial airlines, state governments, colleges and universities, public utilities, consulting firms, and aircraft and instrument manufacturing companies. They often work in groups where their different skills and backgrounds can be combined to study specific scientific questions such as the effects of aircraft emissions on the atmosphere. These multidisciplinary teams usually include people in other related careers such as aerospace engineers, electronics engineers, computer and communications technicians, photographers, science writers, data systems analysts, astronauts, pilots, astronomers, physicists, geologists, oceanographers, and biologists

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Steps in filling application forms

Before you start…
It's important to plan how you're going to complete the form. Make sure you read the instructions on the form carefully. If it asks you to put the information in a certain order then make sure you do!

Online application forms
If the form is online, draft your application offline first – in a word processing package like Word – and save it to your computer. This way you'll be able to run a spell check before you copy the info into the online system. It also means you'll have a back-up if there's a problem with the form.
More and more sites offer the option of storing your application online and coming back to it. If you do this in more than one sitting, keep a record of any usernames and passwords so that you can get back in!Online forms can be longer and more complicated than paper forms – follow the instructions carefully and check how many screens you have to fill in before you can submit your application.

Paper application forms
If you’re filling in a form by hand, write as neatly as you can in black ink and use block capitals if the form asks you to.A good way to avoid mistakes and crossings-out on the final form is to photocopy the original and practice filling in this copy first. Take care of the form – don’t spill anything on it or leave it in your bag to get creased!

Some important final checks…
Whether your form is online or on paper you should:

  • read it over a few times to check for spelling and grammatical errors – these are one of the most common reasons applications are rejected
  • someone else to proofread it for you
  • Check you’ve filled in all of the boxes that are relevant to you – if you leave an empty box the employer may think your form is incomplete. If a box isn’t relevant, put ‘N/A’ (not applicable)
  • Photocopy or print out the finished form, so you have a record of what you’ve put. You'll need to be able to refer back to it at the interview stage
  • Take note of the closing date and send your application form to arrive in good time.

Tips About Career Consulting Firms for Job-hunters

Before you sign a contract or pay anything to a career consulting company you have seen advertised, take the following precautions to protect yourself and your livelihood:


  • Be skeptical of any employment service firm that promises to get you a job for an up-front fee and guarantees refunds to unhappy customers.

  • Consider the cost versus the likely benefit of their services.

  • Ask to meet with the representative in his or her office, rather than a hotel room or other temporary location.

  • Get a copy of the firm’s contract and review it carefully prior to signing. Understand the terms and conditions of their refund policy. If oral promises are made that do not also appear in the contract, reconsider doing business with them or, at a minimum, have these written into the contract.

  • Check the company’s track record in Georgia and nationally through the Better Business Bureau. Remember, even if there are no complaints, they may have changed names or may be too new for complaints to have been registered against them.

  • Follow up with the corporate office of any employer listed in an employment service ad to confirm that the company is really hiring.

  • Be wary of firms promoting “previously undisclosed” federal government jobs. All federal positions are announced to the public.

  • Do not give out your credit card or bank account information on the phone unless you are familiar with the company and agree to pay for something. Anyone who has your account information can use it to take money from your account.

  • If you call an 800 number, you cannot legally be transferred to a 900 number. If this happens, you will be charged excessive fees in violation of federal law.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Do you need to know what the job of a pilot is and how to become a pilot?

Pilots fly airplanes and helicopters in order to get various jobs done. Most pilots fly people and cargo from place to place. Some pilots test new planes, fight fires, do police work, or rescue people who are hurt or in danger.

Before they take off, pilots plan their flight carefully. They check their plane to make sure that it is working properly. They also make sure that baggage or cargo has been loaded correctly. They check the weather forecast to see if they will run into any bad weather on their trip. They then decide what route they should take and how high and fast they should fly.

Takeoff and landing are the hardest parts. Pilots must be especially careful during those times. The rest of the flight is fairly easy, if the weather is good. Planes have indicators to tell pilots if their trip is going according to plan. These indicators show whether there is enough fuel, whether the weather is changing, and whether the plane is on course. Pilots must check these indicators often during the trip to be sure that all is going well. If problems come up, the pilots take steps to solve them.

