career-tips

Top five career investments for 2012

2011-12-28T23:08:00.000-08:00

It’s almost New Year’s, and it’s time to get serious about investing in yourself, your career and your immediate future. January is just around the corner and that’s reason enough to take action and hold you accountable for a new beginning.
1. Smaller networks of influential people: Invest in a smaller, more focused network of people that can add value to your career and assist give you the insights you require to broaden your perspective. Making the right choices in people will save you time, money and frustration.
2. Improve your speaking and negotiation skills: Speaking and writing represent two of the most significant skills for career success. Mastering the art of communication is more important than ever at a time when trust and relationship building is at a best.
3. Develop your wealth in resources: Entrepreneurship isn’t just a business term anymore; it’s a way of life. You don’t require being an entrepreneur to be entrepreneurial. In fact, entrepreneurship isn’t just about making cash but rather about creating the wealth in resources that authentic relationships can bring.
4. Play a more active role in the industry you serve: If you want to advance in your career, give back to your industry. You may be a hero inside the corporate walls, but what do you mean to the industry that your company is serving? Make a mark and leave your legacy on your industry. Be active, contribute and earn respect from your peers. Down the road they may assist your career. Learn how the industry allowed them to be successful.
5. Evaluate your investment and your own progress each month: Always work to get better yourself by evaluating your own performance. Write your career goals down, and the steps wanted to get there. Evaluate the outcomes each month and course-correct as required. While getting feedback from your peers and your boss is extremely significant, over time you must learn how to evaluate yourself. If you believe that you need to get better your self-discipline – hire a coach.
2012 will be your year if you focus, invest, and stick to your plan!

Amazing 5 Tips to improve Personality Development

2011-08-24T05:08:00.000-07:00

Being a human being, you should achieve your personal goals, dealing with others and coping with situations in our life as they happen is also very important. Personality development helps to increase your efficiency and enhance yourself as a person achieving success in all your activities. Keep in mind, it is an ongoing process and it never ends, and so these 5 tips for Personality Development need to be adhering to no matter at what stage of your career or life you are in.

1. Keep flashing a sunny smile - People undervalue the significance of a bright smile and keep a glare on their face. Smiling faces convey a positive signal to others and you are supposed as a warm person ready to accept others in your life.. People can find it easy to work and interact with you.

2. Make Way for Colorful Clothing - Among prominent Personality Development Tips is the way you dress up and dress code manner will shows your personality. Using bright colored apparels will make you feel livelier from inside. And when you start to feel well from inside, it reflects on your personality very quickly and people will interacts you and it will create good impression of you with others.

3. Experience Diverse Things - Doing a lot of things widen your horizons and viewpoint and also helps in developing people skills is one of the most important Personality Development Tips.

4. Be Grateful - People will appreciate you when they know that you remember their efforts and practices. Being social helps in numerous ways and you will be surprised by others and people are more than ready to help you when you are in distress.

5. Be Responsible- Do not always cribs about things and other people. Do not blame others for your failures and take responsibility for your actions and be a reliable person, this will show your Personality Development.

Personality Development Tips are common for everyone and not just for those who facing problem or difficulties in their lives. You will being surprised and amazed at how just a little effort on your part will changes your Personality Development. These tips not only bring the success that you achieved in your life, it also shows your efforts and quality of your life.

Quick Tips to Get New Readers

2011-07-20T04:53:00.000-07:00

1. Tell a Story - Create a hook or theme for each of your articles. Incorporate a story that your audience can connect to or relate to instead of just plainly stating facts. How you choose to present information to your audience can make a big difference. A well-written story will attract more readers.

2. Speak to 1 Person - Use your article to communicate directly to a single reader. Focus on using "you" instead of "he", "she", "they", etc. This influences the readers perception that you are speaking directly to them and not to just anyone out in cyberspace. Plus, if it's your first impression with a reader, it's a great way to start forming a relationship for the future.

3. Provide Original Information - Deliver your story and information in a fresh and original way. Your originality is what will set you apart from other authors. Remember, quality still matters, and having an original article is just part of the equation. You also need to make sure your article is built soundly with proper grammar and punctuation.

4. Draw Inspiration - Use experiences in your everyday life for writing inspiration. Live in your niche and bring your personal experiences and stories into your articles. Try to write those ideas down that come to you right when they pop in your head. Then you'll have them ready for when you have time to write.

5. Be Creative - Tell a new story with every article you write. Break the mold and get creative. The more you incorporate your creativity into your articles, the more likely you'll start to gain a wider audience.

Is your boring job leading you to burnout? here are 5 tips

2011-07-13T02:31:00.000-07:00

Each morning you wake up and crib about going to work. When you are at office, you feel the clock hardly ticks and at the end of the day you can?t wait to get out of office. In simple words, you are bored of your job. What should be done?

Researchers of University of Zaragoza in Spain believe that if you do not do something about your job and continue to get bored, it will eventually lead to a burn out. Burnout is a psychological term for the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest.

Sometimes only a change of viewpoint is needed to convert a tiresome duty into an interesting opportunity so here are a few tips on how you can save yourself from burn out.

Create New Challenges:

Challenges are a key factor in your job. Every day when you encounter different challenges, you grow as a person and as an employee. If your job does not have anything interesting you will have to explore the dimensions of your job and see if you could make your profile more worthwhile. Setting up goals, thinking of how to make your job creative and how to improve your productivity is something you can concentrate on. Take the initiative to create challenges for yourself.

Asking for more responsibility:

If you continue to do the same thing again and again, and you're good at it, people are going to keep asking you to do that one thing, That may be fine as far as

your boss and the company are concerned, but it means that you may be unfulfilled and that your professional skills are declining over time. Your boss's job is to get the job done, but it up to you on how you can grow professionally.

Improve your skills:

Choose a skill that you often felt that needs more of your attention, sharpening and polishing. It is the best opportunity to work on your skills and it will be useful for y

ou in future to get a new job. Whether it is computer programming, writing, working with Adobe InDesign, or whatever, you can perfect it.

Add variety:

Variety is a great way to spice up boring tasks. Try doing your activity in a new way. See if there is a different method for solving the same problem. Having routines can keep you

productive, but if you are starting to procrastinate, try switching things up to make it more engaging.

Reclaim Your Sense of Humor:

It doesn't seem funny when you lose your motivation and can't seem to find your way. The best way to change this is by simply deciding to do so. Look for the humor i

n things large and small, even in taking yourself so seriously to begin with. With a little change of perspective, the world can seem like a whole lot nicer place and that goal of yours not quite so out of reach.

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Ten Tips on Career Advancement

2011-07-07T03:39:00.000-07:00

1. Talk to Your Boss

Sit down and have a very direct and pointed conversation with your boss about your future in the company. Stress that you want your job performance to meet the company's goals. Share your own career goals. Your boss will respect this display of confidence and maturity.

2. Ask for More Work

Volunteering to help out other departments or teams -- or simply asking for more responsibilities -- increases your value within the organization. Asking for additional work shows an interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed. It also puts a spotlight on your value to the business.

3. Volunteer for Boards

If you have your career set on something beyond what you are doing in your present position, seek out opportunities to volunteer or serve on advisory boards, where you can build a reputation as someone who is passionate and dedicated to your particular target industry.

4. Sharpen Your People Skills

Strong interpersonal skills play a crucial role in gaining the respect of your boss and co-workers; they will also attract the notice of outside influencers who might open new doors of opportunity for you. Be friendly, outgoing, and personable. Listen carefully to people, and practice being a clear and effective communicator.

5. Be Innovative

Never be afraid to think outside the box and put your business acumen to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you -- and your boss -- look good.

6. Find a Mentor

Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside of your company. Recent studies have shown that four out of five promotions are influenced by a mentor higher up in the company. Mentors are also great sources of information and career guidance.

7. Sell Yourself

Learn the fine art of self-promotion. If you have had major accomplishments or created successful programs, make sure people know about it -- especially those in influential positions who could help you advance professionally. Let it be known that you are seeking a promotion or the next step up in your career.

8. Keep Learning

A proven way to advance in your career is to be continually acquiring new knowledge. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current résumé reflects those needed skills.

9. Expand Your Network

Strengthen your personal network by joining professional organizations, attending industry conferences, or even volunteering. The more people who are aware of your strengths and abilities, the better your chances of hearing about any new opportunities that might arise.

10. Build Your Reputation

In business, your reputation is the most valuable thing you own. Be known for being dependable, professional, and cooperative. Act and look the part by dressing professionally. Make a name for yourself by attending conferences, delivering speeches, or writing articles.

Tips for interview

2011-06-29T02:46:00.000-07:00

Research thoroughly about the company you are going for an interview. Find out the business of the company, what are the skills they are looking for, how you can contribute to the company's growth, company's prospects, your growth prospects etc. etc. Use your network to find out about the company, talk to career consultants to find out, look out on the internet.

If company has a web presence, visit their web site and note down all the factors, which will help you arrive at a decision. Make a list of questions you may have come up. These can be asked and get answered at the time of interview.

Talk to friends/acquaintances in the company to find out the inner details.

Dress formally for the interview, but don't overdress. Dress what is appropriate in your climate.

Always reach 15-30 minutes earlier than the expected time. You can use effectively utilize that time to make observations about the company and its employees.

If possible, get the interview scheduled in the morning hours, the time when both you and the interviewers are still fresh.

About the questions asked, always reply to the point. Do not repeat the same thing and politely decline, in case you don't know the answers. No one is supposed to know everything.

Look straight in the eyes of the person while talking. This shows your confidence.

Always have your doubts cleared at the end of the interview. Ask all the questions you had made a list. This shows you are sincere and have done your homework before appearing for the interview.

Never ask for the salary figures/details in the interviews. Leave these questions for later.

If an expected salary figure is asked, politely tell that it should be commensurate with your skills and experience. If still pressed for figure, give your currently drawn salary and ask for an appropriate raise over it.

At the end of the interview, always thank the interviewers and shake their hands.
Last but not the least, whatever may be your requirement for the job, never show your desperation for it

The most useful Tips for Starting a New Career in SEO

2011-06-28T01:04:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking about starting up a new business in search engine marketing?

With recent economic trends, there are a lot of businesses that really do need help with legitimate relevancy building SEO strategies. Search engine marketing skills are the order of the day.

When I first started with my own studies of SEO or search engine optimization back in the 90s, the big search engines at the time were Webcrawler, Infoseek (an optimizers dream) and Lycos, then came Altavista, Magellan and Excite, Inktomi, Hotbot. And do you remember Northern Light? These were all around before Google which was launched. But back in the early days, even the acronym of "SEO" had not been really formed. I think most people referred to early search engine optimization as "Web Positioning."

So fast forward to today.

One of the great things that has occurred with the search engine industry is the great opportunity for people who have always wanted a business all their own. A business that you can literally operate from any city or town or location of choice. With people fine tuning their SEO skills they can also choose from different types of work, based on their own niches or choices.

I am sharing just a few tips for starting a new SEO career today, for those of you interested in starting a successful search engine marketing business and want a few of the smartest tips for starting your own SEO business.

Tips for Starting a New Career in SEO

One of the things to keep in mind is how you can become uniquely different than the competition. Everyone talks about setting themselves apart, but have you really refined the vision for your new SEO business. Assuming you are serving a client base offering SEO services to others, how will you be different than everyone else? The best formula to use is creative thinking and brainstorming with someone as a brainstorming partner. You need someone you can trust and someone who is good at brainstorming. As you fashion certain ideas, you want to allow yourself the liberty to believe that literally, anything is possible. Dream big, for your new business.

Keep your SEO skills fresh and continually growing

Regardless of where we are in our knowledge and skills - we must continually stay fresh and growing. As you have already probably surmised, it's competitive out there. So the first step is to get comfortable with your own SEO skills and get yourself up to speed with all the latest. This is probably the first and single most important step in building your brand new SEO business. You need to start by at least gaining a true comfort level with your own skills and understanding. Maybe you already have that comfort level, but maybe you feel like you would like some personalized help to catch up. Whatever your situation, take the step you need to get solid understanding and balance before you get involved with demanding clients. You need to have the peace of mind knowing how you can make each of your new client's profitable with the minimum of stress.

One excellent bit of advice is to spend some time working on your own Web sites right after you train so you can quickly build that confidence you need. Working on your own Web site gives you the complete liberty to create exactly what you want, without interference. You can do the job the way you know it should be done and you could do some affiliate marketing to make a little income too, while you practice and fine tune what you've learned. Once you have that SEO comfort level, then you can consider taking on new clients.

I said earlier, that creative thinking is great for the purpose of brainstorming. But next to that comes the element of implementation. Creativity is great but it must go hand in hand with the activity which is essential to see your business become a reality. Attitude and positive thinking are very great to keep motivation up but unless activity is going on you cannot succeed. Creative thinking is great for new idea generation but the other essential half you need is an action plan. Nothing truly exceptional is ever built without dedicated hard work and the mindset of giving it 100% of all you got. You need to stay focused on your plan of action to see you business established, take root and grow.

You need to lift your sights a little higher than just obtaining good rankings these days. You need to know that with each client you take on, you can find ways that will make them profitable with your results. Make that one of your objectives and you will be applying the beginning of wisdom as part of your foundation. This can really accelerate the popularity and the reputation that follows your work. Your client needs profitable results in true sales and conversions too. Being able to make a client profitable is what can build your reputation ultra-quickly. After all, that is the reason 99% of the time they are hiring you. Fulfill this objective over and over again and your services and fame will spread.

Remember that in the search engine marketing business, you want to build your reputation to beyond the clients expectations for every project you handle. You don't want to aim for just an occasional success story....but a stream of success stories one after the other. This can be achieved once you have your comfort level with your skills and then using wisdom in how you grow your business. Once you get a hold of this, it's your reputation and your proven SEM batting average that begins to quickly turn the tides and make a whole new way of doing business for you. The first thing you start to see is referral business. Instead of chasing down new clients - you begin to see your profitable clients referring new business to you.

