Top 7 resume sample words and phrases to instantly improve your resume

Instant resume rewrites that might mean the difference between a call back and falling flat.

Make no mistake about it, writing an effective resume has to be a highly individualized matter, since no two people are alike. Nevertheless, it is such a constricted and standardized format, that we resume writers find ourselves adopting certain phrases or words that each of us tends to prefer and that in fact help our clients get jobs. Every resume writer has his or her own list. Here is mine:

1.“$3,000,000” (vs. “$3M”) – To a skimmer’s eye, “$3M” looks like three dollars. If you are dealing with big numbers and write out all the zeros, the reader’s eye will find it anywhere on the page, no matter how fast they are skimming.

2.“Created a database for…” (vs. “Developed a database for…”) – “Developed” is an overused and nondescript word. Often databases, procedures, lists, or whatever other job activity you are writing about is something you actually put together (even if you used a standard software program to do it, for example). “Created” is closer to the truth and is certainly much more impressive.

3.“Applied xyz methods…” (vs. “Learned xyz methods….”) – Many people list important skills or knowledge that they learned on a job. But that isn’t going to impress a potential employer. The potential employer wants to know if you actually used those skills. How and where you learned them is immaterial.

4.“College courses include…” (vs. “Took courses in….” or “3 years of college) – If you went to college years ago and did not complete your degree, you look like an underachiever. Starting with “College courses include…” sends the message that you are a high school graduate who went to school to take courses (not just get a degree) or that you have been motivated to keep your education ongoing.

5.“All…” as in, “All human resources responsibilities in the office…” (vs., for example, “Human resources responsibilities include all functions…”) – Sometimes a key word isn’t what you’d think. “All” is a great key word to start a descriptive item in your resume. “All” instantly paints a picture of comprehensive responsibilities and a more rather than less important role.

6.“References available upon request” (vs. nothing) – Now, I know that many experts do not consider this phrase necessary because they believe that most readers assume that you will have references. But I’m not so sure. Unfortunately, there are potential employers out there (hopefully not too many) who may conclude that if you do not say anything about references, it must mean that you don’t have any, and therefore they can throw out your resume and have one less to read. So, keep it in.

7.“Value to an organization:”… (vs. “Career Summary”) – Who cares what your career summary is? In my humble opinion and extensive experience, deep down inside the first thing a potential employer really wants to know is if you can help their bottom line. Otherwise, I don’t really think they’re that interested in reading yet another career summary.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sander Marcus, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Professional Resume Writer in Chicago. He has over 3 decades of experience in providing career counseling, aptitude testing, job search coaching, and resume writing to tens of thousands of individuals. He is the co-author of 2 books on academic underachievement, various tests, and numerous articles. He can be contacted at marcus@iit.edu, 312-567-3358.www.center.iit.edu

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7 Rules of Successful Freelancer

The article is a brief summary of my personal freelance experience in a form of 7 relatively simple and straightforward rules I used to follow (as I understood retrospectively) since I started freelancing in 18. I can not guarantee you'll succeed with them, too, but they'll give you an idea of what to expect if you want to try freelancing.

 

I've been a freelance programmer, web developer and system administrator for three years. Not that much, you'd probably say, you may be right. You may be wrong either. Anyway, when you're 21, three years don't seem to be a little time.

I started when I was 18. I had a part-time job in dental clinic (I'm terribly afraid of dentists since then, though I wasn't afraid of them before) and my salary could just cover my Internet bills (in a small town ISPs have very high prices while students can't get much money for work) and leave a little spare money to spend them later on my friends' and parents' birthdays and New Year. I'll tell you the full story some day, now I just want to note that I started from barely nothing and today I only get money from freelance. No full-time office work.

1. Work regularly. Don't depend on you mood.

You should choose time for you to work, and you must work every day from, eg. 6 pm to midnight, and you mustn't do anything but work during this time. Yes, it's very tempting to have a break, read forums, chat, play quake, make love, go skating, etc, and finish the work next morning. That's completely wrong attitude. You work at home, it gives you more freedom and more flexibility, but it's still work.

Of course, if you feel tired, you should rest. Make coffee, smoke a cigarette, clean your cat's toilet, but do not start doing anything time-consuming and interesting – you'll lose a working day.

If you don't want to do anything right now, force yourself to do. You want money? You want to finish this project? So work, you bastard! Start from simple things, do some routine stuff you didn't want to do the day before.

Also, it is very important to make your family understand, that this is work, too, and they should try to not to disturb you when you're working.

It's hard at the beginning, but soon you'll get used to working on schedule, and become as productive as never before.

2. Don't lie to your clients.

“Of course, I do not!” – you'd say. Lie! Terrible lie. There are three kinds of lie to client I know:

• When you weren't working or didn't yet do something, but you say you were or you did.

  Sure, you don't want to look lazy. But you aren't, are you? So what are you afraid of? Tell you client honestly, that you lost a couple days, tell him, why is it so. Don't make him distrust you. Tell him, what are you going to do to outweigh lost time.

• When you have problems with some part of work, but you say that everything's okay or that there were some difficulties, but you overcame them.

  Are you afraid to look not good enough? You aren't then. I'll tell you more about that a bit later. Remember, noone can know everything, no one can overcome each and every difficulty. You understand it, right? So why do you think, your client doesn't? Don't let him think you're a lier. Tell him, that you are not very familiar with 'XXX', but you can work it out, and say how much time do you need to do that.

• When it was easy to do something, but you say it was a great achievement and you had to go through terrible difficulties to implement that feature.

  Are you afraid to get less money than you could? If you want higher prices, take harder work. Any work should cost what it is worth. And do you really want to look that bad, so you are hard to do even simple things? Clients are not coders, but in most cases they realize what is easy and what is not.

3. Don't think you're smarter than your customer.

If you're that smart, where's you money then? You not smarter, and neither he is. You now how to code, he know to make money. Everyone is an expert in his own sphere, so cooperate. Ask him, why he needs the features he needs. Understand what are priorities. Tell him, why is 'XXX' bad in your opinion, and how could it be improved. Extreme programming adepts call it 'planning game'. Work together. You'll see the resuls.

4. Communicate.

Yes, it's obvious, but many people underestimate the importance of communication. At first, people like when you're open and communicative. Be a nice guy. Let them like working with you. Of course, you met to work, not to chat, but a couple lines in IM isn't a big deal. Just let client know what are you working at right now. Be alive. It is okay to say “Be right back, gonna make some coffee”, you're a coder, coders are known to drink litres of coffee every day. That's thought to be funny, use it. Be a geek and be a normal person at the same time. But do not chat too much, you should be working. And your client surely have things to do, too. Remember (or write somewhere) clients' names. Let them feel you remember them.

And the second, not that obvious, benefit of communication is that it helps you track the progress. When you tell someone what are you doing, you know better where you are now and what are you going to do. IM is optional, but weekly email reports are the must, even if client doesn't require them. It would be very good if it's your idea to file the reports. They are not only to let client know how much he has to pay you. they are for you, too. Without them you may have lost the feel of progress and start working slow and inefficiently. I recently made that mistake, and right now I'm finishing the project I would finish two months ago, if I had reported regularly.

5. Do what you can do and a little above it.

If you're afraid you aren't good enough, you aren't. We are programmers. We can do anything. If we don't know how to do something, we read manuals, look at the examples, and do it. But, on the other hand, you must clearly know, what you aren't good at. Never take the work you're sure you can't do. But don't be afraid if you have to deal with something new. Ask for more. Get experience. You can't get experience in any other way but working.

6. Love your work.

Obvious. Never deal with what you don't like. Be good at what you are interested in. Find your niche, but ensure it's not too narrow. Discover new areas of expertise for yourself, but always keep yourself interested. Enjoy your work, programming is almost like sex, didn't you know? If you don't get any pleasure from your work itself, maybe you should try to find someting more suitable and joyful for you?

7. No step back.

Never ask for less bucks/hour than on previous project. No, I don't mean asking more and more and more. You'll lose all your client then. But the work should be paid what it is worth. So don't take the work that is too cheap'n'nasty for you. Be professional.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maybe not all the mentioned rules are the must, but I did follow them and it brought me to success. My freelance experience is not limited to these rules, check my blog at http://www.miheev.info/ for updates of this article, my other experience, including reviews of freelance sites and general freelance and programming tips and tricks.

Technorati tags: freelance

How To Create A Resume: What You Need To Know

Few people really understand how to create a resume that works for them. While your curriculum vitae is a factual document, it is also a marketing tool...and it is your best one when it comes to job hunting. In some cases, it is your only one. Because it is so important, it requires some professional guidance. Almost every job-seeker I've encountered who thought they had a well-done resume found out how wrong they were once we started looking at their resume in detail.

There are three vital ingredients that your resume must have in order to ensure that you are taken seriously by a prospective employer.

