Why do some people have all the luck while others are perpetually unlucky? Professor Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire was determined to get to the scientific bottom of the phenomenon of luck, and what he discovered may surprise you:
I placed advertisements in national newspapers asking for people who felt consistently lucky or unlucky to contact me.
Hundreds of extraordinary men and women volunteered for my research and over the years, have been interviewed by me. I have monitored their lives and had them take part in experiments. The results reveal that although these people have almost no insight into the causes of their luck, their thoughts and behaviour are responsible for much of their good and bad fortune. Take the case of seemingly chance opportunities. Lucky people consistently encounter such opportunities, whereas unlucky people do not.
I carried out a simple experiment to discover whether this was due to differences in their ability to spot such opportunities. I gave both lucky and unlucky people a newspaper, and asked them to look through it and tell me how many photographs were inside. I had secretly placed a large message halfway through the newspaper saying: 'Tell the experimenter you have seen this and win $50'.
This message took up half of the page and was written in type that was more than two inches high. It was staring everyone straight in the face, but the unlucky people tended to miss it and the lucky people tended to spot it.
Unlucky people are generally more tense than lucky people, and this anxiety disrupts their ability to notice the unexpected.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Recruiter Roundtable: The 'Weakness' Question
Being asked about one's own "biggest weaknesses" in a job interview is considered (by many job-seekers, at least) one of the worst interview questions. Do you ask candidates this, and how would you recommend candidates answer this question in a job interview without being phony?
Be Upfront
There are times when I ask job candidates this question. It's not that I want to nitpick or make people feel uncomfortable, but rather I want to see in which areas they feel they need to improve and what they are doing about it. In order to advance professionally, we all need to be able to honestly identify not just our strengths but also our weaknesses and how we can upgrade in these areas.
I recommend that job candidates be upfront during interviews. Don't say you have "no weaknesses" or "work too hard." Instead, tell hiring managers what you are working on improving and what you've done to build your skills in these areas.
One thing to keep in mind: If one of your weaknesses is directly related to the position and could potentially take you out of the running, the opportunity may not be right for you.
-- DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American permanent placement services, Robert Half International
Let the Job Description Guide You
First, make sure you truly understand the job duties before the interview starts. Match the job duties with your strengths. What is a strength you have that someone may consider as a weakness?
For example, if you apply to a sales job, your weakness could be "not quick to close": "I really take a lot of time to listen to a customer before I provide recommendations. A lot of sales people are quick to answer, but I spend time making sure I understand the customer's needs." Sales people need to be good listeners although they don't always come across that way.
Another example is if you applied to a very detail-oriented job, your weakness is you are a perfectionist. The hiring manager needs someone that pays close attention to the little things.
In summary, a weakness on one hand is a strength on the other.
-- Amanda Mertz, lead recruiter, Wells Fargo Home and Consumer Finance Group
Will It Match Your References?
The importance of this question is often not the candidate's answer per se, but whether or not the candidate's references respond in a similar manner. In short, it is a way for employers to assess the candidate's awareness of his or her own strengths and weaknesses.
-- Yves Lermusi, CEO, Checkster
Choose Wisely
This is definitely a popular question that we often ask, and a lot of our clients also like to include when interviewing candidates. While "weakness" is a harsh word, remember that nobody is perfect, and we all have areas of development that we need to work on.
Employers are cognizant of this and ask the question for two reasons -- first, to make sure your weakness isn't a skill they need someone to have mastery of immediately, and second, to see how you handle yourself under pressure and when asked tough questions.
We advise our candidates to be honest and focus on a weakness that is not one of the top three qualities required for the job. Also, be sure to describe how you've already taken steps and made strides in strengthening this skill, showing your ability and desire to constantly learn and grow.
- Kathy Gans, Senior Vice President, Ajilon Professional Staffing
Be Upfront
There are times when I ask job candidates this question. It's not that I want to nitpick or make people feel uncomfortable, but rather I want to see in which areas they feel they need to improve and what they are doing about it. In order to advance professionally, we all need to be able to honestly identify not just our strengths but also our weaknesses and how we can upgrade in these areas.
I recommend that job candidates be upfront during interviews. Don't say you have "no weaknesses" or "work too hard." Instead, tell hiring managers what you are working on improving and what you've done to build your skills in these areas.
One thing to keep in mind: If one of your weaknesses is directly related to the position and could potentially take you out of the running, the opportunity may not be right for you.
-- DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American permanent placement services, Robert Half International
Let the Job Description Guide You
First, make sure you truly understand the job duties before the interview starts. Match the job duties with your strengths. What is a strength you have that someone may consider as a weakness?
For example, if you apply to a sales job, your weakness could be "not quick to close": "I really take a lot of time to listen to a customer before I provide recommendations. A lot of sales people are quick to answer, but I spend time making sure I understand the customer's needs." Sales people need to be good listeners although they don't always come across that way.
Another example is if you applied to a very detail-oriented job, your weakness is you are a perfectionist. The hiring manager needs someone that pays close attention to the little things.
In summary, a weakness on one hand is a strength on the other.
-- Amanda Mertz, lead recruiter, Wells Fargo Home and Consumer Finance Group
Will It Match Your References?
The importance of this question is often not the candidate's answer per se, but whether or not the candidate's references respond in a similar manner. In short, it is a way for employers to assess the candidate's awareness of his or her own strengths and weaknesses.
-- Yves Lermusi, CEO, Checkster
Choose Wisely
This is definitely a popular question that we often ask, and a lot of our clients also like to include when interviewing candidates. While "weakness" is a harsh word, remember that nobody is perfect, and we all have areas of development that we need to work on.
Employers are cognizant of this and ask the question for two reasons -- first, to make sure your weakness isn't a skill they need someone to have mastery of immediately, and second, to see how you handle yourself under pressure and when asked tough questions.
We advise our candidates to be honest and focus on a weakness that is not one of the top three qualities required for the job. Also, be sure to describe how you've already taken steps and made strides in strengthening this skill, showing your ability and desire to constantly learn and grow.
- Kathy Gans, Senior Vice President, Ajilon Professional Staffing
7 Tips for a Better Resume
Want more interviews? Job searches in tough times like now demand polished resumes more than ever. If you are attempting to write your own resume, these seven tips are important to follow:
1. Select the best format.
While most resumes are written in a history chronological format, often a better technique is to evenly balance between skill-set description, achievements, and employment.
2. Make certain your document is error free.
Since you are familiar with your own writing, you will "see" what you were thinking and not what is actually on the page. Do not rely on yourself to proofread your work and do not rely on spell-check. Find a friend who has strong grammar skills to check your work.
3. Find a balance between wordiness and lack of detail.
Employers need to see details about your work history and experience, but they don't need to know everything. The fact that you were den leader in your Cub Scout troop is irrelevant. Keep information germane to the goal of attaining an interview. Eliminate information that is not related and will not have a direct impact on winning the interview.
4. Do not use personal pronouns.
"I," "me," "my," "mine," and "our" should not be on a resume. Resumes are written in first person (implied). Example: For your prior job description, instead of writing: "I hired, trained and supervised a team of assistant managers and sales associates" you would instead state that you "Hired, trained and supervised a team of assistant managers and sales associates." Fragment sentences are perfectly acceptable on a resume and actually preferred.
5. Use numerical symbols for numbers.
While we are taught in school to spell out numbers less than ten, in resume writing, numerical symbols serve as "eye stops" and are a much better method. Instead of writing "Developed a dynamic team of eight consultants." it would be much more advantageous to state "Developed a dynamic team of 8 consultants."
