Interview Tips

At age 23, you are finally going for your interview. Armed with a qualification and a few internships, you think you are ready for anything. Dressed in your power suite, you march into what you hope is your new job. After waiting in the reception area, they ask you to enter. As you sit down, you realise that you are completely over-dressed. Everyone else in the office is dressed in jeans. But not one for focusing on the negative, you take a deep breath and introduce yourself.Your mind is filled with all the advice your friends and family gave you before. Don’t be nervous, make everything positive, and don’t reveal any weaknesses. The first question the panel asks you is:“What are your strengths and weakness’?”You hesitate; your head that was filled with endless possible answers has gone completely blank. You try and think of an answer, so you start with the easy part, the strengths. As you try hopelessly to quickly think of a weakness that is not really weakness but more of a strength. As you babble on, you realise that you have actually said nothing. Your hands get clammy, you have to move on to the weakness part but you still haven’t thought of anything.First interviews are the worst. Interviews are generally very daunting. Either you babble on, ask all the wrong questions or give the wrong answers.The average 20 to 25 year old is busy going to their first interview, while the average 25 to 30 year old will switch at least three to five times within those 5 years. Which means you better learn quickly on how to answer those tricky questions.Here are some points for interviews. Wear your best professional outfit. Have sparkling glossy hair, polished shoes, manicured hands, light make up and remove all those ‘extra’ earrings. When it comes to that interview, you want to look the part of the position you are applying for, for example if you are applying as a PA, then look the part and give the image of being organised and efficient.In order to handle the dreaded question: “what are your weaknesses?” counteract a negative with a positive, e.g.: “I prefer to be the one in the background making it happen, but if I need to take centre stage, then I will.”To get rid of the nervous bug, just breath. Sitting up straight with your hands still on your lap will help with your composure and hide those shaking hands. Always listen and make eye contact. If you do go blank while in the interview, be honest and say you have gone blank. Honesty is the best policy when going for an interview.Preparation is vital. Always remember the address of the company you are going to. If you are not sure of the neighbourhood, then go on a test run the day before to ensure you know where the location is. Also make sure you know the name of the person who is doing the interview and what title that person is. Researching the company is another good idea. Most companies have websites or have press releases on the Internet. Ask the interviewer what the process is and how long it will take so you have an idea when you will hear from them again. Recruitment agencies are always a good way to go, as they act as the middleman between you and companies. This way, there is someone looking for jobs for you, who gives you advice and guides you through the process. They also try and negotiate the best deal on your behalf.Get your friend to try out questions on you the day before, so you can be prepared and work out the best answers for the more obvious cliché questions. Using a recruitment agency to represent you will give you the opportunity for feedback after the interview. In this way you can be better prepared to handle things differently at the next interview. Do not be too hard on yourself. There may have been somebody more suitable for the position and this was just not the right job for you.

How to Begin Your Career?

Perhaps you are finding it difficult to decide what career to choose, so you are hesitating taking action. In our changing world, it is not uncommon for people to have several quite different careers over the course of their lives. Many skills are transferable to new careers. Make your best choice for now considering opportunities, wealth, and personal satisfaction, and begin taking action.

Those who have the most successful careers usually have a long range vision of where they would like to be in ten, twenty, or even forty years. Having large goals will help you to stay focused and will inspire you to do your best work. Find role models of people who are successful in the ways you wish to be and study their methods. See if you can meet with them and ask how they entered their career and what they felt was most important to their success.

Make it your desire to be well educated and current in your career. Read journals in your field. Ask friends, family, and teachers if they can introduce you to people who may be able to help you in your career.

Always be ethical in all your undertakings big and small, and demonstrate that you have integrity. Make it a habit to treat everyone, whether they are your employer, employee, customer, or even an irritating co-worker or your competition, with respect and courtesy. This will not only mark you for success, but you will enjoy your career better. Make it your habit to do quality work in a timely manner, and strive to give more than is expected.

Keep a journal of your work accomplishments on a weekly basis. This can help you with employer reviews and in marketing yourself to new employers. It can also be used to help you stay focused in your progress towards your long-term dream.

Work And Enjoy Your Retirement

I found this on the Internet the other day and it made me think about my life and life in general. II have just retired from my day job and life is so fantastic.

Retirement at any age can be seen as a beginning or an end. A cup half full or a cup half empty.

My Mother always said when one door shuts another opens and I have lived my whole life on that premise. Sometimes admittedly the door take a bit of time, from ones ultimate descent in the black hole and up again... But it will reopen.

