Employer Basic

Career Case Study The Female Executive Officers In Large Corporations

2009-03-03T17:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

Today, there are more and more female executives making it into the higher ranks and large corporations. We have seen many very large companies such as Hewlett-Packard with female presidents. We see more and more female vice presidents and board members in today's modern corporations and this is a good thing.

Most female executive officers have accepted that although things are changing, they are changing slowly. They realize for the most part corporations are somewhat of a man's world, but over time this will change completely and that is obvious. As a man, of course, yes I totally understand that. I realize how the real world works.

The glass ceiling is alive and well and well it is unfortunate. Actually it has been my opinion that women do a better job in many regards and aspects of business. Again that is a stereotype, but it has been my observation. I had recently met the former President of an Atlantic City Casino at a pool party in NJ, she was pretty much forced to resign, but had really brought the casino back up to speed during her reign.

I have another friend she was President of the American Cancer Society in LA and I have yet another acquaintance who was the first woman Regional VP of Hyatt and I met the President of Pacific Telephone in San Francisco many years back who ran that organization too. Yes I see all these issues and know some super duper women who kick butt and are Presidents of many great companies around this nation.

Business executives and corporate board members need to know that they need to pick the best person for the job. If that person is a woman then that is the person who needs to be in control, take responsibility and assume that position. The glass ceiling needs to be broken and let the best person win. Please consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Could You Be Heading For The Sack Take Our Quiz To Find Out

2009-03-02T17:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lisa O'Brien

Do you hate your job? Are you dragging yourself into the office each morning? Do you feel like you are just going through the motions? And wish that you could be anywhere else?

Be careful if this sounds like you, you could be heading for the sack. Take our CareersCoach/She said quiz to find out if you are heading for the sack.

My Work Hours
a.I am the first to arrive and the last to leave
b.I am good at managing my time so don't need to work excessive hours, however when necessary I work back
c.I am the last to arrive and the first to leave

Office Gossip
a.I make a point of never gossiping, I hate gossip because it causes so many negatives in the workplace
b.I am on top of everything that is happening in the personal lives of people in the office. People regularly come to me for information, which I am happy to share.
c.I love to gossip who doesn't. But I try to keep my head down and mind my own business

Office Romance
a.I think that workplace flirting is harmless because it makes me want to look and do my best, so that I look good, which has got to be good for my career
b.I would never flirt with anyone at or associated with work for any reason
c.I have or would engage in a workplace relationship if the right opportunity arose

My Boss
a.What I think of my boss is of no consequence to my job. I follow their instructions and whenever possible add additional value. If I work really hard and deliver the right results I may end up being their boss.
b.I don't always agree with what my boss says or does but when they do something that I like I give positive feedback. I am hoping this will make them a more compatible boss for me.
c.I can't stand my boss, who is unprofessional, unorganized. I tell everyone who will listen that I cannot understand how he or she got the job.

Dress
a.I dress according to the dress code of the company because I believe that it is very important to fit in with my colleagues
b.I don't know what the dress code is in my office. I think I dress appropriately because no-one has complained
c.I don't like the way that people in my office dress. I am an individual and I dress my own way.

Attitude
a.I have a positive attitude to my work and my employer
b.I try to remain positive even when I am having an off day
c.I am sick of my job and hate my employer

Deadlines
a.I meet all deadlines no matter what. If I ever did miss a deadline I would be afraid for my job
b.I do my best to meet all deadlines but occasionally miss the odd deadline
c.I believe that deadlines are made to be broken - they are only really an approximation of what is expected

Teamwork
a.I am a hardworking and committed team player who is always available to assist others with any tasks
b.I sometimes help team members but really I am quite busy with my own workload
c.I only do my own job so why should I do work that I am not directly responsible for or paid to do

What Your Answers Mean

Mostly A's
You are a star! Even when you hate your job and wish that you could be elsewhere, where you shine. You are a true professional and your employer is lucky to have you on the team. Keep it up and your career is set to soar and when it does you can chose who you want to work for. If you are career focused then don't let your positive attitude and corporate talents go to waste. Start managing your career by setting and working towards your goals. Make all the right moves and for you the sky is the limit.

Mostly B's
You are hardworking and committed and hopefully your boss sees your value. Your employment could be a slight risk in certain work environments. Tip the scales in your favour by making a few small changes. Further develop your time management skills so that you get more done. Avoid any workplace time wasters. At the end of each day take some time to identify what you could do better or differently. Finally design a plan of action to allow you to further develop your relationship with your immediate manager and any key stakeholders within the organisation.

Mostly C's
You are at high risk. To keep your job you need to start thinking of things from your boss's perspective. If your boss sets certain work goals or targets you have to meet them. You need to understand your employer's organisational culture and fit in with it. In the longer term if you are not happy with your current career situation take some time to plan what you want to do with your career. Once you know exactly what you want to do you can seek employment in a more suitable role or organisation. Contact a Career Coach for some advice. Remember you can do anything that you set your mind to do.

Lisa O'Brien is the Authur of e-booklets:
-Interview Coach
-Jobsearch Coach
-Goal Setting Coach
http://www.onlinecareercoaching.com

Cracking The Connection Code Networking For The Introverted

2009-03-01T17:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Mary Jeanne Vincent

We've all heard it before: "Just get out there and network!" If it was that easy, we would already be doing it. So why is it so hard? Well, you're an introvert, aren't you? Enough said.

However, unless the prospect of a really long job search excites you, you have to get out there and connect with people who don't know you but who could benefit from your expertise.

Below are a baker's dozen tips to help you crack the connection code.

1. Attend with a purpose in mind. Be choosy about the events you attend. Pick the ones that interest you most. It could be a ribbon cutting for a new business, a chamber of commerce mixer, SPCA benefit, or pink slip party.

2. Take a friend. Make a game of it. Challenge each other to beat your stated goals with the winner treating for ice cream.

3. Plan ahead. Set a networking goal to talk with at least five people and collect business cards from three individuals in your industry, profession, or career of interest.

4. Split up. Rule #1 is you can't talk to your networking partner until you've met the goals you've set for yourself. That means you can't sit with each other, hang around the food table together, or accompany each other to the rest room. However, you may smile encouragingly across the room.

5. Surprise, it's not about you! Walk up to someone you don't know. Ask the other person an opening question. It can be something as simple as, "What made you decide to attend tonight?", "What brings you to this meeting?", "Do you attend often?", or "What kind of work do you do?"

6. Focus on them! Ask compelling questions: "Tell me more about your work or business." "What is a good referral for you?" "What are you hoping to achieve tonight?" Get them talking about themselves and then offer a little information about yourself.

7. Create a compelling commercial. When it's your turn to tell them about yourself, take fifteen seconds or less to capture their attention and make them want to know more. Help them understand what you hope to achieve at this event and how they can help.

8. Take little steps. Don't force yourself to join a large boisterous crowd. Instead seek out a friendly looking individual who isn't part of a group. Smile and extend your hand in greeting. He's probably as relieved as you are to connect with a friendly stranger.

9. What's in it for you? Everything! Seventy to eighty-five percent of jobs are found through networking. It's not who you know; it's who your friends know that makes the difference! So use this networking opportunity to make friends.

10. Visibility is key. As an introvert, I've learned three important things about networking: You've got to get out there and be seen; the more you do it, the easier it gets; and the more people who know you, the greater your chances for making meaningful connections.

11. Get on the fast track. Join a networking group. Your comfort level and connection quotient will grow astronomically when networking is part of your regular routine.

12. Smile! Be approachable. Make others want to meet you and get to know you better.

13. Make a date to follow up. Make it your goal to connect with at least one person that you would like to get to know better. Invite him or her to meet by telephone or for coffee. Look for ways to make the meeting mutually beneficial.

You have a whole world of valuable contacts to share and new ones to make, so apply these networking tips. Before you know it, you will crack the connection code!

Mary Jeanne Vincent is the author of Acing the Interview tip cards featuring answers to the 20 top "Killer" interview questions. Included are tips for interviewing in the new economy, techniques for taking the sting out of illegal questions, and tips for avoiding 10 deadly interview mistakes. Go to http://www.2bworkwise.com for free job search articles, to sign up for the free WorkWise ezine, and to find out about other valuable, easy-to-use career tools and personal career coaching. You may also reach Mary Jeanne at 831.657.9151.

5 Ways To Make A Cracking Career Move

2009-02-28T17:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Steve Errey

Something that comes up time and time again when people come to me for help is 'What's my next career move?' There are so many choices out there (which is part of the problem) and it can be tougher than a bag of hammers to figure out what to do and where to go next. That's why I want to share with you 5 strategies for figuring out your next career move and for making darn sure it'll be a cracking move for you.

Look at Your Wiring
Your brain has billions and billions of neurons connected to each other by even more synapses. I'm not going to count them. These synapses are the pathways of the brain and they enable information to flow freely and allow you to think and do. Some of the synapses will be like motorways, throwing huge amounts of information around really quickly, while others will be like a little country lane blocked by a tractor not very effective.
The stronger pathways will be the things you're best at and it's by capitalising on how your brain's wired that you'll get your best results. In the real world that means that the things that come naturally to you (your talents), the things you're best at (your strengths) and the things that mean the most to you (your values) are hardwired into you, and those are the things that you excel at.
Talent
A talent is something that comes naturally to you and can be any recurring pattern of feeling, thought or behaviour that you can apply to get a positive result. It tends to be something you do without even thinking about, something that seems to come spontaneously from the top of your head, something that's always exerted a 'pull' for you or something that might feel like a whole bank of switches have been flicked to the 'on' position when you use it.
Strength
A strength is a combination of your skills, experience and talents. A strength is something that you're able to do at a consistently high or near-perfect level of performance. It's the accumulation and application of what you've learned works well, the skills that you've worked at and gained, and the talents you've always had. It's likely that you derive some kind of inherent satisfaction from doing it and maybe you can picture yourself quite happily doing it repeatedly.
Value
Your values are ten thousand feet down inside you, right at the very core of who you are. They're the building blocks, the foundations and cornerstones for you, and are the things in yourself, in others or in the world that are most important to you. You know those times when you've felt really alive, on top of your game or buzzing? Those are the times when one or more of your values are being honoured, and you can get more of that by living according to them.

Find What's Always Been There
When I was around 6 or 7 years old I remember being asked by my primary school teacher what I wanted to be when I grew up. I reflected for a moment and torn between two options I replied 'I'm not sure. Either an artist or an inventor'. I had two pictures - one of me in a huge studio, being swept along in the moment as I created magnificent works of art that would make people weep, and another of me in a lab coat with crazy hair surrounded by bubbling test tubes and all manner of electronic devices as I used everything I knew to build Something Amazing (TM). Those two sides have always been there for me (typical Gemini) - the art and the science, the creative and the logical, the head and the heart.
As a 6 year old boy I'd identified that both areas were hugely important to me, and those two areas persist for me to this day. A day when I can use my logic and my creativity is a great day because I get to use the things that have always been there for me.
I share that with you because having work that includes the things that have persisted for you is absolutely critical in terms of loving your work and getting more out of it. Ignoring those themes and dismissing what's always been there for you is ignoring who you are and who you've always been, and it's a surefire way for you to be unfulfilled in your work. It's critical to know what those persistent themes are, because you can then integrate them into what you do, both in and out of your work.
Explore what persists for you and look for ways to use, integrate and play to those themes.

Who'd Be the Best?
Who would you love to work for? Forget for a moment about what you'd be doing, think about which companies and organisations you'd love to work with or for. Which organisations push your hot buttons? If you could work for any company, who would it be?
Thinking about the ideal company to work with or for (as an employee, a contractor, a consultant, etc.) sets you free to look at companies you respect, admire and who do something that you can connect with. That already ticks a whole load of boxes and sets you ahead of the game.
8 out of 10 people land their next job through a personal contact rather than an advertisement so this is a great way to learn about and pursue opportunities. Get clear on those organisations you'd love to work for, find out the name of someone in the right place in the organisation and send in a killer letter and CV. Don't fall into the trap of thinking 'But why would they want me?' or ''What the heck would I do for them?' and research their different fields of work or look into filling a skills gap with some training. You never can tell how things happen sometimes, and you've got nothing to lose.

Turn It Inside-Out
Too many people start off by thinking in terms of job titles, but I tend to think that should come later in the job searching process. I always ask people to create their next job from the inside-out by looking at what the job would involve and what they'd be doing, rather than operating within the confines of a title.
So think about it, what would your ideal job involve? What skills, talents, strengths, values, passions and interests would you be using that would make it a great job? How would you be working ? In an office? By yourself or in a team? What kind of people will be around you? Are you out on the road? Are you working from home? Are there deadlines? How do you make your contribution? What's fun about the work? What's fulfilling about the work?
And on, and on, and on. The point is to create your best job by looking at the size and shape that your ideal job would have. Quantify what you can, think about the framework you'd be working in and the boundaries or deal breakers you have. Think about what would light you up in your work and what would make you proud.
Job titles can limit how you think and where you look for work. By creating your next career move from the inside-out you're painting a picture of what you'd love to have and how you'd love to be working, and that's a fantastic template to apply to any job search.

Ask Someone Else
Sometimes it feels a bit like you're banging your head against a wall or wading chest deep through lumpy custard. In those times it's good to take yourself out of your normal environment for a while to kick things up and freshen yourself up, and getting an external perspective can help enormously.
Look at who you've got in your network of colleagues, ex-colleagues, managers, employees, friends, associates, family, etc. and see what they think you'd be great at. Ask people what they can see you doing for a career, or ask them what they think you'd be great at. Getting that external perspective may just give you an idea or put a name to something you've been struggling to identify. You can also ask them what they think your strengths are, and even go as far as asking them to be honest about who they think you are and how they see you.
By the way, there's a fantastic tool that I used some time ago to help get that external perspective and that I'd recommend you take a look at. It's called 360°Reach and is the first and leading web-based personal assessment tool that helps you get the real story about how you are perceived by those around you. The results I got were worth their weight in gold and after being made redundant in 2001 it really helped me shape what I did next and how I did it (i.e. this!). Click the link here - www.reachcc.com - and click on '360°Reach - Personal Brand Assessment' for more on this great tool.

About the Author
Steve Errey is one of the UK's most in-demand coaches and specialises in personal growth for thirtysomethings. "I love to coach the heck out of my clients and always do my darndest to get them the results they're after," says Steve. For more information please contact Steve on 0845 644 3001, by email at steve@steveerrey.com or visit his website at http://www.steveerrey.com.

Sign up for his fantastic ezine with proven and practical tips for 'Being More' and look at how you can have all the confidence you'll ever need with his Super-Confidence Home Study Pack.

Salary Amp Rewards To Maximise Employee Retention

2009-02-27T17:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Sital Ruparelia

Many people consider poor salaries and rewards to be THE reason why people leave an employer. However, extensive research into why people leave jobs shows this not to be the case. There are a number of differing factors that explain why someone chooses to move on.

But what is clear is that a team member's dissatisfaction with pay is very often the catalyst for them to start looking. An individual may already be frustrated with a number of factors, but the financial factors typically act as the 'trigger' to update their CV and start applying for new positions.

This means that getting your pay structure right really is a key aspect of retaining the right people.

But when it comes to setting pay levels, it is not necessarily about "paying the most", but more about ensuring that the way you remunerate your team is fair, consistent and competitive.

Here are 7 tips to making this happen in your business:

1. Know Your Marketplace

One of the keys to retaining customers and customers is to understand what is happening in the external market with respect to competitors, products, services and pricing and then to adapt your own offering to ensure you continue to maintain your competitive edge.

The very same applies to retaining staff. By keeping an eye on the local 'market for people', you have better information to make decisions about how to retain your team.

So get into the habit of glancing at local papers, trade journals and job sites. Who is recruiting? What kind of people are they looking for? What type of skills does there seem to be a shortage of? What is happening to pay levels? What type of innovative benefits are other businesses offering?

2. Be Very Competitive With Your Pay

Whilst retaining good people is not simply about paying more than everyone else, you do need to be competitive. So ensure you know what is happening in the external market and that your pay levels reflect this.

But also ensure that they reflect what you are doing with your business internally. As an example, if you are charging premium rates for your services with an emphasis on offering a quality product with a high level of customer service, then you should focus on paying premium rates to your team so as to attract and retain the high-calibre people required to deliver your premium products and services.

3. Link Pay Rises To Performance

If you want to incentivise and keep the right people, you need to ensure that the top performers in your team feel well rewarded and valued. The way to do this objectively and fairly is to conduct annual appraisals with each of your team, and then have a system that links the appraisal directly to salary increases and discretionary bonuses.

The way to do this is to have a very simple scoring or grading system within the appraisal, which you then use to make decisions on pay rises.

4. Pay An Annual Cash Bonus

Everyone loves a bonus. It makes people feel valued and is an important tool in retaining staff. There are a number of ways you can pay a cash bonus.

You can pay an individual bonus annually where you just pay double the salary one month of the year. As an example, one of my previous employers paid all staff double in the December pay packet, which essentially meant an end of year bonus of 8.3% and had a significant impact in tying in people to the organisation.

Alternatively you could pay a team bonus based on team performance. Set your financial targets for the year and then pay the whole team a bonus dependent on the business achieving targets.

5. Offer More Personalised Bonuses

A friend of mine has recently returned from a 3-day break at the French Grand Prix. His boss, a small business owner, bought the package at a charity auction and gave it to him as a thank-you for his hard work over the past year. Being a life long Grand Prix fan, he was over the moon and says he is now more loyal to his employer than ever before!

So look at what your own team would value as individuals consider what would totally motivate them. Is it theatre tickets, tickets to a football game, a meal at a posh restaurant, a spa treatment or a weekend break?

You see, such personalised bonuses are often much more effective in retaining employees to your business than the cash equivalent.

6. Build Up Your Benefits

To retain customers and clients, you need to continually look for new and innovative 'add-on' services that will benefit them. The same applies to retaining your employees. In a competitive job market, you need to continually look for ways in which to add more and more benefits for working for you.

For example: can you strike up alliances with local service providers which allow your team discounts on eye treatment, travel, insurance and the like? Can you reward staff loyalty by linking additional days off to the length of employment, just like larger corporations do?

7. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

No matter how grand your pay and rewards scheme is unless people really understand it, it will have little impact in motivating and retaining them. So ensure everyone in the team is crystal-clear about how the pay and bonus scheme works, what the financial targets are for the business and how these impact on their own pay packet.

Then it's a question of re-enforcing these points through your weekly staff meetings as well as your quarterly and annual updates with the team.

Remember: having a fair, consistent and competitive pay structure is a crucial aspect of Keeping The Right People. Take some time today to think about what you could do with your pay and rewards to motivate and retain your team. Then choose at least one tactic to implement this month. It could be the biggest contribution you have made towards retaining your staff this year

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sital Ruparelia works with small businesses that struggle with recruitment and retention issues and helps them implement strategies proven to Find and Keep the Right People consistently.

Sital writes a FREE newsletter twice a month with tips on how to Find And Keep The Right People. To sign up now, visit http://www.authenticresourcing.com.

NOTE: You're welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end) and you send a copy of your reprint to sital@authenticresourcing.com.

Effective Resumes

2009-02-26T17:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Colin Ong TS

A resume is normally the first contact point between an employer and a job seeker. It serves the purpose of providing a summary of why a candidate is suitable for a job (cover-letter) and his relevant qualifications/experience.

In this article, advice about creating effective cover letters will be provided and followed by the rest of the resume.

An Effective Cover Letter:

An effective cover letter is a 1-page introduction of your resume that has the ultimate goal of helping the job seeker get the first interview from a job advertisement. This is easier said than done as HR Managers have to go through quite a number of job applications. If your cover letter is rather formulaic and your only concern is that the printing is smudge-free, then here are more useful tips:

Basics:

Be careful to direct your resume to the right person. If you address the wrong person in your cover letter, you may not get a response. Along the same lines, quote the correct reference number that is highlighted in job advertisement and ensure that you have applied for the correct position that corresponds to your expertise.

Academic Qualifications:

In you cover letter, you should just state your highest relevant academic qualification. You need not get into the specifics like the grades of your final semester. An exception is if you have won an academic prize or attained a prestigious scholarship. The rest of your academic achievements can be placed after your cover letter.

Relevant Working Experience and Skills:

You can include a paragraph in your cover letter about how your relevant working experience will directly benefit the goals of the department. In this area you have to spend time researching about the company through the internet and offline materials.

Be A Team Player:

Your cover letter must not come across as an opportunity to highlight your achievements in isolation. You must communicate that you are a team player and are willing to undergo continual skills upgrading.

Overseas Travel:

With the current workplace interconnectivity, it will not be surprising if your job requires occasional overseas trip. If you are agreeable of this requirement, it will be appropriate if you state your willingness to travel overseas in the cover letter.

Do a Spell-Check:

Remember to run a spell-check to ensure that there are no grammatical mistakes in your cover letter. A good exercise is to print out a draft copy and scrutinize for mistakes.

Get that First Interview:

This point sounds rather superfluous but your cover letter has to help you get an interview. It will not help if you provide a wrong contact number or appear to be too busy to come for an interview.

Do not be critical:

Do not be critical about your previous employer or your previous work environment. It is more forward-looking and professional to explain about how your previous job has provided you with relevant working experience.

2) The Rest of Your Resume

State your Academic Qualifications in Chronological Order:

It is important to state your academic qualification in chronological order for ease of viewing. It is also optional to send photocopy of exam results. Your interviewer will request them during the interview.

State Relevant Training Courses:

It will be advantageous for you to state the relevant training courses that you have attended. This will signal to your prospective employer that you are proactive in upgrading your skills and directly improve the productivity of your organization.

Referees:

Your choice of referees is crucial in providing extra information about your abilities. Remember to inform your referees that they may be called to furnish information. It is advisable to provide their email addresses if they are frequently outstation.

Broadcast your website:

You can provide the link to your personal website to add more information about yourself. An added benefit is that you can provide links from your site that you feel will help your boost your chances. A good example is to include your feature in the newspapers/magazines. However, your site should not be a replica of your resume.

About The Author

Colin Ong TS is the Managing Director of MR=MC Consulting (http://www.mrmc.com.sg) and the Founder of the 12n Online Professional Networking Community (http://www.mrmc.com.sg/12n) - colin@mrmc.com.sg

Interviews One Forgotten Secret Of How To Get A Job

2009-02-25T17:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Len Coles

Interviews are the moment of truth when you find out if you have got a job, - or not! You'll know yourself after an interview. No one needs to tell you that answer! However, it's a nerve racking time waiting.

How do you cope?
Simple, you need to make your interview count. The better your interview, - the better the chance you have of getting the job. There are few tips and interview secrets that you can learn from experience. People like me, who have seen thousands of good interviews and are willing to share their observations, their secrets and the reasons why one person always get the job.

ONE SECRET!
As with most things it's all down to the preparation. The more preparation you do the more confidence you'll exude in an interview. The more confidence you have the better chance the interviewer will feel comfortable with your skills and offer you a job. Sometimes within an hour, - or on the spot!

Preparation is one of the main interview secrets. Before you go to an interview, - make sure you are appropriately dressed. You can always dress downif the interview is an informal one. Don't be late for the interview. Give yourself time to gather your thoughts, your breath and especially your confidence. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview location. It always pays to find where you are going well before you need to be thereeven the day before go to where the interview will be held.

I can speak from experience; - nerves are the killer when it comes to you and your interview. I've been involved in thousands of interview panels, interviewing individuals and selecting candidates for various types of jobs, across all industries and from a variety of cultures.

I've observed how people prepare themselves inside waiting rooms. I have even asked this question at interviews. "What preparation have you done for this job"? A common trend seems to shine through. It's basic. It's preparation!

Even just prior to an interview focusing on what you are going to do will give you more confidence and focus. It is simple as just revising what you have in your hands, your resume your cover letter, your references. What you have said over the phone and imagine what questions will be asked and your responses. Just a word of warning here! If you're imagining questions and your answers make sure its positively focused. Think of positive questions and your positive response.

I can tell you a whole heap about interviews and how you should prepare, the dos and dont's. Give you an idea what the interview questions are going to be.

Thanks

Len Coles www.interview-to-job.com

P.S. If I don't hear from you, all the best with your next interview.

NOTE: a word of advice on parting. Be yourself! www.interview-to-job.com

Len Coles has been interviewing people for the past 20 years. This adds up to be thousands of interviews. As a result he has put together an easy to read manual with a FREE bonus support program, http://www.interview-to-job.com Gain from Len's experience; use his knowledge to achieve interview success. http://www.interview-to-job.com

Women At The Workplace

2009-02-24T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Sharon White

It is a common knowledge that women are receiving lower wages than men do. The reason for that is cultural barrier; it also has to do with the general attitude toward women in the workplace. The sexual discrimination resulted in the feminism movement all over the world.
Women's aspiration to the boardroom is a symbol and a measure of organisational change, it reflects the current mood of today and how women are not just trying to achieve their goals for the feminist movement but rather for their own self-satisfaction and to satisfy their ambitions.
The boardroom is a male dominated world and not always inclined to change, as a result they face cultural and attitudinal barriers to entering the boardroom as they can be seen to disrupt the status quo of the boardroom and the "old boys club".
Because the corporate boardroom is seen as an area of power and authority, it makes it difficult for women to enter as a result that women are not seen to have the same legitimate power as men have.
As a result, this makes it difficult for women to rise through senior management as male managers and directors are seen as the standard against which women are measured.
Women are striving in the workplace to achieve equality with their male counterparts, many women these days focus on their careers so that they can achieve and realise their goals and dreams to be successful.
They strive to attain management positions, they work long hours, they delay or dispel the notion of having a child and all for their dreams of being successful, reaching the top and in some aspect, proving themselves.
The question has to be asked whom are they proving themselves too? Are they working towards these goals for themselves or are they working towards these goals to prove to their male colleagues, husbands and family members that they too can be successful?
Many women would say it is a combination of both or one or the other.
There is absolutely no problem to this apart from the fact that women continue to focus on equality between themselves and their male counterparts in wages, boardroom representation and influence, but set against what benchmark?
The cultural barriers to women in the boardroom and overall from senior management positions is that women are not seen as being aggressive and lack a perceived masculinity to control a position. The argument used "by employers for not hiring women for responsible and powerful positions is that women are inherently incapable of managing such positions and hence, these positions should be reserved for men."
With an ingrained belief that women do not posses the same capabilities, it is no wonder that women continue to find it difficult in attaining senior management positions in male dominated corporations.
The social categorization of women results in females being underrepresented in the boardroom. According to statistics provided by The Age newspaper it shows that, women make up only 10 percent of all the board members of companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Yet "36 per cent of women in Australia own shares directly according to the ASX, not far behind the 45 per cent among men.
The article was produced by the member of masterpapers.com. Sharon White is a senior writer and writers consultant at term papers. Get some useful tips for thesis and buy term papers.

Will Gary Kubiak Be Scared When He Interviews For The Texans

2009-02-23T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Joel Vance

Everyone gets nervous and scared when it is time to go for a job interview. If you are one of these millions of people there is no reason to feel bad or ashamed. If you know someone who tells you that they are not fazed a bit, just remember that they are full of crap. Everyone is affected by interviews; some more than others. I am willing to bet a significant amount of money that even Gary Kubiak of the Broncos is going to be shakin' in his boots when it comes time to meet with Texans owner Bob McNair. He is a formidable guy and I am sure that he will put Kubiak through the ringer when interviewing him as a replacement for Dom Capers. I am also willing to bet that Gary Kubiak will be prepared for the ringing and will stand up like a pro.
You too can learn to stand up like a pro. All it takes is a little know how. Learn some of the best interviewing secrets and you will be well on your way to scoring that dream job. With a little research and a lot of trying you too can score the big one like it looks Gary Kubiak is going to do with the Texans.
The first thing that you need to remember when going on any interview is to show no fear. It does not matter how you really feel inside. All that matters is what other people can see. If the interviewer sees that you feel uncertain or you are not confident they will have no option but to assume this is because you do not really know how to do the job. Stuttering and stammering never got anyone the job and you need to work on keeping these nervous signs to a minimum.
For some people the only way to learn how to interview and to get over these fears is to interview over and over again. That is fine, as long as you can pay your bills in the meantime. But the goal of this article is to help you get the job in the first few interviews, not the first few hundred. You can do it! All you need is a little determination, and when you feel yourself start to falter just remember Gary Kubiak and the Texans interview. If he can hold up in his situation so can you. If you believe in yourself that it will be evident to the interviewer, and that will also impress the heck out of anyone who is interviewing you for a position at their company.
One of the best interviewing tips that I have ever come across is not something that you will do when in the actual interview. It is something that you should do well before the interview. Visualize. Visualization has gotten me and many other people through numerous tough spots in life. What you do is go through the entire interviewing process in your mind. The whole thing; from when you get up that morning, to the drive in to when you hear your name called and before. Try to visualize the questions you will be asked and imagine yourself answering easily and smoothly.
Don't just do this visualization exercise once, do it over and over again. At first you might even feel yourself getting nervous imagining the interview but the more you do it, the easier it will become. Pretty soon that interview will seem like a piece of cake. By the time the real interview day rolls around you will be full of confidence and faith in yourself and your ability to handle the situation. This kind of confidence is sure to impress your would be boss and it might even be what wins you the job position.
Who knows, that may even be the secret to Gary Kubiak and his interviewing strategy. Try it and you will see the truth in what I am talking about. It is easy and simple. Just try it before bed tonight and see how powerful visualization can really be as an interviewing tool.
About The Author
Joel Vance is a Human Resources 17-year HR expert who's taught at 4 major universities around the country and currently has a best selling book on interview questions at www.theperfectinterview.com.

