Tuesday, March 16, 2010
felling lucky
Still looking for the four-leafed clover that will get you the job you’ve always wanted? If Lady Luck hasn’t been on your side lately, maybe it’s time to try a new approach. Contrary to popular belief, good luck doesn’t solely have to do with fate and the mysterious unfolding of the universe — according to several psychology study results, luck largely has to do with the way you think and your general outlook on life. As the old saying goes, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” So start living life from the perspective of a “lucky” person, and maybe you’ll come across that opportunity for an interview or meet the person you need to know to get that job.
felling lucky
Still looking for the four-leafed clover that will get you the job you’ve always wanted? If Lady Luck hasn’t been on your side lately, maybe it’s time to try a new approach. Contrary to popular belief, good luck doesn’t solely have to do with fate and the mysterious unfolding of the universe — according to several psychology study results, luck largely has to do with the way you think and your general outlook on life. As the old saying goes, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” So start living life from the perspective of a “lucky” person, and maybe you’ll come across that opportunity for an interview or meet the person you need to know to get that job.
Monday, March 15, 2010
The right words
from 4 jobs .com
In: Job Seeker - InterviewAre you looking for the right words to show your credentials and enthusiasm on a job interview?
Are you looking for the right words to show your credentials and enthusiasm on a job interview?A job interview is a screening tool. Employers want to know if you will fit in. They are assessing whether they like you and if you are a good match for the position.The key to conveying that you are the ideal candidate is by doing your homework, going in, and then giving it your all. Leave your doubts at the door and focus on what the employer wants. That’s when you will be able to successfully explain why you are perfect for the job.So How Do You Find And Use The Right Words To Get The Job You Want? Follow These Five Steps Below:I. Prepare Before You GoDon’t expect to wing it on an interview. Prospective employers expect you to be prepared. Exceed their expectations. Find out everything you can before your interview begins. Start with the company’s website. Look for its history, its mission, annual reports,links to news stories and press releases. To research further, search engines provide a wealth of information. Newspapers and business journals will provide additional insight. Go to the library and ask for help - librarians usually know where the good resources are. You cannot over prepare. Prepare to thepoint where you are confident that you know about the company and what they offer to the world.II. Showcase Your Abilities Quickly When You Are ThereStories are the best way to show how you have produced results for previous employers because they produce a visual description in the interviewer’s mind. If theycan see what you’ve done, then they are more apt to want you to do the same thing for them too. Before you begin your story, ask questions to uncover an employers needs such as, “What is the biggest problem you are facing now?” Acknowledge the problem and tell the interviewer how you have overcome something similar. Go into the problem you were facing, the action you took to solve the problem, and the results you produced. Be concise and brief. You don’t want to lose the interest of your listener. Trust that if an interviewer needs more information, they will ask.III. Keep The Conversation Flowing Sometimes, prospective employers will not know what to say to you. Maybe they haven’t had much experience with interviews. Maybe they are distracted. Yet, they have a big say in whether you are hired or not. If you are faced with this situation, go on the offensive, and take control of the interview. Turn the interview around and ask the interviewer about themselves. What do they like or dislike about their position? What skills do they need to make their life easier? Get the conversation flowing. Once you get the interviewer talking, the interview process will be easier and more productive.IV. Ask The Right QuestionsPart of the interview is YOUR assessment of the company and the position. Just as the interviewer is assessing you, you are doing the same. Learn enough to determine if the job and company is a match for you. Questions are your pathway to information about the environment and the culture. Here are a few of those questions:1. What are the specific duties I will be responsible for?2. What challenges might I encounter if I take this job?3. What would a typical day be like for the successful candidate?4. How would you describe your management style?5. What are the organization’s plans for the next 5 years?6. Describe your ideal candidate. How do I measure up against that picture?Think about the answers you receive after the interview. Is this job right for you? This isimportant for you to determine. Don’t stop listening to yourself or your gut just because you need the job or the money or want the company on your resume. If you make choices in your career that go against who you are as a person and what’s important to you, these choices will come back and bite you later on.V. Follow-UpIt’s acceptable to ask a potential employer if you can follow-up with them and when would be an appropriate time for doing so. It shows that you care about the position and about working there. Create a follow-up plan. Write the date and time for your next contact with the employer. Be sure you follow through. Your attitude and actions, from the time you first learn about an opportunity, until you get it, sets the tone for the type of individual you are, and what others can expect from you.So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
In: Job Seeker - InterviewAre you looking for the right words to show your credentials and enthusiasm on a job interview?
Are you looking for the right words to show your credentials and enthusiasm on a job interview?A job interview is a screening tool. Employers want to know if you will fit in. They are assessing whether they like you and if you are a good match for the position.The key to conveying that you are the ideal candidate is by doing your homework, going in, and then giving it your all. Leave your doubts at the door and focus on what the employer wants. That’s when you will be able to successfully explain why you are perfect for the job.So How Do You Find And Use The Right Words To Get The Job You Want? Follow These Five Steps Below:I. Prepare Before You GoDon’t expect to wing it on an interview. Prospective employers expect you to be prepared. Exceed their expectations. Find out everything you can before your interview begins. Start with the company’s website. Look for its history, its mission, annual reports,links to news stories and press releases. To research further, search engines provide a wealth of information. Newspapers and business journals will provide additional insight. Go to the library and ask for help - librarians usually know where the good resources are. You cannot over prepare. Prepare to thepoint where you are confident that you know about the company and what they offer to the world.II. Showcase Your Abilities Quickly When You Are ThereStories are the best way to show how you have produced results for previous employers because they produce a visual description in the interviewer’s mind. If theycan see what you’ve done, then they are more apt to want you to do the same thing for them too. Before you begin your story, ask questions to uncover an employers needs such as, “What is the biggest problem you are facing now?” Acknowledge the problem and tell the interviewer how you have overcome something similar. Go into the problem you were facing, the action you took to solve the problem, and the results you produced. Be concise and brief. You don’t want to lose the interest of your listener. Trust that if an interviewer needs more information, they will ask.III. Keep The Conversation Flowing Sometimes, prospective employers will not know what to say to you. Maybe they haven’t had much experience with interviews. Maybe they are distracted. Yet, they have a big say in whether you are hired or not. If you are faced with this situation, go on the offensive, and take control of the interview. Turn the interview around and ask the interviewer about themselves. What do they like or dislike about their position? What skills do they need to make their life easier? Get the conversation flowing. Once you get the interviewer talking, the interview process will be easier and more productive.IV. Ask The Right QuestionsPart of the interview is YOUR assessment of the company and the position. Just as the interviewer is assessing you, you are doing the same. Learn enough to determine if the job and company is a match for you. Questions are your pathway to information about the environment and the culture. Here are a few of those questions:1. What are the specific duties I will be responsible for?2. What challenges might I encounter if I take this job?3. What would a typical day be like for the successful candidate?4. How would you describe your management style?5. What are the organization’s plans for the next 5 years?6. Describe your ideal candidate. How do I measure up against that picture?Think about the answers you receive after the interview. Is this job right for you? This isimportant for you to determine. Don’t stop listening to yourself or your gut just because you need the job or the money or want the company on your resume. If you make choices in your career that go against who you are as a person and what’s important to you, these choices will come back and bite you later on.V. Follow-UpIt’s acceptable to ask a potential employer if you can follow-up with them and when would be an appropriate time for doing so. It shows that you care about the position and about working there. Create a follow-up plan. Write the date and time for your next contact with the employer. Be sure you follow through. Your attitude and actions, from the time you first learn about an opportunity, until you get it, sets the tone for the type of individual you are, and what others can expect from you.So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
Is Your Job Search Driving You Mad
Found this advise on 4 jobs . com
Here are my top six tips to approach your job search with care:
Target your resume.Don’t maintain just one general resume that is a mishmash of all of your experiences. You should tailor your resume to each job you apply for and match your skills to those requirements of the job so you’ll sound like the perfect fit.