One of the first things that you need to get right when it comes to how to write resume is to get the formatting worked out. First impressions are important at an interview but even more important when it comes to getting you the interview in the first thing. Learning how to build a resume that is well laid out is a common problem amongst job-seekers and is the reason why many don't progress any further. There is a standard layout for resume and it usually only takes a little planning and creativity to fit even the most challenging situations into that layout. The importance of a clear and consistent layout is best viewed from the perspective of a hiring agent. Imagine that you are the hiring agent and must sift through a range of resumes that have fancy layouts or unreadable fonts or that go on and on. One of the secrets of how to build a resume is to make sure you keep it to one page, only use black ink in an 11 or 12 sized Times New Roman font. Include only the last ten years of work history. Avoid colored paper, personal information like your birthday, and highlighting or using italics, unless it is in a header.

Being clear and specific in the objective you position at the top of your resume is way to indicate to a potential employer not only what you want but that you are focused on getting it. Your objective should be inline with the abilities you have illustrated in your work history and tailored to an extent to the job you are applying for. You don't need to use the exact same objective for every position you apply for. Employers appreciate and value a well thought out objective because it helps them qualify one candidate against another.

The third most important factor has to do with the posturing of your work history. If you already have a resume, pull it out and look at the duties that you list under your last job. Does it read more like a job description or does it reflect your abilities over and above what you were hired to do? The duties you list should be brief phrases that show how you added value to that particular company. You need to choose powerful words to describe your contributions, like "provided leadership," "organized," "created," "facilitated," "solved" and "entire." Do you see how these words can elevate the typical "filing," or "customer relations" language? Check everything that you list against your objective to ensure that there is a direct correlation between the two. You are giving evidence to support your objective, so do a good job in selecting your words, and let those words do a good job for you.

Learning how to create a resume to go with your cover letter that presents your skills and experience in the best possible way is crucial to your success with your job hunt. Resume writing isn't easy but if you follow the tips outlined above then you will be well on the way to producing an excellent, readable cv. If you get stuck then get help from a professional so that you don't lose your momentum.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Learning how to make a resume is not an easy task but it is crucial to your job hunting success. Stand out from the crowd and get your dream job by getting your resume how to guide here: http://www.resumehowtoguide.com

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Career Advice - Success Is Only Four Steps Away

The formula for career success is really quite simple.

In fact, success in the world of work requires only that we complete four basic steps. Anyone can do it, given a reasonable amount of energy and common sense.

They are:

1. Provide a product or service that people (employer, customers, et al) want to buy.

2. Assure quality, always.

3. Guarantee full value for the price paid.

4. Make each transaction a pleasure to be repeated.

These four steps apply whatever our career path-- working in a profession or as a salaried employee; serving as a salesperson in a retail shop; or operating our own small business.

At this point, a common sense question begs to be answered. If it is so simple, why aren't more people successful?

Well, success does require commitment and hard work, the extra effort, a burning desire to succeed. Success demands an orientation outward to the needs and desires of the market, rather than inward to our own immediate gratification. The way to success is simple, but it's not easy. Not everyone is willing to pay the price.

The Four Steps

How about providing the product or service people want to buy?

Many of us fail to provide this elementary requirement because we refuse to actually listen to the customer. This happens over and over again whether the buyer is the boss, who hands out assignments; or someone buying our brand of nuts and bolts. Too often we listen, but we don't hear.

Often it is more convenient to provide the product we already have on hand, or the one we can turn out easily, rather than go to the trouble to deliver what the customer wants. We are so busy serving our own needs and interests that we don't have any time or energy left over for the customer.

What's the story on quality and "value for price paid?"

Quality is discretionary – always. It gets left out sometimes when we try to gain a quick profit by cutting a corner on the ingredients we put in the product. Quality is missing when someone doesn't have the interest or the energy to stay an extra half-hour after the office closes to check the shipping list or to proofread the memorandum going to the boss.

"Value for price paid" is essential for success, whether the price for the case of goods is one dollar or one hundred dollars; whether the job is in the mailroom or in the boardroom. If we are interested in success, there is no plausible reason for not delivering quality and value for price paid.

Perhaps the easiest of all the elements in the success formula is the one having to do with attitude: "smile ... be friendly." Anyone can make it "a pleasure to do business."

Take the most obvious example of this reality. Salespersons in retail stores usually work on commission. Their success is a direct line from what they sell to what they earn.

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that the friendlier and more helpful a salesperson is, the more they will sell and the more they will earn (i.e. the more successful they will be).

Being courteous takes very little effort. It is the difference between "What do you want?" and "How may I help you?" It's the difference between ignoring the waiting customer while finishing the joke with another member of the staff or moving briskly to help the would-be-buyer find the correct size in the desired color, at an acceptable price.

When it is all said and done, our personal success depends directly on our being driven by a goal of delivering benefits for those to whom we sell our wares rather than serving our immediate interest.

Anyone can be successful. It is a matter of individual, personal choice. Grab success or leave it for someone else.

XXX

To subscribe to Ramon Greenwood's f*ee semi-monthly newsletter, The Career Accelerator, please go to http://www.commonsenseatwork.com/getitnow

A former Senior Vice President of American Express, Ramon is Senior Career Counselor at Common Sense At Work.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ramon_Greenwood

Technorati tags: career

Professional Presence: Its Importance to Your Career

If you want to advance in your career, you can borrow the idea of positioning from the marketing world. Positioning has a simple objective: to make a target group of people see a particular brand of product as the best of its kind.
What does this have to do with you? If you have been passed over for raises and promotions even though you know you are well qualified and do a good job, maybe it's time to consider your professional presence --- or lack of it. You need to establish your "professional presence".
Where do you start? Here are three aspects of your working life in which you can make the necessary changes.
Visibility
Think of yourself and what you do as a product, and the people you work with as clients. Manufacturers keep their products and brands top of mind for their customers. In the same way, you need to make sure the right people understand your value to the organization.
It's your responsibility to know what skills and talents you have to offer, and what value they create. Look for assignments and projects that will showcase your special abilities. Take any opportunity to talk about the company to senior people, and learn as much as you can about the company so that you can do so intelligently. Can you reasonably and logically introduce something about your own department or work into the big picture?
Look out for creative ways to position yourself as a professional, whatever your job may be, so that the right people recognize your potential for upward movement and growth in the organization.
Image
It's said that we make up our minds about people within six seconds of meeting them. Obviously, these fast impressions are superficial, but if they are having such an immediate impact then surely it is worth managing them.
When you go to work every day, what does your appearance say about you? The gradual loosening of the rules around how we dress for work has been welcomed by most, but many have shown lack of judgement in how they apply the new styles. What is "business casual" anyway? It's openness to interpretation is what causes the problem. A great deal depends on the culture of your organization, what type of business you are in, your geographic location and whether it is a city or small town, and whether or not you meet personally with clients.
There is one old piece of advice that still stands: dress for the job you want, not the one you have. Who are the people you want to respect you? Whose good opinion would you like to cultivate? Take a look at how they present themselves, and consider how you might emulate them. If he always wears a jacket to meetings, don't show up in shirtsleeves; if she wears a smart pantsuit while others show up in jeans, veer towards her style. People relate to others who are like them, and your appearance is an important first step. In response to a survey I did on the subject of business casual dress, one woman said she liked to stay fairly formal because, as she said, "I'm young and pretty. It's hard enough to be taken seriously, and if I show up in jeans and a teeshirt I don't stand a chance." Is your appearance sabotaging your professional presence?
Relationships
Develop and cultivate a respectful relationship with your peers, those above and below you on the organizational chart, and clients.
We all know people who take every opportunity to gossip and backstab their colleagues. This is not professional conduct. In business, as in life, my mother's advice is still good: if you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything at all.
Try as we might to be positive, it's not possible to be upbeat and bright all the time. Professionals provide the same high level of service regardless of how they are feeling. It's not the client's fault that you overslept this morning and missed your train; act like the professional you are, and your mood will take care of itself.
You must first see yourself as a professional before you can communicate that position to others. You will begin to see a change in the way people relate to you and the type of projects you are asked to undertake. If you are job-hunting, your interviews will be more successful.
Cultivate a reputation for doing things well and on time, getting along well with others and providing first class service to clients. That's professional presence, and it can be a strong force in helping you climb the career ladder.

