Job Interview Etiquette Mind Your Ps and Qs

Job Interview Etiquette Mind Your Ps and Qs Manners are not only important at the dinner table (use your napkin, please), on the telephone (listen as well as speak), in a theater (refrain from talking during the performance), but also during a job interview. Yet many job seekers forget the importance of being polite. They jingle the change in their pocket, click their tongue, stare at the wall or at their lap, or cut in when the hiring manager is speaking. Nerves can throw you off. Your heart races, your palms perspire, your mouth goes dry. You may even forget what you want to say. But none of these experiences are reasons to forget your manners. To give yourself the edge when it comes to sitting across from a potential employer, review the following polite practices and then go over them with a spouse or friend before the in-person meeting. Arrive ahead of time. It may be fashionable to come late to a cocktail party but its bad manners to walk into an interview after the agreed-upon time. Always arrive at least ten minutes early so you can freshen up, catch your breath, sit quietly in the lobby reviewing your notes. Maintain good eye contact. You probably know what its like to speak with someone who is shifty-eyed. You might wonder what he has up his sleeve or what she is hiding. Looking a man or woman in the eye when speaking is not only polite, its good business practice. It assures the other person of your sincerity and genuine interest. And it will remind him or her to return the eye contact. Listen well. Focus your mind and take in what the interviewer is saying. If you miss a detail or dont understand what is said, ask politely for it to be repeated. It may help to have a small notepad and pen in your hand. Jot down items that are of importance to you. You might even tell the interviewer ahead of time that youll be taking notes because you don’t want to miss anything. That too, is a sign of good manners. Youre letting the other person know that youre serious about the job in question. Say thank you. At the close of the interview, be sure to shake hands and express in warm words how much you appreciate the time and the information you received. Remember, everyone likes to be acknowledged and thanked. Those who express gratitude will not be forgotten because it is so rare for people today to share genuine thanks. Then follow up with a thank you note in your handwriting. That will seal the deal and give you a good chance of winning a second interviewâ€"or even the job itself. Further reading at How Saying Thanks Can Get You a New Job Image: Shutterstock

Taking the Time to Learn the Proper Way to Write a Resume

Taking the Time to Learn the Proper Way to Write a ResumeThe input resume writing course is a small course available to anyone that wants to learn how to write a great resume. A few of the things that the input course includes is that it will show you the right way to write and format your resume. This means that once you have finished this course, you will be able to write a well-formatted resume that will help you get the job that you want.While writing a person's resume is important, it does not mean that it has to be difficult. By using a course, you will learn the right way to write a resume that will be acceptable for the different types of resumes that are available. This means that by taking the time to take the input course, you will have the right mindset to know how to write a resume. Plus, when you finish the course, you will have a little knowledge to pass on to others.If you would like to learn more about the course, then you should look for the input resume writing cou rse on the school's website. The course has been designed by the company that offers the input job search course. The course consists of an outline of what a resume should look like, along with examples of resumes that are written by others who have taken the course.After you have finished the outline, you will then need to decide what type of information that you want to cover in the full course curriculum. After you make this decision, you will then need to research the course and determine if it is something that you want to do. The input resume writing course will help you get started, and give you the chance to prove that you are someone who is able to write a well-formatted resume.You should think about the type of information that you want to write in your resume. You should also be able to find the information that you want in order to create a resume that is professional. The input resume writing course will help you know how to create a professional looking resume.When you start to learn more about the curriculum, you will find that there are materials that will teach you how to write a resume and why you need to use this particular format. You will learn the right way to format a resume in order to fit into your needs. You will find that the input resume writing course will teach you what to write in the curriculum that will make the resume that you want and make sure that it is professional looking.This is the type of curriculum that you will find in many schools that offer this type of course. When you find the input resume writing course, you will find that it includes all of the information that you need in order to learn how to write a good resume. You will find that the input resume writing course will allow you to learn more about the various formats that you can use to format your resume and what is the best way to do this.The input course comes in a course that you can use as a stand alone course, or you can also find it as part of the larg er curriculum that you can find at other schools. The input course is small but can help you to learn the proper way to write a resume that will get you hired and get you the job that you want. By taking the time to learn the right way to write a resume, you will know how to get the job that you want. It is an easy process that you can take advantage of.

