Selasa, 10 Agustus 2010

7 Smart Career Tactics

7 Smart Career Tactics
by Robert DiGiacomo, for Yahoo HotJobs!


One of the keys to a successful career is making the right decisions at critical junctures, whether you're fielding a job offer, asking for a promotion or plotting your next move.

Beyond those major decisions, every day presents myriad, small opportunities to make good -- and bad -- choices that could have a big impact.

In an uncertain economy, knowing how to proceed at these junctures becomes even more critical, according to Arizona-based business and workplace consultants Jamie and Maren Showkeir, co-authors of "Authentic Conversations."

Here are seven tactics to help keep your career on track.

1. Don't play the blame game.

It's better to acknowledge your role in the company's problems -- and contribute to their solutions -- than to blame management or your coworkers.

"Once you see yourself as being in control of your future, you can change the conversation with your coworkers, by saying, 'We need to do our best to make this business work, or we'll be in even deeper trouble,'" Maren Showkeir says.

2. Skip the gossip and get down to work.

Send a message to coworkers about priorities by concentrating on the tasks at hand, instead of spreading speculative information.

"If you're spending time speculating on what may happen next, it's counterproductive," Maren Showkeir says.

3. Get the real story.

Avoid unnecessary anxiety by approaching a trusted colleague to find out the real bottom line with your company.

"It's easy to get caught up in the what-ifs," Maren Showkeir says. "My advice is to go find out what your manager or boss knows, and figure out how to prepare for the future."

4. Don't play the victim.

Identifying problems within your company won't get you anywhere, unless you follow through with strategic solutions.

"Being a part of an organization means having information, making sense of it, and acting on it," Jamie Showkeir says.

5. Think big picture.

Collaboration is more important than ever during difficult times, so it's wise to put aside any rivalries for the sake of your company's future.

"If you're working together, you have the power of many minds to get things done," Maren Showkeir says. "Collaborations can be a really powerful way to both strengthen the business for when it improves again and to not feel so alone and overwhelmed by all the work staring you in the face."

6. Be a listener, not a talker.

Remember that what's left unspoken during a meeting is just as important as what's on the agenda.

"If we don't discuss concerns and fears, we're missing two-thirds of what's relevant to a project's success," Jamie Showkeir says.

7. You gotta have hope.

In the workplace, misery doesn't really love company, so try to focus on the possibility of better times ahead.

"Would you rather place your bet on the future by engaging in hope and optimism, or be pulled kicking and dragging into it?" Jamie Showkeir says. "How we answer that question ultimately drives our behavior and our success in how we engage others."


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5 Steps to Better Time Management

by Gary Swart, oDesk.com


Time management is essential in our high-speed, always-on culture, yet most advice you'll find on this topic is pretty vague. "Setting goals" and "making time work for you" are, um, great, but so are practical efficiencies. Because oDesk is home to thousands of self-starting contract workers, we've seen many efficiency tricks.

The headline promises five steps for time management, but they all come from a single principle: You can only do one thing at a time, so do it right.

Finish what you've started. This is the core idea: Where possible, working a single task to completion is more efficient. When you sit down to work, you spend a few minutes just getting "settled in" before you're productive. If you jump from task to half-finished task all the time, that's a lot of minutes lost to "rolling up your sleeves."

Think small. You can't always spend several hours working straight through on a single big job. Don't think in those terms. Use a simple to-do list (try RememberTheMilk.com), and take each item to completion without interruption, unless something's literally on fire. An example for the job-seeker: It's not "I'll look for jobs this afternoon," it's checking email for replies to previous applications, scanning preferred job sites, writing cover letters, and tweaking your resume for each solid lead, etc.

Quit stalling. Once you're organizing by simple components, it's easier to dive right into the small tasks. It takes a lot of warm up and deep breaths before you jump off a high-dive and we're less hesitant about walking down a flight of steps.

Play well with others. When you're working as part of a team, make sure you're prioritizing what you do to get the most important parts into the production line. Nothing's worse than having people stand around waiting for you to produce. In a job search, prioritize anyone who's waiting to hear from you; hiring managers looking for self-starters (and who isn't?) will appreciate and remember your promptness.

Analyze your output. How could you have been more efficient? How much of your time goes to trivial, mundane work rather than the challenging stuff you enjoy and that your boss values? Job-seekers, log the time you spend at various job sites, and count how many real leads that effort yields. This way you can reprioritize your efforts for high value results. Why are you still lurking on that job board that dried up two years ago?

