Resume Writing - Tips When You Change Careers

Drafting and writing a resume in which you wish to change careers raises some special challenges. First, you need break down what you have accomplished in your current career into smaller more generic bites. These smaller parts of the current career will become the building blocks of the new resume.

You need to do some detective work on the new job or career. Find one or more people currently in the proposed new career position and contact them and see if you can come in for a short fact finding interview. If an interview is not possible find the best time to talk to them on the phone for a few minutes. Have your questions prepared. You need to know the three or so critical skills of the new career that would make you a good candidate. What skills or what lack of experience would absolutely not qualify you for the new career?

For example, if the new career required you to work in a team orientated environment and you've never worked in that type of environment, would you be disqualified? Not necessarily. Upon reflection in your present position, for example, although working alone there was a great deal of coordination required with others and with other departments to get your work done. In truth you were working in a quasi-team and doing very well.

Your resume will now be written to reflect your skills at working with others. Point out results achieved by your abilities to work with and through others.

In another example, a long time flight attendant was growing weary of the travel and other headaches and decided to move to another career. She had previously had her kitchen remodeled and was appalled at the real lack of customer service in the whole process. After some thought and interviewing the principals of several small and larger companies that performed this type of remodeling service she began drafting her resume. It focused on her considerable customer service skills, her analytical abilities, her first hand experience in remodeling her home, and her sales skills. In a relatively short period of time she landed a job in the trades' office of a larger construction firm that specialized in remodeling projects. Within a short time she was doing estimates and some designing. She now views her new career as having a future that is almost unlimited.

In yet another example, the applicant used his success at fund raising for his son's high school band
to leverage his way into another career. His former position as a parts manger for an automobile dealership had little room for growth. After he reworked his resume he uncovered a growing position as an area technical manager for a large manufacturer. The key to the new career was his showcasing of his fund raising experience, along with his technical background made him a desirable candidate for the new career.

The key in both examples was to break down the current position into smaller parts. And then take those parts and build a resume that directly addressed the needs of the new career. Of course, if the new career requires additional education, it can be secured through self-study, the internet or local educational institutions while you continue in your present position.

Once you find the relevant skills needed in the new career you'll be surprised how many of them you perform on a daily or weekly basis. The secret is to write the resume to highlight the required skills. For if you successfully perform a particular task infrequently what's to say that you can't be successful doing it closer to full time. With this approach, you'll be closer to your ideal planned career.

John Groth

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Career Tip: Your Lifestyle Affects Your Job Choice!

This career tip is for you . . . if you're serious about making a career or job change. Knowing your options and having a strategic plan are critical to your success in today's job marketplace.

For instance, according to recent reports, your lifestyle may seriously affect your career or job choice. Did you know that people without spouses or children will represent one of the fastest growing segments of the workplace population?

As a result, employment law experts warn that discrimination suits based on parental status are likely to emerge.

That's because in 2004 there were 46.4 never-married adults in the U.S.--more than double the number in 1970. The number of childless couples is expected to grow by 50% by 2010.

Already, people without spouses or children are seeking benefits better suited to their lifestyle. As a result, employers will have no choice but to explore a wider variety of work/life benefits instead of work/family benefits.

If you fall into these categories, your career planning should include these considerations. Earlier we reported that workplace privacy issues should also be part of your thinking. Checkout our website for more information on this emerging trend and how it impacts your job search.

For years EEI has recommended advance planning as a guarantee of solid and lucrative career growth. Now you can stay on top of the ever-changing job marketplace. So, don't miss out on critical career news and innovative job search strategies. It's so easy to have immediate access to current trends and alerts.

Because of the emerging trends we noted, it's even more important than ever to be alert to the latest strategies and techniques that can assure you of success in your career or job change.

So, the most important career tip of all: know what your needs and options are. Then take the time to identify opportunities that best correspond to those needs.

Paul Megan

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Employee Motivation - 10 Tips to Boost Job Performance

Increase Employee Performance by Harnessing the Power of Motivation

Employee motivation and productivity can be enhanced and improved by creating a work environment that maximizes the factors that affect performance. These factors are simple to understand, easy to measure, and can add tremendous value to any organization that is willing to implement them. Use these 10 tips to make sure that your employees are energized and inspired to produce the best results possible.

1. Interesting Work

Intrinsic motivation comes from the shear joy and pleasure of doing a task. When you read a great book, no one has to pay for each page you read. It is a pleasure to learn how the story unfolds and watch the plot develop. It is the same way with employee motivation. To maximize employee performance, find out what employees like about their jobs and then try to add more tasks that align with their own natural interests and talents.

2. Appreciation & Recognition

William James said, "The deepest desire in human nature is to be appreciated." It does not matter how much you pay someone, everyone want to know that their efforts are being seen and appreciated, especially by their manager. Don't just send them a thank you e-mail - that just means you care enough to hit the "Enter" key. If you really want to thank someone buy them a real "Thank You" card and describe how their behavior and performance has added value to the team and organization. Make it a point to catch people doing things right and they will inevitably do things right more often.

3. Feeling Involved In the Work Process

Research shows that when people get to participate in creating a system or process, they are much more likely to follow it than one simply imposed upon them by an outside expert. Recognize that the people doing the job have the knowledge of how things can be done better, faster, and cheaper. If you want them to tell you, then make it easy for them to offer suggestions and reward employees who contribute ideas that add value to the bottom line.

4. Achievement

Napoleon once remarked, "It is amazing how willing men are to risk their lives for a little bit of tin and ribbon to wear upon their chest." Awards and prizes can serve as a great motivator to harness the power of healthy competition. It is always better to use rewards that are meaningful and inspiring. When an employee exceeds your expectations, then make sure you recognize their achievement. On the day someone retires, they will pack up these awards and prizes to serve as fond reminders of a wonderful career.

5. Job Security

If everybody had what it takes to be an entrepreneur, then there would be no General Electric or Toyota and we would all be buying products from artisans and craftworkers. Thankfully, many people prefer to be part of a large organization and can be more productive when they get to focus on doing their job instead of worrying about developing a business plan or marketing strategy. Telling people that they are lucky to have a job creates an atmosphere of fear and worry that decreases job performance. Instead, tell your employees that the company is lucky to have such a skilled and committed workforce and people will take pride in their work and their company.

6. Increased Responsibility

We all know that some employees lack ambition and have no desire to advance on the job, but the vast majority of workers want a chance to take on more responsibility and add more value to the organization. Always be aware of opportunities for training that will equip your employees with the skills and tools they will need to advance in their career. Always try to fill open positions with internal applicants before looking for an outside candidate. This will create a culture of career development and preserve institutional memory and organizational knowledge so that it can be transferred to rising employees as they advance in their own career.