And always when you look back on things a few months, or even years later after the event , you can either see a funny side or what happened has done you a really great turn.

The same can be said about age and retirement. Age can be seen as an advantage or a disadvantage.

I was positive I did not want to retire at any age, life without work seemed like a slow train to nowhere.

But when I finally left the rat race and found myself with just as much going on as before, I have to admit I was surprised. It was just just different, all the fun without the pressure

I wonder now how I ever had time to go to work.

I am so happy in the September of my life that I am constantly amazed at how good it is. No need to sit and do nothing there are endless things to do, things I won’t to do, nobody watching my clock for me. Things I want to do you never think you are going to be able to say that, and suddenly it there.

I read all the books I never had time for, I enjoy myself. I realize at last why older people drive more slowly. Not that I cannot still race around I just do not need to.

I have time to look at the views and find there are places I have been passing for years I have never seen before. I sometimes wonder how much of our lives we never acutely see.

I still do a mass of things to keep my hand in .Running a holiday cottage, taking all the bookings etc. Then two days a week I run a friends Rug shop. It helps him and I love keeping up my selling.


So if your feeling neglected, lonely, bored, just remember there are so many things to do and so much fun to be had.

You just have to look around and start, no excuses, no poor little me. Get up in the morning and say a thank you for another day in this beautiful world and get involved. We have one life Live it.
Have a great week

Things To Remember In Resume Writing

People often talk about good resumes and resume-writing skills, but you may be intrigued as to what is a good resume all about and what can one possibly consider to create an impressive resume. To show some direction to these lost job-hunters, here we have given some pointers that can help your resume go from the huge pile to the employer’s hands.

First and foremost, set a goal—the kind of job you want to apply for, what career you want to built, etc. Without this, your resume loses focus and may reduce to just an unwanted piece of paper. Knowing your career objective would allow you to create the right content for your resume.

Secondly, remember that your resume is to advertise yourself; you are selling yourself to a prospective employer. Hence, it should be a marketing communication, highlighting the positives of you as an employee. But do not make the mistake of thinking a resume is to get you a job. A good resume is only to get the first visibility, ensure an interview call. Therefore, don’t limit the resume to include only job history, mention your significant accomplishments as well and other skills that you may have.

Always use a direct tone. Directness is considered the key to good resumes. Don’t beat about the bush too much. Come to the point in a clear, concise manner to make it easier for the reader/employer to screen out the needed information fast. A good way to be direct is to use action words. Start sentences with action words like “analyzed”, “prepared”, “conducted”, etc. And, format the resume in bullets so that it’s easy-to-read.

Next, prioritize the information. While mentioning your strengths/skills, write it in descending order. Remember, only about 25—30 seconds are spent on a resume. Therefore, the best should come first.

Another good idea is to include the important keywords (relevant to your applied job). With a bit of research, it’s not hard to find the perfect keywords to be included in the résumé. Buzzwords, pertaining to specific industries also help.

Finally, have your resume reviewed by someone else before you submit it with an employer. A second look often identifies gaps, if any, in the resume. Thereby, you get a chance to better it further. Resume writing sample can help a lot; however, the final decision lies with you about how you want it to be. So be it!

Getting into the rhythm of your job and career

Lots of problems in a firm is usually tracked to the difference of everyones belief or perception. Well, there will always be two side in a story isn't it? But for every situation don't expect that everyone will understand there will always be one or two who doesn't.

Regardless if you are working in a much stable company, in just a small office or just having your office in the your house you will just see yourself in such scenario. May it be with how you see things, how others will be remembering it and other follows.

What is the cause if it?

Everyone see things in a different but unique way. Everyone has their own experiences in life that would may teach them some things that others haven't encountered yet. People vary on how they grow, their family background specifically. Of course no one wants any argument. It just sometimes what is sensible to others is senseless to one.

So how to resolve the matter and meet in one point with your respected colleagues:

A. Learn to accept and respect that not everyone has the same perceptions and you are going to see it as a perception. Nothing more nothing less.

B. Learn to listen. Trying to explain clearly may help.

Hard feelings, how to prevent it?

A. Respect your colleagues opinion.

B. Think that you are solving a problem. Sometimes it helps to think that you are solving one rather than trying to brag that you are right.

C. Listen to whatever explanation that they may have if necessary.

If the above statement is being practiced professionalism and productivity may come to development. Avoid misunderstanding always give your chance to listen, Hear what others is saying and respect it. This also help to be a harmonious relationship among your office mates. Remember to acquire proper respect show respect to others.