It's a multitasking world, and there's no changing it. But when a dozen things are clamoring for your attention, you can still organize them on your terms.

Gary Swart is CEO of oDesk, the marketplace for online workteams.


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Unemployment tips: how to make money when you're between jobs

If you find yourself unemployed there are ways to make money between jobs. You just need to tap into your creativity and use your imagination to discover new ways to bring money home.

In order to come up with these ideas you’ll need to do a little research. Read the want ads in the newspaper or utilize the internet. In your search focus on areas other than your usual career. Look at the business opportunity section as well as the work wanted and part time sections for ideas to help ease the financial burden until you are employed again.

Surf the Web

Use your computer if you have one. If you don’t have one you can visit your local library. There are ways to use the web to bring in cash but be careful because unfortunately there are also scams out there.

There are opportunities on the internet to freelance (that is, perform work for companies off site). Some of this work might include typing, data entry, tape transcription (medical or legal), writing, answering incoming calls, giving tarot readings, teaching online classes, translating, selling, web design and assembly work. Freelance work these days falls into many different categories with opportunities for those who are unskilled as well as professionals.

Consider Part Time

If you are willing to work a couple hours a day or a couple of days per week, there are part time positions out there to help you through the tough times – especially if you don’t mind giving up nights or weekends. Although these jobs might pay considerably less than what you are used to, the fact is that having some money coming in is preferable to the alternative - watching your savings disappear for food, gas and utility bills.

You can clerk in a convenience store, stock shelves in a grocery store, deliver pizza, bag groceries, deliver newspapers, assist veterinarians, answer phones or take a stint at a drive up fast food location dispensing fries and shakes.

Temporary Work

If you have any office skills at all temporary work can be a life saver. The best way to make sure you work enough as a temporary is by registering with several temporary agencies. Temporary agencies can be located through the want ads or by looking in the yellow pages under employment. Be prepared to take tests which will gauge your skills in the areas of spelling, grammar, math and typing.

I have found that the best way to get steady temp work is by calling the agency between assignments to remind them you are available. Call them to jog their memory and you might get lucky. Plus, if you happen to call in when a client is on the phone, you could get an assignment right away. Although not every position will suit you, the up side is that most agencies pay weekly and that can be helpful when you need cash. And, because you are not in it for the long haul, if you find yourself in a situation that you don’t like you can request another assignment. Another plus to temporary work is that if you do like the job (and they like you) you may just find yourself employed again.

Garage Sales, etc.

Another way to earn quick cash is by cleaning out your attic and/or garage. Have a garage sale or take your things to a flea market. You can even try to sell them on the internet, which some people have found to be very lucrative. Make some money by selling stuff you no longer use. You can earn even more by letting neighbors sell some of their unwanted items by charging a slight fee. You never know, what is one person’s junk is another’s treasure.

Food For Thought

Try dabbling at something you would never attempt in the days when you had a job. After all, what do you have to lose? If you have any kind of skill, from cooking to carpentry, most likely you can earn money by doing it. You can take out an ad out in your local newspaper advertising your services or print up flyers to see if you can get clients.

If you are at all handy or have any carpentry skills, you can offer to paint houses, clean gutters, do home repairs or landscape. If home repair isn’t one of your strong points but you’re a wiz at math, you might try tutoring children who are struggling in that area. If you live in an area where movies are made you can sign on to work as an extra. Other money earners include walking dogs, pet sitting, babysitting, cleaning houses, running errands, house sitting, washing cars, mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling snow and washing windows. If you are talented in the kitchen you might try baking something and having a bake sale or better yet see if a local store in your area might be interested in selling your goodies.

If you are a professional or have knowledge in a particular area you can teach a class. Contact the adult education program or community center in your area to see if there is anything you might teach. You could offer to teach typing, computers, woodworking, gardening, cooking, sewing, yoga, aerobic exercise or dancing. Make a list of all the jobs you’ve held or skills you’ve been trained in. You may be surprised at how long your list is.

You never know. Being unemployed might be the best thing that ever happened to you. Maybe you’ll discover hidden talents or start your own business. And you could end up liking your new career much better than the one you left behind.


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Resume writing tips: controlling exaggeration

The number one tool in the process of job hunting is the resume. This presents to the potential employer a brief documentation of your work history, your skills and abilities and your training. It could be said that the resume is the first impression that a potential employer gets of you, the job seeker.