One Final Tip...

How much do you enjoy your SEO or Search Engine Marketing work.
How passionate are you about your SEO work?

It is very important to build your business based on some aspect of search engine marketing that you are passionate about. It makes a huge difference when your clients see how much you love your work and as long as it is your business, why not excel in something you enjoy doing. It does not make sense to build a career around something you are not passionate about as long as you have the choice (and you do.)

new 15 career tips for recent grads

2011-06-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

Do Your Research

Before you go in for your interview, be sure to research the company you are applying to. By having an in depth understanding of the company as well as some background information on whoever is interviewing you, you will come across as prepared and interested in the company.

Practice Interviewing

Take time to practice interviewing before you go in for an interview. Have a family member or friend ask you the most common interview questions so you can be polished and know what you are going to say ahead of time instead of winging it.

Come Prepared With Questions

At the end of any job interview, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions for them. Make sure you have a few questions to ask the interviewer. This can be anything from “what do you like best about your job?” to “how would you describe the work atmosphere here?” By asking a few questions, you show interest in the interviewer and the company.

When in Doubt, Dress Up

If you aren’t sure what kind of dress is expected of employees, be sure to go more formal than informal. By dressing up, you show that you are professional and that you are taking the interview process seriously.

Be Flexible

When applying for jobs, be flexible about where you apply. Don’t limit yourself to just one city or one company. Keep an open mind about all potential opportunities.

Keep Building Your Resume

While you apply for jobs, continue to build your resume. Take on an internship, volunteer, or take on a part time job. By continuing to build your resume and increase your skill set, you make yourself more marketable to potential employers.

Figure Out Where You Are Going Wrong

If you aren’t landing any jobs, take a look at where you are going wrong. If you aren’t getting any interviews, go back over your resume and spruce it up by getting more experience or adding information to it. If you are getting interviews but not jobs, practice your interviewing skills so that you can be more successful in your interviews and potentially get job offers.

Utilize Your Network

Reach out to the people in your professional network for their assistance in your job hunt. Oftentimes when it comes to getting hired, it’s not what you know but who you know. So send along your resume and have your contacts pass it along to anyone they know at their

Don’t Rely Solely on the Internet

When searching for a job, don’t depend solely on the Internet. Be sure to attend job fairs, industry events, and utilize other networking opportunities to get your resume out there.

Have an Elevator Speech

An elevator speech is a 30 second spiel about your experience and career goals. Having an elevator speech is not only a great way to quickly introduce yourself at networking events but is also a good way to answer the “tell me about yourself” interview question.

Sign Up for LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great way to get all of your professional contacts in one place for networking. Sign up for LinkedIn, add everyone you know, and make sure to fill out your profile completely. LinkedIn also has a job search tool, so take advantage of that.

Send Thank You Notes

After every interview, be sure to send thank you notes to each person who interviewed you. Sending a thank you note shows that you appreciate the interviewer’s time and gives you an advantage over candidates who don’t send thank you notes.

Do What You Love

No matter what, take a job that you will love. If you don’t, you will be miserable and probably won’t end up staying at your job very long. Be sure you are happy with what you are doing.

Don’t Get Discouraged

If you are getting lots of rejections, don’t get discouraged. Remember that times are tough right now and getting a job is hard. Keep sending out your resume and stay positive.

Utilize Your School’s Resources

Most schools will give graduates access to their career center up to one year after graduation. So head on over to your career center to get your resume critiqued, practice your interviewing skills, and check out recent job postings.

ELEVEN CAREER TIPS FOR THE YEAR 2011

2011-06-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

1. Take responsibility for your own career development. Many large organizations have scaled back on training and development-a common outcome of the economic downturn-and small companies can rarely provide significant support. Simply put, your career rests in one set of hands: yours.

2. Be strategic. Have a long-term career strategy or, at the very least, a sense for where you’re headed. Ask yourself, “What do I really want to do?” or “Where do I see myself in five to ten years?” Seek people in similar roles and ask for their advice.

3. Work in step with your company’s goals. Connect the dots from your role to your company’s vision and key objectives. How does your work align with the organization’s goals? What can you do to maximize your contributions?

4. Be customer-centric. Whether your customers are internal or external, know their wants and needs, and be fervent about meeting them. Bring the voice of the customer into your day-to-day work and let it enhance your decisions and deliverables.

5. Collaborate. Working with and through others is requisite to innovating, creating, and producing business results. Adopt a mindset for teaming and collaborating, and put it into daily practice.

6. Hone your communication skills. Communication skills can make or break careers. Pick one area that needs your attention-considering skills such as listening, presenting, influencing, persuading, or distilling messages-and commit to improvement. Take a class, practice with a trusted friend or colleague, or join a group such as Toastmasters.

7. Cross over functionally. Many successful executives have risen through the ranks by taking cross-functional roles, such as moving from finance to sales or from marketing to IT. Follow their lead and you can grow your skills, your network, and your political capital.

8. Expand your experience. Volunteer for special projects or assignments that are outside your everyday role. Discuss your goals with your boss, an HR representative, or a senior leader, and ask for help in finding opportunities to broaden your experience base.

9. Find a guide. Mentors can serve as influential role models and provide important guidance for your career. Reach out to a potential mentor within your company or industry and see if he or she would be open to mentoring you for a specific purpose and timeframe.

10. Network-now. The best time to increase your network is today. Starting now, get involved in groups such as professional associations, charitable organizations, or even sports leagues. Step into leadership roles and make your expertise known.

11. Specialize. Today, companies look for specialists, not generalists. Develop a personal brand, distinguish your skills and strengths, and determine how to best market yourself.

Graphic design career tips

2011-05-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

The Graphic Design Career is a fast growing career that is becoming more and more competitive with every passing day. People are realizing how much money is available and how flexible the graphic and web design career really is.

1) Get Experience Doing Graphic Design Work & Working with REAL Clients

In design school, they don’t really focus on how to assess a client’s needs, wants, mood swings, and basic demographic factors. They certainly do not teach you how to learn basic communication principles, how to follow-up correctly with a prospective graphic design client. Academia is a long way away from perfection. That means it’s time for you to educate yourself on how to do REAL graphic design and get the wheels in motion so you can slowly but surely climb the ladders.

2) Choose Between Freelancing & Getting a Graphic Design Job

If you have never freelanced before, I recommend working as a freelancer on a strictly part-time basis to test the waters, while working a graphic design job prior to committing yourself to full-time freelance work or you may be conditioning yourself for disappointment. Get a handle on how to manage a project and a REAL deadline, and then start to learn how to manage a client. Remember, clients are REAL people. That means, real problems. A client may attempt to get you to complete work for free, forget or miss a payment, procrastinate in getting you content so you can complete their website design.

3) Graphic Designers Should Stick to What They Are Great At

If you enjoy working with vector graphics, you could familiarize yourself primarily with Adobe Illustrator, and perhaps specialize in icon-creation or acquire some knowledge of Adobe Flex and design interfaces for cell phones and other mobile devices. If you can’t take your hand off of a lead pencil crayon, it may be a good time to consider doing concept artwork for video games. If find yourself constantly doodling or drawing logos, icons, and enjoy coming up with tag-lines, become a branding and logo design expert.

4) Graphic Design Career – Start Small, Think Big

You are young, talented, and can afford to avoid some mistakes that could be avoided. Now, to a creative person, even the thought of writing an agreement or contract is daunting, so either get it done by a legal professional or suffer the consequences. Focus on what you do best and remember the rule of numbers – the more people you talk to, the more projects you will acquire. Keep going. Go to networking sessions, industry meetups, and other social events. Social media and email are mostly useful for follow-up. Don’t give up, but be smart and avoid setting yourself up for failure.

Five Tips for Young Professionals

2011-05-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

When making forecasts about your career future, one thing is sure: it’s going to be buffeted by change. As a young professional, you can take steps to be ready for some likely twists and turns.

Get on a learning curve
Identify what you need to learn in the next http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=13657256six months and create a plan for accomplishing this goal. Continue to set learning agendas for yourself. As the world keeps changing, successful professionals will stay up with new developments.

Be technically knowledgeable
Virtually all work in the future will require technical competence. You don’t have to be a programmer, but you should be competent on basic computer systems and software programs and aware of how technology can be applied.

Improve your personal-interaction skills
More routine work will be automated, leaving employees to do what’s left. Young professionals will stand out if they can interact with and manage people effectively.

Be good at balancing work and life
As work spills over into life, and vice versa, professionals must know when work starts and stops and help other employees to set those boundaries as well.

Take time to look over the horizon
Be a futurist. Cultivate the ability to forecast what’s just around the corner, so you can prepare for it.

6 Tips to Help Young Professionals Fit In

2011-05-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

1. Dress well
Even if the company is “business casual” you can’t be that way. You can’t wear the uniform until you’re part of the team. The best rule of thumb is to dress at least one step above whatever everyone else is wearing, and to wear a suit if anyone at the company wears a suit. Don’t just do in with a shirt and tie. Wear the jacket, too. Look professional.

2. Don’t text
Younger generations love to text. Generally speaking, texting at work should be kept to an absolute minimum. Texting while driving is incredibly stupid, illegal, and can get someone killed. Texting while at meals with another person is incredibly rude. The phone/computer should be turned off during any business meetings, any business lunches, or anytime you are supposed to be interacting with real-world people.

3. Work must be produced
We value you for the work you produce, not just for existing. This means you have to actually do something during the work day to get paid and get ahead. Some of you work very hard, and some of you don’t. This is to the ones who don’t. Unemployment is not fun. Neither is living with your parents until you’re 40.

4. Be respectful
You’re not dealing with someone who is a social equal. When you’re interviewing for a job, or working on a job, you’re dealing with someone who is your boss. Even if you have a friendship with him or her outside of the office, while you’re at the office you need to treat this person with the atmost of respect. If you cannot be respectful to your boss, you probably will eventually be looking for another job.

5. Understand life and work are not fair
You may think it would be fair for you to get highly applauded and given time off because you worked 80 hours this week. Life isn’t fair and neither is work. Learn it. Live it. Know it. If you get a “good job” for a job well done, you’re lucky. If you get a “thank you,” you’re even luckier. If your boss gives you time off to go snow-boarding or jump out of a perfectly good airplane, or whatever, you’re very, very lucky. Probably what will happen is you’ll get a nod, and everyone will get back to work. Your accomplishments won’t be celebrated. You aren’t going to get a parade. Live with it. The rest of us have been living with it all of our lives.

6. Manners, manners, manners
Behave yourself and remember your manners. A belch at dinner is not funny anymore. Shoving your way into an elevator before everyone is out is not acceptable. And so on. If you don’t know manners, buy one of the many great business etiquette books on the market.

Top 8 telephone Interview tips

2011-05-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

The following 8 quick telephone interview tips will help prepare yourself for a successful call.

1. DO SOME RESEARCH
Try to find out who will be interviewing you. Will there be multiple people on the call? If possible get their names and titles. Become familiar with these before the call and you will have one less thing to worry about during the call.

2. ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS
Make a list of your accomplishments, goals and strengths. On another list write out your weaknesses and what you are doing to overcome them. On a third sheet write down why you are interested in the company.

3. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Never forget that a telephone interview is still an interview. Take time to practice interview questions with friends or family. Ask them to provide honest feedback so you can improve your responses. Mock interview questions can easily be found on the internet or the bookstore.

4. DO A SOUND CHECK
During the mock interview, have your friend ask you questions both over the phone and in person. Make sure that he/she listens not only for content, but also tone, rate and clarity of your speech. If possible, record yourself speaking. Are you speaking slowly and clearly? Can you easily be heard?

5. FIND YOUR LOCATION
Stake out a quiet space to occupy during your interview. Ideally, there should be a comfortable place to sit as well as a table to lay out your papers.

6. ORGANIZE YOUR PAPERS
Have a copy of your resume and cover letter close at hand. Take out those lists you made while organizing your thoughts. In addition keep any notes related to the company that you feel may be helpful during the call.

7. GATHER YOUR WRITING TOOLS
Place a notepad and several pens or pencils on the table. These will be helpful in writing down notes, questions and most importantly, your interviewer's names

8. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS
As the appointed hour draws near, make sure that the television and the radio are turned off. Exit your email and turn off your computer screen. If possible, disable your call-waiting.

Career advancement tips

2011-04-30T01:47:00.000-07:00

Career advancement is a long term process and results in future development of an individual. Every individual at the start of their career is inexperienced but with the passage of time he gets more better and it is career advancement.

Go one step further

As a professional who wants to advance in his career, you must always be prepared to go an extra mile and do more than the minimum job requirement. This shows that you are enthusiastic and have the desire to learn and progress.

Take initiative

If you want to become successful, you have to be proactive and well prepared to take initiative rather than waiting to be asked to take care of a job.

Keep learning

Even when you have been in the professional field for months and years, you have to keep the learning process going, as there is always the need to update the existing skills that you possess and learning new to keep up with the rest.

Be innovative

Be creative and come up with new ideas and suggestions not only on specific projects, but also for the general benefit of the company.

Accept your mistakes

A successful professional is one who is ready to accept his mistakes and is able to learn from them. If you are stubborn and refuse to admit that you were wrong, there is no room left for growth and development.

Focus on long term goals

Career growth is all about long term goals so instead of focusing on what you are learning and gaining in the short term, pay attention to the long term benefits and gains.

Share your views

You must share your views and ideas in meetings to make a place for yourself. If you keep silent and are reluctant to share views, the seniors perceive you as a laid back person who is not interested in contributing to the team.

Invest in connections

Networking and making connections is the most important part of career growth as the more people you know in your field, the greater are the chances of your success.

Top career change ideas

2011-04-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

Top seven career change tips is mention below:

1. Forget Job Titles
Job titles really inhibit your thinking. If I asked you to list all the jobs you could think of, you might come up with a couple of hundred before you ran dry. In reality there are thousands of jobs out there that you would never identify under your own steam, so forget the job title and focus instead on the key themes that are important for you in a job.