Autor: Helen Wilkie

Helen Wilkie is a professional speaker and author, specializing in workplace communication. Subscribe to her free monthly e-zine, "Communi-keys" at http://www.mhwcom.com/pages/communikeys.html and get your free 40-page e-book, "23 ideas you can use RIGHT NOW to communicate and succeed in your business career"

Added: April 28, 2007
Source: http://contentdesk.com/view.php

Technorati tags: career

Talking Yourself Into Success

We all talk to ourselves, maybe not out loud, but there is a conversation going on inside all of us all the time. Sometimes it turns into a monologue but a lot of the time we are conducting a dialogue within ourselves. This is the way we make decisions. By debating the pros and cons of any situation, we eventually reach our conclusion and act accordingly.
Anyone who has needed to make a tough decision will know that feeling of being swayed one way and then another, making a decision and then unmaking it before remaking it. Once we have acted in accordance with our eventual decision, we often continue the debate and wonder if the decision was the right one after all.
Although we have committed ourselves to a course of action, we can't help wondering about the eventual outcome of our decision. Even when it is too late for a change of mind and we will have to follow our chosen path, we can't halt this internal debating process. This is where we have another choice to make. We can waste untold amounts of energy by electing to agonise over the decision we have already made, asking ourselves if we did the right thing and worrying about the outcome. Alternatively, we can choose to tell ourselves that the decision has been made and we have the ability to see it through to a successful conclusion.
If we carry on worrying about whether we made the correct decision, we will be wasting valuable energy instead of using it to work towards our goals. We will also be creating a state of mind where negative feelings can easily take root. Self doubt will erode any positive feelings we had to start with and we will lose all confidence in our ability to succeed. In continuing to doubt our abilities, we will encourage the tiny seeds of self doubt to grow up all around us into a deep dark forest of negativity where we could search for all eternity but never find our self confidence again.
Once you have made a final decision, don't waste your energy by replaying the decision making process in search of a possible error. Don't waste your time in imagining all sorts of possible unsatisfactory outcomes. Remember, you already discussed the matter fully between you and yourself and reached a conclusion. Now it is time to look forward. Now is the time to plan for success.
Counteract any niggling doubts by concentrating on the reasons why you made that decision. If you wrote a list of pros and cons during the time you were considering your decision, rip up the list of cons and throw it away. While doing this, picture yourself doing it and feeling positive and happy about having made your decision. Pick a quiet time when you are alone each day and visualise yourself throwing away the "bad" list and feeling good about it. After repeatedly performing this visualisation exercise for a couple of weeks, you will be able to invoke the positive feeling associated with your mental picture as an antidote to negativity any time you start to feel anxious about your abilities.
If you did not make written lists to help with the decision making, it is a good idea to write a list of your reasons in favour of the decision once you have committed yourself to a course of action. Keep a copy of your "positive" list on your office wall or the refrigerator door, or any place you will see it regularly, as a reminder of all the good reasons for choosing the path you are on.
Build up your self confidence by making daily affirmations. Write down a list of positive statements to affirm the person you are, the abilities you possess that will help you reach your goals and the things you will do to ensure you achieve success. Write these statements in groups of "I am", "I can" and "I will". They don't need to be great long lists, just a couple from each category can be sufficient to boost your self esteem.
Write your affirmation statements on cards and place the cards in positions where you will see them several times each day, such as on your bathroom mirror, on your desk at work, on the refrigerator door. Make it a habit to speak your affirmation statements aloud several times each day when you are alone. Speak them in your mind any time doubts threaten your belief in yourself.
"All we are is the result of what we have thought." - Buddha

Autor: Elaine Currie

For more about self motivation to achieve businesssuccess visit Elaine Currie's Work At Home Directory Find more information and articles at Writing Tips

Added: April 29, 2007
Source: http://contentdesk.com/view.php 

Technorati tags: Self Improvement

What You Need to Know About Careers in Media

When you are thinking about a career in media, you may be only thinking about the person who anchors the morning news; however, there are many more careers in media that are less obvious, but very challenging and rewarding as well. Media and the right and want to know is very important in this day, and this had made work in the media business competitive and in high demand. While working in this field is not easy, with looming deadlines and odd hours, it is a great career to consider. Various Media Careers

There are many different careers available in the media industry, and some are very high profile, while others blend into the background. One of the most prolific careers in media is as a news analyst or a news anchor. This career involves taking the news from various sources and interpreting, examining, and even broadcasting this news. Usually within this type of job there are specialties, such as Sports and Weather. Reporters have very similar jobs; however, they are usually out doing the footwork and finding the stories that anchors use on the news.

Behind the scenes of the media industry are some very important people. There are excellent careers as video technicians, audio technicians, sound engineers, radio operators, and broadcast technicians as well. While they are not as visible as reporters and news anchors, without these careers the rest would be a flop. These careers are very important and are highly technical as well, so they are in great demand.

Another career in media that many people overlook is a career as a writer. Writers often write script for newscasts and other types of news broadcasting, and they often write newspaper articles, magazine articles, and even books as well. There are great media careers in editing as well, since someone has to edit the writing of these writers. A few other careers in the media industry include photographers, announcers, translators, public relations specialists, and video camera editors.

Needed Education

The education that is needed for jobs in the media industry is dependent on your specific career, but most of these jobs do require that you have a bachelor's degree. The various technicians in this field will need to have specialized training to deal with the very technical equipment that is used in media broadcasting today. Reporters, anchors, and correspondents usually need to have a degree in either communications or journalism, although at times employers will consider those who have other majors in college as well. Writers usually are required to have a degree in literature, journalism, communications, or English. One of the most important qualifications that employers look for in this field is experience such as activities and internships in the field of your choice.

Possible Salaries

How much you make in the media industry is also going to depend on what specific media career that you have chosen. The salary spectrum is quite diverse with many average paying jobs, and a few jobs that pay extremely well. Writers and editors can usually expect to make between $25,000 and $60,000 each year, with a few making more than $100,000. Reporters and correspondents generally will make between $20,000 and $50,000 each year, while news anchors and analysts are higher paid and usually make between $25,000 and $70,000, with the occasional anchor making in excess of $100,000 per year. Various technicians, such as sound, video, and broadcast technicians usually can expect to make between $20,000 and $50,000 depending on their experience and the company that they work for.

Excellent Employers

No matter what type of career you choose in the media industry, you want to work for an employer that is fair, offering a good salary and great benefits. There are many great companies that you can work for in this industry, and a few in the United States include CBS, Fox News, National CineMedia, and Cumulus Broadcasting. Not only are there great employers in the United States, but there are many excellent ones in Canada as well if you live or want to work in Canada. Some excellent employers to consider in the country of Canada include Hollywood Canada Communications, CBC Radio Canada, World Vision Canada, and TeleToon Canada Inc.

Seek4Jobs.net has valuable informations regarding jobs and specific kinds of jobs and careers. If you are looking for a job you can post your resume for free and let the employers find the right employees for their company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fei_Lim

Technorati tags: career

Job Interview - Remain Relevant and Enthusiastic

Interviewing well is an art and yet I find so many people pay very little attention to this aspect of the job search process. It is in fact likely the single most important step.

If you are called for an interview, the assumption must be that it is your job to lose. If you have been called, you have many of the skills needed for the job and your qualifications are enough of a match that if the fit is right, they could hire you. People are busy and companies value their time. They are not going to spend the time and resources to have you come in for an interview if they don't think you can do the job. So, your job at this point is create rapport, show how you can contribute to their bottom line, determine if the job and company are a fit for both of you and then express your enthusiasm. The question is, how?

Building Rapport

This happens from the moment you receive a call to set up an interview. Be aware that every contact you have is evaluating you. They are paying attention to how you talk on the phone, your tone of voice, your energy, etc. When you first meet in person they are looking for eye contact, your presence, and how you speak. Interviewers, whether HR personnel or decision makers, are looking for a connection and your personality and personal presentation will make a huge impression. Look at it from their perspective. You are much more than your skills and abilities and they want someone on board with whom they will enjoy working and who they think will fit with their staff. Respect their status but let them see who you are and be sure you are projecting the image you intend.

Your Contributions

This is one of the most difficult parts of the interview but it will make a big impact on the outcome. Interviewers are trying to figure out how you plan to contribute to their bottom line and your ability to apply your unique gifts, talents, and skills to their particular situation. So, one way to do this is to remain relevant at all times and be as specific as possible. When someone says "tell me about yourself" what they are really saying is "tell me about the parts of you that matter to me and my company". So, make your answer relevant. I recommend that everyone create a 60 second commercial of themselves that they can easily adapt to any job. Assume that they want a summary of your work-related qualifications; so, focus on your academic degrees that relate to the position (if you are freshly out of college) and highlight a few of your specific skills that relate to the job requirements. For example, "I just finished a course in such and such which will allow me to apply these new skills to your work in such and such." Remember that every question should be answered with an eye on their bottom line.

Is it a Fit?