At a glance, your resume tells the potential employer your possibility for being an asset to the company. Subsequently, you, the job seeker, have to sell yourself in the resume to the potential employer. Often, this entails a little exaggeration on your part as to your skills and abilities.

In almost all instances, the duties you've performed throughout your employment history will actually be a kind of index of what you're really capable of, whether you realize this or not. Here in comes the "exaggeration".

For example, say you were a childcare provider. The job description in its barest form is that you cared for the child or children in your charge. You made sure the child was fed, had a safe environment to play in, and in the case of older children, perhaps helped with homework and did some tutoring.

Now, when you stop to think about it, you actually performed other duties peripheral to your primary duty of caring for the child, such as cleaning up messes and organizing food preparation. These peripheral duties fall under the category of domestic services. So as a by-product, you have the skills necessary to clean homes on a professional basis.

So, even though you were not particularly paid to keep homes clean, should you decide to seek a job with a company that provides domestic services to customers, you actually have skills that would be usable in this endeavor. If you list these skills, though it is a stretch from your primary skill of child care, it is still a duty you can perform, hence you would put it on your resume as a viable skill.

The problem arises in the potential to "over-exaggerate".

For instance, if regular food preparation was part of your duties in your job as a child care worker, an exaggeration would be that you are a short order cook, able to prepare basic meals. An over-exaggeration would be if you put down on your resume that you are a chef (able to prepare full course, complex recipes) based entirely on your skill at preparing basic meals for the child you were caring for.

The key to controlling over-exaggeration in your resume is to be honest with yourself at what you are able to do beyond your primary skills with little or no additional training.

There is a useful tool to help you get a handle on this. It's called a Skill Tree List.

What this list does is categorize and extrapolates all of the skills you are capable of, branching off from the actually skills, your primary experiences, that you possess.

Using the child care provider example, here is what a Skill Tree List would look like:

CHILD CARE PROVIDER

Duties: Provide care and supervision for a child

DOMESTIC SERVICES

Household cleaning

Yard Cleaning (if part of your duties was maintaining a safe playing environment)

FOOD PREPARATION

Short order cook

TUTORING

Basic Math, Science, art, etc. (if you also helped the child with schoolwork).

Though each of these peripheral skills may not necessarily get you into the door of a company that outright performs these services, it may go a long way in either getting you hired at an entry level position or make you eligible for additional training the company may provide if they decide to hire you.

The thing you want to keep in mind as you prepare your resume in this manner is how capable are you in actually performing these exaggerated duties.

Another example would be if you were a word processor and possess good computer skills as well. Your Skill Tree List may look like this:

COMPUTING

Build and Repair Computers (this would apply if you actually built and maintained your own PC)

Software Installation

Software De-installation

Network setup

Database Entry

Word Processing

In closing, as you assemble your resume, think about your primary duties, skills and abilities you have listed in your work experience, then think about all the other little duties attendant to your main duties. Consider how they may be slightly exaggerated to show that you have the ability to perform these additional duties without having to "fake it".


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Great fund-raising tips and ideas

If your child’s baseball team needs to travel half-way across the United States to participate in a National Tournament, you may wish to hold a fund-raiser to gather enough funds to make the trip. Likewise, if your neighbor is suffering from a rare disease and needs additional funds for medical bills, the neighborhood may get together and fund-raise to help out. The same type of fund-raising event is useful when the company you’re employed with wants to have a pig-roast. Form a committee to raise money for the event.

Fund-raising is a great idea, and what’s more, it works!

Raising funds for a child’s ball team is easy. One simple, method is to hold a flower sale. Talk to local nurseries and find out if you can purchase a certain amount of flats at a discounted rate. Explain what organization you are with, and where the money will be going. Have each parent sell flats of flowers to their neighbors, family and friends. Raise the price a notch. Make sure the fund-raiser is bringing in a profit of at least $2 per flat. Let everyone who purchases flowers know it’s a fund-raiser and where the cash will be going.

If an event requires a lot of money, you may want to begin your fund-raising early. If you have a year to plan out your strategy, that’s even better, but six months is a good lead time, as well. Sell annuals and perennials in the spring, hold yard-sales in the summer, bake sales in the fall, and sell Christmas wreaths in the winter. The work is rewarding and the cash immediate.