2. List what you dont want to do
This is often quite easy to do if you are in a job you hate and it is a very useful exercise. It helps you focus on the aspects of a job that really drive you nuts and then also pick out those that are annoying in your current job but actually you would be prepared to put up with to some degree in a different situation.

3. List what you think you should want to do
What do you think your career should look like? What pressure are you putting on yourself to confirm to certain expectations. Just check with yourself whose rules you are following here. Who exactly says that your career must look like this?

4. List what you would do if anything were possible
Yes, you are allowed to take the brakes off here and create a big dream. Forget the constraints you put on yourself, wherever they come from.

5. List what you would do if you gave yourself permission to say that you want it
So often, we limit the possibilities in our lives because we just dont allow ourselves to want something. Maybe you want to earn lots of money but that seems too greedy. Maybe you want to have an easy, quiet job - but that seems too lazy. Maybe you want to set up your own business but you cant because you have to think about so many other people in your life first.

6. Reinvent yourself
If you could rewind the tape on your life and re-run it, what would you do? If you could dump all the stuff, the rules, the history that you have gathered on your journey through life to this point and travel light without the baggage, where would your journey take you? What would the new you look like and what work would this new person be doing?

7. Think big and think small
Your new career does not have to be something world changing and grand. If you want to change the world, great! Go ahead and build your new career around this big vision. But if you feel drawn to operating on a more local scale, thats fine too. Small changes can be just as transforming for your career and your life as big ones, so dont be fooled into thinking that bigger is necessarily better. Career change success is about finding what feels right for you.

Top Interview Tips

2011-04-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

The job interview is your chance to impress the interviewer with your skills and confidence.

Before the Interview

Review the job duties included in the Vacancy Notice.
Research the department.
Dress professionally. Don’t wear perfume or cologne.
Bring extra copies of your resume.
Bring a pen and paper to write down any information you might need to remember.
Prepare a few questions to ask the interviewer.
Prepare answers to any questions you think you might be asked (see sample questions below).

At the Interview

Arrive on time. Try to be a few minutes early if possible.
Try to relax. Be yourself.
Show self-confidence – make eye contact; answer questions in a clear voice.
Remember to listen.
Think before answering questions. Try to make your answers as clear as possible.
Avoid negative body language – crossing your arms, swinging your foot or leg, slouching, covering your mouth while speaking.
When given a chance, ask any questions that you have prepared in advance. You can also follow up on anything that the interviewer tells you during the interview.

After the Interview

End the interview with a handshake and thank the interviewer for his or her time.
Find out when the department plans to make a hiring decision.
Follow up with a short “thank you for the interview” note.

Top career advancement tips

2011-04-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

Every individual seeks advancement in their living especially when it comes to their career. Career advancement means the updation of an individual in regards to his particular skills and accomplishments. Career advancement is a long term process and results in future development of an individual. Every individual at the start of their career is inexperienced but with the passage of time he gets more better and it is career advancement.

Career advancement starts from the very first job you pursue, as you get more exposure towards work you are ready to face more challenges.

An individual must posses an established position in the work place, as it is one of the vital tools for advancement in career.

Have a chat with your boss regarding your performance and promotion in the company, this will let you know where you stand at your present work place.

People concerned about career advancement should always have ability to achieve higher learning goals, gaining knowledgeable skills and should be updated with the latest trend in the industry.

Be an effective listener as well as a clear communicator, as this will help an individual to influence others and achieve goals in his career.

If you additionally wish to work for some other department of your business let your employer know your desire to work for those as well along with your current business line. Proper action taken at right time helps an individual to achieve their goals.

Build a strong relation with your colleagues, as this will help you to know about your weaknesses and strengths at your work place.

Every firm seeks the best employee in the industry, and for being the best there should be abundant of innovative ideas and an intellectual thinking. So train your intellect for new ideas and innovations.

Also individuals with more experience and few skills have more chances for advancement, so learn from all your jobs. Each job will teach you something and the gain will be beneficial for your career advancement.

career change planning

2011-04-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

A career change is a move that should be thought of in all seriousness. Before making the decision, you need to find out if you're fit for a career change. Ask yourself these questions.

Are you finished soul searching?
Quitting "unprepared" will only lead to a disaster. Before you throw in the towel, look for industries that match your personal passions. And then find out whether these industries are actually hiring.

Can you consider yourself "better" than most job hunters?
Experience is not enough in today's job search. Figure out the skills that you need to be qualified for the new job that you want. Then try to attend as much seminars as you can. You might want to get a new degree too.

Is your network enough to get you moving?
We've always been saying that networking can do wonders in job search. When the going gets tough in your job hunting, your contacts will be the ones to keep your optimism intact as they can provide you first-hand job leads.

Lastly, are you prepared for the stress?
Chances are it has been a long time since you've been on a job hunt and the present situation of the job market may surprise you a bit. Always remember to look at things in a positive light and don't let your ego get in the way.

Career advancement Tips

2011-04-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of the top 10 tips you can use to advance your career:

Don't be afraid to say "I don't know."
If you don't know something, say so; don't try to fake it.

Take responsibility for your actions
If you're at fault, admit it and take the blame. If you're wrong, apologize.

Never gossip
Gossip can hurt the careers of two people the person being talked about, and the person doing the talking.

Never say "That's not my job."
Don't think you are above anything. Pitch in and set a good example, especially if the job is one that nobody else wants to do. Your willingness to do so will be noticed and appreciated!

Share the credit
People who share credit with others make a much better impression than those who take all the credit themselves.

Ask for help when you need it
Don't let a difficult task get out of hand. When you need help, ask for it -- before things get worse.

Keep your dislike to yourself
If you don't like someone, don't let it show. Never burn bridges or offend others as you move ahead in your career.

Don't hold grudges
Life isn't always fair. If you were passed over for promotion, didn't get the project you wanted, etc., let it go. Be gracious and diplomatic, focus on the future and move on. Harboring grudges won't advance your career.

Be humble
When you're right, don't gloat about it. Never say "I told you so!"

Make others feel important
Compliment others, emphasize their strengths and contributions, and help them whenever you can. They will enthusiasitcally help you in return.

10 Tips on Career Advancement

2011-04-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

Many career experts agree that the best time to look for a new job is whileyou are still comfortably in your old one. If you’re starting to feel unchallenged in your present position, you may be ready for a promotion to the next level. If there aren’t many career advancement opportunities where you work, the best next job may be waiting for you elsewhere.
Here are 10 proven strategies to help you get started:

Talk to your boss
Sit down and have a very direct and pointed conversation with your boss about your future in the company. Stress that you want your job performance to meet the company’s goals. Share your own career goals with him or her.

Ask for more
Volunteering to help out other departments or teams — or simply asking for more responsibilities — increases your value within the organization. Asking for additional work shows an interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed.

Volunteer for boards
If you have your career set on something beyond what you are doing in your present position, seek out opportunities to volunteer or serve on advisory boards, where you can build a reputation as someone who is passionate and dedicated to your particular industry.

Sharpen your people skills
Strong interpersonal skills play a crucial role in gaining the respect of your boss and coworkers; they will also attract the notice of outside influencers who might open new doors of opportunity for you.

Be innovative
Never be afraid to think outside of the box and put your business acumen to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you — and your boss — look good.

Find a mentor
Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside the company. Recent studies have shown that four out of five promotions are influenced by a mentor higher up in the company.

Sell yourself
Learn the fine art of self-promotion. If you have had major accomplishments or created successful programs, make sure people know about it — especially those in influential positions who could help you advance professionally.

Keep learning
A proven way to advance in your career is to be continually acquiring new knowledge. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current résumé reflects those needed skills.

Network
Strengthen your personal network and join professional organizations, attend industry conferences, or even volunteer. The more people who are aware of your strengths and abilities, the better your chances of hearing about any new opportunities that might arise.

Build your reputation
In business, your reputation is the most valuable thing you own. Be known for being dependable, professional, and cooperative. Act and look the part by dressing professionally. Make a name for yourself by attending conferences, delivering speeches, or writing articles.

Tips to making a career change

2011-04-12T00:29:00.000-07:00

Career Change
Most often we get so frustrated with the routine of what we do daily, and want to quit the job. When you stop enjoy what you daily and it start feeling like punishment and no longer pleasurable, then it looks like you would need a change of profession. Don’t be in a hurry to take this decision; you need time to properly evaluate the situation.

Why Do I Want To Change My Career?
You need to be plain about the answer you give to this question because it would determine a lot. You need to ask yourself. What is the cogent reason I would want to do something else from what I am doing currently.

Do I Really Want A Career Change?
you have to think about this very well, because making a total turn around is going to cost you, hope you know that? So you have to be sure that you really want to change.

What Kind Of Job Would I Be Happy Doing?
Determine the kind of work you would like to do, if eventually you end up changing your career.

What Are My Marketable Skills And Capabilities?
write down all your skills, both interpersonal and organizational skills, and evaluate this and determine if they fit into the new career path that you are opting for.

Top 4 Career change tips

2011-04-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

Mainly career change tips is mention below:

New Job vs. Career Change

First, ask yourself if your job blues revolve around external situations at your current workplace or an overall dislike of your profession. There are many reasons for job dissatisfaction that do not necessarily warrant a career change

Choosing a New Career
If you’ve come to the conclusion that a career makeover is in order, not just a new job, you are not alone. If you’re not sure exactly where your heart is leading you there are many resources that can help take the guesswork out of career change.

Smooth Career Transitioning

The thoughtful approach is to test the waters before diving headfirst into a new career. Volunteer, moonlight, work weekends – get some exposure to your new calling before taking the plunge.

Small Steps Toward Career Fulfillment

Inertia might be the biggest stumbling block to those longing to change careers. It’s all too easy to stay with the status quo, especially if your situation doesn't fall into the "completely intolerable" category yet.

5 Tips to Secure Your Career Future

2011-04-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

Whether you want to get ahead in your current career, change careers completely, or you’re worried about job security and want to plan for a more secure future.

Plan ahead

Set out a training and development plan for the next 6 or 12 months. What skills do you want to improve? What do you want to be able to put in your CV by the end of the year.

Set some big goals

You will tend to overestimate what you can do in a single day, and underestimate what you can do in 6 months. Set yourself some big targets to achieve and you will push harder to achieve them.

Don’t put money first

A bigger salary may be attractive but don’t forget that the people you will be working with, the companies values, the management and the role are all also important.

Do more of what you enjoy

Work out what motivates you and try to do more of that. Seek out opportunities to do more of what motivates you in your current job and increase your skills and experience in this areas.

Update and polish your CV

Make sure your CV is up to date and have lots of information available so that you can target your CV to any opportunity that comes up.

Interview Preparation & Rules

2011-03-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

Interview Preparation Tips
Communication Skills: while communicating with interviewer you must be confident , making eye contact, firm handshake.
Confidence: As confidence is the key to cross every barrier of life.

Listen: Before the interview your interviewer give information, you must hear it carefully, otherwise you may lose some important points.

Dress Properly: your dress makes the first impression, so be wear some formal clothes or a business suit.

Use Proper Language: Use proper professional language during the interview. Don't use any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics or sexual orientation.

Talk up to the point: Telling the interviewer more than he want to know could be a fatal mistake. Answer only those question what he asked, reply up to point.

Interview Rules
Puntuality: Be on time for your interview. If possible reach the venue 15 to 20 min before the schedule time.

Research: Research about the company before going for interview. You must know about the services, work culture, clients, domains ,products, customes, about CEO of company etc.
Enthusiasm: when you enter in the room, handshake with the interviewer and eye contact describe your confidence.

Prepared: Bring all the copies of your certificates, extra copies of your resume. You should also have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview.

7-Top Interview Tips

2011-03-27T22:10:00.000-07:00

1: Plan Ahead

Do a little homework! Research the company and the position if possible, as well, the people you will meet with at the interview.

2: Role Play

Once you have finished studying, begin role playing. Use the general questions provided below in the Interview Preparation Area. Write down answers if it helps to make your presentation more concise.

3: Eye Contact

Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Show you want the job with your interest.

4: Be Positive

In particular, avoid negative comments about past employers.

5: Adapt

Listen and adapt. Be sensitive to the style of the interviewer. Pay attention to those details of dress, office furniture, and general decor which will afford helpful clues to assist you in tailoring your presentation.

6: Relate

Try to relate your answers to the interviewer and his or her company.

7: Encourage

Encourage the interviewer to share information about his or her company. Demonstrate your interest.

10 steps plan to career changes

2011-03-24T02:21:00.000-07:00

1: Assessment of Likes and Dislikes

Many people change their careers because they dislike job and company. So, identifying the dislikes is often the easier part of this step; however, you will not know what direction to change your career unless you examine your likes.

2: Researching New Careers

Once you've discovered your passion, spend some time researching the types of careers that center around your passions. Don't worry if you're feeling a bit unsure or insecure -- it's a natural part of the career change process.

3: Transferable Skills

Leverage some of your current skills and experiences to your new career. There are many skills that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your new career. You may be surprised to see that you already have a solid amount of experience for your new career.

4: Training and Education

You may find it necessary to update your skills and broaden your knowledge. Take it slowly. If the skill you need to learn is one you could use in your current job, see if your current employer would be willing to pick up the tab.

5: Networking

One of the real keys to successfully changing careers will be your networking abilities. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to others so that you can expand your network.

6: Gaining Experience

Remember that you are starting your career again from square one. Obtaining a part-time job or volunteering in your new career field not only can solidify your decision, but give you much needed experience in your new career.

7: Find a Mentor

Changing careers is a major life decision that can get overwhelming at times. Find a mentor who can help you through the rough patches. Your mentor may also be able to help you by taking advantage of his or her network.