Improve Your Chances Of A Better Position By Making The Headhunters Chase You

2009-02-22T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by David Thatcher

Headhunters are always looking to grow their supply of candidates, and regularly update their database of quality professionals. Getting onto that database is a key step towards obtaining an interview, and should be one of your priorities. To do that, you need to make yourself more marketable, and easier for a headhunter to work with.
Because most placements are done on an assignment basis, some candidates will get nowhere if they are not seen as ideally suited for particular positions currently available.
But a dynamic initial approach to the headhunter can make you stand out, and get you straight on to their list of "top-drawer" candidates - those who have priority when new career openings arise.
To make the right impact, you firstly need to identify your strengths and assets the things that will make you attractive to potential employers and then be able to communicate these employer benefits clearly and directly to the headhunter.
Start with your C.V, it needs to be a live, forward-looking document that is easy to understand. It must tell the reader who you are, and what you are capable of, in a clear and simple way. It should make them want to meet you.
A well-written C.V. should flow smoothly from one page to the next, providing the evidence that you can do the job.
To make sure you get it right, identify what you want to do and the reasons why you know you can do it. Do this to understand yourself much better, and in the process improve the way that you communicate who you are, what you've already achieved, and what you can do for an employer.
An introductory telephone call is a good way to make an initial impression, but if you don't prepare thoroughly, the call could be a big turn-off for the person at the other end.
So be sure of what you want to say. Run through the highlights of your career, and list your main achievements to date. You're trying to get someone's attention, arouse interest and encourage them to want to ask for more.
A useful device is to prepare an overview of your capabilities under short functional headings. Give yourself a much clearer understanding of yourself, and a better chance to communicate who you are, and what you have to offer.
Selecting suitable headhunters is equally important. Some are generalists who work across a variety of sectors, while others are specialists operating within given sectors.
Reputation is important, so choose those who have a good image. You can turn to the various publications that list the top headhunting firms, their geographic regions and their areas of specialisation. Personal recommendation is also a good way to select the right company, and is advisable within this region.
Headhunters need to be satisfied about many things: Will your management style fit with the culture of their client? Are you an effective communicator? Do your technical skills meet with the standards required by the client? Will there be the right chemistry between you?
Company recruitment policies differ between organisations, industry sectors and geographic regions. Local companies tend to take on people from similar backgrounds, so this can restrict opportunities. If you can find a good head-hunter and develop a relationship with them, this can work to your advantage.
Some have 'preferred supplier' status for major accounts and the client respects their judgement. Occasionally, they are able to transfer individuals with the right skills-sets from one industry type to another. If you're looking to move outside of the region, it would be a wise idea to contact headhunters operating within your chosen destination, as they will know where the opportunities lie and be aware of local market dynamics.
Developing a rapport is important, so you should prepare an approach plan for everyone you intend to contact. Who do you intend to contact? What is the purpose of the call? How will you explore the possibilities and maintain control over the "meeting"?
Prepare thoroughly. When you make a connection with a person, develop a relationship with them. Even if you are not suitable for a current opening, you may become a prime candidate for a future opportunity.
It's crucial to know your own market value. What you are worth is dependent upon a number of key factors such as geographic location, the type of company the potential employer is (ie multi-national or local business) and the level of the position.
To get the best deal for yourself, remember that the most successful people earn what they negotiate. If you do a good job selling yourself, you increase your value to an employer. If you know what you are worth, and can defend it during negotiations, you will maximise your package.
Manage your feelings and avoid coming across as someone anxious to find a new position. The person interviewing will easily spot the difference between enthusiasm and desperation.
Maintain your composure throughout, particularly when negotiating salary and package. Remember too that the hiring process is illogical and does not always flow smoothly. There will be unexpected delays, so learn to be patient.
With the right preparation, careful choice of head hunter and a systematic approach, you will greatly improve your chances of success. Remember that people do not do business with companies, they do business with other people, so make it an enjoyable experience. Happy hunting!
David Thatcher is a mentor, coach and career management champion, working with individuals facing career challenges across the Middle East region and beyond.
Based in Dubai UAE, David runs a specialist practice CAREER PARTNERS helping those who face difficulties in the job market. Delivering bespoke career coaching, career management and mentoring strategies for high-end managers and senior executives. A service developed for the manager either as part of a corporate solution to business improvement or, for those who are on their own and who need help.
His experience spans more than 30 years in a variety of senior roles within medium sized to multinational companies based in the EU, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. He has held numerous positions across diverse sectors, working with individuals from different cultural backgrounds, developing and managing people and businesses through times of uncertainty and severe market flux.
He is contactable at david@careerpartners.info or SKYPE davidthatcher

The Essential Guide To Using A Recruitment Agency

2009-02-21T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Mike Hewlett

Looking for a new job can seem like daunting task. One effective method is to use a recruitment agency to help you. Recruitment agencies often have a great range of permanent and temporary jobs covering all industry sectors. They often have a selection of unadvertised jobs, as many employers will use an agency to do the work rather than advertise the vacancy themselves. If you do your homework carefully it can be quite a painless and mutually beneficial approach.
The first thing you should consider, well before contacting a recruitment agency, is your CV. It is always good practice to have your CV up to date and available. If you don't yet have a CV you should write one as soon as possible. Do not expect the recruitment agency to write a CV for you. Check that it is well laid out and easy for the recruiter to read. CV writing can be difficult so consider using an online service or CV builder. These can prove to be a low cost and easy method of writing a CV in the style recruiters like to see.
Once you have your CV then the task of contacting the agencies should begin.
Which agencies should I choose? - There are quite a large number of recruitment agencies out there, all offering a range of services. You should be selective. Draw up a list of questions in advance that you can ask the consultant right at the start. You need to make sure that;
They understand your industry. They understand your current job. They understand what you are looking for. They have good contacts within your industry. They will be proactive in finding you a job They can advise you on what salary and benefits to expect
Overall, make sure that you feel comfortable with the agency you have chosen, as they will be dealing with your personal details.
Will they charge me? It is illegal for an agency to charge you for finding a position. The employer for whom they are recruiting pays the costs. The agency can however charge for additional services.
How many agencies should I use? - It really is up to you but for best results it is often better to register with a few specialist agencies. If you use a large number of agencies you may find that they all send your CV to the same employers.
What is their CV policy? Make sure that the agency is going to work for you and not just send your CV to employers without understanding your requirements. Most reputable agencies will have a definite policy on this. Make sure they understand that YOU decide which employers should receive your CV.
Any Candidate testimonials? This is to ensure that you have chosen the right agency. Ask for evidence of satisfied candidates and clients in the industry. This will also give you an idea of how experienced the agency and their consultants are in your chosen field.
Are there any trade bodies? A number of agencies are members of the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) that represents the recruitment industry within the UK. You should confirm that the agency is a member and conforms to the REC code of conduct.
Finally, recruitment agencies are in business to make a profit by placing candidates. You need to make it easy for them to sell you. You should remain in control and avoid being talked into taking unsuitable jobs. It is always a good idea to build a relationship and keep regular contact with an agency.
E & O E - Copyright 2006 CV Writing
How To Write A CV - CV Writing Service - We show you how to write a CV in minutes. Professional CV writing at a fraction of the price. Full instructions and helpful tips. Telephone/email support and Web CV options for your complete CV writing solution

Civil Service Retirement System

2009-02-20T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Milos Pesic

The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) began in 1920 and has given disability, survivor and retirement benefits for the majority of civilian employees in the Federal government until 1987 when the new Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) was created. Nevertheless, over two million people carry on receiving Civil Service Retirement System retirement and survivor benefits every month.
Retirement benefits are presently financed by both Government and employee contributions to the retirement fund, and the benefits are provided based on the duration of service and the average pay over the highest three years of pay.
What are the eligibility requirements for Civil Service Retirement System benefits? An employee is qualified to retire voluntarily if the following provisions are met: at least five years of creditable civilian service; is separated from a position subject to Civil Service Retirement System coverage; is covered by Civil Service Retirement System for at least one year within the two-year period immediately preceding the separation; and meets age/service combinations of age 55 with 30 years of service, or age 60 with 20 years of service, or age 62 with five years of service.
For employees who separate from service and have met the criteria except for the age/service combination may be permitted to a deferred annuity at age sixty-two. To be qualified, the employee must not take a refund of retirement deductions upon separation.
In determining the service which may be used for an employee's eligibility for retirement under the Civil Service Retirement System, is not restricted to service in positions subject to CSRS retirement deductions, it may also comprise service where the pay of the employee is not subject to retirement deductions, such as under a temporary appointment. Honorable active military service may also be qualified, subject to conditions: it was executed before the separation date upon which is the basis for entitlement to annuity; it is not comprised in computation of military retired pay except for certain service-connected disability requirements; if the military service was executed after December 31, 1956, some employees will have to create a deposit for the service to receive firstly or for other employees, to retain credit after the age of sixty-two.
Although the service used in determining an employee's eligibility for retirement is typically the same as creditable service for computation purposes, there are some exceptions: periods of CSRS service refunded, will not be creditable unless a redeposit is made; if the refunded service was executed before October 1, 1990, it will be qualified even if no redeposit is made but the annuity will be actuarially decreased; non-education service is made on or October 1, 1982, is not qualified if a deposit has not been made. October 1, 1982 prior service is creditable by the annuity will be decreased by ten percent of amount owed; active military service executed after December 31, 1956 is not creditable for employees first employed in a covered position after September 30, 1982 except if a military deposit for the service is made; and unused sick leave is commendable in computing benefits. Sick leave is changed into days or months of service using the Sick Leave Chart in the OPM operating manual, but it can never be used for eligibility.
Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Retirement information site. For more articles and resources on Retirement related topics, Retirement Plans, Retirement Communities, Individual Retirement Accounts and more visit his site at:
=>http://retirement.need-to-know.com

The Two Faces Of Unemployment

2009-02-19T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Michael Russell

What does it really mean when unemployment is discussed?
There is unemployment and there is being unemployed. Being unemployed is simply not having work when a person is willing to work. Unemployment is a little broader in scope and what we will concentrate on. Unemployment is being without work or related to a job loss.
The Two Faces of Unemployment comprise the positive aspects and the negative aspects. Most of us are very aware of the negative aspects such as loss of income, being unable to find employment, difficulties paying bills, depression because of self-confidence and other issues that are related. The positive aspects of unemployment will be discussed later.
How does unemployment relate to our economic times? We read about unemployment all the time and at some time in your career, as the statistics would allow, you will be unemployed. Unemployment is something that has come with our Industrial Economic period. Prior to the Industrial period, when we were an agrarian culture, we may have had idle workers but they weren't considered unemployed as we consider people today.
The problems associated with unemployment can and are extensive. This can range from the personal effects that occur to the individual to the effects that reach out and affect others or the community. Examples of this are occasionally higher crime rates when unemployment is significant especially in a localized area. These effects can affect the community by creating a higher reliance on social programs such as unemployment insurance, food stamps and welfare. High unemployment rates also keeps pay rates down due to higher number of people competing for the same jobs. The lower paying jobs may be available but they only offer a short term relief from the unemployment problem. These lowing paying jobs can be more of an obstacle for the unemployed than a resource. Often, they do not pay enough for someone to maintain their lifestyle and they can be mentally detrimental as well. If this is the alternative, the individual that may have loss his or her job and picked this up for a short term may not be available for the opportunity in their field of work.
After all of this, what can possibly be positive about unemployment? In The Two Faces of Unemployment, there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is not one of those freight trains such as not being able to pay bill or loss of self-esteem. This is the Positive aspect of unemployment that most people overlook. Every once in a while, you will come across an article in one of the business magazines that will address these aspects. Most of these articles start something like this: "I Got Fired and it was the Best Thing that Happened To Me!" How many businesses get started just that way? Someone is in a dead-end job going nowhere and getting there fast. They always have had a desire to run their own business and they have had this idea in the back of their mind forever but didn't have the courage to leave the comfort of their job (the one that they hated). Now you're reading in the business magazine about this great little company that is coming along rather nicely and the company's owner started this business after his last employer fired him.
The other story, is one that you might have heard from a friend or a family member about someone that you might know personally that wanted to take some classes to qualify for another job that they have been interested in doing (sometimes for years). They never seem to be able to able to find the time for the training they needed or just couldn't get up the motivation. Then it happened, they were downsized, laid-off or fired. Instead of getting depressed, they got motivated and they are now doing what they wanted to do years ago (and wondered why they didn't just do it before).
The Two Faces of Unemployment can give you a different perspective on the issue of unemployment. Often, we do not see the opportunity to do the things we wish to do because we don't want to let go of what we know. We may not like what we know but the fear of the unknown prevents us from accomplishing things we want to do. Sometimes the best we could hope for is this: "I Got Fired and it was the Best Thing that Happened To Me!"
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Unemployment

Being A Real Estate Pro

2009-02-18T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Andrew Bleak

Buying a place to live in is not just merely purchasing a house. It's one big step in building a home. Making a wise decision in buying a house is not only spending your money the right way, it is more of building a strong pillar of a family and stable life.
To many, they assess the value of a particular investment in terms of its market value or prevailing market price. Others consider practicality, while some are way too willing to spend on whatever seems investment-worthy. There's really no hard and fast rule on how to make the perfect investment. We can only come as close as making the wisest and most practical decisions balancing risks and profitability. Sadly, a lot lack the aptitude in making investment decisions that can best work for them. They pattern their decisions to others'; they make decisions on the basis of envy to people they know whose investments have worked well for them.
Making an investment demands a great deal of personal decision making. Personal, familial, or organizational needs are what should lead to closing or withdrawing a deal. Knowing what exactly you need, how available investment options can address these needs, which among them is the best, and how much you can afford for that option are the underlying key factors to be kept in mind in making investment decisions.
Actually, honing your skill in making the right investments does not only result to sound, practical personal decisions. Having the ability to map out the often confusing mazes of investments can land you in one of the most lucrative and in demand career there is in our country today. From being a wise decision maker, you can turn yourself into a good real estate agent.
While on your current career, gearing up to be a real estate agent will not ask you to drop and leave your childhood dreams. For those still searching a job to land on, real estate selling will not cage you for eternity. Knowing how to be a good real estate agent coincides well with any profession or career, and it even complements them well. No classroom-bound training or degree is even needed. Your new, additional career can begin at the comfort of your very own home. Thanks to online real estate courses, even the plain, good housewife can now extend to others the secret to good home building.
Throughout most the states of America, the need for services of real estate agents is on a continuous rise. Houses and buildings purchaser alike are so much concerned about making investment decisions that they rely to the keen thinking of real estate agents, but only to those equipped with license and good credentials. Depending on what state you live, getting licensed to be a real estate agent is way easier nowadays than it was for the agent who helped your parents 20 years ago.
For example, residents of Texas can get their real estate training from the Allied Business Schools Inc. through its online Allied Texas Real Estate School. Enrolling in Allied Texas Real Estate School's online program even offers a money back guarantee of 110 percent for their online students who will not pass the licensing exam. In California, the Anthony Schools boast of experience, quality, value, convenience, and reliable partnership for their online real estate training course. Interactive, up-to-date review and training materials on the other hand come at very reasonable prices in e-RealEstateLicense.com and a promo of 100 percent money back guarantee for those who will not pass the licensing exam on first try.
To be more sure and confident on what online real estate training program to enroll yourself on, the Internal Revenue Services of the US Department of Treasury has on its website the many legal aspects of real estate ventures. The site has a database of revenue rulings, internal revenue codes, and treasury regulations relating to real estate selling and acquisition. Other online marketing courses and training modules are also as accessible as online real estate courses. Sharpening your marketing and client-relations skills may just lead you to higher sales and wider network of clients.
Driving around Manhattan in one visit to my sister's crib, it dawned to me that real estate businesses are still abundant even in the already thickly-inhabited places in the country. A magazine account I recently read actually said that more and more city people are gearing towards a career (both part-time and full-time) in real estate. With the increasing purchasing power of the middle-class Americans, real estate purchasing is seen to rise higher the next years. Even building and land buying are also in increase rates. It makes me think; New York or California?
For more valuable information on college course online, computer course, please visit http://www.coursenotes.com

Waiting For Lightening To Strike

2009-02-17T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Nan S. Russell

Author and management guru, Peter Drucker says, "People adjust to the level of demands made on them." I would add, we also adjust to the level we demand of ourselves. At some point we grow up and pass for adults by how we look. To match that look with action requires both discipline and determination.
I'll give you an example from my life. My son was born when I was twenty-six. I made the decision to stay home with him the first two years. But, I knew I needed brain stimulation and interaction with an adult world, so I decided to pursue my interest in writing. I wrote my first article, sent it to a magazine and waited. Every day I anxiously checked the mail to discover if today would launch my writing career. When the manuscript was finally returned with a regrets note, my aspirations of being a writer ended. I figured an editor knew better than I did what I could do. I'd been waiting for my career lightening to strike.
Twenty something years later, I know success has little to do with lightening strikes. So, when I left the corporate world to live and work from the mountains of Montana, I took with me that same dream of being a writer. For six months I studied writers and writing, read books, attended seminars and learned the business of writing.
I wanted to be a columnist so I developed a strategy to become one by volunteering to write a life reflections column for a regional magazine. When they agreed, my writing career was launched while I learned the discipline of column writing and fine-tuned my new craft. Today that column, "In the Scheme of Things," is self-syndicated in several states and Canada, and a second column, "Winning at Working," (the one you're reading) was launched a year later. It now reaches hundreds of thousands of web-based readers and is the foundation for my first book.
So what's the difference in today's writing success? Luck? Yes, but it's self-created luck. Better writing? Sure, I'm a better writer today than I was in my twenties. But, that's not it. It's discipline and determination. There are days when I'm not in the mood to write, but writers write, and I write. There are days when marketing my column to another publication or getting one more rejection seems overwhelming. Those days I take a deep breath before giving myself a kick and moving on.
People who are winning at working have discipline and determination. They demand more of themselves. They push themselves to do the project when they're not in the mood, make the phone call, brush off the rejection, or learn the skill they're missing. They know there are few career lightening srikes in the world they live in.
(c) 2005 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.
Sign up to receive Nan's free biweekly eColumn at http://www.winningatworking.com. Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and on-line instructor. Visit http://www.nanrussell.com or contact Nan at info@nanrussell.com.

Take Charge Of Your Job Search 12 Steps To Success

2009-02-16T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Michelle L. Casto

Despite what many people may say, a job search does not have to be an unpleasant experience. There are those people who choose to take charge of the process, who actually find the process to be very rewarding and stimulating. Conducting a job search is in many ways a self discovery process and an opportunity to put your true endurance and attitude skills to the test.
Here is the secret to experiencing job search success: Be Productive, Be Proactive, Be Positive, Be Persistent, and Be Polished. It is a very easy formula to follow: Do your homework on what you want to do and where you would ideally like to do it. Do more than you think is necessary before it needs to be done. Maintain a positive attitude, it will make all the difference in the world. Don't give up too easily, good jobs go to those who "keep at it." And throughout the entire job search process, be sure to look and act the part of a professional.
Steps to Help You Take Charge of Your Job Search:
1. Clarify Your Career Goals: When you know what you are looking for in a career, it is much easier to locate a job in that field. If you are not sure what you want to do with the rest of your life, see a career coach or counselor for assistance.
2. Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter: Invest in a resume and cover letter reference book to view examples of good resumes. Use the examples as a guide to create your own version. Think of your resume and cover letter as "self-marketing" tools. Then, have a few, qualified people review and critique your first few drafts. (Remember, these are works in progress that are never really finished, as you will be continually updating them).
3. Identify Potential Employers: Appropriate employer directories and resources are available for your use in the library or local university career center. Get familiar with books, magazines, and on-line reference materials in your career field and use them regularly. Only rely on the resources that help you to identify relevant employment contacts.
4. Establish a Network: Identify people in various organizations and companies who can give you insight into their employment needs. Identify faculty, acquaintances, friends, and relatives who can assist you in your job search. Become actively involved in professional organizations.
5. Research Potential Employers: Read literature about them, talk with people who know of their work, check them out on the internet. Gather as much information about the company as you can, so if you ever get an interview, you will already be prepared.
6. Practice Your Interviewing Skills: Make an appointment for a mock interview session with a qualified career counselor. If possible, video-tape yourself to see how you can improve your interviewing technique.
7. Conduct an Informational Interview: Ask your contact(s) if they have a half hour to talk with you about their industry. Ask a lot of questions, listen up, and take notes. This is an ideal time to ask if there are any job opportunities within their company and/or people they may know that you should contact. Have a resume in hand, just in case they ask for it.
8. Follow Up with a Thank You Note: Immediately following the interview, send the person or persons you met with a thank you note to show your appreciation. For actual job interviews, follow up with a telephone call within an appropriate amount of time to find out the status of their decision. Show interest without being overly aggressive.
9. Get Organized: Place all of your job search materials in one binder, so that you can refer to the information easily and quickly. Make notes to yourself about the interview, something the person said you would like to remember, or other important information.
10. Develop the Skills and Qualities that Employers are Looking For: Desirable skills include: Good oral and written communication skills, initiative, honesty, reliability, the ability to work in a team, and resourcefulness. Equally important skills to have are appreciation of diversity and the technological know-how for access into your industry.
Qualities:
Character (someone who abides by morals and high ethics in all situations),
Confidence (someone who is comfortable leading and following, composed, and has healthy self esteem), and
Competence (someone who possesses the knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary to succeed in their career field).
11. Continue to Learn: Stay abreast of current trends in your field. Read, Read, Read. Attend workshops or lectures about your field of interest. Always be open to new information.
12. Repeat this Process: Repeat this process until you have secured your desired position.
Keep in mind that a full time job search may take anywhere from six months to a year to conduct, so be sure to start early. And remember that in the job search game, there are three kinds of people:
There are those who are destined to be successful.
There are those who are determined to be successful.
There are those who are neither destined or determined to be successful.
Which kind of job searcher are you? To be successful, take charge of the process and use the 5 P's. All it takes to land your ideal job is a lot of hard work, fore-thought, maintaining a positive mental attitude, having a high level of energy, and displaying professionalism.
About The Author
Michelle Casto is a Life Coach and Speaker who resides on North Padre Island. She is also the author of Get Smart! About Modern Career Development: A Personal Guide to Creating Your Life's Work. Contact her at (361) 949-0337, coach@getsmartseries.com, or visit virtually: www.getsmartseries.com and www.brightlightcoach.com

Absent Without Leave Managing Absence In The Workplace

2009-02-15T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Carole Spiers

According to the Institute of Psychiatry (April 2005), for the first time, stress, anxiety and depression have overtaken physical ailments as the most common cause of long-term absence from work. With sickness absence reportedly costing employers an average of £522 per employee per year (or an average of 10 lost working days), there are good reasons to look closely at the root causes of absenteeism and, where possible, provide early intervention to support employees in regaining their health.
Short-term absence
Short-term absence is usually defined as a period of absence of less than ten consecutive working days, and will usually be as a result of the employee suffering from a minor medical condition.
Persistent short-term sickness is one of the most common problems employers have to face. Arranging temporary cover when an employee is off sick may not always be viable, and is often both disruptive and costly. Many employers therefore adopt the approach of persuading existing employees to cover for absentees on an ad hoc basis.
While this may work in the short term, when applied over longer periods it puts pressure on existing staff, as they struggle to do their own work in addition to that of an absent colleague. The effect of this on staff morale can be damaging and counterproductive. Staff frequently feel resentful if required to do two jobs - often within the same timescale and for no extra remuneration. The situation may be further compounded when the absentee employee returns to work and is met with resentment from those who have had to cover for them during their absence.
Long-term absence
Long-term absence is defined as any period of absence in excess of ten consecutive working days. Such absence - particularly where it is stress-related - presents a different problem for employers. In the short-term they may feel able to cover an absence internally, whereas in the longer term it may be necessary to recruit temporary staff who will normally require induction training and may not necessarily fit in well with existing teams. Temporary staff will also increase the salaries and wages bill, as well as involving the payment of costly agency fees.
After a long-term absence, a phased return to work will most certainly be recommended, with possible training needed to support the employee 'back into work'. Where rehabilitation is not an option, the costs of premature retirement due to ill-health will also need to be taken into account. Stress therefore has a quantifiable impact not only on health, safety and individual well being, but on the operational and financial performance of the organisation as a whole.
Attendance patterns
The link between stress and absence is so well proven that statistics on non-attendance are often used as an indicator of stress 'hot spots' within an organisation. These figures may also be used to measure the effectiveness of stress management interventions.
In the analysis of attendance patterns, any extended periods of sick leave will immediately be apparent. Obviously, a stress-related illness or injury cannot be 'undone', but positive steps can still be taken by actively managing the return to work of the employee, and to minimise the risk of any identified stress reoccurring.
Of even more importance is the monitoring of short-term absences that may be the first sign of excessive pressure. Typically, absences that tend to fall into a pattern (e.g. if an employee is off sick every Monday), or are linked to particular operational requirements (such as reporting periods) are the most likely to be stress-related. It's therefore important to look initially at the pattern of absence, rather than the reasons given for it.
Stress is typically under-reported as a reason for absence - especially in the early stages - with alternatives such as colds, back pain, migraine or general fatigue being given instead. This under-reporting can occur for a number of reasons. For example, it may be that the individual has not recognised that they might be suffering from stress, or they may be reluctant to admit, either to others or themselves, that this is the real problem. There is often a stigma attached to stress, related to a perceived inadequacy or inability to cope. This exacerbates the problem by creating an artificial barrier to its identification and management.
Absence management
A successful absence management policy will ideally create a culture enabling any individual to admit to stress-related ill-health, without feeling that their future employment or career prospects may be damaged. Clearly, the earlier that specific sources of stress are identified, the sooner appropriate action can be taken to reduce the poor attendance that often ensues.
In order to establish a level of control over sickness absence, and to implement an effective policy, it's advisable to analyse employee data including the following:
The number of days lost per year.
The number of employees taking leave of absence.
The average length of absence per employee.
The employees and department(s) with the worst - and best - record of absence.
Are there any identifiable absence patterns?
Is absence influenced, for example, by age, gender, the number of years in the job or seasonal variations?
How many employees take their maximum paid sickness entitlement in a year?
Who takes the greater proportion of sick leave or other absence during the year workers, staff or management?
The reasons for the various types and frequency of absence should then be assessed, including the following:
Is a particular job too stressful or too boring?
Is the work dangerous or does it require too much physical effort?
Is the working environment unsuitable?
Is management weak or over-aggressive?
Is morale poor?
Is there a culture of taking days off at particular times?
Do working practices lack organisational support?
Is there a general lack of incentive and motivation?
When all this information has been collated and analysed, it can then be used to devise policies and procedures in consultation with staff representatives that should, when properly implemented, substantially reduce the incidence of absence.
Carole Spiers Group
International Stress Management & Employee Wellbeing Consultancy
Gordon House, 83-85 Gordon Ave, Stanmore, Middlesex. HA7 3QR. UK
Tel: +44(0) 20 8954 1593 Fax: +44(0) 20 8907 9290
Email: info@carolespiersgroup.com www.carolespiersgroup.com
If you would like to book Carole as a keynote speaker or conference chair at your next conference - check out www.carolespiersgroup.com/mediaenquirysheet.php
About The Author
Carole Spiers MIHE MISMA Carole Spiers combines three roles of Broadcaster, Journalist and Corporate Manager in the challenging field of stress management and employee wellbeing. Over the past 20 years, she has built up her corporate stress consultancy Carole Spiers Group (CSG), with prestige clients such as Sainsbury's, Rolls Royce and the Bank of England. Carole is frequently called upon by the national and international media and provides keynote presentations on stress-related issues. Carole was instrumental in establishing National Stress Awareness Day.

Your Boss Is Hostile What Do You Do

2009-02-14T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Caroline Jalango

Are you working at a job where the boss has no interpersonal skills; micro-manages you and treats you like a child?
Do you work for a fault finding boss who yells, screams and talks to you in an arrogant and demeaning manner, even in the presence of your co-workers?
Are you are tired of walking on eggshells at work because any small thing you do could set off an "explosion"?
Is your boss hostile?
If you work for a hostile boss and nothing has been done to resolve the situation, you probably have been paying the price physically and emotionally. You probably realize that on many occasions, you have sleepless nights, you are depressed, your blood pressure has risen, you have constant migraines, you are losing or gaining weight, your friends think you whine too much, because all you talk about is your job and your boss, your self esteem is eroded and you are just so frustrated. You have even begun to think and believe that you are crazy and that perhaps you really are as incompetent and inadequate as the boss has been trying to make you believe.
Since this is a situation you have to deal with everyday, you are also starting to feel helpless.
This whole thing with work and the boss is consuming your life and it's taking a toll on your health!
How do you handle working with a hostile boss?
Most people try to handle the situation by complaining to their co-workers, friends and family about how badly their boss is treating them. Others cry their eyes out in the bathroom or in their cubicles or even at home. Others keep journals to record every incident (date and time included) hoping to use it as evidence should the need arise. Many others make a couple of trips to an ineffective human resource department in order to lodge their complaints and if they are lucky, HR arranges a one on one meeting with their boss to try and resolve the situation. Others come to work depressed, stressed out and vowing to quit after giving their boss a piece of their mind (not recommended). Many turn to their religious or spiritual roots for peace, guidance and so forth. In most cases, all this happens to no avail.
How can you effectively deal with this situation and get back your life?
1. Start looking for another Job.
If your effort to resolve the situation has failed to work out and your health is at riskthe sooner you start exploring other options, the better.
While still holding on to your job, find out if you can be transferred to another department internally. At the same time, do everything in your power to mount an aggressive job search externally. Call up temporary agencies, send out resumes, call recruitersdo something and do it quickly.
As long as you are doing something to get out of the situation, you will get the strength to cope with the pressure at work. However, if after weighing your options and counting the cost, you feel that you can no longer continue to work at your jobjump ship and look for greener pastures elsewhere.
2. Create a protective mental shield around you.
This is a work survival skill you can use to block negativity at work. I call it "the see no evil, hear no evil skill"
This doesn't mean denying that the situation exists. It is just one way of dealing with an undesirable situation. It is a means to protect your sanity. In this case, you program yourself to see and hear your boss but not really "see or hear them" Your boss could be yelling at you, but you purposely let it slide as if you did not hear anything. This helps not only protects your mind but also helps you retain control over the situation.
3. Stand up for yourself.
Confront the situationdon't run away from it. Bullies do exist in the work place and that bully could be your boss. The more you cower, run and hide; the more power you take away from yourself.
Each time you don't speak up against something you consider an "injustice" against youyou feel bullied, abused, violated and powerless. Then you begin to lose your self esteem and confidence. When you stand up for yourself, speak out and right the wrongyou take back your power. This might be easier said than done especially when your paycheck is on the linebut it can be done. Truth is, sometimes you just have to be tough!.
Try taking small steps of courage. For instance, the next time your boss yells at you in the presence of your co-workersmuster the courage to say something simple and professional like," can we talk about this in private?" I am sure that even if the boss does not agree to a private conversation, he or she will probably think twice about yelling at you in public.
Caroline is a life coach for women who are ready to take step towards living an exceptional life. She helps women strike the match that sets them ablaze to discover who they are, explore and expand on what they can do and take action to achieve their goals. Are you settling for less than you deserve because you are stuck or are you stuck because you are settling for less than you deserve? Send your responses to Caroline@motivationzone.com or visit www.motivationzone.com

Todays Job Search Isnt For Wimps

2009-02-13T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Paul Megan

If you haven't been in the job market recently . . . you're in for a SHOCK!
First, the good news. There are extraordinary high-paying opportunities unlike anything ever seen before in the history of this country . . . even in this shaky job market! And job search is EASY and FAST if you know your way around today's job marketplace!
However, if you're under the impression these remarkable jobs will drop in your lap just because
. . . you're ambitious
. . . or you have a lot going for you
. . . or you put together a slick resume
. . . or you're willing to wait patiently for the phone to ring
then you might as well take a long, long vacation -- it will do about as much good.
You see, there are remarkable changes going on in the job search marketplace. This is an extraordinary time to be looking for a job.
Business and industry is exploding with unique positions at all levels of employment from high school and college grads to senior executives . . . if you know how to find them!
BUT THIS MARKET IS NOT FOR WIMPS!
Things have changed in the 21st Century job market. And since 9-11 and Katrina things have changed A LOT!
For example, because of the iffy job market, employers' expectations and demands have become a major challenge to serious job-searchers. Just take a look at what's in store for you:
* Is your RESUME just a rehash of your previous work history? . . . it's OUT.
* Not in total control of the INTERVIEW? . . . you're dead in the water.
* Like to dwell on your past accomplishments? . . . you just LOST.
* Can't stand up to TOUGH OBJECTIONS and uncomfortable questions? . . . don't give up your day job.
* Scared of the PHONE? . . . get ready for a long, long job search campaign.
* Clueless about how to NEGOTIATE like a pro? . . . expect to leave thousands on the table untouched.
* Can't show how you can make a BIG difference? . . .STAY HOME.
* Afraid to FOLLOW UP with persistence? . . . you just gave your job away to someone who can.
So, do you think you can you live up to the requirements of today's savvy employers? You'll never survive in this fast-paced, sophisticated job marketplace if you can't . . . you'll never qualify for those exciting, high-paying opportunities.
But, the good news is that there are exciting alternative and non-traditional strategies and techniques that can turn you from a wimp into a WINNER!
Paul Megan manages EEI, the world class leader in alternative and non-traditional career advancement since 1985. Check out The World's Fastest Job Search System! Grab EEI's stunning FREE REPORT: "How To Lock Up A High-Paying Job In 14 Days (Or Less)!" http://www.fastest-job-search.com