What is Commercial Awareness What do employers mean by this University of Manchester Careers Blog

What is Commercial Awareness What do employers mean by this University of Manchester Careers Blog So we hear this term banded about by employers or recruiters at fairs, online and in articles and even in class but what does it really mean and what do employers really want? It is not as complicated as it sounds, simply put commercial awareness is understanding the business as a whole that you are applying to. This includes understanding the company culture, values, objectives, the businesses competitors, the sector as a whole as well as business/sector trends. Now you might be thinking this sounds like hard work, how much time do I need to research all this? The answer again is simple, you are investing in your future and only you can do it so it will take as much time as it takes. This is YOUR Career and  your responsibility. For some of you there may be several decades ahead of you for your carers so investing time and research in to what you want to do next is crucial.  If you are looking to become successful and get a career here in the UK or back in your home country you need to firstly understand what is commercial awareness and how do I demonstrate it? When speaking to students and young professionals I hear the following  complaints more often than I would like: I have sent off several applications and I havent heard anything back or I get as far a the assessment centre/group exercise and dont get any further what am I doing wrong?. The feedback when I go to employers with the questions is the same time and time again, applicants are failing to demonstrate commercial awareness in their application, the initial phone interview and at assessment centres. So here are my tips on where to start! 1. Research, Research, Research!!!! Google the organisation you are applying to before you even submit the online application. Why you may ask, well in most cases as soon as you submit that CV, cover letter or form you may receive an initial phone interview 10 minutes, an hour or a week later so it is better to be prepared! 2. Demonstrate on the application your motivations for wanting to work for the organisation and this is generally done  through a cover letter. Your motivations will be based on your knowledge of the business, what it does, how it operates and what it has to offer you.In addition to your motivations, you need to demonstrate through your cover letter what YOU can bring to the business in terms of skills or knowledge and a strong understanding of the business can help you formulate this. 3. Phone interview as I said before be prepared, have your documents in front of you including the notes you made about the company. Go beyond the About us section of their website, Google trends, company projects and accounts if applicable. Demonstrate your passion and knowledge through the research and this will make a big impression with the recruiters. They need to know that you arent looking for just any job you are looking for a career with them. It costs a lot of money to recruit and train a person into a role so demonstrate that you are worth their time and money! 4. Assessment Centres Group Exercises are an opportunity for you to show an assessor in person this is how I can contribute to your organisation. In the majority of recruiters I have spoken to in the UK and overseas they need to know you are passionate about their company and brand. Dont be afraid to show this, remember the group exercise is not a competition it is a chance to show you can work as part of a team and contribute ideas while valuing other members. That being said do take this opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the company and its competitors depending on the group exercise topic. Be prepared for anything but dont hesitate to speak up and be heard. Commercial awareness will get you points as well as contributing ideas, and time keeping. Even with these hints, tips and employer feedback you would still be surprised how many  people turn up to interview with no preparation and expect to wing it. In some cases applicants arrive for an assessment centre and know nothing of the organisation. In simple terms it is like arriving for an exam having never opened a book would YOU do that? Certainly not so why do some graduates think it is OK to do this when applying for a job? The only thing I can say in this instance is no matter how many years you studied or what your grades are it is important to know the business you are interviewing for and more! Give yourself the best possible chance, dont gamble with your career, be smart and make the right decisions from the start. Applications and interviews Careers advice Graduate International Postgraduate careers commercial awareness Graduates job hunting making a good impression