Your Jobs and Career Politics

Politics, does your work place is filled with office politics?! Does this stop you from mingling with others and makes you just be sinking into your job?

Politics has already been a part of a human living wherever and whatever you are doing it always keeps on tailing anybody. That you'll be finding yourself asking why you couldn't stop it and avoid the conflict.

The only thing there is not to isolate yourself. If you feel like being out of place, make yourself to be the one whom they'll be talking about. Why not try being blamed for miscellaneous. Hey you're out of the circle!

You would always missed out the latest news about a group. Let yourself be aware of the news in your company, I must say it is just a part of the story. Eat with your colleagues in the pantry or you may offer the receptionist a cup of coffee. Through this it will allow you to be updated with what is latest.

Whenever there'll be arguments avoid taking sides. Defending one side only gives you little good. You should know how to mingle among them, your peers. Avoid judging be open minded as possible. Be trust worthy enough and best of all be diplomatic. This helps you to be successful in what field you belong. Learn to circulate among your colleagues.

Gossiping is what all should be avoiding. When its already near you... please kindly remove yourself carefully from it. Never give comments because this add color to whatever the issue may be. Remember news does flies. You better take care of your image.

Have you ever hated someone which you doesn't know if his only a fake. Trying to win everybody's heart. Who's pretending to be nice by doing little favors for colleagues?!...

Try to do no mistakes. Take note that whenever this is noticed by others all they'll be waiting for is your failure. They may compliment you but at the back of their mind there may be other things they are thinking of.

There should never be any destruction to your career. Somehow just be subtle about your dreams. Never exagerate anything that everybody was left noticing it. Act natural. Keep your feet on the ground. By doing this, it will make everything easier for your colleagues to trust you.

It could be done in a way you'll not be hurting yourself but indulging in the pleasure of it. Just avoid anyone. You can not please everyone but at least somehow there's something about you that they will love.

5 Resume Tips: Do What Most Job Seekers Don't

When it comes to writing a great resume, there are no hard and fast rules or specific formats that you should adhere to; however, your resume should be targeted to each specific job that you are applying to. In addition, it must be concise, clear, command attention and stand out from the pack.Include a Title for the Job You WantUse a professional title for the position that you want. An improper job title will only serve to position you at a level far below the responsibility or salary level you are seeking to achieve. Including a job title can greatly increase the number of interview calls that you get for higher positions and improve your chances of clinching a higher salary – and when you start at a higher salary, your career growth is also accelerated. Include an Executive Summary (what you can do for them) - Not an Objective (Me-focused)An executive summary should be clear and well defined, consisting of a short paragraph or four to five bulleted points. It should focus on how your skills can benefit the employer, not on what the employer can do for you. Using action words will help to convey you as an intelligent and active individual capable of making contributions to accomplish company goals. Highlight your strengths and achievements clearly and quickly. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see information that is to the point, and hardly have time to dig for buried nuggets of information hidden in your resume. Include Relevant InformationLet’s state the obvious - your resume is targeted at landing interviews. In effect, you are advertising your capabilities and experience. Therefore, you need to provide precise, accurate and relevant information. Your resume should be able to convey relevant information, but at the same time, the resume should also convey a message that if the hiring manager buys this product (YOU) it will lead to positive and direct benefits in specific areas where their needs exist (the job). Brag - With PROOF!When it comes to your resume, you can forget modesty. Brag if you have irrefutable proof that establishes you as an outstanding performer (notice I didn’t say exaggerate or lie). Give your resume an accomplishment-driven profile. Accomplishments are results you produce by resolving problems, or when you overcome a real or perceived obstacle. Mention any project that you spearheaded that served to heighten employee morale, revenues or company savings. Formulate 'Problem-Action-Result' (PAR) statements to convey your ability for producing similar or better results in your future employment. Highlight Achievements - NOT ResponsibilitiesAlthough important, listing responsibilities should not form the focus of your resume. Responsibilities are passive - achievements project you as an active, dynamic individual. When you are seeking a higher position, your achievements rather than your responsibilities acquire crucial importance – so don’t clump the two together. Write a paragraph giving an overview of your responsibilities and then highlight your achievements with bullets. When you want to sell something, you must make it stand out. Having a well-written resume is crucial when it comes to getting interview calls. Following the 5 tips above will ensure that you maximize your chances.