Stay organized. While you search for a new job you’ll need to create a system that works best for you to keep track of the positions you’ve applied for, those you’ve followed up on, and those you need to provide with more information. Staying organized while sometimes taxing will be your best friend throughout this whole process.
Make goals. While your job search might seem out of your control a lot of the time, make sure that you set goals for yourself throughout the process. While you can’t realistically know when you’ll land your next great job, you can certainly keep yourself on track by setting deadlines for yourself like researching a particular company you’re interested in pursuing or reaching out to networking contacts. Setting and meeting goals throughout your job search will keep you in good spirits.
Do your homework. Before applying to a job make sure you do a little digging before you submit your resume. Try to learn as much about the organization as possible so that you can target your resume and cover letter appropriately.
Use your network. If you come across a position and you’re unsure of the work involved with the job reach out to your network for some advice. Turning to your network of contacts to introduce you to potential employers is not their only purpose, but they’re also there to be your sounding board.
Be positive. No one wants to be around someone who feels sorry for them self and seems like they’re about to go off the deep end. Having a positive attitude and being able to roll with the punches shows a great sense of character on paper and in person.
Here are my top six tips to approach your job search with care:
Target your resume.Don’t maintain just one general resume that is a mishmash of all of your experiences. You should tailor your resume to each job you apply for and match your skills to those requirements of the job so you’ll sound like the perfect fit.
Stay organized. While you search for a new job you’ll need to create a system that works best for you to keep track of the positions you’ve applied for, those you’ve followed up on, and those you need to provide with more information. Staying organized while sometimes taxing will be your best friend throughout this whole process.
Make goals. While your job search might seem out of your control a lot of the time, make sure that you set goals for yourself throughout the process. While you can’t realistically know when you’ll land your next great job, you can certainly keep yourself on track by setting deadlines for yourself like researching a particular company you’re interested in pursuing or reaching out to networking contacts. Setting and meeting goals throughout your job search will keep you in good spirits.
Do your homework. Before applying to a job make sure you do a little digging before you submit your resume. Try to learn as much about the organization as possible so that you can target your resume and cover letter appropriately.
Use your network. If you come across a position and you’re unsure of the work involved with the job reach out to your network for some advice. Turning to your network of contacts to introduce you to potential employers is not their only purpose, but they’re also there to be your sounding board.
Be positive. No one wants to be around someone who feels sorry for them self and seems like they’re about to go off the deep end. Having a positive attitude and being able to roll with the punches shows a great sense of character on paper and in person.
Industry Employment Trends Report
According to Indeed's February Industry Employment Trends Report, ten of the 12 major industries tracked had more openings this past February than in February 2009. Hospitality experienced a 44% increase in open jobs over last year. Retail improved by 35% and real estate had a 33% jump. Here's the full list of industries trending upward ranked according to greatest increase in advertised openings.
1. Hospitality - hotels, restaurants, casinos, catering, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers and tourists.
-- Find hospitality jobs
2. Retail - establishments selling merchandise to the public.
-- Find retail jobs
3. Real Estate - establishments that rent or lease real estate to others or manage real estate for others.
-- Find real estate jobs
4. Education - establishments providing instruction and training such as schools, colleges, universities, and training centers.
-- Find education jobs
5. Media - includes newspapers, radio, television, and online outlets.
-- Find media jobs
6. Financial Services - encompasses banks, credit card companies, insurance, consumer finance companies, stock brokerages, and investment funds.
-- Find financial services jobs
7. Manufacturing - establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products.
-- Find manufacturing jobs
8. Accounting - sector focusing on the recording, reporting, and analysis of financial transactions of a business.
-- Find accounting jobs
9. Transportation - industries providing transportation of passengers and cargo, scenic and sightseeing transportation, and support activities related to modes of transportation.
-- Find transportation jobs
10. Information Technology - sector encompasses the design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware.
1. Hospitality - hotels, restaurants, casinos, catering, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers and tourists.
-- Find hospitality jobs
2. Retail - establishments selling merchandise to the public.
-- Find retail jobs
3. Real Estate - establishments that rent or lease real estate to others or manage real estate for others.
-- Find real estate jobs
4. Education - establishments providing instruction and training such as schools, colleges, universities, and training centers.
-- Find education jobs
5. Media - includes newspapers, radio, television, and online outlets.
-- Find media jobs
6. Financial Services - encompasses banks, credit card companies, insurance, consumer finance companies, stock brokerages, and investment funds.
-- Find financial services jobs
7. Manufacturing - establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products.
-- Find manufacturing jobs
8. Accounting - sector focusing on the recording, reporting, and analysis of financial transactions of a business.
-- Find accounting jobs
9. Transportation - industries providing transportation of passengers and cargo, scenic and sightseeing transportation, and support activities related to modes of transportation.
-- Find transportation jobs
10. Information Technology - sector encompasses the design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Good interview questions I seen on upladder
These are good questions interview I seen on upladder
Have good questions
Even though I'm usually the final person to meet a candidate here at TheLadders, I'm always surprised when people I'm interviewing say they don't have any questions for me. Sure, you've already met four of my colleagues and they've answered a lot of the open questions you had about TheLadders, but, really? You have absolutely no good questions for me?
And that's because asking questions is only 50% about addressing your needs, explaining the role to you, and satisfying your curiosity. The other 50% of asking questions is showing your capability to think critically about the company, the industry, and the role. Use that time to show off your good noodle by asking (brief) insightful questions.
And because I like you, here are ten questions that are good for almost any interview, plus a bonus question that will really make you stand out: What's the biggest change your group has gone through in the last year?
One year from now, if I get the job, what will earn me a "gold star"?
What are the key accomplishments you'd like to see in this role over the next year?What's your (or my future boss') leadership style?
About which competitor are you most worried?
How do your sales / marketing / technology / operations work here?What type of people are successful here? What type of people are not?What's one thing that's key to your success that somebody from outside the company wouldn't know about?How did you get your start in this industry?
Why do you stay?What are your best and worst working relationships with other groups in the company?What keeps you up at night? What's your biggest worry?And here's the bonus, my favorite, and the best way to really demonstrate how much value you're going to add to your boss' career:
How do you (Mr. or Ms. Future Boss) get a gold star / big bonus / your boss' recognition & thanks at the end of the year? How can I best help you do that?
Why is this question so good? It shows you're thinking about others, not just yourself. It shows that you want to be helpful and help the boss and the team achieve. And it gets your future boss thinking about how beneficial it is going to be to have somebody like you on the team helping them achieve their goals.
Good Monday morning Patricia R., The job interview is an unusual situation: You're put in a room you've never been in, with a person you've never met, to talk about a company you don't work at, in order to persuade somebody that you'll be excellent at a job you don't have.
No wonder it feels awkward, artificial and anxious.
But a lot of the "mystery" around great job interviewing comes from the fact that we don't do it that often. Every few years, we're supposed to magically dust off our interview skills and go out there and shine.
Well, I talk to a lot of job-seekers, hiring managers, and recruiters, and the "secrets" behind great interviews aren't really that mysterious after all.
So here's what you need to know for making your job interviews a lot less nerve-wracking and a lot more effective.
Pick three points and stick to them.
Ever watched the politicians on TV? When the host asks them a real zinger of a question, you'll notice they rarely get flustered. Instead, they reply right off the top of their heads with an answer that seems to be completely coherent and well-crafted.
No matter what the question is, and no matter how impertinently put, the politician has an answer and doesn't get distracted by the host's badgering. I can't say whether that's good for us voters, but I can tell you it's deadly effective for giving a great interview.
It's called "staying on message" and the politicians don't do it by accident.
Before they go on TV, they write down (or have written down for them) "talking points" that make the key arguments they want to make. And whatever else happens, they make sure to get their talking points across.
So in order to ace your interviews, you'll want to have your own talking points.
And here's the truly amazing thing — you don't even need to come up with them on your own. Unlike the fickle electorate, your target audience will tell you exactly what you need to say! All you have to do is ask them.
When you are setting up the interview, ask the recruiter or HR person:
What are the three key things you're looking for in this position?