This question means is it a fit for you and for them. Pay a lot of attention to the culture of the office or company when you are there. Ask questions of the receptionist or even ask the interviewers what attracts them to working there. If you are given a tour, ask to see the cafeteria (if they have one) or the break room. Pay attention to the mood and imagine yourself walking in those doors every day and see how that feels. Ask if you can meet the people you may be working with. Remember, no matter who writes the paycheck, you are the CEO of your own personal services corporation and how you feel about them is just as important as how they feel about you. One of the most common complaints I hear from clients is that "it is not what I thought it would be". Make sure that you get your questions answered, do the research, and know what you are getting into. You are deciding on a job and an organization that will play a significant role in your life. Take is seriously.

Enthusiasm

This is key and one of the aspect of the interview that stumps interviewees all of the time. Many people are afraid to show their enthusiasm about a job. It makes them feel vulnerable and in a way it does, but imagine that you were looking for someone to join your company. Wouldn't you want that person to be fired up? Wouldn't you want that person to show an interest in what you are doing and how much they would like to be a part of it? I have talked to countless people that leave interviews and then don't follow up and just wait for the company to contact them. Huge mistake. If you want the job, tell them. And, don't be generic. Tell them that you really want the job so that you can use (insert specific skill) in order to (insert what they need). Tell them what you like about the culture of the company, how you felt during the interview, and that you hope you will be considered seriously as they move forward. You do not have to over indulge. Just a simple 60 second statement that leaves them no doubt as to your interest will be enough. Then, when you leave, immediately craft your follow-up letter and in addition to the brief overview and recap of the interview, end with a final plug about your continued interest. A genuine interest will go a long way when it comes down to decision making.

Interviewing for a job can be stressful, but it can also be a lot of fun. Imagine it as a game - the winner may not always be the one who looks best on paper, but the one who is able to convince their potential employer that they are an asset worth fighting for. Do this by establishing rapport, being relevant, showing how you can contribute to the bottom line, and showing how you are the type of person they want on their team.

Autor: Melani Ward

To download your FREE report on Finding the Perfect Job for You go to http://www.mhcareercoaching.com/resources.html Melani Ward is a successful career coach who helps people create balance in their body, mind, and work. She works with athletic minded individuals and groups on career discovery and development, resume and interviewing strategies, setting and achieving goals, and uniting who they are with what they do. Do you have something you are committed to changing or achieving in your life. Contact Melani for a complimentary consultation at melani@mhcareercoaching.com or visit her blog Right Body, Right Mind, Right Career at http://coachmelani.typepad.com

Added: April 18, 2007
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/index.php

Technorati tags: Job Interview

Jobs - Tips for Applying for a Job

Applying for a Job

There are four general methods of applying for a job including:

(1) mailing your resume,

(2) emailing your resume,

(3) faxing your resume, and

(4) hand delivering your resume.

Mailing Your Resume

Some companies prefer that you mail your resume. For this type of approach, it is best to include a cover letter with your resume. The cover letter is a basic letter that describes the position that you are interested in and a few details of your qualifications and skills. It is basically your lead in to your resume. Before writing your cover letter, you should know whom the letter is to be addressed to. You never want to begin a cover letter with "Dear Sir or Madame" or "To whom it may Concern." It shows that you have not prepared, and that you are not looking for a specific position with their company, but any job that you can get your hands on. Basically, it is disrespectful to your prospective employer.

Emailing Your Resume

Emailing resumes is becoming a commonplace way for recruiters to get resumes. Attach your resume as a word document or a PDF file. These are the most common formats and what most companies will accept. The subject line should read like this: Smith, John (Accounting Position). This makes it easy for the recruiter to know who the email is from, and what it pertains to. It also assures that your email will be read. Sometimes there are specific methods for addressing an emailed resume. Some companies have certain subject line requirements (so follow them!). If the company wants you to paste your resume, don"t send attachments because your email will be deleted right away.

Faxing Your Resume

You will need to include a cover letter when faxing your resume. If you are not using your own fax machine, be sure to include your proper contact information. The rules for your cover letter are the same as for mailing your resume.

Hand Delivering Your Resume

You will want to dress appropriately, as you would for an interview. Generally, companies ask you to do this if you are going to be working directly with customers. They ask for a walk-in because they want to get a look at your grooming habits right away. Sometimes, the employer will give you a brief interview on the spot to see if they will require a formal interview later. So be on your best and most appropriate behavior. Also, walk-ins do not require you to bring a cover letter with your resume. Your appearance is sort of the cover letter. Sometimes, you will be requested to fill out an application form as well. Smile and be polite, no matter who you are speaking with.

Autor: Hilary Basile

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life"s major events. Whether you"re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you"ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find employment tips and resources, such as resume and cover letter development, interviewing skills, and information for those considering a career change at http://www.myguidesusa.com/jobs

Added: April 19, 2007
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/index.php

Technorati tags: job search

Distance Learning: How to Work and Study at the Same Time?

Distance learning students seem to enjoy the best of everything. They get their education without actually needing to attend classes, and at the same time are able to keep their jobs and get a paycheck. In fact, this is one of the more prominent distance learning benefits that attract many students to make this their choice of education. In addition to that, distance learning students also gain the advantage of flexibility where they are able to study at their own pace without adhering to class schedules.
However, amidst these perks, distance learning requires a lot of discipline and motivation from students. When we are juggling between a job and studies, it is very easy to lose track of our priorities and fail to keep up to mark. Moreover, distance learning students do not have the advantage of getting their learning drive renewed whenever they interact with lecturers or peers in classes.
Therefore, how can distance learning students then overcome this challenge? The first thing that a student must have is good time management. Everyone has 24 hours and it is up to us to utilize our time in the best way possible. Set up a daily or weekly plan for yourself and ensure that you set aside time for your studies daily. If you have a family, let them know about your schedule so that they know when you should not be disturbed. Divide your time appropriately between your work, your family and your studies. Of course, discipline is important here as any schedule will not do any good if it is not followed.
Getting yourself motivated is also essential towards distance learning success. One of the ways to do this is to stay in contact with your classmates. With the internet today, it is often easy to stay in touch through email, instant messenger as well as internet phone. Discussing projects or assignments with your teammates will help you stay on track and keeps you and your teammates accountable for one another.
Setting goals and rewarding yourself when you attain them are great self-motivating habits. Start by drawing a chart on the milestones that you need to reach in order to complete your course. Strike out each goal as you complete them and reward yourself accordingly. There is a certain satisfaction whenever we see ourselves progressing and this becomes a motivating force for us to face the next hurdle.
Additionally, it is ever essential for a distance learning student to set up a quiet place for study away from home life distractions, such as the television, phone calls or other family members. Organize an off-limits study area or lock yourself in a quiet room to ensure optimum focus. Apart from that, a good chair, a strong table and adequate space are also essential elements in creating a conducive environment.
Finally, although distance learning is a great and effective learning concept, much of its effectiveness is dependent on the habits and determination of the individual. The full advantages of distance learning can only be gained through hard work, discipline and determination for success.

Autor: Rose Mus

Rose Musyoka is the editor of http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com where you find answers, information and advice on distance learning colleges, accredited online degrees and online courses. See more related information on distance learning benefits.

Added: April 19, 2007
Source: http://contentdesk.com/view.php

Technorati tags: education

Career Change - The Don ts of Changing Careers

A career change is never easy. But, many burned out, yet talented folks have skills sitting idle. Changing careers may be the only way to keep them from going nuts. For those considering a career change, be cognizant to never make the following mistakes:

(1) Don"t look for a job in another field without seriously thinking about it. Do a thorough self-assessment first.

(2) Don"t consider working in the "hot" industries unless they happen to be a good fit for you.

(3) Don"t go into a field because you have a friend that happens to be doing well in it. Seek further information about the job by networking, reading and doing online research.

(4) Don"t necessarily stick with what you know. Stretch your perception by reading job profiles, exploring different career fields and completing some self-assessment exercises.

(5) Don"t let money be the only deciding factor. Workplace dissatisfaction and stress is the number one health problem for working adults. In particular, this holds true for those changing careers who tend to start off making less than in their previous career.

(6) Don"t impulsively head back to school. This is speaking for those that don"t wish to incur debt. Consider alternatives. You are never too old for an internship, a volunteer position to gain experience, or even a temporary, contract position in the new field.

(7) Don"t expect a career change to happen overnight. A thorough career change usually takes a minimum of six months to a year to accomplish.

There are several reasons people find themselves evaluating their careers, such as a loss of interest in the position or the field, or perhaps your company is downsizing and causing you to lose your motivation. Before jumping into a new career, do some self-reflection and job research to make sure it is a new career you are seeking and not just a change in employers.