Yard-sales are perfect fund-raisers. When you hold a yard-sale, everyone on the team can pitch in, bringing their old or unwanted items to a central location. Everyone works, either tagging items, running the cash register, or baking and/or handling the food for the day. (If everyone on the team bakes at least two items, you should have enough for a good-sized sale.) Remember that cupcakes and cookies should be sold separately, as they are easy, quick one-person snacks, and will sell for more money individually. Organize a lemonade stand as well. People enjoy yard-sales, and helping out, especially when the cause is for children.

Christmas wreaths are easy to sell. Nearly everyone hangs a wreath on their door during the holidays, so there is always a big demand. Find someone on your team or committee who has evergreen trees in their backyard, or purchase a couple of bundles of greens. Wire coat hangers, reformed into circles, are the perfect size, and come with a built-in hanging hook.. Purchase wire at the local hardware store. The wire will be used to wrap the individual fist size bundles of greens to the ring. Add a red bow and pine cone decorations, or leave the wreath plain. Either way, wreaths are economical, easy to make, and beautiful decorations. Wreaths can be sold for anywhere from $8-20, depending on decorations, size, and quality.

When raising money for cancer, arthritis, or other disease research, use a different approach. At a recent 24-hour relay for cancer, my team erected a mock movie studio and sold popcorn and pop for $1 each. We also constructed a wall with the words: Star Search...searching for the cure, and sold different size stars for $1 apiece. Each star–regardless of size–was one dollar. The purchaser could write their name on the star or the name of a loved one who might be battling cancer, or who may have lost the battle to cancer. The stars were then stapled to the wall. The stars were cut out of corrugated cardboard and spray painted a variety of bright colors. As the walk continued throughout the evening, we ran a couple sets of white lights through the cardboard so people could see their stars as they walked.

Another good way to raise cash for a worthy cause is by selling stars for support, and hanging them in a centrally located Christmas tree. Preferably a store or mall will allow your organization to erect a Christmas tree in their lobby and keep it on display for the remainder of the holiday season. This kind of fund-raising works well when raising funds for various events. For a different twist, try using a bare or “stick” tree for Easter and sell eggs. The person who buys the egg can have his or her name printed on the egg in bright colored shades.




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How to Become a Pilot

    Become a Pilot on Your First Flight

  1. Step 1
    Go to www.learntofly.com and type in your zip code. This will return a list of Cessna Pilot Centers near you. The majority of pilots today learned to fly in Cessna aircraft, so you will be in good company.
  2. Step 2
    From the list, you can visit the individual flight centers in order to find location and pricing information. For instance, the Learn to Fly website will mail you a coupon for a 99 dollar introductory flight, but a quick search of a listed flight school revealed a 59 dollar introductory lesson.
  3. Step 3
    Once you have found a flight school that is convenient to you, it is time to call and make an appointment for an introductory lesson. They usually have a special price, so be sure to ask for it.
  4. Step 4
    Weather permitting, a company flight instructor will greet you and introduce you to a whole new world.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy
 
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Career Tips: How to become a bartender

So, you want to be a bartender? Looks like a lot of fun does it? You get to meet a whole lot of interesting people who will tell you all their problems and maybe look up to you as a superior being...maybe even fill your pockets with tips that'll make you rich...and you'll have this wonderful romantic job that you don't have to work at? I mean c'mon, it certainly isn't hard standing behind a bar mixing drinks all night...right?...WRONG!

Bartenders work extremely hard! Not only do you have to take care of the wait staff, keep the beer and liquor stock in check, keep the glasses clean, make sure everyone at the bar has what they need, watch out for the boss (he gets real cranky if his drinks aren't just right), make sure you don't serve someone who's underage or almost as bad...someone who's already way too drunk to be drinking any more, listen to yet another drunk guy talk about what a total loser he is or better yet...talk about what a loser his ex-girlfriend/wife was, and do all this with a smile on your face and always ready to listen and help some poor soul feel better about themselves (whew, that was a mouthful eh?...smile). If you don't stay happy and friendly all the time, guess what?...You really don't make any decent tips! If you've had a bad day...set it aside, get over it!...because if you don't, you'll never make it as a bartender.

It may not be all physical, but believe me, stress is just as demanding on your health. Trust me, this is one heck of a stressful job.

Is it fun? Yes, sometimes it is, but you shouldn't romanticize it. Bartending is a whole lot of work, and the amount of fun you'll have isn't enough to cover up the fact that you really will work harder than you think.