7. Good Wages

Robert Bosch, founder of the world's largest automobile parts supplier, said, "I do not pay good wages because I have a lot of money; I have a lot of money because I pay good wages." If you want motivated, high productive employees you have to pay such people according to their ability and performance. Good employees are motivated by more than just good wages, but never allow low wages to be the wedge a competitor can use to steal away your best people.

8. Good Working Conditions

If you want to get the most out of people you need to create an environment that facilitates success. At the minimum, you must offer a safe, clean, and sanitary work site. To get the most out of employees, help them take pride in their workspace, even if it is only a cubicle or workstation. Allow people to personalize their own work sites with photos or small trinkets so they will feel like they have a place that belongs solely to them.

9. Being Part of a Team

Being part of a dysfunctional team is an emotionally draining experience that results in low morale, low productivity, and high turnover. The great coach, Vince Lombardi, once remarked, "Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." We are all social beings and we all want to be part of a healthy team where we can give and receive support, help, and encouragement. Organizations can harness this natural human desire by aligning employee efforts to achieve goals that are mutually beneficial to both the organization and its employees.

10. Help with Personal Problems

How many times have you heard about a bad boss who told their employees to leave their problems at the door so they could focus on their job? Unfortunately, they probably left their motivation and productivity at the door as well. Smart managers know that it is not their job to be a counselor or therapist, but it is there job to recognize when one of their employees is having personal problems that are affecting their job performance. They need to have open lines of honest communication so that employees can feel encouraged to ask for help and then be directed to their Human Resources Department or their Employee Assistance Programs.

Thomas Haizlip is an executive coach who works with college educated, mid and senior level managers. He specializes in three types of clients:

1. High Potential- clients that need fast track development,

2. Valuable, But Risking Derailment - clients who are competent, but are not performing well now because of poor people skills,

3. Diamonds in the Rough- clients who are technically competent but are not advancing because of a lack of emotional intelligence and limited leadership competencies.

Tom 

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Tips For a New Graduates Looking For Nursing Jobs

By Karen P Williams

As a new nursing graduate you are now ready to enter into the exciting career of nursing. A new grad has several choices to choose from when it comes to nursing jobs. Before you start your search for jobs, there a few thing to consider first. As a new grad, you need to carefully choose the jobs that you apply for. To ensure that you apply for the type of position that will suit you, you need to take into consideration your personality and interests.

If your interests are being around children, as a new grad you may want to find a position in pediatrics. As a new grad, taking the time to locate the jobs that match with your personality and interests can help ensure a long and happy career in the nursing field. Getting burned out or overwhelmed to quickly is a problem that some new nurses encounter in their first couple of years of working as a nurse.

This is why you want to match yourself with the jobs that best fit you. As a new grad looking for nursing roles, you should also keep in mind your long term career goals. Most people that want a long term career in the nursing field look for jobs that are in hospitals. Hospitals have several different nursing positions and as well as nursing supervisory positions. As a new grad, you would probably start off with basic patient care, but as you gain experience hospitals allow you to move up to emergency room and trauma room positions. Hospitals also have surgical nurses, rehabilitation nurses and pediatrics nurses.

It is not only common, but expected that a new grad is anxious to start to working as a nurse.

There are several ways to find exciting nursing jobs. Some nursing schools provide job placement services for their new grad students. Job directory websites are also very popular. Job directories not only allow you the option to search for local nursing jobs that are in your area, but they also allow you to search nationally for nursing jobs.

This makes find nursing jobs much easier, if relocating is an option for a new grad. Most all hospitals and medical facilities have there own website. A new grad can browse their available nursing jobs and in some cases you can even apply online. Of course the traditional methods of finding nursing jobs are still popular such as looking through local newspapers for nursing jobs and visiting medical facilities and hospitals in person.

As a new grad looking for nursing jobs, you may find more opportunities if you are flexible and open to the idea of relocating. With the nursing shortage that many states are experiencing, major hospitals are offering new nurses incentives to come work at their hospital. Some offer a sign-on bonus, while others may offer to pay the moving expenses if you agree to relocate. Nursing jobs for a new grad are available to fit most any interests and all personalities all across the United States.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Basic Tips on Applying to Nursing Schools

By Kathy Mercado

A number of young students opt for nursing courses right after they finish school. Having a diploma or degree in nursing from a reputed nursing school is something that can help anyone to have a bright career. You don't have to read thick books and there is little hard work involved. Nursing field is a light but sensitive field where your attitude and personality is more important that intelligence quotient. If you are a people person, nursing field may prove excellent for you in long term. Here are a few basic tips on applying to nursing schools -

1. Check online as well as local schools in the region. When it comes to online schools, you should choose the ones recognized in your state or territory. There are countless websites that claim to be accredited within the nursing program.

2. Accredited nursing schools will provide various nursing courses ranging from Bachelor's degree to Master of Science. One of the fastest job placements are ensured by degree courses in nursing programs. At present, nursing is one of the fast growing professions in entire United States.

3. BSN (Bachelor's in Nursing) will take around 4 years to complete and MSN (Master's in Science) will take nearly 2 years. Make your plans according to the budget you can afford for a specific period of time. Some of the nursing schools will relax tuition fees when you are an intern.

4. As a BSN you can easily find a job by checking newspapers on daily basis. A number of healthcare centers, nursing homes and retirement homes are continuously looking for nursing professionals. Before you apply to nursing school, learn about their placement records and ratio of graduates inducted directly into major healthcare organizations. A reputable nursing school can push forward your nursing career by giving you the right platform to begin with.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Parenting Tips: How to be a work at home mom

"I can't get any writing done because the kids are in my face!"

"I can't surf the net for my cash programs because the kids always want to play a computer game."

"How do I run these transcription projects downtown with three kids in tow?"

These are the dilemmas an increasing number of parents face who work from home. The cost of childcare is prohibitive, especially for more than one child. With more children diagnosed with disorders such as autism and ADHD, parents want to be at home with their special needs children after school.

The Internet is bursting with home based business opportunities and freelance or outsourced work. It seems like a dream: regaining some of the income lost when one parent goes to work but still being able to have a stay at home parent for the kids.

For some parents, however, it seems like a nightmare after a few weeks. Children need attention but the work at home parent needs a few hours each day to work.

Here are some tips, arranged by age group.

Infants and Toddlers

* Take advantage of their earlier bedtimes to get some busy work done in the evenings.

* If your work involves the computer, you CAN learn to type with a toddler on your lap. Keep wandering hands busy with a toy, bottle or sippy cup.

* Children age 2 and up can spend short bursts of time playing near your workspace.

* Keep a few small toys or board books in a desk drawer and use them only for times when you are working so they seem like a novelty

* Join or start a cooperative playgroup in your neighborhood with at least six children where two mothers take all of the children once or twice per week for an hour or hour and a half on a rotating schedule.