8: Changing In or Out

Some people change careers, but never change employers. Unfortunately, only the very progressive employers recognize that once happy employees can be happy and productive again - in a different capacity. It's more than likely that you will need to switch employers to change fields, but don't overlook your current employer.

9: Job-Hunting Basics

If it's been a while since you've had to use your job-hunting tools and skills, now is the time for a refresher course.

10: Be Flexible

You'll need to be flexible about nearly everything - from your employment status to relocation and salary. Set positive goals for yourself, but expect setbacks and change - and don't let these things get you down.

Top 10 Interview Tips

2011-03-22T02:47:00.000-07:00

1. Prepare and over-prepare

Preparation should be done in such a way that you have thorough knowledge of the organization plus you should be able to answer all questions regarding the position related to that interview.

2. If you don’t know admit it

If at anytime during the interview you are faced with a dilemma of not knowing something then don’t hesitate in admitting the same. You could also ask the recruiter to rephrase the question for you again and yet if you remain unsure of your reply you will be better of admitting that you do not know the answer. After all not everyone is a genius to know every answer.

3. Make sure your responses match your claims

It is quite common that you could have had some kind of on job training during your previous job, or you could have taken extra coursework to qualify for a particular position. Your resume would reflect that surely and the license or certification will be there as well. While speaking about such a qualification do not overstate the facts but just subtly build upon it as your strength.

4. Speak about your strengths with confidence

The interviewers will certainly discuss with you about your weaknesses & strengths. Thus it is of great importance that you not only know about your strengths but are also able to emphasize such strengths that can have an impact on the job you have applied for. Do not rush through at all as this is your chance to create a massive impression.

5. How best to describe your weakness as strengths

This is tricky, so let's think about why the question is asked. The interviewer probably wants to learn several things about you with this question, such as: whether or not you are arrogant ("I really don't think I have any weaknesses"), whether you know yourself ("Well, I've never really thought about that"), and finally, what you are doing to eliminate your weaknesses.

6. Speak Softly

During your interview you must approach a conversation or answer by speaking slowly and softly than you usually do. If you are heard well means your words are getting across clearly.

7. Speak about your aim and display enthusiasm

The exact response depends upon the specifics of your job hunting campaign, but the principle is: be specific while allowing yourself the flexibility which suggests that you understand the complexities of the business you're applying for.

8. Be Friendly

You might be very cordial and exceptionally bright but if you cannot gel with the others as a team then you might become a loner. Also during the interview do not attempt to get to friendly with the interviewer; he might want you to leave in a hurry.

9. You would like to interview the interviewer

Some unknown conditions might warrant a few applicants to settle for anything offered then they aren’t going to get the best jobs either. Good and foresighted interviewers shall respect your knowledge about the organization and the prized attached to such a job.

10. End on a positive note.

In case of the interview not turning out to be the way you planned it, leave the place on a positive note. Convey your thanks to the panel & that you look forward to hearing from them soon. Another positive thing you can say that its was a challenging but rewarding day. Make eye contact panel members and shake hands as well. This will create a good impression against if you leave without saying a word.

11 job search tips for 2011

2011-03-17T03:26:00.000-07:00

1. Narrow your search. Stop applying to jobs that you're not qualified for or don't really want. It's a waste of time. Be truthful with yourself when evaluating job postings. If you had to begin the job tomorrow, do you have all the skills you'd need to succeed? Or are there areas of the job description that you don't have experience in? While it's always great to be willing to learn, most companies want to hire someone who can jump right in and get started without being trained from scratch. Focus your time on creating great applications for jobs you are well qualified for instead.

2. Know exactly what you want. Narrowing down your job hunt may force you to ask yourself tough questions like: What kind of job am I actually after? And, what skills can I offer an employer? If you're unsure of the answer, make one list of the job skills you excel at and one of the skills you like to use most. Use these skills as search terms in your job search.

3. Reevaluate your skill set. If you feel like you've looked at each job posting on earth and you still can't find one your skills match up with, then it's time to get some latest skills. The good information for those who are unemployed is that it's the perfect opportunity to go back to school. You won't have to divide your time with your job obligations, and there's also the possibility that the economy will have recovered a bit by the time you graduate school -- giving you a double leg up. There are even government funding and programs available for out-of-work job-seekers that want to enroll in training or continue their education.

4. Set goals. Yes, your overall aim may be to get a job, but setting short-term, specific job search goals for the year will help you grow and force you to continuously evaluate your progress. Develop your networking skills, for example, by making January's goal to join a professional organization and February's to attend a college alumni event. Holding yourself accountable for achieving these goals will boost your self-esteem and motivate you to continue searching by providing you with new leads and information.

5. Try something new. If you're stuck in a job search rut, add a fresh strategy to your repertoire. Instead of only job searching online, try working with a recruiter and setting up informational interviews with industry contacts, too. A multi-faceted approach will get the best results.

6. Get a leg up on the competition. If you come across a job that seems just right for you, do something that will subtly help you stand out from the crowd. When you find a job posting you want to apply to, find out the name of the hiring manager or someone who works in the same area, and send the person an e-mail directly. It's 2011, which means almost anything can be found online, including names and e-mail addresses. A LinkedIn search on the company should turn up a list of workers and their titles, from which you can select the most appropriate person. Then, search the company website or press releases for the company's e-mail format.

7. Get a hold of your online reputation: When an HR manager searches your name online (and they will do it) you can either take control what they see, or you can leave it to the powers of the crawl search gods. Search results that are professional, consistent and that establish you as an expert in your area will be far more impressive than Facebook pictures from Thanksgiving. Things like a Facebook or LinkedIn profile and a Twitter feed will all show up on the first page, so signing up for these sites and populating the accounts with up-to-date, professional content will make a great impression.

8. Start a website: If you want to take your Internet presence one step further, starting a website will showcase your skillfulness and talents in a thorough and interesting way, and it'll add to your professionalism and provide you credibility. Plus

9. Stay current: You should always be in the loop, even if you're out of work. Read trade publications, comment on industry blogs, and stay on top of any emerging technologies or policies that may impact your profession path. This will not only help you have a great conversation with an interviewer and keep your professional edge, but it may also give you latest ideas about where and how to look for a job.

10. Sell yourself: An interview is no time for modesty, particularly in times like these. When you land an interview, go prepared with at least five examples that demonstrate your best qualities. That way, when an interviewer asks, "Why should I hire you," you can speak about how you're such a quick learner that you taught yourself Photoshop in a week and how your entrepreneurial spirit lead you to start your first lawn-mowing business at age 16. Be sure to leave the interviewer with the phone numbers of references who will back you up with glowing recommendations.

11. Keep that glass half-full approach, all year: A job search will always have its frustrating moments, because things don't always happen when or how we want them to happen. But instead of letting setbacks ruin motivation, take them as lessons. Your lack of interviews may mean it's time to re-evaluate your career path or skillfulness, which could lead you to a more fulfilling profession. This type of positive attitude will be much more productive in helping you find your next job.

Tips for dressing for the job interview

2011-02-22T03:11:00.001-08:00

Do your homework.

Yes, dressing for the interview requires you to research the boss. If you are applying for a job with a young, trendy boutique, dress in a way that the interviewer can envision you in their shop servicing their clientele.

Stylish is better than funky.

Employers want to see that you will fit in with their business. However, be warned - stylish is better than funky. Too much "trend" can scare a potential employer away. Fine taste is more valuable than how avante-garde you can be. This is not the time to experiment. For the guys, the same rules apply.

Clean goes a long way.

Clean, pressed khakis or costume pants are preferred. Clean, appropriate shoes and accessories are essential (use a tie if it matches the employer's profile). No T-shirts with political satire, obscene graphics or logos.

Accessories.

Be frugal with jewelry - less is more. If your jewelry jingles, makes noise or can get caught on any of your clothes, leave it at home.

Keep your grooming simple.

Hair should be clean and neat, and nails clean and well manicured. Chipped nail polish will not make a fine impression. The applicant should look like they cared enough to shower. Go light on makeup. Heavy eye makeup or lipstick is a no-no.

Go easy on the perfume and aftershave.

There is nothing worse than causing your interviewer to have an allergic reaction.

Shoes need to be clean and in good shape.

No sandals of any kind - no matter where you live

Color is important.

Dressing for the interview also requires that you choose colors carefully.

"Color as part of your interview strategy is extremely main since it is a useful tool in conveying a powerful message - that said, make sure you're sending the right message,"

"Wear" confidence.

"Confidence comes from knowing who you are and what your values are, and most importantly being comfortable with them - whether or not you get the job," Your stage of confidence really does come across in an interview, so don't forget to come prepared and show it.

9 great interview tips

2011-02-14T22:57:00.000-08:00

1. "Do your study. There's nothing worse than walking into an interview without knowing about the company. You should be able to clearly articulate why you're interested in that particular company and that particular position. Check the company's site, search for current news items featuring the company, read the company's blog and look for their Twitter or Facebook page."

2. "Know yourself. You need to be prepared for all sorts of questions about yourself, including your past experience, education, knowledge, skills, strengths, weaknesses, preferences and personal traits. Figure out how these things align with the needs of the employer."

3. "Prepare questions in advance. When an employer asks ‘Do you have any questions?' always ask questions. It shows you're enthusiastic and interested in working for the company."

4. "Practice, practice, practice! Visit Career Services for a mock interview, where we simulate the actual interview experience and provide you with feedback afterward. This is a great way to ease your nerves and boost your self-confidence before a true interview."

5. "Dress for winner. Any time you meet with a potential employer formally (through an information session, workshop you attend or a career fair) or informally (through a family friend or for a casual informational interview), always dress and conduct yourself in a professional manner."

6. "Before you arrive, put the mobile phone away, change your shoes and attire if necessary and put away your water bottle miles away. You never know who you can run into."

7. "Shake his or her hand and look him or her in the eye, even if you're nervous. No one expects perfection, just professionalism. Nonverbal cues are just as important as what you tell."

8. "Have extra copies of your resume with you."

9. "Always, always send a follow-up ‘thank you,' either as a card or e-mail. Follow-through is a main transferable skill to exhibit."

Interview tips: Preparation is job No. 1

2011-02-14T03:02:00.000-08:00

Customize your resume to highlight the skills you have for the position you are seeking. Study information on the company, look at the products they sell or the services they provide. Find out what makes that company different.

Be prepared to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." It's your opportunity to connect to the position. Speak about earlier work experiences that relate to the job to which you are applying. Summarize your experience in two or three sentences.

Be ready to describe a hard work situation and how you handled it. These types of questions can be intimidating, but display your adaptability and analytical skills to the company. Describe the situation or task, the action you took and the results.

Be prepared to talk about your weaknesses. When an interviewer asks for your weaknesses, be honest, but turn the negatives into positives. Tell them something that was a weakness but you overcame. For example, you were terrible with Excel and then took a community college course on the program.

Never say anything negative about your earlier employer. Statements such as "My visions were special than the company's" or "There wasn't room for growth" are acceptable answers. Another sensitive topic may be compensation. Research the salary for the position, but it's OK to ask for the range if the information is not shared up front.

Bring in questions for when the manager asks, "Do you have any questions for me?" If you do not ask any questions, the interviewer may think that you are uninterested in the position.

Thank you notes show your appreciation for the interviewer's time and consideration.

Show enthusiasm "An interviewer can tell when you are interested in the position

Ten Tips for Career Changers

2011-02-09T02:33:00.000-08:00

1. Understand what’s behind your desire to make a change.

Maybe you are starting to become disillusioned with your job. You’re bogged down. Perhaps you’re no longer on the way up. This is the time to step back and start to think about life more broadly. But be warned, career changers can go into mourning. All of a sudden, you realize how you miss their old career, and you’re not really open to replacing those things.

2. Get your life in order.

Get physically and financially fit. Change is stressful. When you’re physically fit, you have more power and are mentally sharper to face the challenges ahead. Starting a fresh career later in life takes an incredible amount of strength and energy.

3. Be practical.

If possible, make your move in stages. You may need to upgrade your skills and education, but take one class at a time. If you’d like to go to graduate school, maybe start by taking a night classes. You don’t have to enroll in a full-course load. You can include more classes as your direction and motivation become clear.

4. Find a mentor.

Ask for help. Seek advice from people who have been winning in the field you are interested in switching into from the start. Everybody likes to be asked for counsel.

5. Be prepared for setbacks.

It’s not all-smooth sailing, but if you’ve laid the correct groundwork, you’ll get through the rough patches. Having your family or partner at your back for support will help tremendously. They don’t have to own your dream, but be supportive.

6. Volunteer or moonlight.

You might try on several jobs before you find the one that’s correct. Anne Nolan, executive director of Crossroads Rhode Island, the state’s biggest homeless shelter, started as a volunteer. She didn’t know what she wanted to do when she lost her executive-level career. She had a year’s salary and time to think her options through. She decided to volunteer at the shelter–not because she dreamed it would turn into a full-time job.

7. Research. Look for jobs that leverage experience.

Check out job web sites like encore.org, retiredbrains.com, workforce50.com, to get a flavor for what others are doing and what jobs are out there at the present. Investigate fields like healthcare, the clergy, eldercare and education that have a growing demand for employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good reference.

8. Don’t lock yourself into a must-have salary.

Salary is the biggest roadblock for most career changers. Chances are when you start-over in a new field or move to a nonprofit, you will need to take a salary cut at least primarily. If you have an emergency fund to buy you time, you can to do a more thoughtful job hunt. Pare back your discretionary living expenses to reflect a more realistic view of what you’ll earn. What are the things that are main in your life? What things are actively giving you pleasure that you might have to give up?

9. Keep your hand out of the cookie jar.

Don’t dip too deep into your core savings. Of all the mistakes older employees make in launching second careers, this is probably the bad. Would-be entrepreneurs aren’t necessarily raiding retirement accounts to launch businesses, but they’re tapping home equity and other savings, and that has obvious implications for retirement safety.