And why are they important to the company? (If you're not able to get this question in beforehand, you can still ask it right at the start of the interview.)
They might say this position is for a new initiative, or this role is critical for the implementation of the strategy, or the boss needs an expert to help assist them in this area.
Whatever the three key needs for the role are, write down beforehand how you can accomplish those needs. Don't over-practice, just make sure that you know their three needs by heart, and you've got a reasonable argument for why you can help them.
Then during the interview, if conversation gets steered away to upcoming spring training or the snow this winter, or Tiger's apology on Friday, you just make sure that you steer it back to how you can contribute on the three key needs.
Stay on message and when you walk out, your message with stay behind with your future boss.
It's not about you
If you think about the interview from your future boss' point of view, the interview is not about you. It's about how well you fit into his or her needs. If you stick to your talking points above, you'll avoid one of the most common errors people make in job interviews: talking about themselves without a real purpose.
Yes, you need to discuss your career goals, but only in the context of how they match up with what your boss is looking for.
And, yes, you need to discuss your prior performance and successes, but only to the extent that it supports how you match the three key needs the company has for the open position.
A job interview is a sales call — it's about selling you and your experiences and skills and talent for the role.
It's not an A&E Biography about Patricia R., it's a discussion about the company, their needs, the role, and how well you do, or don't, fit into the plans.
And it is most especially not a chance for you to get distracted on extraneous topics that may be very important to you, but have absolutely nothing to do with how well you can do the job. Because these topics are very important to you and you've been thinking about them a lot, you'll need to make an extra-special effort to avoid dwelling on them in the interview: How difficult the job search is (ok, yes it is, how is talking about this going to help you shorten your job search?)What your perfect career would be (we're not here to talk about your perfect career, we're here to talk about this job and who we should hire for it)The wrong decisions made by your previous boss / company / colleagues (how is this helping you get your next job? It's not. Avoid.)If I can be slightly tongue-in-cheek, the rule for job interviews is: "He who talks the least, wins." If you can get your interviewer talking about their needs, their hopes, and their viewpoints, you'll be collecting a lot more information about what it takes to get the job. Making your key points can take as little as 10 minutes if you're strictly on message. Use the rest of your time to find out what else you need to know to make your case.
Have good questions
Even though I'm usually the final person to meet a candidate here at TheLadders, I'm always surprised when people I'm interviewing say they don't have any questions for me. Sure, you've already met four of my colleagues and they've answered a lot of the open questions you had about TheLadders, but, really? You have absolutely no good questions for me?
And that's because asking questions is only 50% about addressing your needs, explaining the role to you, and satisfying your curiosity. The other 50% of asking questions is showing your capability to think critically about the company, the industry, and the role. Use that time to show off your good noodle by asking (brief) insightful questions.
And because I like you, here are ten questions that are good for almost any interview, plus a bonus question that will really make you stand out: What's the biggest change your group has gone through in the last year?One year from now, if I get the job, what will earn me a "gold star"? What are the key accomplishments you'd like to see in this role over the next year?What's your (or my future boss') leadership style?About which competitor are you most worried?How do your sales / marketing / technology / operations work here?What type of people are successful here? What type of people are not?What's one thing that's key to your success that somebody from outside the company wouldn't know about?How did you get your start in this industry? Why do you stay?What are your best and worst working relationships with other groups in the company?What keeps you up at night? What's your biggest worry?And here's the bonus, my favorite, and the best way to really demonstrate how much value you're going to add to your boss' career:
How do you (Mr. or Ms. Future Boss) get a gold star / big bonus / your boss' recognition & thanks at the end of the year? How can I best help you do that?
Why is this question so good? It shows you're thinking about others, not just yourself. It shows that you want to be helpful and help the boss and the team achieve. And it gets your future boss thinking about how beneficial it is going to be to have somebody like you on the team helping them achieve their goals.
OK, Readers, that's how you ace the interview. Good luck this week!
I'll be rooting for you!
Warmest regards,
Marc Cenedella, Founder & CEO, TheLadders.com Follow me on Twitter here.
Have good questions
Even though I'm usually the final person to meet a candidate here at TheLadders, I'm always surprised when people I'm interviewing say they don't have any questions for me. Sure, you've already met four of my colleagues and they've answered a lot of the open questions you had about TheLadders, but, really? You have absolutely no good questions for me?
And that's because asking questions is only 50% about addressing your needs, explaining the role to you, and satisfying your curiosity. The other 50% of asking questions is showing your capability to think critically about the company, the industry, and the role. Use that time to show off your good noodle by asking (brief) insightful questions.
And because I like you, here are ten questions that are good for almost any interview, plus a bonus question that will really make you stand out: What's the biggest change your group has gone through in the last year?
One year from now, if I get the job, what will earn me a "gold star"?
What are the key accomplishments you'd like to see in this role over the next year?What's your (or my future boss') leadership style?
About which competitor are you most worried?
How do your sales / marketing / technology / operations work here?What type of people are successful here? What type of people are not?What's one thing that's key to your success that somebody from outside the company wouldn't know about?How did you get your start in this industry?
Why do you stay?What are your best and worst working relationships with other groups in the company?What keeps you up at night? What's your biggest worry?And here's the bonus, my favorite, and the best way to really demonstrate how much value you're going to add to your boss' career:
How do you (Mr. or Ms. Future Boss) get a gold star / big bonus / your boss' recognition & thanks at the end of the year? How can I best help you do that?
Why is this question so good? It shows you're thinking about others, not just yourself. It shows that you want to be helpful and help the boss and the team achieve. And it gets your future boss thinking about how beneficial it is going to be to have somebody like you on the team helping them achieve their goals.
Good Monday morning Patricia R., The job interview is an unusual situation: You're put in a room you've never been in, with a person you've never met, to talk about a company you don't work at, in order to persuade somebody that you'll be excellent at a job you don't have.
No wonder it feels awkward, artificial and anxious.
But a lot of the "mystery" around great job interviewing comes from the fact that we don't do it that often. Every few years, we're supposed to magically dust off our interview skills and go out there and shine.
Well, I talk to a lot of job-seekers, hiring managers, and recruiters, and the "secrets" behind great interviews aren't really that mysterious after all.
So here's what you need to know for making your job interviews a lot less nerve-wracking and a lot more effective.
Pick three points and stick to them.
Ever watched the politicians on TV? When the host asks them a real zinger of a question, you'll notice they rarely get flustered. Instead, they reply right off the top of their heads with an answer that seems to be completely coherent and well-crafted.
No matter what the question is, and no matter how impertinently put, the politician has an answer and doesn't get distracted by the host's badgering. I can't say whether that's good for us voters, but I can tell you it's deadly effective for giving a great interview.
It's called "staying on message" and the politicians don't do it by accident.
Before they go on TV, they write down (or have written down for them) "talking points" that make the key arguments they want to make. And whatever else happens, they make sure to get their talking points across.
So in order to ace your interviews, you'll want to have your own talking points.
And here's the truly amazing thing — you don't even need to come up with them on your own. Unlike the fickle electorate, your target audience will tell you exactly what you need to say! All you have to do is ask them.
When you are setting up the interview, ask the recruiter or HR person:
What are the three key things you're looking for in this position?
And why are they important to the company? (If you're not able to get this question in beforehand, you can still ask it right at the start of the interview.)
They might say this position is for a new initiative, or this role is critical for the implementation of the strategy, or the boss needs an expert to help assist them in this area.
Whatever the three key needs for the role are, write down beforehand how you can accomplish those needs. Don't over-practice, just make sure that you know their three needs by heart, and you've got a reasonable argument for why you can help them.
Then during the interview, if conversation gets steered away to upcoming spring training or the snow this winter, or Tiger's apology on Friday, you just make sure that you steer it back to how you can contribute on the three key needs.
Stay on message and when you walk out, your message with stay behind with your future boss.
It's not about you
If you think about the interview from your future boss' point of view, the interview is not about you. It's about how well you fit into his or her needs. If you stick to your talking points above, you'll avoid one of the most common errors people make in job interviews: talking about themselves without a real purpose.