Overcome Interview Nerves Be Better Prepared Than Your Interviewer

2009-02-12T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Peter Fisher

Although interview preparation is everything it's sad to say that perhaps as many as half of all interviewers you're going to meet will be unprepared or incompetent. It's not all their fault, it's just lack of interview preparation time or responsibility; some of them will be co-opted at the last minute to meet you and won't have had time to prepare.
However there are those who just think they're great interviewers and fly by the seat of their pants!!
It's not all bad news though; you can turn this to your advantage. You can be better prepared than they are by following a few simple rules.
It may sound too simple but what they really want to know only falls into 4 key areas:
* Why are you here?
* What can you do for us?
* What sort of person are you?
* Can we afford you?
So you must prepare for this.
Let's examine each one.
Why are you here?
Because you are interested in the job, the company, the challenge, the chance to learn and develop new skills, and you are ready to move for such a great opportunity.
What can you do for us?
You bring all of your experience, your skills and achievements, as well as your desire to develop and contribute to a new team or department. (This is easy if you've already done your homework on your achievements and skills). You should have a number of skill stories to illustrate these specific points ready prepared.
What sort of person are you?
Someone who has initiative and gets on well with others and is flexible in attitude to different ways of working; maybe you are a great team player, or a strong leader or you describe yourself as loyal and conscientious. Try to avoid the "open-door" or "hands-on" type of response. Remember that 'compatability' is much more important than 'competence'.
Put that to the test if you like - who would you rather work with? Someone who can do everything, or someone you can get on with?
Can we afford you?
Salary negotiation is another issue altogether, but the point is you should have a feeling for what the remuneration is likely to be and show them that you bring value-for-money. If the salary is a lot more or a lot less than your recent earnings then you must be able to show convincing reasons why you are pursuing this job.
That's all fine as a general background but if you're going to overcome your interview nerves and be better prepared than your interviewer, you must be more specific.
Put yourself on the other side of the desk if you were doing the interviewing, what would you really want to know that would convince you to make a job offer?
You'd want to know more about the 4 key areas above wouldn't you?
So all you have to do now is work out your questions to explore those 4 areas. Make it at least 25 questions long and don't avoid that question you don't want to be asked (you know the one don't you?) and then carefully work out your own answers.
Don't forget to include at least half a dozen personal attributes of the ideal candidate; why these are also your attributes and be prepared to explain why they should hire you as opposed to any of the other candidates.
One final thing on interview preparation and being better prepared than the interviewer. The "Tell me about Yourself" type of question is used by many interviewers to allow you to settle in and feel comfortable. An interviewer who hasn't prepared beforehand will tend to ask this question to buy time while she thinks of the next question.
It's then only human nature to ask questions relating to what has already been said (by you).
Your answer to the "Tell me about Yourself" question can therefore set the whole agenda for the interview.
Prepare this well and you're streets ahead. It should include a brief walk through your career history from the first job or when you left university; touch on each move you made with positive reasons for the move [I wanted to get some activity based costing experience...] and key in only relevant facts that show how you meet their needs. Allow only 3 minutes for this with most time spent on your most recent experience.
Now even if you do get the well-prepared, competent interviewer you will have done your interview preparation and you will be the well-prepared competent interviewee!!
However, don't get too complacent some organisations use structured interviews which are actually a boon to incompetent interviewers as they ask the same pre-determined questions to each candidate. No worries! the best preparation for structured interviews is to work on your skill stories. They usually tell you in advance what skills or competences they are interested in.
What else should you do? Well there all sorts of interviews so you can never do too much interview preparation it's the most certain way of feeling confident when you meet the interviewer, whether she's competent or not.
I'll give you a start if you're struggling, click on my link below for some of the most common questions you can start to work on. But don't just leave it there, build up a good list then get to work on your interview preparation.
With over 25 years running businesses, and as a Career Coach and Consultant in many sectors, Peter Fisher is well placed to guide job seekers through the steps needed in order to achieve that all important new position. He has personally coached thousands of individuals to career success.
He writes a distillation of these years of experience with all the essential facts and actions you must complete in order to achieve your own success. He is very clear that you shouldn't be misled by others into thinking of "acing interviews" or "finessing" your way into a business; the most sustainable and fulfilling roles are gained through understanding your own specific needs and creating your strategy accordingly.
For specific guidance on how you might produce your own questions and answers to help overcome your interview nerves go to http://www.your-career-change.com/best-interview-answers.html
To learn more about his dynamic and comprehensive approach to career change, with every page dedicated to helping serious career changers go to http://www.your-career-change.com/index.html

Continuing Professional Development

2009-02-11T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Sandra Beale

Continuing professional development (CPD) is promoted by the CIPD to support the systematic development and accreditation of its members. The aim is that the continuing search to improve knowledge and skills through exposure to new experiences benefits both the individual and the business. The CIPD actively encourages CPD along with other bodies for professionals such as lawyers, accountants and surveyors.
The world is not static and there are new developments in all areas emerging all the time, which are both challenging and exciting. Change gives individuals a chance to stretch their ability and staying up to date builds confidence and adds to credibility. For businesses, the benefits are the ability to stay ahead of competitors and the increase in profits. Therefore, through exposure to new initiatives both parties benefit.
CPD is a cycle of continuous improvement, identifying new experiences to pursue. Having gained that new experience comes the analysis of what has been learnt and how it can be put into practice at work, before considering the next new development. CPD is self-directed and requires motivation and commitment to improving one's own personal standards, which for some individuals can be a challenge in itself. Keeping up the momentum is also important and setting personal goals of what needs to be achieved within a particular timescale. For those who manage to maintain the cycle there is a huge sense of achievement.
The process can take many forms attending seminars, academic courses and conferences, undertaking work-based activities, secondments and project management or reading books and journals. Individuals may have a particular learning style, but to develop their skills should occasionally adopt one that is does not come naturally. For example an individual who learns best from active involvement with problem-solving could adopt a more theoretical style and read an article on the subject instead.
Entwined within the CIPD code of practice is the requirement of HR professionals to encourage and help the development of other individuals. Personal satisfaction can be gained from having helped someone develop new skills perhaps watching them blossom from the new confidence they have gained.
In order to fulfil our obligations as HR practitioners in encouraging CPD there are several possible solutions available - becoming a role model, mentor and coach. A role model will lead by example demonstrating to those who are interested how it is done and the benefits to be gained. As a mentor an HR practitioner can provide individuals with the benefit of their knowledge passing on valuable information of skills and abilities or as a coach positively encouraging an individual to know which paths to pursue. Any or all of these routes can be followed providing satisfaction for all.
Sandra Beale

Personal Presentation Performed Perfectly For Women

2009-02-10T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Peter Fisher

Your interview is coming up and you are feeling very confident. You've thought through how your personal presentation will sound and you are ready to go. You are confident that you have anticipated the questions they might ask you and have prepared some great answers. You know what questions you need to ask them. Clean copies of your CV or resume are sitting in your briefcase. But before you go any further, you'd better ask yourself these questions and be sure you manage the visual impact:
What should I wear?
Generally, it's a good idea to wear a suit for a job interview. Go with something simple, not too stylized, in a neutral tone. The more conservative your field is, then the more conservative your suit should be For example, if you're applying for a job in an investment firm, go with a navy blue or dark grey suit; on the other hand if it's with an advertising or PR company something more trendy or colourful would probably be OK. Dress suitably for success in your chosen field.
What if my interview is for a job in a casual setting? It's always a good idea to match your interview clothing to the prospective job. If you are applying for a job working in a machine shop, you will look out of place wearing a formal suit. However, with that in mind, you should dress up a little more than you would for a day at work.
Personal Presentation Tips for Women
Wearing a dress is probably not the best idea. You might get by if you wear a colour-coordinated jacket, pastel blouse, and long skirt or trousers. But you can't go wrong wearing a navy-blue or medium- grey business suit, with a plain white, long-sleeved, blouse.
If you wear tights (recommended), wear skin colour.
Wear low-heeled, conservative dress shoes that match your outfit.
Don't go without a belt if you're wearing a skirt or pants with belt loops. Wear a dress belt that matches your shoes (e.g., black with black).
Style your hair tastefully or have it professionally done. If it's long, wear it up or back, so you're not constantly flicking it out of the way.
Avoid bright or odd-coloured nail polish. Clear or no nail polish is best.
Apply makeup sparingly and avoid unusual or bright colours. Definitely don't apply sparkles to your hair or face.
If you wear earrings, wear small, conservative ones. Wear only one per ear in the traditional earlobe position. It's better to carry a briefcase or portfolio into an interview than a handbag.
Getting this right boosts your confidence and feeling confident will ensure you have a better interview. There is one other thing that tends to sap confidence: being a little overweight can make you feel a little uncomfortable and is often the result of a lack of confidence, so its a vicious circle. If this is you then read my free advice at ebookdownloads/weight loss.
Peter Fisher is an expert Career Coach and counsellor. He is also Managing Director of Career Consulting Limited. For insights into his expert advice on the importance of Personal Presentation in the Career Change process visit http://www.your-career-change.com/Dress-for-success.html.

Employee Compensation How Much Value Do You Add On The Job

2009-02-09T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Nick Thomas

The phrase "Value Added" is widely known around the world, partly because it provides the taxation basis that businesses charge their customers on purchases in many countries. And so to most of us, "Value Added" means the government and supply chains substantially mark up prices and we end up paying more for the things we buy.
That means the phrase has an unpleasant connation for most people - one all too similar to "highway robbery". And that's unfortunate, as the value that you add on the job is the single most critical factor in determining how easily you'll find a new job and how large a pay package you'll command.
Since businesses are in business to make money, there's no incentive to hire a new employee for (say) $40,000 if that person produces only $20,000 of value. On the other hand, there's substantial incentive to hire someone for $40,000 if that person can produce value worth $60,000 $80,000 or even $100,000 for the company.
This means that persons who can add $100,000 of value are likely to have many companies seeking to hire them. Companies have to compete for these special candidates and one way of doing this is to increase their offers to $50,000 or $60,000 or even $70,000.
Think of the value-added amount you can contribute as being the theoretical ceiling for your earnings. You won't get paid more than you're worth (at least, not for long if the company realises it), but companies are more than happy to pay you far less than you're worth if you settle for it. Most employees are in this position, unfortunately.
Are you one of those unfortunates? Probably, unless

You understand the amount of value that you can add (most employees don't)
You can spell out how and where you would add that value (most employees can't), and
You're a skilled negotiator (most employees aren't)
Do you know the answers to the three questions above? If not, the odds are good that you're not presently securing a substantial portion of the value that you add for your current (and future) employer.
How do you help your company make money? How do you help your company to save money? In what ways are you more productive? How much more productive are you? What good ideas have you come up with that have helped the company?
If you have good answers to these questions, you'll have a real advantage when competing for jobs and negotiating your compensation.
But most people don't know how to determine these factors on their own. And even if they do, they lack the ability to effectively market that added value in a way that portrays them in the best possible light.
Learning your true added value and communicating it persuasively to employers are two of the most important skills you can learn (or pay others to teach you). It will literally make a world of difference to your career.
Nick Thomas runs an international writing business that helps job seekers get the interviews they want with high quality professional resumes and CVs. Your company uses a professional marketing service ... why don't you? For UK clients: http://www.highimpactcvsonline.com. For US clients: http://www.highimpactresumesonline.com. This article may be reproduced without permission as long as this paragraph is included in the reproduction.

Do You Really Want A Job I Mean Really

2009-02-08T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Lee Thatcher

I have been working in customer service for many years, and I have seen many people arrive for job interviews. I have become well-versed in what employers are looking for in a potential employee. I thought much of this was common sense, but either people aren't getting the message, or many just don't really want to be hired. I thought I would pass along some good information to help anyone along who really wants to get a job. To even get as far as the interview stage, your application/resume` needs to be as typo-free and as thoroughly completed as possible! Take the time to do this correctly. Get addresses, names of former employers and phone numbers correct. Ask for a second application in the event you make a mistake on the first, so you can turn in a mistake-free application. It's a great idea to update your resume information and tailor it to specific jobs/fields. Scour it for mistakes and weird wording before submission.
A: Arrive on time for all appointments- even be a little early. Get rid of the gum, or chew.
1) Dress your best. It is wonderful that you feel most at ease in your holey jeans and flannel shirt, muddy boots and baseball cap, but an employer is looking for a professional presentation. At the interview, you are representing to your potential employer who you are and what is important to you. If you want the job, dress appropriately. If money is a problem, ask someone if you could borrow a nice suit or slacks and sweater for the day. You could also try the thrift stores- I find good things all the time. Employers are not generally impressed with your desire to express yourself with various piercings and unnatural hair colors (like pink). You could take these items off or out even before you get hired and have to then follow company policy. First impressions could speak more loudly than any of your wonderful accomplishments, so don't distract your interviewer with adornments.
2) Convictions or felonies? Be honest and upfront about this information from the start.
3) Always make eye contact, smile, and offer a firm handshake! Use manners and show your potential employee that you would be a polite team player by how you treat people that you don't know. This is especially vital in jobs that involve customer service, which most do at some level.
4) Be prepared for interview questions that ask you to describe a time when you solved some problem, were responsible for something, or gave great customer service. Other common questions will ask you about your organizational abilities and interpersonal skills. Nervousness is normal, but try to answer these questions with confidence and honesty.
5) If you were ever fired, you may be indirectly questioned about this, as well. The key here is to never bad-mouth a former employer, although it is ok to voice your frustrations at the work situation. Don't go on a rant about how awful the boss or the company was, and how right and wonderful you were. Be honest, but don't beat yourself up. Admit it if you made mistakes, but also indicate what you learned from the experience and what you would do or have done differently to avoid this problem from occurring again.
6) There will most likely be a drug test of some sort. Are you ready to commit to your future and your employer? Don't show up at an interview under the influence of drugs of any kind. I don't mean those prescribed for legitimate illness, though some of those might have side effects.
7) Maintain a positive attitude throughout the interview, even if the interviewer doesn't give you indicators of whether or not they find you hirable. There are likely to be more steps in the process before the decision(s) are made. You do want to follow up the interview process with a thank-you note to whoever interviewed you. Try to get a timeframe of when you can expect to hear from them, and call them if they don't call you by the stated time. It's ok to be persistent ! It's the only reason I got my current job!
My name is Lee. I work in retail and am an Assistant Human Resource Coordinator. I have nearly 20 years in customer service and enjoy proofreading and writing, as well.

How To Be Successful In Todays Job Market

2009-02-07T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Joe Love

Reorganizing, downsizing, consolidating, and streamlining are more than just a few fashionable buzzwords that describe today's job market. For millions of people, they have meant just one thing: loss of their jobs.
Yet there still plenty of good positions open for those people who are prepared. Only many of these jobs aren't the same as before. They reflect a changing world of work, a world in which companies are flatter and less bureaucratic, knowledge is more valued than longevity, and global competitive pressure has broken down the lifelong-employment contract of yesterday.
For people who want to find a new job, or keep the job they have, this new world of work demands new attitudes, new skills, and new responsibilities
There is no longer any such thing as job security. No employer is going to guarantee you a job for life. Companies are trying to survive in a world in which change is constant, in which new competitors suddenly appear, and demanding customers are always clamoring for new products and services.
The first priority of companies is to counteract the competition and fulfill the demands of their customers. Keeping employees is not a priority. But before you become disillusioned by this, you also need to know that there is still plenty of work to be done and people needed to do that work.
In today's world of work, you will not be given job security automatically. But you can earn it. How? By making yourself valuable to the company. But it's your responsibility and not the company's to manage your career. You are in charge of that.
To really take charge of your career you first have to understand how companies are changing, and how to choose the company for your future. Then you have to identify and develop the knowledge and skills that these new companies require from their employees.
Faced with mounting competitive pressures and budgetary constraints, companies are trying to eliminate the "fat" to increase efficiency and productivity. They want to be lean. And one way to become lean is to decrease the number of bureaucratic layers, becoming, in other words, flatter. By becoming lean and flat, companies then become tough enough to fend off competitors and dominate their markets.
Companies today are reducing bureaucratic hierarchies to become leaner and more competitive. In these new structures, employees must take on more action-oriented, customer-focused responsibilities, and be able to lead people. They must do more than just put in an eight-hour day and go through bureaucratic routines.
Whatever your current situation, whether you are well placed within your company, just starting out, or looking to make a career change, there is one thing that you must do to ensure a successful future: You must constantly be learning.
Today, more than at any time in history, you must take control of your life. And being in control is the key to successfully navigating today's turbulent world of career shifts and job changes. The more you learn, the more competitive you are, the more valuable you become to current and future employers. Your knowledge is the lifeblood of your employer. In fact, in the Information Age it is more accurate to say that you work with, not for, a company. That is the power of being in control of your life.
What should you learn to increase your competitiveness and employability? You must increase your skills in people management, your ability to work in teams, and learn to work well in ambiguous, complex, and uncertain situations. You must develop the ability to make effective decisions when there is no right answer. You must have the ability to solve problems and deliver results. And you must become an excellent communicator, by developing powers of persuasion and influencing.
People who can lead, function well as team players, and who can actually do the work as opposed to just manage it are the ones who will always be employed. As you're learning and gaining new skills it is important to keep your primary focus on being flexible, open to change, and being tolerant in the workplace.
Whether you have been let go or you decided to leave on your own, they way in which you look at it will make all the difference. Instead of looking at it as being fired or thrown out. Look at it as if you are on a paid (through unemployment compensation or your severance package) sabbatical, a time to take stock and think about your future. Becoming unemployed might just be the chance of your life. Because the answer to a better future often lies in doing something different.
You need to take stock in your situation and find out where you are on the "ladder of life." For example, do you really need the salary you were earning at your old position? If you're over forty-five, you probably have some savings, your expenses are lower (for example, you have fewer dependents living with you), and you received a good severance package from your former employer.
Taking stock, you may realize that your financial situation does not require you to go back to a high-paying but high-stress job. You may decide that you have an opportunity to go into another field, perhaps one that has more meaning for you even if it doesn't pay nearly as well.
The first step in looking for new employment is to carefully and honestly assess the needs of the marketplace, and what skills and knowledge you can bring to it. Successful people look for ways to acquire more valuable skills to boost their attractiveness. They realize that getting a job depends on what the employer wants, not what they want.
Research and identify what potential employers really need before you apply for a job. Then tailor your offering to that company. Individual tailoring is more effective in finding a job than sending out two hundred copies of look-alike resumes. Mass mailings of resumes is like firing a shotgun in an open field at midnight and hoping to hit something.
Here are four things that companies today are looking for:
1. A track record in creating change. The business world is a world of constant change. Companies want people who have been there and succeeded. They want people who have shown they have the courage to break through the safe status quo and tackle things on a project-oriented basis.
2. A team builder. Companies want people who not only can motivate a team but also who can pull together effective, talented teams on a project basis.
3. Cultural mobility. Because of global competition, people who can comfortably deal with other nationalities, and business situations in foreign countries are invaluable.
4. Computer and Internet skills. We are now in a world economy that is driven by computers and the Internet. Companies want people who not only have a good working knowledge of many types of computer software but also who are able to research and communicate using the Internet.
When you apply for a job, send a carefully prepared letter that addresses the job you know is open and why your skills fit the products and services of that company. Get personal. Don't send letters to anonymous human resource departments. Call to find out the names of the people you want to reach. And don't be afraid to hit them with multiple pieces. Often sending to resume to the marketing director, the sales director, and the human resources director can work wonders.
Chances are that in today's volatile world of work, you may one day be let go, downsized, made redundant, or whatever other term you want to use for losing your job. You can wait for that moment to blindside you, sending you into despair and frustration. Or you can prepare for it, even anticipate it, and use that moment as a turning point for your future.
Copyright©2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. He is the founder and CEO of JLM & Associates, a consulting and training organization, specializing in personal and business development. Through his seminars and lectures, Joe Love addresses thousands of men and women each year, including the executives and staffs of many of America's largest corporations, on the subjects of leadership, self-esteem, goals, achievement, and success psychology.
Reach Joe at: joe@jlmandassociates.com
Read more articles and newsletters at: http://www.jlmandassociates.com

How To Create A Great Electronic Resume

2009-02-06T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Vincent Czaplyski

After creating the perfect resume, you then need to distribute it. You'll likely be sending some professionally printed hard copies, especially to "A list" companies or organizations you've set your sights on. But just as likely, you'll be distributing other copies electronically.
Presuming you've written a great resume to begin with, here's what you really need to know about your electronic version:
1. It must be searchable.
2. It must be in ASCII format.
Searchable:
Someone searching the Internet resume banks for the perfect candidate (you) needs to be able to weed out all the unqualified candidates, which potentially number in the tens of thousands nowadays. Typically, they'll enter search terms intended to eliminate the vast majority of posted resumes and select the most promising. They do this much as one might perform an Internet search on Google or another search engine, by entering key word search terms
Their search might be limited to a certain geographical area, a certain skill set or qualification, or a certain job description, among obvious search categories.
The geographical part is easy - your contact information will help someone looking for a software designer in San Francisco Bay area or a pretzel maker in Milwaukee find you if you are qualified and live in the right part of the world.
However, if you have technical qualifications that can be searched in different ways - "Bachelor of Science" and "B.Sc." for example, your resume should use both variants so that a search engine finds you either way.
And if you possess job experience that's highly relevant to the job in question, be sure to describe it in the most common ways that it would likely be searched on.
Tip: Read through your completed resume and see if you can't describe qualifications, degrees, or job titles in multiple alternative ways throughout the resume. This will increase the chances you'll be found in an online search.
ASCII Format:
Your professionally laid out and formatted paper resume may end up looking like gibberish if simply transformed into an electronic copy. Programs like Word allow you to format nice looking documents with features such as tabs, bullets, centering, bold, italic and other word processing niceties.
Unfortunately, when converted to electronic form, many of these word processing features are lost. Worse, what's left over may bear no resemblance to the exquisite resume that you labored over to produce.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution. You can prepare a simple text version in a text editor like Notepad or any of the dozens of other text editors out there. In this case, you'll replace many of these text effects. For example, you'll replace bullets with asterisks, word wrap with a hard carriage return, and tabs and justification effects with simple spaces.
Another solution is to use a program specifically designed for writing resumes like WinWay Resume Express. (See the "Do It Yourself Resumes" page at www.Impressive-Resumes.com to learn more about this inexpensive handy program.) It features an easy way to transform your resume into a searchable electronic version with very little effort after you've created the word processing formatted version.
No matter which method you use, be sure you've taken these simple preparations for electronic distribution before you hit "send." This will greatly increase the chances that your resume will reach its intended audience.
Copyright 2005 by Vincent Czaplyski, all rights reserved.
You may republish this article in its entirety, as long as you include the complete signature file above without modification.
Copywriter and consultant Vincent Czaplyski is founder of http://www.impressive-resumes.com, your online source for professionally written "industrial strength" resumes and cover letters guaranteed to land you an interview.

Job Seeking Advice For College Graduates

2009-02-05T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by J. Elisha Burke

After spending many late nights studying at the college library and hurrying to finish your term papers, you have finally graduated and it is now time to search for full-timeemployment. However, unless you have special training in a particular field, many college graduates will have to search for entry-level positions. The job search for an entry-level position is oftendifficult, but having an impressive entry level resume can help.
Beat The Rush
Well before your diploma has been handed to you it is important to send in your entry level resume to as many companies as possible. This would include researching companies that are currently hiring and submitting your resume to the Human Resources department or the person in charge of hiring.
Evaluate The Skills You Possess
As a recent college graduate, you might have few, if any experience in the fields in which you are seeking employment. This might entail you making a list of all the skills you possess along with any training you might have received during your college years. Any skill or experience such as Captain of the debate team, or Vice President of the Student Government Association should be noted on your entry level resume. This can help your to stand out among other entry level applicants.
Check Out Your College's Career Center
Once you have decided which of your skills to emphasize and have listed them within your entry level resume, you can use these skills to narrow down your search for a job. A great place to start your search is at your college's career center. Many career centers will have job listings of companies interested in hiring college graduates, along with resources to help you write your resume and help you land a successful job interview. However, it is recommended that you not only submit your resume to companies that have posted vacancies, but to other companies you are interested in that might be hiring in the future.
Remember, the key ingredient in your job search is you. You must decide what you want and start early to work to achieve this new goal.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E. Burke Professional Writing Service is an educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. Please visit http://writer.burkepublications.com, for additional information.

Simplify Your Job Get Back To The Basics

2009-02-04T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Mary Schaefer

In any job, as time goes on, it can feel like you are being pulled from every direction. You are doing the best you can and seems like it is still not enough. It's easy to feel like you are falling behind and will never catch up. And if you do catch up, there will be no keeping up, let alone make time available to truly excel.
It is easy to get overwhelmed with things big and small, lose perspective on what's important and let the proverbial straw break your back. After the 20th email, the tenth phone call, the 4th "IM" and the sixth decision you are asked to make today, it can feel like meltdown-time. At that point, you are not exactly poised to do your best work
Some of the best performers I know have thoughts like this under these circumstances:
Am I pulling my weight?

Is this going to impact my performance rating?

Am I going to get fired?

Am I putting myself at risk of getting laid off?

Is my boss going to hold this against me?
Know what success looks like for your position, and then deliver.
It's tempting to get caught up in others', sometime unrealistic, expectations of us. Often we get caught up before we know it. And then we end up running ourselves into the ground, or into the hospital, trying to meet all those expectations.
It's times like this when it's imperative to simplify. Remind yourself of the baseline for what is expected of your position. Take some time to take a breath and check out whose expectations you are trying to meet and look at them objectively. Only then, with a clearer mind, can you make realistic choices about how you are going to choose to enhance your performance in a way that works for you and your employer.
What's your job? Boil it down.
When I get particularly overwhelmed with both stated and assumed expectations, I always try to go back to asking myself, "What is the bottom line that I need to deliver?"
Recently I agreed to teach my first course to college students. I had lots of experiencing designing and conducting training and facilitation in corporations and thought I had what it took to make this a great experience for everyone, right off the bat. I had all of these grand ideas about what it could be, what I wanted it to be, for me and them both only to get brought back to reality very quickly. I had to remind myself:
My job as an instructor is to deliver on the course objectives on the syllabus. I make students aware of the ground-rules and expectations of the class. I use a variety of ways to familiarize students with the required material so they can have a realistic opportunity to make a passing grade. I test the students on the material required, and return objective, helpful grades and feedback. I deliver thoughtful assessments and final grades at the end of the semester, on time.
Now, these objectives can be met in effective ways, that are either good-enough, or energy-draining. If I have the time and energy to design something more fun or elegant, great. And I'm not suggesting that quality be sacrificed. Putting what's expected of you in these simple terms helps you be objective 1) when you're stressing and 2) when someone seems to be expecting more.
So, can you describe the core of your job in 100 words or less? Include those adjectives that are important to you and the job, but keep it concise. Think about it as if this were the annual objective that would be considered a no-brainer for your job, and you'll be on your way to a clearer brain in no time.
Copyright 2004-2006, Mary C. Schaefer, all rights reserved.
Mary Schaefer is President and Lead Consultant for Artemis Path, LLC. She holds a Master's in Human Resources Management and is certified as an HR Professional (PHR). Mary's 20 years of experience in industry, most recently as an HR manager, allows her to effectively coach you as a supervisor, small business owner or employee, on how to get along better at work! You can find more information about how Mary can help you at http://www.artemispath.com
While you are there, check out how the expanded, 14-page eworkbook version of the Ten Ways to Survive Your Current Job can help you!!