10. Do something every day to work toward your goal.

Changing careers can appear overwhelming. Don’t struggle to find an ideal initial point or perfect path, is great advice I gleaned from Clearways Consulting career coach Beverly Jones, a second-acter herself. Once you have some picture of where you want to go, get things moving by taking small steps toward that vision. What really matters is that you do a little something on a regular basis.

Quick job hunting tips

2011-02-07T01:45:00.000-08:00

Networking is the greatest way to find jobs. Talk to family, friends and acquaintances, attend job fairs or business events, use the Web or volunteer.

Research workplaces. At least know their history and mission before the job interview.

Be specific when listing technical skills on resume. Don't say, "I have computer skills"; write, "I am proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel."

Make sure resumes and cover letters have no mistakes. Ask three to four other people to review them for errors and clearness.

Don't send the same cover letter and resume to each company, and don't list every skill or past job. Tailor the resume to showcase which of your talents and skills fit the job description. For manufacturing jobs, for instance, highlight machining abilities and training. For consumer service, focus on social skills and experience.

Ask one to three question during the interview. Also ask when you may expect to hear back from the employer.

Send the interviewer a hand-written thank-you note by the day after the interview. If the interviewer is hours away and a hand-written note isn't possible, send a mail.

Put contact details on the cover letter and include that you'll follow up in one week.

10 tips for boosting your career in 2011

2011-01-28T04:17:00.000-08:00

1. Look out for number 1

Take responsibility for your own career growth. Many big organizations have scaled back on training and development a regular outcome of the economic downturn and small companies can rarely provide significant support.

2: Be strategic

Have a long-term career strategy, or at the very least, a sense of where you’re headed. Ask yourself, “What do I actually want to do?” or “Where do I see myself in 5 to 10 years?” Seek people in similar roles and ask for their advice.

3: Work in step with your company’s goals

Connect the dots from your role to your company’s vision and key objectives. How does your work align with the organization’s aims? What can you do to maximize your contributions?

4: Be customer centric

Whether your clients are internal or external, know their wants and needs and be fervent about meeting them. Bring the voice of the customer into your day-to-day job and let it enhance your decisions and deliverables.

5: Collaborate

Working with and through others is requisite to innovating, creating, and producing business results. Adopt a mindset for teaming and collaborating and put it into every day practice.

6: Hone your communication skills

Communication skills can make or break careers. Pick one part that needs your attention considering skills such as listening, presenting, influencing, persuading, or distilling messages and commit to development. Take a class, practice with a trusted friend or colleague, or join a group such as Toastmasters.

7: Cross over functionally

Many winning executives have risen through the ranks by taking cross-functional roles, such as moving from finance to sales or from marketing to IT. Follow their lead and you can develop your skills, your network, and your political capital.

8: Expand your experience

Volunteer for special projects or assignments that are outside your daily role. Discuss your aims with your boss, an HR representative, or a senior leader and ask for help in finding opportunities to broaden your experience base.

9: Find a guide

Mentors can serve as influential role models and provide important guidance for your career. Reach out to a potential mentor within your company or industry and see if he or she would be open to mentoring you for a particular purpose and timeframe.

10: Network now

The best time to raise your network is today. Starting at the present, get involved in groups such as professional associations, charitable organizations, or even sports leagues. Step into leadership roles and make your expertise known.

10 tips to improve your interview skills

2011-01-21T04:41:00.000-08:00

1. Know the job, and know the company. "If I've got a place open for a nuclear engineer," told Laura Paddock, talent acquisition manager at TVA, "do they understand that I'm a utility. Do they understand what TVA does? We're always surprised to hear public say, 'I don't know a lot about you, other than that you make electricity.' "

2. Be willing to do what it takes. Brad Pope, vice president of human resources at Memorial Health Care System, told knowing that a candidate has the willingness to do the job for which he or she is interviewing is the No. 1 thing he looks for during a conference.

3. Be on time. Or early. And if you're kept waiting, be gracious about it. "We've had candidates who have complained," told Kathy Reid-Papson, talent acquisition manager at BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee.

4. Be honest about your experience. "Don't lie, either on your resume or during the interview," Paddock said. "Don't oversell yourself." Speak accurately to the roles you had in previous jobs.

5. Turn off the cell phone, or better yet, leave it in the car. You want to focus on the interview, not on what is ringing or vibrating in your pocket.

6. Address the interviewer by the right name. "It seems like many candidates don't go to the trouble, when setting up an interview, of listening to hear with whom they'll be speaking," told Reid-Papson. "Maybe it's one person, maybe it's three, but they need to know who they are and what their titles are, so ask that when the interview is being set up."

7. Look and act the part. Be professional in dress and demeanor. "Can they articulate?" said Paddock. "Do they provide professional responses, regardless of the position?"

8. Don't talk to the interviewer about your personal problems. "If a person's looking for a job, obviously they need and want to work," told Reid-Papson. "But if they start getting into too many details about not liking their former boss or their husband doesn't want them to go to work, anything that's personal can become a turnoff pretty fast."

9. Don't ask about salary out of the gate. "That's a bit of a red flag," said Paddock, "because it sends the message that the person is only interested in the salary and not in the bigger picture."

10. Be specific. Employers are interested in hearing examples of your successes and failures. Rather than just saying, "Yes, I have management skills," tell the recruiter about a project you led and what you learned.

3 Tips for better job-searching

2011-01-19T03:44:00.000-08:00

Move away from the traditional resume.

You were taught in college to create a resume out of a Microsoft Word document. Times have changed, and you need to create a virtual resume instead. First, complete your LinkedIn profile by filling out each field and asking for recommendations. Then, turn your profile into a resume by going to www.resume.linkedinlabs.com.

Brush up on your soft skills.

A fresh Kelly Services research study of 100,000 people identified verbal communication as the most important skill for professionals. I also recommend having a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, problem-solving skills, team building skills and the ability to be flexible in work environments.

Network online — the right way.

Using social networks to get a job is a great idea only if you invest time in connecting with the right people instead of updating your status with the final meal you ate. Forty-four percent of people said that they unfollow in Twitter because they get too many updates, a SmartBrief.com report told.

Here are five tips to refresh your job hunt

2011-01-12T01:16:00.000-08:00

• Reconsider the chronological resume. Using a format that highlights skills instead of employment history may be more productive

• Invest in latest packaging. Look outside the particular industry or field you’ve focused on. It’s possible the skills that make marketable in that field can be transferred to another

• Switch up your networking. Look for different groups to join and fresh ways to meet people outside your usual circle

• Get a second opinion. Ask a friend with good professional judgment to give you comment on your interview performance and have a recruiter or friend give you ideas for your resume and

• Expand your reach. If you can’t find what you’re looking for locally, explore options outside your present city.

Job Hunting Tips For The New Year

2011-01-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

•Narrow your search. You are wasting your time applying for jobs that you're not qualified for or don't truly want. Instead, focus on the jobs you're well-qualified for.

•Do something to stand out from the competition. If you come across a job you want, send the hiring manager an email directly. Chances are the data can be found online.

•Check out your online reputation. That HR manager will. Better you take control of what the search of your name will bring up before that happens.

•It may help to start a Websites. It's a fine way to showcase your skills and talents. Websites aren't as expensive or difficult as you might think.

•Stay current. Keep in touch with what is going on within your industry. It may help you when that job interview comes.

5 smartphone tips for job hunting

2011-01-03T05:18:00.001-08:00

1. Launch your Facebook app and remove damaging images of yourself. If you don't consider this is necessary, guess what — it is. Recruiters are getting savvier, and Google and Facebook searches are becoming the norm, so get embarrassing pics out of your photo album. Oh, and don't forget to parse pictures that your friends have tagged of you. (Your pics might be pristine, but you know some doofus uploaded that image of you and your ex doing body shots last month.) If your app doesn't support that, try it in your cell phone browser, or leave yourself an audio note, email or other reminder to do it when you're at your desktop, so you don't forget.

2. Access Linked In via an app or browser and accept EVERYONE (well, maybe not that high school chum with the criminal record and school listing of "Graduate of F.U.!" Yeah, him you can leave off). This will widen your networking pool, which is accurately what you want when job searching. And don't forget to message earlier supervisors and ask if they'll write you online recommendations. If you're actually into the Linked In thing, then joining industry groups for your desired field is also another way of connecting with new contacts and potential employers.

3. Keep a copy of your resume and a cover letter on hand — like in an app like DropBox, for example. I'm a big fan of DropBox, since there are Android, iPhone and BlackBerry apps for this, in addition to desktop and online access to free accounts. All that stays in sync, so there's no worry over sending the wrong version, no issue which you use. Of course, it's better to tailor each cover letter for the particular opening — not to mention that typos are notorious on handsets — but if you happen to come upon an opportunity that needs urgent response (and you're nowhere near your computer), at least you'll be prepared.

4. Keep your own professional contact info in your own addressbook (complete with URL to your online resume). I've actually had amazing conversations with people at parties, social outings and random venues that lead to incredible opportunities. With your own info on hand, you can mail it to the contact on the spot, or better yet — if they're carting around the Bump iPhone or Android application, you can knock devices to share your 411, all while looking like a savvy, hip, techno-forward professional they'd just love to have.

5. Use job search apps. In truth, some are excellent, some aren't. You'll have to do a little research to see which offer the best opportunities in your area. Generally speaking, for the iPhone, there's Monster.com's app. For Android users, there's Job Search. Both are must-haves on any job seeker's device, but feel free to bookmark the online classifieds in your cell phone browser of choice as well.

Tips for Quality Teamwork

2010-12-31T02:08:00.000-08:00

Team work is a significant for an organization or company. It is essential to have effective task and logical end. Teamwork is the cornerstone that can either make or break your department. As per Bill Bethel words: A successful team is a group of many hands but of one mind. Tips to get out the best work in team.

Effective communication: The communication between the team members should be free flowing, well channelized and directed towards achievement of project success.

Efficient assignment: Assigning responsibilities is as important as ensuring it is fulfilled perfectly. Therefore, it is essential to assign work as per the capability of team members.

Common goals: The focus clearly is attainment of common goals. Therefore, it is vital to set aside personal points of view, be aware of organizational goals and work towards achieving targets together.
Respect: To work in coordination, it is essential to understand and respect others in the team.

Trust: A term vital for any relationship also applies to a team-oriented environment. Team secrets, details of new projects or any new development within the team shouldn’t be divulged unless it is in the interest of the organization.

Site a good example: Each team member, through his work, should set an example for others to follow.

Four New Year's Resolutions to Fast Track Your Career

2010-12-31T01:54:00.000-08:00

1. Upgrade your autonomy.

Specialists in the uber-trendy field of positive psychology have identified the #1 barrier to your happiness (the cultivation of which is surely a valuable New Year's goal). The culprit? Lack of autonomy (as anyone with a micromanaging boss can tell you). This current year, find ways to flex your mojo by choosing, to the extent possible, when and how to do your work. Two excellent strategies are lobbying for more flexibility in your list (as with Best Buy's "Results Only Work Environment"), or, at minimum, aiming to reduce the number of soul-sucking meetings you're subjected to (check out these tips for reasons to call off meetings and some positive alternatives you can suggest).

2. Take more lunches.

Networking maven Keith Ferrazzi famously instructed us to "Never Eat Alone" (the title of his excellent 2005 book) as a method to build connections. The advice becomes even more urgent, however, when coupled with research from Stanford University business school professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, who investigates how executives cultivate power. As he notes in a latest Harvard Business Review blog, "If you're in a position to bring together unrelated groups of individuals who benefit from being in contact with each other, that's a form of power." In short, the path to success is becoming a "broker" who fills holes, transmits information and cultivates connections.

3. Lose weight.

You didn't think I'd leave off this perennial favorite, did you? Unfortunately, this advice applies only to the ladies out there, as you'll see in this Wall Street Journal piece. For male execs, corpulence correlates with high pay up to the point of obesity, when their salaries begin getting docked. For women, shedding pounds can be lucrative: if you weigh 25 pounds below average, you'll bring in over $15,500 more than your "normal" peers and nearly $30,000 more than overweight women. (I'm officially noting my socio-political revulsion, but I'm sure the researchers are correct.)

4. Spend more time with your family.

And alas, this one's just for the gents. This interesting Harvard Magazine profile of Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy discusses her study into perceived warmth and competence on the work. Mothers, it turns out, are seen as nicer and less competent in the workplace, Cuddy reports, while "fathers experience the 'fatherhood bonus.' They're viewed as nicer than men without kids, but similarly, if not more, competent. They're seen as heroic: a breadwinner who goes to his kid's soccer game once in a while." So dads: time to hit the stands and begin cheering.

Tips to Boost your Interview Skills

2010-12-29T23:39:00.001-08:00

Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these strategies to enhance your interview skills.

Practice Good Nonverbal Communication:

It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a good, firm handshake. That first nonverbal impression can be a great beginning -- or quick ending -- to your interview.

Dress for the Job or Company:

Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as "they" do when you interview. It is important to look professional and well-groomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking. If possible, call to find out about the company dress code before the interview.

Listen:

From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your interviewer, and match that style and pace.

Don't Be Too Familiar:

The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.

Don't Be Cocky:

Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism and modesty. Even if you're putting on a performance to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not worse, as being too reserved.

Take Care to Answer the Questions:

When an interviewer asks for an example of a time when you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don't answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.

Ask Questions:

When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, "No." Wrong answer. Part of knowing how to interview is being ready to ask questions to demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company. Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. The best questions come from listening to what you're asked during the interview and asking for additional information.

Don't Appear Desperate:

When you interview with the "please, please hire me" approach; you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three C's during the interview: cool, calm and confident. You know you can do the job; make sure the interviewer believes you can, too.