How to Start an Online Business in 5 Easy Steps - Classy Career Girl

How to Start an Online Business in 5 Easy Steps You did it. You just had your ‘ah-ha’ moment; youre going to start an online business. Even better, it’s a completely online,  work from home  type of business idea!   Let your feelings about this new idea soak in and bask in the excitement and the possibilities ahead. Take a moment to ask yourself what you are feeling: excitement and pleasure, fear, certainty, uncertainty, curiosity, determination? If passion is at the forefront of these feelings, then you’ve found the fuel to fire up and grow your business idea. You’re bursting at the seams with passion and you have a cutting-edge idea. Now what? You might want to jump in and build an online store. But, how do you transform a thought into a tangible and profitable online business? If you are like many new entrepreneurs out there, you may be thinking “Holy moly I don’t even know where to start!”. Well lucky you for, this is where my 5 steps to launching an online business come into play! If you are excited to start an online business but don’t know how, use these steps for guidance: 1: SMP Brainstorming Session (What are you Solving, who is your target Market, what will be your  Profit). This is a HUGE first step and is quite essential when it comes to creating your own online business. Let’s use this example: You’ve been creating glorious dishes in your kitchen lately that almost look like pieces of art. Your friends come over for a dinner party and gush with enthusiasm how delectable your plates look and how wonderful the presentation is. That gives you an idea: a food blog dedicated to creating dishes that look like art. Sweet! Now, take a day (or even weeks) to do some major SMP brainstorming. What will you be solving? In my example, maybe there is a need for a food blog dedicated to creating dishes that resemble masterpieces. Maybe there are many people out there absolutely love to cook and want to be inspired by dishes that are visually appealing. Think about what you will be solving with your business idea. Who is your target market? When starting a business, this is a crucial first step. You need to know who your audience is or who you will be essentially selling to. Once you finalize this this can dictate everything moving forward with your business, from the branding, the color scheme, and the copy of your content. How will you profit? From my example, it may take quite a while to start building a profit from a food blog. Even so, you can still make a pretty penny. Think about HOW you will create a profit from your online business. It could be selling ad space, sponsored posts, recipe development, and even online products. 2: Finances Before you go forward with any sort of action or strategy for your business. You need to sort out your finances. Write down a list of capital or business needs and estimate your cost, or investment. Lucky for online business owners, you don’t have to worry about rent (yet) or any high risk investing. Some financial decisions to take into consideration when creating an online business can be: your domain name, your web hosting, your web designer, a virtual assistant (down the road of course   you need to hustle first, girl!), and even online advertising. 3: Digital Ownership Now that you’ve done the brainstorming and the financial plan, it’s time to take digital ownership. This means: securing your domain name and similar domain names. Snatching up the perfect social media handle (if it can be the same across all boards, the better), and searching the trademark directory. 4: Lead Magnets This is KEY to building a list and client base when you are ready to start selling a product or a service. You need to start thinking of lead magnets, or “freebies” that you can offer on your new website ASAP. [RELATED: 4 Marketing Rules For Starting a Business] 5: Strategy Now that you’ve got your basics covered, it’s time to create a strategy and TAKE ACTION! When I create my own strategy, I get out my calendar and make timelines for myself. I set my timeline for my end goal, and then create smaller goals leading up to my end goal with deadlines attached. I then create a strategy for my development plan, marketing plan, and more. Once you’ve got your strategy in place, it’s time to TAKE ACTION.   Thirty minutes a day to start an online business idea is all it takes to get started! Are you going to start an online business?  Share in the comments so we can come check it out and support you!

College Application Resumes - A Must For College Admissions

College Application Resumes - A Must For College AdmissionsA college application resume is an important document that contains a complete resume of the candidate's academic record at the time the application was submitted. It is mostly used by colleges and universities to select students for admission. The application materials are formatted differently than the regular curriculum vitae and the contents of the documents may differ slightly.There are many college application resume formats that are used and an individual should use one which best suits the requirements. Colleges and universities prefer to use the application form that has all required details of the applicants and what they have achieved. When using a template or typical resume, a college's application form needs to be read carefully to ensure the basic information is included and any information that is not in the form should be added. Colleges or universities will generally ask about the past jobs and their responsi bilities and the educational background of the applicant.Most people think that the resume is a piece of paper that they put on their desk and know that certain things that will be filled in later. But the truth is that the process is not so simple. Every student who applies for admission has all the information written down in his/her own hand, so the application form is of great help.It is very important to mention the applicant's appearance. An applicant's physical appearance should match the image of the college and the school. The admissions officer will choose the students on the basis of the look of the applicant and this should be considered by the college. The candidate should ensure that he/she is properly dressed and fit as well.The next step after the college application resume is to include all the essential background information as well as achievements. This information will be used to categorize the student for admission to the particular school. Also, the complete d etails of the candidate's academic history, any honors or awards, any relevant work experience, activities and responsibilities, the last exams taken and any honors which the candidate has received should be included.A common mistake that many applicants make is that they forget to mention any awards or recognitions given to them by their parents or colleagues. Honors or awards that were received when the candidate was in school will not make it into the list. Therefore, any awards received while studying will need to be mentioned separately on the application form.If the candidate has met the college's requirement for academic qualifications and meet the basic requirements for the school the college or university, they will be eligible for the admission. Only the student can decide whether to take the admission or not. After all, every applicant has the right to choose a particular school.College application resume is a critical document that contains the personal details of the st udent as well as the educational qualification. When preparing the application form, it is best to use a template. It is also wise to write as much as possible of the information.