A Passion For Diversity

2009-02-03T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Simma Lieberman

Some people work at their jobs because they have to make a living, and they get to express themselves after work. Some people have careers that they love, and have a hard time not taking home their work with them when they go home. And then there are successful people in the diversity field. They have a passion for diversity and they live their work. Whether or not they take their work home with them, their work is always driven by the values they live every day, and their lives are driven by the values they promote at work.
When organizations began to embrace diversity in the 1980s, many of them thought that diversity training was the answer. They thought that if every employee attended a diversity training class, biases, complaints and lawsuits would disappear and everyone would work together in harmony forever. There were two kinds of people engaged in diversity training, education and organizational development. There were those who thought of it as program or a trend. These people read a few books, took a train-the-trainer class or bought one in the mail and called themselves experts. The second group knew that it was a process, not a one day program and that in order to create change they needed to live it, learn it and continually develop their passion for it. They were cognizant of the need to integrate diversity into the business strategy of any organization and the rest of their lives. They also knew there were no quick fixesthat it took patience, and timebut change was possible.
The first group lost interest and went on to something else but people in the second group are still here helping to create change They're working to create inclusive environments where all people can do their best work and have their individual skills and talents, recognized, appreciated and utilized.
I wanted to know more about this passion for diversity and where it came from. What drives some individuals to maintain their personal mission, vision and values despite resistance, challenges and nay sayers. I interviewed four people whose passion for diversity is so great it's like a magnetic force that continues to get stronger and attract everything in its path. These four people are Terry Howard, Director of Diversity for Texas Instruments; Michele Atlas from Workforce Diversity Network; Deb Dagit, Executive Diversity Director at Merck; and, Edgar Quiroz, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation at Kaiser Permanente.
I asked all of them, Why did you get involved in diversity? Here are their stories:
Terry Howard, Director of Diversity at Texas Instruments, has a long-standing and personal connection with diversity. "As an African-American male, I've been involved in and experienced diversity my entire life. From a career standpoint, I actually got involved in this work by 'default.' During the mid 1980s, I managed a group charged with delivering employment and EEO service for AT&T. Our client base was very diverse and that itself heightened my interest in this work. The challenge of fostering awareness of that growing diversity and leveraging it was most intriguing to me. In 1986, I read the Hudson Institute report Workforce 2000. This ignited me and I knew I wanted to help break new ground."
Terry's passion and his involvement in diversity continue to grow. He now supports 15 diversity affinity groups at Texas Instruments, as well as the many business level diversity committees and their annual diversity conferences. "In between, I write a monthly internal diversity column and issue periodic diversity tips on the full range of diversity topics, and I speak on diversity and inclusion at meetings and retreats internally and externally ." Recently he founded the Diversity Connection Symposium for Texas Diversity Professionals, a group consisting of representatives from Shell Oil, Price Waterhouse, First American, Intel, Intuit, JC Penny, Delotte and others and delivered talks in France and China. He takes his passion for diversity and inclusion to the community, having participated in a community march against hate. "One of the things I'm most proud of is my role in the successful integration of religion and faith in the workplace amid lots of skepticism." He said that people were still talking about the standing room only session "When Traditional Religion Meets Sexual Orientation". When asked what drives him his reply was, "My passion is driven by my curiosity about the far-reaching implications of diversity and getting organizations to see that connection. It never stops."
Deb Dagit, Executive Director of Diversity for Merck, told me that she had lived months at a time from when she was 11 to 16 in the Shriners Hospital to receive treatment for a bone condition that resulted in fractures and bone deformities. She was there with other children who had bone and burn disabilities from all over the world. "I became close to kids from all over the world who were also living in the hospital for months at a time, cut off from families and "normal" life . I learned what we had in common was more significant than what was different, regardless of our cultural differences."
During the time she spent in public school she was separated from the rest of her class as schools were not required to integrate children with disabilities and therefore there were many restrictions on how she was allowed to attend. She had to sit right next to the teacher's desk and was not allowed to go to recess or lunch with the other kids. In describing her experiences she says, "Because of how I was treated, I related to other kids who were also seen as needing extra attention from the teacher, whether for behavioral issues or learning challenges . Issues of fairness, respect and inclusion became very important to me as I observed who was singled out and how this caused them to be treated by other members of the class ." After graduation, Dagit tutored people who immigrated from Vietnam after the war. She saw how they struggled to learn the language, culture, and to fit in with other kids.
She explained that there is a disproportionate number of people with disabilities who are veterans and who are from minority backgrounds for a variety of reasons , and that along with diversity issues amongst people with disabilities who come from different backgrounds, there are diversity issues around different types of disabilities. "Some disabilities are more stigmatized than others," she noted.
Her experiences inspired her to become a diversity leader. She traveled to Washington DC and spoke to lawmakers about the importance of passing the ADA and fought against weakening amendments . "During that time I thought about struggles and victories like Brown vs. the Board of Education and the Voting Rights Act, and the importance of civil rights for all people. This experience also caused her to realize the importance of 'reasonable accommodation' for all employees as a foundation for what are now called 'work environment' initiatives."
"In my first corporate job out of college I was told very matter of factly that I would never get beyond an 8 or 9 dollar and hour entry level job. After about 5-6 years I began to realize that they were serious about this low ceiling, so l left the corporate world for four years and I worked in the non-profit sector primarily on disability issues . As comfortable and engaging as it was to be with my "tribe," I knew that to effect real systemic changes more broadly. it needed to be from the inside out, companies nee d to see diversity and inclusion as important to the success of their business and consistent with the workplace ethics and corporate social responsibility values the espouse. When I re-entered the private sector it was as an executive with senior level responsibility and salary.
Deb says her passion for diversity only continues to grow. She was a founding member of the Conference Board Workforce Council on Diversity 13 years ago . "I have never been around anything else that keeps me stimulated 24 hours a day. I rarely read anything that is not in the field. I have a global vision and I want to help create the kind of world that does not just tolerate differences, but one where people are truly respectful and inclusive of other s, the kind of world that is healthy for our children."
Edgar Quiroz is the Director of Workforce Diversity at Kaiser Permanente's National Diversity Department. He told me, "I really never sought to get involved with diversity work, diversity work got involved with me." He grew up in San Francisco in a diverse neighborhood with African-Americans, Asians, Caucasians and Latinos like himself. While attending high school in the 1970s he was active in community student leadership. "I organized youth in under served communities city wide to help them with jobs, careers, and educational enhancement. Not one of my past job descriptions ever included diversity as a duty, but I always managed to weave diversity work into my functions. As a boy, my father and I walked the picket lines with Cesar Chavez in support of the UFW." He began working at SF General Hospital as a youth outreach worker. "I worked with young people who were homeless, drug and alcohol addicted, prostitutes, battered and abused.
Today Edgar says he is privileged to be the Director of Workforce Diversity for Kaiser Permanente where he has worked for 20 years. During this time he was a founding board member and past president of the Kaiser Permanente Latino Association. "I chose Kaiser Permanente because their social mission on community wellnes, diversity and cultural competency are aligned with my own. My primary three areas of involvement are: 1) Enhance the diversity, cultural competence, skill and performance of our workforce; 2) Provide culturally competent medical care and culturally appropriate service to improve the health and satisfaction of our increasing diversity membership; 3) Grow our membership through effective market segmentation approaches that target specific populations which are the fastest growing segments of our society".
Diversity impacts his personal life every day. His family is bi-racial, and it is important to him that they all know, embrace and celebrate both his Latino culture and the African-American culture. "My passion for diversity has increased to a point that far exceeded any of my expectations. It's only gotten better and I maintain my lifetime relationships with mentors and colleagues. I love my work, and there is a lot more work to do. As a country we have to pay more attention to populations that have been ignored so more people have access to quality health care. I remain optimistic and hopeful. I am inspired by all others who are also working for change."
Michelle Atlas began her career in Vocational Rehabilitation in Rochester, New York over 13 years ago. Seven years ago, she was hired by the Rochester Business Alliance to create a new program to provide employment services to people with disabilities. After the first year, she was asked to represent the Rochester Business Alliance at the Workforce Diversity Network, an organization whose mission is to create a nationwide learning network to support organizations in learning more about the benefits of diversity in the workplace, and is expanding to other areas in the USA "I didn't know a lot about other areas of diversity beyond disability, but as I began to learn about all the other dimensions, diversity and inclusion became so important to me and I kept learning and expanding my knowledge base about every component." As a representative, Michele got to meet diversity leadership in various kinds of organizations. She learned more about diversity initiatives and issues that organizations were dealing with. "I felt a very strong affinity for this work. I went from being a representative to the Diversity Workforce Network to serving on the board and becoming a part time staff member; working with the Executive director, and coordinating membership and organizing our national conference. I love the spirit of the other people who do this kind of work. My passion comes from being a part of something that is so good for the world at so many levels. I'm excited by other cultures, and I am part of an incredible program called the Mosaic Partnership where leaders in our region are partnered with someone from a different race and participate in group coaching sessions."
Michelle talked about how crucial it is for people in the health care field to be culturally competent. Besides her part time work with WDN, she consults, coaches and trains people who employ people with disabilities to be more culturally competent. "My learning points have been to honestly assess my own biases and to then be able to help other people assess their own and feel safe. Learning about my own biases has been very liberating and other people I work with have said that it is true for them. If we want to move forward from diversity to inclusion we have to identify our subtle biases and work through them. I hope I never stop learning."
Although these four individuals are from different industries and came to diversity work from different experiences and backgrounds, they share certain qualities and experiences that contribute to their passion for diversity. From Deb's voracious reading of diversity books to Michele's personal involvement with the Mosaic Partnership, we see that these four remarkable individuals have all cultivated lifestyles that support their passion for diversity. They live and breathe diversityboth coming from diverse backgrounds and seeking out diverse interactions and experiences. They have all adopted learning orientations so they can continue to develop their own cultural competence and help others to do the same. Moreover, as we saw with Edgar's work with underserved communities and Terry's work with "Traditional Religion Meets Sexual Orientation" in the workplace, the passion of these four diversity leaders is driven by a lot of 'Cs': courage, concern, and commitment to diversity initiatives. Be it Terry's commitment to helping organizations understand the implications of diversity, Deb's global goals for a better world, Edgar's views on what this country needs to better meet the health needs of its diverse population, or Michele's emphasis on breaking down barriers through helping people safely address their own biases, this is truly a visionary group of professionals. Most importantly, their visions are long-term, powerful, and important ones that they consistently move forward a day at a time. These are the kinds of diversity leaders that we need working in rganizations of all kinds.
For an organization to successfully leverage the diversity of its organization to improve its performance three concurrent imperatives must be in place. First, diversity must be part of your overall business strategy and, secondly, your organization must move from representation and numbers to inclusion at every level. Finally, you will only be successful if you bring in diversity leaders who not only have knowledge of but a passion for diversity.
Simma Lieberman is a consultant and speaker who helps organizations create more profitable cultures. She specializes in Diversity and Inclusion, Gender Communication and Power Living. Contact Simma to help your organization and the people in it be more successful. Simma Lieberman, 1-510-527-0700, Simma@SimmaLieberman.com, http://www.SimmaLieberman.com

Unemployment Blues Talk To Yourself

2009-02-02T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Virginia Bola, PsyD

There is always a debate about whether daily affirmations work - the kind of uplifting statements you repeat to yourself in the mirror each morning.
I find a more effective way to improve your mood and self-esteem is to create your own positive scripts for regular re-reading and study. On those days when you're really down on yourself and think that you're a failure, immersing yourself in a book crammed with notes about your qualities and accomplishments can restore your balance, brighten your spirits, and re-energize you for the rigors of the job hunt.
Keep a notebook close by and jot down every little success you've ever had. List your personal characteristics, work and non-work successes, little things you've done that made you feel proud. Record what other people have said to you as compliments or in gratitude. Note any awards or trophies you've ever won.
Describe your accomplishments, big and small: completing a difficult class, learning how to bowl or play a decent round of golf, teaching your teenager how to drive a stick shift, losing that last 10 pounds. No one reaches adulthood without a long string of successes along the way but we tend to discount them because our emotions are engaged by our failures, the "ones who got away."
Keep adding to your book of positives as you think of more and more accomplishments (the list will grow, the more you think about it). On the days when you think your value to the world is zero, take out your book to remind yourself of your own worth. The world is a better place due to all of our collective efforts so give yourself an emotional pat on the back.
Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, while serving as a Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers' Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive and supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can be reached at http://www.unemploymentblues.com

Greater Confidence A Critical Factor Of Success In Important Interviews

2009-02-01T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Sally Evans

Job interviews can be quite nerve racking at times but to be successful you must face your interviewer with confidence. Your demeanor will determine how your interviewer views you. A confident person is always an asset to the company, as they will project a strong image of the business to prospective customers and clients. You can build up confidence in several ways.
Be knowledgeable about the field you are trying to get a job for. When you know your subject you do not need to worry about what the interviewer may ask because you will be ready to answer any question. This is how you are meant to come across to the interviewer. Be prepared for standard questions and maybe some tough ones. Think carefully before answering.
Know what to expect. Talk to others who have had similar interviews. Interviewers have a standard pattern for taking interviews because they do so many. Therefore if you know anybody who has applied for this type of job before you can get an idea of what questions they may be asking.
Remember not to be intimidated by the interviewer. They are just another person and should be treated as such. If you think of them in this way you will be able to be more comfortable when talking to them and show more confidence.
A handshake tells a lot about a person and can show the person you are shaking hands with a good deal about your character. Give your interviewer a strong firm handshake. This will impress them with the fact that you have a strong confident personality.
Another very important thing to do is to look your interviewer straight in the eyes and make eye contact. This shows them that you are not intimidated by anyone and have the confidence to perform the duties required for the job. It will demonstrate to them that you are ready and able to take on any challenge the job may pose.
Even if you are feeling nervous try not to show it. Confidence is largely an act and is part of your attitude. If you feel good about yourself you will project an appearance of confidence even if you are really feeling nervous inside.
If you want more help to make your interviews successful, click over to Sally's site http://www.helpforinterviews.com You'll also find more information about job interview questions

Dissatisfied With Your Job Stop Believing The Myths

2009-01-31T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Doreen Banaszak

If you are dissatisfied with your job, you are in a self-imposed career slump!
Why are so many of us in career slumps? Bottom linewe are not doing work that satisfies us! No matter what our employer does for us, if we are not doing work we really want to be doing, in a way that fits our desired life-style, we will never be satisfied.
What keeps us in career slumps for so long? The number one thing that keeps us in our slumps is that we believe the "myths" we were told!
1. We believe, "I can't make money doing work I love." Yet reality gives us a ton of examples of people who are wealthy and happy doing the work they do.
2. We believe, "In order to be happy, I need to find my purpose." Yet reality shows us that there are plenty of people doing work they love who have no clue what their "true" purpose is.
3. We believe, "To get better, I must work on my weaknesses." Yet reality shows us time and again that the most successful people are those who focus on their strengths.
4. We believe, "I am a victim of outside circumstances." Yet reality shows us people who get jobs they love when the job market is supposedly "bad".
5. We believe, "I have no choice." Yet reality shows us people who believe they always have a choice and have built great lives and careers.
If you are not doing work you love then you are in a career slump and you most likely remain there because of your belief in one or more of these myths.
If you can't come to terms with these myths, no amount of resume writing, personality testing, or job searching will ever change your situation.
It's time to bust these myths and start pursuing work you REALLY want. How do you do that?
-Start with getting clear and more importantly honest about what you REALLY want to be doing.
-Once you are clear, commit yourself to only taking actions and making choices that support what you want.
-Finally, get the support you need to get clear, stay focused while taking action and change your beliefs to create your new truths:
"I am making money doing work I love!"
"I know my purpose is to continually focus on what I want!"
"I know using my strengths is where my happiness lies!"
"I know I can control what I think about my career choices!"
"I ALWAYS have a choice!"
Being in a career slump is no fun and takes some work to get out of. Finding the right support is critical to your success!
Eliminating these myths is the best way to jump-start you out of your slump and start moving you toward work that will REALLY satisfy you!
Doreen Banaszak is a career coach, teacher & Founder of the "90-Day Get Your Career UnSlumped Challenge". Register today for the "The Fastest Way to GetUnSlumped & Create Work that Satisfies You" 1 hour Tele-Workshop. Call in and learn how to overcome the 4 primary reasons why 56% of the population remains dissatisfied with their work. Register at http://www.getunslumped.com!

Aviation Maintenance Job Boards

2009-01-30T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Matthew Keegan

Aviation maintenance opportunities can be found on various sites on the internet. Some job sites specialize in maintenance opportunities, while others do not, however they still manage to list their fair share of relevant opportunities. Please read on to learn about several key sites available to you.
Aerotek Billing themselves as the leading technical and engineering staffing agency, Aerotek features jobs in eleven different specialties, including aviation. Job titles featured include: avionics technician, A&P mechanic, aircraft mechanic, quality assurance, and more. Visit www.aerotek.com for more information.
Aviation Employment Board A free job listing site, this board lists job opportunities across the field of business and commercial aviation. Registration is free and you can post your resume for free as well. Visit www.aviationemploymentboard.net for more information.
Monster One of the largest job boards on the internet, Monster has over 800,000 opportunities available. Aviation job listings are somewhat limited, but some good opportunities are posted from time to time. Registration is free and you can post your resume for free as well. Visit www.monster.com for more information.
Hot Jobs Owned by Yahoo, Hot Jobs is job site listing several hundred thousand opportunities at any given time. Aviation opportunities are limited, however. Registration is free and you can post your resume for free as well. Visit www.hotjobs.com for more information.
Nation Job Since 1988, Nation Job has been a leader in electronic recruitment. The site offers free access to visitors, no registration required. Usually several hundred maintenance opportunities are featured at any given time.
Career Builder This is the largest job opportunity site on the internet, with over one million jobs listed. Aviation opportunities are listed; the site compares favorably with Monster as far as the number of aviation opportunities available. Registration is free and you can post your resume for free as well. Visit www.careerbuilder.com for more information.
Aviation Employment Listing more aviation maintenance opportunities then anyone else, Aviation Employment is a free site, no registration required. Typically, over one thousand aviation jobs are listed at any given time. To learn more, visit www.aviationemployment.com
PAMA The Professional Maintenance Aviation Association is a private organization dedicated to furthering professionalism amongst members of the aviation maintenance community. Membership starts at $49 per year which allows for members to view jobs and access other member benefits. Visit www.pama.org for more information.
Other boards listing aviation maintenance positions include: Plane Jobs, AEPS, Avianation, Climb to 350, and Avjobs. Leading companies are always hiring, contact prospective employers directly.
Copyright 2005 -- Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio.

Success At Work Techniques Computer Literacy

2009-01-29T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Stephen Bucaro

It's hard to believe that there are people in today's workforce who don't know how to use a computer. In today's society, being computer illiterate is equivalent to being functionally illiterate. Obviously no one reading this article is computer illiterate, but maybe you know someone who thinks they can avoid computers and still be successful at work.
Let me tell you a story about a good friend of mine back when I worked at Motorola. The company moved the manufacturing of automobile alternators offshore, resulting in his transfer to my department. Although he had about 20 years with the company, this was to be his last stop before being booted out the door.
He was assigned to me as an Electronics Technician, and the first assignment that I gave him was to lay out a small printed circuit (pc) board. It was a tiny circuit for a tester, so computer drafting was not required. He could just sketch it out on paper. After several days, he came back to me explaining that he didn't have the technical ability to lay out a pc board.
An Electronics Technician that couldn't lay out a simple pc board? Don't all Electronics Technicians make little hobby circuits at home? At least all the technicians I knew did.
I explained that he needed to draw outlines of the components and then use the schematic to draw lines between the components connections. Then, maybe rearrange the components if that would result in fewer crossing paths. I also explained something much more profound, how to deal with the complexity of technology.
Many people, when they come into contact with technology, consider themselves too stupid to deal with it. Technology is only for geniuses and geeks. Sometimes technology is too complex, but it's not because people are stupid, it's because the technology is poorly designed.
For example, take software, like a graphics program, spreadsheet or database. Is the intended user of the software a computer programmer, or an average person? These applications are intended for use by an average person. If an application is too complex for the average person, the application is at fault - not the user.
Why are most computers and software applications too complex for the average person? Because they are designed by programmers who are under pressure to get the product out the door. Does the application have simple, easy-to-use help files? Software developers consider help files even less important than application usability.
- The bottom line is, people are not stupid - computers and software applications ARE too complex.
In today's world, where workers are required to use computers and technology, how can they deal with the complexity? Back to the story about my friend at Motorola.
After receiving my instructions, he successfully completed the pc board layout. I then introduced him to Computer Automated Engineering (CAE). I showed him how to drag electronic components from a library, use the mouse to draw circuit paths, make the computer simulate the function of the circuit, and then make the computer layout a pc board for the circuit.
He was able to easily master complex technology because he now understood that he wasn't stupid. Computers ARE complex. When he needed help, he studied the help files or asked someone for help. Eventually, his CAE skills became known and I lost him to another manager. "His last stop before being booted out the door?" I don't think so. There's no way Motorola is going to let this valuable employee get away.
Even though it's the programmers fault that computers and software are too complex, that doesn't relieve you of all responsibility. You must make an effort. Like my friend at Motorola, you must study the help files or ask someone for help when you need it. Not only must you study the help files, but you must also be willing to "try things".
Many people fear that if they click on the wrong thing, the computer will blow up and they will be blamed for it. A properly designed software application prevents the user from making a fatal mistake, either by making it impossible, or by providing a warning message. A properly designed application lets the user "back out of" or reverse any action. One of the best ways to learn is to "try things". If the computer blow ups because you made a mistake, you're using improperly designed software.
When you're learning how to perform a function with a computer, if you expect you may need to perform that same function again, take notes. No one will think you're stupid if you take notes. But if you keep asking over and over again how to perform the same function, they will think you're too stupid to take notes.
When I worked at Motorola, I used a technique called "strokes" to make symbols appear and move around the computer screen like magic. Some people called me the "Electronic God". How did I get so good? I tried things. I failed. I studied. I tried again. I understood that technology IS complex. So what?
In today's society, being computer illiterate is equivalent to being functionally illiterate. Make the effort to study the help files and to "try things". Don't get discouraged or blame yourself if you don't succeed on the first try. The computer won't blow up if you make a mistake. You can't be successful at work if you fail to embrace computers and technology.
Copyright(C) 2004 Bucaro TecHelp.
Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.
About The Author
To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp.

Mortgage Brokers And Loan Officers

2009-01-28T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Linda Chandler

Are you looking for a new career? You may want to think about becoming a mortgage broker or loan officer, or sell useful training material for brokers and loan officers.
If you type Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer in your search engine, you will find links to thousands and thousands of websites. This is because Mortgage Brokers and Loan Officers provide a much needed service to the public. They take applications for mortgage loans from potential homebuyers, and help the buyers find the right loan. If you ever applied for a mortgage loan for the purchase of a home, you worked with a broker or loan officer.
A mortgage broker works on his/her own bringing a borrower and lender together for the purpose of a mortgage loan. Brokers are quite often real estate agents in addition to working as a mortgage broker. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, there are approximately 40,000 mortgage brokers in the U.S.
The mortgage loan officer is an employee of a mortgage company, bank, or other mortgage lending institution. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that mortgage loan officers earned between $30,000 and $100,000 in 2005. However, highly motivated loan officers earn much more.
There should be no shortage of business for mortgage brokers and loan officers as numerous real estate properties are bought and sold every day in the U.S. The mortgage broker, loan officer field is a lucrative, well respected field that thousands of people are in now or want to start. There are also brokers and loan officers who are interested in enhancing their present business and knowledge.
You can sell well respected items that really do sell and get paid up to 50% in commissions. Mortgage Broker Training provides banners and text links to make it easy for you. Click below to take a look at some of the products.
Linda worked in the mortgage industry for several years and now manages her websites at: http://www.mortgageproducts.org and http://www.my-home-services.com/broker.html

Career Change Decisions And Coffee Franchises Can They Fail

2009-01-27T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Lance Winslow

Is a franchise in your future, are you looking to own your own business? Is it safe you ask? Well, No franchise is a complete guarantee for success of course and yet it would seem that a franchise which has opened hundreds of units or is well on their way has learned a lot of things the hard way that you most likely do not wish to learn the hard way in your own business when it is all your own money, home second mortgage and kids college funds on the line, literally.
So can a coffee franchise fail? Well, yes this is possible however consider what we are talking about and America’s love for coffee for moment will you? Does that mean it cannot fail? No, it could fail. Nevertheless, a Coffee Franchise, is a good bet and is a good strong franchise model and many are doing well in many markets and even across the street from many Starbucks so the franchise model is sound. And that is what you are up against, competition wise.
And really same store profits are down at Starbucks and what happened? Stock turned down in the first time in 3-years; Ouch, time to trade in my Starbucks Card? Hmmm? Where is your coffee store again? See you there. Consider all this in 2006.
Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

What Do Recruiters Look For In You

2009-01-26T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Tony Jacowski

There is not one magic key that can open all the doors to a job search. As job profiles keep changing, so do the job requirements. This doesn't mean that fundamental qualities such as integrity, self-motivation and trade skills have lost place in the list. Still, the present-day job scene requires a bank manager to possess lot more prior knowledge and qualities than it took some 10-15 years ago.
Your enthusiasm and upbeat personalities are paramount. This is the first core quality that recruiters will take notice of when interviewing you. Think about it from their point of view - job vacancies are announced only when the going gets tough and work pressure mounts up continuously. No one else other than the self-motivated and candidates that are always upbeat in mood make it to the shortlist.
There is another vital quality that recruiters are anxiously looking for in a candidate. Jonathan Holman, a top recruiter and an HR expert says, "candidates must have the know- how to make money for the enterprise; all other skills are irrelevant if this one is lacking." Obviously he is referring to candidates for CEO postings. This is as good as it can get. If you really look at it, all other jobs contribute to the enterprise in one way or the other. So it is the ability to contribute, in real terms, to the overall growth of the company which matters.
Holman ranks both personal and business integrity next only to the ability to contribute. Regardless of what position you are seeking, there are professional matters of high importance and proprietary in nature, which you will come across in the normal course of your employment. Opinions about you are collected and analyzed by recruiters. It is important for everyone, especially management candidates. Recruiters are very clear about this; they can't put their reputation at stake by recommending someone who they can't trust, despite proven analytical abilities and business skills.
The next important thing recruiters look for is character and a strong sense of ethics. Strong character coupled with professionalism determines your interpersonal skills. Your past experiences and references of your former superiors are critical aspects which typically impress recruiters. Even recent graduates wanting to score on this count could think of apprenticeships in some very large corporations such as PepsiCo, General Electric Company, Rubbermaid, and P & G, among others. Recruiters call these organizations 'Academy Companies'.
It is especially important to be presently employed - this adds a lot of weight to your candidacy. It is true that you can explain your reasons for being unemployed, so if this is true for you, then have your answer well-prepared beforehand, because recruiters will be interested in probing soon as they see that you are out of job.
The ability to adapt to a new situation, responsiveness, flexibility are some innate qualities that make anyone an indispensable employee whom every recruiter wants to hire. A senior HR consultant, Paige Lloyd, summarizes things as "We're looking for students who take the initiative to do things that are above and beyond what is required for graduation," she says. "That speaks to us of their ability to work on different tasks."
On-campus activities, networking abilities and participation in student or professional organizations can't be neglected. The next time around, you will know in advance what to expect in an interview. Good Luck!
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Dont Get Caught In The Security Trap

2009-01-25T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Ramon Greenwood

The day you begin to think of your job in terms of the security versus the opportunities it provides is the day you start to put the brakes on building your career.
Time was when a young person entering the workforce could reasonably assume he was signing a lifetime security covenant with his employer. If he worked hard and kept its nose clean he could expect to be taken care of with a job for as long as he could show up for work. Promotions would come along as openings occurred. There'd be a pension at retirement. It was a womb to tomb deal. Loyalty was a two- way street.
The Rules Have Changed
Today's headlines make it clear that's no longer the case, says Ramon Greenwood, senior career counselor at Common Sense At Work.
Sears Roebuck, known for 119 years as a company that kept its employees' loyalty with compensation and benefits has recently announced the firing of 500 employees at its headquarters. Another 1,000 are expected to get pink slips within a few months. Workers who hang on can expect reduced levels of compensation and benefits, the company says. Going forward, employment will be tied closely to performance and company profits.
Changing the very nature of its business, IBM, a name synonymous with lifetime security, has dismissed thousands of employees.
Stalwarts such as GM, United Airlines and Delta Airlines make news regularly with announcements of reductions or outright eliminations of jobs and pensions.
And there are Enron and WorldCom where employees have seen their employee stock plans and pensions go in the trashcan when their employers' violated the terms of their relationship.
Employers Cannot Provide Security!
"The only one source of real, lasting security is when you have the know-what-to- do and how-to-get-it-done abilities that employers will buy. It's in your mind and heart," Greenwood declares.
When you begin to crave security and search for it from outside sources is the time you restrict your range of options to take your skills and training to their limits in search of personal satisfaction.
Your security is your responsibility.
If you succumb to its lure, security will eventually prove to be a debilitating, habit- forming drug. It will rob you of the will and the ability to act in your own self- interest.
This is when you begin to make career decisions based on security rather than opportunity to grow.
The organization offers you an opportunity to move to another location to become manager of a new facility. You decline because you are afraid you might fail in the new responsibilities, and besides, you like the security of staying put and playing it safe until you are vested in your pension.
You come up with an idea that will improve the output of your department. Your boss doesn't think it is workable. You drop the idea because you are afraid if you push it, the boss might penalize you. Besides you are comfortable with things the way they are. Why rock the boat?
You have a good record as a salesman. You are offered a promotion to regional sales manager. You decline because you don't want to take on the responsibility and the increased travel.
A Frog In Hot Water
When you begin to get comfortable remember the frog. Put him in a pot of cool water over a flame. The frog will frolic about happy in the security of the environment even as the water goes from cool to warm. How good it feels. He will continue to adapt, swimming about contentedly, even as the water reaches a slow boil. It is not until the water reaches the boiling point that the frog recognizes he is in serious trouble and tries to get out. By that time, his strength has been sapped and it is too late.
A Lesson From Ancient Rome
In explaining the fall of the ancient city of Rome, the historian Edward Gibbon wrote: "In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life. And in their quest for it allsecurity, comfort and freedomthey lost it all." It's Your Choice
Seizing every opportunity to be all you can be and security are mutually exclusive. If you want security more than opportunity that's fine, but remember there's a price to pay.
Ramon Greenwood is former senior vice president of American Express; a professional director for various businesses; a consultant; a published author of career related books and a syndicated column. Senior career counselor for http://www.CommonSenseAtWork.com

Animal Care Worker As A Career

2009-01-24T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Nikola Marshall

For many animal lovers, working with animals is an ideal career. The rewards, however, are set off by hard work.
A partial list of duties include; training, feeding, watering, grooming, bathing, and exercising animals. It may also involved cleaning, disinfecting and repairing the enclosures where the particular animal or animals are kept. It may be necessary to play with the animals, provide companionship and observe changes in their habits and diet.
Working with animals usually consists of two areas, caretakers and trainers.
Some employers in this field include veterinarian clinics, stables, aquariums and zoos.
Here is a closer look at some careers and their requirements.
Kennel attendants care for pets while owners are out of town. This job requires basic care of the pet or pets such as feeding, watering and exercising the animals.
In a Shelter, the basic tasks need to be performed along with keeping records, vaccinations, cleaning cages and dealing with the public.
Stable hands will saddle and bridle horses, groom them, walk a horse after a workout to cool them off, feed and water, exercise and maintain stalls and bedding. They will also clean tack and keep the tack room neat and organized and store supplies and feed. An experienced hand may help to train horses.
Zookeepers prepare food and clean enclosures. They may assist in raising very young animals. Zookeepers watch behavior patterns for signs of illness and keep records of these patterns. Answering questions for the public is also a job requirement.
Most of these professions are trained on the job, however some employers may require some experience with animals. The work is sometimes unpleasant and can be physically and emotionally demanding, sometimes even dangerous. The hours can be irregular and you may work in all kids of weather conditions.
However difficult the work may be, the rewards of working with animals will far outweigh the demands.
Nikola lives and writes in Oklahoma. She is active in local Citizen's Police Academy Alumni, Volunteers in Policing and Skywarn. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking and spending time with her two dogs. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Facsimile.Com/ which is a site for Fax Machines.