Job Hunting Tips for your New Years Resolutions - Reactive Search

2010-12-29T05:57:00.000-08:00

Tip #1 - Know what you want and where to look.
Before starting to look, do a good assessment of your preferences and priorities. Know what you are looking for and where you won't go. It is better to begin by identifying your bull's eye job and expand from there than to apply for anything and everything you find online. If you know you and your significant other have no intention to move to Iowa, don't begin applying for jobs there. If you know that you would prefer to work in marketing or PR, don't start applying for jobs in logistics. More times than not, you might get these jobs, only to be left having to launch another job search after you confirm what you already knew (i.e. you don't like to live in Iowa or like working in logistics). Being able to articulate your preferences will also be invaluable to keep your supporters and network updated about what you like and how they can help you. Also, know that hiring managers are busy and want to make sure that they get the most bang for their buck. Therefore, they will avoid big job boards and instead will advertise their jobs on industry-specific job boards. For more information about responsible job boards, see my earlier post on where to find job postings in Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Enterprises, and Non-Profit Management.

Tip #2 - Focus on quality over quantity.
Hiring managers are too busy to parse out what on your resume is most relevant to the work you are applying for. Furthermore, many times, your application will not be reviewed by a hiring manager right away. Instead, it will be scanned by a software programmed to assess whether 60-80% match in words appear between your resume and the job posting. If you do not meet that requirement, your resume will be discarded even before any human being has a chance to evaluate your credentials. Therefore, when applying for jobs, make sure that your tailor your resume (and cover letter) to highlight your most relevant qualifications and education using when possible the same terms as those provided in the job description. Of course, you need to remain truthful and accurate about your experience and education. The more you can highlight how close your profile is to the ideal candidate described in the job posting, the higher your chances to get the interview.

Tip #3 - Be pleasantly persistent.
Applying for the job online is only the initial step in converting your application into an interview. Within 10 days of your application, I would recommend that you conduct informational interviews with people who work at the organization to learn more about the organization's culture. Learn as much as you can online, and then connect with friends of friends, friends of mentors, or alumni from your alma mater who work in the organization. Tell them about what you have learned online that make you interested about the organization, and ask them about their experiences at the organization. If they ask if you are interested in a job, you can say yes, but focus the conversation about their experiences at the organization, taking notes about how these conversations further strengthen your interest in the organization. About 10 days to 2 weeks after you apply, send a follow up email or call the hiring manager to ensure that s/he received your application, and to reiterate your interest. Then include 2-3 additional points from your conversations with people from within (provide their name and their title as well) that make you even more interested in the opportunity. Then follow up with them every 10 days to two weeks if you don't hear from them. Always remain pleasant in your conversation, reiterating your interest, asking if the person has any insights regarding the hiring time line for the position, or needs any additional information regarding your application. As compared to the vast majority of other candidates who might not have followed up or taken the time to learn more about the organization, this step might become your differentiating factor. Most importantly though, this step will also enable you to find out whether this organization is the right environment for you.

Five ways to risk failure and improve your career

2010-12-28T14:35:00.000-08:00

Don’t let it sting.
If you try something new and difficult such as applying for a “reach job” and then you miss the mark or get rejected, don’t think of it as stoppage. As my mother used to say, “Failure is just a perception.” Pat yourself on the back for taking the risk, and move on.

Find a problem.
If your job feels unfulfilling, find a difficulty at work that needs solving. Then work on finding the solution. This is also a basic recipe for identifying new business ideas. If you don’t succeed, figure out why and try again.

Get unstuck.
If you hate what you’re doing, fix it. Take on new tasks at work, for example, or learn a new things. The worst thing that can happen is you’ll fail. More likely, though, you’ll figure you why you’re stuck.

Surprise yourself.
Do something completely out of character. Apply for a job in a foreign country. Sit in on a meeting in a different department. Open your mind to new career possibilities by taking a chance at something unknown.

Easy does it.
Many people get all worked up trying to come up with ways to forward their careers. Great ideas often come when you stop trying so hard. Pay attention to your daydreams and the things you read or see on TV that truly interest you. There might be a future career or business idea there.

10 Career Resolutions

2010-12-28T01:38:00.001-08:00

Like the old saying, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life," it's never a bad time to start moving your career in a better direction. Here are 10 New Year's resolutions to help.

1)Pay Attention in Class
Treat every workday like a school day. Be sure you learn something and use it to make yourself more productive. It doesn't have to relate to your skills set. It may be as simple as understanding how to work with specific peers or emotional intelligence. Take mental notes. Don't sleepwalk through the day.

2)Look for the Next Rung
You need to excel at your job. This is how you gain credibility. But understanding your next step is key to career happiness. Career pathing is critical to remaining engaged on the job. Schedule a discussion with your manager to get clarity on the next challenge. If you don't get it on your team or in your company, it may be time to look elsewhere.

3)Understand Company Goals
Make sure you understand how your job contributes to your company's business objectives. Are you in a revenue-generating role? A brand-awareness role? Is your mission to delight the customer? Knowing how your job fits into the big picture will give you inspiration and a sense of accomplishment -- and will help you understand your job's impact.

4)Be Ethical
Bring integrity to your job. Whether you're running the company or cleaning its bathrooms, be honest in all you do. Don't call in sick just to get a day off -- that's stealing. Put in an honest day's work. Be accountable. If you're working remotely, be sure you are. Do what you say you're going to do. Honesty and reliability mean a lot to your manager.

5)Stay Fit
OK, this was probably on your last New Year's resolutions list, but that's because it's so important. Try to break a sweat for 20 minutes, three days a week. Go for a walk at lunch. Join a gym. Lift weights. A healthy body makes a healthy mind. Exercising increases blood flow to the brain and gives you ideas. You'll be more productive at work, and best of all, you'll feel better.

6)Stretch Your Role
Occasionally think how you can go above and beyond. Are there projects outside your defined role you could help with? Be proactive; ask to join. Come up with your own ideas, and work with your manager to implement them. If you're a hamster, step off the wheel and poke your head out of the cage. Stretch a little. This won't go unnoticed.

7)Manage Up
Make sure you and your manager are in firm agreement on what you're doing. Be proactive and get on his calendar to ensure you're meeting or exceeding expectations. Don't assume he's paying close attention. There are bad managers. If there's a disconnect between what you're doing and what your manager wants, you're partly to blame. Don't wait until review time.

8)Manage Across
Even if you work primarily alone; be sure to make time to understand your peers' roles and how they go about their jobs. Show an interest. Don't just choose a few friends and become part of a clique. High school is over. You never know when you may need people -- or be reporting to them.

9)Communicate
Don't leave people waiting for answers. If you're in an email environment, return emails promptly. Let people know what you're doing. If you're working on a project, always ask yourself who needs to know about it, and then tell them. Talk to people; give them a heads up. And when someone helps you out, be sure to thank him. It's amazing this even need to be on a list, but bad communicators abound. Don't be one of them.

10)Make Time for Play
Have fun. Work hard, but smile while you're doing it. No one likes a grump. Approach each day with a positive spirit and stay loose. Enjoy your family and friends as well. Make time for them -- and you. It's called work-life balance. All work and no play make life a chore.

Broaden your scope when it comes to career ideas

2010-12-27T05:34:00.000-08:00

Whether you are at the start of your career, looking for a change, or simply after a new job, it is a good idea to brainstorm different career ideas and approaches.
This section outlines how to network and provides a list of tips, books and websites, all dedicated to career ideas.

How to network

Networking isn't necessarily asking for a job. It’s about letting people know you are available so if a vacancy comes up, they will think of you. In fact, tapping into your existing network is often the best way to find new opportunities or generate new career ideas.

Three steps to effective networking

1. Start by making contact with someone you know. Unless you see them regularly (at work or at weekly social or sports events) it is quicker to contact them by telephone.
2. Then try a 'warm call', that is, use the name of a mutual friend or acquaintance as an introduction when you call someone you don't know personally.
3. Finally, try 'cold calling' employers to ask whether they are likely to recruit people with your capabilities and skills.

Tips for making contact

It isn’t always easy speaking with people you don’t know. Follow these tips to take the pressure off yourself and ensure you give a good impression.
• write down what you want to say and rehearse it
• tell them your reason for contacting them
• check if they have time to talk at the moment – if not, call back later
• keep the phone call short and focus on your reason for calling – this makes a professional impression
• research the organization before you go to a meeting – potential employers will be impressed by your initiative
• follow up your meeting with an email or letter thanking them for their time.

6 Tips for Career Success & Balance

2010-12-20T05:13:00.000-08:00

It's based on several premises of yoga, each of which can be applied to several aspects of your every day life:

1. Don't pay attention to the actions of others - watching others in action, whether it's in yoga class or on the job, is of little help to you. It distracts you from the issue or task at hand.

2. Keep your focus on how you're doing - are you moving advance? Or is it time to make some modifications to your style and approach? This is just as main for your financial situation, as well as personal and occupation aspects.

3. Push to the limit, but be aware of your limits - a lot of careerists think they can accomplish greatness by just spending more time and energy on the issues or roadblocks they face. I've seen a lot of "success stories" fail in a pile because they went beyond their limit one time too often.

4. Be mindful of goals, recognize progress - the most satisfied people I've met over the last 30 years have a detailed plan for their life. They do not put their faith in others to look after them. They review their preparation regularly.

5. Take a deep breath - many people really forget to breath at times during the day. As in yoga, that limits performance obviously. I suggest that you consciously do some deep breathing a couple of times a day to ensure you are getting enough oxygen to perform at a high level.

6. Let it go - when the class done, don't continue worrying or fretting about why you couldn't get into a pose as well as the previous class. It's common that our bodies and our brains work differently each day, don't struggle against nature. Accept it and take advantage of what's working now.

7 Tips to Give Your Career a Social Media Facelift

2010-12-17T04:17:00.000-08:00

• Give your perspective a facelift.
To develop a valuable social media marketing presence, requires accepting that social media has become an integral part of how we communicate and share information. Not participating means that you’re missing a big part of the conversation.

• Do your research.
Just as you would practice for the job interview, use time lurking on the sidelines to get a feel for how people communicate and share on social media networks and the type of language they use.

• Check the grapevine.
In business, as in your individual life, you need to know what people are telling about you. Two simple, low cost ways to accomplish this are Google searches and alerts. This may not job as well if you’ve got a common name.

• Put your best foot forward.
The online equivalent of the fresh interview suit is your social media presence on various social media platforms. To this finish, think about how you want to position yourself just as you would when marketing any other product. Unlike the previous fashioned resume, career-oriented social media tends to be forward looking.

• Practice your talking points.
Regardless of the size of your rolodex, in social media each one begins at the same point. To become the belle of the social media ball, it’s main to build your friends and followers.

• Be generous with your praise.
One way to build your presence is to help earlier colleagues and staff. Where appropriate, provide them recommendations on LinkedIn without being asked. Pay it forward without upsetting about whether they will reciprocate.

• Work the crowd.
Get out and meet people in actual life. While social media enables you to stay sequestered behind your laptop, it’s serious to get out and meet people in real life. This way you can strengthen relationships with people you got acquainted by participating in social media.

Ten worst job seeking tips ever

2010-12-16T03:05:00.000-08:00

1. Don't give a summary for your resume.

2. Include as much as possible in resume. No,no! Editing is a business talent.

3. Use corporate speak. Do you ever warm to teachers who use teacher speak? Have you any plan what they are really saying? The most up-to-date advisers recommend writing your resume the way you speak.

4. Don't ever postpone the phone screen..

5. Don't bring up money. Do bring up cash. Why waste time?

6. Send your resume via an online job ad or company site only.

7. Don’t send a paper resume.

8. Wait for them to call your name. Don't follow this opinion. Instead, use your LinkedIn connections to put you in tough with someone who can put in a word with the hiring manager.

9. Give them all. Hold off on references.

10. Post your resume on all job board. No. You don't want to be overexposed and undervalued.

5 Tips for making sure you can find a new job

2010-12-13T00:44:00.000-08:00

1 .Get involved in networking organizations. Look for networking groups that have a broader membership than those in career transition: ExecuNet, which has chapters across the nation, is a group that brings executives, recruiters and business leaders together for discussion in person and online. Leadership organizations can also be large networking groups.

2. Use your alumni network. The term “alumni” can apply to different groups: your college, high school, sorority/fraternity or people you worked with at a previous employer. Mobilize the m all. Alumni associations can give a wealth of contacts and resources for job hunters. Have you caught up with a college roommate lately? Use LinkedIn or Facebook to find out how they are and where they’re working. You could find a potential advocate for a target employer. If not, you’ve at least reconnected with an old friend.

3. Volunteer your expertise. Use your knowledge in a field to help others, and it can advantage you in your job search. Employers want to hire people who are well regarded in their fields. Volunteering provides the opportunity to build a reputation in an industry while making key contacts.

4 .Be curious wherever you go. As you’re networking or just running errands, be aware of what’s going on around you and ask questions. Curiosity generally leads to discovery. That can mean meeting someone who will lead you to a potential job. If you’re shy about touting yourself, asking people about their works, careers or interests can be a way to expand your network in new and surprising ways.

5 .Remember, it’s a little world. With so many people in so many industries displaced in the recession, it’s highly likely you will know people at potential employers. earlier work experience with someone on the inside can be a major advantage.

How to Get the Top Jobs

2010-12-10T01:29:00.000-08:00

1. Get varied experience
Don’t get stuck in your job, role, or even field of work–try at least two or three job functions over a period of time. Human resource chiefs and recruiters typically look for people with varied knowledge when hiring for the top job. Even having worked in different cities or countries counts, because it shows how adaptable you are.

2. Specialize
This may sound contrary to the point above, but experts say that ideally you should be a expert in at least one role. That goes a long way in earning respect from your peers and juniors.

3. Get more education
Getting a mid-career education can help leapfrog your occupation.
What you study depends on your aim.
One obvious option would be to sign up for an executive or full-time management program, where you can learn about strategy, business development and so on. Or, you could do a expert course on leadership-development, or people-management, skills essential for a top-level manager.

4. Take risks
One easy way to get noticed by the bigwigs is to sign up for tough projects. Maybe the organization is looking for someone to begin a new initiative in a remote town, or you have an out-of-the-box idea that could help raise the productivity of your team.