Autor: Hilary Basile

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life"s major events. Whether you"re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you"ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find employment tips and resources, such as resume and cover letter development, interviewing skills, and information for those considering a career change at http://www.myguidesusa.com/jobs

Added: April 19, 2007
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/index.php

Technorati tags: career

College Graduates: Ten Steps for Career Success

You will soon graduate and begin your professional career. Naturally, you want to experience career success and fulfillment. What follows are ten steps which will help you get your career off to a great start. These strategies and principles will also help you to be successful throughout your career and to make a significant contribution.
1. Know your talents and skills.
You will be most effective in a career which uses your best and most enjoyable abilities. How can you discover your talents and skills? Look for them in your favorite achievements, no matter how small the accomplishments.
You can also find clues to your talents by analyzing things you love to do, love to learn, and even love to talk about.
Consider favorite aspects of past jobs, internships, and volunteer work. If you enjoyed an aspect of a job, it is likely that you were using your favorite talents and skills.
Look at activities you love so much that time quickly slips away. Some of your talents were probably involved in those activities. Is there anything you've done in school, leisure, or work that seemed almost effortless? You will probably discover that some of your best talents played a part in those activities.
Your talents, combined with a genuine regard for yourself and others, is a potentially powerful resource for making a great contribution.
2. Seek a job you feel passionate about.
How can you make a great contribution if you feel lukewarm or indifferent about your job or work purpose? It would be very difficult if not impossible to do so.
Where can you discover your passion? Ask yourself the following questions. What problems do you see in the world that you want to solve, resolve, or positively impact? What societal needs do you want to fill? What dreams or hopes of others would you like to make come true?
Choose a mission or work purpose that moves you. When you use your best talents for a purpose that fulfills you, how can you fail? You will be able to make a significant and positive difference.
3. Determine the types of jobs and companies that address the problems and needs you've identified.
Use public, school, and career libraries to research and identify employers and opportunities.
Conduct information interviews with people-including hiring managers-in fields of work that interest you. Join professional associations that allow you to meet and network with people in your career field. Contact employers for their brochures and company information.
4. Find a mentor who will provide guidance and motivation.
Seek mentors in your field of work and outside of your profession. Yes, you can have several different mentors. Choose mentors who are inspiring examples of the kind of person you aspire to be. Simply ask them to be your mentors. Most will flattered and eager to help you.
Where to find mentors? Look at your place of business, professional associations, church, and among family and friends. Ask others for recommendations. Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, spoke of the advantages of forming a "mastermind alliance." This is a group of people with varied skills who can help you achieve your goals. You can form a brain trust of people who support you and your dreams.
5. Study, read, and learn everything you can about your job and career field.
Take advantage of company training programs and local continuing education classes. If you read one book a week in your field of work, that will be over fifty books in a year. This will set you apart from your competition and you will be on your way to becoming an expert in your field. You can also listen to books on tape when you're too busy to read.
6. Commit yourself to do doing a great job.
Be willing to go the extra mile. Work hard and show your employer that you are dedicated to your job. Be a dependable employee who can be counted on.
Become known as a person of high character and integrity. A good reputation takes time to build, but can be destroyed overnight. Establish an excellent reputation both as person and professional. It will follow you wherever you go and will bring much success and happiness.
7. Take excellent care of your physical and mental health.
Maintain your vitality by eating healthy foods, exercising, and getting proper rest. Balance your life with healthy and enjoyable recreational activities, time with family and friends, and a spiritual life that provides inner strength.
8. Avoid drugs and go easy on alcohol.
You need a clear mind with an ability to focus your attention on the task at hand, to be successful. No one can achieve greatness in sports, business, or any endeavor without the ability to concentrate. Drugs and alcohol scatter and weaken the mind. A clear mind produces clarity of thought which results in positive actions. Positive actions will bring you success.
There are many visualization, meditation, and biofeedback techniques that can increase your power of concentration.
9. Stay positive, motivated, and inspired.
You may encounter prejudice from certain people and many other obstacles in the workplace. Avoid negative people and events which drag you down, as much as you can. It is important to learn to get along with others who have different values and who see life differently than you do. There is great diversity in today's workplace which demands adaptability and the ability to work as a team member.
Read inspiring biographies of others who overcame obstacles to success. Listen to tapes that motivate and uplift you.
10. Build a portfolio of your accomplishments.
Before leaving any job or position, request a letter of recommendation from your supervisors. Keep all of your letters and performance evaluations. These letters and evaluations should become part of a portfolio that you are building. Include articles by and about you and any example of performance excellence. Take your portfolio to job interviews and present it when you are being considered for promotions.
You are moving closer to your graduation date or recently graduated. You and your family made sacrifices and worked hard to get you to this level of achievement. You will soon start your professional career. A new beginning awaits you. If you apply the ten steps in this article, you will increase the odds of having a fulfilling career and life.
Best wishes for making your dreams come true.
Copyright 2007 Raymond Gerson

Autor: Raymond Gerson

Raymond Gerson has over 40 years experience coaching and teaching career and personal development. He is the author of five books including, Create the Life You Want. He also teaches college success strategy courses. For two of his free career how-to ebooks and a motivational presentation go to: http://www.raymondgerson.com/freeGifts_landingPage.html

Added: April 20, 2007
Source: http://contentdesk.com/view.php

Technorati tags: career

How To Be Effective Leader Using Law Of Attraction

Ever since the movie, The Secret was shown to the world, there is a new level of consciousness in many people about the law of attraction. The world is suddenly awakened and it brings forth a new thinking that encourages positivity in thoughts and forces people to reflect on how
much of what has happened in their lives in the past is determined by what and how they had thought.
Imagine, if you take this forward, how much you can influence your life and destiny and achieve all that you desire.
Have you wandered how you can apply this law of attraction to your job and career. Especially if you are leading a team, just knowing how you can direct your thoughts can mean great things for yourself and for your staff. The more you understand it, the better off you are going to be.
If your goal is to gain respect from your team, then focus on the good that respect will do for you by visualizing on the end result. Your thought vibration will generate or attract what you think of. If you are having difficulty managing people, focus less on the difficulties but on sending positive thoughts to the problem. Happy solutions have a way of surfacing when you focus on the positives.
There is a brand new report called Attraction Acceleration, where Bob Proctor, the teacher in the movie The Secret, was interviewed by another mindpower expert, Stephen Pierce on how to accelerate the attraction factor and the science of getting rich. Bob Proctor is a real-life guru in manifestation.
In the special report, Bob Proctor said, "You don't get rich by doing certain things.You get rich by things in certain way".
If your goal in your career is to make a lot of money, then it would be worth reflecting on what else Bob Proctor shared :
"See people don"t earn $50,000 a year because they want $50,000 a year.
They earn $50,000 a year because they're not aware of how to earn $50,000 a month. Because they're not aware of how to earn $50,000 a month."
Interesting thought worth reflecting on.
The report also talks about The Law of Vibration and explains how your body which is a massive energy at a high speed, vibrates and attracts that which your thought generates. This determines what is being attracted to you.
Having gratitude is also key in attracting all that we desire. Because gratitude is our thoughts, and feelings and action and that translates into our attitude.
The law of attraction has been around for a long time and has been the guiding force of very rich and successful people. The key to achieve it is that they believe in themselves and put their trust and faith that the system works.
You can harness all this knowledge to become an effective leader and a very successful one if you so desire. Having the awareness of the forces of the law of attraction will guide you in your daily thoughts and actions. It gives you the power to guide others in your team and lead them to achieve better things for themselves too.
Effective leadership

Autor: nmaskuri@theinfopublishers.com

About the author: Noraini Maskuri is 20-year media veteran in the advertising business and currently runs her own net business. To download a free report of Attraction Acceleration, please get it at :http://effectiveleadership.nmaskuri.com

Added: April 21, 2007
Source: http://contentdesk.com/view.php

Technorati tags: leadership

Six Ways to Become More Efficient At Work And At Home

Most of us are eager to give of ourselves and then give some more. Whether it's giving advice to friends or coworkers, volunteering for activities in the community or at our child's school or just saying yes to every request that comes our way. What happens with all this giving is you become so buried under a mountain of responsibilities that the most important things in your life suffer. You have to take time for yourself and your family. One way to do this is to become more efficient in every area of your life. Let's look at six ways to become efficient.
1) Schedule your day. If you have to, get up an hour early each day and write out your plan for the day. Then priotize each task on your list and put it in order of priority. Schedule what you need to do into a planning sheet and block out time to get it accomplished. Do this every single day, even on the weekends.
2) Stop trying to multi-task. Turn off the email notification function on your computer. Email kills your concentration and makes you lose focus on what you were doing. Don't get side lined by interruptions from others. If you are trying to finish a report for an important client or meeting, don't accept a request from a drop-in visitor who "just has a quick question"
3) Learn to control self-interruption. You are at your desk absorbed in your work, when all of a sudden you brain starts talking to you. It reminds you of something that you need to tell a coworker or an important task that you need to take care of. Instead of grabbing the phone or shooting off an email, write down what you need to tell that person or the task that you need to do in a separate binder that you keep for such purposes. Keep working on your current project and set aside time later to take care of things on your binder list.
4) Say NO more often. Know what your priorities are. When someone requests something of you and it doesn't fit into your priorities, just say no. You don't have to justify your answer with a long explanation or excuse.
5) Delegate as much as you can. We often think we can do everything ourselves, or that others will not devote as much care to the task as we would have. That is delusion, as we do not have enough time to do all that anyway. Other coworkers or other members of your family could easily do some of the tasks. Get away from the thinking that you are the only one who can do the job right.
6) Stop trying to be perfect. Some tasks can be done and are just as successful even if they are not perfect. Trying to be perfect with everything will slow you down and cause too much un-needed stress in your life.
Your time is a very precious resource that should not be wasted. Efficiency is the key to getting things accomplished in your work and at home. Implement the above steps and you will find yourself accomplishing more in less time, and with less stress.