Yes, you need to discuss your career goals, but only in the context of how they match up with what your boss is looking for.
And, yes, you need to discuss your prior performance and successes, but only to the extent that it supports how you match the three key needs the company has for the open position.
A job interview is a sales call — it's about selling you and your experiences and skills and talent for the role.
It's not an A&E Biography about Patricia R., it's a discussion about the company, their needs, the role, and how well you do, or don't, fit into the plans.
And it is most especially not a chance for you to get distracted on extraneous topics that may be very important to you, but have absolutely nothing to do with how well you can do the job. Because these topics are very important to you and you've been thinking about them a lot, you'll need to make an extra-special effort to avoid dwelling on them in the interview: How difficult the job search is (ok, yes it is, how is talking about this going to help you shorten your job search?)What your perfect career would be (we're not here to talk about your perfect career, we're here to talk about this job and who we should hire for it)The wrong decisions made by your previous boss / company / colleagues (how is this helping you get your next job? It's not. Avoid.)If I can be slightly tongue-in-cheek, the rule for job interviews is: "He who talks the least, wins." If you can get your interviewer talking about their needs, their hopes, and their viewpoints, you'll be collecting a lot more information about what it takes to get the job. Making your key points can take as little as 10 minutes if you're strictly on message. Use the rest of your time to find out what else you need to know to make your case.
Have good questions
Even though I'm usually the final person to meet a candidate here at TheLadders, I'm always surprised when people I'm interviewing say they don't have any questions for me. Sure, you've already met four of my colleagues and they've answered a lot of the open questions you had about TheLadders, but, really? You have absolutely no good questions for me?
And that's because asking questions is only 50% about addressing your needs, explaining the role to you, and satisfying your curiosity. The other 50% of asking questions is showing your capability to think critically about the company, the industry, and the role. Use that time to show off your good noodle by asking (brief) insightful questions.
And because I like you, here are ten questions that are good for almost any interview, plus a bonus question that will really make you stand out: What's the biggest change your group has gone through in the last year?One year from now, if I get the job, what will earn me a "gold star"? What are the key accomplishments you'd like to see in this role over the next year?What's your (or my future boss') leadership style?About which competitor are you most worried?How do your sales / marketing / technology / operations work here?What type of people are successful here? What type of people are not?What's one thing that's key to your success that somebody from outside the company wouldn't know about?How did you get your start in this industry? Why do you stay?What are your best and worst working relationships with other groups in the company?What keeps you up at night? What's your biggest worry?And here's the bonus, my favorite, and the best way to really demonstrate how much value you're going to add to your boss' career:
How do you (Mr. or Ms. Future Boss) get a gold star / big bonus / your boss' recognition & thanks at the end of the year? How can I best help you do that?
Why is this question so good? It shows you're thinking about others, not just yourself. It shows that you want to be helpful and help the boss and the team achieve. And it gets your future boss thinking about how beneficial it is going to be to have somebody like you on the team helping them achieve their goals.
OK, Readers, that's how you ace the interview. Good luck this week!
I'll be rooting for you!
Warmest regards,
Marc Cenedella, Founder & CEO, TheLadders.com Follow me on Twitter here.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Career Guidance
Went to Career Guidance testing and Career Occupational Preference testing and after a LONG period of different testing- (months) the results showed that my education and experience are in line with my skills,passions,values. Service Professioal,Business Professioanl, Consumenr Economics, Clerical - Adminsitration where the highest levels
so now that I know that - on to the prayers
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right, forget the ones who don't.
Believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life let it.
Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
Chin up and knees down ( keep smiling and praying) and with music,
positive attitude and God you will make it through everything.
so now that I know that - on to the prayers
Memorare
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right, forget the ones who don't.
Believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life let it.
Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
Chin up and knees down ( keep smiling and praying) and with music,
positive attitude and God you will make it through everything.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Its not what you achieve its what you OVERCOME
Its not what you achieve its what you OVERCOME
This saying really hit home
This saying really hit home
Thursday, February 11, 2010
How to Provide Exceptional Customer Satisfaction at Work and Home
Nancy Stampahar of Silver Lining Solutions
Wrote this
Hello Patty, With the abundance of choices in today's environment, providing exceptional customer service is a must if an organization wants to gain the competitive advantage and increase sales or if a person wants to maintain their job and healthy relationships with co-workers, significant others, families and friends. Every organization needs increased sales and loyal customers. Every person needs people in their lives. Customer service skills are very much like interpersonal, life skills where each person at work and home needs to be treated like a customer. While it is possible to have businesses and relationships exist without providing exceptional customer service, it is not possible to have truly satisfied customers and relationships without the extra effort. The interactions become transactions and situations that are needed for survival but they may not be gratifying. Wouldn't your workplace and personal worlds be more productive, positively responsive, healthier and happier with greater customer and personal satisfaction? Individually and organizationally you can bring greater satisfaction.
Customers and People Are Satisfied When:
You are respectful of their time, circumstances and feelings.
You are knowledgeable, dependable and trustworthy.
You are thoughtful, kind, engaging and friendly.
You are honest, authentic and open minded.
You are flexible, resilient and make an effort to remove obstacles and resolve problems.
You listen, demonstrate empathy and compassion. You communicate expectations, boundaries and needs.
You are professional, mature and positive.
You genuinely show you care about them.
You admit your mistakes and take responsibility for them.
Ask your customers, employees, friends, significant others and family members if you do or do not consistently demonstrate these customer satisfaction best practices. Their answers will let you know where you are now. Then, it will be up to you make the appropriate changes within your organization and yourself to reach the goals you want to achieve. You cannot expect or wait for others to change if they do not want to. You can only change yourself and your responses to people or situations. It's up to you, and you can do it! To you and your feeling exceptionally satisfied, Nancy Stampahar
Wrote this
Hello Patty, With the abundance of choices in today's environment, providing exceptional customer service is a must if an organization wants to gain the competitive advantage and increase sales or if a person wants to maintain their job and healthy relationships with co-workers, significant others, families and friends. Every organization needs increased sales and loyal customers. Every person needs people in their lives. Customer service skills are very much like interpersonal, life skills where each person at work and home needs to be treated like a customer. While it is possible to have businesses and relationships exist without providing exceptional customer service, it is not possible to have truly satisfied customers and relationships without the extra effort. The interactions become transactions and situations that are needed for survival but they may not be gratifying. Wouldn't your workplace and personal worlds be more productive, positively responsive, healthier and happier with greater customer and personal satisfaction? Individually and organizationally you can bring greater satisfaction.
Customers and People Are Satisfied When:
You are respectful of their time, circumstances and feelings.
You are knowledgeable, dependable and trustworthy.
You are thoughtful, kind, engaging and friendly.
You are honest, authentic and open minded.
You are flexible, resilient and make an effort to remove obstacles and resolve problems.
You listen, demonstrate empathy and compassion. You communicate expectations, boundaries and needs.
You are professional, mature and positive.
You genuinely show you care about them.
You admit your mistakes and take responsibility for them.
Ask your customers, employees, friends, significant others and family members if you do or do not consistently demonstrate these customer satisfaction best practices. Their answers will let you know where you are now. Then, it will be up to you make the appropriate changes within your organization and yourself to reach the goals you want to achieve. You cannot expect or wait for others to change if they do not want to. You can only change yourself and your responses to people or situations. It's up to you, and you can do it! To you and your feeling exceptionally satisfied, Nancy Stampahar
Interview Myths That Keep You From Landing the Job
Interview Myths That Keep You From Landing the Job
article on Yahoo that my brother found- worth reading
With so few jobs currently available and so many people currently hoping to fill those jobs, standing out in an interview is of utmost importance. While jobs themselves are scarce, job advice is overly abundant. And with an influx of information comes an influx of confusion. What career counsel do you take, and what do you ignore?
There are a number of common misconceptions related to interview best practices, experts say. Kera Greene of the Career Counselors Consortium and executive coach Barbara Frankel offer tips below that can help you stand out from other interview subjects, avoid frequent pitfalls, and secure the job.
Myth #1: Be prepared with a list of questions to ask at the close of the interview.
There is some truth in this common piece of advice: You should always be prepared, and that usually includes developing questions related to the job. The myth here is that you must wait until it is "your turn" to speak.
By waiting until the interviewer asks you if you have any questions, "it becomes an interrogation instead of a conversation," says Greene.
Greene recommends that you think of an interview as a sales call. You are the product and you are selling yourself to the employer. "You can't be passive in a sales call or you aren't going to sell your product."
Frankel mimics Greene's comments. "It's a two-way street," she says. "I recommend asking a follow-up question at the tail end of your responses."
For example, Frankel says, if the interviewer says, "Tell me about yourself," you first respond to that question and complete your response with a question like, "Can you tell me more about the position?" The interview should be a dialogue.
Myth #2: Do not show weakness in an interview.
The reality is that it is OK to have flaws. In fact, almost every interviewer will ask you to name one. Typically job seekers are told to either avoid this question by providing a "good flaw." One such "good flaw" which is often recommends is: "I am too committed to my work." But, these kinds of responses will only hurt you.
"Every recruiter can see through that," Greene says of faux flaws.
Recruiters conduct interviews all day, every day. They've seen it all and can see through candidates who dodge questions. "They prefer to hire someone who is honest than someone who is obviously lying," Greene says.
And for those of you who claim to be flaw-free, think again. "Everybody has weaknesses," Frankel states. But one is enough. According to Frankel, supply your interviewer with one genuine flaw, explain how you are working to correct it, and then move on to a new question.
Myth #3: Be sure to point out all of your strengths and skills to the employer.
Of course, you want the interviewer to know why you are a valuable candidate, but a laundry list of your skills isn't going to win you any points. Inevitably, in an interview, you will be asked about your skills. What can go wrong in this scenario?
"You don't want to list a litany of strengths," Frankel says.
"What is typical is that they will say: 'I'm a good communicator,' 'I have excellent interpersonal skills,' 'I am responsible,'" Greene explains. "You have to give accomplishments. I need to know what did you accomplish when using these skills."
Frankel recommends doing a little groundwork before your interview so that you are best equipped to answer this question. She tells her clients to find out what the prospective job role consists of. "What makes an interview powerful is to give an example related to their particular needs or challenges that you have demonstrated in the past."
Provide three strengths, with examples. You will get much further with a handful of real strengths than with an unconvincing list of traits.
Myth #4: Let the employer know your salary expectations.
One of the trickiest questions to answer in an interview relates to salary. Money talk can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be. The fact is you don't even have to answer when asked about desired salary.
According to the book "Acing the Interview: How to Ask and Answer the Questions That Will Get You The Job!" a perfect response would be: "I want to earn a salary that is commensurate with the contributions I can make. I am confident I can make a substantial contribution at your firm. What does your firm plan to pay for this position?"
Greene suggests a similar response: "I prefer to discuss the compensation package after you've decided that I'm the best candidate and we can sit down and negotiate the package."
Myth #5: The employer determines whether or not you get the job.
While yes, the employer must be the one to offer you the position, interviewees have more control than they often realize. According to both Greene and Frankel, candidates have a larger say in the final hiring decision than they think.
"They should call the interviewer or hiring manager and say: 'I'd really like to be part of the company,'" says Greene. "It can't hurt you. It can only help."
"Acing the Interview" encourages all candidates to conclude their interviews with one question: "'Based on our interview, do you have any concerns about my ability to do the job?' -- If the answer is yes, ask the interviewer to be explicit. Deal forthrightly with each concern."
For more interview tips and myths, download a free book summary of "Acing the Interview: How to Ask and Answer the Questions That Will Get You The Job!" here.
Also on Yahoo! HotJobs:
'Accomplishments' to leave off your resume6 reasons they didn't call you backShould you keep your salary a secret?Find a new job near you
article on Yahoo that my brother found- worth reading
With so few jobs currently available and so many people currently hoping to fill those jobs, standing out in an interview is of utmost importance. While jobs themselves are scarce, job advice is overly abundant. And with an influx of information comes an influx of confusion. What career counsel do you take, and what do you ignore?
There are a number of common misconceptions related to interview best practices, experts say. Kera Greene of the Career Counselors Consortium and executive coach Barbara Frankel offer tips below that can help you stand out from other interview subjects, avoid frequent pitfalls, and secure the job.
Myth #1: Be prepared with a list of questions to ask at the close of the interview.
There is some truth in this common piece of advice: You should always be prepared, and that usually includes developing questions related to the job. The myth here is that you must wait until it is "your turn" to speak.
By waiting until the interviewer asks you if you have any questions, "it becomes an interrogation instead of a conversation," says Greene.
Greene recommends that you think of an interview as a sales call. You are the product and you are selling yourself to the employer. "You can't be passive in a sales call or you aren't going to sell your product."
Frankel mimics Greene's comments. "It's a two-way street," she says. "I recommend asking a follow-up question at the tail end of your responses."
For example, Frankel says, if the interviewer says, "Tell me about yourself," you first respond to that question and complete your response with a question like, "Can you tell me more about the position?" The interview should be a dialogue.
Myth #2: Do not show weakness in an interview.
The reality is that it is OK to have flaws. In fact, almost every interviewer will ask you to name one. Typically job seekers are told to either avoid this question by providing a "good flaw." One such "good flaw" which is often recommends is: "I am too committed to my work." But, these kinds of responses will only hurt you.
"Every recruiter can see through that," Greene says of faux flaws.
Recruiters conduct interviews all day, every day. They've seen it all and can see through candidates who dodge questions. "They prefer to hire someone who is honest than someone who is obviously lying," Greene says.
And for those of you who claim to be flaw-free, think again. "Everybody has weaknesses," Frankel states. But one is enough. According to Frankel, supply your interviewer with one genuine flaw, explain how you are working to correct it, and then move on to a new question.
Myth #3: Be sure to point out all of your strengths and skills to the employer.
Of course, you want the interviewer to know why you are a valuable candidate, but a laundry list of your skills isn't going to win you any points. Inevitably, in an interview, you will be asked about your skills. What can go wrong in this scenario?
"You don't want to list a litany of strengths," Frankel says.
"What is typical is that they will say: 'I'm a good communicator,' 'I have excellent interpersonal skills,' 'I am responsible,'" Greene explains. "You have to give accomplishments. I need to know what did you accomplish when using these skills."
Frankel recommends doing a little groundwork before your interview so that you are best equipped to answer this question. She tells her clients to find out what the prospective job role consists of. "What makes an interview powerful is to give an example related to their particular needs or challenges that you have demonstrated in the past."
Provide three strengths, with examples. You will get much further with a handful of real strengths than with an unconvincing list of traits.
Myth #4: Let the employer know your salary expectations.
One of the trickiest questions to answer in an interview relates to salary. Money talk can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be. The fact is you don't even have to answer when asked about desired salary.
According to the book "Acing the Interview: How to Ask and Answer the Questions That Will Get You The Job!" a perfect response would be: "I want to earn a salary that is commensurate with the contributions I can make. I am confident I can make a substantial contribution at your firm. What does your firm plan to pay for this position?"
Greene suggests a similar response: "I prefer to discuss the compensation package after you've decided that I'm the best candidate and we can sit down and negotiate the package."
Myth #5: The employer determines whether or not you get the job.
While yes, the employer must be the one to offer you the position, interviewees have more control than they often realize. According to both Greene and Frankel, candidates have a larger say in the final hiring decision than they think.
"They should call the interviewer or hiring manager and say: 'I'd really like to be part of the company,'" says Greene. "It can't hurt you. It can only help."
"Acing the Interview" encourages all candidates to conclude their interviews with one question: "'Based on our interview, do you have any concerns about my ability to do the job?' -- If the answer is yes, ask the interviewer to be explicit. Deal forthrightly with each concern."
For more interview tips and myths, download a free book summary of "Acing the Interview: How to Ask and Answer the Questions That Will Get You The Job!" here.
Also on Yahoo! HotJobs:
'Accomplishments' to leave off your resume6 reasons they didn't call you backShould you keep your salary a secret?Find a new job near you
Goal Setting Worksheets
Goal Setting Worksheets from my friend Patty
scroll all the way down
Patty Kreamer, CPO ®
2429 Silver Oak Place
Pittsburgh, Pa 15220
(412) 344-3252
(412) 344-3253 FAX
patty@ByeByeClutter.com
www.ByeByeClutter.com
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p552.pdf
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPO® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
GOAL SETTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Here's how the goal setting handouts work. On page 1 where you have the grid of 12 different areas, write goals in each area...just dream and write down anything that you want always being sure that the goals are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time related). I put an example in there so you can see how a goal follows through all the way to page 3.
When you are done with page 1, decide on each goal if it is a 1, 3, 5, or 10 year or Lifetime goal and write the appropriate number or letter L beside each goal.
Go to page 2 and transfer your top 1, 3, 5,and 10 year and Lifetime goals to that page in the corresponding section. Then on page 3 and 4 (they are the same with 2 sections per page), transfer some of your more lofty goals and dissect them into the form given. See the example for how to do this. It's pretty self explanatory, but feel free to email or call me if something is not clear.
Take care and happy goal setting!
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPO® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
My Goals
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPP® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
Business/Career
Things I want
Hobbies
Personal Development
Organize my office by end of month
Mental
Physical
Spiritual
Family
Leisure
Financial
Social
Community
1
MY MOST IMPORTANT GOALS
1-year goals
1 Organize my office by end of month_______
2___________________________________
3___________________________________
4___________________________________
3-year goals
1___________________________________
2___________________________________
3___________________________________
4___________________________________
5-year goals
1___________________________________
2___________________________________
3___________________________________
4___________________________________
10-year goals
1___________________________________
2___________________________________
3___________________________________
4___________________________________
Lifetime Goals
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPO® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
2
My Goal is…
Organize my office by end of month _____________________________________________________
Benefits from achieving this goal are…
I will be able to find things when I need them and not waste time searching! _____________________________________________________
TASKS TO ACHIEVE GOAL: (Schedule in day planner!)
Sort through stacks starting on Monday
Schedule an hour in day planner each day.
Come to work prepared to do this.
I’ll make files instead of piles by first of month
Use a tickler file starting tomorrow and check it every day.
Target
Date
Complete Date
EOM
Possible Obstacles
Solutions to Obstacles
I will put it off
Schedule time in day planner
I don’t like to organize
Hire a professional organizer to help
Affirmations to support Goal…
I am able to find things when I need them
I am organized
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Goal is… __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Benefits from achieving this goal are…
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TASKS TO ACHIEVE GOAL: (Schedule in day planner!)
1.____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
4.____________________________________________________
5.____________________________________________________
Target
Date
Complete Date
Possible Obstacles
Solutions to Obstacles
Affirmations to support Goal…
3
My Goal is… __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Benefits from achieving this goal are…
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TASKS TO ACHIEVE GOAL: (Schedule in day planner!)
1.____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
4.____________________________________________________
5.____________________________________________________
Target
Date
Complete Date
Possible Obstacles
Solutions to Obstacles
Affirmations to support Goal…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Goal is… __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Benefits from achieving this goal are…
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TASKS TO ACHIEVE GOAL: (Schedule in day planner!)
1.____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
4.____________________________________________________
5.____________________________________________________
Target
Date
Complete Date
Possible Obstacles
Solutions to Obstacles
Affirmations to support Goal…
4
NOTES
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPO® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
scroll all the way down
Patty Kreamer, CPO ®
2429 Silver Oak Place
Pittsburgh, Pa 15220
(412) 344-3252
(412) 344-3253 FAX
patty@ByeByeClutter.com
www.ByeByeClutter.com
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p552.pdf
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPO® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
GOAL SETTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Here's how the goal setting handouts work. On page 1 where you have the grid of 12 different areas, write goals in each area...just dream and write down anything that you want always being sure that the goals are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time related). I put an example in there so you can see how a goal follows through all the way to page 3.
When you are done with page 1, decide on each goal if it is a 1, 3, 5, or 10 year or Lifetime goal and write the appropriate number or letter L beside each goal.
Go to page 2 and transfer your top 1, 3, 5,and 10 year and Lifetime goals to that page in the corresponding section. Then on page 3 and 4 (they are the same with 2 sections per page), transfer some of your more lofty goals and dissect them into the form given. See the example for how to do this. It's pretty self explanatory, but feel free to email or call me if something is not clear.
Take care and happy goal setting!
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPO® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
My Goals
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPP® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
Business/Career
Things I want
Hobbies
Personal Development
Organize my office by end of month
Mental
Physical
Spiritual
Family
Leisure
Financial
Social
Community
1
MY MOST IMPORTANT GOALS
1-year goals
1 Organize my office by end of month_______
2___________________________________
3___________________________________
4___________________________________
3-year goals
1___________________________________
2___________________________________
3___________________________________
4___________________________________
5-year goals
1___________________________________
2___________________________________
3___________________________________
4___________________________________
10-year goals
1___________________________________
2___________________________________
3___________________________________
4___________________________________
Lifetime Goals
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPO® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
2
My Goal is…
Organize my office by end of month _____________________________________________________
Benefits from achieving this goal are…
I will be able to find things when I need them and not waste time searching! _____________________________________________________
TASKS TO ACHIEVE GOAL: (Schedule in day planner!)
Sort through stacks starting on Monday
Schedule an hour in day planner each day.
Come to work prepared to do this.
I’ll make files instead of piles by first of month
Use a tickler file starting tomorrow and check it every day.
Target
Date
Complete Date
EOM
Possible Obstacles
Solutions to Obstacles
I will put it off
Schedule time in day planner
I don’t like to organize
Hire a professional organizer to help
Affirmations to support Goal…
I am able to find things when I need them
I am organized
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Goal is… __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Benefits from achieving this goal are…
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TASKS TO ACHIEVE GOAL: (Schedule in day planner!)
1.____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
4.____________________________________________________
5.____________________________________________________
Target
Date
Complete Date
Possible Obstacles
Solutions to Obstacles
Affirmations to support Goal…
3
My Goal is… __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Benefits from achieving this goal are…
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TASKS TO ACHIEVE GOAL: (Schedule in day planner!)
1.____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
4.____________________________________________________
5.____________________________________________________
Target
Date
Complete Date
Possible Obstacles
Solutions to Obstacles
Affirmations to support Goal…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Goal is… __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Benefits from achieving this goal are…
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TASKS TO ACHIEVE GOAL: (Schedule in day planner!)
1.____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
4.____________________________________________________
5.____________________________________________________
Target
Date
Complete Date
Possible Obstacles
Solutions to Obstacles
Affirmations to support Goal…
4
NOTES
©2008 Patty Kreamer, CPO® ~ Kreamer Connect, Inc. ~ 412-344-3252 ~ www.ByeByeClutter.com
Describe a problem situation and how you solved it.
Interview Questions:
Describe a problem situation
and how you solved it.
This classic interview question may be difficult for you to answer. As you think back through your work history, though, keep in mind that the situation you describe does not need to be one that had a major impact. Just think of a situation that allows you to demonstrate your ability to think critically and develop solutions. For instance, think of a time that a client was in a bind and describe the steps you took to get meet their deadline. Use this as an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are capable of performing responsibly and efficiently on your own.
Describe a problem situation
and how you solved it.
This classic interview question may be difficult for you to answer. As you think back through your work history, though, keep in mind that the situation you describe does not need to be one that had a major impact. Just think of a situation that allows you to demonstrate your ability to think critically and develop solutions. For instance, think of a time that a client was in a bind and describe the steps you took to get meet their deadline. Use this as an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are capable of performing responsibly and efficiently on your own.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Interview Questions
According to Christan jobs.com The secret to answering this question is to try to avoid negativity. Chances are there is more than one reason you left your last job. But no matter how your last job situation ended, try to keep a positive tone to your answer. If you do mention negative aspects of a previous job, back it up with some positive points as well. If you are too negative about your last job, you may be classified as a chronic complainer or whiner. Remember, your answer to this question will say a lot about your attitude toward your past, present, and future employers
Friday, January 15, 2010
Arizona bound ?
Talked to Unemployment today and asked if I would be eligible for unemployment if I went to a different city to seek work and the answer was YES.
scsc.state.pa.us - I will check here for listings as well and get a civil service test.
scsc.state.pa.us - I will check here for listings as well and get a civil service test.
Career Guidance
Went to Career Guidance testing and Career Occupational Preference testing and after a LONG period of different testing- (months) the results showed that my education and experience are in line with my skills,passions,values and preferences. Service Professional,Business Professional, Consumer Economics, Clerical - Administration where the highest levels and I am very creative. It was suggested to look on the DOT - Dictionary of Occupational Titles and enter all the codes from the tests. Look in the Yellow pages and start going and knocking on doors. They also reminded me, that I have MANY transferable skills
Networking at ptwo.org
Went to a networking group this week and they gave me a lot of positive feedback on my resume. Ideas on marketing objectives while fine-tuning my skills and VERY motivating.
Off the top they told me to insert an OBJECTIVE or Summary into my resume (cover letters are going by the wayside for the interview process) each job should not more than 3 bullets. (Mine has 6 – they advised no one would read) FONT should be 10-11. Develop PAR statements (problem – action-result) examples.
Have examples of your work.
Know your resume
Yea- Ums- Yens’-etc shows poor education
Look up wages on Salary.com or wageweb.com – know the industry is paying
The average person is staying in a job 1.9 years to 5 years (sad)
Know about the company from the web- library – Google – networking
HR dept are getting 2200 applications a DAY – make yours stand out
Be able to sell your self in 30 sec or less- know your (boy scout statement) what’s your story- what do you want to do and where do you want to go?
Off the top they told me to insert an OBJECTIVE or Summary into my resume (cover letters are going by the wayside for the interview process) each job should not more than 3 bullets. (Mine has 6 – they advised no one would read) FONT should be 10-11. Develop PAR statements (problem – action-result) examples.
Have examples of your work.
Know your resume
Yea- Ums- Yens’-etc shows poor education
Look up wages on Salary.com or wageweb.com – know the industry is paying
The average person is staying in a job 1.9 years to 5 years (sad)
Know about the company from the web- library – Google – networking
HR dept are getting 2200 applications a DAY – make yours stand out
Be able to sell your self in 30 sec or less- know your (boy scout statement) what’s your story- what do you want to do and where do you want to go?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Accreditations for every school.
You can check the accrediatations of every school on this web site
chea.org
chea.org
Have you checked your credit score ?
Checked my credit score today at freecreditscore.com and got my budget in line.
Big milestone.
Big milestone.
Picked Oranges
I am in denial about coming back to PGH in a few days at 16 degrees when I picked Oranges yesterday and walked in the 72 Degree sun
Get Modivated
Found this article - worth posting
When you are fulfilled professionally and personally, your customers, co-workers, friends and family become a part of the ripple affect. Turnover, complaints and conflicts are reduced, which bring increased productivity, improved relationships, quality of life and morale. You will have less stress and drama when you choose to make healthier and wiser choices. Work and life become fun and more rewarding for you, and everyone around you. If your organization and home are experiencing low morale, frustration and burnout, you can revitalize your culture's attitude and performance by addressing the following questions:What communication strategies are in place? What activities are in place to empower self-directed teams and individual growth? Are people skills, professional development and leadership abilities key criteria for recruitment, retention and promotion? What goals, performance measurements and accountability acitivies are implemented? What reward and consequence systems are practiced? How effective are front-line supervisors and managers as coaches and team leaders? What customer, employee and personal-growth feedback mechanisms are utilized? How open-minded is each individual to self-awareness and self-development? At the end of the day, does each individual feel appreciated and valued? And finally, ask yourself, "Do I consistently get out of bed each morning looking forward to my work, and my life?". There are many effective strategies that can bring about motivating and fulfilling environments. Some people know how different things can be because they have taken responsibility and actions to experience healthy and satisfying environments. While many other people have no idea how much better things can be because they do not question how situations can be handled differently. When you take the initiative to make positive changes in your workplace and personal life, you will get motivated, feel happier and achieve success. If you let life control you, you will not grow and prosper. This is your life to control and enjoy; go for it. It's never too late to get happy! To you and your getting motivated,
When you are fulfilled professionally and personally, your customers, co-workers, friends and family become a part of the ripple affect. Turnover, complaints and conflicts are reduced, which bring increased productivity, improved relationships, quality of life and morale. You will have less stress and drama when you choose to make healthier and wiser choices. Work and life become fun and more rewarding for you, and everyone around you. If your organization and home are experiencing low morale, frustration and burnout, you can revitalize your culture's attitude and performance by addressing the following questions:What communication strategies are in place? What activities are in place to empower self-directed teams and individual growth? Are people skills, professional development and leadership abilities key criteria for recruitment, retention and promotion? What goals, performance measurements and accountability acitivies are implemented? What reward and consequence systems are practiced? How effective are front-line supervisors and managers as coaches and team leaders? What customer, employee and personal-growth feedback mechanisms are utilized? How open-minded is each individual to self-awareness and self-development? At the end of the day, does each individual feel appreciated and valued? And finally, ask yourself, "Do I consistently get out of bed each morning looking forward to my work, and my life?". There are many effective strategies that can bring about motivating and fulfilling environments. Some people know how different things can be because they have taken responsibility and actions to experience healthy and satisfying environments. While many other people have no idea how much better things can be because they do not question how situations can be handled differently. When you take the initiative to make positive changes in your workplace and personal life, you will get motivated, feel happier and achieve success. If you let life control you, you will not grow and prosper. This is your life to control and enjoy; go for it. It's never too late to get happy! To you and your getting motivated,
Monday, January 4, 2010
New Year Resolution
Look at the jobs are not on the list ;-) whats up with that ?
1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends
2. Fit in Fitness
3. Tame the Bulge
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy Life More
6. Quit Drinking
7. Get Out of Debt
8. Learn Something New
9. Help Others
10. Get Organized
Look at the full add for GREAT links http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm
1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends
2. Fit in Fitness
3. Tame the Bulge
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy Life More
6. Quit Drinking
7. Get Out of Debt
8. Learn Something New
9. Help Others
10. Get Organized
Look at the full add for GREAT links http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm
Voice Mail tip given to me
Do not pick up your phone when you do not know the phone number - or unprepaired for an on line interview.
Make sure your voice mail is professional and prepaired for all future employers
Make sure your voice mail is professional and prepaired for all future employers
Employment Websites that may help
http://www.indeed.com/
www.monster.com
www.employmentguide.com
www.careerbuilder.com
www.hotjobs.com
www.jobsingovernment.com
www.flipdog.com (monster)
www.ajb.dni.us (America’s Job Bank)
www.asme.org (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
www.ieee.org (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers)
www.amby.com/worksite
www.6figurejobs.com
www.dice.com (hi-tech jobs)
www.wantedjobs.com
www.wetfeet.com
www.vault.com
www.resortjobs.com
www.usajobs.opm.us (federal government job site)
www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us
www.pgh-job-index.com (Pittsburgh Regional Alliance)
www.pghtech.org (Pittsburgh Technology Council)
http://www.pittsburgh.techies.com/
www.pittsburgh.computerwork.com
www.pittsburgh-employment.com
http://www.workpittsburgh.com/
www.county.allegheny.pa.us/jobs (Allegheny County Jobs)
www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us (City of Pittsburgh jobs)
www.scsc.state.pa.us (State Civil Service Commission)
www.careersite.com
www.recruitersonline.com
www.truecareers.com
www.academic360.com (Academic jobs)
www.brassring.com
www.philanthropy.com/jobs (Non profit jobs)
www.post-gazette.com (classifieds online)
www.pinnacletrainingservices.com ( net working )
Career Development Center – They will work on your resume for free and help with career choice
http://cdc.bluearcher.com/default.asp
Unemployment compensation page
http://www.dli.state.pa.us/
Good “Geek Jobs” page
http://www.pghgeeks.org/blogs/geekjobs.html
Another Good job search engine – better than Monster.com
http://www.flipdog.com/
KEY to getting a job – network, network, network.