How to Choose Resume Writing Service That Will Succeed

How to Choose Resume Writing Service That Will SucceedMany people choose to hire a resume writing service to help them with their professional development. Many people find that they are learning many new skills by working with professionals who are trained in the art of crafting quality resumes. Here are some tips to help you choose a resume writing service that you can trust and benefit from.- You need to choose a professional resume writing service that has a good reputation in the field. Make sure that they have strong references and solid testimonials for their clients. You can read through customer testimonials that have been posted on the website to get an idea of how people feel about the company and how they rate their experiences. If there are negative reviews, make sure you do not sign up with that company.- You should also check out the credentials of the writers. If a writer is not licensed, it may not be a good idea to use them. They may be untrained or inexperienced an d leave you with little to no value in the future. Also, you should look for writers that are truly passionate about their job.- Look at their website and make sure that the service is easy to use. Many people have trouble with creating resumes because they don't know how to go about things the right way. Check out the service's software and see if the formatting is easy to follow. If the company doesn't offer it, it is best to move on.- Check out what the company offers and ask if it is up to date and current. You should be able to get updates on things like Word and PowerPoint downloads so that you can get things up and running quickly. Also, make sure that the writers are updating their portfolio regularly so that you can learn new skills and see how your career will evolve.-You should also make sure that the writers are ethical. There are several reputable services out there and you want to make sure that you are doing business with those that are ethical and who will stand behi nd their work. There are plenty of unscrupulous companies out there and you want to be careful. The truth is, if you aren't being scammed, you can still make a decision based on the written content of the site, as well as the testimonials you read about from past clients.It is best to go with the one that is affordable but has great credentials. They should be up to date and provide you with a template so that you can put together a professional looking resume. If you hire a company that does not have these credentials, you may end up wasting your time or money.You should make sure that you take your time when choosing a resume writing service. This will allow you to reap the benefits from the writing service, as well as giving you valuable skills as you progress throughout your career.

Smart Strategies for Getting a Pay Raise

Smart Strategies for Getting a Pay Raise Smart Strategies for Getting a Pay Raise Smart Strategies for Getting a Pay Raise May 14, 2011 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas Leave a Comment A few years ago, my previous manager confirmed my biggest fear I was being underpaid.   It’s not my fault your salary is so low,” he said. “I couldn’t believe how low your salary was when you came into this department two years ago.” His words hung over me like a great big cartoon bubble.   They made my stomach turn inside out.  They made me furious.   First, at him.   Then later, at myself.   That conversation that made me realize I had to do two things: 1) stop working for this gooberhead, and 2) step up and fight for the salary I knew I deserved. Three years after that conversation, I recieved a 35% salary increase (same company, different manager.)    Below are a few of my salary strategies that may help you get a beefier paycheck, too!   Work with people who value you!     If you’re performing high quality work but not being financially rewarded, then you’re working for the wrong person. I’ll say it again you’re working for the wrong person!    The key is to work for managers or clients who value, respect, and appreciate your strengths and accomplishments.   When you work for people who appreciate you, they’re more likely to do everything they can to get you in the “right” pay range. I’m not talking about working for someone who has a job and needs someone to fill it.   I’m talking about someone who values your performance and has the means to pay for it.   Big difference.   One thinks anyone can do your job.   The other thinks you’re one of the elite few who can do your job.   Put Yourself Out in Front!   She who gets the biggest results, gets the biggest raise.Doing your job successfully won’t get you a big raise.   Doing your job smarter could.   Stop thinking that working 70-hour weeks, attending 10 meetings a day and doing the work of four people will make you worthy of a higher salary.   It won’t.   It’s not the quantity of work you’re doing, but  the quality.     Go for projects that are highly valued and highly visible by senior management.  Focus on initiatives that will generate revenue, save costs, or make the company more competitive. Search out ways to gain visibility and strengthen your credibility with senior managers.   This means stepping up and leading, or at the very least being a major contributor on these high profile projects and teams.     Yes it’s scary.   Yes it’s risky.   But if you want to keep playing it safe then get use to those 3-percent annual pay raises. (There’s nothing wrong with a 3-percent raise, but this article is for those who feel like they’re grossly underpaid.)    Know what you’re worth â€" and demand it.   There’s no excuse not to do your homework and find out what you’re worth in today’s marketplace.  Find out what your job role is currently paying in positions inside and outside the company by doing a little research.   One of my favorite sites is www.GlassDoor.com         Also, check out salary calculators and reference guides on salary.com, realrates.com, and payscale.com. Ideally, the more salary ranges for the same job role in the same geographical area that you can compare, the better.   Once you’re certain of the salary you should be making, then it’s time to meet with your manager.   Focus on three things: 1) clear and measurable results that you’ve delivered, 2) what the job is currently paying in the marketplace, and 3) the salary range that you want.  Be logical, not emotional. Remember, you rarely get paid what you’re worth unless you ask for it â€" or in most cases, demand it!   And finally… One of my clients ended her pay pitch by saying, Every day I give 110% to this company.   Im  just asking for that last 10%.   She got her 10% raise!   Hallelujah, Sister!!    :))   â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-   Sherri Thomas is President of Career Coaching 360, an international speaker, and author of “Career Smart â€" 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand” â€" on AMAZON’s TOP 10 LIST for personal branding books!  Career Coaching 360 (www.CareerCoaching360.com) provides career planning, management coaching, and leadership development support to help professionals change careers quickly and easily.   To learn how you can reinvent your career quickly and easily, visit Career Coaching 360's website for resume help, interviewing support, and personal career coaching packages.  

Rousing Review The War of Art!

Rousing Review The War of Art! Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are become it. Steven Pressfield Its the first in my monthly Rousing Reviews series! OK, its technically the second (I reviewed The Renaissance Soul in June of 09, so that totally counts, right?), but its the first on a consistent basis. Lets face it, our lives sometimes get in the way, its tough to sit down with a book that you know will do ya a world of good, both for yourself your fans/readers/followers/clients. So yes, this series is absolutely a structure I set-up for myself to make me accountable to read the books that Ive been tagging along the way. See, I life coach myself sometimes! And duh obviously I do this for you kids, too (say it with me: Awwwwww!). I wanted to start off the series with The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield because its really a hell of a title. What artist wouldnt want to go into battle, break through their creative roadblocks, emerge victorious with the Writers Block Vampires head on a stick? And while Id like to say that thats what this book does, I cant. Not to say it wont help slay that Vampire, but its more about discovering all the ways the Vampires likely to attack you instilling yourself with the mojo to make it not only not bite you, but to get it to leave you the hell alone, at least until tomorrow. Let me explain. The War of Art is split into three books: Resistance (Defining the Enemy) Combating Resistance (Turning Pro) Beyond Resistance (Higher Realm). As you can tell, Resistance is the Vampire here. The long short of it is that every single thing that causes a creative person to shelve their creativity whether its perfectionism, addiction, procrastination, or the million other excuses a creative person gives themselves to not do is a direct weapon of Resistance.   For me, Book One was eye-opening, powerful, worth the price of the book a few times over. When I flipped the page to Book Two, I may or may not have clutched it to my chest said to myself, You will be beaten dog-eared when Im through with you. And then I may or may not have kissed it. I couldnt help it hearing about all the different Vampires that get in the way of making Art, why, it was a wonder that any Art exists at all! The whole reason Resistance exists is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us fro m doing our work the more call or action is to our souls evolution, the more Resistance we will feel towards pursuing it. How evil is that? Its so evil that the more we discover something thats authentically us, thats calling us to do it, the more it attempts to stop us! That is so, so evil that I not only wanted its head on a stick, I wanted to chop it up into pieces then stomp it to double death! Seriously, it pissed me off. Im ready, then, to find my weapon. How do I stop this evil monster? I must need a gun, an axe, a dagger, a..wait, what? The only thing I need to do is do my work every day? Thats it? And not worry about how good itll turn out to be, or how much of it will get done, or where its gonna take me.I just need to sit down do it? And then the Resistance Vampire is dead, at least until tomorrow? Well, thats pretty awesome. I thought Id have to lift iron or something get big Buffy muscles. In Books Two Three, the author (who wrote The Leggend of Bagger Vance, amongst other things) goes into what we should be doing to get our work done (show up every day, stay there all day, be committed in the long-term, make money from it), how to be a professional about it (be prepared, ask for help, dont show off), how the angels get called around us when we do our work to empower us (its written less hippy-dippy than that, but its still fairly hippy-dippy stuff). Its totally valid worthwhile really good stuff. But what I wanted, both as a Creative as a life coach, was more tangible stuff to do. I wanted homework! I wanted to read about exercises things I could do to help me not only change my mindset (which Mr Pressfield already helped me do), but to break my bad habits allow me to get to work, strong enough to slay a fresh Vampire daily beat that big bitch, Resistance. Since I am that life coach, Ill take this into my own hands offer you these exercises, whether you read the book or not (but seriously, read the book. It would be an extremely worthwhile afternoon for you, as the book takes about 2-3 hours to read cover to cover): If youre having trouble self-motivating want the support of being part of a group that vows to be creative every day, then join, uh, Creative Every Day! While mostly geared towards artists, you could also write around the topics that are suggested every month, or write songs about them, or dance to emyou get the point. You can also make a commitment to blog every month by joining NaBloPoMo (join anytime!) or mark your calendars for November resolve to write that novel thats in your head by joining NaNoWriMo! Go easy on yourself. If being creative every day is too daunting (Mamas gotta put food on the table, after all!), then let yourself off the hook commit to X amount of time every week to your Art, even if its 15 minutes. I have a client who committed to doing 15-20 minutes of music each week, when I asked her about how it went, she laughed at me. 15 minutes?! I did twice that the first day! Yup, you might get swept away and/or find your groove blow that number out of the water, but even if you dont, youre taking baby steps to get there. And even better figure out a prize to give yourself every week that goal gets met. Kindergarden teachers have it right those gold stars are really motivating! Answer this: How does Resistance work its evil way into your life? Write down all the weapons it throws at ya, write down all the antidotes you can think of to slay it. Or draw what the Resistance Vampire looks like,   labeling all of its evil bits pieces, then draw you, all Buffy-fied kicking its ass. Sweet revenge. The author writes, The years have taught me one skill: How to be miserable. I know how to shut up keep humping. Well, I write: Screw that! Make your creativity session as awesome as possible. Put on your favorite music. Light the orange ginger scented candle you love. Kiss that photo of your hot husband before you start. Seriously you are not being tortured here! Find the fun why youre called to do this in the first place. On a sheet of paper, write I am a ___________ 25 times, then write Im meant to _______________ ten times. In a stream of consciousness exercise, fill in the blanks. No censoring! When every line is full, go through them one by one. If something doesnt feel like its coming from you, or isnt aligned with your values, strengths or passions, cross it out. Whats left? Thats a start to help you discover who you are become it, like the quote at the top of the review says. Have you read the book? If not, do you wanna? Do you agree with my Rousing Review, or should I go shove it? Please share your thoughts, insights, suggestions awesomeness in the comments section. Ill give you a topic: Steven Pressfield is neither a printing press nor a field discuss!