Will you meet a lot of interesting people? Yes, only most of them won't be the nice kind of interesting, most people get a personality change for the worse when they're drinking. For the second part of that question...will they look upon you as a superior being? Yes, some will...but remember, these people are in an altered state, and half won't even remember you the next day. If you keep that in mind, it can be somewhat of an ego boost regardless.

Will your tip jars be overflowing with cash? Nope, not unless you're willing to put up with a whole lot more than most people can take, and even then...you'll never make as much as you're truly worth if your a good bartender. Once most people get really drunk, they either forget to tip or they're too wasted to care.

How do you get in? Well, first of all...if you aren't a very easy going person...find something else, bartending isn't for you. If you think you have what it takes and your willing to basically baby-sit some very strange people...give it a try. Just don't go into thinking it's going to be all fun and games. It's hard work and extremely stressful, but also extremely satisfying at the end of the shift. You've been listening to people tell you all night what a wonderful person you are, so what if they won't remember it the next day...you will!

Once you've finally decided that you can handle all these bad points of bartending, start with the wait staff. This is where you can learn drink names and what's in them, watch the bartenders. They can show you how to layer drinks, teach you about what types of liquors and mixers go in the different mixed drinks, and how to interact with the customers on a bartending level. Believe me, there really is a difference between bartender and customer interaction as apposed to waitress/waiter and customer interaction. Pay attention, it's something you need to learn.

If you've been to bartending school, don't put it on your application. Honestly, there's no substitute for experience in a real bar.

 
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Legal law office issues: tips for success

Working in a law office can be exciting and fun. The work is challenging, and each day brings the possibility of some new excitement walking through the front door.

Law offices offer a variety of work opportunities, from being a licensed attorney, a paralegal, a receptionist, an administrative assistant, a file clerk, or a researcher. The most education intensive job, of course, is that of attorney, with a paralegal coming in second. Other jobs in the legal field come with various requirements set out by individual law firms. Though each job may require different qualifications and job duties, each job operates in close connection with all others.

Though working in a law firm may sound glamorous, and it may, in fact, be exciting at different turns and twists, a law office offers its own set of rules, and is a life in and of itself.

Before you take the plunge and start sending out resumes or applying to law school, there are some law office specifics you might want to consider first.

(1) Be honest! This should be a given, no matter what job you take. But it seems especially true in the legal world. The old saying, "Never lie to your attorney," is certainly true, whether the lawyer happens to represent you or signs your paycheck.

(2) Know what confidentiality means, and abide by it to the letter. A client's right to confidentiality is only as good as the law firm staff. Clients depend on lawyers, sometimes for their very lives. And if the lawyer can't keep a client's confidences, a potentially damaging case could be lost because of something that was said.

(3) Law offices require a different mindset. It takes a special kind of person to successfully manage life in a law office. There is a society and culture among members of the legal community. And it helps to know this going in.

(4) Stay on top of things. Clutter and disorganization can kill you. There are many deadlines and time sensitive things going on in a law firm. One missed deadline can ruin a case and destroy an attorney's career, possibly even ruin someone's life - the client's. Paperwork is a creature in its own right, often duplicating overnight, or so it seems. There will always be a need to locate bits and pieces of paperwork for any one file at any given time. So, keeping everything neat and organized is an absolute necessity.

(5) There will often be more work than any one person can handle, and many times not enough financing to hire more help. There will always be a ton of things that need to be done in a law office, and all members of the firm will be expected to carry their share of the load. When case loads increase, or activity in different cases heightens, more work will be generated. And, at times, the load may feel unbearable. But, for the legal world, work will usually fluctuate. Just as work will often increase, work will also usually decrease from time to time. Attorneys must learn to juggle and shuffle finances during the lean times. And this may account for keeping a staff on hand who can handle the load of cases somewhere in the middle range of activity. Thus, staff must also dig in and struggle through the peaks, knowing that a slack time may very well be forthcoming.

(6) Fight the urge to get personally involved in the lives of clients. Stories may be compelling, and many will actually be true. But, though all attorneys would love to represent only the innocent and honest, it just doesn't work that way. And some clients will spin a tale even the most skeptical would dare to refute. However, even when stories are true, and the details break your heart, beware the tendency to get too close. Clients are simply that - clients - not little lost puppies to take home. This is not to say you must have a complete hands-off policy. You can always refer clients in need to community resources. Just be careful, lest the clients become too dependent on you.