Here are some groups I’ve belong to
Seekers
http://www.ingomarumc.org/Missions/Seekers.htm
Workquest
http://home.earthlink.net/~workquest/
This is a GREAT site for job searching, and ALL kinds of job search training: resumes, interview training, cover letters, networking. I CAN’T recommend this enough. They also pray a lot! J
http://www.ptwo.org/
This is interesting. Go to a bar. Buy a beer. Listen to some great jazz. And network with shakers and movers in Pittsburgh! I made some good contacts here:
http://www.entrepreneurialthursdays.com/
Put in your affiliation with US&S
http://www.pghtech.org/
www.monster.com
www.employmentguide.com
www.careerbuilder.com
www.hotjobs.com
www.jobsingovernment.com
www.flipdog.com (monster)
www.ajb.dni.us (America’s Job Bank)
www.asme.org (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
www.ieee.org (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers)
www.amby.com/worksite
www.6figurejobs.com
www.dice.com (hi-tech jobs)
www.wantedjobs.com
www.wetfeet.com
www.vault.com
www.resortjobs.com
www.usajobs.opm.us (federal government job site)
www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us
www.pgh-job-index.com (Pittsburgh Regional Alliance)
www.pghtech.org (Pittsburgh Technology Council)
http://www.pittsburgh.techies.com/
www.pittsburgh.computerwork.com
www.pittsburgh-employment.com
http://www.workpittsburgh.com/
www.county.allegheny.pa.us/jobs (Allegheny County Jobs)
www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us (City of Pittsburgh jobs)
www.scsc.state.pa.us (State Civil Service Commission)
www.careersite.com
www.recruitersonline.com
www.truecareers.com
www.academic360.com (Academic jobs)
www.brassring.com
www.philanthropy.com/jobs (Non profit jobs)
www.post-gazette.com (classifieds online)
www.pinnacletrainingservices.com ( net working )
Career Development Center – They will work on your resume for free and help with career choice
http://cdc.bluearcher.com/default.asp
Unemployment compensation page
http://www.dli.state.pa.us/
Good “Geek Jobs” page
http://www.pghgeeks.org/blogs/geekjobs.html
Another Good job search engine – better than Monster.com
http://www.flipdog.com/
KEY to getting a job – network, network, network.
Here are some groups I’ve belong to
Seekers
http://www.ingomarumc.org/Missions/Seekers.htm
Workquest
http://home.earthlink.net/~workquest/
This is a GREAT site for job searching, and ALL kinds of job search training: resumes, interview training, cover letters, networking. I CAN’T recommend this enough. They also pray a lot! J
http://www.ptwo.org/
This is interesting. Go to a bar. Buy a beer. Listen to some great jazz. And network with shakers and movers in Pittsburgh! I made some good contacts here:
http://www.entrepreneurialthursdays.com/
Put in your affiliation with US&S
http://www.pghtech.org/
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Jump into it - 2010 is our year
It’s time to conquer your fears and make things happen for yourself.
Make this fun and a positive experience, not one that makes you anxious just thinking about it. If you fear rejection, you aren’t alone.
It’s normal
Make this fun and a positive experience, not one that makes you anxious just thinking about it. If you fear rejection, you aren’t alone.
It’s normal
REJECTION
Going out on ANY job interview, my brother suggested - reminds me of the idea of my friend Carl told me “DON’T LEAVE ANY JOB INTERVIEW WITH OUT A LEAD “ASK THE INTERVIEWER... DO YOU KNOW OF ANY ONE WHO CAN USE MY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE? “Instead, look forward to each new encounter as a chance to meet someone new and to expand your circle of acquaintances. If you proceed with an open mind, you just might be surprised at what is out there waiting for you!
Prepare and PRATICE for Ups and Downs
My brother said to me “there’s no guarantee that you’ll have one positive experience after another. HOWEVER, like Football (as we where watching Cincinnati and New York) you MUST practice. APPLY FOR JOBS YOU DO NOT WANT – YOU NEED THE INTERVIEW PRACTICE”. Enduring a string of interviews with potential employers can be discouraging, and there will be times when you’re just plain tired of making the effort. Don’t be afraid, it’s PRACTICE to take a break and use the time to nourish yourself and recoup whatever self-esteem you may have lost in the process. You can’t put your best foot forward unless you are feeling good about yourself, so do whatever it takes to stay optimistic and upbeat.
UP IN THE AIR
Went to see UP IN THE AIR today with Sally and Katie, thought it must be great George Clooney is in it!
Well if you are wondering what I have been through go see this movie, as I cried several times during it because IT WAS MY LIFE, it gives you a clue.
Well if you are wondering what I have been through go see this movie, as I cried several times during it because IT WAS MY LIFE, it gives you a clue.
A THANK YOU note could land the job!
Today while sitting in Arizona on this beautiful sunny day of 72 degrees, I was reading the paper lying in the sun looking at the mountains in the desert listening to the water falls. I open up the news paper and read an article on the THANK YOU NOTE and the importance of it could be key, and here some highlights.
• Just like our mothers told us to do it shows impeccable manners plus gives you the edge.
• If you are interviewed buy more than one hiring manager, send a thank-you note to each person. (making each one a little different incase they compare)
• The notes must be hand written within 24 hours (this is AFTER you sent a quick email as soon as you get home.
• Use high quality stationary or a professional THANK YOU at Hallmark.
• Accomplish three objectives 1) Express your appreciation for the opportunity 2) reinforce your interest in the job 3) reinstate your value you can bring to the organization.
• Make it specific, bring up points of conversation you had during the interview.
• DON’T LOSE HOPE. When vying for the attractive job, anything you can do to catch the hiring manager’s attention can give you the edge.
• Just like our mothers told us to do it shows impeccable manners plus gives you the edge.
• If you are interviewed buy more than one hiring manager, send a thank-you note to each person. (making each one a little different incase they compare)
• The notes must be hand written within 24 hours (this is AFTER you sent a quick email as soon as you get home.
• Use high quality stationary or a professional THANK YOU at Hallmark.
• Accomplish three objectives 1) Express your appreciation for the opportunity 2) reinforce your interest in the job 3) reinstate your value you can bring to the organization.
• Make it specific, bring up points of conversation you had during the interview.
• DON’T LOSE HOPE. When vying for the attractive job, anything you can do to catch the hiring manager’s attention can give you the edge.
Friday, January 1, 2010
A message from a friend worth sharing
Keep our lives free from the love of money and be content with what we have,
because God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" So we
say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid, what can
man do to me. Hebrews 13:5
"Strive to live with less rather than more, give away out of my abundance
rather than accumulating more, relish what we have rather than resent what
is missing. Money & possessions will all pass away but we who do the will
of God lives forever" NIV Study Bible
We can see the Love of God through our struggles. A door will close but a
window will open. It can be like hell in the hallway but keep moving
through it.
Love,
Rick
because God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" So we
say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid, what can
man do to me. Hebrews 13:5
"Strive to live with less rather than more, give away out of my abundance
rather than accumulating more, relish what we have rather than resent what
is missing. Money & possessions will all pass away but we who do the will
of God lives forever" NIV Study Bible
We can see the Love of God through our struggles. A door will close but a
window will open. It can be like hell in the hallway but keep moving
through it.
Love,
Rick
Happy New Year
I am going to start the New Year out in warmth and sunshine. Going to Arizona for a week. Work on a solid new plan. Because what I have been doing is NOT working. I will not spend any more time and money on Career Builder and Job Finder and other job banks that just give you more advertisements and sell your name to many on line schools.
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