The law says that pilots who work for an airline cannot fly more than 100 hours a month or more than 1,000 hours a year. Most airline pilots fly about 65-75 hours a month, and work another 75 hours a month at other parts of the job. When they are flying, airline pilots must very often stay away from home overnight. Airlines have flights at all hours of the day and night. This means that airline pilots often are asked to work odd hours.

Pilots who do not work for the airlines can have unusual work schedules, too. For example, they may fly 30 hours one month and 90 hours the next. Most of them do not have to stay away from home overnight, but they may have to work odd hours.

Pilots who fly very long distances may have "jet lag." This is fatigue caused by moving through different time zones. The work of pilots who test new planes may be dangerous. Pilots who work on farms or who help police and firefighters also might get hurt on their jobs.

Flying does not involve much hard physical work. However, pilots can feel a lot of stress because they know that they are responsible for the safety of their passengers. They must be careful and quick to react if something goes wrong.

All pilots who are paid to fly must have a license from the Federal Government. They must be at least 18 years old. They must have flown at least 250 hours. To get an airline pilot's license, a person must be at least 23 years old. The person must have flown for a total of 1,500 hours, or have gone to a special school for pilots.

A doctor must also examine the person. The doctor makes sure that the person can see and hear well, and is healthy enough to fly. Pilots must also pass a written test to show that they know how to fly properly. The pilot's employer may ask him or her to pass other special tests as well.
Many pilots learn how to fly in the military. Others become pilots by going to flight schools. Most companies want the pilots they hire to have some college education. In fact, most people who enter this occupation have a college degree.

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Three Reasons to Get Over Your Fear of Networking ... Now!

If you are a job hunter you’ve likely heard much about the importance of networking. Perhaps you’re reluctant to give it a try. You’re not alone.

According to a recent study conducted by Pepperdine University and Upwardly Mobile, Inc., “both the corporate and academic realms are seemingly blind to the power of networking, evidenced by a large population of students and employees who want to network but do not believe they are skilled enough to do so effectively.”

If your fear of networking is holding you back in your job search or career, here are three good reasons to get over your fear of networking fast:

1. Networking is a critical business skill.

Networking — the ability to meet new people and build mutually beneficial partnerships — is an essential business skill. It is far more than just getting out and meeting people, collecting stacks of business cards, or making countless “friends” or “connections” online. Networking effectively necessitates long-term, strategic thinking.

“You know those Verizon commercials where the entire network is standing behind a person? That’s how I see people. Everyone in my mind has a network standing behind them,” says Molly Wendell, President & CEO of Executives Network, a quickly growing peer-networking organization for executives in transition.

Individuals within your network may or may not be able to help you personally. However, they are more than willing to introduce you to people in their network who can. The ability to develop and tap into an extensive professional network is fundamental to success in business. This is true whether you are networking as a professional, job hunter, or entrepreneur.

2.Your ability to network effectively can directly impact your career achievements and income.

The Elite Networker study mentioned earlier reveals that networking is a key driver behind higher salaries and career advancement. This is particularly true of high-earning, “elite” professionals. They are adept at cultivating richer relationships and gaining more access. Thus they enjoy a higher level of success in their careers and personal lives.

ExecuNet.com – a recognized authority in executive recruiting and human capital – states, “Career advancement is all about making connections with people who can share ideas, leads and opportunities.”

The Elite Networker study illustrates that anyone can benefit significantly by improving their networking skills, habits, and mindset.

3. Networking is the most effective job search strategy.

Networking is a highly-effective job search strategy. According to the Elite Networker study, 40% of respondents found their current position through networking and referrals. Yet another study, ExecuNet’s Executive Job Market Intelligence Report 2008, reveals that 70% of job search executives found their current positions through networking.

Molly Wendell can testify to the effectiveness of networking. A few years ago, also during a tough economy, Molly spent more than 21 months looking for a job with barely an interview. Then she decided to change her approach to her job search.

Source: http://www.womenco.com/benefits/articles/3712-three-reasons-to-get-over-your-fear-of-networking-now?page=2