(7) Learn how to leave work at the office. Attorneys many times take case files home to work on them. However, if you have a family or any other kind of life outside the office, working at home too often can seriously damage those relationships.

(8) Have a life outside the office. By all means, have friends, family and activities away from the office, if for no other reason than to hang on to some sense of sanity. Everyone needs to have a real life outside of work. Being so immersed in any job can quickly lead to a major burnout. And burnout can lead to any number of other problems - health problems, low job performance, depression, etc.

(9) Be careful of office romances. With the legal community very much its own social circle, it's easy to fall for someone you spend time with in and out of the office. But romances can interfere with job performance and work environments. And what happens if or when a romance turns bad? Everyone in the office suffers.

(10) Last and certainly not least, if this is what you really want to do - then do it! Scope out the situation, any specific job requirements and your home life. If you think you can successfully juggle it all, keep your sanity, and enjoy yourself through thick and thin, then go for it. There are rewards and benefits of working within the legal field. Just be sure you thoughtfully consider the situation from all angles, before you take the plunge.


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Job interview tips

Job interviews are often thought of as a grill ‘em in the hot seat ordeal that leaves applicants squirming and writhing. And they should be. No matter how easy-going the atmosphere, don’t fool yourself. That interviewer is always waiting for the wrong answer. The sooner she hears it she can get on with the next interview. Don’t be dismayed; she wants to hear the right answer. That’s when her job will be done.

Once past the initial screenings of cover letters and resumes, the employer knows what your assets are. That’s why you’re here. Now is the time for a more detailed look—to feel out how you might fit with the company and the position. Are you a team worker? Can you solve problems? Are you in it for the long haul? Whether these questions are asked directly or not, it can take as short as two seconds or as long as two hours will answer them.

To ensure your success there are a few things you absolutely must do and a some things that shouldn’t be done under any circumstance.

Do…

…Dress for success. Professionalism is always key and showing you know how to present yourself professionally speaks a thousand words. Even if the environment is more casual than your best Sunday dress, it doesn’t hurt to don it. Doing so says you believe you’re worth a million. This doesn’t give you the license to over do it. Gaudy, flashy, or cutting edge attire can lose jobs.

…Keep the vibe positive. When asked why you are leaving your present job, don’t start to complain about mindless job duties, chatty co-workers and your bossy boss. Instead, highlight the positive aspects—you’d like to explore new challenges, learn new skills and broaden your horizon. Honesty is obviously important and you’ll want to use that to your advantage.

Don’t…

…Be cocky. Arrogance is a huge red flag. You may think it points toward self-assurance, but that’s far from the truth. Cocky behavior is disrespectful and self-centered. It demonstrates disinterest and his rarely well received. Instead, recognize your shortcomings. You don’t have to play them up, just admit you have them.

…Say “I can’t” unless you truly can’t. An employer wants to be assured that you can handle the job. There are plenty of people out there who have the drive to discover how they “can” and that’s a lot more attractive. Physical limitations and personal convictions are the only good excuses for “can’t”. If you should choose to say it, be prepared to get passed up.

…Build yourself up to something you aren’t. Be honest with yourself. Be realistic if you aren’t qualified for the position. Fudged facts on your resume and raving reviews about your minimal technical experience might get you the job, but they won’t keep it for you. You’ll get more kudos for admitting your lack of experience than for not filling expectations.

…Don’t have stage fright. It’s definitely okay to be nervous; a new job is a big deal—especially when it’s the one that you want. But this is your time in the spotlight. Sit back and enjoy the barrage of questions. More than likely the interviewer is trying to find out how you function under pressure. Show you have what it takes to fill the position by staying confident, keeping cool and thinking your answers through.

These tips are meant to be just as flexible as your employer would want you to be. Adapt them to suit your personality and needs, and then use them to nail your next interview. Remember the interview is your opportunity to interview the job. Don’t be afraid to the ask questions that will help you to decide if this position is worthy of putting in two-weeks notice.




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Tips for successfully managing luncheon interviews

Interviewing for a new job? How exciting… until you hear those dreaded words, “luncheon interview”. Most of us face this at one time or another, and it’s one of the true tests of a candidate. Your recruiter will be looking to see how well you handle yourself in a social situation, and will be evaluating you on an entirely different set of criteria.