5. Join a start-up
If your present organization doesn’t give you the chance to be bold or try new things, your best bet might be to join a start-up. This is an extreme case of risk-taking, because it could mean lower pay (if at all) and the chance of failure is large. But it’s a great way to learn a lot about running a business, managing people and several other things in a short period of time.

6. Keep up with the world
To achieve the top, you need to know a lot about what’s happening in your industry, and even related industries.

7. Networking
Everywhere in the world, networking is key to career achievement. This is particularly true for high-profile jobs, which are often not advertised openly. If you know the correct people, and enough of them, it will be easier for you to learn of vacancies when they come about.

Job-Hunting Tips For 2011

2010-12-03T09:55:00.000-08:00

1.Keep your social networking alive, well and professional.

If you've been neglecting your Linkedin account and playing Farmville instead, it's time to switch gears and look at social networking as one more step in the successful job search. It's okay to have accounts for personal social networking, but spend less time on those and lot more time on the profiles you have that relate to your past, current and future career. Get involved in local groups on Linkedin, update your professional blog every day and follow professionals in your field on your Twitter account.

2.Find a job with Twitter.

Twitter is helpful for far more than to-the-minute updates on the personal lives of your favorite friends and/or celebrities. Twitter can help land you a fresh job. First, follow influential folks in your field. Keep up with what's going on. Participate. Be part of the profession even if you're still looking for a job. Second, use a Twitter search device to look for jobs, conferences and networking opportunities with people in your field

3.Polish up your resume.

Social networking is a great way to get the contacts you need, but most often you'll still have to send in a resume for those job applications. Don't send an outdated resume in after you've updated your online presence. Make sure that both your resume and your online profiles are current and the best representation of your job experience and education.

4.Get active even (especially) if you're unemployed.

Local connections are one of the most powerful ways to find a job; and you'll only get depressed if you sit at home in your sweats every day. Join local organizations, volunteer and get involved in your community. Use your expertise to help other people out. Offer free seminars in your church or community association, write articles for the paper or mentor someone who's new to the field.

5.Look for ways to be an expert.

If you're a fresh graduate looking for your first job, then that whole "job experience" section of the resume is often a painful subject. You may not be able to fill it up with years on the job, but do what you can to establish some expertise in your part. Attend conferences and seminars, take classes and get certifications.

Nine top telephone interview tips

2010-12-02T12:00:00.001-08:00

1. Ensure that you have a quiet area with no possible distractions. You don’t want your children/others etc disturbing you in the middle of your chat. It’s very distracting and you will come across as unprofessional and unfocused.

2. Your tone of voice speaks volumes about your enthusiasm so talk with energy and motivation. This is vital as it is one of the few methods an interviewer can use in determining a person’s interest in the role. Sales trainers often include this as part of their programme when training telesales staff. Energetic voice tones are very infectious and help to connect you to your speaker.

3. Another division of sales training is to smile when you talk. This is very main when talking on the phone. This does not mean grinning but smiling speaks volumes about you and illustrates to the interviewer that you are enthusiastic. This is infectious.

4. Research is vital here – have your notes in front of you and have your work done. Do not have reams of notes in front of you as you will get flustered if you cannot read them clearly – jot down key bullet points in front of you. Lack of research tells the interviewer that you have little interest in the role. This is equally important in face to face interviewers and is a fundamental basic so should never be overlooked.

5. Speak clearly to the interviewer. In Interview situations, people can get anxious and stagger over their words or speak too fast. Relax, take your time and answer each question carefully. Deep breathing is very effective here, take a few deep breaths before you talk.

6. Always be professional. The interviewer is assessing your skills right from the begining of the conversation. This is also applicable when arranging your venue etc for a face-to-face Interview. Be professional and polite and enthusiastic at all times. All interviewers are making judgements on their candidates even when they are talking about mundane issues. Inappropriate humour and comments should not be included here.

7. Have a list of your Unique Selling Points in front of you. What are these? These are your career ‘highlights’ or your key achievements. These points will help differentiate you from other candidates. These points are very main as they help sell you to the interviewer. Most importantly, they can really make a lasting impression with the interviewer.

8. A very interesting method used by some is to stand when taking the phone call. This alters the sound and energy of your voice. It also helps project your voice and helps you sound more assertive.

9. Ask your friends/family how you come across on the telephone. Without realising it, we can talk too fast, be unclear or sound disinterested. This information can actually help you improve in your communication skills. Although you have the added advantage of not seeing the interviewer face-to-face, this can also be a disadvantage as the interviewer is judging you solely on your voice.

Seven Tips for Part-Time Business Owners

2010-12-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

1. Get your family involved.

Whether it's answering the telephone, stuffing envelopes or putting together orders, giving family members the chance to help out is a great way to get more accomplished in less time -- while also making them feel like they're part of your business.

2. Be ready to give up personal time.

You won't have much time for TV, reading or hobbies you used to enjoy. Be sure the sacrifice is worth it, or both your work and your business will suffer.

3. Focus on the task in front of you.

When you're at job, focus on work. Don't let thoughts of your business distract you.

4. Make the most of every minute.

Use lunch hours or early morning to make telephone calls. Use commuting time on the train to catch up on paperwork.

5. Take advantage of time-zone differences and technology.

If you do business with people in other states or countries, make time differences job to your advantage by calling early in the morning or after work. Use faxes and e-mail to communicate with clients at any time.

6. Don't overstep your boundaries.

Making calls on company time or using your employer's supplies or equipment for your own business purpose is a big no-no.

7. Be honest.

Only you can assess your position, but in many cases it's best to be upfront with your chief about your sideline business. As long as it doesn't interfere with your job, many bosses won't mind. You'll also gain by being honest rather than making them feel you have something to hide.

The big switch: Eight practical steps to making a career change

2010-11-30T06:28:00.000-08:00

1. Review your history.
You know the saying: You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been. So think back, way back, to that third, fifth and ninth job and write them all down. For one, it’ll explain you how far you’ve come, and, if you’re like most Americans, it’ll illustrate just how many different tasks you’re capable of carrying out. Don’t forget to include volunteer positions.

2. Make a list. Or three.
Write down all the skills you mastered at each of those jobs, even the seemingly trivial. That major makeover you pulled on the office lunch room may seem inconsequential, but it may be a clue that you have a hope in interior design. On another page, list your interests. The things you like to do when you’re not earning a paycheck.

3. Find a direction.
The lists you made are clues to a new way, but you have to have the right tools to decode the signs. Soloway suggests using professional career and personality tests (check out careermaze.com as an example) to figure out what your skills and interests are telling you. Career counselors at JVS use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, among other tools, to narrow down the types of careers that fit your individuality and talents

4. Try on some shoes.
You’ve narrowed down your options. Now how do you select between pastry chef and greeting card designer? Dig in and find out everything you can about your prospective career: which skills are needed, which degrees are required, what is the pay, what the job conditions are like. Simple online research can fill in many of those blanks, but for the real dish, you have to network face to face.

5. Stay busy.
Spending days at a time in your pajamas, rotating laptop, Blackberry and TV screens in front of your face will not only drag down your feel, it’ll sully your resumé. utilize your free time wisely to show prospective employers that you are active, resourceful and willing to work, even without a paycheck as motivation. Volunteer at your synagogue, a local shelter, school or food bank. Bonus points if you do something that’s relevant to your field of interest. Look for internships, freelance opportunities and other ways to get your foot in the door.

6. Hit the books.
To snag certain jobs, like an X-ray technician or an electrician, you’ll have to sign up for a vocational school. For others, you may be able to fill in the educational gap with classes at a community college, an online course, or some how-to books: i.e. Bartending for Dummies, Day Trading for Dummies, Event Planning for Dummies. Educating yourself shows initiative and drive, and even if the most important thing you study in your creative writing class is that you can’t string a sentence together, at least you can cross Romance Novelist off your list of potential careers.

7. Take baby steps.
Going from school psychologist to web designer is quite a leap, so consider making the transition in several steps. Soloway encourages clients to get “stepping stone jobs” that move them one step closer to their desired career. For instance, our psychologist can apply for a job writing content for the LAUSD website to gain some basic knowledge of what makes a site appealing.

8. Recruit cheerleaders.
Job hunting, particularly for career shifters, is incremental in nature and may take years to achieve the final goal. You’re going to require a cheering section, with verve, and stamina for the long haul. The career counselors at JVS are there to hand you cups of water and granola bars throughout the marathon, Soloway says. But you can recruit your best friend, your daughter, your neighbor – whoever will be genuinely interested – to keep track of your progress and help you focus on the positive.

Holiday job search tips offered Dec. 6

2010-11-25T13:51:00.000-08:00

"Job Searching through the Holidays" is the topic of the Hudson Job hunt meeting on Dec. 6 at Christ Church Episcopal. Sign-in starts at 7:15 p.m., and the meeting begins at 7:30. It is free and open to the public.

Robin Raybuck, founder of Robin Raybuck and Associates, a career management and coaching firm, will share her ideas for job searching through the holiday period. She has extensive experience in the field and has had her own business for 16 years.She is a frequent speaker and author of several articles.

She completed her master's grade and some doctoral work in counseling and business at Case Western Reserve University.

Raybuck will talk about the strategies for successful holiday job search and will also offer ideas for handling the ups and downs of job searching during the holidays.

4 Job Search Tips for Aspiring SEO/SEM Specialists

2010-11-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

1. Show, Don’t Tell

It doesn’t matter how pretty your resume is or how many years of experience you have. What SEO firms are looking for is evidence that you can do a good job pulling their clients’ websites to the top of search engines. Do that, and you’re in.

“What I want to look at is sites that they’ve optimized,” explains Nick Spears, the director of search for SEO firm Incredible Marketing. “And I am going to basically open up the source code; I’m going to look at how they’re optimizing title tags and things as simplistic as keyword meta tags and descriptions.”

2. Work For Anyone to Build Experience

Work on your own website. This is how both Spears and Canu got their begin. Spears says he used his first sites as “crash dummies” in order to test what worked and what didn’t work. Billy learned SEO while running an online DVD rental business. Working on your own website can be a great way to not only perfect your trade, but build a portfolio.

Volunteer to help a non-profit develop its SEO. You’ll be contributing to a cause you care about and building your portfolio at the same time.

3. Experience Trumps Degree

Since SEO is a relatively fresh field, most accreditation programs are relatively new, and universities are just now starting to offer classes on it. There are instructional programs offered through organizations like SEO company Bruce Clay and the Search Engine Marketing Professionals Organization (SEMPO), but your knowledge will trump any certification that you can buy.

4. Keep Learning

An SEO specialist’s job changes as fast as the Internet. The rise of social search and social media, for instance, has affected how SEO works.

“Someone who would come to me and say, ‘I have a very well understanding of Facebook and Twitter’ is going to be a step ahead of someone who just comes in and says, ‘I understand the SEO strategies and record and things like that,’ ” Spears says.

6 Ways To Impress Your Boss

2010-11-23T06:17:00.000-08:00

Ask What Needs to be Done
It sounds like a no-brainer, but quiz your boss on what is the most important method you can spend your time and then make those tasks a priority, suggests Steve Langerud, director of professional opportunities at DePauw University. By tackling the objectives that your boss holds in high esteem, you'll naturally be in a better spot to get attention and praise for your work.

Demonstrate Your Value
Forget what your job description says, create an action plan for how you can be doing your job better, says Mary Hladio, founder of Ember Carriers Leadership Group. Consult your boss and other leaders within the group for their input, and put the ideas in motion.

Be a Team Player
Shaunti Feldhahn, author of "The Male Factor," says high-level managers of both sexes want to know that their employees are on board with the team, particularly at critical moments. "In a demanding period, you want to make sure you are sharing the same pain," she says. For example, this might mean staying late for a meeting or pitching in on a company-wide initiative.

Your Boss
Even if it's not part of your job requirements or you haven't been asked to do it, voluntarily offer your boss reports on your progress, says former Human Resources trainer, Mimi Donaldson. "Bosses are busy," she says. "You cannot expect them to notice when you do something great." But a routine email summing up your day-to-day accomplishments and where you stand on major projects is an influential method to keep your boss informed without monopolizing time.

Network Like You're Unemployed
Langerud also advises reaching out to colleagues in other departments and requesting their feedback on how you can help them be more effective. Around the company, it will only develop your reputation, he says, and it will likely get circulated back to your boss that you are a problem-solver and a dedicated worker.

Be Heard and Seen
It's not about gossiping around the water cooler every morning, but finding subtle, yet powerful, routes to contribute to your firm. For instance, it may be presenting a strong, thoughtful point in a meeting, or sharing innovative ideas up the ranks about ways to develop your company's operation. Plus, being seen at company events, such as holiday parties and other social gatherings, volunteer activities and corporate retreats, shows you care about your job.

The Bottom Line
Not only is the job market more competitive in recessionary times, it's also getting increasingly hard to get a raise. That's because the pool of money corporations reserve for rewarding staff - even the most stellar of employees - is shrinking. According to a survey by the business research organization The Conference Board, the average company is only budgeting 2.8% for wage increases in 2010, a number that hasn't dipped under 3% in more than two decades. The current work environment demands that you must stand out in your boss's mind if you want to get a bump in your salary or a promotion.

4 Tips to Answering Tough Interview Questions Correctly

2010-11-19T15:27:00.000-08:00

When answering interview questions, here's the first rule...

1 - Stay Positive...ALWAYS!

The “what’s your greatest weakness” question is your opportunity to shine. One way is to demonstrate you are a positive person by nature. Everyone likes a person with a positive nature, right? Remember you are in the interview to make yourself desirable for hiring, so you might say, “I rarely sit there and think of myself in those terms, nevertheless, I do want to respond to your question” or something on those lines. Notice by the way I did not say “I rarely sit there and think of my weaknesses.” Okay, I take it back. Here’s a rule of thumb that always applies: Do not use or repeat negative terms, even if the interviewer throws it out there.

