Daily Career Connection

Since no two interviews are alike, it is difficult to be prepared for what lies ahead, but you can focus on your
presentation skills, which may be even more important than what you have to say. Three areas of performance, which should be considered dangerous and deadly, are worth spending some time
thinking about before your next interview.1.Poor non-verbal communication image

• Connect with a good, firm handshake. (There’s nothing like a limp response in a handshake.)

 • Sit erect and lean forward in the chair, appearing interested and attentive. (Slumping denotes a lazy attitude.)

That first impression can be a great beginning, or a quick ending to your interview.2. Poor verbal communication skills

• Observe your interviewer’s style and pace and match that style, adjusting your style and pace to match.

• Use appropriate language. (Beware of using slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics, or sexual preferences – these topics could get the door slammed very quickly.)

• Telling the interviewer more than they need to know could be a fatal mistake. (Too much
information – particularly personal information - could get into some areas that are best not discussed in an interview.)

Ace Your Next Interview - Get your personal copy of “The Ultimate Job Interview System,” 3 books by Carole Martin and 3 CDs - a Five Step Self-Study program by Carole Martin, The Interview Coach,  http://www.profcs.com/app/?af=651217

Starting a job search can often be a daunting experience, after all where do you start and which sources of information should you use? This article aims to examine in detail the elements of a successful job search, drawing upon my experience as a recruiter over a number of years.

Step 1. Objective Setting

It is impossible to decide whether something has been successful unless you define some basic objective in the first instance. Think about some of the following:

a) Are you looking for an identical job in a different company?

b) Are you looking for a career change into a specific industry?

c) Or are you still undecided about what job you want, but intend to cast the net as wide as possible and see what happens?

Once you have clarified your job search goals this will influence what you expect to gain at the end of the process.

Step 2. Update your Resume

Some people get steps 1 and 2 in the wrong order in their haste to find employment. They update their resume and then start thinking about what job they would like to search for. Remember your resume provides a snapshot of your skills and abilities but you should always tailor it to the type of job you are applying for. Don’t just submit the same resume for multiple jobs. Take time to emphasise particular skills in your resume that may appeal more to some employers than others.

3. Dress to impress

Go out and buy a good interview suit, even if you don’t normally wear one. Looking smart and presentable to any prospective employer is essential as it communicates respect and attention to detail. Getting your interview attire ready before you commence your actual job search will ensure that you are ready to respond immediately if an employer asks you to attend an interview at short notice. The last thing you want to be doing is trying to buy smart clothing on the day of an interview.

Tip: Go for dark colors, like blue, navy or black for interview clothing and always stick to a plain white shirt or blouse. These colors are quite neutral and smart and are unlikely to be off putting to a prospective employer.

4. Newspaper Media

The traditional way to search for a new job is by combing through newspapers or specialist magazines to find suitable vacancies. These media types can be very useful. Newspaper advertising provides a good overview of local vacancies whilst specialist magazines offer opportunities within a particular industry like social working, engineering , aerospace etc.

These should definitely be an essential element of a successful job search but their major drawback is that you often have to shift through lots of irrelevant vacancies until you find something suitable.

5. Internet Job Search

The internet is by far the most effective media for searching for job opportunities, as most company websites or specialist job search sites are regularly updated, offer instant access to potential employers and are highly interactive.

Specialist online job search sites like www.monster.com, one of the market leaders are even better.

Features include the ability to upload your resume directly onto the site so that thousands of potential employers can view it directly and email alerts which trigger an email to be sent directly to your email inbox if suitable jobs that match your criteria are posted on the site. Online job search sites like these offer flexibility, speed and the ability to narrow down your search options if there is just too much information to go through.

These sites are an essential element to your job search and I would highly recommend monster.com who host some of the largest online selection of jobs covering virtually every industry and specialism.

These sites are free for job hunters to use, as monster charge the companies fees for advertising on the site.
(more…)

Question – “When have you been most motivated?”

This question is more than an interview question; it is a question that you should be asking yourself before the interview. When have you been most satisfied in your work? When did you feel like you were making a difference or making a contribution? Basically, it’s about knowing what you want.

A simple exercise that will help you answer this question will also help you look inside yourself to think about what you want “more of,” and what you want “less of” in your next job. People usually perform at a higher level if they are satisfied with the work that they do – and as a result are more motivated to give 100% - plus.

Exercise to Find the Answer

An exercise that will help you with the answer to this question as well as assist you in looking inward to determine when you were working at your fullest potential is a simple one. Begin by making a list of the tasks at your last job – the tasks that you were particularly proud of, or were energized by. In other words, “when your job turned you on.” Think about the last time you were so involved in a project or task that you woke up thinking about how you could improve the situation. Write those experiences down and try to determine what the factors were that were satisfying for you.

Let’s say you were a “Project Leader.” The tasks list would read something like – “Led a team - Coordinated and monitored project progress - Assured the flow and completion of work on schedule – Monitored expenditures and budget.”
(more…)

To prosper in this fast-paced, ever-changing job market and workplace, where your present job is more than the duties and responsibilities you were hired to perform, you sometimes have to think more like a behaviorist than business person.

It is from your job you protect your family and guard your quality of life. For some it is the starting-point of future challenges and successes or a pathway for attaining financial goals. For some it is an ongoing quest or perhaps a labor of love. Still for others, it may be a way of life – their reality. In all cases, it is something worth safeguarding, nonetheless. When caught up in times of rapid change, whirling markets, up and down economies… and an increasingly competitive workplace, we get anxious and tend to overlook the obvious. Below are some factors to consider for safeguarding our careers.

Look closely at the paradigm you have in front of you; not where you’ve been and what you’ve done – that’s the old model you. Expect the business environment of 2008 to be pressure packed and stressful, and embrace this as your opportunity to exceed self-expectations. Start to put your emphasis on setting goals. Chances are if you don’t, you’ll find yourself off course and wondering why. There’s nothing more rewarding than setting lofty goals, stretching to the edge of your envelope to attain them and achieving what you perhaps once though to be beyond your reach. Conceive in mind a legitimate and aggressive goal—a purpose—and then set out to accomplish it for 2008.
(more…)