6. Think "accomplishments" rather than "job duties."
What makes you stand out from the crowd? How did you come up with a way to do things better, more efficiently, or for less cost? What won honors for you? Information such as this is vital, will grab attention, and put your resume at the top of the list.
7. Keep it positive.
Reasons for leaving a job and setbacks do not have a place on a resume. Employers are seeking people who can contribute and have successfully performed in the past. Concentrate on communicating these issues and avoid any detracting information.
Remember, many first-time job interviews are conducted via telephone rather than in person. Make sure you are prepared for that telephone call when it arrives. And make sure you have a resume that will make the phone ring!
Alesia Benedict, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC), is the president of GetInterviews.com, a resume writing firm that provides mid-management and senior level professionals with customized, branded resumes and career marketing documents. GetInterviews.com offers a free resume critique and their services come with a wonderful guarantee -- interviews in 30 days or they'll rewrite for free!
1. Select the best format.
While most resumes are written in a history chronological format, often a better technique is to evenly balance between skill-set description, achievements, and employment.
2. Make certain your document is error free.
Since you are familiar with your own writing, you will "see" what you were thinking and not what is actually on the page. Do not rely on yourself to proofread your work and do not rely on spell-check. Find a friend who has strong grammar skills to check your work.
3. Find a balance between wordiness and lack of detail.
Employers need to see details about your work history and experience, but they don't need to know everything. The fact that you were den leader in your Cub Scout troop is irrelevant. Keep information germane to the goal of attaining an interview. Eliminate information that is not related and will not have a direct impact on winning the interview.
4. Do not use personal pronouns.
"I," "me," "my," "mine," and "our" should not be on a resume. Resumes are written in first person (implied). Example: For your prior job description, instead of writing: "I hired, trained and supervised a team of assistant managers and sales associates" you would instead state that you "Hired, trained and supervised a team of assistant managers and sales associates." Fragment sentences are perfectly acceptable on a resume and actually preferred.
5. Use numerical symbols for numbers.
While we are taught in school to spell out numbers less than ten, in resume writing, numerical symbols serve as "eye stops" and are a much better method. Instead of writing "Developed a dynamic team of eight consultants." it would be much more advantageous to state "Developed a dynamic team of 8 consultants."
6. Think "accomplishments" rather than "job duties."
What makes you stand out from the crowd? How did you come up with a way to do things better, more efficiently, or for less cost? What won honors for you? Information such as this is vital, will grab attention, and put your resume at the top of the list.
7. Keep it positive.
Reasons for leaving a job and setbacks do not have a place on a resume. Employers are seeking people who can contribute and have successfully performed in the past. Concentrate on communicating these issues and avoid any detracting information.
Remember, many first-time job interviews are conducted via telephone rather than in person. Make sure you are prepared for that telephone call when it arrives. And make sure you have a resume that will make the phone ring!
Alesia Benedict, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC), is the president of GetInterviews.com, a resume writing firm that provides mid-management and senior level professionals with customized, branded resumes and career marketing documents. GetInterviews.com offers a free resume critique and their services come with a wonderful guarantee -- interviews in 30 days or they'll rewrite for free!
4 Common Resume Blunders
Some people land job interviews quickly and easily, while others struggle through protracted searches with barely a nibble of interest from prospective employers. The difference in results might not involve experience level or qualifications, but the quality of the resume.
When reviewing dozens (or even hundreds) of applications, time-strapped hiring managers often give resumes only a quick review to determine which candidates should be called for in-person meetings. If your application materials don't command immediate attention, you could be out of luck.
Keep yourself in the running by avoiding the resume mistakes of these common characters:
Generic Jen
No two organizations are the same. This simple fact is completely lost on Generic Jen, who submits the same untargeted resume to every company. Instead of taking the time to customize her resume by emphasizing the skills, attributes and professional experience most relevant to each position, she blindly blasts a one-size-fits-all document to any employer with an opening.
Takeaway tip: Tailor your content to each opportunity. Whenever possible, integrate relevant keywords found in the job ad. Remember: The more closely your resume matches the prospective employer's qualifications, the better your odds of securing an interview.
Verbose Vince
Why offer a succinct bullet point when you can say the same thing in six flowery sentences? That's the motto of Verbose Vince, who packs his lengthy resume with a laundry list of fancy five-dollar words and confounding jargon. This long-winded wordsmith "punctiliously shifts paradigms" and "expeditiously ensures the numerical veracity of weekly sales reports." However, Verbose Vince only muddles his message.
Takeaway tip: The most effective resumes are clear, concise and written in plain English. Cut to the chase and keep it simple by eliminating extraneous words and phrases.
Careless Carrie
Hiring managers don't have patience for people who send sloppy application materials. In fact, 84 percent of executives said it takes just one or two typos on a resume to disqualify a candidate from consideration, according to a survey by Robert Half International. Careless Carrie hasn't gotten the message. She undermines her impressive work history by submitting documents littered with spelling slip-ups, grammatical goofs, and improper punctuation.
Takeaway tip: Don't give hiring managers any reason to question your professionalism or attention to detail. After going over your resume with a fine-tooth comb, solicit proofreading assistance from trusted friends and colleagues.
Off-Topic Tom
There's no detail too personal or irrelevant as far as Off-Topic Tom is concerned. This candidate hurts his cause by disclosing superfluous information about all facets of his life. Off-Topic Tom's cluttered resume addresses everything from his age to his marital status to his favorite hobbies. While more focused job seekers zero in on their most noteworthy professional achievements, Off-Topic Tom highlights his credit score, birthdate, and bowling average.
Takeaway tip: Employers seek well-organized resumes that effectively summarize what professional qualifications you bring to the table. Delete personal information and non-work-related activities that have no bearing on your ability to perform the job.
Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit workvine.com.
When reviewing dozens (or even hundreds) of applications, time-strapped hiring managers often give resumes only a quick review to determine which candidates should be called for in-person meetings. If your application materials don't command immediate attention, you could be out of luck.
Keep yourself in the running by avoiding the resume mistakes of these common characters:
Generic Jen
No two organizations are the same. This simple fact is completely lost on Generic Jen, who submits the same untargeted resume to every company. Instead of taking the time to customize her resume by emphasizing the skills, attributes and professional experience most relevant to each position, she blindly blasts a one-size-fits-all document to any employer with an opening.
Takeaway tip: Tailor your content to each opportunity. Whenever possible, integrate relevant keywords found in the job ad. Remember: The more closely your resume matches the prospective employer's qualifications, the better your odds of securing an interview.
Verbose Vince
Why offer a succinct bullet point when you can say the same thing in six flowery sentences? That's the motto of Verbose Vince, who packs his lengthy resume with a laundry list of fancy five-dollar words and confounding jargon. This long-winded wordsmith "punctiliously shifts paradigms" and "expeditiously ensures the numerical veracity of weekly sales reports." However, Verbose Vince only muddles his message.
Takeaway tip: The most effective resumes are clear, concise and written in plain English. Cut to the chase and keep it simple by eliminating extraneous words and phrases.
Careless Carrie
Hiring managers don't have patience for people who send sloppy application materials. In fact, 84 percent of executives said it takes just one or two typos on a resume to disqualify a candidate from consideration, according to a survey by Robert Half International. Careless Carrie hasn't gotten the message. She undermines her impressive work history by submitting documents littered with spelling slip-ups, grammatical goofs, and improper punctuation.
Takeaway tip: Don't give hiring managers any reason to question your professionalism or attention to detail. After going over your resume with a fine-tooth comb, solicit proofreading assistance from trusted friends and colleagues.
Off-Topic Tom
There's no detail too personal or irrelevant as far as Off-Topic Tom is concerned. This candidate hurts his cause by disclosing superfluous information about all facets of his life. Off-Topic Tom's cluttered resume addresses everything from his age to his marital status to his favorite hobbies. While more focused job seekers zero in on their most noteworthy professional achievements, Off-Topic Tom highlights his credit score, birthdate, and bowling average.
Takeaway tip: Employers seek well-organized resumes that effectively summarize what professional qualifications you bring to the table. Delete personal information and non-work-related activities that have no bearing on your ability to perform the job.
Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit workvine.com.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Teaching them young
IT’S important that parents take the time to teach their children about responsibility when they are young.
This can be done by teaching them to take care of their possessions, including them in housework, giving them something to be responsible for, and teaching them about money.
These four elements will help them build responsibility as a character trait.
Teaching children to take care of their own possessions is an important element of responsibility. Even toddlers and very young children can learn to put their toys away, put their clothes in the laundry basket, and put their dirty dishes in the sink.
Explain to them that belongings like toys and clothes last longer if they take good care of them. Use real-life examples when possible – a toy that was left on the floor and was stepped on, for example, is an excellent teaching tool.
Make sure there are areas around your home for them to store their belongings – a toy box, a toddler level coat hook, etc – and teach them to put things back where they belong. Be sure that you model this behaviour, as well.
Include children in housework whenever possible. Show them how to rinse dishes, stir ingredients, and pick vegetables from the garden.
Children are more likely to try a new food that they’ve helped to prepare, so this may also be a great way to get them to eat their vegetables.
Child-sized toy broom, vacuums, and more are available for purchase at most toy stores, or you can buy them online.
Even the youngest child can "clean" with plain water and a rag, and including them in the housework may provide you house cleaning time that you would not otherwise get.
Even some educational schools of thought, such as Montessori, hold housework modelling in high regard.
When your children are slightly older, it may be wise to consider getting them a small pet, such as a fish, hermit crab, or hamster. The pet should be primarily their responsibility, although you can help when necessary.
Pets are excellent tools for learning about responsibility and caring for others, and will help your child learn these skills.
Be sure that your child is old enough to understand that the animal is dependent on them for food and shelter.
Take the time to teach your child about money as soon as they become interested. Show them the different denominations of bills and coins, and let them decide how to spend money that they receive as gifts.
Even small children enjoy putting small change into their piggy bank, and this teaches them about spending and saving.
Be sure that they understand that money is not limitless, and that the way one spends money must be prioritised.
Teaching your children financial responsibility may well be the best investment you ever make.
Raising a responsible child takes hard work and patience. Take the time to teach your child as they grow, and you’ll have a responsible teenager sooner than you’d think.
Monday, December 22, 2008
How to Handle Rejection
1. Change Your Dating Expectations. One of the first and most important things to understand is that no matter what you do, not everybody is going to respond positively to you. Not everyone you smile at will smile back at you. Not everyone you say hello to is going to say hello back to you. Stop expecting a positive response 100% of the time. Just because somebody did not smile back at you does not mean that you're not an attractive person or that you made a mistake by smiling. The only thing it means is that it did not work with that one person.
2. Life Is All About Rejection. Everything in life has rejection involved in it. If you're a salesperson who makes 10 sales calls, you may only get one or two people to say yes. A baseball player whose batting average is around 300 will likely end up in the Hall of Fame. A quarterback who can complete 55 percent of his passes is doing pretty well. Everything in life is about percentages. You don't quit simply because you experienced some rejection. Imagine if you stopped looking for work when your very first interview didn't result in a job offer. That would, of course, be ridiculous. Remember that you also need to keep going in your dating life when you're rejected, because you want to keep increasing your odds of success.
3. Focus on Increasing Your Dating Odds. When you feel like you are getting more than your fair share of rejections, instead of focusing on those rejections, focus on increasing your odds of success. The fact is that by playing the percentages as I mentioned above, you will be successful.The reason is that every time you take action -- every time you smile, say hello, or walk over and initiate a conversation -- you get better at it. If you're going to go out there and only talk to one person a day, then your chances of success are not going to be great. Increase your odds every single day and in everything you're doing.
4. Keep Things in Perspective. I hear some version of this from clients all the time: "What if I approach somebody, get rejected, and someone sees me? I'll never be able to go in that store again!" Get a little perspective here. Let me tell you something -- you're not front page news! When you're rejected, you need to just get over it. No one is talking about you. People are concerned about themselves and what is going on in their own lives, just as you are focused on what's going on in yours. So the fact that you get rejected in front of other people at the market, at the gym, or anywhere else is not a big deal to anyone but you.
5. Don't Overreact When Dating. The other thing I commonly hear from clients who have been rejected is some version of this: "I'm never going to talk to that person ever again now that I was rejected by them." This is not only a total overreaction, it is also absolutely the wrong thing to do. So you tried to talk to (or smile or look at) someone, and they didn't respond. As I mentioned above, there are a million possible reasons why that person did not respond to you. It doesn't necessarily mean that person wouldn't want to talk to you another time. If I smile at a woman and she doesn't respond, I don't play hide-and-go-seek the next time I see her. I am equally friendly to her the next time I see her, because you never know what will happen that second time. It's a different day. Put the last time behind you.
These are some ways to help you get over rejection. Realize that in order to get good at interacting with potential mates, you are going to get rejected. In fact, you want to get rejected every single day, because if you're not, it means you're not trying.
So ask yourself this: Did you get rejected today, and how can you go out tomorrow and make it an even better day than today? Learn to not only handle but to embrace rejection, and you will meet great new people and have an amazing social life
2. Life Is All About Rejection. Everything in life has rejection involved in it. If you're a salesperson who makes 10 sales calls, you may only get one or two people to say yes. A baseball player whose batting average is around 300 will likely end up in the Hall of Fame. A quarterback who can complete 55 percent of his passes is doing pretty well. Everything in life is about percentages. You don't quit simply because you experienced some rejection. Imagine if you stopped looking for work when your very first interview didn't result in a job offer. That would, of course, be ridiculous. Remember that you also need to keep going in your dating life when you're rejected, because you want to keep increasing your odds of success.
3. Focus on Increasing Your Dating Odds. When you feel like you are getting more than your fair share of rejections, instead of focusing on those rejections, focus on increasing your odds of success. The fact is that by playing the percentages as I mentioned above, you will be successful.The reason is that every time you take action -- every time you smile, say hello, or walk over and initiate a conversation -- you get better at it. If you're going to go out there and only talk to one person a day, then your chances of success are not going to be great. Increase your odds every single day and in everything you're doing.
4. Keep Things in Perspective. I hear some version of this from clients all the time: "What if I approach somebody, get rejected, and someone sees me? I'll never be able to go in that store again!" Get a little perspective here. Let me tell you something -- you're not front page news! When you're rejected, you need to just get over it. No one is talking about you. People are concerned about themselves and what is going on in their own lives, just as you are focused on what's going on in yours. So the fact that you get rejected in front of other people at the market, at the gym, or anywhere else is not a big deal to anyone but you.
5. Don't Overreact When Dating. The other thing I commonly hear from clients who have been rejected is some version of this: "I'm never going to talk to that person ever again now that I was rejected by them." This is not only a total overreaction, it is also absolutely the wrong thing to do. So you tried to talk to (or smile or look at) someone, and they didn't respond. As I mentioned above, there are a million possible reasons why that person did not respond to you. It doesn't necessarily mean that person wouldn't want to talk to you another time. If I smile at a woman and she doesn't respond, I don't play hide-and-go-seek the next time I see her. I am equally friendly to her the next time I see her, because you never know what will happen that second time. It's a different day. Put the last time behind you.
These are some ways to help you get over rejection. Realize that in order to get good at interacting with potential mates, you are going to get rejected. In fact, you want to get rejected every single day, because if you're not, it means you're not trying.
So ask yourself this: Did you get rejected today, and how can you go out tomorrow and make it an even better day than today? Learn to not only handle but to embrace rejection, and you will meet great new people and have an amazing social life
How to Start a Conversation When You Have Nothing to Talk About
Start with a "hello," and simply tell the new person your name then ask them theirs. Offer your hand to shake, upon his/her responding to you. (If you go to other countries, greet the person in tune with the particular culture, e.g. in India greet by saying 'namaste' with folded hands). If you already know the person, skip this step and proceed to step 3.
Look around. See if there is anything worth pointing out. Sure, talking about the weather is a cliche, but if there's something unusual about it--bam!--you've got a great topic of conversation.
Offer a compliment. Don't lie and say you love someone's hair when you think it's revolting, but if you like his or her shoes, or a handbag, say so. A sincere compliment is a wonderful way to get someone to warm up to you. But be careful not to say something so personal that you scare the person off or make him or her feel uncomfortable. It is best not to compliment a person's looks or body.
Ask questions! Most people love to talk about themselves --- get them going. "What classes are you taking this year?" but don't talk about yourself too much that makes you seem full of yourself. "Have you seen (Insert-Something-Here)? What did you think of it?" Ask open ended questions that will get them talking. For example, a good question would be, "That's a nice handbag, where'd you get it?" and then they can talk about the day that they went shopping and all this funny stuff happened, as opposed to, "I like your handbag." "Thank you." and then its over. Again, keep the questions light and not invasive. Do not ask too many questions if he or she is not responsive to them.
Jump on any conversation-starters he or she might offer; take something he or she has said and run with it. Agree, disagree, ask a question about it, or offer an opinion, just don't let it go by without notice.
Look your newfound friend in the eye, it engenders trust (but don't stare). Also, use the person's name a time or two during the conversation; it will help you remember the name, and will draw the person's attention to what you are talking about.
Don't forget to smile and have fun with your conversation!
Look around. See if there is anything worth pointing out. Sure, talking about the weather is a cliche, but if there's something unusual about it--bam!--you've got a great topic of conversation.
Offer a compliment. Don't lie and say you love someone's hair when you think it's revolting, but if you like his or her shoes, or a handbag, say so. A sincere compliment is a wonderful way to get someone to warm up to you. But be careful not to say something so personal that you scare the person off or make him or her feel uncomfortable. It is best not to compliment a person's looks or body.
Ask questions! Most people love to talk about themselves --- get them going. "What classes are you taking this year?" but don't talk about yourself too much that makes you seem full of yourself. "Have you seen (Insert-Something-Here)? What did you think of it?" Ask open ended questions that will get them talking. For example, a good question would be, "That's a nice handbag, where'd you get it?" and then they can talk about the day that they went shopping and all this funny stuff happened, as opposed to, "I like your handbag." "Thank you." and then its over. Again, keep the questions light and not invasive. Do not ask too many questions if he or she is not responsive to them.
Jump on any conversation-starters he or she might offer; take something he or she has said and run with it. Agree, disagree, ask a question about it, or offer an opinion, just don't let it go by without notice.
Look your newfound friend in the eye, it engenders trust (but don't stare). Also, use the person's name a time or two during the conversation; it will help you remember the name, and will draw the person's attention to what you are talking about.
Don't forget to smile and have fun with your conversation!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
8 Little-Known Tricks for the Job Hunt
You're up to date on the latest job-search ideas, right? You're responding to posted job ads. You're crafting smart and incisive cover letters to accompany your resume on its travels. You're networking like crazy. What else can you do?
You may be leaving a few essential job-search stones unturned. Here are eight less-well-known ways to get the word out and jump on job-search opportunities:
Add a signature line to your outgoing email messages, to remind your friends and contacts that you're on a job search. Much as they love you, it's easy for our friends to forget our day-to-day priorities, including a job search that feels like a life-or-death proposition to you. Add a signature line to your email messages that reminds your friends what you're after.
Include your LinkedIn profile URL in that signature. You can customize your LinkedIn profile's URL (as soon as you set up a free LinkedIn profile) to something that sounds logical, like www.linkedin.com/in/yourname. Add this to the signature line I recommended a moment ago. Might as well make it easy for people to check out your credentials!
Use Twitter to keep your fans in the loop. A daily (or even more frequent) Twitter 'tweet' from you keeps your cronies and well-wishers abreast of your latest job-search happenings. If you tweet to say "Got an interview at Apple tomorrow morning," then your friends with friends at Apple can jump into the scene and help you out with a side-door connection or referral.
Make your Facebook page work for you -- not against you. Smart job-seekers fill their Facebook pages with useful and relevant information about what they've accomplished and where their strengths lie. Using Facebook effectively in a job search requires more than just taking down the party-animal photos. Prospective employers are bound to see your online persona, so you may as well make it one that moves the ball forward for you.
Add a quote to your resume. Got a favorite quote (in writing) from a boss who praised your work? Add it to your resume in place of the tedious "References available on request." Everyone knows your references are available. Tell us (in twenty words or fewer) what one of those people actually said about you -- the more specific the kudos, the better!
Get a Moo card. Job-search business cards are great tools, because they're easy to pass to a conversational partner at a networking event (no one wants to take your 8.5 x 11 resume in a setting like that). Moo mini-cards are cooler than regular business cards, because they're small and attention-grabbing. If your field is creative, techie, or you just want to stand out a little, order your mini-Moo cards online at moo.com.
Put a voice on your job-search profile. Too shy to appear on camera? Add an audio file to your LinkedIn, Facebook or other social-networking profile to help job-search targets and influencers get a feel for who you are and how you think. Buy a headset for a few bucks and download Audacity for free to make high-quality audio files. You can even send your podcasts to iTunes and build a following!
Rewrite your resume so it sounds human. As a careers expert, the biggest job-search stumbling block I see is a boilerplate-laden resume that sounds like every other resume I see. Yank the boilerplate out of your resume and give it a human voice, replacing "results-oriented professional" with "I'm happiest solving thorny technical problems that slow down product development" or whatever (human) statement describes you.
A job search doesn't leave room for error these days. Details can make all the difference -- better put every tool to work for you now, and put your job search behind you sooner.
Liz Ryan is a 25-year HR veteran, former Fortune 500 VP and an internationally recognized expert on careers and the new millennium workplace. Contact Liz at liz@asklizryan.com or join the Ask Liz Ryan online community at www.asklizryan/group.
You may be leaving a few essential job-search stones unturned. Here are eight less-well-known ways to get the word out and jump on job-search opportunities:
Add a signature line to your outgoing email messages, to remind your friends and contacts that you're on a job search. Much as they love you, it's easy for our friends to forget our day-to-day priorities, including a job search that feels like a life-or-death proposition to you. Add a signature line to your email messages that reminds your friends what you're after.
Include your LinkedIn profile URL in that signature. You can customize your LinkedIn profile's URL (as soon as you set up a free LinkedIn profile) to something that sounds logical, like www.linkedin.com/in/yourname. Add this to the signature line I recommended a moment ago. Might as well make it easy for people to check out your credentials!
Use Twitter to keep your fans in the loop. A daily (or even more frequent) Twitter 'tweet' from you keeps your cronies and well-wishers abreast of your latest job-search happenings. If you tweet to say "Got an interview at Apple tomorrow morning," then your friends with friends at Apple can jump into the scene and help you out with a side-door connection or referral.
Make your Facebook page work for you -- not against you. Smart job-seekers fill their Facebook pages with useful and relevant information about what they've accomplished and where their strengths lie. Using Facebook effectively in a job search requires more than just taking down the party-animal photos. Prospective employers are bound to see your online persona, so you may as well make it one that moves the ball forward for you.
Add a quote to your resume. Got a favorite quote (in writing) from a boss who praised your work? Add it to your resume in place of the tedious "References available on request." Everyone knows your references are available. Tell us (in twenty words or fewer) what one of those people actually said about you -- the more specific the kudos, the better!
Get a Moo card. Job-search business cards are great tools, because they're easy to pass to a conversational partner at a networking event (no one wants to take your 8.5 x 11 resume in a setting like that). Moo mini-cards are cooler than regular business cards, because they're small and attention-grabbing. If your field is creative, techie, or you just want to stand out a little, order your mini-Moo cards online at moo.com.
Put a voice on your job-search profile. Too shy to appear on camera? Add an audio file to your LinkedIn, Facebook or other social-networking profile to help job-search targets and influencers get a feel for who you are and how you think. Buy a headset for a few bucks and download Audacity for free to make high-quality audio files. You can even send your podcasts to iTunes and build a following!
Rewrite your resume so it sounds human. As a careers expert, the biggest job-search stumbling block I see is a boilerplate-laden resume that sounds like every other resume I see. Yank the boilerplate out of your resume and give it a human voice, replacing "results-oriented professional" with "I'm happiest solving thorny technical problems that slow down product development" or whatever (human) statement describes you.
A job search doesn't leave room for error these days. Details can make all the difference -- better put every tool to work for you now, and put your job search behind you sooner.
Liz Ryan is a 25-year HR veteran, former Fortune 500 VP and an internationally recognized expert on careers and the new millennium workplace. Contact Liz at liz@asklizryan.com or join the Ask Liz Ryan online community at www.asklizryan/group.
Most Promising Places to Start a New Career
All things being equal, where you live can make a huge difference in what you earn. Whether you're ready to make a move to a new city or you want to choose an education that fits the needs of your hometown, career training can make a big difference to your wallet.
When it comes to marketing your degree, the old axiom for real estate holds true -- it's all about location, location, location. Check out these top degrees available online, matched with some of their best areas nationwide and earnings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Associate Degree: Medical Assisting
The BLS has medical assistants on its list of fastest-growing careers through 2016, with about 148,000 new jobs expected to enter the field in the coming years. A short, two-year associate degree is considered proper training for this growing health care industry career.
Top Industry: Physicians' offices hire the most medical assistants by far, with mean annual earnings of $28,460 in 2007. However, specialty hospitals paid more, at $31,860.
Top Location: Areas with high levels of retirement communities, such as Arizona and Florida, are expected to see an influx of career opportunities for medical assistants. Look for locations with hospitals, nursing care centers, and physicians' offices.
Bachelor's Degree + Certificate: Teaching
Career training to become a teacher means playing a direct role in the next generation. A bachelor's degree plus teacher certification is the typical path for most teachers, though some school districts require teachers to complete a master's degree within a certain period after hire. Areas of high growth are typically good for teaching occupations.
Top Industry: Secondary school teachers make more than preschool, kindergarten, or elementary school teachers, with mean annual earnings of $52,450. Vocational education teachers at the secondary level aren't far behind.
Top Location: The U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics reports that Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Georgia will experience the greatest student enrollment increases. Job prospects for teachers are expected to be better in rural and inner city areas than suburban locations.
Certificate: Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Want to work in the legal industry but wary about years of law school education? Career training programs for paralegals and legal assistants put you in law offices and businesses, assisting lawyers as they build cases and protect assets.
Top Industry: Though the vast majority of trained paralegals and legal assistants work in the legal industry and saw mean annual earnings of $46,110 in 2007, those working in the federal government earned $59,180.
Top Location: The District of Columbia is the top-paying employer nationwide for paralegals and legal assistants, with mean annual earnings of $57,450. The tiny district also had the highest concentration of workers in the field in the nation.
Master's Degree: MBA in Finance
The popular MBA takes a technical turn with a finance concentration. Forbes cites finance degrees on its list of most lucrative college majors, noting a salary growth that soars over $84,000 for those with 10 or more years of experience. You may see even more impressive earnings if you're smart about your industry and location.
Top Industry: Personal financial advisors see a lot of success in the legal services industry, where mean annual earnings were $103,990 in 2007.
Top Location: New York has long been known as a financial hub, and for good reason. Financial analysts working in the state saw mean annual earnings of $100,350 in 2007. That same year, personal financial advisors in the state earned $131,660.
Bachelor's Degree: Computer Engineering
This high-tech degree is in high demand -- Forbes calls it the most lucrative college major available, and even graduates with a bachelor's degree and up to five years of experience earn a whopping average salary of $60,500.
Top Industry: Computer engineers break out of the cubicle in scientific research and development services, a top-paying industry for systems software engineers with annual mean earnings of $102,790.
Top Location: California remains the go-to state for IT professionals, with applications engineers earning $95,820. However, systems software engineers in Virginia earned a whopping $101,850 in 2007, making the southern state a six-figure surprise location for computer engineers.
Earnings vary greatly based on experience and education, and your experience may vary, but an education can be the best way to secure employment in these challenging, growing, lucrative fields.
Amelia Gray is a freelance writer in Austin, Texas. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Arizona State University and an MFA from Texas State University.
When it comes to marketing your degree, the old axiom for real estate holds true -- it's all about location, location, location. Check out these top degrees available online, matched with some of their best areas nationwide and earnings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Associate Degree: Medical Assisting
The BLS has medical assistants on its list of fastest-growing careers through 2016, with about 148,000 new jobs expected to enter the field in the coming years. A short, two-year associate degree is considered proper training for this growing health care industry career.
Top Industry: Physicians' offices hire the most medical assistants by far, with mean annual earnings of $28,460 in 2007. However, specialty hospitals paid more, at $31,860.
Top Location: Areas with high levels of retirement communities, such as Arizona and Florida, are expected to see an influx of career opportunities for medical assistants. Look for locations with hospitals, nursing care centers, and physicians' offices.
Bachelor's Degree + Certificate: Teaching
Career training to become a teacher means playing a direct role in the next generation. A bachelor's degree plus teacher certification is the typical path for most teachers, though some school districts require teachers to complete a master's degree within a certain period after hire. Areas of high growth are typically good for teaching occupations.
Top Industry: Secondary school teachers make more than preschool, kindergarten, or elementary school teachers, with mean annual earnings of $52,450. Vocational education teachers at the secondary level aren't far behind.
Top Location: The U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics reports that Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Georgia will experience the greatest student enrollment increases. Job prospects for teachers are expected to be better in rural and inner city areas than suburban locations.
Certificate: Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Want to work in the legal industry but wary about years of law school education? Career training programs for paralegals and legal assistants put you in law offices and businesses, assisting lawyers as they build cases and protect assets.
Top Industry: Though the vast majority of trained paralegals and legal assistants work in the legal industry and saw mean annual earnings of $46,110 in 2007, those working in the federal government earned $59,180.
Top Location: The District of Columbia is the top-paying employer nationwide for paralegals and legal assistants, with mean annual earnings of $57,450. The tiny district also had the highest concentration of workers in the field in the nation.
Master's Degree: MBA in Finance
The popular MBA takes a technical turn with a finance concentration. Forbes cites finance degrees on its list of most lucrative college majors, noting a salary growth that soars over $84,000 for those with 10 or more years of experience. You may see even more impressive earnings if you're smart about your industry and location.
Top Industry: Personal financial advisors see a lot of success in the legal services industry, where mean annual earnings were $103,990 in 2007.
Top Location: New York has long been known as a financial hub, and for good reason. Financial analysts working in the state saw mean annual earnings of $100,350 in 2007. That same year, personal financial advisors in the state earned $131,660.
Bachelor's Degree: Computer Engineering
This high-tech degree is in high demand -- Forbes calls it the most lucrative college major available, and even graduates with a bachelor's degree and up to five years of experience earn a whopping average salary of $60,500.
Top Industry: Computer engineers break out of the cubicle in scientific research and development services, a top-paying industry for systems software engineers with annual mean earnings of $102,790.
Top Location: California remains the go-to state for IT professionals, with applications engineers earning $95,820. However, systems software engineers in Virginia earned a whopping $101,850 in 2007, making the southern state a six-figure surprise location for computer engineers.
Earnings vary greatly based on experience and education, and your experience may vary, but an education can be the best way to secure employment in these challenging, growing, lucrative fields.
Amelia Gray is a freelance writer in Austin, Texas. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Arizona State University and an MFA from Texas State University.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Seven Warning Signs of a Troubled Relationship
When couples wait too long to ask for help, the relationship may be beyond repair. The sooner help is sought, the better chance there is of recovering, saving and actually strengthening the relationship. This includes issues dealing with affairs or other types of betrayal.
The longer we wait, the more entrenched we get in destructive patterns and resentment and all hope for change is lost. At a certain point we don't even want change... we just want to be done.
The seven warning signs that a relationship is in trouble are:
1. Fighting has become the rule rather than the exception to the rule.
2. You find yourself looking outside the relationship for comfort, care, and understanding.
3. You can't remember what attracted you to your partner in the first place.
4. There is little or no intimacy in your relationship -- sleeping in different rooms or different beds, lack of interest, anger, and hostility so that intimacy is out of the question.
5. Spending very little time together, friends seem to be more important than your partner.
6. Reactions to situations are disproportionate to the content of the disagreement (i.e., feeling your partner doesn't love you because she/he didn't like the meal you cooked).
7. Feeling helpless and hopeless to change anything. Feeling done with the relationship, but unclear as to where to go and what to do. Feelings of anger, resentment, pain, and desperation are predominant.
If any or all of these describe you in your relationship, your relationship is in trouble and it won't be long before something more drastic happens, such as an affair, arguments get worse and inflate with intensity, increased jealousy, silence for longer periods of time, and sometimes even physical and/or verbal abuse.
Before your relationship reaches that critical crisis point, look at the warning signs and do something before it's too late:
Seek psychotherapy
Read books
Talk to a spiritual/religious advisor
Without help, the relationship will never get better with time; once a certain level of resentment, anger, and hostility hits, it will simply get worse and worse. Avoiding a total crisis and saving the relationship is done by knowing when you're in trouble and taking immediate action.
The longer we wait, the more entrenched we get in destructive patterns and resentment and all hope for change is lost. At a certain point we don't even want change... we just want to be done.
The seven warning signs that a relationship is in trouble are:
1. Fighting has become the rule rather than the exception to the rule.
2. You find yourself looking outside the relationship for comfort, care, and understanding.
3. You can't remember what attracted you to your partner in the first place.
4. There is little or no intimacy in your relationship -- sleeping in different rooms or different beds, lack of interest, anger, and hostility so that intimacy is out of the question.
5. Spending very little time together, friends seem to be more important than your partner.
6. Reactions to situations are disproportionate to the content of the disagreement (i.e., feeling your partner doesn't love you because she/he didn't like the meal you cooked).
7. Feeling helpless and hopeless to change anything. Feeling done with the relationship, but unclear as to where to go and what to do. Feelings of anger, resentment, pain, and desperation are predominant.
If any or all of these describe you in your relationship, your relationship is in trouble and it won't be long before something more drastic happens, such as an affair, arguments get worse and inflate with intensity, increased jealousy, silence for longer periods of time, and sometimes even physical and/or verbal abuse.
Before your relationship reaches that critical crisis point, look at the warning signs and do something before it's too late:
Seek psychotherapy
Read books
Talk to a spiritual/religious advisor
Without help, the relationship will never get better with time; once a certain level of resentment, anger, and hostility hits, it will simply get worse and worse. Avoiding a total crisis and saving the relationship is done by knowing when you're in trouble and taking immediate action.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Bringing up children
WE’RE living in the Internet age, and it’s more important than ever before to teach your children how to use the Internet safely. Cyber bullying and sexual abuse are on the rise, and more and more predators are finding their victims online.
To keep your children safe, you should have a clear Internet usage policy in your home, with consequences if they fail to abide by it.
Here are some guidelines to help you along.
» Teach your children to guard against feeling too comfortable online, and to avoid giving out personal information to anyone that they don’t know personally.
Information to protect includes full name, hometown, school, birth date, age, social security number or account numbers, passwords, and any other personally identifying information.
Predators often "groom" their victims – getting to know them over a period of time while they slowly extract bits of personal information from them.
They may even pose as another teen to get the children to let down their guard.
» Explain to your child the danger of posting sexually explicit or suggestive pictures online. They could attract a predator, be released to someone your child doesn’t want to see them, or even a future employer.
Remind your children that the Internet isn’t always as anonymous as it appears to be.
» Show your children how to pick out a screen name that is an expression of their personality, but still anonymous. Teach them to leave out their names, ages, birth dates, and locations.
For example, sexxykatie197 might not be such a great idea, while dodgersfan003 is perfectly acceptable.
» Warn your children against sexual predators and how they generally operate. Teach them how dangerous it is to meet anyone in person that they’ve only met through the Internet.
Show them how to keep logs of their chats using instant messaging software, and how to save or archive their emails.
There’s no need to scare them to death, but be sure that they have a general knowledge of Internet safety and why it is important.
» Encourage open communication. Remind your children that your door is always open, and that they can talk to you about anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Tell your children that you’re more than willing to go to bat for them, but you need to have the information about what’s going on in order to do so.
If something on the Internet seems weird or strange, it probably is. If they’re being bullied or propositioned online, you need to know about it in order to help them.
The Internet is a truly wonderful tool. Many of us use it on a daily basis, either for work or personal use. With proper boundaries, it can truly expand your children’s world.
Take the time to teach your children how to use the Internet safely and to limit their risks. Doing so is a great investment of your time, and will help to keep them safe.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Becoming A Guarantor
WHO CAN BE A GUARANTOR?
To be a guarantor he or she must be:
18 years old and above
Not a bankrupt
Of sound mind and having the mental capacity to understand the responsibilities and obligations of a guarantor
Not forced, influenced or tricked into being a guarantor
AS A GUARANTOR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS:
Obtain a copy of the guarantee letter or contract and any other documents in relation to the loan transaction
Seek legal advice before signing the contract
Information on the outstanding balance of the borrower’s account subject to the borrower’s consent
Call upon the borrower to pay off the loan to release you from all your liabilities under the guarantee.
Be indemnified by the borrower for any payment made to the financial institution
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER BY BEING A GUARANTOR:
Read and understand the nature of the guarantee. Most people willingly sign on as a guarantor without understanding the impacts on them.
Check and ensure the guarantee is subject to the laws of Malaysia.
Be wary about giving a copy of your identification to anyone other than the financial institution or your lawyers.
Do not sign a blank or partially filled document, or if you do not have a financial, business or moral interest in the transaction.
Do not become a guarantor to someone whom you have doubts about their ability or integrity.
Ensure that you are aware of your liabilities in the event that variations are made to the terms and conditions of the loan.
Monday, December 1, 2008
How to Write a Resume That Gets Interviews
Ask yourself, what do "The Lord of the Rings," "Catcher in the Rye" and your resume have in common?
If you consider them great works of fiction, then it's time to rethink your resume.
A resume isn't a list of exaggerations. It's not a hodgepodge of cut and pasted job descriptions printed out on nice paper. Nor is it a forum to advertise that you're 6 feet 2 inches tall, single, a non-smoker and willing to relocate.
Simply put, a resume is an advertisement that makes the reader act. And if your resume is well-written, the reader should want to interview you.
Get advice on how to create resumes that get interviews -- right from a recruiter himself.
Keep It Simple
Recruiters want resumes that are simple to understand, especially when it comes to the skills needed to perform the job and employment history.
Be sure your resume clearly communicates that you possess the knowledge and experience needed to perform the job in question. Use the job description to tailor your resume to the position. Try to avoid industry jargon and Dilbert-esque words such as "facilitated" or "value-added" when describing your skills and experiences.
Your resume should also include your dates of employment. The absence of dates makes recruiters scrutinize your employment history even more closely.
Features Versus Benefits
Your resume should show how you can benefit an employer -- not just list your features and skills.
Past performance is often an indicator of future performance. Explain how you made a past employer money, saved them money or improved a process or product.
Think about instances where you went above and beyond the call of duty. Look at past performance reviews to refresh your memory. Employers want the best employees, and your resume should reflect your value.
Truth in Advertising
People say that it's the sizzle that sells the steak. That may be true but, when it comes to job searching, you have to have done what you claim on your resume.
Many employers today take steps to ensure that you have the background you claim. They have a wide variety of background checking tools at their disposal.
Background checks can include:
*reference checks,
*credit checks,
*criminal background checks,
*past employment verification,
*education verification and
*social security number traces to verify identity.
If you're dishonest in the hiring process, odds are that you'll be caught. Rather than waste the recruiter's time -- and your time -- be truthful on your resume. It's not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing.
It Takes Two
You can't create a strong resume alone. Everyone needs help.
Don't rely on automatic spelling and grammar checking programs. You need to find an editor you trust. If no one in your immediate circle of family or friends can help, try other resources. Yahoo! HotJobs offers valuable resume tips and advice.
Staff at your state's employment development office may be available to review your resume. Staffing agency recruiters may also volunteer to help you. And finally, you can even take advantage of a professional resume writing service.
Writing an effective resume requires practice and feedback. But once you get the basics down, interviews are sure to follow.
If you consider them great works of fiction, then it's time to rethink your resume.
A resume isn't a list of exaggerations. It's not a hodgepodge of cut and pasted job descriptions printed out on nice paper. Nor is it a forum to advertise that you're 6 feet 2 inches tall, single, a non-smoker and willing to relocate.
Simply put, a resume is an advertisement that makes the reader act. And if your resume is well-written, the reader should want to interview you.
Get advice on how to create resumes that get interviews -- right from a recruiter himself.
Keep It Simple
Recruiters want resumes that are simple to understand, especially when it comes to the skills needed to perform the job and employment history.
Be sure your resume clearly communicates that you possess the knowledge and experience needed to perform the job in question. Use the job description to tailor your resume to the position. Try to avoid industry jargon and Dilbert-esque words such as "facilitated" or "value-added" when describing your skills and experiences.
Your resume should also include your dates of employment. The absence of dates makes recruiters scrutinize your employment history even more closely.
Features Versus Benefits
Your resume should show how you can benefit an employer -- not just list your features and skills.
Past performance is often an indicator of future performance. Explain how you made a past employer money, saved them money or improved a process or product.
Think about instances where you went above and beyond the call of duty. Look at past performance reviews to refresh your memory. Employers want the best employees, and your resume should reflect your value.
Truth in Advertising
People say that it's the sizzle that sells the steak. That may be true but, when it comes to job searching, you have to have done what you claim on your resume.
Many employers today take steps to ensure that you have the background you claim. They have a wide variety of background checking tools at their disposal.
Background checks can include:
*reference checks,
*credit checks,
*criminal background checks,
*past employment verification,
*education verification and
*social security number traces to verify identity.
If you're dishonest in the hiring process, odds are that you'll be caught. Rather than waste the recruiter's time -- and your time -- be truthful on your resume. It's not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing.
It Takes Two
You can't create a strong resume alone. Everyone needs help.
Don't rely on automatic spelling and grammar checking programs. You need to find an editor you trust. If no one in your immediate circle of family or friends can help, try other resources. Yahoo! HotJobs offers valuable resume tips and advice.
Staff at your state's employment development office may be available to review your resume. Staffing agency recruiters may also volunteer to help you. And finally, you can even take advantage of a professional resume writing service.
Writing an effective resume requires practice and feedback. But once you get the basics down, interviews are sure to follow.
No Outsourcing Here: Jobs That Are Staying Put
When outsourcing first began, most college students and recent grads weren't concerned with whether or not their chosen industry would remain based in the U.S. Today, many workers realize they have equally educated and skilled workers competing for the same jobs overseas. To become more competitive, many now choose a career path that is firmly planted on our home turf.
Jobs That Are Here to Stay
Here are nine jobs that are not likely to be shipped oceans away (source: U.S. Department of Labor):
Dental Assistant
It's tough to clean teeth from across the world. A career as a dental assistant usually begins with an associate's degree from an accredited college or university.
Pharmacy Technician
People take their health seriously -- that's why a certification as a pharmacy tech is not likely to be outsourced.
Fitness Professional
It's hard enough to be motivated in-person. Offshore encouragement won't cut it. A career in fitness can begin with a certificate program.
Teacher Aide
Teachers need live help to care for kids. An anonymous, off-site representative just won't cut it when it comes to educating our kids.
Auto Repair Technician
Most car troubles can't be repaired with simple, over-the-phone instructions. An auto tech studies anywhere from 6 months to 2 or more years, and will always have a steady stream of live customers.
Pet Groomer
Along the lines of a dog trainer, pet grooming just must be done in person. This is usually only a certificate program.
Plumber
This career depends fully on local workers -- plumbers definitely won't be phoning in from overseas to unclog your toilet.
Veterinary Assistant
A pet's health and happiness is of serious importance to most owners, and they won't be putting it in the hands of foreign workers. You can become a vet assistant by completing a certificate program.
Electrician
This highly technical and hands-on job simply can't be done any other way, except live and in-person.
Jobs That Are Here to Stay
Here are nine jobs that are not likely to be shipped oceans away (source: U.S. Department of Labor):
Dental Assistant
It's tough to clean teeth from across the world. A career as a dental assistant usually begins with an associate's degree from an accredited college or university.
Pharmacy Technician
People take their health seriously -- that's why a certification as a pharmacy tech is not likely to be outsourced.
Fitness Professional
It's hard enough to be motivated in-person. Offshore encouragement won't cut it. A career in fitness can begin with a certificate program.
Teacher Aide
Teachers need live help to care for kids. An anonymous, off-site representative just won't cut it when it comes to educating our kids.
Auto Repair Technician
Most car troubles can't be repaired with simple, over-the-phone instructions. An auto tech studies anywhere from 6 months to 2 or more years, and will always have a steady stream of live customers.
Pet Groomer
Along the lines of a dog trainer, pet grooming just must be done in person. This is usually only a certificate program.
Plumber
This career depends fully on local workers -- plumbers definitely won't be phoning in from overseas to unclog your toilet.
Veterinary Assistant
A pet's health and happiness is of serious importance to most owners, and they won't be putting it in the hands of foreign workers. You can become a vet assistant by completing a certificate program.
Electrician
This highly technical and hands-on job simply can't be done any other way, except live and in-person.
5 Ways to Protect Your Kids (and Yourself!) from the Flu
There are few steps that you can take to protect yourself and your family from what seems to be the inevitable flu. The guardian of the health of our body is the immune system. While intangible and challenging to identify, the immune system has very specific signs and symptoms.
For a moment, put aside the traditional considerations for assessing your child’s health. Instead, I’d like you to consider some new approaches and angles that will provide you with insight into the likelihood that your child will stay healthy or get sick this winter season.
1. Sugar and processed foods impact the immune system.
Studies have shown that through a complex system of chemical processes sugar and processed foods depress the immune system. There exists a direct link between the amount of these foods that your child consumes and his/her health.
Obvious foods such as sodas, candy, cookies, ice cream, and potato chips are the big guns that should be kept concealed.
Even more disturbing are the foods that you think are healthy for your child that hide sugar and many refined ingredients: yogurt, and yogurt drinks and “pops;”most cereals; juices; fruit roll ups and “leathers;” “healthy” cookies and treats, soy ice cream and frozen treats. While being marketed as healthy choices, these foods aren’t much better than the obvious poor choices. Work hard during flu season to keep these foods away from your children. Read ingredient labels and watch out for: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup or “HFCS,” brown rice syrup, fructose, sucrose, barleymalt and the obvious, sugar.
2. Fresh foods offer the highest quality vitamins.
It’s shocking to me how often I see people turn to orange juice for vitamin C in an effort to fight off a cold or flu.
It is important to understand that the majority of vitamin C in orange juice is added after processing. Vitamin C and others like zinc, vitamin E, and magnesium help to support the immune system and are a great defense during flu season.
Choose better by having kids eat fresh whole foods such as cherries, berries, and apples, and vegetables such as spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots and sweet potatoes.
I know you probably hear this suggestion all the time, but it can’t be stressed enough. It is imperative to find creative ways to prepare vegetables so that kids will actually eat them. Sautee, roast or grill vegetables with olive oil or real butter, add some fresh sea salt or sprinkle with organic low fat cheese and kids will be more likely to eat.
3. Sleep will boost the immune system.
At night while we rest, the body is working to rebuild the immune system. Deep sleep allows a complex set of hormonal changes that recharge the body so that it’s resilient the next day. Be diligent and ensure that kids get a full night sleep of 8-10 hours.
Mandate bedtime despite protests and stick to a regular schedule. These are the times that mom and dad really need to be the boss. Resist the temptation to allow your child to stay up late and watch his or her favorite show. At the end of the day when you are tired as well, it’s easy to give in to your child’s vigilant campaign.
Remember: Would you rather avoid the confrontation tonight? Or deal with a sick kid tomorrow?
4. Fatigue is the first sign of a distressed immune system.
As already stated, the immune system desperately needs sleep to keep the body healthy. When the immune system is fighting to keep your child healthy, it requests that the body get extra rest to help in the fight.
If your child seems more fatigued than usual, it could be a very strong signal that your child is on the brink of getting sick.
The best way to fight off a cold or flu is to act immediately and get extra rest. Pay attention to the health of others around you such as those at work or your child’s school. If you hear of a bug “going around” and you notice that your child is tired, there’s a good chance that extra sleep will ward off the cold or flu. This is the time to allow extra television and require a mid-day nap.
5. Wash hands frequently, but avoid antibacterial products.
This seems counterintuitive, but the best way to kill environmental germs is to use soap and hot water and scrub hands thoroughly. Bacteria live all around us. They are on every surface we touch and in every breath we take. Without bacteria, our immune system wouldn’t learn to be strong.
Our internal bacterial system fights off invaders and thereby gets more effective at winning the battle. It’s just like working out: In order to become stronger, you must work hard in the gym. Your child’s body is a bacterial gym. Again, this comes back to the immune system. If you foster a strong immune system, your child’s body will fight off invaders and therefore become more resilient to future battles. While it is imperative to wash hands frequently during flu season, remember that the hands are only one very small way that germs enter your child’s system. Killing off the germs on hands with antibacterial products is futile and weakens your child’s- and the world’s- future ability to confront germs.
For a moment, put aside the traditional considerations for assessing your child’s health. Instead, I’d like you to consider some new approaches and angles that will provide you with insight into the likelihood that your child will stay healthy or get sick this winter season.
1. Sugar and processed foods impact the immune system.
Studies have shown that through a complex system of chemical processes sugar and processed foods depress the immune system. There exists a direct link between the amount of these foods that your child consumes and his/her health.
Obvious foods such as sodas, candy, cookies, ice cream, and potato chips are the big guns that should be kept concealed.
Even more disturbing are the foods that you think are healthy for your child that hide sugar and many refined ingredients: yogurt, and yogurt drinks and “pops;”most cereals; juices; fruit roll ups and “leathers;” “healthy” cookies and treats, soy ice cream and frozen treats. While being marketed as healthy choices, these foods aren’t much better than the obvious poor choices. Work hard during flu season to keep these foods away from your children. Read ingredient labels and watch out for: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup or “HFCS,” brown rice syrup, fructose, sucrose, barleymalt and the obvious, sugar.
2. Fresh foods offer the highest quality vitamins.
It’s shocking to me how often I see people turn to orange juice for vitamin C in an effort to fight off a cold or flu.
It is important to understand that the majority of vitamin C in orange juice is added after processing. Vitamin C and others like zinc, vitamin E, and magnesium help to support the immune system and are a great defense during flu season.
Choose better by having kids eat fresh whole foods such as cherries, berries, and apples, and vegetables such as spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots and sweet potatoes.
I know you probably hear this suggestion all the time, but it can’t be stressed enough. It is imperative to find creative ways to prepare vegetables so that kids will actually eat them. Sautee, roast or grill vegetables with olive oil or real butter, add some fresh sea salt or sprinkle with organic low fat cheese and kids will be more likely to eat.
3. Sleep will boost the immune system.
At night while we rest, the body is working to rebuild the immune system. Deep sleep allows a complex set of hormonal changes that recharge the body so that it’s resilient the next day. Be diligent and ensure that kids get a full night sleep of 8-10 hours.
Mandate bedtime despite protests and stick to a regular schedule. These are the times that mom and dad really need to be the boss. Resist the temptation to allow your child to stay up late and watch his or her favorite show. At the end of the day when you are tired as well, it’s easy to give in to your child’s vigilant campaign.
Remember: Would you rather avoid the confrontation tonight? Or deal with a sick kid tomorrow?
4. Fatigue is the first sign of a distressed immune system.
As already stated, the immune system desperately needs sleep to keep the body healthy. When the immune system is fighting to keep your child healthy, it requests that the body get extra rest to help in the fight.
If your child seems more fatigued than usual, it could be a very strong signal that your child is on the brink of getting sick.
The best way to fight off a cold or flu is to act immediately and get extra rest. Pay attention to the health of others around you such as those at work or your child’s school. If you hear of a bug “going around” and you notice that your child is tired, there’s a good chance that extra sleep will ward off the cold or flu. This is the time to allow extra television and require a mid-day nap.
5. Wash hands frequently, but avoid antibacterial products.
This seems counterintuitive, but the best way to kill environmental germs is to use soap and hot water and scrub hands thoroughly. Bacteria live all around us. They are on every surface we touch and in every breath we take. Without bacteria, our immune system wouldn’t learn to be strong.
Our internal bacterial system fights off invaders and thereby gets more effective at winning the battle. It’s just like working out: In order to become stronger, you must work hard in the gym. Your child’s body is a bacterial gym. Again, this comes back to the immune system. If you foster a strong immune system, your child’s body will fight off invaders and therefore become more resilient to future battles. While it is imperative to wash hands frequently during flu season, remember that the hands are only one very small way that germs enter your child’s system. Killing off the germs on hands with antibacterial products is futile and weakens your child’s- and the world’s- future ability to confront germs.
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