Preschoolers, age 3-5

* Clear off a corner of your workspace for your preschooler to color in coloring books or draw pictures on plain paper. Many preschoolers love the idea of "working" along with a parent at their desk.

* Keep a drawer or box near your workspace with books, paper, crayons, colored pencils, clay, or other creative materials

* Keep dry cereal, juice boxes, individual sized packages of graham cracker snacks, goldfish crackers, canned fruit cups, and other nutritious snacks handy so your children can help themselves to their morning and afternoon snack

* Add variety to the day by allowing short videos or TV breaks, and try to place your workspace near a window where you can watch your child play outside in the yard while you work.

School Age 6 and up.

* After school or on weekends have your preteen sit near your workspace and do homework while you work. If you are doing "busy work" where you can work and converse at the same time, use the time to catch up on your child's day.

* If you need a block of uninterrupted time, set up an informal coop arrangement with other neighborhood parents to host playdates or video film festival afternoons on days off from school and reclaim some of the days formerly filled with wails of "I'm bored."

* Set up a housework/special time coop arrangement with your older children. If they complete certain household chores for you, thus freeing up more time for your work, you will spend "special time" with them on a certain activity of their choice: riding bicycles or inline skating, going out for ice cream or sharing an order of french fries, seeing a movie, or anything else they choose for which you are willing to treat them.

With some ingeniuity on your part, and cooperation on your children's part, working at home can work for the whole family.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Home business Tips: Write a financial plan

A business plan is an important tool that will help you to focus your home based business, learn more about the competition and be realistic about the profits and expenses. Because many lenders are wary about home based businesses, a properly written plan will also help you to get a needed loan.

You will want to start with a cover page. This will have your business name, your name, address, phone number, email, and web page address. This page introduces you, so it should be exceptionally neat.

The next page is a table of contents, which will tell the page number of each of the important parts of your plan. You can include a small synopsis if you wish.

Start off with a description of the industry you are going to become a part of. Identify some of the competition, including as many as you can find that work from home. You will want to describe the basic procedures for this business and the average income of home workers. Explain how others have started and the areas they market to. This is to show a lender you know what you are getting into and to learn some things about the field yourself.

Next you will want to describe your business. What will be the exact responsibilities? How is it different from the businesses already in this field? Why is yours better? Include your pricing, your market area and any other relevant information. This area will allow you to focus your idea and think about ways you can make it better than the competition.

The next part of your business plan will discuss your goals. Write down all the goals you have for this business in one year and in five years. Make sure these are compatible with your lifestyle and family goals. Your goals should include production, profit, and amount of customers. Be realistic in the expected growth. Think about how you will handle your business if it grows faster than this. What about slower?

Now go into the details of your marketing plan. Will you use salesmen, flyers, direct mailers, TV ads, radio ads, newspaper ads, magazine ads, word of mouth, direct calling or the internet? Which ones will you rely on most? How much will you need to spend for each different type of advertising? Then you will need to discuss the results you have assumed. Do you expect five percent of the people to respond to your direct mailings, and two percent to buy your product? To come up with this number, you can try it on a test market, and interview others in similar businesses. Talk to your potential customers they may tell you of a specific niche you can fill, that will increase your profits. Learning the realistic numbers for expected respondents can be a little depressing, but it’s better to have an estimate now than count on responses that aren’t going to happen. Be creative in your advertising and you can lower your expenses a little. Maybe you will need to lower your rates in the beginning, maybe even doing some work for free just to get your name out there. Expect to put at least the first six months profits back into your business and at least half towards advertising.

The next section of your business plan is about action. This is where you describe specific things that you need to do within the next year to reach your goal. How many customers or projects do you need? According to your marketing plan what will you have to do to get that amount? Write down all the steps. How much of your time will be spent on each. If things go wrong or take longer then expected how will you overcome these minor set backs? With a step by step plan you will know what to do next, this will allow you to see the whole picture and keep your perspective through hard times.

Now you’ll need to discuss your expenses for the next year and for the next five years. Include everything your can think of, like, business license fees, logo and ad design fees, accountant, taxes, lawyers, employee wages, cost of materials, equipment, repairs, gas and driving expenses, copy rights, advertising and any other fees that go along with your specific business. Estimate a little high so that you will always have a little leeway. You can include a statement for the lender about how much you expect to save by operating this business at home rather then a rented office?

The next section will discuss how much money you’ll need to get started and how much to keep it going. Then tell the expected income followed by the gross profits. The final statement will be your net profits which if you are applying for a loan will be one of the most important parts. Now state the amount you have to invest in the business, what other sources your money is coming from and how much you need from a lending institution. Include in this section what you will do if you suddenly need a little more money. Will your business fail? (By the way, this is not an option). What is your back up plan. If you have one the lending institution will know you are prepared for nearly every situation. They should feel confident that their money is safe with you.

The last page should have your references, which can include previous employees, clients, lenders, your lawyer and your accountant. It can include positive statements these people have made showing what a wonderful business person you are.

Now you are armed with the tools you need to get a loan to start your business and the plan that will make it succeed.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Business plan presentation tips

One of the most frustrating things in an office environment is trying to get management to take your ideas seriously.

While most companies SAY they listen to employees and consider them a valuable asset, when the chips are down, many of them do not truly give your input the time of day.

Many of us learn to shut down. We stop trying to bring up new ideas and schemes.

Yet most of us still come up with exciting ideas we're convinced are important for the company. And let's face it - if you can make your ideas stick, not only do you help make your employer more successful, but you become more important to the company leading to a reduced risk of being laid off, and a greater possibility of advancement.

On the other hand, it's human nature to resist change, and you'd be surprised how many people will try to kill your idea outright.

How can you get that idea across to management and have it taken seriously without antagonizing those around you?

Here are some tips:

1. Don't waste a lot of office time on it. If either coworkers or bosses think or suspect that you're putting a lot of office time into your zany new idea you're going to get shot down quickly. Emphasizing that a lot or all of the time preparing the proposal was done on your own time, that both lends credibility to the proposal and keeps the wolves at bay.

2. Align allies. In many cases, it makes sense to get someone else enthused about the idea first. This might be a respected coworker or someone in middle management. If it's coming from other people was well, management may take it more seriously. One warning - however trite it may sound, many other office workers will try to torpedo you due to jealousy or a perceived threat so be careful who you bring it up with (see below).