All of the regular interview protocol still applies, but with a few new twists – you must present yourself as not only professionally accomplished, but socially adept as well. Here are some tips for making the most of your luncheon interview:

• No smoking or drinking, even if the interviewer does. Even if you’d love a huge glass of wine, decline and order iced tea. Some firms frown on drinking at lunchtime, and smoking may be taboo. Since you won’t know if your interviewer really doesn’t care if you smoke – or drink – or not, or if this is a “test” to see if you’ll cave in to peer pressure, you’re better off skipping the alcohol and cigarettes. Don’t apologize, just decline and smile and order a soft drink instead.

• Brush up on your social skills and etiquette lessons ahead of time, if possible. Your interviewer wants to see how you handle yourself out in public. Don’t interrupt, and if you aren’t sure which fork to use (etc.) follow the lead of your interviewer. One general rule of thumb is that the silverware is arranged in the order it’s used – salad fork on the outside, meal fork on the inside, etc.

• Eat a snack before you go to your interview, but don’t tell your interviewer. It’s best not to be starving when you get into the luncheon interview, as the focus is really on you talking and paying attention to the information offered, instead of on the meal itself. No explanation is necessary for ordering light, but don’t skip your meal altogether as this is awkward for the interviewer.

• Order something light and healthy – try ordering something that reflects on the healthy lifestyle you are trying to project.

• Smart Menu selection – You should avoid finger foods, long pastas, anything incredibly hot or salty, new foods, and “messy” sauces or foods. Some interviewers will try to trip you up by taking you to a rib joint, or a spaghetti house. Almost any restaurant will offer some interview-friendly dishes instead.

• Some Good Interview choices include pastas with small shaped noodles, dishes with small chunks of meats, and some salads.

• Order what you know - If don’t recognize an item, ask your server or host (or just order something simple). Don’t try to fake your way through a menu, it’s been heard of for an interviewer to take a candidate to a restaurant with the menu in a foreign language, etc. Ask questions, if necessary, and order something simple.

• Special Diets - If you have special dietary needs, decide if you want to mention that up front or not. If so, make mention of it to your host at the time you’re scheduling the interview, then drop it. If you’re a strict vegetarian and they take you to a steak place, see if you can find an acceptable option – pasta, or soup and salad perhaps? Don’t make an issue of it, but don’t apologize either. If it comes up, be matter of fact and don’t let your host get embarrassed – remember, you are flexible and easy to work with.

• Get the Menu – If you know where you’re going, try calling ahead and ask about the menu, etc. Do this anonymously, as you never know when the restaurant may be owned by a good friend of the interviewer, etc. You don’t need to explain that you’re coming for an interview, but you can inquire as to the general menu options and any specialties they have.

• Taste before you Season – one cardinal rule of interviewing is to make sure you taste your food before you season it. There’s a story about a highly qualified senior executive who lost his job simply because he salted his soup before tasting it; the interviewer felt this indicated that he made decisions without all of the necessary information. In any case, it’s better safe than sorry on this one.

• Stress Management – luncheon interviews can be highly stressful. Just try to relax (a little) and realize that this is an interview, no more, no less, and the meal is secondary.

• Pause for Thought – Since you have food there, you can use this occasionally to pause when you need time to think about your answers. Take a small bite, chew, then answer the question – or take a small drink of your water before answering. Don’t do this for every question, though, or your interviewer may wonder about it.

• Eat neatly – As before, you should follow good etiquette – take small bites, chew completely, swallow before speaking, and lay fork down between bites.

• Be prepared – Remember, there are no cheat sheets at a luncheon interview, so you should go in knowing your job description and requirements, resume, etc. Don’t plan on relying on your paperwork, especially to refresh your memory about your own experience!

• Be professional – this is a social situation but still an interview. You should act professionally, with no off-color jokes or slang, even if interviewer is cutting up (this may be trying to see if you’ll join in). While it’s okay to relax, it’s not okay to drop your guard and act unprofessional.

• Dress Appropriately – dress nicely, with color if possible. Try to avoid white if possible (it’s a spill hazard, colored food will be far less likely to show splatters if they occur!).

• Bill Time – the Interviewer pays the bill – always. Don’t even reach for it; just thank them nicely when it’s paid.


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Cover letter tips: preparing one

A cover letter can open doors to your dream job or slam the gates to your career shut. If you’re pounding the pavement by answering ads or making cold calls, you need all the extra help you can get. Advertised job openings can pull in literally hundreds of resumes and unsolicited resumes often end up in the recycling bin. Entice and impress prospective employers with your cover letter by following this outline.