Autor: Shafir Ahmad

Shafir Ahmad is the author of "The Experts Guide to Managing Your Time". If you are not managing your time, you are wasting it. Don't waste time! Get your 7-Part eCourse on Secrets To Better Time Management at http://www.PlanYourTimeNow.com

Added: April 22, 2007
Source: http://contentdesk.com/view.php

Technorati tags: Motivation

Landing A Job

Stephanie Smith reports. The Spring Career Fair is a success for students and employers.

Technorati tags: career fair

Life Success - A System

Success was defined by Earl Nightingale as "the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." An ideal is an idea you are in love with. I feel being successful is having the ability to get your "self" out of the way so you can be of service to others.
People either do what they do for one of 3 reasons: Recognition, money or service. When we become aware of how the "self", our programmed way of thinking and doing, stops us most of the time from being of service we have the opportunity to reach a new level of success no matter what we are already successful at.
Tom Willhite gave the definition for support as, "taking the responsibility to see that all of a person"s abilities are being applied toward the accomplishment of their goal."
The support he talks about is service to others.
With coaching and support we can understand how having a success system is a valuable tool to support us in the further development of any and all future goals we may desire.
Whether you are aware of it or not, you have been programmed with some type of system and it is responsible for where you are now. Often to be able to move to another level of success, we have to adjust or change the system to be, do or have more in our life.
About 3 years ago my family was told my father had terminal cancer and over the last couple of years he was alive I visited him and had the opportunity to reflect on how he influenced me and my life in this regard to a programmed success system. There are basically 5 steps that he shared with me:
1. Fear. My father said I shouldn"t be afraid of the people or whatever situation we might be in with people as they weren"t out to hurt us (or me) they were just looking for help themselves. We had a funeral home and back in those days we also operated the ambulance service. Being a small child and being around that type of environment often brought about the feeling of fear; mostly the fear found from not knowing what is going on with people in regard to them being upset. Crying (often screaming) over the hurt or death of a loved one. I found not being fearful of the situations we were often faced with supported me in being able to be of service to those people in one of the worst times of their lives.
2. Love and patience. My father said that the world and the people in it are not perfect; you have to "put up with" some things you might not like. Life often looks greener on the other side of the fence; and most of the time it is true that we can"t see the forest for the trees. Maybe those are familiar sayings to you as well. What about the judgments we place on people, on ourselves, on our loved ones or even on people we work with? Looking back over my life I wonder how different it might have been if I had used this more often. I remember how he joked about his "having" to put up with my mother! If we are more loving and patient, we might have to put up with more from others. This might add some light on "do it my way or the highway!"
3. Choices and commitment. Life is about choices and our commitment to those choices. I loved his thoughts on how to determine what choices to make. He said: "Is this something you are willing to wake up with for the rest of your life?" A girl I was thinking about marring ended when he said, "you know you don"t want to wake up every morning for the rest of your life with "that" beside you!" And he wasn"t talking about looks, he meant the commitment that was associated with it.
4. Winning. Maybe another way of thinking about this subject is arguing. Simply put, in the end everyone gets what they deserve. Where do you want to spend your time and energy?
5. Life. Be as happy as you can be and let others join you because the only thing in life you are guaranteed is what you just had.
Maybe this will get you to think about your family and how you can do things possibly in a way you haven"t thought of before.
Until next time...

Autor: Mark Shearon

Mark Shearon has been a personal coach, author and successful entrepreneur for most of his life. He has taught courses in personal development around the world and worked with some of the top names in the industry including teachers from the movie "The Secret". To start living the life of your dreams, go to http://www.PraxisLife.net. Personal growth has never been so attainable or affordable. You deserve a Praxis Life!

Added: April 25, 2007
Source: http://contentdesk.com/view.php

Technorati tags: life hack

Intuition - Keep Improving This Powerful Tool

Intuition can be your best resource. Talk to most successful people and they will tell you it is what leads them to their decisions. Good thing, since most decisions are made with incomplete knowledge and the often conflicting opinions of others. Decision making skill is one of the most valuable and sought after attributes in a leader.

Intuition is really the personal skill of assembling - over time - as much usable information from as many sources as possible and then interpreting and arriving at a decision - sometimes this process is very complicated, sometimes it isn"t.

Intuition can be a two edged sword. Think of the selection of people. How often have you seen people hired strictly on intuition - and then fail? How often have you seen the most scientific of selection processes fail to pick the best candidate - the right person for the right job? No wonder some leaders still use the "throw them up against the wall and see if they stick" method of selection. Might as well, they think, doesn"t seem anything else works much better. That kind of thinking and rationalizing is a sure indication that experience isn't being absorbed and added to intuition - it's bouncing off the armor of bias and imbedded belief and lack of openness.

The more open you are to challenges to your beliefs, the more powerful and effective your intuition becomes - and the more you trust it. Think about it - are your beliefs stuck in a rut, where you look for things that confirm your existing beliefs, or are you constantly challenging your beliefs, knowing that they are the results of your perceptions of events, and not necessarily the truth.

Too many challenges to your beliefs and you lose that decision making skill (the "bring me more information" syndrome), and too little challenge leads to the same decisions being made on the same set of beliefs, without regard for changing circumstances. It"s a balancing act - and successful people know that.

Ask top leaders if their intuitive skill has grown over the last five years and they will answer yes - in every case. The added experience of the last five years has allowed them to change and modify certain beliefs, and in doing so they have added even more power to their intuition. Ask less successful people the same question and the answers are varied: some feel they have used their experience to grow, others are locked in tight to their beliefs, and aren"t likely to budge - even if the results of their decisions indicate a different direction should be considered.

Your intuitive skill is the direct result of all the inputs you have received and how you interpret and perceive those inputs. To keep this powerful tool growing requires a dedication to openness, challenging your own beliefs, seeking out opportunities to grow and accomplish and a willingness to modify or change beliefs and behaviors and attitudes.

Fire up your own journey of discovery with a new author, a new social group, a new skill building seminar, a new perspective on your faith, an inventory of your beliefs. The more you do that, the more your ability to make effective decisions and take appropriate actions will grow. You may not even recognize your intuitive growth - but the people that count in your life will. I guarantee it.

Autor: Andrew Cox

Andy Cox is President of Cox Consulting Group LLC. The focus of his work is on helping organizations and their people increase their success in the hiring, developing and enhancing the performance of leaders and emerging leaders. Cox Consulting Group LLC was started in 1995, and has worked with a wide range of organizations, managers and leaders - helping them define success, achieve success and make the ability to change a competitive advantage. He can be reached at http://coxconsultgroup.com

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Technorati tags: intuition

Leadeship 2 - Putting Action Into Words

It is so easy to talk. After all, it's only words. Yet, these same words can come back and haunt you in the worse way. As a leader, this is a fact you need to be aware of. If you have shared your personal values as a leader, than the logical next step is to ensure that you make good on it.

From this, you will understand clearly that "sharing your personal values" is not just a cliche. It is not something that you "do" for your speeches. Your personal values should be exactly that - yours. Everyone have their beliefs, their likes and dislikes. Whether you choose to share them with others is your perogative. However, it would be most unwise to try to create a false persona by blithely listing some "values" that you think others would appreciate.

Action speaks louder than words, and in the case of a leader, those actions can solidify or destroy all the goodwill and trust that have been built.

Let us go for a safe example. Kindness. That is a character trait. Must be kind to animals, that could be a possible personal value. Now, if this is really not a value that you hold dear to your heart, don't say it. After a few beers, you go happily on your way, and then... you pat the dog, or you kick the cat? At a time when our guard is down, when we least expect it, our true values surfaces. It is bad enough to kick the cat, but there could be a million explanations and justifications. While that is bad, it is so much worse if you presented yourself as an animal lover, and then get caught in that despicable act. Kiss your leadership goodbye. You can still be "boss"; but you ain't git no respect!