3. Know who it hurts. You already know who it helps. But who does it hurt? Those people who feel threatened by a proposal may torpedo it right out of the blocks. While working in a Spanish speaking office, I had suggested we take on this great new accounting package that would streamline operations a great deal and save money. The boss was excited and ready to buy. However, just to be sure he called in the main accountant. She immediately began to find tons of flaws in the software, and basically ripped it to shreds. Later I figured out that she actually liked the product, but was concerned that she wouldn't handle the English commands well. She was threatened by the idea and preferred the status quo. She'd never say that out loud to the boss, but that feeling caused her to torpedo it right away. Think through those people who may be hurt directly or indirectly by an idea and work to make it more palatable for them. If you start with enemies all around you, you're doomed.

4. Make sure to do you homework on costs and benefits. Your idea isn't brilliant just because it sounds great, it's brilliant because it's faster, cheaper, and more efficient than what's being done now. Try to back up concepts with hard facts. I once worked at a liquor company who was paying $20,000 a year to have their logo on a local soccer teams jersey. When I suggested skipping that and instead putting it on a scoreboard they were somewhat skeptical. When I mentioned that we could DONATE it to the city (with our logo on it of course) and that it would be the first electric scoreboard in the stadium, AND that it would cost only $8,000 and last for 10 years they sat up and took notice.

5. Anticipate objections. Think ahead on what people will say about it. Don't be blinded by your own brilliance. What are your weak points. When Jane Manager says, "Yeah, it looks good on paper, but in the real world that's not going to work," you can come back with, "I know that's how it sounds, but look, here are the numbers from Acme Company who tried something similar last year and it worked for them". Anticipate objections and come prepared to respond to them.

6. Don't try to be perfect. Don't get defensive. Nothing is more hokey that trying to say your idea is perfect. Don't try to poke holes in it, but an honest appraisal of some risks and downsides makes your presentation more solid. Phrases like, "now, I realize that this will cost more per year than we're currently paying, but it will give us an increased return due to it's efficiency and I think the return is worth the cost" sound solid and well thought out. It also covers you when costs are high - you DID mention that to start with.

7. Use management's own words. Don't be afraid to come right back at them. Listen to what they are talking about, and try to present ideas of your as solutions to problems they've raised, or as an outgrowth of something they've already done. "I was thinking about what you said at the staff meeting last week and I thought of a great solution…." Or "Remember how you said putting widget A into slot B might help our troubles? That got me thinking… what if we also put widget A into slot C…." You have to be a bit careful with this one, or management will take it as their own, and leave you in the cold which brings me to….

8. Take credit. Don't be obnoxious, but try to make sure that you keep clear where the idea came from. Many people will take an "underlings" idea and present it as their own. Preempt that by saying (in a staff meeting, or at a meeting with higher ups), things like, "when I brought this idea to Joe Boss on Friday, I was really excited by how he immediately helped me flesh out some of the details". You're giving him credit, but also clearly establishing where the initiative came from. You don't have to do it often. Usually two or three times, innocently said, is enough to catch in everyone's subconscious that you're the author of the deed…. Don't try to show anyone up though or you could engender resentment.

9. Cover your backside. Be careful that your ideas don't put you too far out on a limb. Make sure that others are coming with you so that if things don't turn out, it's clear that it was your idea, but it was everyone's decision to act on it.

10. No guts, no glory. Figure out your risk threshold. Sometimes it pays to go out on that limb. If you are in a position to do so, you've figured out how much of yourself is on the line, and you're willing to take the risk, sometimes walking the plank on your own brings the greatest glory.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Public speaking tips

At first glance, giving a speech might seem like a truly difficult task to accomplish. In reality, the job can be performed whether or not you have given one before, and no matter what the length or topic of your speech is.

A good speech begins even before you take the stage or podium to talk. Research your subject if you do not know it well. Memorize important items so that you can recall them at a moment's notice. Once you have gathered all pertinent information, place it into an outline, keeping in mind that your speech time may be limited. Eliminate unnecessary details, and stick to the main points that your audience wants to hear. Place yourself in their shoes and ask "What would I want to hear if I were in the audience?" The better you know your topic, the easier it will be to talk to someone about it.

Prepare your final outline on 3" x 5" notecards, as they are less obtrusive than sheets of paper. Allow plenty of time to rehearse your presentation. Go through it several times until you feel comfortable about its contents. Give it in front of a mirror, and then a few friends. Take suggestions on what you can improve upon. Practice you speech in the clothes you will wear when giving it. You will be amazed at how it helps you to focus.

On the day of your speech, allow plenty of time to reach the place at which it will be given. This will not only put you at ease, but it will give you a chance to possibly socialize with your audience prior to your presentation. Talking and shaking hands will bring the audience into your court. They will see you as a friendly ally once you begin talking.

During the early portion of your speech, it is very effective if you can capture your audience's attention with the use of a story or a joke. However, make sure that whatever you do is appropriate for the occasion and pertinent. You may, for example, find that reciting a series of shocking facts and figures about your topic to be a solid opening.

As you progress through your speech, remember to take your time and enunciate each word. Speeding through your presentation will make you slur your words. Your audience will feel uncomfortable,a nd the emphatic parts of your speech that you worked so hard to research will be lost.

The room in which you speak may be quite large. Be sure to speak to everyone in the room by moving your head and eyes to cover everyone. Focusing solely on one portion of the room will lead the others to believe you have forgotten them. Keep everyone in your sights, and they will be more apt to pay attention.

Do not let you speech drag on endlessly. Once you have hit your main points and covered your objectives, close out your speech. Your audience will appreciate your being succinct. Additionally, end with a point that your audience will remember.

Following these points will enable you to channel your energy into giving a very effective speech.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Excellent public speaking tips

Public speaking is the number one fear ranking above death in many psychology polls. People are gripped by fear and phobic when it comes to public speaking. Even trained public speakers still feel butterflies in their stomach when getting ready to present a public speech. The famous Greek orator Demosthenes actually put pebbles in his mouth to help him with his speeches to alter the sound quality. Whether public speaking presentations inspire a crowd or instill fear in an audience, many of the key techniques for convincing an audience remain the same. While there may be some argument in the field, and there may be variations on the theme, this article will focus on two key areas, and throw in some of the more classic thoughts. The two key areas deal with audience. Is your audience friendly to your ideas or hostile or of an opposite point of view. This is of vast importance for a speaker. Exploring these factors as well as others is a good starting point for a new public speaker, as well as an excellent refresher course for even veteran public speakers.

First and foremost one must consider whether your audience favors the topic you may be presenting. Do they agree with your point of view? In a debate will they support your points or would they oppose them. While we will look at ideas like credibility of a speaker, and the demographics of the age range, gender, and other aspects of population, we will focus here on the first basic. If your audience agrees with your point of view then it alright to focus or concentrate on the topic to the exclusion of opposing points of view. If your contention is the legalization of marijuana and you think that it is a good thing, because it could be taxed, has great possibilities for medical assistance, and does not have enough of a detrimental effect on motivation to merit being illegal, then that would probably be all you would have to say. If you are addressing Pot Farmers of America, then you obviously are addressing a hypothetical audience that is in your camp, on your side. Studies in social psychology have found that if you present your supporting points for your argument ot a group that is in favor of your main point then they will quickly support or buy into the other apects of your speech. They will listen with some detail and probably even be able to remember the supporting points. Why you may ask? Because it agrees with their preconceived notions, it agrees with the opinion they already have and therefore is appealing to them at the outset.