Here are three other rules I suggest you follow:

2 - No Superlatives!

Keep it singular. Superlatives such as “weakest” or “worst” or “biggest” indicate the greatest degree of whatever is it describing. “Worst weakness” is the weakness of the highest degree implying there are other weaknesses of varying degrees but weaknesses nonetheless. That begs the question “what are some others?” Likewise, “need most to improve” implies there are others areas for improvement. In any case, try this as an alternative: “If I had to come up with one…” (No negatives; no multiples).

3 - No Absolutes!

The absolute, as in “my weakness is…” states the weakness exists unconditionally: Utterly fixed and not likely to change. WOW! Wouldn’t it be better to be a little less restrictive, something more conditional like “it could be I am…” Conditional responses suggest you yourself are not completely convinced of it. This type of response also accomplishes what the bungling technique of using a “strength” to describe a weakness consistently fails to achieve – that your “weakness” may not be a weakness after all.

4 - Keep it Real!

Your “weakness” should be one (singular) that is subjective – of your person. Humanize it!

Top tips on how to get new work

2010-11-18T06:25:00.001-08:00

A predicted 500,000 public sector workers could face redundancy and be looking for jobs in the private sector.

While a third of public sector workers believe their background puts them at an advantage, more than a fifth (22%) fear it will put them at a distinct disadvantage.

Employers, meanwhile, say public sector experience is "not very important".

We've teamed up with recruitment specialist Hayes with these top tips on how ex-public sector workers can appeal to the private sector: Don't take it personally Redundancy in these tough times is not the result of poor performance. Focus your energy on planning your next move and remain confident. Identify transferable skills Make your CV appeal by showing your strengths and experience and how they will add value in a new role. Update your CV You may be used to filling out application forms for jobs, but the private sector tends to rely more on CVs. Make yours as clear and succinct as possible and refer to skills, rather than tasks and duties. Consider updating skills and temporary work Learning new skills and qualifications will help you stand out, giving employers evidence you can do the job and are capable of developing. Short-term positions will keep skills up-to-date and may help get your foot in the door. Know the differences Private sector employers often struggle to interpret public sector job titles. You'll need to demonstrate how your skills and experience are relevant to the role you're applying for and show potential employers you understand the market they operate in. Different interview styles The public sector often uses competency-based interviewing, where candidates have skills assessed by being asked how they would perform in a given situation. The private sector uses a range of techniques and interviews can be less formal. Remember, do your research.

10 Top tips from employers to job seekers

2010-11-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

Loyalty: One of the key things mentioned, particularly by Production Manager Lotty McWilliam for Eon Media, was that loyalty to their company was “key”, showing commitment to the company or potential employer.

Enthusiasm: was also mentioned by many employers as important. Lincoln Co-operative worker Faye Amberson said: “It would be great if the employee had enthusiasm about the job.”

Passion: Another top tip would be displaying passion for the company. Lee Johnson from Rock Star games said it was key, particularly for his line of work, to have some love for the job: “You need passion, and for this job it needs to be for games.”

Friendliness: Rockstar’s Johnson also said that this is a desirable quality from a possible employee, particularly “a nice bloke,” simple to get on with.

Creativity: Displaying some imagination got the head nodding for Eon Media Lotty McWilliam, who found “showing some creativity” made a candidate stand out.

Well prepared: A huge factor of getting a job was bought up by Business Link’s Mike Gibbs, who said preparation was totally vital for success to getting a job and maintain a successful career.

Willing: Eon Media produced one more key tip: “We want people to be willing to put themselves out there and show confidence in their work.”

Know your market: A big thing for self-employed and employed workers. Mike Gibbs said: “Understanding your client base and what they want is a big thing.”

Eager: Showing that you’re keen and excited about a job ticked the box with the Lincoln Co-op’s
Faye Amberson: “It’s great if you can show eagerness at the occupation.”
Understanding company ethics: Several companies like the Lincolnshire Co-operative have a code of ethics and beliefs, which they expect candidates to share

Tips for Living: Bouncing back emotionally after a job loss

2010-11-16T07:16:00.000-08:00

Imagine that your supervisor comes to your desk and ask if you have a minute to speak and then says, "I am sorry, but we're going to have to let you go."

Your life now seems to be spinning out of control, and you feel like you have landed in the borrow pit on the freeway of life because you have been let go from a position you expected to have until you retired. You clean out your desk, and now you need to tell your spouse.

This condition happened to me three times between 2005 and 2008. The first question I asked myself was, "Now what?"

While my first concern was the care of my family, my heart ached and my spirit was crushed.

The first week of unemployment, I did what I thought was needed. But as the days progressed, I began to understand that I had lost more than a job; I had lost my purpose. I realized I would no longer be learning alongside my colleagues. I had lost my self-confidence, and I felt I had lost the respect of each one I knew.

Once I lost my job, my priorities quickly changed. I needed to provide for the necessities of life: mortgage, utilities, food and fuel for my vehicles. Finding a job became a major concern. My bills were not being paid. I was depressed, angry, frustrated and felt lost. I didn't feel challenged and I wasn't growing. My world had collapsed.

So how do you begin cope with all of this?

You need to accept that you are grieving. Denial is such an easy emotion to embrace that it is difficult to accept that you no longer have your former job. You need help to overcome the grieving stage. You begin by getting on your knees and opening your heart to your Father in Heaven. Tell him everything you are feeling: your frustrations, your pain, your loss, your needs and your hate. Be truly honest with your emotions. You may feel actual physical pain, so take a sick day and stay in bed.

However, you only get one sick day in your new position as a job hunter. No benefits yet. The next day, get back to work on the job hunt. Remember, only one day.

You cannot keep a confident person if you sit around the house all day. You need to be engaged in some type of work. Work at anything. Now is not the time to hold out for the dream job. You need some income, no matter how small it may be, to feel like you are contributing to the needs of your family. Be a handyman for the elderly in your church and neighborhood, mow lawns, work fast food, convenience stores, or gas stations, anywhere that regularly hires.

Tips for landing your dream job

2010-11-15T06:06:00.000-08:00

Learn about yourself. Take time to perform a self-assessment of your values, how you like to work, and what you'd be compelled to do even if you never got paid. Research careers and industries that map to your skills and interests. Hit the Internet, set up informational interviews, take relevant coursework, and arrange to go onsite at a company in your chosen field.

Don't be deterred by a lack of experience. In developing a resume and other promotional materials for the field you want to pursue, think about how your current skills and talents apply to the responsibilities you'll hold in the new job. For example, knowledge of project management, client relations, information technology, and sales will take you far in most types of careers.

Ease into a new career one foot at a time. Perhaps this means earning a paycheck at your current job while doing a part-time internship in your new field or taking an adult education class or workshop on the weekend. The only way to find out if you're passionate about something is to try it – ideally with as little risk as you can manage.

Remember that any progress is good progress. Even confident people stay in unsatisfying jobs because they feel safe, and because they're afraid of making a bad decision. But in the quest to uncover a source of meaningful work, though, your worst enemy is inertia. Make an effort to do one thing, like e-mailing a networking contact or attending an event – that moves you a bit closer to your big picture goal.

Start early. Twenty and thirty-something's have more flexibility when it comes to test-driving different careers. The process of self-discovery is much easier when you're unencumbered by family responsibilities and substantial financial burdens, and when you haven't yet reached a level in a career where it's tougher to turn back. That said, it's never too late to pursue your passion. More and more baby boomers are leaving the world of traditional employment for alternative career paths that will fulfill them well into retirement age.

Have realistic expectations. Even if you're lucky enough to hold your dream job, there's no such thing as the perfect work situation. Every job has its ups and downs, and aspects we love and aspects we don't love. And dream job doesn't mean "cushy" job. As your mom always told you, anything worth having in this world requires some effort. There will be some days you feel like shutting the alarm off and going back to sleep, but many more where you feel more energized by the prospect of work than you ever thought possible!

BBB offers tips on getting holiday jobs

2010-11-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice for job hunters this holiday season:

Start the search earlier rather than later: The key to landing a seasonal job is to start searching early. Retail, shipping, restaurants and catering companies are common sources of seasonal employment.

Work where you shop: Try to identify seasonal employment with businesses you actually shop at or frequent. You will already be familiar with the company and its products and discounts available for employees mean significant savings when shopping for Christmas gifts.

Put your best foot forward: Even if you are just picking up application forms at stores in the mall, dress your best and be prepared for an interview. This includes being familiar with the company’s brand and its products.

Be flexible: Full-time employees usually have first dibs on the preferred hours and shifts, so, as a seasonal employee, expect to work long, sometimes inconvenient hours including working on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. If this is a second job, be upfront and clear with your new employer about your available hours.

Goldman Sachs shares job interview wisdom

2010-11-12T06:35:00.000-08:00

Before the interview

• Make a list of your education separating your strengths, weaknesses, experiences and skills. Goldman’s advice is to create a story from these that will resonate with your interviewer and show that you are the right candidate for the job.

General preparation

• Know your CV inside out and decide on your key selling points. Practice talking about them in a confident and conversational tone. Use your experiences to show your leadership and communication skills as well as your capability to work as part of a team.

• Research the position and the company so that you can articulate your interest in an informed way. Be aware of relevant industry information.

First impressions

• To make a good impression ensure you arrive early and dress properly for the interview. Prepare a list of talking points and memorise key dates. Remember the names of those interviewing you.

Interview formats

• Goldman favours “behavioural interviews” which involve you giving examples of your skills. The plan is that past behaviour will indicate future performance.

• Other formats include the “historical interview”, which talks your through your CV in chronological order. Using your CV, you’ll be expected to tell your story.

• And don’t be thrown off by the “case study interview” which will involve questions that need some creative thinking such as: “How many manhole covers are there in New York?” Just remember, the goal isn’t to get the right answer but to provide a sound argument for arriving at your response.

At the end

• Ask a few questions about the company or the interviewer’s view of industry trends. Whatever you do, don’t ask about income and benefits as you’ll have plenty of time to discuss these once you get a job offer.

Tips for a successful job interview

2010-11-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

Although the first interview is often the most intimidating, the following guidance can help you create a great first impression on your interviewer by not appearing too inexperienced.

Dress appropriately – in your interview the aim is to impress upon your interviewer that you are a professional, and appearances count. The important thing to focus on is being well-groomed, neat, clean, and wearing conservative clothing and jewelry – a suit works wonders.

Non-verbal contact is crucial – about 50 percent of communication is non verbal. This means having good posture, maintaining eye contact, and having a firm (not bone-crushing) handshake. Most importantly, be attentive to your interviewer. This is exemplified by your body posture and will help you appear more professional.

There are certain topics you should avoid – never talk about income or benefits on the first interview. This should only be broached by your employer. Avoid talking negatively about past employers or organizations. Find something positive about the experience that helped you become a better, and more employable, person.

Be prepared – research the employer so you know what you are getting into and can ask questions about the company when speaking with the recruiter.

Be polite – be sure to always say “please” and “thank you” when appropriate. At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for taking the time to talk with you. Finally, make sure that you write a “thank you” note to your interviewer and mail it within 24 hours after the interview.

Be an active participant – many people get so focused on the “hunt” to find a job that they forget to think about what they really want to gain from their career. Think about what qualities, such as type of work, duties or environment are most important to you. Ask about them. It is main to think of these things because even if you get the job, you might find yourself incompatible or unhappy with it.

How To Nail Job Interview Tips

2010-11-10T09:34:00.001-08:00

It's important to nail a good impression at the first job interview because most interviewers form their opinion of you in the first few minutes.

Here's a few tips to help you with your interview. You may want to talk to people who have worked at the company. If it's practical, hang around outside the building while employees are arriving and note how they dress and behave.

Learn the name and title of the person you'll be meeting with. Arrive at least 10 minutes early to collect your thoughts. Take time to greet and acknowledge the secretary or administrative assistant. This might be old-fashioned courtesy, but this person may provide some influence.

Always bring an extra resume and letters of recommendation in case the interviewer doesn't have them handy. Be open and upbeat. Face your interviewer with arms and legs uncrossed, head up, and hands and face at ease. Smile and always look the interviewer in the eye because this builds honesty and trust.

Know the company's business, target clients, market and direction cold. Walk in prepared with a few relevant questions and listen carefully. Subtly give the impression that you're already part of the team by using "we" when asking how something is done. For example, say, "How do we deal with the press?"

Conclude with a positive statement and a quick, firm handshake. Ask when you might follow up, and get a business card from the interviewer. And one of the most important steps is to send a thank-you note. This shows responsibility.

Career experts offer tips to make job hunt less frightening

2010-11-09T06:03:00.000-08:00

Job hunting can be scary, even after Halloween has passed. Here’s a set of t ips from job clubs, recruiters and human resource consultants to improve the odds of a good job offer:

• Use LinkedIn to connect with people you’ve worked with, and connect the site’s relevant online groups to get your name in their networks. Recruiters are scavenging names from LinkedIn because they know that people who know people are the greatest resources.

• Don’t just look on well-worn paths. If you only react to online job postings, you’re going to be joining hundreds, maybe thousands, of other applicants.

• Spend only a fraction of your time answering online ads, then try to focus on specialty niches, trade publications and corporate sites.

• Get out of your house. Attend professional and association meetings in your field. Ask others for detail, not jobs. Let people know what you’re looking for.

• Don’t pass up doors that don’t seem inviting at first glance. It may not be wise to refuse jobs because they don’t pay what you used to earn or aren’t a step up.

• Go to job clubs, community career offices at community colleges and large public libraries, where you’ll find outstanding and free job search resources.

• Don’t masquerade as someone you’re not. Have an accurate self-perception of your talents and your market value.

• Study the landscape. Don’t misuse your time hunting in depressed areas or industries that have nothing to give.

• Make your own goodies. If you aren’t getting a job dumped in your lap, create one. Sell your talents.