Earn More And Get Hired Faster By Improving Your Grammar

2009-01-23T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Mark Baber

Good grammar in spoken and written communications can dramatically increase your value to both current and potential employers. In the business world, and especially in the job interview process, an important part of your value is the perception you present of the profitability of your past performance and expectation of future continued successful performance, and the ideas and strategies you express. If you can speak well and in an organized fashion to communicate important concepts to people with whom you interview with or work with -- and do it quickly and clearly, you remove an important obstacle to your advancement; an obstacle of communications of which many people are not even aware.
When you speak and write correctly, people make the assumption that you are intelligent, educated and capable, and they will concentrate on what you have to say, on your ideas, not on the incorrect or unclear way that you try to express yourself. Think for a moment about the effect that misuse of the English language has had on the image of politicians and public figures over the years. People in the pubic eye who don't use language well are considered foolish for their errors. Needless to say, this is not the image that you wish to present to others in your professional career. By the same token, if you write and speak correctly and effectively, people will think of you as a leader, and you will be able to advance according to the value of your work and your vision, and not be hindered by the perception that you 'don't talk so good.'
In this article, we will be discussing the impact that your proper use of language can have on your professional standing. And how, "...if you don't talk so good, you often just don't get nowheres." And, while this article is not meant to be a formal lesson in grammar, it's my intention to touch on some of the most common areas where we fumble with the rules of grammar, so that the reader will leave this article with some practical information that may help. Beyond that, it is the responsibility of each individual to seek out more detailed and formal sources for continued grammatical improvement.
Let's cover some of the basics. The major areas to review to improve one's grammar, are sentence structure, the various parts of speech, subject and verb agreement, pronouns, and punctuation.
When you speak, as much as when you write, if you phrase things correctly, then your audience will pay attention to what you have to say. If you use language incorrectly, the audience will focus its attention on your errors, and not on your points. It's similar to a smooth stretch of road when you are driving. Your focus is on what's ahead of you and around you, so you understand where you are and what's coming your way. The only time you will put your focus on the road itself is if you hit a pothole, or a speed bump. As long as the road is smoothe, you can keep your eyes where they belong. So it is with those who listen to you speak or read what you write.
Understanding sentence structure is crucial. The sentence is the basic building block of all verbal and written communication. Even in the modern context of bullet lists and sound bytes, the sentence is still the standard way to express a complete thought. Many people actually think in sentences.
The first step to understanding sentence structure is being able to identify the parts of a sentence. Every sentence must have a subject, which is usually a noun or pronoun, and a verb, which is a word that expresses an action, such as 'runs,' or a state of being, such as 'exists.' Most sentences will also have words that describe the subject or the verb in more specific terms. These descriptive words, or modifiers, are usually adjectives, which describe nouns and pronouns, and adverbs, which describe verbs. Adverbs often end in 'ly,' as in 'ran quickly.'
Also, it helps to understand some of the subtleties, like the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs, and what makes a word an irregular verb. Now is a good time to say -- as you go through this process of considering new concepts of writing and speech, don't be put off by the terms used or the seemingly detailed nature of grammar, thinking it is too boring or demanding. There are many free sources at your local library and on the internet to help you get your mind around proper use of grammar. Concentrate on the benefits you receive from having a better understanding of basic grammar.
With that said, be aware that the common verb, which denotes action, comes in more than one flavor. For example, a transitive verb has a direct object, as in 'ran the race.' An intransitive verb does not. Many verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively, as in the difference between 'the boy ran,' and 'the boy ran the race.' In the first case, since there is no object for the verb, 'ran' is used intransitively. In the second, 'race' is the direct object, so 'ran' is transitive. And an irregular verb is a word whose past tense is not formed by the regular rules of adding E-D. For example, the past tense of the word 'live' is 'lived,' but the past tense of 'give' is 'gave.' 'Give' is an irregular verb.
Other areas of consideration in understanding sentence structure are the uses of prepositional phrases as adjectives and adverbs, agreement in number between subject and verb, as in 'the men are' as opposed to 'one of the men is,' the proper use of pronouns, and correct punctuation.
Correct punctuation is an issue for many people and essential for creating clear business communications. The rules of usage are confusing at times. People are often unsure of correct punctuation while they are writing, but can usually recognize incorrect punctuation when they are reading. Therefore, it makes good sense to understand the correct usage for the common punctuation marks: the period, the comma, the question mark, the exclamation point, quotation marks, apostrophes, colons and semi-colons. Correct capitalization is also included under the heading of 'Punctuation.'
As I've stated, much of this material is basic, but it applies as your sentence structure becomes more complex. Complex sentences can contain several phrases or clauses, and punctuating them correctly is the key to making them understandable to your reader. If you leave your reader hanging by using sentence fragments, they will feel confused, and be forced to reread what you've written to try and understand it. If the subject of your writing is at all complex, you will lose your audience entirely by confusing them with bad grammar. Therefore, check and recheck your draft for sentence fragments, run on sentences and misplaced phrases and clauses.
There are clever short cuts available to you. Many professionals who create written communications on a regular basis keep some resources handy. A copy of 'Strunk & White's Elements of Style' is a good addition to any writer's desk. 'Elements of Style' is a single volume reference to correct grammar and usage. It is set up as a reference book, so it is easy to use. There are also many sites on the Internet that furnish comprehensive usage information.
Practice and study of basic grammar helps implant regular good usage in both written and spoken communications. If you feel you may improve your results in a job interview or at your current job by being able to present yourself as a knowledgable and effective communicator, then take some time to find a few resources on basic grammar. Set aside study hours. Don't treat this exercise as a forced labor that you dread. See it as an introduction to a new phase of your career, no less valuable than classes or tutorials you may be required to take to improve or upgrade or maintain the skills you utilize in your vocation.
BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
Mark Baber has 20 years experience as an Executive Search recruiter.
Mark is Recruit Consultant to http://www.JobNewsRadio.com where Jobseekers access 2 Million job transactions, and can submit their Resumes Free and have them distributed freely to Employers they choose by industry, vocation, City or Region.
Or, for one-on-one job search assistance submit your resume directly to Mark via: http://www.recruit-services.com

10 Tips To Help You Ace The Interview And Get The Job

2009-01-22T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Helen Wilkie

The interview is the "beauty contest" part of the job search process. Interviewers get to compare candidates by asking them similar questions and comparing the answers. Being just the right person for the job won't help you if you blow the interview.
Here are ten tips to help you come out of the interview with a job offer.
1. Show responsibility by arriving on time.
Nothing sets you off on the wrong foot more than arriving late for an interview. No matter what reason you have, it won't completely erase the impression that you are disorganized and irresponsible.
2. Show confidence through a strong handshake, a pleasant expression and an upbeat manner.
Although you may not feel particularly confident, it's important to look as if you are. Perception is everything when creating a good impression. Weak handshakes are a turnoff, so practice to make sure yours is strong. Sometimes we think we are smiling when we are not, so look in a mirror, smile and remember how your face feels when you are smiling. If you smile, extend your hand confidently and introduce yourself with energy, the interviewer will want to get to know you.
3. Show initiative by researching the company in advance.
Even small organizations have websites, so there's really no excuse for not knowing some basic information about the company before the interview. If you ask questions that could clearly have been answered through half-an-hour of browsing, you'll come off as someone with no initiative or common sense.
4. Show your priorities by focusing on the job before asking about benefits and perks.
When it's your turn to ask questions, focus on aspects of the job and the company and even the department. There will be plenty of time to discuss benefits when you and the interviewer have agreed that you are a good candidate for the job. Asking about perks, benefits and even salary too early in the conversation marks you as too to be a team player.
5. Show composure under pressure by asking well thought-out, meaningful questions.
When you browse the company's website, think of what else you would like to know. What questions does the website bring up for you? Use your knowledge to ask meaningful questions, and practice in advance because it's important not to stumble over the words. And, most importantly, listen to the answers.
6. Show your business savvy by connecting your own experience to the specific needs of the job.
Your resume tells the interviewer about your background and experience. In the interview, you need to express how this experience will help you do well in this particular job. This is particularly important if you are young, just entering the workforce and don't have much job experience. If, however, you have run a youth group, that may have sharpened your leadership skills. If you published the campus newspaper, you will certainly have communication skills. Talk about how these skills make you right for the job.
7. Show respect by never badmouthing former employers or colleagues.
There is no exception to this rule, and breaking it will virtually always takes you right out of the running for any job.
8. Show energy through your body language and tone of voice.
Sit up straight in the chair, lean forward slightly to listen as the interviewer speaks. Nod and smile appropriately to show you understand. Inject enthusiasm into everything you say. Nobody wants to hire someone who sounds bored with the job before he or she has even got it!
9. Show sophistication by dressing appropriately.
Even if it's Friday, interviews are not casual! Even if the workplace you want to enter is known to be casual, always dress slightly more formally for the interview. Pay special attention to groomingscuffed, unpolished shoes can send the silent message that you are careless in your appearance, and the interviewer might assume you will be careless in other ways too.
10. Show you want the job (if you do!) by asking for it.
This sounds obvious, but you'd be amazed how often people forget about it. Remember the interview is also an opportunity for you to decide if you want to work for this company. If you do, don't hesitate to say so.
About The Author
Helen Wilkie helps people use practical communication skills for success. For more on how to ace the interview and get the job, go to http://www.mhwcom.com/pages2002/interviewtele1.html
While you are at her site, sign up for Helen's free monthly e-zine, "Communi-keys", at http://www.mhwcom.com/index.html
hwilkie@mhwcom.com

Using Newspapers In Your Job Search

2009-01-21T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by George H Smith

Newspaper Job Search Resources
Newspapers are the most frequently used resource in a job search and a must for job hunters searching for jobs locally. Online newspaper editions which contain the help wanted classified ads are available for most papers. These employment ads are typically searchable by date, category, keyword and location.
Newspapers help with your local job search by focusing your search on your own city or state. Other types of job boards have thousands of jobs, but only a fraction of those are actually jobs in your area. Most of the classified advertisements found in newspapers will be local, allowing you to zero in on your perfect local job.
Don't limit your use of online newspapers to the classifieds section. Newspapers are also an excellent source of local labor market information & trends.
The Business section may contain articles on local companies that you can research and contact. Look for companies that are entering new markets, announcing new products and services, hiring a new manager or buying large ads. They may need more people, even if they haven't announced or advertised their expanding needs.
Most business journals research and collect information on businesses in their area which are frequently published in "lists" that are useful in expanding your list of target companies.
An under utilized job search resource is the club and meetings section found in many newspapers. This section may list organizations and job search support groups useful in your networking activities.
Tips for Your Job Search
Use the Newspaper Directory to locate the newspapers servicing your target locations. Most large metropolitan areas have a local Business Journal in addition to the daily newspaper. Investigate the material and resources available on each site for immediate use or for future reference. Many, but not all of the large newspapers are affiliated with CareerBuilder.
This article was written by George Smith of JobMetaSeek, a career and job search service for managers, professionals and executives in the United States and Canada.

Jobs The Most Dangerous Kind

2009-01-20T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Michael Russell

It's no secret that there are many dangerous jobs out there in the world. Heck, some jobs that should be relatively safe, like working at a post office, result in people losing their lives. So while it is true, because of the world that we live in, that no job is totally safe, there are some jobs that are dangerous just by the nature of the job itself. We take a look at just a few of these, most of which will probably be very obvious to you.
One of the most dangerous jobs in the world has to be that of a policeman. Not the ones that sit behind a desk, but the ones that are out on the street. With the prevalence of drugs and other substances in our society, every step that a policeman takes out on the streets is a potential step into mortal danger. What makes this all the more worse is that policeman are paid less money than professions that are no where near as dangerous and certainly no where near as important. This makes being a policeman not only dangerous, but thankless. This is something that you really have to want to do with all your heart.
Another very dangerous job is that of a fireman. Every time that alarm goes off and a fireman has to respond to a fire, he is potentially walking into his death. Burning homes and warehouses don't care who you are. They don't care if you have a uniform on or not. Fire burns and kills everybody the same. In some ways, being a fireman is even more dangerous than being a policeman as each time you take a call you know there is a fire and a potentially dangerous situation. This is another job you have to want to do more than anything.
If you're looking for danger in your work, there is always the military. And it isn't just going off to fight a war that makes it dangerous. A lot of the military training itself can be very dangerous as they need to prepare you for meeting with the enemy. Soldiers have been seriously hurt during training maneuvers. Men have died from excessively long hikes with full pack in the blazing sun. The commercial says, "Be all that you can be". It should probably add a caveat to that saying. Something like "At your own risk".
But if you really want to live on the edge of extinction, just get yourself some training with explosives and find yourself a job on the bomb squad. In today's world where terrorism is so prevalent, bomb scares are a way of life. And with each scare is the potential to find a real bomb. The job of the bomb squad is to disarm that bomb or to get blown up trying. No, this is not a high rush video game. This is real life, as dangerous as it gets.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, Add to this FBI Agent, CIA Agent, Coal Miner, Construction Worker and anybody who works with heavy machinery and you've got enough danger to put a whole city in the hospital, or worse.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Jobs

Lose Your Job Now 5 Tips To Get To Severance Heaven

2009-01-19T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Gwendolyn Lee

You've schemed, you've scammed, you've plotted, but the elusive layoff has evaded you for the last time. Your desire to go to that spacious severance-package-in-the-sky needs to be fulfilled without further ado. How will you get upper management to see how pointless your position really is? Follow these five tips and soon you'll be packing your pictures.
1. Work in customer service.
Between voice-response systems, outsourcing to other countries, and form emails, who needs to talk to a person? See Exhibit A:
"Dear Sir or Madam, Thank you for your feedback. At this time we are unable to . We highly value you as a customer and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We hope you will consider NeverDoingBusinessWithYouAgain, Inc. in the future. Sincerely, Generic Jenny"
With quality responses such as these, who needs to talk to a customer service agent?
2. Apply for middle management.
In the pyramid-scheme of employment, middle management is the most superfluous. You're the guy whose job it is to make sure that other employees are doing their jobs. If you work for a micro-manager, your boss isn't only making sure that you're doing your job; he's also making sure that your employees are doing their jobs. If your industry is in a slump, has put a freeze on hiring, and employee numbers are eroding due to attrition, why have 10 people managing 250 employees when previously they were managing 300? Is $60,000/year, benefits, paid vacation, and personal time really worth an increase of 0.002% in productivity? If you can do the math, so can upper management. Submit that e-application immediately.
3. Work in the telecommunications industry.
Between cell phones, cable internet, VoIP, and mergers, the telecommunications industry is all but dead. Countless individuals been talked into keeping a landline by their telephone company "just in case" their cell phone goes dead. These consumers will soon realize that their cell phones almost never go dead, and, if they do, they can always port to a different company with better coverage areas. With "naked DSL" (DSL service that does not require a landline) becoming available in more and more areas, landlines will soon be a distant memory. And the phone number the customers have had a cozy, intimate relationship with for the past 25 years? These landline numbers can be ported to cell phones, too! The heat of the home phone has fizzled.
4. Work somewhere for a long time. Remind people of this. Constantly.
Sure, there's a learning curve for every job, but somewhere between years one and two you'll hit that proficiency peak. After this point, you need something else, like incalculable business relationships or unique knowledge, to keep you afloat. If you don't have these, don't seek them. If you do, downplay these assets. Upper management will begin to wonder whether your 10 years of experience is really worth all the extra pay.
5. Work somewhere with a disproportionately high sign-on bonus.
If you're Larry Page or Sergey Brin, the founders of Google, or an actuary with dueling master's degrees in Actuarial Science and Mathematics, you deserve a hefty sign-on bonus. If you're flipping burgers at McDonald's or telemarketing at Geico, you don't. When a company with a "high school diploma preferred, but not required" policy is offering a sign-on bonus, its because they're desperate for help during an uncharacteristically busy season. These companies are hoping that attrition will conveniently dispose of these extra employees when customer volumes return to normal. If this doesn't happen, you're looking at your coveted cash cow of unemployment when they drop the axe.
Gwendolyn Lee, at the ripe age of 25, has been laid off. She knows hundreds of individuals who have been laid off. She is currently working as a contract statistician and analyst of Internet-related metrics for rubber stamps and rubber stamping products for http://www.rubberstamps.net. If she's lucky, she'll be laid off from there as well.

Career Track Becoming A Patent Attorney

2009-01-18T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by John Daye

Choosing a career as a specialized patent attorney in the U.S. means being an attorney who has the required qualifications to represent people and corporations in obtaining patents. A patent attorney acts in all matters and procedures relating to patent law and practice. The career title carries different credentials and positions in various countries, so check for specifics needed.
Let's take a look at a few reasons why a career as a patent attorney is so rewarding.
Challenging Work
Patents are involved in many areas of society; they are sought out by individuals as well as corporations. Patent attorneys are the foundation for getting the patent process completed.
Patent attorneys, also known as patent lawyers, act as advisors and advocates in the process, representing their clients and supporting their efforts with documentation and legal rights, obligations and suggestions counsel. They need a strong background in engineering or science.
Patent attorneys need to be licensed in order to represent parties in court. They need to be able to prepare trial work, think under the gun, and have solid speaking skills. Other skills needed are to be able to do research, prepare documentation and courtroom presentations.
Career Tidbits
The following list includes interesting information about this career field according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Although most work is done in an office setting, law library or courtroom, patent work is also done on job sites. Travel may be a requirement. Lawyers in private practice often work irregular hours, while those on salaries average roughly 50 hours per week plus over-time during busy periods.
- Keeping up with the news, current events, and ever-changing laws in the patent industry are three "musts."
- In 2004, there were about 735,000 attorney jobs, 3 out of 4 in private practices, with most salaried patent attorneys working in the government, corporations, or with nonprofit organizations.
- Job opportunities for attorneys are projected to grow as fast as the average rate through 2014.
Learn more and see if a career in patent law is something you'd like to pursue. Check out Patent Education Series.

Advertising Career Overview

2009-01-17T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Melissa Steele

The draw towards this industry is the multimillion-dollar campaigns, and the glamour surrounding the promotion of products and the clients it represents. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( http://www.bls.gov/ ), non-supervisory workers in advertising and public relations services made $633 a week on average in 2004. Companies in the advertising and public relations industry arrange advertisements for other companies and organizations and propose campaigns to encourage the interests and image of their clients. This industry also includes media representatives, radio, television, and the Internet. It also includes display ads, direct mail, billboards and other tangible media. The demand for educated advertising professionals is on the rise as technological advances give advertisers more options for the media on which they advertise.
You can earn an advertising degree at public and private colleges and universities, as well dedicated technical schools that offer career specific programs. Specialty schools often offer two-year degree or certificate programs in advertising. Traditional four-year college and university programs offer advertising programs within other majors such as communications, business or art programs.
Most people starting out in an advertising career will be required to hold a bachelor's degree with a liberal arts background. Bachelor's degrees are not required for entry-level positions in the creative department. Assistant art directors, for example usually need at least a 2-year degree from an art or design school. Although assistant copywriters do not need a degree, obtaining one helps to develop the superior communication skills and abilities required for this job. Entry-level positions in the industry include account management, media coordinator, or market research. Internships, in conjunction with your education, will help you get a job when you graduate. Completion of an internship is often a necessary requirement for many advertising firms. In addition to an internship, course work in marketing, design, statistics and accounting can help get you ready for employment in this field.
Melissa Steele, College Degrees @ EducationGuys.com Writer.

Getting Promoted Advancing Career In A Sustainable Way

2009-01-16T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Long Yun Siang

This getting promoted article is not going to teach you any short cuts to getting that promotion. Neither is it going to give you any tips or tricks to win brownie points from your bosses and superiors. The advice you will get here are my real strategies for advancing career and getting the promotion you want. This is the long way, and the hard way, if you will.
If you are here looking for short cuts to getting promoted then this article probably is not for you. But this much is true; these strategies worked for me. It will work for you if you are willing to clock the hours.
Even if today is your first day at work, I am sure you are thinking about that promotion. Getting promoted is often the ultimate goal for any working person. The strategies here gives you a set of values that will carry you far. Not just for the next promotion but for many more promotions to come.
I call these the 3Hs Strategy for Getting Promoted. The 3Hs are Honesty, Humility and Hardworking. These work values once you internalize them will dictate how you approach people and your work. And when done joyfully will even seem effortless. So, there is no need for shortcuts, tips, tricks and hints for getting that promotion.
1. Honesty
Practice honesty early on in your career. Being honest also means being true to yourself. Know what are your real strengths and weaknesses. And be honest with yourself. This honesty creates an awareness of what you can truly work on in getting promoted.
Honesty is also being true to others. It means being genuine and sincere in all your undertakings in the company. Do not go around politicking and back stabbing people knowingly or unknowingly. These can become a bad habit and before you know it, it would hurt your career advancement. You probably would not even notice that this habit hurts chances of getting promoted.
Honesty also means conducting your work with integrity. If you made a mistake at work, admit to it. You gain more respect from your colleagues than hiding behind it, hoping that no one finds out. Anyone with high personal standards would not want to get promoted by taking credit for someone else's work. Honesty here is to give credit where credit is due. Admit to the good work you contributed but do not hoard the glory that you had no part in.
2. Humility
My grandparents used to say, if you want to know if a child will meet with a lot of benefactors in his/her life, then see if the child is humble. The logic is that if a person is humble, then that person is more likely to meet someone who is willing to help in times of trouble.
This wisdom rings true today even in the workplace. Ask yourself, how many times have you wished for that cocky colleague in your office not getting promoted? In fact, you probably did not even offer to help that colleague in times of trouble.
As a career newbie or even as a veteran, humility goes a long way in helping you getting promoted. People go out of the way to help those who are humble. When you have the skills and knowledge, yet remain down to earth bosses gravitate towards you. It helps you getting promoted in the long run. Treat colleagues with humility regardless of designation. Everyone has a role in the workplace and each deserves being treated with respect.
3. Hardworking
I am a big believer in working hard. Being hardworking means doing the best and completing every task properly. Do not take any shortcuts and do not think that working smart means there is no need to be hard working. Even when you work smart, maximum effort is needed. If you think that getting promoted is about working smart, then think again.
Maximum effort is working hard. To be constantly working smart and not give up on the idea of consistency is to be hardworking. In that sense, bosses look for people who are hardworking. Someone who is consistently delivering the results towards achieving the company's objectives. Regardless of how you look at it, getting promoted involves consistent hard work.
If you are looking at getting promoted, try the 3Hs Strategy for Getting Promoted. Higher positions need people who have high personal standards, hence honesty is important. Humility is important as you move up the corporate ladder. This is because you need to motivate staff and not intimidate them. You gain respect rather than fear. Someone who is hardworking has the tenacity to see that work gets completed in the best possible fashion. These strategies ensure that your career advancement can be sustained regardless of rank.
Long Yun Siang or Long, as he is popularly known runs http://career-success-for-newbies.com with his wife Dorena as their way of paying it forward. Their website based on their real life experiences - provides tips, tools and advise for newbies pursuing career success. Download a FREE copy of their mini eBook titled "Career Success Recipe for Newbies" at the website now.

How To Find Writing Work

2009-01-15T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Niall Cinneide

Are you looking for new writing work? It can be a challenge to build a career in any area, but it is often even harder to do so when you are in a smaller town. Sure, there may be a huge market for talented freelancers in your area, but let's face it, it is not New York where you can find countless job vacancies in your field of freelance writing. When you are looking for freelance writing work, it is important to look outside the box as well as trying the tried and true employment options.
As writers work to build their career, it can be challenging to do so if they do not live in an area that is known for having publishers. So, when you get an assignment, you need to ensure that you do it thoroughly and right on task for what the client is looking for. Do not present a piece of work without making sure that it is the best you can give.
Job vacancies for freelance writing are rarely found in newspaper ads and help wanted ads. Instead, they are filled by people who have a proven talent. It is important that you maintain a strong portfolio to do this. If you have not had any freelance writing experience for a long time, it may be beneficial to write a few pieces on your own, to display your qualifications. You can present them as a sample of your work.
The most important feature to remember when looking for jobs like freelance writing is that you can find them when you look online. Yes, take your search online because that is where people go to look for freelancers of all types. If you do not have experience, get some free projects out there and present your work in the best format every time.
Build your freelance business from start to finish on the quality on-task assignments that you present as finished work.
Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Freelance Writing Jobs. Copyright © FreelanceWritingResource.com. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

How To Take The Pain Out Of Performance Reviews

2009-01-14T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Lora J Adrianse

The Painful Approach
For many years, "performance management" was of an annual event dreaded by both the management and the workforce. For a week or two every year the manager would virtually isolate himself and ponder the stack of review forms staring him in the face. Chances are there was very little data tracked, so he'd try to rack his brain for the past year so he could "evaluate" his employees. In the meantime, a silent tension was building within each of the employees. Always anticipating a "surprise", they had no idea what to expect. After all, "how far back could the manager remember?" and "what will he remember?" Regardless of the outcome, everyone would breathe a sigh of relief when it was over.
It's Different Today
Today more than ever before, the entire performance management process is in the spotlight. Companies need factual, reliable systems to make tough business decisions. Performance management data is being used not only to measure individual performance, but also to measure benchmark strength, the potential human capital, and the performance of segments within the company. It's all crucial today, and it's here to stay.
The timing is perfect for managers to optimize performance review processes and engage each employee in the process.
The Possibilities
Imagine what it would be like if the annual performance review process transformed into an annual strategy session. No tension, no getting blindsided and no negative energy. A time for the manager and employee to come together to reflect on the past year, formally acknowledge accomplishments, strategize development opportunities and identify goals. Yes, there would still be a fair amount of time involved, but wouldn't it be worth it if both the manager and the employee could walk away feeling good about it?
Creating a partnership approach to the performance review process not only produces powerful results, but also empowers employees. By proactively contributing to the process, employees feel more in-control, and are motivated to perform better and achieve more.
How To Create A Partnership Approach To Performance Management
The First Ground Rule
As with most new processes, communication is the essential factor that can determine the success or failure of your initiative, and especially a change. So, the ground rule is, communicate openly, honestly, often, and completely.
Getting Started
Start with communication to your team. Tell them what, why, and especially, what's in it for them. Then schedule a series of meetings with them to work through the details as suggested below. It's extremely beneficial to get a volunteer to document the outcome of each meeting. After the meeting send the document back to the group to confirm and/or clarify agreements.
Establish Shared Understandings
Establishing shared understandings and agreements takes the guesswork and assumptions out of the performance review process.
Work with your team to create a list of performance management criteria that needs to be understood by all. Some examples:
Definitions of each performance competency
Definitions of rating scales or systems
Performance standards
Success indicators
What will be measured
How it will be tracked
Create Support Processes
Creating support processes will become nucleus of the partnership approach. In other words, the support processes you create with your team become their critical opportunities to contribute to the process.
Again, work with your team to create the processes that will support your performance review process. Some examples:
Weekly or bi-weekly meetings to discuss progress, roadblocks, etc.
Monthly, quarterly or semi-annual reports to track accomplishments, progress, etc.
A proactive ongoing feedback process - both employees and managers actively seek feedback regularly (what's going well, what can go better, what needs to change)
A year-end process for compiling the information and planning for the annual strategy/review discussion
A self-review process for employees - managers can request that self-reviews are submitted before the manager writes the review.
Integrate The System
Now, put your process in action. Think of your "shared understandings" as your guide to performance standards and measurements. Your support processes are the tools you use to gather and compile performance data. Now, all you need to do is to integrate the information into your performance management system and schedule the actual review meeting.
Reflect And Improve
At the end of each performance review cycle take time to get feedback from your team. It's as simple as scheduling a meeting or sending an email. It's a great time to review your shared understandings and support processes. Here are some questions to ask about the process:
What went well?
What could have gone better?
What needs to change?
In Summary
When it's time for the annual performance review process both employees and managers have plenty of factual information, will already know how they're doing, and best of all, will have established relationships and rapport.
The annual strategy/review discussion becomes a time for the manager and employee to come together to reflect on the past year, formally acknowledge accomplishments, strategize development opportunities and plan for the upcoming year. And best of all, the painful surprises have been eliminated.
About The Author
Lora Adrianse is passionate about inspiring the enrichment of growth and development in others. During her 28-year corporate career her most gratifying accomplishments included leadership development, customer/vendor relationship management, mentoring and training. Today, as the owner of Essential Connections, she is a catalyst for clients who aspire to achieve extraordinary results. She is the coach of choice for people who desire to unleash their potential and maximize their personal and professional development. She can be reached through her website www.connectionscoach.com; coach@connectionscoach.com

The Job Interview Get The Job You Deserve

2009-01-13T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Lee Lister

Finally, after all your hard work, you've got an interview for the job that you have always wanted. The interview is the most important but stressful part of job hunting. This is when the employers make a decision based on their impression of your personality, potential, skills and experience. You will want to do your best in this conclusion to all your job hunting efforts. So how do you make sure that you actually get the job you deserve!
* Plan: Make sure you know where your interview will be and when. This will give you the confidence to arrive in time to relax before the meeting. Remember with whom you are meeting. Find out what job your interviewer does so you know whether they will be your boss, your HR rep or the top boss. Knowing this will enable you to be prepared for the kind of interview it will be and the likely questions you will have.
* Research: Everyone wants to feel wanted and your potential employer is no exception. Research the company and produce a list of questions that you wish to ask as well as a group of answers to potential questions you may be asked. You will also be able to angle your answers to highlight the things that the company is seeking. Of course you also want to emphasize why you want to join the company.
* Make a Great Impression: Dress in your best, business appropriate attire. This will normally be a business suit. The impression you should give is tidy, organized and professional.
* Watch Your Body Language: Many interviewers are versed in body language, and throughout the interview, they will be looking for hints about your personality from the way you act, talk, and move. Sit tidily and be confident and enthusiastic and this will come through in your body language.
* Confidence: Walk and answer questions in a cool and confident manner. Try not to be too self-conscious. If you hit a snag and find yourself in a difficult situation, make sure you handle the situation confidently even when saying that you do not know an answer to a question. Confidence reflects competence which are two important qualities sought by employers.
Lastly good luck in finding the job you deserve!
-----------------------------------------------
Lee Lister, writes as The Biz Guru, for a number of web sites including http://www.clikks.com With over 20 year's management and business consultancy experience she now owns one of the internet's leading Resume, CV and Interview services web sites http://www.jobsuccess.co.uk
If would like help in writing your new CV or Resume, in honing your interview skills or setting up your job hunting strategy then visit http://www.jobsbiz.com We even have an MP3 audio book on writing your own resume!.
This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
-----------------------------------------------

Corporate Flight Attendant Career Getting Hired

2009-01-12T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Matthew Keegan

So, you've made it through the interview process and have received an offer of an employment. Congratulations! However, there are some things to consider before accepting or rejecting an offer of employment. How you reply to these questions will determine whether the job offer is really worth it:
Is this a full time, part time, temporary, or contract position? As obvious as it seems, you may be getting an offer different from what you originally applied. Try to get in writing the official offer -- if it involves heavy-duty legal language consider contacting an employment specialist or an attorney for guidance.
Will you be paid hourly, per diem, by the job, or by an hourly salary? How many hours are you expected to work? Does the company pay overtime? Bonuses? Profit Sharing? Is this position with a "91" operator [meaning lengthy crew duty days] or with a 135 operator [with limited duty days]?
Will you be a flight attendant? A cabin attendant? A host/hostess? Titles make a difference because the level of pay and training will depend on how high the position is. Will your new company pay for initial and recurrent training, i.e., FACTS or FlightSafety? Do they even require it? What other training is offered?
What will your benefits be? Will you have full health and dental coverage? Will you be covered under an HMO, PPO, POS, or some other plan? Is your company self insured, i.e. they aren't utilizing the services of a health care provider, but paying as they go? What portion of the insurance costs will you pay? What are the caps on insurance? Are prescriptions covered? How about family members are they covered?
What sort of retirement plan is offered? 401(k)? Traditional pension plan? No plan? Can you afford to work for the salary offered and be responsible for your own retirement? How much vacation days will you receive? Paid holidays? Hard days vs. soft days? Personal and sick days?
Will the company reimburse you for education expenses? Eyeglasses? Out of pocket expenses? Will they provide a cellular phone, laptop computer, or PDA? What other miscellaneous benefits are offered? How is catering handled? Aircraft supplies? Uniforms? Will you have to pay for it and seek reimbursement? How long does it take to be reimbursed? Does the company offer cash advances? Will you be given a company credit card? What types of hotels do crewmembers stay in?
Be prepared to seek an upward adjustment in the salary offer if you believe that the offer is too low or if you will have to pay more out of your own pocket for benefits than what is customary.
Other considerations: Exactly whom will you be reporting to? What is the company's policy on promotions? On layoffs (severance, notice, etc.) To whom can you go to if a problem arises?
Copyright 2005 -- Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio.