This is also a good reason to craft your speeches towards a specific audience and even IF it seems your topic does not tie into Protect the Rare Soon to Be Extinct Cockroach, then you had better tie your speech into that belief system somehow IF you can. This of course can go towards credibility, so on should not stretch your powers of persuasion too much. What is key here is, does your audience agree with your presentation, and if not you might be able to craft it to fit. In the final analysis though, you might have to approach it from another angle altogether, and that is the second major section of this article, convincing those who oppose your point of view.

When an audience is in opposition to your point of view, studies in social psychology have proven that it is of primary importance to address the oppositions arguments. If you just present your arguments or supporting points in favor of your topic, then you will lose your audience. They will shut down, turn off, tune out and others feel you are not a credible speaker. Primarily because they do not feel you are being intellectually honest. You are not addressing the real issues, the real arguments you are not basically addressing them. Therefore you must present your argument, then your main points, and then state the oppositions primary argument, then rip it to pieces. Discredit it. By doing this you address the opposition and give them something new to think about. They look at the weak spot in their position as well as the supportive information you have give them. You have planted the seed of doubt. You may have swayed them to your way of thinking. You might be a fine public speaker with excellent credibility, vocal tone, good body language, hand gestures, excellent research and material in the body of your speech, a powerful beginning, a rousing ending, good humor and a key joke. But if you fail to address the opposing point it will all have been for naught. If the argument is that the United States is a parallel model to the Roman Empire, with similar economic, social and political structures and you present that, but the audience doesn't agree, you have a problem. Some of the audience members may feel the United States has pulled out of an economic slump similar to that of the Roman Empire, where the middle class was being unduly taxed and it destroyed the finances of the Empire. The opposing point is that the United States will not repeat history, will not decline and fall. The speaker will have to address that issue even if it is not voiced, IF that is one of the strongest arguments against his or her thesis. It might be addressed by stating that economics are cyclical and fluid and that the United States might be experiencing unprecedented economic boom right now, but that eventually unless are changed in a more permanent mode, depression will follow, or at least the continued erosion of the middle class. If you as a speaker feel the opposition might have several strong points address several of them being sure to be balanced but to plant the seed of doubt at the very least, and try to undermine the foundation of the opposing viewpoint. This allows you the balanced view of being fair and educated in the eyes of your audience.

While there is a vast amount of material on public speaking studies do not lie. Credibility of the speaker is important. Knowing the age of the group, their political affiliation, their religion, their gender and more are all important. Having a commanding presence, charisma, a strong voice, excellent posture and so many other tricks of the trade are polish upon a gem in the rough. However the two key secrets of public speaking success are found in the field of social psychology and are reflected above. Know thy audience. Are they most likely to be in favor of what your present or oppose it. Is it a mixed audience? If so be prepared to address the opposition. With these two keys you map out victory in your presentations. All the rest is really just window dressing.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

5 trade show tips

Going to a trade show of fellow industry professionals can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your career. These five tips can help you get the most from your experience, no matter what your industry.

1) Seeing half of two seminars beats one full session.

Many trade shows offer excellent seminars where you can add expertise and knowledge. Indeed, it’s difficult for a trade show to excel without great sessions. If the show you are going to has these, bring a notebook and take quality notes.

However, many attendees lock into a seminar, jot down everything, and realize later that much of the session was of limited utility. Leaving a session early might not be good manners, but it’s better to be rude than miss an opportunity to learn. Besides, most speakers prepare for busy professionals with comprehensive summaries and overviews. (Another tip is to, whenever possible, grab the printed materials. Many speakers will go off a slide show without adding much to what’s on screen.)

2) Make a networking plan.

Looking at the seminar sessions before the show is critical. Your goal is not just to make an efficient plan on learning, but also in networking. If there is a seminar led by someone that could really do your company or career some good, play the star pupil role: arrive early, ask good questions, and stay late. Since this is somewhat contrary to the first tip, make sure you limit your networking choices to only the best-fitting candidates.

3) Tour the dealers’ room daily and thoroughly.

Trade shows offer a perfect “silver bullet” opportunity for merchandisers and service providers that sell to your industry. While everyone in the room is hoping to separate you from your money, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn a ton here...especially if your company’s competitors are displaying.

Depending on the quality of the dealers and representatives, you can learn more from dealers than seminars. You do this by giving the sales reps on the floor the courtesy of listening to their pitch, than ask questions about what’s really of interest to you. The goal here isn’t to spend a ton of money, or to sidetrack sales reps from selling. The goal is to find out what’s out there, and to widen your networking reach. You do this by being you in front of fellow professionals, and determining who the real players are in your industry.

4) Don’t be stingy with your business cards.

Even if you are already drowning in junk mail, don’t limit your distribution of business cards on the show floor. Most trade shows will rent your name and address to exhibiting companies. Since you are already going to get mail, not passing a card won’t help you much.

Hording your cards also sends a clear message that you are (a) not important enough to have a card, or (b) not interested in what your new contacts have to say. Since business cards are cheap and first impressions are important, neither approach is a good idea.

5) Lighten up, but with an agenda, and make sure to follow up.

It’s easy to fall into a “prude or hedonist” mindset at a trade show, and neither approach is professionally defensible. The temptations of expense account living and a new social situation lead many people to forget work and take a de facto vacation. Others operate with an ultra-conservative mindset, depriving them of a chance to be successful in their networking.

Aim for a happy medium. Entertain attendees, but don’t lose all inhibitions. Socialize, but not to the point that you won’t be reasonably sharp on the next day of your assignment – and make no mistake, a trade show is an assignment. If you’re worried that your dinner bill will cause trouble with accounting, skip a meal to make your total more palatable. And most of all, keep your schedule reasonably flexible. If your most important contact at the show wants to talk longer, you don’t want to play clock-watcher.

Bonus tip: Make sure you follow up with your show contacts once you get back home. Failing to do this, to some extent, throws away the money you spent going to the trade show in the first place.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Job tips: legitimate work at home

So you want to work from home? You are not alone. Working from home is becoming the American Dream. First, you need to look at why you want this. Maybe you want to be a stay-at-home mom, maybe you don’t enjoy the work place experience or maybe you just hate your boss.

