September 30, 2008

The Resume set-up

Upbeat Resume design

-Use a specialized, easy to understand writing font, white or ivory bond paper, and black ink. If using e-mail, stick to a simple font like Courier and send in text or ASCII format.
-Prepare a reverse sequential resume if possible. In this format, you begin with your most recent job followed by additional work experience in reverse chronological order, then your education.
-Use bulleted statements, not paragraphs, to explain your job duties. Bullet points make it easier for the hiring manager to scan your resume.
-Devote extra space to describing positions or duties that are most relevant to the job opening.

Downbeat Resume design

-Don't use a lot of italics, bolding and underlining. They may not be translated by today's resume scanning software.
-Don't use colored paper. It photocopies and scans poorly.
Always go with the positive format to get the beat result.

September 12, 2008

The Art of Resume Writing

Positive Prospect

-Keep in mind that the intention of the cover letter and resume is to get you to the next step - the interview. In your letter, express your interest and explain clearly why your skills and experience are a good fit for the position.
-Since many companies screen resumes by computer, use the key words found in the job explanation or classified ad if they are an accurate reflection of your background.
-Keep sentences and paragraphs short. Take benefit of your computer's spell check function, then proofread carefully. Ask others to proofread for you as well.

Negative Prospect
-Don't use "I", the first person pronoun, in any part of the resume. It's understood.
-Avoid lofty language and long sentences. Keep professional terminology and abbreviations to a minimum.
-Don't include an objective on your resume unless it is written specifically for the job opening.

The Behavioral Interview

Behavioral interview is a technique by which the interviewer will put in front you a job scenario and ask you how would you have handled that in exact steps; alternatively he/she would ask you to give them an example of a time when you had to do say, aggressive marketing, and how did you involve in that case.

Anyhow the chief success is to be equipped to a great extent to such type of questions ' with specific focus to points which touch on duties of your past job(s) and the job you are applying for. For this purpose you need to highlight the skills first, which are most needed in the job you are applying for; then see the match of those skills in the job(s) you have done in the past. Before the interview, plan on that line, a few success stories which you can put across to highlight those skills.

The theme to remember here is that the interviewer is really looking for details in how you managed a tough situation to the advantage of the company. Give the details without any diffidence. These details could be the ticket for you for the company’s job.

A behavioral interview may still catch you unaware and unrehearsed. Think that such a situation has arisen and think how best you would handle it to the benefit of the company. Be honest and say that such a situation had not arisen yet in your line of duty.
It’s a better option to prepare your self before the interview.

An Interview and your Body Language

Body language is the more important part of a person during his job interview.

Following these easy tips.

Be organized. To show positive body language at
an interview is to be “natural, contented and confident.
It seems unreasonable, but the best way to look natural is
to practice. Read a book or two about interviewing and
then run through the entire interview process with a friend.

Start strong. The meeting starts the moment you step into
the room. Walk in tall, with a smile on your face. Make sure
your hand is free, and offer it to the interviewer. Make the
handshake strong and firm, pumping hands once or twice,
and then release. A weak handshake and bone-crushers can
both leave a negative impression. Don’t be afraid to
practice shaking hands before your interview.

Be an active listener. Forget about your feet, forget about the windows.
Dedicate yourself to the interviewer. Don’t stare the interviewer down,
but do maintain eye contact. Examples of proper body language include
leaning forward, nodding and smiling when appropriate. Not only will you
look interested, but it’ll probably be easier to pay attention, and to notice
the interviewer’s nonverbal cues to you.

Expressing yourself with your hands is -- gestures show energy and passion.
However, a low-key interviewer might be overwhelmed by too much
hand waving, so tone it down if need be.

Be calm. Jiggling legs. Jangling key. Twirling hair. Glancing at your watch.
All of these are examples of bad body language. Bottom line: fidgeting makes
you look nervous and distracted so don’t do it. Don’t even tempt yourself by
having anything unnecessary in your hands (or your mouth or wrist!) Keep your
feet flat on the floor. This not only cuts down on restless legs, but helps you sit straighter.

Read the interviewer. You want the interviewer to be doing the same
things you are – maintaining eye contact, nodding, smiling, leaning forward
or sitting relaxed. If the interviewer is leaning sideways, fiddling with things,
or not responding with facial cues, there’s a good chance you’re losing him.
To turn the interview back around.

Finish strong. The queries were brutal. The interviewer scowled the entire time.
The job wasn’t what you thought it would be. No matter. Finish the interview
the way you started it – with energy and confidence. Shake hands while you
thank the interviewer for the opportunity, and walk away with your shoulders
back and head high. You never know what’s going to happen – maybe
the interviewer is always in a bad mood, maybe some other job will open up.
You’ll never regret leaving a good impression.

These are the way of success in a interview.

Some Question for You to Ask the H R

-What kinds of assignments might I expect the first six months on the job?
-How often are performance reviews given?
-Please describe the duties of the job for me.
-What products (or services) are in the development stage now?
-Do you have plans for expansion?
-What are your growth projections for next year?
-Have you cut your staff in the last three years?
-Are salary adjustments geared to the cost of living or job performance?
-Does your company encourage further education?
-How do you feel about creativity and individuality?
-Do you offer flextime?
-What is the usual promotional time frame?
-Does your company offer either single or dual career-track programs?
-What do you like best about your job/company?
-Once the probation period is completed, how much authority will I have over -decisions?
-Has there been much turnover in this job area?
-Do you fill positions from the outside or promote from within first?
-Is your company environmentally conscious? In what ways?
-In what ways is a career with your company better than one with your competitors?
-Is this a new position or am I replacing someone?
-What is the largest single problem facing your staff (department) now?
-May I talk with the last person who held this position?
-What qualities are you looking for in the candidate who fills this position?
-What skills are especially important for someone in this position?
-What characteristics do the achievers in this company seem to share?
-Who was the last person that filled this position, what made them successful at i-t, where are they today, and how may I contact them?
-Is there a lot of team/project work?
-Will I have the opportunity to work on special projects?
-Where does this position fit into the organizational structure?
-How much travel, if any, is involved in this position?
-What is the next course of action? When should I expect to hear from you or should I contact you?

These are some beneficial questions for the interviewer to ask to the H R Manager.

The means of Communication and the Listening Skills

To listen something carefully is difficult task. The listen skills are very vital for the part of effective communication. Unless you carefully follow what you hear, you will not be able to respond to it effectively. On can enhance his language skill with a sufficient practice.
We can consider listening as the more important, when you are in a conversation or listening to a presentation. Listening is much more than just hearing. What you have heard should register in your mind. Concentrate hard and don't let your mind wander when you are listening.

When you are having a conversation don't interrupt and talk only when the other person has stopped. It is not only bad manners to interrupt, but also unfavorably affects your perceptive of the subject.

It is not possible to concentrate on more than one thing at the same time. Try to concentrate on this.

-You should try to understand at least the main points of what is being said.
-Try to mentally summarize what you are listening to.
-Try to find out what is beneficial to you from what you are listening.
-Concentrate hard
-Closely focus on the content
-Closely focus on the important idea
If you have a good listing capacity then you most get success in interview.

September 11, 2008

FIVE STEP TO MAKE THE CHOICE BETTER

ONE

Build tranquility with Your Past Choices. We’ve all made terrible choices. It’s part of life. Occasionally, in order to make a good choice, one has to know what it feels like to make a bad one. The cost of a bad choice can be a good motivator reminding you to not make that choice again. It’s vital to build tranquility with the past choices

TWO

Look for a prototype If your career is not all you think it can be, ask yourself what choices brought to where you are today. Take off from your thinking everything that other people “did” to you. deduct your “bad luck.” Focus simply on the choices that you’ve made. Then, look for a pattern in your choices. Identify the recurring theme that holds you back.

THREE

Settle on to Make Better Choices until you decide to make better choices, your choices will continue to work against you. Resolving to make better choices is crucial. It is the first step towards having focus and determination.

FOUR

Start making enhanced option today with a single act. Impede yourself when you are about to slip into your familiar pattern of bad choices. Substitute that choice with a more positive action. One action leads to another, which leads to another. Before you know it, you are making better choices. The one small choice you make right now, that you have no proof will make a difference, and are afraid to take, is the action that done over time will lead to better choices and a more fulfilling career.

FIVE

Ask for Help As a career coach, I’ve noticed that the people who are suffering the most in their career are the ones that are working on their careers by themselves. You are not meant to work on your career challenges by yourself. Yes, you may want to begin alone... Make a promise to yourself that you will reach out to someone who can help you.
These are best option to choose your career as your wish.