Resources For Career Counseling Help

2009-01-11T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Tony Jacowski

The most important step in finding a right job is to look for one that is most suitable to your requirements and most compatible with your personality. This may sound easy, but often we don't have a clue about what each job provider has to offer and what would work best for us. Resources for career counseling can be a great help in this process of identifying the next career move.
Web Resources
The Internet is an exhaustive information source that allows us to select from a large list of options. Most organized online resources help job seekers find a viable job based on their personal preference and skill. An interested candidate needs to key in some specifications to narrow down the search that is applied to a massive job database. It is very important to know what to key in when checking online resources for career counseling as selecting the right keyword will get you the desired information.
Identifying What Is "Really" Important To You
There are many factors that may affect the kind of resource you can find on the web. Geographic preference can narrow down the response. Personal preferences such as amount of travel involved can further focus the results. Its important to note that if a user puts in too many preferences the result may be zero help, so its important to keep key factors in mind. This kind of "what if" analysis is possible when using automated resources and is generally not available when using counselors.
Too Much Information Can Confuse You
Web can be a boon or a curse to a person seeking career counseling. The curse of the information explosion can confuse rather than help. Therefore, for some, the old fashioned personal approach is more suitable.
Benefits
A beneficial aspect of career counseling resources is that they help job seekers understand their shortcomings and prepare accordingly. Most jobs that are posted online usually mention what an applicant's ideal profile should be. This enables job seekers to see for themselves if they fit in or not. It can also spur self-development efforts such as enrolling for additional training, education, and certification or licensing.
Aside from this, resources for career counseling offer useful advice on career related issues. There are forums and message boards on most sites where one can post a query. A counselor answers these questions to help you choose accordingly. Some of the specialized career counseling companies evaluate your current earnings and analyze your potential to help you land a better job.
What Information To Look For
You could make a job choice based upon recommendations, reviews, write-ups, word of mouth or rankings, but the most important is personal need. The American School Counselor Association plays an important role in ranking or recommending job sites. Many graduate schools refer to these online career-counseling sites to build their own database.
Tools That Can Help You
Self-assessment and interests, values inventories, self-assessment tools, personality and IQ tests, and aptitude quizzes help analyze your true potential. The Keirsey Temperament Sorter test helps gauge your personality profile. The Career Planning Process, Career Change, and Hoover's Online are a few popular career- counseling resources. The Riley Guide, Resume Writing, Career Services and America's Job Bank are helpful as well. A job seeker may also refer to Yahoo! Classifieds-Employment, Contract Employment Weekly, Jobs Online, UST Career Development Center, Monster.com, Job Web, and Career Mosaic.
If all this confuses you don't hesitate to go to your local community college or university. They have career counseling centers that can provide a large amount of information and staff that is eager to help.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Should Your Quotcareer Smoke Alarmquot Be Going Off

2009-01-10T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by William Werksman

Often times, even the most sophisticated senior level employees can miss the warning signals that would otherwise trigger your "career smoke alarm". In the day to day struggle to keep your company goals and objectives in sight, it is easy to allow the batteries in your smoke alarm to go down. How often should you check them and when do you know the alarm should be ringing loudly? Here are a few questions to reflect upon that will assist in this analysis:
1. In the last quarter or at least in the past 6 months, has my supervisor or manager spoken to me about my goals and objectives as an employee? It is critical for your supervisor or department manager to take an active role in your development as a team member. Managers should make it their responsibility to take the initiative to make certain their team or department members know what is expected of them in the short term and long term. Goals and objectives for each member should be laid out in plain and easily understood pathways for you to follow. If these are not being provided by your current supervisor or manager, you need to have a heart to heart talk with that person to make certain you are on the same page. Not being on the same page should trigger the alarm bells.
2. Do I have all the resources to complete my work objectives and goals? Many times, in companies where times are starting to get VERY tough and business is on a major down turn, the resources for fully and successfully completing your work objectives become suddenly scarce or difficult to come by. If you start to sense that this is the case, make inquires to your boss or department head. Find out if it is simply an issue of poor allocation or something more dire for the company's future. Should you be concerned that you were once able to fly out and meet clients for direct sales calls and business development and now each and every trip must be validated with a signed contract? Yes, because it takes money to make money and when things get so tight that standard business development trips are no longer in the budget, it time to start thinking about the root causes. If you, as a valued employee, do not have the resources or assistance of the company to complete the objectives outlined by your manager or group leader, then maybe it's time to consider another career location.
3. Can I see a clear path to career advancement at this company? Take a look beyond the simple pay increase equation. Take a look at your co-workers and colleagues. Are they particularly interested in their careers or simply there punching the clock and taking the paycheck hoping their efforts are enough to keep them employed till retirement age. Do you see the company responding to the efforts you have made that are above and beyond the standard job description in your personnel file? Take a hard look at the company as an "outsider"? What would you see if you were interviewing there for the first time? Every person is responsible for making the decision to stay and flourish or simply be left behind. Make certain that you keep track of the comments and feedback received in your last review. Make certain you address the good and bad in those review and appraisals so that you are at the very least, on the same wavelength and making serious and meaningful strides towards accomplishing the goals and objectives set forth for yourself. If you do accomplish those you should rightfully see the reward, the advancement in both responsibility and salary. If you are unable to look at your boss and understand how he got there, them maybe you need to do some career evaluation. Career paths should be well defined inside a well oiled company. Each worker should be able to know the chances for career advancement as well as the risks for failure. While the latter is generally more obvious, the ability to clearly see the path for career advancement is something every professional should be keenly aware of.
4. Do I have a mentor/coach or someone else at the company that is interested in my development? Yes, this can be your immediate boss or supervisor but often times this is another person or even a co-worker that provides you with salient advice regarding your career and work activities. Sometimes, it is a person that is older and possibly more senior than you in terms of their tenure with the organization. Someone that you can go to on a confidential basis and talk with regarding all the uncertainties you have with your career and possible career options. A coach or mentor can provide you with a sounding board for concerns, for sharing the minor and major victories that are part of a successful career path. Be certain that you have someone like this at your office.
5. Are my opinions valued or ideas taken seriously by the organization? This is perhaps the loudest alarm that should be heard. If you are not being taken seriously at work or if your opinions or initiatives are consistently rejected or not even put forward for senior management, then it is definitely time for a career change. Every employee and contributing member of an organization should have the ability to have their voice heard and opinion addressed. Having your initiatives summarily dismissed or shelved for "another time" is unacceptable and at the very least should warrant a long discussion with your boss or immediate supervisor. If you are again summarily dismissed or pushed to the back corner, listen closely, the career smoke alarm is blaring, head for the exit sign.
These are some of the warning signs you should readily hear and recognize. Often times, they do not all come at once. Many times they are subtle and couched in passive addressed messages. But, have not doubt, if you find any of the prior points are part of your current work atmosphere, perhaps the career smoke alarm is already going off. Check those batteries frequently, or at the very least every six months. It's always better to have fresh and alert batteries than be a victim.
Executive recruiter William Werksman is a frequent columnist to job boards including http://www.NevadaJobBoard.com addressing both the candidate's and employer's perspective. Werksman's expertise has been featured in business magazines, national newspapers and television news segments. His firm, Resource Partners, is recognized as the leading source of specialized and executive talent in the Casino and Gaming industry. He manages a staff of recruiters out of his firm's Las Vegas, Nevada headquarters. He may be reached at: Bill@CareerInsider.com

Job Search Tip Build Your Personal Asset Bank

2009-01-09T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Paul Megan

Conducting a successful job search means anticipating the expectations of a decision-maker.
Whether you meet in a traditional interview or in the alternate "first meeting" format we recommend, you must be prepared to meet expectations.
Take a look at yourself and your work history through the eyes of a prospective employer. It helps you objectify your credentials. Because, if they don't make sense to a prospective employer, they DON'T MAKE SENSE . . . no matter how thrilling they are to you.
Fortunately you have plenty of marketable assets that will attract an employer's attention. In particular there are three categories of marketable assets that can help you make a favorable impression.
1. Qualifying experiences: you have what it takes to do the job.
2. Bridge skills: you have the smarts to move forward and take on new assignments.
3. Workstyle values: you possess an inner value system that guarantees energy and commitment
Start by reviewing the various work situations you've been in. Without reference to your resume, jot down a list of memorable work experiences.
Be sure to include volunteer work, military service, internships, summer employment, etc. Then, ask yourself the question, "What did I learn from this experience that would be helpful to my next employer."
Pull out the many marketable assets you derived from your work situations using the three categories above. Distill each list until you have the key marketable assets and strengths that make up the image of you you're going to project.
Remember, job search wisdom starts with a clear-eyed understanding of what you've got going for you. We call it your personal asset bank. It's made up of all your Qualifying and Bridge Skills as well as your Workstyle Values.
Your asset bank is a ready source of focused marketable information about you that you must be prepared to assertively point out to prospective employers. It's what they want to hear rather than a dull recitation of your work history.
Paul Megan manages EEI, the world class leader in alternative job search strategies and non-traditional career advancement since 1985. Check out THE WORLD'S FASTEST JOB SEARCH SYSTEM! Grab EEI's stunning FREE REPORT: "How To Lock Up A High-Paying Job In 14 Days (Or Less)!" http://www.fastest-job-search.com

Reviving Your Resume

2009-01-08T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Amy Finley

A resume may not be who you are, but to a potential employer, it may be all they see of you and make or break your chance for your next interview. While many of us either spend long hours crafting the perfect resume (or pay someone else big bucks to do it for you) and may not want to mess with perfection, not updating your resume may cause more harm than good.
If you are currently in the job market, evaluate your resume, and whether it's been six months or six years since you dusted it off, chances are you've acquired a new skill, shown leadership in an organization, or somehow improved since you last met with your resume.
Add in anything new that will aid you in your job search, and as much as it hurts, delete anything that is outdated or is no longer applicable or important for the types of positions you are applying for.
Some experts suggest, in fact having more of a bare bones resume that you tailor, along with your cover letter, to the individual position and company you are applying for.
Universal resume advice includes being clear and concise, use verbs (power and action words) to describe you and your achievements or job responsibilities, and work from the vantage point of the company -- what you'll bring onboard to them.
Another common problem with resumes is that they are not prioritized -- drawing attention to the most important or relevant skills and job titles first. The person going through dozens of resume sis more likely to have his or her attention drawn to one that immediately illustrates the skills for the position.
By crafting a strong resume and updating it frequently, you'll be more than ready when an opportunity arises.
Amy Finley is a freelance journalist for Pulse Media International. To learn more about crafting the perfect resume, read her article on the Sample Resume Objective.
Interested in going into business for yourself? Get more information at the Pulse Media Business page at http://www.pulsemed.org/business-schools-marketing-etc.htm
Read more articles by Amy Finley at http://www.pulsemed.org/authorpages/Amy-Finley.vc.

Boost Your Job Security And Make Yourself Promoteable Wow Em From Day One

2009-01-07T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Kathryn Marion

Jobs are disappearing every day. The key to saving yours or even improving your position is making yourself valuable to the companybeing promote-able rather than dispensable. Here's a quick list of things you can do every day (starting with Day One) to boost your own job security:
-- Make your boss look good. If you're key to making your boss succeed, and s/he gets promoted, you increase your chances of being promoted, too.
-- Put forth your very best effort in everything you're asked to do, no matter how trivial it may seem. It's probably not trivial to your boss.
-- Dress like those who are one level above you in the organization. If you look like the guy at the bottom of the totem pole, you're more likely to stay there, because that's how others will think of you.
-- Keep a notepad and pen with you at all times to keep track of names, deadlines, and promises made. A big part of your job is to make your boss succeed. If s/he doesn't take good notes, yours might 'save' them sometimemaking you even more valuable.
-- Offer opinions only when asked; offer solutions and helpful information as often as possible. Bring problem situations to the attention of your boss only after you have formulated at least one solution or improvement that you can present at the same timeunless, of course, it's an emergency that's time-critical, but still try to have at least one even-partially-formulated potential solution.
-- Always keep up with reading the most important publications associated with your line of work. It may be the local paper, the Wall Street Journal, or a professional journaleither subscribe, go to the library, borrow a copy, or read it online, but keep up with the news and trends in your field so you will always be current.
-- Never hand in the first draft of any written workput extra effort into accuracy, thoroughness, and attention to detail (especially grammar and spelling). Use writing aids or take a class, if necessary. In a professional office environment, your chances of promotion are pretty slim if you don't have good writing skills.
-- When you're not very busy, don't sit back and relax. Ask for more workbut take on only as much as you can accomplish at a high level of quality.
-- Try to meet as many people as possible in order to build your professional network of contacts. You'll want to keep in touch with these people when they, or you, leave the company.
-- Always follow the unwritten rules of the workplace to a 'T.' If you 'rub someone the wrong way' or end up on the wrong end of a political struggle, you may ruin your chances of being promoted or could even lose your job. What you see as independence or creativity may be seen by your superiors as rebellion or inflexibility.
-- Be a team player. Devote your energies to helping your project team or department succeed, and make an effort to get along well with your teammatesalways giving credit where it's due. Taking the credit for work or ideas that are not yours always ends up backfiring, sooner or later.
-- Improve on, or learn, foreign language skills. Companies with international offices, or planning to expand, will use these as criteria for making international assignments or promotions into management. It's becoming more important every year.
-- Learn the businesscross-training is critical. It's great to be an 'expert' in your own field or department, but if you can find ways to learn about other departments, projects, or teams, you make yourself even more valuable. If cross-department projects come up, volunteer for them. Or take night classes to learn the fundamental skills of a different department than the one you're in.
-- Keep your eye on the details of your work. Grasping the Big Picture is great and valuable, but staying intimate with the details of your projects will prevent anything from 'falling through the cracks' that could jeopardize your credibility or job.
-- Network, network, networkinside and outside your company. The more people who know of you and your abilities, the greater your opportunities will be for better assignments, promotions, and future job leads in other companies. Waiting until you need contacts is not the time to start networking!
-- Be a problem solver. Always look for ways of finding and distributing valuable information; offering solutions to problems; brainstorming ideas for improving procedures; or creating new products or services. Never be critical about the way things are now; just offer ways to make things better.
-- When working on a project, don't assume everything will go smoothly. It probably won't. Stay positive, but also try to anticipate problems and have solutions ready so you don't get pulled down and lose focus.
-- Try to find a mentor. Ask at your professional associationthey may have a list of executives who are willing to help young people along by 'showing them the ropes' and offering advice. One savvy insight from a mentor can go a long way to solidifying your future. -- Keep track of your accomplishments, the equipment you've used, and the skills you've learned. Update your resume every time you accomplish something significant or different so you won't have to rush if you ever need one quickly. You'll need it to apply for a promotion, for a move to another department, if you get laid off, or if you hear of a great opportunity elsewhere.
-- Ask your boss what it takes to get promoted, devise a strategy with him to get any training you need, and concentrate on those areas on a daily basis.
-- Continue to learn all you can about technological improvements in your fieldthey determine how you perform your job. Because technical skills can become outdated quickly, you must continuously upgrade them. If you're an engineer, this may mean learning about new software. If you're a writer, it may mean learning the new features in word processing and desktop publishing software.
Armed with these tips, you're ready to hit the ground running in a new job or boost your security in the one you already have!
# # #
Kathryn Marion is President of Education for Reality. in Erie, Colorado. Her book Success in the 'Real World:' The Graduate's Complete Guide to Making the Most of Your Career (and Your Life!) was released in April '05 in e-book format for its tenth anniversary--it was distributed through schools, colleges, and universities to nearly two million new graduates. Jam-packed with savvy insights and helpful advicem it covers everything from careers to money management to handling personal and even legal matters. Visit http://www.EducationForReality.com and sign up for the free monthly newsletter, Dose of RealityTM--it will give you a 'dose' of advice on your career, your money, and your life each month as well as point you to additional online resources which will help you in these areas--so you don't have to surf the Net (we do it for you!).

The Top Ten Worst Work At Home Scams Part 1

2009-01-06T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Marsha James

1. Envelope stuffing
Earn $300-$800 a week and more!!!! So easy, no experience necessary. However we need to make sure that only serious workers apply so there will be a "one-time fee for the enrollment costs are well as material that we will send you to mail out. Send a SASE to this address and start earning today!
Does that sound familiar? To begin with I will tell you that if you see this or anything like it run a mile away. Do not think that this sounds good and it's only a measly $29.99 so I can afford to lose that if it's a scam. Just say to yourself, "It is a scam." Envelope stuffing has been around for decades and while they have slowly evolved, it is always the same. Just think for a second, why would any want to pay you $2-$4 to stuff an envelope and pay you over $500 a month or more, when they can buy themselves a machine that will stuff the envelopes for them? The machines are a few hundred dollars. In the long they would actually save money, by not paying someone else to stuff them.
How the scam works: You see an add similar to the one I wrote above. You send in the "small" fee which can be anywhere from $5 up to $100 or more. You sit at home waiting for your package thinking that you can put those brochures, pamphlets or postcards. The only thing your usually getting is a one page instruction telling you to put the same ad in a newspaper and wait for some sucker to grab the bait like you did. There are also the one in which you are told to send $1 to everyone on a list, usually 5 people, put your name in the first slot and take off the #5 name and send out these letters to those people. You will then be getting all these people sending you $1, and before you know it you'll be a millionaire. No you won't, do I have to tell you this is a scam? A scam that long ago moved onto the internet and is now usually played with sites such as Paypal, and Stormpay. Same scam different twist. You just send $1 or more to these 5 or 10 accounts and you will soon have money flooding into your Paypal account. Scam. This to me is just another for of MLM. Which is another scam to flush your money down the toilet.
2. Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)
"Lose 40 pounds in less than a month. Feel better with this miracle juice. Tone up with this miracle cream etc, etc..Once you try it, you will love it and even better if you get others to sign up under you; you can make thousands a month."
This dear friends is known as Multi-Level Marketing (MLM). There are so many that I can't get through even 1% of them. The usual basis of MLM is you see some product which is often, not worth the money, untested, unproven that you will get the results it claims to give you, and most importantly it might be dangerous. Just think, would you buy a bottle of green juice off someone on a street corner because they claim it will make you shed 100 pounds? Now the MLM I will talk about here is the "product" scam. This one is you are buying a product or joining up to work for them selling there product. If you buy the product they will tell you that you can get rich if you get others to sign up. You will be there sponsor and when they join to sell you 40% of the product price and if you sign up another you get 20% of there product price and so on. Or you need to sign up for the gold or platinum membership and make even more money, just $199.99 or more and don't worry you'll make that money back in no time. I've even seen some so ridiculous due to the fact that your purchasing all these products to try and make even more money, not realizing your losing money or at least no making any, just paying a little less for the less than worth it so called miracle product. The other part of a product scam is your not using or even buying it, your trying to make money solely by getting others to sign up. All those ads you see? On tv, cheap magazines, free newspapers, email and all over the web, well those are the people trying to get YOU to sign up and make them a commission. All you will be doing is trying to recruit more and more people to sell this product and earn some money. Some do it, but it's very difficult and over 90% are scams.
3. Data entry/Claim Processing/Name Compiler
There are many other names for this. The whole point of it is to work at home as a typist/data entry worker. These people usually claim that they have so much work that they need help and its cheaper to get someone to work from home than to hire another computer or expand there onsite business. In these scams there is always a fee for the application which can be $30-$1000's. Yes thousands. The companies will claim that to do there work you need to buy their special software. You can't download it or buy it anywhere else, it has to come from them. And once again you will make back your money in no time. Yeah, sure you will. Just think of how fast you would make back that money if you flushed it down the toilet. Unlike some of these scams there are real work from home jobs for typists. They usually will not charge you to join. Just think about it. Why would you pay someone to let you work for them? Think about you going on a job interview, they tell you that you have the job, but they just need $300 and then you can start. Most of us would leave in a hurry. But for some reason reading it on paper seems to make sense for too many unwitting victims. I personally know more than 15 companies that hire typists and pay them to actually type. I filled out some applications and read the requirements for others. I was disappointed but pleasantly surprised to learn there were requirements and that I was turned down for the job. Most legitimate companies need workers who can type more than 60-80 wpm or even more kps (keys per second). As well as someone who actually has 2 years or more of experience usually as a secretary or administrative assistant.
Name compiler is scam #1 all over again. Instead of stuffing envelopes, you are sent materials, after you pay the fee of course, which will tell you to post the same ad you responded to all over the net in hopes of getting others to sign up. Your just spamming others and that's it. No companies pay for a compiler anymore because it can be done electronically now, so theres no need for a compiler/typist for this sort of job.
The worst is the claim or payment processor. What they will have you do is not just unethical but it's usually an illegal operation they pull innocent people into. Most won't even know it until it's too late. This scam works on many levels. If you answer the ad through email they can put malware on your computer steal your identity and sell it on the black market. You will be lured into thinking you are processing claims for a legitimate foreign company and will receive %20 or more commission on each payment processed. You then have to wire the money from your bank, western union or money gram. You are actually handling counterfiet money orders and/or check. You will have a lot to process as they need you to send as many as possible quickly before the bank or police find out and stop it. You are working for them, but your actually laundering money and all you will end up with is being an unwitting victim of a very big crime. With the criminals overseas you will be left holding the bag. There was a story about a woman who is facing charges on a similar scam. The twist? She is the victim. I feel that since the prosecutors can't get the real criminals well, she's taking the blame. She will more than likely go to jail because of scam.
4. Work At Home Lists
You only need to think about work at home opportunities and you will find a whole lot of scams coming up trying to sell you a list. Don't do it. There are many places that post legitimate work at home jobs. Try work at home mom forums. Introduce yourself, meet people like you, who will be happy to point you toward the right direction. These lists are usually crap. You pay and IF they send you anything or send you to members room, all you will be most likely to find are out of date or broken links from companies no longer hiring. Everyone would like to work from home. When there posted in places for free people rush towards them, so how long do you think it is before the company has got the people they want and isn't looking anymore?
5. Pyramid Schemes
The pyramid scheme or "matrix" is one of the oldest scams and against the law around most of the WORLD. A new variation is now on ebay. I've seen them all over. You type in ipod and thousands of listings come up. You will however notice some selling very cheaply, say $40. When you read up on it, you are told not to bid but go to this website or email the seller and find out how to get an ipod or playstation cheap or even free if you purchase things like mp3's or ebooks from the site. You will usually see a list of names on a page. These are all people like you who have signed up for this "great deal". You add your name to the list and your on the bottom of that list. You make purchases and get your name moved up. You can also move up faster if you recruit other people to sign up and purchase or sign up others, and on and on it goes. When your name gets to the top of the list, you usually will get the ipod, playstation, cellphone or whatever else it is that you signed up for. Now some do get the item. But this is still a pyramid scheme and many won't even get the items they purchased or the free item they signed up for.
Written by Marsha James
http://allabouttraffic.blogspot.com/
http://homeincometalk.seo-blog.org/
Please feel free to add my article to your website, forum, blog, newsletters and other ventures if you leave it in full format. If used in a newsletter please send it to me that I may view where my work is going. Thank You.

Roadkill Mentality Why Employers Arent Calling You

2009-01-05T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Marta Driesslein

The longer you hibernate in the darkness of traditional job searching know-how, where no one can find you, the more likely your dormancy will negatively affect your career transition. When you decide it's time to make a career change, you have a choice: be the hunter or the prey. Choose the latter and you'll quickly become road-kill. Just ask the possum.
Playing possum neutralizes your marketability. Opossums are easy targets for vehicular traffic because they are slow-moving creatures. They quickly frighten and when they can't escape, they roll over, become limp, close their eyes, and hang their tongue out (which slows their heartbeat). To would-be predators, the animal looks dead, so interest is lost.
Sound like your job search? Are you as dead to prospective hiring managers or those in the position of assisting you through informal informational meetings? If there's no interest in what you have to offer, consider your branding the perception others have about you and your ability to contribute.
Do you:
Complain you don't have time to conduct a job search?
Suffer from paralysis of analysis in determining career options?
Think "networking" is not for you because your contacts are limited?
Project open reluctance to search in new fields for fear of rejection?
Believe finding a job is most easily discovered using job search engines?
Obscure your visibility to power executives due to confidentiality issues?
Require a set-in-stone level of compensation or geographic preference regardless of market conditions?
If you answer yes to any of these, your career change is in dire need of resuscitation, and every second counts.
Velocity uncovers signals of hiring patterns. Most animals travel in packs or herds. Possums don't. They're hidden night creatures that often become road kill because they're secretive, go about their foraging in solitary, and are slow-moving. You'll bring speed and verve to your campaign and improve your odds of employers calling if you are:
Mentally adaptable
Emotionally flexible
Geographically-mobile
Financially-unshackled
Professionally-scalable
Vitality gets you hired through emotional attachment. Radiate a genuine hearty enjoyment of living. An infectious positive attitude coupled with precision target positioning will land you a prized role; perhaps one custom-created for you where there were no posted openings.
Marketing success is two-fold: market share and mind share. People first buy emotionally, then logically. Hiring managers do the same. Capture both, the territory and their minds. If your career history and extracurricular activities demonstrate a 'joie de vivre' (joy of life), you'll inspire greater interest and remembrance from decision-makers over those better qualified.
If you're remote, sullen, or cynical, grow up, get help, get over it. Hiring often times is driven more by perceived cultural fit than professional industry-specific competency.
Secret job searches yield mediocre results. Counter anonymity in a fiercely-competitive employment market by ensuring you don't:
Send mass resume mailings to untargeted employers
Peruse online job boards for your main source to uncover jobs
Remain a generalist in terms of career focus and position objectives
Use resume software programs that auto-generate templated resumes
Forget to follow up on every oral and written job hunt communication
Key rules in product marketing equally apply to your tactical career moves. Remember you're the product and your customer is the person who has the ultimate power to hire you. Keep in mind:
Brand awareness and consideration are not one-time events
Continually communicate the central message you want your audience to perceive about your product
Branding creates a singular distinction, strategic awareness and differentiates the product in the mind of the target market
Revive a lifeless career campaign by gaining early and steady visibility. The fact is that gaining notoriety through a personal public relations campaign should not start at the point of market entry.
Top-of-mind awareness is an integrated marketing strategy that deploys multiple channels to ensure a product's branding prevails. It's done foundationally and consistently. Early, steady visibility preemptively brings you, to them.
Know the causes for employer snub?
A lifeless or negative persona
A career path with no pulse or vibrancy
A rigidness that contradicts changing market conditions
Road-kill or road racer? Which one are you? You have a choice. You better find out what's needed to resurrect yourself, and soon. Your competition just got off of life-support, while you're in a daze still trying to figure out what just happened. Get moving.
Marta Driesslein, CECC is a management consultant for R.L. Stevens & Associates Inc. http://interviewing.com/
For over 24 years R.L. Stevens & Associates, Inc. has been the Nation's most successful privately-held firm specializing in executive career searches generating quality interviews through both advertised and unadvertised channels.

Why Employers Want An Employee With A Degree

2009-01-04T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Ryan McKenzie

You wake up in the morning, head to work, and find out your company is downsizing and you are being laid off. No big deal you think, you have experience, you've worked at the same company for years. You think companies will WANT to hire you. Guess what, your wrong. It's a new day and age, while you may potentially find work. It's a lot more difficult than you may think to get a job these days. Most reputable companies are looking for qualified people who also have an education.
Through the companies eyes, they see an education as a sign of dedication to a career/field. Without an education, you are liable to get up and move to a different career in a heart beat as you don't have years of education backing you up. A company knows that when you have an education you are in for the long haul.
People with an education are a commodity these days, if you don't have one, many companies won't even go beyond glancing at your resume. So what can you do, to prevent a situation like the one I've outlined above from happening? If you currently have a job, you can start working on attaining some form of education at one of the many accredited online schools.
They require much less time as no actual class time is required, but are treated equal to a real world education, and cost significantly less. I highly recommend looking into it. For more information, check out http
About The Author
Ryan Mckenzie
http://www.education-resource.org

Fun At The Workplace

2009-01-03T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by SC Mishra

Is the absenteeism rate in your workplace rising constantly? Are tediousness and boredom, the two words which define your office environment? Does every morning appear to be as dull as a Monday morning? Is their a lack of laughter in your office? Once a famous Danish born comedian, Victor Borge said that laughter is the shortest distance between two people. So, probably it is time to reduce the distance between you and your employees by making your office an exciting place and adding some fun and humor to it.
There was a time when while looking for jobs in India such factors like employee friendliness or fun at workplace were not kept in mind but nowadays people give a lot of importance to workplace environment. Sure, work is supposed to be serious business. No compromises should be made on the professional front. Punctuality must be maintained and deadlines should be set and met. Nevertheless it is important to remember that most of us spend more than half of our day in the workplace. Hence, it is extremely important to ensure that working is a fun process and not a boring one. How often an employee feels like going to work and giving it his best shot is directly proportional to how much fun he/she has in the office. A pleasant work environment and friendly relations between colleagues are very essential working conditions. Note that humor and fun at the workplace ensures better productivity and not lesser productivity.
Victor Hugo states that Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. So, remember that happy and smiling employees are loyal and productive employees. To ensure that your workplace is a happy place, you can take a number of steps.
Freedom is a very important requisite for happiness. The dress code in your office can be formal, but you must allow your employees to be expressive. Allowing them to dress casually once a week (probably on a Friday) will make them feel comfortable. Similarly, encourage your employees to be experimental and creative when it comes to their work stations. Stickers, humorous quotes, photographs- anything that makes the workstation attractive and cheerful should be encouraged. Let their workstations be their space. An attractive entrance, a colorful décor and furniture, relevant and funny cartoons, beautiful and artistic paintings-anything that makes Monday mornings more exciting should also be encouraged.
Cooperation and teamwork are two very basic success mantras. It is very important for your employees to interact with each other and maintain healthy relationships. Group activities should be organized and mini breaks must be encouraged. A fun library with joke books, magazines, newspapers, cartoon books and CDs, DVDs of movies etc should be maintained for the benefit of the employees. Also, a board or blog where they can post comments, jokes, suggestions, cartoons and thank you notes should be put up. Anniversaries of when people joined your team and birthdays should be celebrated. This makes the employees feel that they are important and significant members of the team.
It is extremely significant to encourage team-building activities. An outdoor training program can prove to be very beneficial for your team. Interaction between your team members will increase cooperation and decrease conflicts.
Humor needs appropriate timing and one should ensure that one's humor is not another's horror. Negative situations can be resolved by using humor. The team should be encouraged to share difficult experiences in a humorous manner. One should have the ability to laugh at oneself. This would lighten up everyone's mood and have very positive psychological effects. Most importantly, the problem of the youth turning to drugs and alcohol to reduce stress can be curbed by ensuring that they enjoy work. For this purpose, exciting projects and challenging deadlines should be set. However, flexibility of work timings and the capability to work from home every now and then should also be maintained.
Contests like karaoke contests, free lunches or coffee once in a while, fun awards etc can also be organized. Occasional parties and social gatherings after work hours and incentives like gym, yoga or kick boxing classes can also be provided to the employees.
Most importantly, the relationship between you and your employees should be a friendly and comfortable one. They should have the freedom to express themselves and discuss their problems with you. You should be a part of the team and participate in all the group activities. Remember that the one factor which motivates us to work harder is Encouragement. When you know that your work is valued and appreciated, you tend to put in longer work hours to do better work. You should make the extra effort of interacting with them personally whenever you can and encourage them. All your colleagues should be treated equally and a cheerful and fun environment should be maintained. This would prove to be beneficial for both you and your employees.
S C Mishra, a known career counselor, is an expert on subjects like Software Job scenario in India and abroad.

When The Boss Is A Bully

2009-01-02T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Arthur Buchanan

They verbally abuse you, humiliate you in front of others. Maybe it's because power hovers in the air, but offices tend to bring out the bully in people. We offer strategies for handling such bad bosses.
If the schoolyard is the stomping ground of bully boys and bully girls, then the office is the playground of adult bullies. Perhaps because power is the chief perk in most companies, especially those with tight hierarchies, offices can bring out the bully in people.
Everyone has a war story. There's the boss who calls at 2 A.M. from Paris--just because he's there. The boss who asks for your evaluation of a problem and then proceeds to denigrate you and your opinion in front of the whole staff as you seethe with hopefully hidden rage. "It's a demonstration of power. It's demeaning," contends Harry Levinson, Ph.D., the dean of organizational psychologists and head of the Levinson Institute in Waltham, Massachusetts.
"I haven't studied office bullying systematically," he says. In fact, no one has. Despite common perceptions of its prevalence, it's essentially virgin tuff for organizational psychology. Trouble is, organizational psychologists are often called in at the highest level of management; nowadays, most bullies are weeded out before they get to the top.
Nevertheless, says Levinson, 40 years of consulting have given him some idea of what they do and why. They over-control, micromanage, and display contempt for others, usually by repeated verbal abuse and sheer exploitation. They constantly put others down with snide remarks or harsh, repetitive, and unfair criticism. They don't just differ with you, they differ with you contemptuously; they question your adequacy and your commitment. They humiliate you in front of others.
There are two kinds of bullies, observes organizational psychologist Laurence Stybel, Ph.D., a principal of Boston's Stybel Peabody Lincolnshire & Associates: "Successful ones and unsuccessful ones. The latter don't last long in organizations. The successful bullies create problems, but they are competent"
Often they are very bright workers. And therein lies the problem. They make a significant contribution to the company as workers. They get promoted because of their technical expertise. Then they wind up supervising others, and spew on people in support functions, on competitors, perhaps even their own bosses.
They are especially rampant in high-tech companies, engineering firms, and financial organizations--a stock fund manager doing an incredible job with investments, for example. "The typical successful bully thinks, 'They won't do anything to me--I'm the best they've got,"'Stybel says. But sooner or later, it's too costly to tolerate their behavior.
It's getting too costly much sooner in most companies. Stybel cites the example of a large New England hospital where the bully is a brilliant physician who has been the director of radiology for 11 years. The bullying was an issue over the years--'m the exit interviews of departing technical staff.
Why did the hospital decide to do something only now? The administrator told Stybel: "We can't tolerate the high turnover anymore. It's too costly in the face of managed care."
Occasionally, bullies do get to the very top. Levinson points to Harold Geneen, the legendary head of ITT, and coach Vince Lombardi. And then there's the issue of Fortune magazine devoted every couple of years to America's "toughest" bosses. Take the female CEO who reportedly yelled at the executives of a division she felt was underperforming: "You're eunuchs! How can your wives stand you? You've got nothing between your legs!"
At least in large corporations, bullying is not as blatant as it once was. "The John Wayne image of a leader doesn't go over so well in the '90s" notes Pat Alexander of the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina. "It affects the efficiency of the entire organization." Intimidation tends to be more polished.
While it's no longer cool to throw around your authority, counterforces are leading to greater tolerance of negative behavior. Stybel points to a growing 'What can you do for me now?' stance. "There's a new generation of CEOs who expect to be in place four years and move on. This fosters emotional distancing from employees, an excessive focus on transactions; it does not foster a positive relationship mode. Companies are growing increasingly performance-oriented; do they care how anyone feels about an executive's behavior?
"Where I have been retained, it's not because they don't like bullies" notes Stybel. "Only the underlying economics make it a dysfunctional behavior."
While bullies inhabit the middle ranks of large concerns, they are positively thriving at small companies. "There are lots of bad bosses out there,' says Atlanta-based management consultant Neil Lewis, Ph.D. "In smaller companies the quality of management is not as good as at large companies. They're not professional managers."
Stybel warns workers not to focus on where bullying comes from. "When observers see a boss behave as a bully, they attribute it to trait characteristics. That may not be the case. It's almost always a product of individual history and make-up--and the company atmosphere. But who cares? The most important thing is the behavior."
Bullies do a lot of damage in organizations. They make subordinates run scared. They put people in a protective mode, which interferes with the company's ability to generate innovation. They don't build in perpetuation of the organization, says Levinson. "It keeps you in a state of psychological emergency. And add to it the rage you feel towards the bully and a sense of self-rage for putting up with such behavior." These are hardly prime conditions for doing your best work--any work.
As with kids, bully bosses have blind spots. They don't see themselves accurately. They see themselves as better than others--which only acts to justify their bullying behavior--a feeling reinforced by promotion. Another big blind spot: sensitivity to others' feelings. Often, says Levinson, this arises in competitive settings, where "you learn to focus on your own behavior. It breeds a kind of psychological ignorance."
Stybel has developed a psychological karate chop to "unfreeze" executives's attitudes--a customized letter of probation. It essentially tells an executive that, due to changes in market conditions, or some other external factor, his weaknesses now outweigh the strengths he has long displayed. "It spells out desired behavioral changes in a positive way--not 'people are complaining that you are a bully' but 'if you make these changes you'll have a reputation as someone who is considerate.'" It gives honchos 90 days to shape up--or else.
It's never easy to make headway with an office bully, observers agree. The first step is to recognize when it's happening. Repetitive verbal abuse. Micromanagement. Exploitation. Any activity that repeatedly demeans you or is discourteous. "Whenever you're dissed, you're dealing with a bully," says Levinson. "Sometimes it's inadvertent. We all get caught up in that--once. You apologize and it's over. But bullies don't recognize their impoliteness and they don't apologize."
Tactics from the Pros
Here are tactics from seasoned organizational consultants:
Confront the bully: "I'm sorry you feel you have to do that, but I will not put up with that kind of behavior. It has no place here." It can be startlingly effective. "Bullies lack boundaries on their own behavior. Some external controls may force them to back off" says Levinson. "A bully can't bully if you don't let yourself be bullied."
Conduct the confrontation in private--behind dosed doors in the bully's of-rice, at lunch outside the office. The bully won't back down in front of an audience.
Specify the behavior that's unworkable: "You can't just fire from the hip and demean me in front of my staff or others." Don't play armchair psychologist. Restrict the discussion to specific behaviors, not theories of motivation.
Make your boss aware by showing him or her the consequences of his behavior on others. "I've been noticing how Jim seems so demoralized lately. I think one of the contributing factors may be last week's meeting when you ridiculed him for producing an inadequate sales report" Many executives have no information on how their leadership style impacts others, says Alexander. "Peers don't tell them they are in competition.
Why feed information that may make your competitor more effective?" Awareness is not enough; help your boss figure out what to do. Specify the behavioral change you want. "Your boss is likely to brush off criticism with, 'That's just my style;" observes Marquand. "Furnish your boss with an example of desirable behavior-from his or her own repertoire of actions. Jump in with 'But I can recall a month ago when you were . . . lavish in your praise of that new assistant,' or whatever." Point out how the boss's behavior is seen by others. "You embarrass me when you publicly humiliate me in a meeting, but you also embarrass yourself.
You're demonstrating your weakness." Comparing self-perceptions and the perceptions of others is often a "grabber," finds Alexander. "The fact of difference gets people's attention."
Try humor. If you point out to your boss that she's acting like a caricature, that may be enough to make her aware.
Recruit an ally or allies. Standing up for yourself can stop a bully by earning his/her respect. But it could also cost your job. The higher your boss is in the organization, says Lewis, the more you need allies. "It pays to check out with other workers whether the behavior you are experiencing is generalized or idiosyncratic," says Levinson. "If it's generalized, it's easier for two or three people to confront a boss than one alone."
If the company you work for is large enough to have one, talk to the human resources department. Unfortunately, says Levinson, companies often don't learn about bullying experiences until an exit interview. But the larger the company you work for, the more mechanisms there are in place to deal with bullies. Unfortunately, the corollary is that in a smaller organization you may have little choice except to leave.
If you are important to the organization, you may accomplish your goal by going to your boss's boss. But that's always a chancy move; you'll have to live with your boss in the morning.
With Much Love,
Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO
Out of Darkness & Into the Light
43 Oakwood Ave. Suite 1012
Huron Ohio, 44839
567-219-0994 (cell)
http://www.out-of-darkness.com
They are calling Arthur Buchanan's methods of recovering from mental illness REVOLUTIONARY! (MEDICAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan has given us a revolutionary blue print for recovery in these uncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all time high in the United States of America, yet if you follow this young mans methods, we assure you of positive results and I QUOTE 'If these methods are followed precisely, their is no way you can't see positive results with whatever illness you have' -Dr. Herbert Palos Detroit, Michigan
Listen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show!
http://www.freesuccessaudios.com/Artlive.mp3
LISTEN TODAY!

The Hidden Agenda Of Interviews

2009-01-01T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Joel Vance

It's Not What They Ask - The Hidden Agenda of Interviews
What do you think you're going to an interview for? To list your qualifications and discuss what's on your resume? That's just the tip of the iceberg, and you're the Titanic if you don't go in with at least an idea of what is behind their questions.
Sure, there are the standard questions, because the basic information has to be conveyed some way, and besides reading your resume, they like to see you sweat and whether you can be caught out with any inconsistencies between what is on paper, and what comes out of your mouth. But interviews can be full of potholes that you won't even see coming, because you've been lulled into a false sense of bonhomie by the pleasant manner of the recruiter. Before you know it, and sometimes even without knowing it, you're spilling all your little job secrets, your insecurities, and clues as to your character or work ethics.
Preparation as always, is the key. Having talent and being committed to your employer won't cut any mustard, if the interviewer snags a juicy bit out of something you just said, and tosses it back at you, only to be greeted with a blank stare and stuttering.
It's not what you want out of the job, it's what you can bring to the job.
Face it, you can be the most qualified (technically) candidate on the planet, but you're not going to get the position on that alone. Do your homework and find out what the company wants in the person who does get the job. What do they expect in the way of job performance? How do they view initiative? Then when you're interviewed, give them a potential employee who has all that and the technical skills. Because a successful interview is not always about what you can tell them, but about what they want to hear.
Employers want people who are not only going to keep the company running, but who are going to take it to new levels of success.
You can tell an interviewer what you're capable of, but how are you going to sell them on your aptitude and attitude? Show them, that's how!
Don't just say "I work well with others", tell them how you involved different departments in a cooperative effort to cut waste within the office, and how your past employer benefited from it, as well as how the company "team" enjoyed their joint efforts.
Never mind boasting that you have a nose for new things. Give them a rundown (not a brag list) of new procedures that you initiated, which resulted in more efficient operations at your last job. Or tell them about the ideas you presented, which were incorporated into the company marketing plan, resulting in increased profits for the last year.
As stated in The Perfect Interview Book (www.theperfectinterview.com) interviews are not just fact-finding missions. Recruiters and company interviewers are looking beyond the person in front of them, to find the right one for the job. And the applicant who gives them a potential employee with depths to be plumbed to the company's benefit, is the one who's going to get that job.
Copyright 2005 The Perfect Interview
Joel Vance is an Human Resources expert who has been in HR for 17 years and interviewed 3,159 people. He has also taught at 4 major universities around the country and currently has a best selling book on interviewing entitled The Perfect Interview at http://www.theperfectinterview.com

How To Dress For An Interview Dress For Success

2008-12-31T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Carl Mueller

How to dress for an interview is a question that people often have when preparing for a job interview that they really want to win.
The interview dress code is fairly straight forward especially for "office" or professional-type jobs.
You really can't go wrong with wearing business attire.
For a man, this means a business suit. Not a blazer and different color pants, a two-piece suit. Choose an appropriate and matching tie. You really can't go wrong with a good suit (think neutral or business colors like navy blue, black or dark gray).
For a woman, this can also mean a business suit or perhaps other business attire ie. a tailored business outfit. Think conservative colors and also consider the time of year ie. you probably don't want to wear wool during the summer.
It really depends on the position and company you are applying for but a lot of it is common sense.
Don't forget your shoes either! Make sure your shoes are nicely shined and are clean. Nothing is worse than wearing a nice suit but forgetting what's below your ankles!
That includes your socks, too. No white socks with dress shoes, guys!
Finally, don't forget hygiene. It's best to avoid strong smelling cologne or perfume on the day of an interview. Men, don't forget to shave.
At the end of the day, dress for success and use common sense. If you have trouble figuring out what to wear, ask someone you know who can offer correct advice.
Your dress style is certainly somewhat dependent on your industry and level of position but you really can't go wrong with wearing business attire.
Remember that it's better to overdress than underdress. A business suit whether you're male or female is best for office/professional positions and helps to present a great first impression.
Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who wants to help you find your dream career.
Free newsletter: Separate yourself from other job searchers by signing up for his free monthly newsletter: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com/dream-career-finder.html
Free 5-day course: Sign up for The Effective Career Planner, Carl's free 5-day course: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com/effective-career-planner.html
Please feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your website but please don't change any of the content and ensure that you include the above bio that shows my website URLs.

7 Top Questions Job Candidates Should Ask

2008-12-30T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Tony Jacowski

Preparing for job interviews, candidates try to collect information to formulate their best answers to questions that are most likely going to be asked. Despite this extensive preparation, the actual interview could turn to be boring. Worse still, you could begin to sense the interview's failure. Unless you do something to turn the situation around, it is going to be a battle lost. So what better way to save the interview than by asking a few pertinent questions? (Hint: you should be doing this anyway!)
Top 7 Questions You Should Ask An Interviewer
The questions you ask should not just be for the sake of asking but they must demonstrate your interest in the position and the company. In addition, the more seriousness and earnestness with which you ask them the more they are impressed with your knowledge, intelligence and interest in their company. So, here is the list of top 7 questions you can ask interviewers whether or not you are caught in a catch-22 situation.
1. What Is The Immediate Key Result Area That The Company Is Looking From Me? This gives you more insight into what you must expect upon being hired. Since you will probably get a more informative answer than what the job advertisement said, you will probably get a better answer now. You will also be able to immediately concentrate on the key result area as you know how you are being judged.
2. Can You Perceive Me As Contributing To The Company? This is a point blank question asked without the intention to annoy the interviewer. It is very hard for them to avoid answering this one. Also it reveals where you stand so far as the interview is concerned. You have to ask this question, so that you can counter any potentially negative impressions that the interviewer has of you or your ability to contribute.
3. What Growth Opportunities The Company Can Provide Me? This gives the interviewer the message that you mean business and are not a pushover. It also reflects your career orientation companies want to know that you aren't seeking a dead-end position. They want a mover and a shaker, not someone with limited or no ambition!
4. What Are The Evaluation Criteria? This is another straightforward question that tells you how you are going to be evaluated later and how it might affect your career growth. It also sheds light on the organizational structure.
5. Are There Other Responsibilities Not Mentioned In The Ad? Knowing the answer to this question will help you prepare for salary negotiations. If you don't ask this question, you will be devaluing yourself. Knowing your complete responsibilities beforehand not only paves the way for a good salary but will help you to avoid frustration later on.
6. Will The Company Sponsor Me For Training? The answer to this question will demonstrate management's commitment to adapt and reinvent themselves on a continuous basis by investing in human capital. Companies that are hiring six sigma professionals usually respond positively to this question. If a company isn't willing to do this, you should probably think twice about pursuing a career with them.
7. How Long Will You Take To Make Your Decision? You need to ask this question to demonstrate your interest in the job, but also to subtly let them know that you have other irons in the fire (i.e. other job prospects). Never let an interviewer think that their company is your only employment option. This will limit your negotiation strength, plus it lets them know that they can take their time in deciding to hire you, because you have signaled that you aren't going anywhere!
Asking questions is not a big deal but how you ask them is. You must be mature enough to show you have class and your selection of questions really means that you mean business. Don't use questions to show off, use them to gain real insight into the company's inner workings.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions Six Sigma Online (http://www.sixsigmaonline.org) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

The Need For Preemployment Drug Testing

2008-12-29T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Damian Sofsian

Employers have many reasons for requiring pre-employment drug testing. One of the most obvious reasons is that of safety. Those handling dangerous equipment or those who drive commercial vehicles have a greater chance of accidents or inflicting injury upon themselves or others if they are under the influence. Companies have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that their employees adhere to Federal work-safety guidelines, and pre-employment drug screenings can be an effective tool.
Insurance and health-related absences provide two more reasons for implementing pre-employment drug testing. More than 175 million Americans are enrolled in workplace group health insurance; with an average of a 30% increase in premiums in the last three years, pre-employment drug testing may be one way to cut down on costs. Studies have linked short- and long-term health problems with drug abuse. Drug abusers are more likely to develop respiratory problems and are generally more susceptible to illness. Employers often view drug abusers as irresponsible since many absences can be attributed to the after-effects of drug usage. Employee absences cost employers millions of dollars every year, and many human resource experts suggest that pre-employment drug testing can reduce these costs.
However, some groups argue that pre-employment drug testing is not an accurate way to detect the use of drugs while at work. Many drugs, such as marijuana, will remain detectable for up to three weeks after usage. Other drugs, such as cocaine, may only be present for a few days after consumption. It is often a difficult call for an employer to make but most simply make their decisions cautiously. They often view it as better to not hire someone who occasionally uses drugs than to take the risk of the person using before or during working hours.
According to the Small Business Administration, companies lose an average of $7,000 per drug-using employee per year. This figure is often enough to convince an employer to implement a standard of pre-employment drug testing. In any given year, it is estimated that nearly 50 million American workers are required to have a drug screening. Advances in medical testing have made it quick, easy and relatively inexpensive for employers who wish to use this screening process. Many employers view this is as a simple means of ensuring the well being of both their company and their customers.
Drug Testing Info provides detailed information about employee, random, high school, hair, and urine drug testing and drug testing kits. Drug Testing Info is the sister site of Prescription Drugs Addiction Web.

What You Should Never Put On Your Resume

2008-12-28T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Roger Clark

Liars Get Caught! What NOT to Put on Your Resume
"Everybody does it" as they say. Face it, the job market can be a very tough place to compete. If everyone inflates their experience then how can an honest person get a job?
Well, as tempting as it may be, you do NOT want to risk lying on your resume.
Whether it's personal information, job experience, or schooling - employers are finding new ways to sniff out liars and you don't want to be one of them.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
While some information may not be easily verified, information such as a criminal record, can be very costly to you in the event it is checked out. With sites like rapsheets.com you can never guarantee that an employer won't be able to find the information, even if your employer is hiring you for domestic work and is not a business.
JOB EXPERIENCE
Clearly this is not the place to boast about fake employment as you are going to list the businesses you worked for which may be contacted for verification. As this is the most likely area your interviewer will do a check on, avoid misrepresenting yourself at all costs.
EDUCATION
Think that nobody will notice if you slip in an education you don't really have? Perhaps you do have the skills, but you can't afford to claim education you can't provide proof of. EmployAct.com is a new service that will allow employers to have background checks - similar to criminal or credit checks - to verify your claim.
WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE
With all that said and done, how can you create a resume that will highlight your skills and abilities without needing to lie?
Give yourself credit. Your skills in the workforce can be weighty indicators of your ability to work in a given job. You may not know what an employer is looking for. With many jobs that don't require a particular expertise, you many find that they are looking for people who are able to learn on the job. Proof that you have gained skills as a worker (or even a volunteer if you're just starting out) can be very valuable.
Be certain that you focus on skills. Expand your descriptions. Do not say 'I worked in an office', rather say 'I was responsible for answering the phones in a professional manner and directing calls to the proper departments. In a busy work environment I was able to multi-task by providing supportive administrative assistance to the head receptionist including maintaining a filing system, processing inter office memos, delivering documents in a timely manner, directing clients to their meeting appointments and providing relief reception. I was quickly able to learn the filing and switchboard systems as well as create good working relationships with fellow staff.'
As you can see from the above example, it is perfectly acceptable to elaborate on your skills, but do so in an honest and ethical manner. If you need help you can find software programs which will give you suggestions on wording depending on the position you are describing or you can hire someone who writes resumes to help you. Have confidence in keeping the job you are sure to get by doing it right the first time.
Roger Clark is senior editor at Top Career Resumes who provide free information to job seekers on all aspects of finding a new job and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

What Investigative Reporting Entails

2008-12-27T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Paul W Wilson

The field of investigative reporting involves bringing to the fore facts and figure that affect human interests and fair governance. This means conducting in depth research, looking at public records, doing extensive interviews, as well as checking and rechecking of facts before publication. Whether print or television, investigative reporting is essentially "watchdog" reporting. This means reporting crimes, unfair practices, injustice, as well as other human interest aspects like environment, disease, and so on.
Investigative journalism can move public opinion and instill fear in those treading the wrong path. Slave trade, gun running, terrorist activities, drug trafficking, money laundering and so on are brought to the notice of the world by investigative journalism.
An investigative journalist must be unafraid, determined, patient, watchful, fair, as well as dog minded to be successful. The questions a journalist seeks answers to are: who is responsible for the wrong doing; what methods were employed; what are the consequences; what can be done to correct the wrong; can the wrongdoers be brought to book?
The keys are to dig up the first lead, tip, or hunch. Then sniff around for facts. Form an investigative hypothesis. Next, like a detective, gather evidence that will prove undeniably the hypothesis. This will involve interviews, documents, records, proofs, and intense paper work. Organize the information and write the report. Check facts, check chances of libel, and the laws. To be good at your work it is advantageous if you are familiar with the law, know the procedures, can conduct quick and accurate research, follow the money trail, and dig out facts.
Investigative journalism is a specialized field that uses journalism skills, curiosity, advanced research methods, and a determination to right wrongs. This field of journalism is what helps shape democracy and protects the lives of the innocent. Done correctly it can raise public opinion to such an extent that the way the world thinks and functions can be changed.
An investigative journalist must work within the confines of ethics written and unwritten and the laws. The work could include revealing scandals and tracing infringements of laws, rules, or morals. Bring to public notice the policies of governments, companies, and other organizations. And, institute social change by describing social, economic, political, and cultural trends.
To be effective in investigative journalism the journalist must have high standards of functioning and be above corruption. The principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fair play, and public accountability must be deeply ingrained in the mind and soul of the journalist. Since investigative journalism involves use of undercover sources and anonymous tips it is absolutely essential for the journalist to double check facts.
Investigative journalism is news with a difference. It is critical and in depth investigations to a happening or policy which will serve to prevent or correct a wrong, prevent crimes, save the planet from destruction, and shape the future of the world in more ways than one. It is reporting the unknown, the hidden, and so, the investigative journalist becomes the keeper or custodian of public conscience.
It is a field where a mere niggling thought or suspicion becomes an expose of wrong doings. It questions actions and decisions and brings to the limelight outrageous acts and in human actions. In simple terms an investigative journalist polices society in the larger interests of mankind.
Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888PressRelease.com, the premier website to Submit Free Press Release for any announcements including launching of new product or services, new website, announcing new hires, sponsoring a special event or seminar and more. He also freelances for the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum site http://www.1888Discuss.com

Job Search Lessons From Before The Super Bowl

2008-12-26T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Jeff Altman

Every year, football teams coming to training camp in August to prepare for their season, They will play 4 or 5 exhibition and 16 regular season games to determine which teams will meet in the playoffs in "one and done" elimination for the opportunity of playing in The Super Bowl. What lessons can we take from these athletes and their experiences that we can apply to job hunting?
First of all, being a great athlete is no guaranty of being successful. Professional sports are littered with great athletes who have never one a championship. As a result, it's important to remember to surround yourself with a great team. A team you can excel with and a coach (boss) who can be a good leader for you and others.
You will play the way you practice. Teams don't just "show up" on Sunday. They practice and practice hard in order to develop their skills within a system. They work hard to be victorious. How do you prepare for your job search? Do you just "show up" at the interview, "feel out" the interviewer, "wing it" and expect to win? Do you actually prepare yourself for interviewing with that particular opponent (interviewer) by learning about the firm? Have you ever Googled the name of the interviewer to find out about their background?
Each game has a certain number of plays you will be in for. Play hard on every down and execute your responsibilities at 100%.. Each interview will consist of a fixed number of questions. Some of them may seem stupid to you or repeat questions you've been asked on several other interviews. Your job is to execute the plays by answering questions with accuracy and with passion for what you do.
You won't be perfect on every play. You will even loose some important games. Great teams learn from their defeats. They practice in order to get better. They work hard to become excellent. They may lick their wounds for a while but they know there is a next play and next game in order to go to the playoffs. This kind of resilience is important for you as a job hunter.
After all, not every resume you'll send out will result in an interview, let alone a job. When you don't get a job you really want, do you collapse into a cocoon for a week or do you find out what went wrong and what was right in order to learn from the experience? Champions watch film of their games to analyze their performance. What do you do after an interview to review?
Take coaching. Some people interpret coaching as criticism. In some respects, that's tue. Being told how to improve is a criticism, but it is also a suggestion for how to be excellent (and for you managers, perpetual criticism without praise results in your staff tuning you out).
The poet, Rumi, writes:
Pray for a tough instructor to hear,and act and stay with you.
Don't get your opponent riled up. Being controversial draws attention to yourself and awakens the dragon. Dragons are always safer when they are asleep than when they are awakened. Don't gove the interviewers any reason to be critical of you.
Ah, yes, there's one more.
Your time as a champion is fleeting. Someone will always be there trying to take your crown. Enjoy every moment of life. Life is fleeting and one day, you'll die. When you look back, do you want to have regrets about how you've used your precious time on this planet or at the end, do you want to acknowledge that you've used all of your energy well
Jeff Altman
Concepts in Staffing
jeffaltman@cisny.com
© 2006 all rights reserved.
Jeff Altman, Managing Director with Concepts in Staffing, a New York search firm, has successfully assisted many corporations identify leaders and staff in technology, accounting, finance, sales, marketing and other disciplines as employees or consultants since 1971. He is a certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist. For additional job hunting or hiring tips, go to http://www.sayhi.to/JeffAltman While you're there, sign up to receive a daily digest of jobs emailed to you as we learn of them and my free job searchzine, Head Hunt Your Own Job.
If you would like Jeff and his firm to assist you with hiring staff, or if you would like help with a strategic job change, send an email to him at jeffaltman@cisny.com (If you're looking for a new position, include your resume).

How To Hire The Ideal Ghostwriter

2008-12-25T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by R. Sharp

As a webmaster, good writing skills are important to your online business. Unless you're involved in a get-rich-quick scheme a serious webmaster knows that running an online business involves a variety of written content for his site including, sales letters, press releases, articles, newsletters, blogs and more.
Since writing is crucial to your online image, you need to ensure that your content is not only unique, but is also grammatically correct and interesting. If your vocabulary is limited or you're writing in a second language or you have difficulty expressing your self in written form, you need to hire a ghostwriter to write your website content for you.
A ghostwriter is someone who is paid to write professionally for other people, however, their name will not appear on their work. Once payment is received, a ghostwriter relinquishes copyright of the written work and you are free to put your name on it, if you choose.
Often, ghostwriters are hired to write articles, newsletters, e-books, blogs, forum posts, speeches, proposals, novels, grants, resumes, manuals, memoirs, or most any kind of written work imaginable. Before hiring a ghostwriter, however, it's important to understand that there are different types of ghostwriters that are available.
There are ghostwriters who specialize in writing grants and proposals, while others may specialize in proofreading and editing. It's important to keep in mind, therefore, that not all ghostwriters can do all jobs. So, before deciding on a ghostwriter, you need to make sure that they can perform the job that you want them to do. The best way to do this is to ask for a writing sample of the type of writing that you would like them to produce for you. Asking for references of past clients for similar work as what you would like, should also be helpful.
In addition to carefully checking out a ghostwriter's specialization, you also need to check that he or she produces unique content and does not plagiarize. While there is no fail-safe way to guarantee that a writer won't plagiarize, a good way to check on this, again, is to discuss this issue with the ghostwriter's former clients.
Furthermore, to ensure the success of your project, you also want to hire a ghostwriter who understands the vision for your project exactly as you see it. If you feel that a writer doesn't quite understand what you're looking for, don't be afraid to keep looking until you find someone who does.
Trust is another important factor when selecting a ghostwriter. It's important that you trust and feel comfortable with the writer you choose. If you receive some information that makes you feel uncomfortable, from a former client of the ghostwriter or if something that a ghostwriter says doesn't add up, it best to find another writer for your project.
Lastly, an ideal ghostwriter is someone who will agree to sign a contract for their services. In fact, a ghostwriter who doesn't want to sign a contract with you is not someone you want to work with. There are many disreputable people who pose as professional writers on the Internet, so to protect yourself you will want to make sure you have a written agreement with the writer of your choice.
Finding the ideal ghostwriter is not always easy, however, it is attainable. With these simple reminders, it won't be long before you'll find the ideal ghostwriter that's just perfect for you.
Rent A Ghost Writer is a professional ghostwriting site that is a COMPLETELY FREE RESOURCE designed to connect freelance writers seeking writing jobs with clients seeking to hire ghost writers.

9 Tips On Creating A Professional Emailed Job Application

2008-12-24T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Angela Wu

With the advent of the Internet, many of us have the opportunity to apply for work through email.
However, just because this is the Internet and email is so fast and convenient, that does NOT mean you should give up professionalism and polish!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT. I recently looked over a few emailed applications, and let me tell you, it was an eye-opening experience! Here are a few examples of how *not* to do things...
One person simply forwarded the job description to the hiring company. There was no explanatory letter, no name (just some garbled email address), no nothing. Why should a company want to hire someone who can't be bothered to make an effort?
Several people got the name of the hiring party wrong. Some misspelled it, others substituted someone else's name.
Spelling mistakes, typos, grammatical errors, and formatting problems like you wouldn't believe. One person said that her greatest strength was her attention to 'detal' (should have been 'DETAIL'); another said it was his responsibility to 'a tent to customers' ('ATTEND to customers').
It almost goes without saying that you should always follow the application instructions provided. If you're inquiring or applying for a job - regardless of whether it's online or in the 'real world' - there are certain rules of etiquette that apply:
GREET THE PERSON. Don't just barge in and start writing. A simple "Dear ___" is great.
CORRECTLY SPELL THE COMPANY NAME AND THAT OF THE HIRING MANAGER. If you don't know how to spell them, take a few seconds and find out.
INDICATE WHAT POSITION YOU'RE APPLYING FOR. Be specific; the company may be hiring for more than one job.
PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF YOUR RELEVANT SKILLS. Keep it short and to the point.
CHECK YOUR SPELLING AND GRAMMAR. It takes just a few minutes. If you are not confident about doing this yourself, ask a friend or family member to check it over for you.
BE COURTEOUS! Don't make demands. Remember that the *only* thing the hiring manager sees is your email - he or she can't see your facial expressions or body language, so take extra care in the words you select and how you put them together.
FORMAT YOUR EMAIL TO 60 CHARACTERS PER LINE. Many email programs automatically 'word-wrap' somewhere between 60 and 70 characters. Add a hard return when you reach 60 characters on a line; this will ensure the company gets a nicely formatted application, just like you intended.
TELL THEM HOW TO CONTACT YOU. As the bare minimum, leave your phone number and email address.
AND FOR GOODNESS SAKES, TELL THEM YOUR *NAME*. This is so obvious it's painful, yet I've seen dozens of applications there are not signed. End your letter with 'Sincerely', 'Regards' or 'Yours Truly', and then sign your name.
Competition for home based jobs is fierce, and companies can afford to be choosy. Don't give them a reason to pass you by! Professionalism still counts - even on the web.
About The Author
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical guide for eBusiness beginners. You can find OBB along with solid home business ideas, freelance and telecommuting job updates, free magazine subscriptions, and much more at eWorkingWomen, http://www.eworkingwomen.com/join.html. Come find out how you too can work from home!