Whatever your reason, know that working from home can be very challenging. It is up to you to set your hours and work them. There are so many distractions that you may come to the end of the day and realize you forgot to “go to work”. It helps to be self-motivated and have a strong skin if you want to work from home.

Many people are so desperate to find a job that they find an opportunity that looks good, and end up being scammed. A rule of thumb, NEVER PAY MONEY TO BE HIRED. If someone is looking to employ you, they will pay all the processing fees. Some other things to keep in mind: if it looks too good to be true it most likely is and be skeptical of promises of big money.

Envelope stuffing and most assembly jobs are scams. Most envelope stuffing scams require you to send them money. They will then mail or email you a letter which teaches you how to scam others. With the assembly jobs, you pay for the materials. Then when you send back the work, it has to meet their specs. If the crafts are not perfect by their rules, you do not get paid. Most often it is very difficult to meet their criteria.

Surveys are another popular area for trying to earn money. Surveys are a great hobby, not a source of income. There is no guarantee that you will earn money. Some companies only offer products, raffles or reward you with points which you can use to buy items or cash out when you have a certain amount of points. For all companies, you must first qualify for their survey. You can go months without getting an invite to participate. That said - any money you earn will not be enough to live off. NEVER PAY FOR A LIST OF SURVEY COMPANIES. You can find free lists all over the website.

Now that you know what not to look for in a job, there are ways you can work from home. Jobs do exist, but they are hard to find. Many of those who work from home have their own business. If you decide to go that route, remember there is no such thing as “no selling”; anyone who tells you “no selling” is involved is trying to sell you something. Even if you are offering a service, you still need to sell yourself. Do not think of this as a negative. Instead look at what others will gain from your service or product.

IDEAS FOR WORKING FROM HOME:

TELECOMMUTING, OR WORK FOR YOUR CURRENT OR PAST EMPLOYER.

Some jobs can be done at home. If you have a good rapport with your employer, come up with a plan on how you can work from home and meet with them. Be sure to include the hours that you will work and times when you will stop into their office.

FIND A JOB.

There are job listings online, but they are competitive. Many require a certain degree, like becoming a medical transcriptionist, or they may require you to have access to certain equipment. Remember, never pay for a job. If your house is quiet, you can do some inbound telemarketing calls from home. However, you are only paid for the time you are on the phone.

Freelance or outsource.

Look inside yourself. What skills do you have? What training have you received that you can make work for you? Make a menu of services you can offer others and sell them to others. Ideas for freelance work include writing, accounting, computer programming, website design or maintenance, proofreading, transcribing, customer service, or public relations. Remember, it may take some time for you to get your name out there. Do not get discouraged. Persistence is very important to living your lifelong dream.

Start or create a business.

You may have skills or a passion that others will benefit from. Party planners, dog walkers, personal organizers and even personal coaches are growing in popularity. These businesses are home based, meaning you do a lot of work from home, but you may need to go out to meet with clients or do a job. You are still your own boss.

Direct Sales.

Direct sales is quickly becoming the work from home job of choice. Though they are mostly known for home parties, many businesses have alternate ways to sell their products. Plus, with direct sales you can earn a residual income, meaning you get paid to help others succeed. The key to a strong direct sales business is finding your perfect fit. You need to love what you do, or you will not work. There are direct sales businesses for everything including toys, wine, makeup, spa essentials, jewelry, clothes, purses, crafts, scrapbooking, home decorating and food.

Now that you have some ideas of how to find a legitimate work from home job, look inside yourself and put your skills and passion to work for you. Don’t give up; your dream job is waiting for you somewhere. Someone wrote this article from home!

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

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!

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Three Tips for Becoming an Energizer

Some people become leaders no matter what their chosen path because their positive energy is so uplifting. Even in tough times, they always find a way. They seem to live life on their own terms even when having to comply with someone else's requirements. When they walk into a room, they make it come alive. When they send a message, it feels good to receive it. Their energy makes them magnets attracting other people.

Just plain energy is a neglected dimension of leadership. It is a form of power available to anyone in any circumstances. While inspiration is a long-term proposition, energy is necessary on a daily basis, just to keep going.

Three things characterize the people who are energizers.

1. A relentless focus on the bright side. Energizers find the positive and run with it. A state government official in a state that doesn't like government overcomes that handicap through her strong positive presence. She dispenses compliments along with support for the community served by her agency, making it seem that she works for them rather than for the government. She greets everyone with the joy generally reserved for a close relative returning from war. I can see skeptics' eyebrows starting to rise, but judging from her success, people love meeting with her or getting her exclamation-filled emails. She is invited to everything.

The payoffs from stressing the bright side can be considerable. In my new book, SuperCorp, I tell the story about how Maurice Levy, CEO of the global marketing company Publicis Groupe, tilted the balance in his company's favor when his firm was one of several suitors for Internet pioneer Digitas. At one point in a long courtship, Digitas hit problems, and the stock collapsed. One of Publicis's major competitors sent Digitas's head an email saying, "Now you are at a price which is affordable, so we should start speaking." Levy sent an email the same day saying, "It's so unfair that you are hurt this way because the parameters remain very good." Levy's positive energy won the prized acquisition.

2. Redefining negatives as positives. Energizers are can-do people. They do not like to stay in negative territory, even when there are things that are genuinely depressing. For example, it might seem a stretch for anyone to call unemployment as "a good time for reflection and redirection while between jobs," but some energizers genuinely stress the minor positive notes in a gloomy symphony. A marketing manager laid off by a company hit hard by the recession saw potential in people he met at a career counseling center and convinced them that they could start a service business together. He became the energizing force for shifting their definition of the situation from negative to an opportunity.

"Positive thinking" and "counting blessings" can sound like naïve cliches. But energizers are not fools. They can be shrewd analysts who know their flaws and listen carefully to critics so that they can keep improving. Studies show that optimists are more likely to listen to negative information than pessimists, because they think they can do something about it. To keep moving through storms, energizers cultivate thick skins that shed negativity like a waterproof raincoat sheds drops of water. They are sometimes discouraged, but never victims.

An entrepreneur who has built numerous businesses and incubated others had a strong personal mission to raise national standards in his industry. He began that quest by meeting individually with the heads of major industry organizations, all of whom told him that he would fail. He nodded politely, asked for a small commitment to one action anyway, just as a test, he said, and went on to the next meeting. Eight or nine meetings later, he was well along on a path everyone had tried to discourage him from taking.

3. Fast response time. Energizers don't dawdle. Energizers don't tell you all the reasons something can't be done. They just get to it. They might take time to deliberate, but they keep the action moving. They are very responsive to emails or phone calls, even if the fast response is that they can't respond yet. This helps them get more done. Because they are so responsive, others go to them for information or connections. In the process, energizers get more information and a bigger personal network, which are the assets necessary for success.