*Use the traditional business letter format. It’s important that whomever reads this letter knows you’re a professional. By using this format you’re demonstrating—first and foremost—your business knowledge and ability. Without following proper business etiquette, your resume package is sure to get weeded out.

*Show your interest in the company. Showing that you know more about the company than the ad they ran almost always gets you recognized. It may entail a little extra research, but the results are well worth it. Also be sure to reference that ad you’re answering, this information is always appreciated.

*Take a snapshot of highlights from your resume. This is your opportunity to focus on why you are the best fit for the position. Mention related experience and skills to emphasize your point. This is also a great place to add any personal information that doesn’t quite belong on your resume.

*Stay positive and flexible. A good attitude goes a long way. It’s very common for an employer to choose a candidate who has the aptitude to grow and learn over one who has more experience. Definitely keep words like “don’t and can’t” out of the mix. These words are huge red flags.

*Always be gracious. Showing personality and self-assurance is important and a very fine line. Confidence is a valuable asset, but arrogance will stop your plans short. This makes sense—you do get more flies to honey than vinegar.

*Keep it short. No one has all day to read your biography—and even if they did, they still probably wouldn’t. It’s also a good idea to thank whoever is reading the letter for their time and consideration. You won’t get any respect without offering it and this is the perfect way to say that you understand how hard that person is working.

*Always follow-up. This is where just an ounce of persistence can get you to the finish line. A phone call or e-mail to confirm that your resume package was received and to get a timeline for filling the position. It’s a polite, professional reminder that you exist and you’re earnestly interested in the position.


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Tips for filling out job applications

Welcome to the wonderful world of job hunting. The first thing you will need to do is complete an application for employment. Ok, so you already knew that, right? But did you know that the appearance, truthfulness and presentation of an application can all be important deciding factors in the hiring game? So many clues are revealed by this one piece of paper. The application can demonstrate attention to detail and ability to follow directions. It can reveal a person’s willingness to learn and also what level of importance they place in finding a job. There are several factors that can make or break your employment application, the trick is to know and use them to your advantage.

Three key points to consider when filling out your application are:

1. Information. If you are filling out the application at the job site, make sure that you bring along all the relevant information you need to complete all the questions. Addresses, phone numbers, references, etc. need to be correct and complete, in order to demonstrate that you actually care about getting the job. Incomplete references and unknown information will only give the appearance of laziness and lack of interest.

2. Honesty. Do everyone a favor and refrain from lying on your application. Information Can be checked out and if you have fibbed about anything, it will only count against you and will usually place your application right on top of the trash can. If you know how to perform certain tasks, say so; however, if you don’t, you’re only causing inconvenience to the company who might hire you on the basis of such false information.

3. Legibility. One of the most annoying things an employer has to face is an unreadable application! Along with correct spelling and grammar, be sure to use an ink pen (not marker) in either black or blue. Employers usually aren’t too impressed with multi-colored applications. Make sure to PRINT your information, as handwriting can sometimes be too difficult to decipher, and can put your application at the bottom of the pile.

Ok, so you’ve got these points covered. Now what? You need to consider what you are really looking for in a job. If you’re there because of a classified ad, make sure that you’ve read the ad and can offer this company what they’re seeking. If possible, call ahead and find out what the job’s hours are, what the pay is, and if they provide any training for those who don’t have experience. Why waste time, gas and money applying for a job that isn’t what you want or need? Don’t state on your application that you can work weekends or nights or even overtime, if, in fact, you cannot. If you get the job based on your availability and then tell your new employer that you cannot work the hours indicated, you’ll be out looking for a new job again, very shortly. Completing the employment application is only ¾ of the battle.

To win the war, so to speak, you need to make YOUR appearance stand out, as well! When you visit a perspective employer, make sure to put your best “self” forward. Dress appropriately, even for those jobs that might seem less important. If you show up in your everyday jeans and t-shirt, hair dyed day-glo purple and nose, eyebrow and tongue piercings on display, you’re, more than likely, NOT going to make that all-important great first impression. Take a shower, put on some good clothes, and show them that you care about how you present yourself! When you’ve completed your application, if at all possible return it to the person in charge of hiring. Inquire about an interview at that point and ask if you may call to check up within the next few days. Let them know that you are definitely interested in this position.

Getting a job is about presentation. How you present yourself and your application can make all the difference! Follow these suggestions and you can get your foot in the door of a great future!


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