It is important to articulate your personal values, it is even more important not to be dishonest in any way about them. Some people are not even sure what their personal values are, and so find it difficult to articulate them. But when you ACT, your values shine through. So, be careful what you say. Your words are a testimony more powerful than you know. Your actions then become the final straw that will either seal that truth or break the illusion you try to create.

On final point, some leaders try to "walk the talk". That is fine as long as the efforts are genuine. If you are building up new habits, if you are trying a new tact, fine. But never mis-represent that these are your already your values; your words, if not seen in action, mean nothing.

In the next installment, we will explore how a leader should "Have A Vision".

This is the second installment on Leadership. The first one, "Leadership - Articulate your Personal Values as a Leader" is also published here at http://www.ezinearticles.com/.

Autor: Calvin Warr

Calvin is a veteran product marketing professional with experiences at several multi-national companies including Philips, Nokia and others. He has created global products and have brought successful products to launch in China, USA, Europe and Asia. He continues working and blogs about his ideas today at http://www.calvinwarr.com.

He also contributes articles to http://www.versacreations.net

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/index.php

Technorati tags: leadership

How to Resign to Your Job Gracefully

There are numerous reasons why employees would want to quit their job. It can be caused by a bad relationship with colleagues, mental or physical issues, career change decision or wanting a greener pasture. This is always a crucial stage for everyone because of the fear of not handling your resignation properly because you wouldn’t want to burn bridges while your struggling to start anew.

Resigning gracefully is possible, below is the top ways on how to do it.

1.It is a norm to resign in person, be professional and face your boss. Set an appointment to discuss this pressing matter and provide a written resignation that contains your intention of leaving, the date you are resigning, the date you would like to live and affix your signature.

2.Do not be a coward and announce your resignation through email, fax or phone. You need to be polite even if your leaving. And don’t ditch your job without a warning, more so if you are planning to work in the same industry.

3.While delivering your oral resignation, be honest and tactful. Affirm that your decision is final unless your aiming for a counter offer. And don’t give too much information about the new company that you’ll work for or the situations that lead to your resignation.

4.You should give them a time to find your replacement and offer to participate in the smooth transition by training your replacement sincerely or assign your duties to co-workers.

5.Give at least two to three weeks notice for your resignation. It is unprofessional to leave without a notice and it can also haunt you in the future.

6.Don’t burn bridges because its a small world after all. You might not be working with them anymore but you can always bump into each other. Stay professional.

7.Be prepared for the aftermath of your decision to quit your job. Straighten out all issues before leaving the office. Work diligently and finish your tasks during your notice period.

8.Look for another job before resigning so after all the stress of quitting your old job, you know that another opportunity is waiting for you.

9.Find the right time to quit your job, don’t leave if you are financially unstable and have monthly to pay for. The potential debts will be another dilemma.

10. Maintain a professional and businesslike image and don’t result to drama because that is not what you want to be remembered or labeled. Remember that whatever your reason to go, do your best to resign gracefully so you can keep your head up while crossing any street.

Technorati tags: career

10 Ways We Get Confused Over Communication

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to speak on our level and others seem to be making noise, but not making any sense? Take a look at the following 10 assumptions. If you think this way, you may need to make some changes.

1. We thought that we could take someone else's message and simply pass it on. This is like learning to paint by numbers. The true artist paints from an inborn passion about what s/he sees. When we paint by numbers, we attempt to copy someone else's passion. If we want people to truly hear our message, it must be communicated with passion and belief. We must own it. We must communicate the importance of our message. This happens when we're are able to communicate with conviction. If we are not gripped by our message, our hearers won"t be either.

2. We thought the message was more important than the people we were talking to. There's a difference between talking to a wall and talking to a person. Yet, if we don't communicate properly we may get the same response from both. Our message must communicate a belief in people. Our communication must show respect and what kind of expectations we have in our hearers. If those who receive our message feel like they are being talked down to or belittled, they will turn us off quickly.

3. We thought that how we lived didn't have an effect on what we said. Many times we try to communicate from the perspective of the person we'd like to be instead of the person we are. Authenticity is a powerful communication tool. We must communicate with words consistent with our actions. If we talk the talk, but it doesn"t match the way we walk the walk, then we will face a credibility issue. Sometimes the way we live our lives speaks so loudly people can"t hear what we"re saying - unless the two match up.

4. We thought that leaders should always say something. A leader may be passionate, knowledgeable, and have something very worthwhile to say. But if the message is delivered at the wrong time, it won't have a chance to connect with the hearer. There are times we must know when to communicate and when to be silent. Leaders understand that the right message given at the wrong time can have negative consequences. Consider the timing of every communication. Ask yourself - Is this the right time to say this?

5. We thought that our own style of communication would work in every situation. While we may have a certain way of communicating that is most comfortable to us, our hearers have a variety of ways that they process information. Use variety. Mix it up. Within the first 15 seconds of our communication, people are making decisions as to whether they will keep listening or reading. What will we do to make our message stand out from the rest? The key is to be creative while remaining consistent and understandable.

6. We thought that people would know how to respond to our message. When I was in the third grade, the popular way to ask a girl if she liked you was to write her a note expressing your affection and then give her three options to proclaim her answer (yes, no, and my personal favorite...maybe). Of course, my preferred (but often rejected) response was a "yes, but at the very least, I had let her know her options. When we communicate, we must clarify the appropriate response. We should help our hearer to know how they should respond to our communication. Clearly spell out what kind of action steps they need to know. Give appropriate deadlines and guidelines if necessary.

7. We thought that we only had to say it once. The truth is, we need to say the important things often. Dr. Phillip E. Bozek in his book, 50 One-Minute Tips to Better Communication says, "Busy readers tend to notice the beginning and endings of documents. Place must see information in strategic first and last locations on the page, and place the less important details in middle paragraphs." In whatever mode of your communication, if it"s important, it"s worth repeating.

8. We thought that all we had to use was words. With all of the options available to us through technology and the internet, there is no reason for us not to use visuals and media to enhance our message. Many times it is not enough to say something in order for our hearers to get it, a message must be demonstrated and visualized as well. It is true that a picture can sometimes say it better than we can.

9. We thought if we had something important to say, that people would naturally connect with us. One of the first questions your hearer asks themselves is, "Who are you?" They won't believe your message unless they find you believable. It is our responsibility to connect with our audience. People need to develop some kind of relationship with us if they are going to hear what we"re saying. The definition of rapport is "Relationship, especially one of mutual trust or emotional affinity." The rule of thumb is: No rapport - No response.

10. We thought that people wanted to hear every detail. The best communicators have the ability to take something complex and to make it simple, understandable. Because there is so much information to sort through out there, we must keep our communication brief. A shorter, concise, focused statement communicates much louder than pages of detailed information. Most of the time, brevity will be our best friend. Remember, our job as a communicator is to express, not impress. We shouldn't try to wow our audience with our expansive wisdom. Just say what needs to be said in a way that people will hear it.

Autor: Tim Milburn

Tim Milburn develops student leaders through his organization, Studentlinc. Please visit Studentlinc at http://www.studentlinc.net

You can subscribe to the Studentlinc blog by following this feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/studentlinc

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Technorati tags: communication

Top 7 reasons why a potential employer won't read your resume, and what to do about it

If you're writing a resume, do you really know who your reader is? Here are 7 resume reader characteristics that you are typically up against, and a key perspective that can help you cope with them successfully.

When you write your resume (with or without advice and professional help), who is your target audience? Who are you trying to satisfy?First of all, you’re not writing your resume to satisfy yourself. For that matter, you’re not writing it to satisfy any “expert” – the author of the resume book you just read, or the recruiter you’re working with, or your career guidance counselor, or your cousin Fred who is a human resources manager, or even a professional resume writer.

You are writing for a particular kind of reader: a potential employer. And if you’re like most of us, you make some very, very optimistic assumptions about that reader. You are certain that your reader is eager to find the best person for the job. Your reader, you are sure, is going to read the important things in your resume, and that his or her eye will be drawn to all of those clever formatting tricks you’ve used (columns, underlining, different fonts, boldfacing, italics, strong verbs, skills, numbers, results, etc.).

But you’d better take off the rose-colored glasses. Your resume has a better than 98% chance of ending up in the garbage can (real or virtual).

Here are 7 characteristics of the psychology of the typical resume reader:

1.Resume readers are some of the smartest and most skeptical readers in the world. They know that at least half of what they read consists of lies, exaggerations, half-truths, and semantic and formatting “tricks.” They don’t accept anything at face value. Remember, the typical resume reader sees literally thousands; they know every trick in the book by now.

2.Most readers are in a bad mood, not a happy mood of eager expectancy. They’ve got 300 resumes to read, and nobody is giving them an extra penny to carefully peruse each one. They are rushed for time, annoyed at having to read yet another resume, and hostile rather than sympathetic. Reading yet another resume is a burden that is keeping them from their attention to what they consider much, much more important matters.

3.Therefore, the typical resume reader is looking for a quick and convincing reason to throw out yours. Some will even discard it if they don’t like the envelope or the way the email looks. Some will read only the resume and not the cover letter, or vice-versa. And they are unwilling to open up a zip file. You know how annoying it is to get an email that requires you to open up several files? For the resume reader, it is triply annoying.

4.They are unimpressed by the latest resume “fad.” For a long time, it was (and to a great extent still is) ‘verbs.’ Since a verb is an action word, we think, the reader will be impressed by lots of great verbs. They’re not. The latest craze is numbers. You’ve got to have lots of quantitative data in your resume, or no one will take you seriously. I see resumes now that are nothing but a bewildering array of numbers, and I do not believe it is any more impressive to the typical resume reader than is a bewildering array of verbs.

5.None will read in detail – that we all know. All will skim-read for about 20 seconds or less. They are looking for certain information FIRST, to see if the resume is worth reading in more detail. Usually they look for job titles and academic degrees first. Some look first for gaps in employment, some for certain skills, some for length of employment. Each reader has his or her own top priority to scan for first. And even if they read it in detail, they’ll give it to 5 other people who will skim it.

6.Most readers know that their company is in no hurry to hire. Even if they are interested in you, they will take their time responding. They are not interested in calling you back right away, even if they like your resume.

7.They are not interested in your personal objectives for your life and your career. They are only interested in how you can help their company solve its problems and achieve its goals—that’s why they hire. But they are totally unaware of your unique strengths and value that you can potentially bring to the organization. That’s because in most resumes, the person’s unique strengths and potential value are buried somewhere in the middle of the resume and not written for a skimmer/reader.

So, when you write your resume (or have anyone else help you write it), keep the above characteristics in mind. You have got to give your reader 1) what they are looking for FIRST, and 2) what you want them to find FIRST. That means that you cannot emphasize everything equally in your resume. You’ve got to write it so that they see their priorities and yours instantly. Make sure to keep that in mind, and you’ll have a much better chance of having your resume taken seriously.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sander Marcus, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Professional Resume Writer in Chicago. He has over 3 decades of experience in providing career counseling, aptitude testing, job search coaching, and resume writing to tens of thousands of individuals. He is the co-author of 2 books on academic underachievement, various tests, and numerous articles. He can be contacted at marcus@iit.edu, 312-567-3358.www.center.iit.edu

Technorati tags: employer, resume

Three Steps to Job Fair Success

Technorati tags: job fair

Leadership 1 - Articulate your Personal Values as a Leader

This is the first of a ten-part series on being a good leader. Over the years, we have read and learned a lot about being a good leader. More importantly, we have actually experienced suffering under bad leaders and blossoming under good leaders. All this will either make you seek vengeance or to vow to becoming a better leader.

Most people think that because they have been appointed as a leader, they automatically are leaders. A manager promoted into that position as a result of good work, good connections or good whatever, will now have to lead his new team of people. From being "one of the gang" to now being the boss. How often has this scenario played out in office after office.

"Me, Boss. You, staff."

Contrary to common beliefs, not all managers are hated on the first day of work. The hate usually comes on the second day. OK, that was a joke. Anyway, a leader is usually given a chance to prove himself/herself. How that is done, is up to the new "leader".

At this point in time, let us clarify - you do not become a leader by appointment. You need to win the respect of the team and you need to establish your role within that team. Yes, leaders have a role.

Some people believe that a leader simply sits and gives orders. Giving orders, fortunately, is only a part of the leader"s role. A leader must display a lot of characteristics in order to be an effective leader.

One of the first things a leader should do, is to somehow articulate your personal values as a leader. This might seem trivial, or even irrelevant to some. However, this is important for a very simple, basic reason - we work with PEOPLE. Human beings are not cold, rational automatons. We are people with emotions, likes and dislikes, prejudices, and lots of other stuff.

When we look at our new leader "wannabe", we see another human. We wonder, "What is he like?"; "What does he like?"

Clarify your personal values. This can be done as simply as calling everyone together, give a short, inaugural speech. Speech. This is not an ego trip. This is an important point of initial contact with your team members. Do not give your "Minions! Listen to me!" speech. Instead, give a short introduction of yourself, who you are, where you came from, and so on. It does not have to be long. Just enough to show that you are human enough to communicate with them. It is not an opportunity to regal them with your resume. It is a time to say "Thank you, team. Hope we can work together well."

Let them know what you value most. Honesty? Diligence? Creativity? Show something of yourself to them. Not policies, but rather, share a part of you with them. Let them know where you are coming from.

In the next installment, we will explore how we can take the next step as a leader. Putting action to your words.

Autor: Calvin Warr

Calvin is a veteran product marketing professional with experiences at several multi-national companies including Philips, Nokia and others. He has created global products and have brought successful products to launch in China, USA, Europe and Asia. He continues working and blogs about his ideas today at http://www.calvinwarr.com.

He also contributes articles to http://www.versacreations.net

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/index.php

Technorati tags: leadership

Essential Keys to Stay Motivated in Business

What are the three keys to self-improvement and motivation in Business?

1) INSPIRATION
You need inspiration to keep you motivated and intent on improving yourself. If you are not as interested in your business as you should be, your motivation level will be lower than it can be and you will not be able to sustain interest for long periods.

Take an honest look at your inspiration level. Are you excited about going to work or is it an obligation? Many people choose to go into a business because on paper, it looks profitable, but when they actually go into it, they find it does not interest them.

If you are one of these people, you will grow weary and uninterested quickly because you have no inspiration or passion to sustain you during the difficult times you will encounter as a small business owner.

If you do not like your work, not to worry. There are probably ways that you can re-focus your small business to match your interests and thus develop a passion in it, which will help you stay inspired. Think of ways to do this, and if you truly can not, consider making a clean break and starting something new. You might be able to sell it if it is reasonably well established and could turn a profit for someone who is interested in it, so you might be able to recoup some of your investment this way. But do not try to stay with it if you just have no interest and can not turn it into something you can be passionate about, because without inspiration, you will not be motivated to even try self-improvement.

2) SET GOALS
Short and long-term goal setting is vital for any business owner. If you do not set goals, you have no definite purpose and no clear path to take. It is impossible to be motivated if you are not sure about the direction your company is taking.

Take the time to put your goals in writing. A business plan may sound daunting, but it is really nothing more than putting goals, strategies, implementation plans, and a budget in writing. Write your own business plan and update it at least annually.

Include mini-goals that can be accomplished in a matter of hours, days, or weeks. Include more ambitious grand-goals that may take years to complete. Refer to this plan throughout the year.

Can a business plan really help motivate you? Of course! Written goals will make you feel more professional and certainly more connected to your business. It will also free you from having to reinvent your business goals every single day.

3) NETWORKING
Another key factor in getting and staying motivated is to network with other small business owners and collaborate with those who have expertise you do not. You can not possibly know all the information you need to understand every facet of your business, at least not at first. Use expertise of others to build on your own. You will conquer challenges you could not have alone, and you will likely help others do the same.

Networking also helps offset the solitary working conditions many entrepreneurs face as well. In fact, working alone can be one of most difficult parts of being an entrepreneur. You can never truly succeed without the help of others, and you will need to return the favor and offer your own assistance, too. Mutual support is motivating.

Make life easier by connecting with others either within your community or online. Even when businesses are not related, you will often find common ground and ways to work together.

Many successful entrepreneurs report that finding the right networking group was a turning point in the growth of their business. When a networking group works together, it can help its members generate more qualified sales leads, for instance, and solve problems faster and more efficiently.

Sharing ideas, expertise, and experience is also an invaluable aspect of motivation and self-improvement. Your own personal team of business owners will help re-energize you when the burdens of running your own business seem too much.

And with your networking team to rely on, you can accomplish more in less time and probably have more fun in the process!

Autor: Leon Edward

Leon Edward helps people improve in Goal Setting, Success, Leadership, Motivation, Self-Improvement, Happiness, Memory Improvement, Stress Reduction and more through his articles, blogs, reports and self-help success roladex-on-line. Visit his Success-Leadership Library, Articles and blog at http://www.AwesomeSuccess.org

Leon Edward also helps people improve IQ, focus, memory, concentration, creativity, speed reading, public speaking, time management and reducing stress. Download his IQ Mind Brain Memory Self-Help library at his website http://www.IQMindBrainLibrary.com

Leon Edward Helps people to start, grow and maximize online business income with training articles, reviews, marketing log... ideas and opportunities. Download his FREE Report - How to Find A Solid Home Business Opportunity without Getting Scammed! - Find online business training articles, an internet business in a box, FREE Content, starting a business free ideas, residual internet income opportunities and top network marketing home based businesses... all at http://www.HomeBusinessIT.com

Added: April 3, 2007
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Technorati tags: motivation