The nice thing about this form of energy is that it is potentially abundant, renewable, and free. The only requirements for energizers are that they stay active, positive, responsive, and on mission. Are you an energizer? Any tips you'd like to share?

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

 

Employment Tips

Receive helpful hints, tips, and advice on what not to do when seeking employment.

5 Tips on What Not to Do When Seeking Employment

by Jay Crawford

Have you ever been unemployed? If not, chances are you will be in your lifetime.

1 - Don't have a proper Mindset!

Whatever you call it being laid off, fired, terminated or just making a career change it all means the same. Keep a level head and get your act together. Most people have lost a job, or will, as companies go through buyouts, competitive mergers, divestitures, reductions in force, hostile takeovers, rightsizing, downsizing, restructuring or become an alleged victim of executive misappropriation such as Enron, Tyco, Adelphia and Security Trust.

If you haven't had the composure or opportunity to talk with your former employer on severance pay, or extending medical benefits do so in a timely fashion in a professional manner. File for unemployment compensation. The sooner you can accept the situation you are in the sooner you can move forward. Keep a sense of humor. If you can show that you can produce results that can fit employer's needs you will be a desirable candidate for a position.

2 - Don't be prepared to deal with Pressure!

If you are financially independent then you probably don't need a job anyway.

While you are employed don't live beyond your financial means. When you get a raise and you automatically step up you life styles spending you haven't financially gained a thing. Credit cards can be the source of all financial evil but, they are nice to fall back on when you can't get a loan because you are not employed.

3 - Don't be prepared before you start looking for employment!

There are different strokes for different folks when talking about effective ways to land your dream job. No single approach is guaranteed for any one job seeker but, it will be a full time job. You will need a full time office. Don't procrastinate. The ball is in your court. You are selling yourself. Think positive and get organized.

4 - Don't forget your options!

It may take a while to find the opportunity you want. Consider a part time job/self employment, working on a trial basis, or a temporary agency while you continue your job search. Give thought to broaden the scope of your employment search. You can apply for different titles than you have been. You can commute further than you originally wanted to. It might be feasible to consider relocation if you haven't already.

5 - Don't fail to sharpen your job search skills!

Once you have gathered the proper tools, you will need to conduct research, properly prepare correspondence, have resumes that are tailored to specific job opportunities and requirements, excellent telephone skills and proper interviewing characteristics on the telephone and in person.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Career tips for women: choosing the right shoes and purse for a job interview

With everything there is to worry about with a job interview, having to worry about accessorizing can drive you to near madness. Do these shoes go with this outfit? Are they making the wrong statement? What if my purse doesn't match? Does it even matter? Thankfully, the basics of interview dressing still apply - Tasteful, understated and trying to give a composed impression. And yes, your choices can matter.

Shoes

While the four inch heels you went out dancing in last night may cost more than your television set and they make your legs look fantastic, they aren't what you're looking for when you need shoes for an interview. You want to go with a simple dress shoe that matches the rest of your interview outfit. For example, this could be a boot (with pants) or a low heel (with a skirt). The idea is that you are the one who is supposed to shine, not your footwear. Also, keep in mind that you may have to deal with staircases, walking through areas and other situations where your footwear might make a difference. Wincing at the wrong moment due to a pinching pointy toe may give a hiring manager the impression that you are not interested in the job. An interview is also not the time to break in a new pair of shoes, although shoes should still look neat and clean.

Purses

To purse or not to purse, is that the question? It is often hard to figure out what to do with a purse during an interview. If you are bringing along a briefcase or portfolio for an interview, you can often use it stash the things you'll need like your wallet, identification and a small make-up bag for touch ups. If you do bring a purse, you would want to follow the rules again and go with something tasteful and understated. It should match the color of your shoes. Try to keep away from purses that are very large are bulky. You don’t want to be fumbling with a purse that is half your size when you go to shake someone’s hand. Also, you should make an effort to clean our your purse or briefcase before the interview. If you need to find something in it during the interview, it can be distracting and also give a negative impression if you need to look for an extended time or pull things out to find what you need. Take time the night before your interview to consider what you need to bring, and what you do not need to bring, to the interview.

Why it matters

While your purse and shoes may be small details that should never make or break an interview for most women, they do deserve some attention. In an interview where you are up against other people for a position, small details like how you handle yourself can make the difference between getting the position or a "thanks but no thanks" from the employer. Knowing these little details are under control, you can go into a job interview more confident and able to focus on giving the best impression to the potential employer.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Career tips for women: choosing the right shoes and purse for a job interview

Woman Stress: Stress Management Tips For Women

All women have their own method of relieving stress. Some methods are healthier than others. You may have adopted your stress relief strategies from your parents. You may have adopted it from your culture, such as yoga or Zen. Both of these methods are excellent ways of relieving stress.

Yoga is a great way to not only manage stress, but also strengthen and tone your body with its stretching and flexing. With Zen, on the other hand, you quiet your body and meditate, or focus your mind on a single thing. What you meditate on is determined by your own convictions.

Other tried and true woman stress management practices include deep breathing exercise, light physical exercise (such as taking a 15 minute walk), reading, getting out into nature, and listening to your favorite music. Some people may prefer their favorite recreational activity such as playing a round of bingo or a few rounds of bowling. Others choose less healthy activities such as binge eating, drinking alcohol, or smoking. While these methods of stress management may certainly reduce a person’s stress, they may cause other health problems. Other, less well-known, stress management methods include hypnosis or acupuncture, which may only be administered by a professional who can be easily found with an Internet or yellow pages search.

When you decide that relieving your stress level is what has to be done, consult your doctor. He or she will be able to determine whether your chosen method will be the best for you, and any adverse effects will then be discussed. Your physician may prescribe medication for you if you are at a risk for other problems. What you do not want to do is nothing at all. Continually high stress levels put people at risk for problems such as heart attack and stroke.

Maintaining a relaxed body and mind is the first step in being able to manage stress well. Everyone has stress in their lives, and there are just as many therapies to reduce that stress. Being able to adequately manage the stress in one’s life can help you improve your mental and physical health.

Mom stress occurs every day but little attention is given to it. Its just considered part of mothering. But there is help available because moms need stress relief just like everyone else. For new mom stress management tips visit: www.momstressrelief.com

By Jill Brennan

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Career Enhancement Tips For First Jobbers: 3 Key Tips to Grow Your Career

You found your first job and you feel a little anxious. You think to yourself – "How am I going to survive through all these?" With the right attitude and guidance, you will soon look forward to doing your best.

Like any other career enhancement tips, there are no guarantees for success. However, if you bring the right attitude and decide to take action then you are half way there. Nothing will stop a first jobber like you from shining at your workplace.