The Power To Succeed

2008-12-23T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Neil Millar

It's amazing how we fool ourselves... while at the same time believing we are doing what's best.
Let me give you an example. I overheard a guy telling a group of friends, over drinks, how he had become fed-up with work. Guys being guys, they immediately started to come up with options to fix the problem ideas like changing company and changing jobs. That was when the guy got all logical
'Yeah, but I need to pay the mortgage and my kid's education and we've got a holiday planned for the Bahamas and'
I interrupted. 'How much do you need?'
'A hundred grand a year,' he replied.
'What's more important,' I asked, 'your happiness or the money?'
Of course he said happiness. Then he got all logical again. 'But I can't be happy unless I can pay the mortgage and give my kids the best and have great holidays.'
'How many hours do you work?'
'Around fifty.'
'And how do you feel when you get home?'
'Tired.'
'What would your kids prefer, a father who is worn out for forty eight weeks of the year but has four weeks to entertain them per year or a dad who is a real Dad all year round?'
The conversation went on, me questioning, him justifying what he perceived as logic.
Yet it's not logic, is it? It's not logic to deny your heart's desire to change life when it's hurting you. The mortgage, the kid's education, the holidays are just stuff. And, like most people find after a heart attack or a divorce or an accident, is that this 'stuff' is not that important. What's important is something else
Life!
The problem is we got "Conditioned Logic" "logic" transferred to us by society: friends, family, schools, college, the media, religion etc. We took it all on and felt we had to behave in a "conditioned" way. The repetition of that conditioning is fine for a while, but when we end up doing something we don't love, each time we do it takes a little of the soul away. Let me put it another way.
What gives you the power to succeed is what you perceive to be logic. Real power is not necessarily doing what society dictates. Real power is often something else. It is that knowing that comes from nowhere to tell you, you must do something different.
It might seem logical to have the house, the car, the private education, the holiday, but is it powerful. What is powerful is, to say I am not happy and things must change; I'm not killing myself for forty-eight weeks just for four weeks of pleasure; I'm not excited by my work and I'm willing to live in a smaller home if it means I can have more peace, less stress and fall back in love with my partner.
It's not all about the stuff, is it? It's about happiness and love; happiness and love of your partner; happiness and love of your children and family; happiness and love of your work. If you have that then you have it all.
Now that's the power to succeed!
Does your current way of living support that?
Best wishes
Neil
Inspiration and thoughts that are often mind-bending can be found at Neil Millar's website http://www.neilmillar.net - you can also sign-up to his Life Purpose newsletter with Unstoppable Life and obtain a copy of one of his books FREE.

Business Dress For Women Making Impact

2008-12-22T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Sheila Dicks

Buying a suit can be an important investment when you are trying to improve your look for business or career advancement. Wearing a standard off-the rack suit for business or a job interview does not always mean success. Fit is very important. The outfit may be great but if it does not accentuate your positive features or is not the right color, you will not look as good as you can.
Start by determining your body type and then choose the suit that will look best on you. For instance, if you are a triangle shape you are smaller on top than bottom and will want to bring the eye across the shoulders to create the illusion of greater width at the shoulders. Choosing a business suit with horizontal lines can achieve this effect. Choosing the perfect pants, skirts, accessories and even shoes will depend on your body shape.
Some things to consider:
1. Spice a gray or black suit up with vibrant colors such as burgundy, blue, violet, rust, green etc. You need not look boring just because you are dressed in gray or black.
2. If you are applying for a position with a new company or are trying to look more professional in your present company, take a look at the company's dress code and what the other employees are wearing. Your outfit should not make you appear under or over dressed.
3. Give your business outfit more pizzazz by wearing scarves with different patterns and colors. Take into consideration your size; you body proportions and the features you are trying to accent.
4. Make sure your shoes are in good repair, complement your outfit, give your leg the desired effect and are stylish. Being stylish doesn't mean the latest fad but instead a look that is timeless.
5. Make sure that you buy items for your business wardrobe that coordinate well with each other, saving you money and time.
6. To make sure you have the look you desire buy a full-length mirror so you can always check yourself from head-to-toe before leaving home.
Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who teaches women how to dress to suit their body type and look fabulous. You can reach her at http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download her ebook, "Image Makeovers" and get "How to Build a Wardrobe" ebook free.

Be Aware To The Characteristic Of Your Interviewer

2008-12-21T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Arlene Tresmanio

I've observed that people who interview job candidates tend to enhance a certain individual distinction. If you can sense an interviewer's style and build rapport, you'll have confidence in specific information.
Here are the following characteristics:
Inattentive
There is a time that the interviewer isn't mentally present, maybe he/she is thinking of something more important or something happened before your interview that really bothered his/her mind. It's impossible to impress this kind of interviewer that is distracted of something. So to keep a good impression, smile and don't panic. Just give your best approach and offer him/her to reschedule. But be sure to address to him/her the important message and be prepared to the following interview.
Friendly
This is the type of interviewer that gives jokes, smiles and tells you to take an ease. But he/she aims for you to put in a relaxed stated where you unconsciously expose too much information (ones that can be detrimental to your career) about yourself. You should be kind and friendly but always remember that you shouldn't also get carried away. Stick with your goal.
Interrogator
This is a typical type of interviewer that seems not to show any emotion and inflicts tension to the applicants. The best thing you can do is stay calm, focus, show respect and confidence. This kind of interviewer observes how you can deal in this kind of scenario. And remember that most interrogator types of interviewers often became your best advocate throughout your interview process or even into the job.
Laser Beam
He/she only focuses on one topic. Like discussing about quotas, this style is for line managers. You should do is to fulfill his/her expectations to you. Satisfy his/her judgment and move on.
Shotgun
This is the type that wants to discuss anything. The questions are all over the place, you even don't have a vacant time because he/she is full of questions. This is where your anxious presentation really pays off, because you can involve your strengths to many distinct exposure of the job.
Silver bullet
Believes there's one magic question to ask -- and one magic response that determines whether you're right for the job. The Silver Bullet asks a few hasty questions about your skills. Then ask "off-the-wall" question, which he/she will ask questions you didn't expect. Even though these questions don't have a wrong answer he/she decides if it's yes or no. Simply answer every question and don't worry about your answers too much.
Alter Your Approach to the Interviewer
You step into a situation of power when you identify the interviewer's style and adjust your approach accordingly. As you prepare for the interview, ask yourself, "How might my answers be different for different interview styles?"
With a Laser Beam, for example, you might offer him a choice when you begin answering a question ("Would you like to talk about this aspect of the job or that one?"). An achievement story for a Friendly Interviewer might focus more on your teamwork skills, and the same story for an Interrogator Interviewer might begin by stating the results of your individual work. The more you show your emotional knowledge by understanding the interviewer's objective for that interview, the more likely he'll be to listen to you.
Arlene Tresmanio is an Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist for OZ Free Online Job Search. For more Details of her work please visit Job Search

Get Off Your Butt And Out Of The Rut

2008-12-20T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Lorraine Pirihi

It's amazing to see so many people who are prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their careers.
I'm sure you know of someone like that. They get up at the crack of dawn, drag their weary bodies out of the house and head off for another exciting day at work. Ten or twelve hours later they head home totally exhausted with all their energy sapped from their body.
They might make the effort to find out how the rest of their family's day has been, even read their children a bed-time story. Finally after having something to eat, taking a hot shower or bath, they then veg out on the couch. They immerse themselves in the newspaper (again) or watch the news or some mindless television show (if they don't fall asleep beforehand).
And this is a common scenario for many people who work for someone else! I can understand it if you own your own business where there's so much extra pressure riding on you, yet to sacrifice so much for someone else???
The Solicitor
I met Jerry at the gym. He was telling me that for the past two years he has been working at a legal firm in the city. An average day commenced at 8.00 a.m. and finished at 7.00 p.m. Working weekends was common. Lunch breaks and time off were unheard of. This was the culture instilled at his company! No wonder staff turnover was high!
Here was a young man, only 25 years old, absolutely stressed to the max.
He felt he was on a rollercoaster and couldn't get off.
Clearing the Clutter
Jerry was so entrenched in his situation he couldn't clearly see what he could do. He felt powerless so did nothing.
I suggested to Jerry he write a list of all the options open to him. Some of these were:
Speak to his boss and work out a compromise.
*Plan his working day and be strict about the time he would leave each day. Take charge himself by starting later if he had to stay back. Or finish earlier if he had to commence work earlier. Learn to say 'no'.
Look for another job where they put their people first. (According to Jerry most legal firms treated their people the same way). See our newsletter Look After Your People and They Will Look After You Jerry really did know his options and just needed to have someone to confirm what he already knew (and ask a few hard questions).
So what did Jerry do?
He spoke with his boss who agreed to a compromise. Unfortunately that only lasted two weeks and Jerry found himself in the same situation.
He did what he knew deep down he should have done months ago but couldn't be bothered doing as it was more pressure in his life. He allowed time to go job-hunting. I suggested he use our weekly planner so he could plan his week effectively with the key focus on finding a new position.
He contacted everyone he knew and told them about his situation. Jerry scoured the internet for vacancies and the weekend papers. He invested time and energy into his own life. Within three weeks he had a new position handling legal matters in a medium sized business (not a legal practice).
By taking action Jerry moved forward. He got himself organised and focussed and took control of his life. He realised he had the power to make the change.
Are you holding yourself back? Is it time for you to stop drowning and start swimming?
5 Ways to Get Off Your Butt and Out of the Rut
#1 Make a list of what you'd like to change. (eg. Change job, lose weight, find a partner)
#2 Prioritise which item on that list is the most important and write no. 1 next to it. Continue numbering the rest of the items.
#3 Look at the first item and prepare a list of the possible solutions. (e.g. Change job - contact everyone I know and see if they know of any openings. Contact companies I'd like to work for. Start my own business - attend a small business course)
#4 Decide which of those solutions is the first one to take action on. (e.g. Change job - contact everyone I know and see if they know of any openings)
#5 Act! (e.g. Phone or email everyone you know and make sure you follow up)
The Final Word
Whatever is happening in your life it is all down to you. If you're happy and content with both your work and home life that's fantastic.
If you're not, then maybe it's time you got off your butt and out of your rut. You can either do nothing or take action. The choice is yours.
Lorraine Pirihi, principal of The Office Organiser is Australia's Personal Productivity Coach. She specialises in working with businesspeople showing them how to dramatically boost their productivity, reduce the stress and the mess in their lives and have more time for enjoying their life.

Is It Sometimes Good To Have A Quotbadquot Boss

2008-12-19T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Tayo Solagbade

In December 2001, I finished writing a (45-page) management research paper titled "Self-Development As A Tool For Achieving Career Advancement".
In it, I referred to the observation Zig Ziglar made in his book - Over The Top - about certain employees who go to work each day without working to improve their abilities to do the job for which they are being paid. He accurately descried such persons as having one year's experience repeated every other year, without making any effort to change the trend.
My paper's research problems were stated in question form as follows:
1. What can the individual manager (employee) do to ensure career success or advancement in an organisation?
2. What can the organisation do to ensure an enabling environment is created for her managers (employees) to continuously achieve career success or advancement?
In trying to answer the above questions I administered(over a 3 month period) a structured questionnaire to respondents (managers in indigenous and multinational corporate organisations in two cities - Lagos and Benin).
I was particularly intrigued to note from the study's results, that the managers strongly agreed that having a bad experience at work - such as working for a bad boss could be beneficial for one's personal development.
This was an interesting response because I had known many managers(including myself, early in my career as an employee) to complain bitterly if they had a boss that gave them what they interpreted to be "a hard time" at work. They would sometimes even wistfully express the desire to swop places with a colleague who they "thought" was having what they considered a better time since his/her boss never seemed to make life difficult for him/her.
What made it even more noteworthy was that when asked for details of why they thought their boss was bad, they would say things like "he never lets me rest it's always one assignment after the other, and its so difficult to satisfy him!".
The truth, based on the experience of many successful executives is that in working with such a boss, many managers/employees have developed better capabilities than they would have, if they had reported to some more "passive" or less demanding kind of boss.
In fact, individuals like the "complaining" managers earlier described sometimes go on to get recognised/rewarded on moving to a new job or different department later on in their careers, for their seeming ability to produce good quality work under pressure etc. At that time the manager might begin to feel grateful to that "bad" or "difficult" boss from the past!
But then again, there can be instances when a boss is indeed bad.
Maybe he cheats, practices favoritism etc. In this case, the affected manger/employee could - among other possible actions - do well to note those qualities in the boss that he/she dislikes, and use them as a guide to avoid becoming like the boss in the future.
In other words, I am saying that by having a bad boss, a manager can learn how NOT to become one him/herself! Have you ever noticed that the people who set-up human rights or child abuse refuge centres etc are often people who themselves have suffered from that same problem before getting "liberated"?
To sum it up, the truth is:
1. That difficult persons can challenge us to put in more effort and deliver better results than we normally would, if they were not present - making their presence/actions a blessing of sorts for us.
2. We can sometimes learn how to be good from those who are bad or not as good as they should be.
The above implies that having a bad boss can, to some extent, be a useful experience which ultimately equips us to achieve more of our potential than we normally would. The challenge is for you to make the most of the "bad' situation: Study that boss, and learn how to manage him/her to achieve your desired goal(s).
As psychologists would say: The glass can be said to be half-full or half-empty. It all depends on how YOU look at it i.e. your mental attitude.
Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist Tayo Solagbade - works as a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals, faster and more profitably. Download your copy of his 25 Articles Ebook from http://www.lulu.com/content/268555. You get full reprint rights for each article.
Visit Tayo's Creative Business Solutions(CB Solutions) mini-site - http://www.cbsolutions.v27.net - to learn how you can get affordable Freelance Writing, Rapid Website Design/CGI Automation, Website Marketing Strategy Development and Custom MS Excel VB Spreadsheet Automation Services.

5 Tips To Prepare For That First Real Job Interview

2008-12-18T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Kathy Swann

You have graduated high school or college and now you're ready for your first 'real' job. You've mailed out résumés and have been called in for your first interview. How can you do well at the interview so you wind up being offered the job?
1. Dress professionally. No midriff shirts, low-cut blouses or flip-flops because you're going to work and not the beach. While it's not necessary to buy a suit, it is particularly important to look professional. If you're trying to get a job in a conservative office such as an accounting firm, don't dress as if you were going to a concert. If you are applying for a retail position, you have a little more freedom. Rather than list what clothing is and is not acceptable, I would tell you to dress as if you were going to meet one of the most important people in your life- because you are!
2. Make sure you are well-groomed. Don't look as though you just rolled out of bed and couldn't bother to take care of basic personal hygiene. Nothing will make the HR Manager bring the interview to a close faster than unwashed hair, dirty fingernails or body odor. As an employee, you will be a reflection of the company and no customer wants to do business with an unkempt person.
3. Be aware of your body language. A firm handshake at the start of the interview shows you are self-confident. Maintain eye contact, stay relaxed and be attentive to the interviewer. Ask questions and listen thoughtfully to the answers. Think before you answer questions from the interviewer- don't ramble and keep the conversation on the topic.
4. Be prepared for the interview. Research the company beforehand- every business now has a website where you can learn what they do and who their customers are. This shows the interviewer you are interested in the job and took the initiative to find out all you could about the company.
5. Be present in the interview. I've interviewed candidates who acted as if they were waiting for a bus. They didn't ask questions, but instead just listened to me, and I wasn't really sure if they were paying attention. Be enthusiastic, ask questions and participate in the interview. After listing all the duties required of the position, I asked one candidate if this sounded like something she'd be interested in. Her reply was a quiet, "I can do the job." She didn't answer my question, she seemed indifferent, and she didn't get the job. If you can't be excited in the interview, you're not going to be energized in the workplace either.
First impressions count, and you want to let the interviewer know you want the job, are willing to work hard and will do your best. You might not necessarily be the most qualified candidate, but still land the job because you were the most outstanding one. Good luck!
Kathy Swann has over 25 years experience in office administration, payroll and Human Resources. Her e-book "How to Win When You Lose Your Job: A Handbook for Those Soon to Be Unemployed" was written to help employees understand what benefits are available to them should they lose their job through no fault of their own. Purchase this e-book at http://www.loseyourjob.net

Do You Know Where Your Career Is Going

2008-12-17T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by John Gibb

Do you know where your career is going? As staying with the same company for life becomes rarer, more and more people aren't sure. If you're one of them, then maybe it's time to take time out, sit back, and have a think.
It's all too common to find that you've got into your job through a series of coincidences, each one taking you a little further away from where you were aiming to go when you started. There is simply a huge gap between the jobs that people get and the jobs they wanted. No-one aspires to work at a paper company, but someone's got to do it. Once you've been there a few years, you suddenly realise that your only options are to either move sideways into a similar job somewhere else, or move upwards in the hierarchy and become a manager.
So what do you do. The answer is to finally answer to yourself that most elusive of questions: what do you want to be doing five years from now? Ten? Twenty? If the answer isn't "what I'm doing now" or "I want to be a high-level manager", then what you need is drastic action.
What you might not realise, though, is that forging out a career path isn't as difficult as you might think. If you can free yourself from the day-to-day struggle to survive by living below your means for a year or so and accumulating some savings, you suddenly have some time to get where you want to be in the job market. Whatever your ambition is, the chances are that there's an entry-level job going somewhere, or a community of enthusiastic amateurs.
If it's really what you've wanted to do all your life, then it should be as simple as getting started and getting noticed. And if it doesn't work out, then you've always got the other job to fall back on. Whether you succeed or fail, it's always better to try, and it's not as hard to do as you think. Take the plunge.
John Gibb is the owner of car rentals For more information on careers please check out http://www.career-guidance3k.info

How To Bulletproof Your Career

2008-12-16T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Ford Myers

In the not-too-distant past, ascending the corporate ladder assured management professionals of a bigger office, a stronger compensation package and a more secure future. But today, executives are being told: Don't get too comfortable in that corner office, and don't buy that fancy new car or boat you've always dreamed of because your job is just as vulnerable as everyone else's. Evidence suggests that the higher up the ladder you go, the more precarious your position may become! The attitude toward executives and the roles they play within companies have drastically changed in recent years. I've seen executives who have been with the same company for 20 or more years. They've worked their way up the corporate ladder and felt that they had proven their value then they were unceremoniously dismissed from their positions as if they had just been hired as an entry-level worker. As a Career Consultant, it's my job to re-instill the client's confidence, identify his or her strengths, and "re-package" that individual for the current job market. But, to navigate effectively through the career transition process and ultimately make your career bulletproof, you must first be informed about what's really going on in the work-world. I see several important trends taking place with regard to executive-level job stability and security, including:
TODAY'S CHALLENGING EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
Job Market Trend 1:
More and more positions, even at senior levels, are now being offered on a contract or temporary basis. The position, in these cases, lasts only as long as is needed to fulfill the employer's contract with their client. This requires job seekers to think differently more like an independent consultant who works on assignment rather than as a permanent employee. In many business sectors and industries, it could be said that the "permanent, full-time job" no longer exists as we knew it. This trend also puts the responsibility on the part of the executive to consistently promote and market himself or herself for the next opportunity and the one after that!
Job Market Trend 2:
Companies are still very cautious and careful about making any hiring decisions of high-paying, senior management positions. Executives seeking such jobs must now "sell themselves" more than in the past. They need to demonstrate just how they will enhance the company's productivity, efficiency and profitability or they probably won't get the offer. This means that the job seeker really needs to learn how to effectively present and market himself or herself. Just having the right job titles on one's résumé, or having the appropriate technical skills for the job, are no longer enough.
Job Market Trend 3:
Executives are receiving smaller career transition programs than ever before from the large outplacement firms and many displaced professionals are getting no career transition programs at all. This means that greater numbers of executives are seeking-out help from smaller, more personal career consulting firms and career support groups.
STRATEGIES TO BULLETPROOF YOUR CAREER
Although the transition programs mentioned above do offer important career management techniques, let me share with you the most important activities you should always be doing to overcome the challenges outlined above, and bulletproof your career for the future:
1. Keep all your success documents up to date
2. Put time aside every week for active networking
3. Join and take leadership roles in appropriate associations
4. Write articles or do presentations in your area of expertise
5. Continue your career education, including new credentials
6. Research and be aware of the competition
7. Offer to help people in your network on a regular basis
8. Look at new jobs and investigate other opportunities
9. Always ask yourself, "How can I contribute more?"
10. Practice your networking, interviewing and negotiating skills
If you want your career to be truly bulletproof, you'll need to educate yourself on topics you probably thought you'd never have to worry about again like self-marketing, networking, interviewing and negotiating. To master these skills, many management professionals are also discovering helpful online resources and free audio seminars.
And here's the GOOD NEWS: If you seek-out the right support and leverage vital resources like those mentioned above, you may actually be thankful for the experience of going through transition ultimately finding a career or landing a job that will be a much better "fit" than those you've previously had.
-----------------------------------------------------
Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2006, Ford R. Myers and Career Potential, LLC.
-----------------------------------------------------
Ford R. Myers is President of Career Potential, LLC, a career consulting firm that helps clients take charge of their careers and create the work they love. To get a FREE career makeover in just seven days, visit http://www.careersuccessaudio.com

The Top 5 Reasons To Work For The Railroad

2008-12-15T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Sean Martin

Are you thinking on changing careers? Have you thought about the railroad? The railroad industry is one of the highest paying blue collar jobs in America. I actually came to the railroad industry from a white collar executive job.
My previous career was higher pay and a lot higher stress. Not to mention the benefits were junk compared to the railroad and the retirement plan was even worse.
Is it any wonder I swapped my suit and tie for boots and blue jeans? I could not be any happier with the career change. Did I mention I no longer have to baby sit 40 employees or deal with the stress that comes with it?
If you're thinking on a career change let me give you 5 reasons to check into the railroad industry.
#1 is the money. When I was in the white collar world and looking to get into the blue collar world I was not willing to take a very big pay cut. Therefore I wanted a job where I could make at least $60,000 per year or more.
With the railroad you can make up to $100,000 depending on the railroad and how much you want to work. The average is about $70,000 per year. Remember though that your pay is going to depend on how much you work, where you work, and who you work for.
#2 reason is the benefits. I was paying about $500 per month out of my paycheck in the white collar world for my family's benefits. Now I pay $110.00 for my whole family. The company pays the rest. Keep in mind that figure does not change whether or not I have one child or twelve!
#3 reason is the retirement. Your retirement is paid into the Railroad Retirement Board and not Social Security. You will no longer be paying into Social Security but rather into the Railroad Retirement Board. Obviously much more stable than Social Security and much higher retirement pay outs. Will Social Security even be there in 20 years?
#4 reason is you're typically not cooped up in an office or cubicle. As a freight conductor I am working inside the locomotive but I am outside traveling the countryside.
If something breaks I go outside and fix it. I can't explain how cool it is going through the country sitting inside the locomotive while it's a blizzard of snow outside.
#5 reason is no stress and it's not back breaking work. I use to stress out and take my work home with me when I was in the white collar world. Now I just do my job and when it's over it's over.
I have also had jobs where I was doing construction and back breaking work. Sometimes you will do some physical work as a conductor such as changing a knuckle but for the most part you're not doing back breaking work. The best part is you typically work with only one or two people unsupervised. Which means you can do your job without a manager looking over your shoulder all day long.
So if you're looking for a new career think about the railroad.
Sean Martin is the author of "How to Get a Railroad Job and Make up to $75,000 per Year!"
http://www.getarailroadjob.com

How To Get A Bigger Bang From Monster

2008-12-14T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Joseph Turner

If you've received poor response from your online career site submissions, it may be due to the way you registered. You can change that by using specific, pre-selected keywords. Today we're going to build a more effective online profile that will draw more responses from Monster® and other online sites.
So, let's get started.
Once you register on Monster®, choose: "Build Your Resume Online".
They allow you to set up 5 different resumes or profiles. Let's just set one up for now. There are only 5 major areas that we will be concerned with here:
1. Target Job Title
2. Objective
3. Resume Title
4. Job Title
5. Work Experience
Tip: every one of these fields has keyword capability, so you must use each of these areas to the fullest extent by including as many keywords as are relevant, for example:
1. Target Job Title: 2,880 character limit. That's almost 4/5's of a page, if you were to fill it up! List as many different job titles as you can imagine for this role. List other closely allied titles that the searcher may be searching on. For instance, "Java Programmer" might also be titled as "Software Engineer", "Application Developer", or "Software Developer" within even the same corporation, not to mention other companies. How many different but similar titles can you come up with? Put them all here.
2. Objective: This is your stated job goal and has a 2,000 character limit. Just as we talked about in yesterday's lesson, transfer that keyword-rich objective from your revised resume to here. You should have a decent short paragraph that showcases and combines your current skills and your future goals. Remember, you want to stay away from standard cliches such as "Challenging opportunity as a (title) where I can effectively use my (managing and sales, etc.) skills in my ongoing effort to help grow an organization, blah, blah" This is not only boring, it's also highly ineffective. Instead try something like: "Solid Java Developer with strong (skill#1), (skill#2), and (skill#3) to make major programming contributions to remote server projects while growing to project lead role. The difference is each of the above underlined terms is now searchable. Use each section in your resume to answer one question only. By putting several keyword phrases under each section, you tighten up your focus and make your profile work for you by getting search engine hits when employers run database searches.
3. Resume Title: Not much to work with here as only 70 characters are allowed. Make it a key term that is most relevant and searchable.
4. Job Title: This (these) is (are) your current and past job titles and has a 5,831 character limit. That's 1&1/2 pages!! Put as many relevant titles as you can think of here that you have held in your past work progression. There is a huge amount of space here, so you may want to include specific job skill-sets that each of those titles required. Don't be bashful.
5. Work Experience: 3,000 character limit. Here is where you make sure to include every relevant skill-set that you possess. Keep to the bare facts. Almost every word you put here should be a searchable term. You want them to find you and here is your catch-all chance to do it. Also, many employers are looking for people who have or are working for certain companies or organizations. Make sure that you list any major corporation that you have not only worked for but also have done business with as a client. These are also keywords employers are searching for.
Summary Don't rush this process. The online resume-builder will act as both a resume and as a screening tool. This will gain you the edge as a screen-in tool rather that a screen-out tool.
Your objective is the same in all these online resume-posting sites. Make it keyword-rich and you will definitely get more hits. More hits will generate more calls.
Joe Turner makes it easy to quickly land that next job. Learn insider job search tips from top recruiters. To claim your free 6-part Recruiter Secrets Minicourse, visit Free Job Search Tips

Is A Career Change Needed At Your House

2008-12-13T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Don Monteith

Are you happy where you are today? The number of folks who appear completely happy in their present career seems very low from all that I read across the news -- TV; newspapers; magazines, Internet websites, etc.
Maybe it's just a temporary thing. Instant gratification is more the norm today than ever before. We want it NOW, not later. It's a learning curve for the new graduates from high school and college before reality sets in for the long haul workplace discovery.
Sometimes you can find yourself simply at the wrong place. Don't get anxious or overly excited when something changes, or life has given you a few bad turns in the road to success. Never lose sight of your long-term objective to be productive as well as happy in your chosen career in the marketplace.
First, career strategies must be aligned with your objective to find the dream job waiting in your future. When you're in a position of choice, your decision, it's almost like your hobby has turned into the cash cow you've always dreamed about.
Don't make a move without spending time to sort out options that are available. Do your research in every career path. Never jump at the first green light. Stop along the way, take your time, then decisions can be made with positive energy as "right" for you.
Career strategies are a required element when you get ready to make your career move. Make sure you have a sound career development plan in place. There are many reasons why you might be considering making a career change at this time.
You want to advance your career. You may be happy or unhappy with your current job situation, but you have a strong desire to either do something different or advance in a significant way. A career makeover may be the next step, so that you can enhance your value to your current employer.
A career change is in order. You want to do something completely different as a career than what you are doing now. This might be because you've lost interest in your original career... did you know most people change careers at least 2 to 3 times in their work lifetime? Or maybe, the choice was made for you when your firm "downsized" you.
You want to go it "alone." You're ready to get out of the career rat race altogether and try your hand at a work at home career of some kind.
A focused career path makes sense for everyone. Too many employed folks are not happy and want change... but have no clue where to begin.
Don Monteith spent 32 years as co-owner of several franchises and a personnel/staffing business. Every year, his firm placed hundreds of job candidates in their dream job. Today, Don shares his business and career expertise through his newest websites on the Internet. Lots of FREE ideas - suggestions - ready for your perusal and study.
http://www.Career-Coaching-Central.com
http://www.HowToGetYourDreamJob.com

The Telecommuting Tightrope

2008-12-12T17:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Sharon Davis

For many of us, telecommuting seems like the ideal situation. You wake up, shuffle over to your home office, work at your own pace. You take a break when it suits you, you end your day when you're ready to. You can rearrange your work schedule to fit around your personal life.
Or can you?
What motivates most people to seek telecommuting is the need for a balance between work and play. Ironically, it's often this desire for balance that leads people to the realization that telecommuting is not for them.
Take Meg Rottman. Now the President of her own Public Relations company, StylePR, Meg once thought that telecommuting was the perfect solution.
At the time, she was working as a Fashion Editor for a company located in New York. Since she was on the West Coast, and her job didn't require her presence in an office, she felt it was a natural fit to work from home.
"At first, it seemed like a great opportunity," says Meg. "Ultimately, I found that I didn't have 'work time' and 'play time'. It morphed into just 'time'".
"I found that there was no beginning or ending to my day. And there was no time off. I would jump out of bed in the morning with an idea and go directly to the computer. And then, often I would still be typing at 11:00 at night. It was almost like being on call. I wanted my time to be more compartmentalized".
This is a common side effect of working from home. It takes no small amount of discipline to structure your day- and stick to it. The funny thing is, having the ability to take a break and do other things in the middle of the workday is the reason many people want to telecommute in the first place.
Meg realized this. "If you really schedule your day, then how can you justify taking a walk, or putting a roast in? You can't," she says. "Maybe you're giving up what made working at home so great to begin with."
It wasn't all bad though. Meg did discover some things about herself. "I really did not need supervision, I was completely self-motivated. The surprising thing was that I worked more".
Not surprising is the fact that Meg now owns her own company. "[Telecommuting] definitely gave me the feeling that I was already working for myself, so why not do that?" she says. "Yes I have to drive to my office now, but it is easier for me to separate work and home and create a more balanced life."
Sometimes, things just aren't what you thought they'd be- and sometimes that's a good thing.
--------------------------------
Sharon Davis is the Mom to two girls, the owner of 2Work-At-Home.Com, Work At Home Articles.net and the Editor of the site's monthly ezine, America's Home. In her spare time she reminisces about what it was like to have spare time.
This article may be reproduced providing it is published in it's entirety, including the author's bio. For a text version via autoresponder, send a blank email to tightrope@sendfree.com