1. Self-discipline

The value of self-discipline in a first jobber is often underestimated. Now that you are in the working world you think to yourself, "Is self-discipline overrated?" I will tell you, no. It is not overrated. I have often found new staff with good self-discipline doing better than those who are poor in it.

Let me use a simple example to demonstrate this, assuming it’s a Friday and the rest of the department is planning to go out for a fun night. You have an important document to be completed for the coming Monday. What do you do? Give the fun night a pass and complete the work? Or join the fun and hope that you will find time to finish it over the weekend thus leaving you little chance to perfect it before submission?

Part of self-discipline is also about sacrifice. When you have strong self-discipline, it is inevitable that you would need to sacrifice some fun time to focus on your goals. If you are interested in advancing your career you may take some courses, or even read books to increase your knowledge. All these activities come with an opportunity cost. It could very well mean less time for leisure activities.

2. Success

You're probably thinking, "Success as part of these practical career enhancement tips is funny." Let me assure you it is not. What I want to explain here is this – if you want to enhance your career, define what success is to you. Once you know what success is to you then you can plan towards that goal. Spend some time thinking what success is to you. Crystallize this in your mind. Assuming you know what success is to you, the next step is to be single-minded in the pursuit of your goal.

Being single-minded means to be focused on your goals. When you focus your energy on your goal, you get more out of your effort. You inch closer to your goals. When you are single-minded other things do not distract you. You know what you want and you power yourself towards it as best as you can so you can clearly see what you want.

Knowing your goal and your personal definition of success is an important element amongst these career enhancement tips for first jobbers. Equally important is to know your own strengths and your skills. If you want to enhance your career, play up on your strengths and improve on your skills required for your job. What are you good at? What are the skills sets you do not have that are required for the job? Build up on those skills.

The career enhancement tips in this sub-section basically means this – when you define what is success to you, you then pursue it single-mindedly knowing your strengths and the skills required to attain that success.

3. Sincerity

Sincerity in your career means a lot of things. For me, as a first jobber you should look at doing your work sincerely and joyfully. Meaning, do not treat your work as a drag. If you feel that your work is a drag, then start by asking yourself. Why is it so, before blaming anyone else – be it the company, your boss or your colleagues. So, be sincere with yourself. What is your core challenge in not being able to do your work sincerely?

Being sincere at your work means doing it with your level best. It means playing your part and taking personal responsibility for your work. It also means to share your learning and knowledge. When you share what you know about a certain task, you become an asset to your unit and this inevitably enhances your career. Many people think, the more they hoard what they know the more advantage they have. However, in my experience this is not true. I find that the more you share the more others are willing to share with you and the more you know.

In summary, the most important and practical career enhancement tips you can start now is – developing self-discipline, learning to sacrifice, define what success means to you, be single-minded in pursuit of your goals by knowing your strengths and skills, and doing your work with sincerity and have sharing as a work value you carry.

By Long Yun Siang

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Professionalism Tips

"That guy is a Pro!" - Very often we hear this remark about people and especially about sportsmen. What makes a person stand a cut above the rest and perform with such great precision and success? This article is an attempt at answering this question and realizing what makes a professional and what makes a winner. I consider being a professional to be synonymous with being a winner. The workplace professionalism tips that I give here, are garnered from my own (successful and at times failing) experiences of being a professional in my own sphere of work.

Professionalism Tips For A Successful & Satisfying Career

"Be a professional." I kept hearing that during my college years from my professors and later from my superiors at the workplace. Nobody really defined or elaborated what they meant by that! Never got a hang of what it meant to be a professional, until I began working. It was like a cryptic message to me, until my own personal experiences taught me what it really meant. These are professionalism tips in the workplace arena, where we spend a major part of our lives and strive to make ourselves useful and find ourselves. Though each one of these professionalism tips, I hope to paint the image of a thorough 'Professional'!

Excellence is Thy Goal

Excellence is the driving force of professionals. They live to excel at what they do and do it in the best possible way. They put in their maximum efforts in getting the task done, without holding back, as they do it for themselves! For them, a job is more than just a means of livelihood. It is something that overlaps with their passion.

Get Your Basics Right

This is the corollary of pursuit of excellence. To excel, a professional works hard on the basics, that are required to do his job well. They never forget their basics and keep polishing, as well as updating the basic skills that make them professionals!

Take Your Job Seriously

'Pros' take their job very seriously, follow disciplined routines and take pride in their work. The seriousness is reflected through their punctuality and sincerity at work. They believe in maintaining the quality of their work. I am not saying a professional must take everything too seriously and not have a laugh. Professionals are the kind of people who enjoy themselves when they want to enjoy and only work, when they are working! They do not mix business with pleasure. Nothing comes in the way of their workplace ethics. They know that nothing is owed to them and they must earn what they want.

Switch Off Personal Problems

To be a professional, one must master the art of switching off everything else, including personal problems, when one enters the workplace. I do not mean that you should stop caring but keep those thoughts aside for a while. Neither is worrying about personal problems going to solve them and nor is it going to help you get your work done! Why add incomplete work to your problems? In fact, when you have a lot of personal problems, losing yourself in work can be therapeutic. Read more on 'How to Deal With Stress At Work'.

When at the Workplace, Focus on Thy Work

Professionals do not waste time at the workplace, indulging in things which are unrelated to their work profile. You won't find them bitching, gossiping or engaging in unnecessary arguments. They understand that they are present at the 'workplace' to work first and socialize later. They do take breaks from work and chill out, but after their requisite daily jobs are done. I'm not saying you should be cold and uncommunicative, but let there be a balance!

Be Willing to Learn

Professionals learn to identify positive constructive criticism from their seniors and learn from it. They take negative criticism in their stride and let their work do the talking! For professionals, learning is a continuous process.

Earn your Salary & your Respect

First earn your respect and then call the shots! This is one rule which professionals follow. They like to earn and justify their salary completely and do not take the easy way out. They do not compromise when it comes to their work. Read more on 'Respect in the Workplace'.

Be a Team Player

Professionals gel in a team and are always willing to adapt according to what the team needs! They like to encourage people around them and create a positive atmosphere. They respect colleagues and encourage their subordinates, while taking them under their wings. They know how to handle difficult people at work. These are the kind of people, talking with whom helps in putting things in a perspective. They are resourceful and help colleagues out when they can.

Enjoy What You Do

The key to be a professional lies in enjoying and loving what you do for a job! A horse doesn't run a race and win it for the price money. Horses run because that is what they are made for and that is what they enjoy doing! We are built for a thing and that's what we are good at. Aligning your job with your passion and what you are good at doing, is the key to become a professional!

So, these were some professionalism tips, which identify the qualities that differentiate a 'Pro' from an amateur. I may be proved wrong and I'm open to criticism, but that's my version of what professionalism means!

By Gray Pilgrim

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy