Resume Writing Tips

What is a resume?

A resume is a one or two page summary of your education, skills, accomplishments, and experience. Your resume's purpose is to get your foot in the door. A resume does its job successfully if it does not exclude you from consideration.

To prepare a successful resume, you need to know how to review, summarize, and present your experiences and achievements on one page. Unless you have considerable experience, you don't need two pages. Outline your achievements briefly and concisely.

Your resume is your ticket to an interview where you can sell yourself!

How to Prepare an Effective Resume

1. Resume Essentials

Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

2. The Content of Your Resume Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address All your contact information should go at the top of your resume.

• Avoid nicknames.
  
• Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after graduation.
  
• Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral greeting.
  
• Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose an e-mail address that sounds professional.)
  
• Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions.

Objective or Summary

An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do.

• Be specific about the job you want. For example: To obtain an entry-level position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and organizational skills.
  
• Tailor your objective to each employer you target/every job you seek.
  

Education

New graduates without a lot of work experience should list their educational information first. Alumni can list it after the work experience section.

• Your most recent educational information is listed first.
  
• Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution attended, minor/concentration.
  
• Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0.
  
• Mention academic honors.
  

Work Experience

Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. Use action words to describe your job duties. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order—that is, put your last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job. Include:

• Title of position,
• Name of organization
• Location of work (town, state)
• Dates of employment
• Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements.
  

Other information

A staff member at your career services office can advise you on other information to add to your resume. You may want to add:

• Key or special skills or competencies.
• Leadership experience in volunteer organizations.
• Participation in sports.
  

References

Ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their names to a potential employer.
Do not include your reference information on your resume. You may note at the bottom of your resume: "References furnished on request."

3. Resume Checkup

You've written your resume. It's time to have it reviewed and critiqued by a career counselor. You can also take the following steps to ensure quality:

Content:

• Run a spell check on your computer before anyone sees your resume.
• Get a friend (an English major would do nicely) to do a grammar review.
• Ask another friend to proofread. The more people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen (and corrected).
  

Design:

These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan into an employer's data base.

• Use white or off-white paper.
• Use 8-1/2- x 11-inch paper.
• Print on one side of the paper.
• Use a font size of 10 to 14 points.
• Use nondecorative typefaces.
• Choose one typeface and stick to it.
• Avoid italics, script, and underlined words.
• Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics, or shading.
• Do not fold or staple your resume.
• If you must mail your resume, put it in a large envelope.

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General Questions During Interview

Questions start the minute the interview does, and to show that you are an exceptional candidate, you need to be prepared to answer not only the typical questions, but also the unexpected. You can expect questions regarding your qualifications, your academic preparation, career interests, experience, and ones that assess your personality.
1. Tell me about yourself
The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

2. Why did you leave your last job?
Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

3. What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.

4. Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.

5. What do co-workers say about you?
Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.

6. What do you know about this organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?

7. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.

8. Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.

9. Why do you want to work for this organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

10. Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well thought of.

11. What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.

12. Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.

13. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work: I'd like it to be a long time. Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

14. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that?
This is serious. Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire people. At the same time, you will do it when it is the right thing to do. When it comes to the organization versus the individual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the organization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in force.

15. What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes. That's the type of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

16. If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?
Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

17. Have you ever been asked to leave a position?
If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or organization involved.

18. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization
You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

19. Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison.

20. Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

21. What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.

22. What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude .

23. Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can't wait to get to work.

24. Why do you think you would do well at this job?
Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.

25. What are you looking for in a job?
See answer # 23

26. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?
Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

27. What is more important to you: the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.

28. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities: Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver

29. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor
Biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.

30. What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.

31. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.

32. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?
Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.

33. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are: Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

34. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?
This is up to you. Be totally honest.

35. How would you know you were successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures: You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a success.Your boss tell you that you are successful

36. Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

37. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.

38. Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.

39. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.

40. Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.

41. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?
Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.

42. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.

43. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up: Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.

44. What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.

45. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others.
Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.

46. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?
Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.

47. Describe your work ethic.
Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.

48. What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative feelings.

49. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.
Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.

50. Do you have any questions for me?
Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on? are examples.

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Online Musiq Degrees

For those of us who want to pursue a music degree but find it difficult to do so because of time constraints, financial difficulties or physical limitations, there is another option - online schools and/or correspondence courses. Today more and more universities are offering courses online which make it possible to earn a degree in the comfort of our own home and at a time that is convenient for us.

Of course, there is both a downside and an upside of taking online courses. First of all you must make sure that the school is legitimate and accredited; ask how much the tuition is or if there are additional fees, know your teachers' background, etc. For proper guidance on deciding which online school to enroll at, I refer you to our Distance Education expert, Jamie Littlefield.

Nevertheless, for those who are interested in pursuing a degree in music, here are several universities offering certificates, courses and degrees.

* Berkleemusic.com - Berkleemusic.com provides online music courses and college-credit certificate programs in music production, songwriting, music theory, arranging, performance, guitar and music business.

* Valley City State University (Dept. of Music) - Located in Valley City, North Dakota, this fully-accredited school now offers online courses such as Music Theory, Music History and Pedagogy (applied and piano). Courses are open to anyone, including music teachers preparing for the MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) National Certification.

* Mary Pappert School of Music - One of Duquesne University's educational institutions, this school offers a Master of Music Major in Music Education.

* Judson College - Offers a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music. Also offers various music courses including Introduction to Church Music, Music in Worship, Music Theory, Music History and Music Education (elementary).

* Auburn University - Offers graduate programs in music education.

* Boston University - Offers a Masters of Music in Music Education and Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education.

* Stephen F. Austin State University - Offers a Master of Arts in Music Education.

* University of Hawaii at Manoa - Offers a Master of Arts in Music Educaton.

* University of Northern Iowa - Offers guided independent study courses as well as Master of Music in Music Education.

* University of Southern Mississippi - Offers various distance learning courses including The Psychology of Music and The Enjoyment of Music.

* Eastern Michigan University - Has scheduled course offerings for music including Introduction to Music Theory and Introduction to Music Therapy.

* University of North Texas - Scheduled courses in Jazz Fundamentals, Music Appreciation and others.

* West Texas A&M University - Offers courses in music education, music history and song literature.

* University of Southern Maine - USM has launched a new graduate certificate program for music educators called "Composing Together". The program teaches music teachers how to teach music composition in PreK-12 settings and also allows teachers to study music composition.

* Indiana University (Indianapolis campus) - Pursue a Master of Science in Music Technology from Indiana University's online program.

Know of other online universities offering courses and degrees in music? E-mail it to musiced.guide@about.com.

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Super Sales MAN

It’s age of marketing. What is the use of quality products if you are unable to sell it? Moreover, there is so much competition in market that you cannot even sell a quality product easily. The world of business is changing fast. Unless you are able to adjust with the new trends, and mould your techniques accordingly you will find it very difficult to get success.. However, you needn’t worry. We are arming you with some new and tested ideas, which will transform you into a SUPER SALES MAN (a very successful marketing executive).

DON’T BELIEVE IN ‘NO’
It is true that in a sales strategy you often have to agree with your customers. Customers are always right. Beware of antagonising your customers. Nevertheless, never believe them if they say ‘no’. In case you believe you will have to resign from your post soon or you will have to close your business. Most of them have a natural habit of saying ‘no’. So learn to maintain your calm and try again with better words. If you still fail then leave in a good mood showering a couple of sentences for his better life and future. Moreover, after a mouth or two contact him again. You will be surprised to know how most of the customers convert their ‘no’ into ‘yes’.

BE ORIGINAL
Most of the prospective customers aren’t interested in copied things or duplicate items. They prefer it genuine/original. You should enhance your own plus points instead of copying others blindly. Genuine and fresh items always attract others. Therefore develop your own unique style of selling. Originality adds attraction to your personality that helps you to sell more items to more people.

THE BENEFIT OF YOUR CUSTOMERS
Most of the sales persons have a habit of keeping their minds on their own profit benefits. That is a poor sales-strategy. Others are not there to help you live a good and affluent life. Instead you are there to help them make their life better. Concentrate on how you can provide a good deal to a customer. In that case you will be bombarded with more purchase orders without much effort. What else do you need?

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOUR PRODUCTS
If you believe in yourself and your product (which is the utmost sales strategy), it will naturally vibrate through your words and sentences, having a positive impact on your target. Moreover, you get a winner’s edge – the most sought after marketing trait. Some persons are negative thinkers. They expect failures. It is impossible for them to believe in themselves. Consequently, they are unable to convince others and sell their items. The principle of forced belief can start bringing a change. Firmly believe that you are a super salesperson and you will definitely succeed. After a period, this forced-belief becomes a habit.

DREAM-TECHNIQUE WILL DO WONDERS
You can use dream-technique. It is the easiest technique in the world to give a miraculous transformation to your personality. Give your imagination a free hand. Try to fly in a dream world every night that you have become a super salesperson. You are selling your product everywhere. People are flocking to you to become your customers. Just dream, expect nothing, and await the wonders to happen in future.

SENSE OF HUMOUR CAN HELP
Anger and aggressive emotions never bring success in marketing. It is better to sit at your home and break household things to get a relief. Don’t pour away these emotions on your prospective customers. They will run miles away from you. Practise sense of humour if you can. It will inject a spark of friendliness in them, making their minds fertile for your sales pitch. In case you are unable to practise this technique even after repeated efforts forget it. At least practise controlling your aggressive emotions. If your mind is determined to achieve its aim it will help you to keep your emotions under control.

KNOCK AT THEIR DOORS AGAIN
It is one of the most effective sales strategies. In addition, the most profitable and the easiest one. Knock at the old doors again. If you really sold quality goods that satisfied the customers then you don’t need new customers everyday. You can revert to your old customers again and again to sell them more and more. Wise salesmen must follow this golden rule of marketing. Many companies forget their old customer by emphasizing too much to get new. New ideas and techniques are devised to woo more and more new customers. A feeling of resentment starts building in old customers and it is always harmful for the company.

RUSH UP TO NO-COMPETITION ZONES
Everyone is running towards the areas where there is already too much competition. People start feeling bore with repeated requests from all sides. They often opt for well-known brands. It is very difficult to sell new or less-known products here. So pull your neck up the crowd and watch for new territories. Your life may change after a couple of months because you improve your chances of getting many new customers.


PRAISE THEM EVEN IF THEY ABUSE
Certainly, it’s the most difficult task you have to learn. The most powerful marketing gun that most of the salesmen are unable to handle. Whomever you want to sell always find in him something to admire. It seems easy, but becomes the toughest whenever you have to face aggressive, impulsive or abusive people. Now the real test begins. You feel like you are in the oven and you want to make yourself cool with a burst of anger. Instead, if you learn to have a shower of cool feelings it will make you a tougher sales person afterwards. Like steel, you will become harder. So praise even the hot bricks. They will value you more.

PASTE ‘GOOD NEWS’ ON YOUR FOREHEAD
Who wants to listen to the same old news or eat the stale food. In the sajavascript:void(0)
Publish Postme why people are fed-up with the same old things being sold to them repeatedly and of course in the same old repetitive sales pitch. You can learn a lot from the following two principals of human nature: a) they want new and good things, b) they want some old things to be sold to them in a new way. In fact you should be like good news to them every time. You must have something good to say about your product and for your customer. You will get warm welcome everywhere.

These 10 golden rules will make you a super salesman if you follow them seriously. With their help you will earn millions.

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Achieve Career Success with 5Ds?

You would probably ask, is it possible to achieve career success with 5Ds? Yes, it is possible. These 5Ds I am referring to stands for Dependability, Determination, Delight, Detailed and Devoted. Not only will they increase your chances of achieving career success, they will also increase your motivation at work.

Throughout my working experience, I have had the chance of observing bosses, colleagues and staff members perform their tasks. And I noticed a pattern that exists with people who achieve career success in the level relevant to them.

They carried with these 5 traits when tackling their work.

1. Dependability
Dependability means taking first person responsibility when you are given a job to do. You never blame someone for your work that is not done right. It means you take the initiative to see the job is done to the best of your ability. You take great pride in the work assigned to you.

When you are dependable, you become a competitive advantage for your organization. You are seen as someone worthy of more important assignments and hence increase your chances of achieving career success.

2. Determined
Being determined means having the stamina to see things through regardless of how tough they are. If you are to achieve career success, having determination is one critical factor. It not only ensures that you complete your work at hand no matter how tough, it also ensures that you achieve your long-term career goals.

A determined person is usually fueled by a keen sense of duty and passion for the work. When you do your work with passion, the quality will shine through and people will notice it.

3. Delight
Be a delight to work with in your workplace. No one likes to work with a grouch. Having a pleasing disposition, smile, never say die, being positive regardless of how huge the challenge, is part of being delightful at work. A delight at work carries with them a positive attitude. It is the positive energy that they rub off on you that makes you want to work with them. It is a real and sincere feeling.

When you carry with you a smile and a positive attitude at work, you are known as a delight. You will notice that colleagues wish for you to achieve career success. You can see them wish positive things for you.

4. Detailed
A detailed worker never lets work that is haphazard leave their hands. A detailed person slogs to ensure that everything that is supposed to work is looked into. They are the people that take that extra precaution and the initiative to make sure things become near perfect. Just enough is not in their vocabulary. Good enough just isn’t good enough for them.

For the detailed, only the best is good enough. When you are a detailed person your bosses trust you with jobs that need multitasking. They know you can be relied on to make sure everything little aspect is looked into. Such tasks increase your chance to achieve career success.

5. Devoted
A devoted worker is an enthusiastic worker. When you become an enthusiastic worker, you are focused on the tasks at hand. You also become focused on the bigger goals of the organization. Due to this you are not as vulnerable to the ‘disturbing ghosts’ in your organization that is always causing disruption by being a complainer and spreading negative energy.

In order to achieve career success, it is important for you to cultivate these 5Ds. They help increase your chances of achieving career success. Besides, these qualities will also increase your work motivation.


Long Yun Siang or Long, as he is popularly known runs http://career-success-for-newbies.com with his wife Dorena as their way of paying it forward. Their website – based on their real life experiences - provides tips, tools and advise for newbies pursuing career success.

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Career Advancement Tips for Freshies: 5 Quick Advice to Help You Grow Successfully

Simple Career Enhancement Tips You Can Start Now


These career advancement tips are not instant solutions to your career challenges. They are work values you can practice to help you advance in your career.

You have just left college and started on your first job. Although you know what your role is at your work place, you are also eager to make an impression. Remember that when you practice these career advancement tips, the results are not immediate. You will only begin to see their values when you start to internalize and act upon them naturally.

1. HeartIf you want career advancement, then do everything fueled by the heart. While your brain provides the knowledge, your hands and legs provides the skills, and your heart provides the passion. Fuel every task with passion.

When you work full heartedly, your quality shows. Someone who has the skills and knowledge but do not have the heart to complete the given task can only do a good job. To do a great job, you not only need skills and knowledge, you need heart.

Perfection comes when passion meets skills and knowledge. Approach your work with all your heart and you will advance in your career, successfully.


2. HeedMany freshies I have come across and worked with are very excited to demonstrate what they know and learned in school.

However, they forget that sometimes experience is needed to complement what is learned in the academic world. As a freshie in the workplace, you need to take heed of what your seniors and bosses advice you. Pay careful attention to what they are trying to tell you. Some things only experience can teach you. The finer points of any industry can only be learned when you take heed of advice from elders in the industry.


3.HungerHave the hunger to know more and learn more. Have the hunger to want to go further and do more. If you want to advance in your career, always be hungry for relevant skills and knowledge. Always be hungry for excellence in your work. One of my ex-bosses used to tell me, when you do a good job, you earn your salary and your current position. When you do an excellent job, you give me reasons to give you an increment and a promotion.

The hunger to want to do more and do better quite naturally makes you a competitive advantage in your unit. People will notice your constant pursuit of excellence and that will make them want you to work for them and keep you on the team. You increase your value to the company. This is one of the career advancement tips I continue to practice till today.


4. HindranceAs a freshie, you lack experience at work and you will find a lot hindrances. These hindrances coupled with your eagerness to demonstrate your prowess at work will frustrate you. Some challenges and obstacles are real. It could be related to your lack of skills and knowledge to complete a task.

You may perceive yourself to know how to do the task but in reality you may not be equipped to do so. When faced with hindrances, seek help. Do not be egoistic to not do so. No one knows everything. When you seek help you learn a new skill.

Some hindrances are more people oriented. They can be difficult colleagues simply testing your patience. When I was a freshie, how I approached this hindrance was to see it as a rites of passage. They want me to give them a reason for respecting my input and my work. When faced with such colleagues, practice patience. In extreme cases, you can seek help from your immediate boss.

As cliché as it sounds, hindrances only serves to make you learn more if you view them positively.


5. HumorTo balance off the career advancement tips of heed, hunger and hindrance is humor. I can still remember some of my personal experiences related to these career advancement tips. Imagine how stressful it can be when they all happen together.

Imagine the stress of having to deal with this situation - You are supposed to take heed of advice and remember it, especially when it is due to a mistake. You need to be hungry for excellence. You get hindrances from colleagues because you are new. In addition, hindrance to complete some tasks due to the lack of experience. How do you deal with it?

One of the best ways to deal with all these is to have a sense of humor. Laugh at yourself a little. When the going gets tough, laugh. While you need to be serious with your work to increase your chances of career advancement, it doesn’t mean you cannot relax. Sometimes you have to say - it’s only work. Having a sense of humor allows you to minimise the stress at work.


These are the 5 quick yet important career advancement tips a freshie can practice at work immediately. With constant practice, you can make it a habit and it would seem effortless before you know it.


Long as he is popularly known runs http://www.career-success-for-newbies.com/ with his wife Dorena as their way of paying it forward. Their website – based on their real life experiences - provides tips, tools and advise for newbies pursuing career success. Download a FREE copy of their mini eBook titled “Career Success Recipe for Newbies” at the website now

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5 Effective Work Habits For Fresh Graduates

Discover the 5 most effective work habits for freshies starting out in the working world.

Being new in the working world, I am sure you are eager to show off your newfound skills and knowledge. However, out there in the working world some basic work effective habits can increase your productivity. By being consistently effective at your work increases your chances of success in your career.

The 5 effective work habits are:

1. Volunteer For Assignments
One of the best ways to signal that you are a keen learner and are not afraid of hard work is to volunteer for assignments. Especially assignments that no one seems interested to do. However, before that do assess your own skills and knowledge to see if you can confidently accomplish it. If you are confident in completing the task in full and perfection, go ahead and volunteer for it.
However, do remember one thing. Under promise and over deliver on the assignment you volunteered. Do not be too confident that you turn a perfect opportunity into mess. Once you start the project, see it till the end. You would be seen as someone who is courageous enough to take on additional assignments. You would also be seen as someone who follows through in your work. This is the first habit you need to internalize.

2. Be Nice To People
I am sure we have all heard this often enough. Be nice to people regardless of their rank and designation. It sounds philosophical but when you are nice to people they go out of their way to help you. And being new in an organization you would never know what sort of help you would need. Colleagues often like to work with nice talented people. When you have this effective work habit you increase the chances of people wanting you to work on their team.

Being nice to people is just common courtesy. There is nothing extra ordinary about this particular habit that you need special skills. A smile in the morning and a “Good Morning” is a good start. In this day and age, people working in pressurized environments often use stress as an excuse when they blow up. Is this necessary? Nice is often reciprocated by nice. In fact, it can lower your stress level.

3. Prioritize Your Work
We all love to start work on things that are close to our hearts. However, often these may not be the most urgent and important in our list of tasks in the workplace. When you select things you are more interested in rather than work that is more important or urgent, you lower your chances of success.

Have a list of things to do according to its strategic importance to your company. Know your role in completing the tasks at hand in order to achieve that corporate goal. When you prioritize your work, you are more productive and that increases your chances of career success.

4. Stay Positive
As someone new in the working world it is very easy to feel down because you are new. You are not used to the work system. You have new people to deal with and people in the working world who behave very differently from school. It takes a lot of getting used to. There will be office politics to deal with regardless of how little.

Be above all these and stay positive in the face of challenges. When you are positive you remain focused on your goals. You make better decisions and therefore become more productive.

5. Highlight A Problem But Bring Solutions
The last effective work habit of the five effective work habits is to bring solutions each time you highlight a problem to your boss or management. You need to remember that when you bring problems and not solutions, it is often construed as complaining.

To avoid that label, offer solutions. A range of possible solutions also indicates to your boss that you have thought this through before approaching him/her with a problem. Have in mind a recommended solution amongst those you suggested.

These are the 5 effective work habits I constantly drill into new employees who are fresh graduates in our company. At first glance, these may seem like common sense. However, in actual working environment people tend to sometimes forget these very basic effective work habits. And don't practice them often enough. Internalize these and consistently practice them to increase your chances of success.


Long Yun Siang or Long, as he is popularly known runs http://career-success-for-newbies.com with his wife Dorena as their way of paying it forward. Their website – based on their real life experiences - provides tips, tools and advise for newbies pursuing career success.

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Did You Define Your Attitude At Work?

The most important thing to do as you begin your new career is to define your attitude towards work. How will it contribute towards your career? How will it add value to your role as a career builder?

How do you define attitude? According to The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English - attitude is defined as "a way of looking at life; a way of thinking, feeling or behaving." Therefore an attitude is not just the way we think, but the way we think, feel and do.

You may have your entire career plan worked out, but if you do not define your attitude to build its foundation on, then before long your plans will crumble. That’s not to say a career plan is not important. In fact, it is very important in achieving career success.

What you need to understand is that a positive attitude is even more important. So how do you define your attitude at work? For me, to define my attitude at work means deciding the values that would guide me in my working environment.

Somewhere in my career after the tonnes of self-improvement books I have read, I decided that I needed to define my attitude towards my career. I decided that these three values would be my clear defined attitude towards my career.

1. Pride
I know this is a tricky word. It connotes arrogance especially when one has too high an opinion of oneself. Personally, in defining my attitude - "Pride" is taken to mean self-dignity. Pride prevents you from doing just enough to get by. If you know everything you do at work has your name and signature on it, then you will give it your best shot and nothing less.

2. Passion
Just a simple plain ‘interest’ in any work or career you choose isn’t enough to bring you through the tough times. And trust me, there will be tough times. It could be an unreasonable client or an impossible timeline. However, a burning desire will pull you through these. An intense enthusiasm for all things worth doing will pull you through the toughest times.

3. Belief
In order to generate that passion, it is important to believe. Only a deep belief will create the vigour and force that gives you the fuel to charge. Know that you can achieve all that you set out to do for yourself. You only need to start believing in yourself.

What is your defined attitude you take towards your work? Write them down and begin practicing.

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Job-hopping : How It Affects Your Career Success

Is job-hopping and career success related to each other? What is the effect of one on the other? How long is too long for staying in a company? I must admit, the resumes that pass by my desk makes me conclude job-hopping is far too common.


Job hoppers do it for various reasons. More often than not they may not know what they are getting into. Sometimes, it is because they do not know what they want and hence are not ready for the challenges that lay ahead of them. Job-hopping and career success is related to one another.

In my opinion, job-hopping affects career success in a negative manner. Consider this, what signals are you sending to your potential employer if you job-hop too often?

The Two-Year Rule
I have a two-year rule I tell my staff and potential employees. The two-year rule is this – you must be willing to commit mentally to spend at least two years in the company before you quit. The reason is this; you need to deal with the learning curve. If you job-hop too often, you learn nothing substantial.

For me, it takes you at least a year to know the ins and outs of the company. Then another year before you can eventually be truly productive in adding value to the company. To see the true results of your contribution to the company, for me it takes at least two years. So, if you are prone to job-hopping and career success is on your mind, then it is time to rethink.

Training You
Many well-established companies have training programs. They are willing to invest in fresh graduates and newbies. However, in order for them to make that decision they need to look at past track records. Ask yourself, if you are a manager –who are you more likely to invest training time and money on? Someone who is job-hopper and shows tendency to job-hop or someone who is stable? Companies are more likely to invest in people who are stable. The reason is simple. They are able to contribute back into the company. Everybody wins. If you are constantly job-hopping, you send a signal that you are not ready to commit.

Companies like to invest in people who see their career goals align with their corporate goals. Job-hoppers usually cannot see their career path beyond the next year.

Decreasing the Incidence of Job-HoppingOne of the best ways to quit job-hopping is to truly know what you want. Once you know that, you will have singular focus in the pursuit of your career goals. Of course, it is understandable that as a fresh graduate or newbie at work it is tough to know that. You may be interested in some other industries.

If there are other fields that you are interested in then make a plan to find out about them. Start with the Internet, and then ask friends who may know people in those fields. Speak to them; ask them about the expectations of the company and the role of the position you are interested in. You may not have all the answers but at least you get some idea. That would decrease the chances of you job-hopping.

Make Learning a Key Objective
If you are new in the work force and have been job-hopping quite a bit, my advice to you is this - truly find out what you want. Once you know that, find a company that is willing to train or how they are willing to commit to their employees’ career in the long term. If they have structured training programs, join them.

Make learning the relevant skills and knowledge in that industry your key objective. The skills and knowledge that you learn will contribute to your career success in the long term. It is something that you can bring with you the rest of your life. Once you see the benefits of committing to a company who is willing to train you for more than two years, hopefully you won’t be job-hopping often anymore.


Long Yun Siang or Long, as he is popularly known runs http://career-success-for-newbies.com with his wife Dorena as their way of paying it forward. Their website – based on their real life experiences - provides tips, tools and advise for newbies pursuing career success.

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Checklist can help job hunt succeed

Question: I was recently laid off from my most recent job as an executive assistant. I have been in this field for more than 10 years and have been applying to no avail for positions that I know I am qualified for. Should I try changing my rsum?

Answer: The rsum is but one of many potential hotspots to focus on if interviews are not forthcoming. Stellar qualifications and an effective marketing strategy should place you in contention for the openings that do exist. Run through the following checklist to highlight strengths and close potential gaps in your approach:

Mirror the requirements. To test your hypothesis of the certainty of your qualifications, go through each requirement listed for the positions to which you’re applying. Eager candidates sometimes focus on the requirements they meet and dismiss those that they don’t have. If you can’t say that you excel at each and every one, it’s possible that a poor match for one or more of the requirements could be screening you out of contention among more qualified candidates. To avoid early elimination from the hiring process, close any gap through additional training, self-study or experience.

Send flawless correspondence. Most recruiters and hiring managers harbor the expectation that a serious job candidate will present an error-free rsum. The bar is raised even higher for someone in your position. Because your work requires attention to detail, employers will view the quality of your rsum, cover letters and e-mails as representative of your work. Your correspondence offers a window on your business writing skills, attention to detail and follow-through. Take advantage of this opportunity to impress potential employers with your precision and finesse.

Customize your approach. Research organizations before applying, targeting those that suggest the best fit. By qualifying employers ahead of time, you’ll increase your odds of a positive reciprocal response. Make sure that each letter of intent is personalized with the relevant contact name, your interest in the particular company and your potential contributions

Use a multifaceted search strategy. Don’t get stuck in the “advertised openings” rut. Print and online postings are one of many sources of job opportunities. Expand your approach to increase the likelihood of uncovering other openings. Spend most of your time on networking (talking with people to gather relevant information and tap into potential leads), followed by sourcing through a combination of recruiters, job fairs and online/print listings. The more face-to-face contact you generate, the greater the opportunity for interviews and offers.

Get feedback. Beyond your instincts about potential obstacles to your employment, the best way to assess barriers is through the observations and feedback of others. Ask for suggestions from trusted colleagues, recruiters and, when possible, employers who declined to offer you a position. This will allow you to zero in on barriers and open the door to the interviewing process, for which you will have to prepare with attention and vigor.

Once you’ve gone through the paces to assess and address your current job search strategy, the best gift you can give yourself is to believe in your worth.

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Online job posting good first step

Q: I’ve been job-hunting the old-fashioned way, but am curious: Should I put my resume on all those online career sites, given the millions already posted there?
A: Absolutely. If you’re like most of us, a new job is elusive quarry best tracked with every possible bow in your quiver. There’s no good reason to skip an online resource that won’t cost you a penny and could even end up getting your resume onto the computer of a good recruiter.


The major job destination sites such as Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs aggregate thousands of job leads for you, while letting recruiters sift through thousands of resumes easily, potentially finding yours.

However, don’t forget that finding a new job takes hard work, dedication and focus. There’s no easy route to a greener career pasture, Internet or no Internet. And many people wrongly assume that posting a decent resume with fine education, skills and background is the bulk of the effort, said Mike Worthington Jr., a co-founder of ResumeDoctor.com, a resume and career guidance service based in South Burlington, Vt. (The company sells resume preparation and advice only, and does not compete with the job sites.)

Be realistic, he cautions.


“How many millions of resumes do they have? It’s a needle in a haystack. What are the chances of your resume being found like that?” Worthington said. “You might as well play the lottery.”
The best approach is to post the resume, comb the job listings germane to your search and then approach the employer with a resume customized for the position being hired. Your online curriculum vitae is a good backstop, akin to dropping a business card with a potential client or business partner.

Monster is the biggest of the online CV pack with 45 million resumes, while Chicago-based CareerBuilder.com has 12 million. The company is owned jointly by media giants Gannett Co. Inc., Knight Ridder Inc. and Tribune Co. — the job section of newspaper classified advertising pages is also an online endeavor.

The process is interactive — companies pay to list their jobs, helping amass a pool of talent worldwide for a particular position. Headhunting firms troll the sites for clients, too, said Worthington, a former freelance recruiter for large aerospace engineering companies. Some companies even use the data as a way to keep tabs on the supply of talent for certain positions.

And software in the process offers companies unique advantages. For example, let’s say you graduated from Georgia Tech or Rice. For whatever reason, some company might be set upon only candidates who attended those schools. Your skills and experience might match your job rivals who studied elsewhere, but the myriad data slice-and-dice features in much of the sites’ software allows recruiters to narrow their searches to graduates of Georgia Tech and Rice. Suddenly, you’re ahead of the pack.

Jeffrey Taylor, founder of Maynard, Mass.-based Monster WorldWide Inc., also theorizes that the online world has “turned the paradigm” when it comes to the interaction of employer and candidate, shifting some power to those seeking a new position. You’re the unknown talent essentially advertising your abilities and data to a worldwide audience of organizations that need someone like you.

Thus, they can approach you, soliciting a relationship.

And when you go into the interview, “You can now say, ‘I’m here because you called me,’ ” Taylor said.

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How to behave at the client location?

Attitude makes a lot of difference. If you have a good attitude with required skills, you are the winner. The following tips may help you.

Be humble and polite to your co-workers and others.

Do not criticize anyone. That is not your job.
Always be professional and do not take any thing personal.
Be friendly with your opposite sex collegues and do not get involved in any sexual litigations
Do not break the client dress code. It is not a good idea to go to the office in jeans and sneakers even if they have a casual dress code.
Light cologne is fine but do not use strong perfume.
Do not talk loudly when you talk over the phone or to your collegues. Talk in a soft and clear voice.
If you have any dental problems, make a dental appointment with your dentist. If dental problems go unchecked, they lead to embarassing situations involving bad breath. Have breath mints, chewing gum or peanuts in your desk. Check your breath before talking to your collegues personally.
Wear fresh and neat clothes.
Always be punctual.
Complete your assigned task within the time frame. Do not postpone it.
Do not talk about politics and religion in the office premisis.
If you are invited for a happy hour party or any party try to attend it atleast for some time. That is the best place to know more about your collegues.
Do not play music loudly.
Be as easy going. Do not get the "tough guy" label.
Attend meetings regularly.
Be enthusiastic.
Try to be helpful to your co-workers.
Be a good listener. Do not interrupt when someone else is talking.
Discuss but do not argue.
Do not lose your credibility

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How to handle a telephone job interview

Telephone interviews are an increasingly popular - and time-efficient - way of pre-screening job applicants to narrow the candidate field before a face-to-face interview.

And, sooner or later, if you are determined about your career progression it is an audition you will have to get through, so it makes sense to get up to speed with the fundamentals now.
Where do I start?

Your aim for the interview should be to get to the next level, which is to obtain a conventional face-to-face interview.

Take the time to find out about the company interviewing you, and be sure that you have a good appreciation of what the job you are being interviewed for entails.

The interviewer will be looking for evidence that you have fully prepared. As you can’t be seen by the interviewer, make the most of this by having your CV and covering letter in front of you to refer to, if necessary.
Also consider preparing a set of bullet-pointed notes about projects you have worked on and specific accomplishments, to use as a crib sheet.
Importance of timing
Make sure you choose an appropriate time and find a comfortable and relaxed setting to take the call.
Jane Horner, HR consultant at the Osler Partnership, recalls occasions where candidates she has interviewed have taken calls during their lunch breaks and needed to go outside the building for privacy and ended up losing reception on their mobile phones.
“I would advise you not to put yourself in this position, but rather to schedule the call for a more convenient time when you know you will be in a quiet, uninterrupted location without the concern of being overheard,” she suggests.
This also gives you the chance to relax and gather your thoughts before you take the call.
Making an impression
As visual clues are lost on the phone, candidates have to rely on verbal ones to build a rapport with the interviewer, which can make the prospect of a telephone interview more intimidating.
But Horner says if the interviewer has prepared sufficiently, the call should have a clear purpose, and you will be guided through the questions, which in itself is a good way to overcome such hurdles.
“Put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer and provide clear, well thought-through answers to give them the information they require,” she says.
Etiquette and protocols
Although telephone interviews tend to be fairly swift affairs, make sure you proceed slowly enough to form a clear picture of what the interviewer wants to know. Actively listen and keep your answers brief and relevant to the question.

“If an interview is conducted well, it should be a controlled conversation in which you are the active participant,” explains Horner. “Speak clearly and allow the interviewer time to make notes and probe further on your answers.”

Also try standing up - an erect and confident poise will help you come across more confidently.

Use role-play

Acting out a telephone interview scenario with a friend or trusted colleague can help you gain insight into your technique. It may highlight areas in which you fall down, such as listening skills, tone of voice or how authoritative you sound, enabling you to refine specific skills accordingly.
Horner also recommends conducting research relevant to whichever stage of the interview process the call aims to address.
“For example, an initial screening telephone interview may just require evidence of a role’s baseline competencies, while a final interview conducted over the phone will delve far deeper into your employment experience and suitability for the role,” she says.
If you only do 5 things
1 Research the organisation and the job thoroughly
2 Minimise the risk of distractions
3 Speak clearly and concisely
4 Remember, first impressions still count
5 Listen carefully and keep your responses relevant to the question

The nature of the telephone interview means there is no instant feedback, such as in a face-to-face interview, and interviewees can feel uncomfortable or uncertain of how their responses are being received and how well the interview is going. Turn these negative factors into an advantage. With no visual distraction, you can focus intently on what is being asked of you and respond to the best of your ability.

Is there a way you can gauge the reaction of the interviewer during the interview?

Aside from the verbal clues you would receive from any other conversation over the phone, not really. However, if you feel distracted or uncomfortable at any point about your answers and how they have been received, don’t be frightened to ask.

Top three tips
* Prepare. Research the role you are applying for and the organisation and prepare any questions you may have about either in advance.

* Comfort. Take the call in a location where you will be comfortable and uninterrupted for the duration of the call, and ideally one where you have access to a landline to avoid losing reception or battery in the middle of a call.

*Listen. Focus on what is being asked of you and respond by speaking clearly, without gabbling. You will feel much more in control of the process if you speak slowly and clearly. Finally, in the excitement of the moment, don’t forget to ask what the next step is and what the process or timeline is for this.

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Motivating Tips For Job Seekers

Are you staring at an empty page, trying to write the next cover letter? Or postponing the grip and grin meeting you’ve scheduled? Have lethargy and laziness set in? Has your get up and go taken a permanent vacation?
Well, my friend, you are not alone.
Staying motivated during a prolonged job search is more challenging than actually going on an interview.
Here are some tips to keep you motivated:

# Keep busy by lending a hand - do volunteer work or help a neighbor in need. It will raise your self-esteem and the feel good quotient that can be sorely depleted during a job search.

# Get temp or contract work - this will give you a few bucks and provide structure to your week. # Shake your booty - Move, exercise, dance. The endorphin release alone will carry you forward into more activity.

# Get rid of clutter - throw out stuff or donate it to charity. This always works for me. I end up feeling good about the new space I’ve created. The tax deduction isn’t bad either.

# Learn from the successful job seeker - who among your contacts has landed a job recently?

Find out how they did it!

# Drop the whiners - your sanity depends upon it! The last thing you need is a pity party.

# Join a job search club - get support from other job seekers. Many state employment offices offer job groups, as do local community centers and churches.

# Have faith - and derive comfort from visiting a quiet place of worship or contemplation, whether under a beautiful elm tree or in a temple.

# Fertilize your brain - instead of watching TV, read positive, inspirational material for at least 30 minutes each day.
Keeping motivated during a job search is a constant test of your patience and fortitude, particularly if you’ve come in second, or been rejected outright, by a company you really wanted to work for. Know that everyone feels discouraged at times. But, the name of the game is staying persistent despite the difficulties. You do that by continuing to move forward, not dwelling on the negatives and keeping your eyes focused on the prize - getting the job!

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20 Ways to Impress the Boss

Whether you're vying for a promotion or just want to make a good impression, here are 20 ways to show you're dream team material:

1. Know the mission. Align yourself with your boss’s and company's goals and values. Make your boss's priorities your priorities.

2. Understand how you'll be evaluated. Know precisely which skills, behaviours and accomplishments you will be judged on and rewarded for. Home in on them.

3. Be dependable. Do what you say you're going to do. Better yet, under-promise and over-deliver.

4. Project positive energy. Don't be the one to whine or criticise the boss or company direction. Be a motivator: the person everyone wants to be around.

5. Make your boss look good. Finish your work on time and with a high level of professionalism. Bring your boss ideas that will help him or her and the department and offer to take charge and implement them.

6. Own up. Take responsibility for your mistakes by focusing on what you've learned rather than what you've done wrong. For example, "I think this project could have been better if we'd have had the group's agreement early on," or "Next time I would talk more with the end-users up-front..."

7. Be organised. Plan your next day before you leave work. Rank your tasks by urgency and importance and make a point of doing at least the top two items on your list.

8. Be punctual. Arriving for work or meetings on time (even early) shows you're enthusiastic, dependable and able to manage your life effectively.

9. Be resourceful. Don't run to the boss with every question you have or setback you encounter. Think things through first. If you must report a problem to the boss, develop possible solutions to present.

10. Broaden your horizons. Take advantage of company-sponsored training courses and volunteer for projects in areas outside your everyday expertise.

11. Stay informed. Keep abreast of industry and company trends by reading trade journals and attending professional association events.

12. Stay up-to-date with current trends. Stay current with technological, legal and knowledge advances in your area. Upgrade your skills and learn new ones.

13. Be courteous. Show respect and loyalty to your boss and speak well of him or her to others. (At the very least don't bad mouth him or her to anyone.)

14. Be flexible. Change is inevitable. Companies need people who can adapt and go with the flow.

15. Take care of your health. When you're run down, productivity and ambition suffer - as does your image.

16. Leave your personal life at the door. Using your colleagues as therapists not only hurts productivity; it damages your credibility and is detrimental to your work relationships (even if people seem sympathetic).

17. Go beyond the call of duty. Take on added challenges, put in extra hours, and never use the phrase, "That's not in my job description."

18. Be a team player. Show your boss and colleagues you have their best interests at heart by being empathetic and offering to help out when they need it.

19. Take a break now and then. A clear head and balanced life can give you energy and perspective.

20. Look and act promotable. Don't let anyone think you work because you have to.

Source: Msn
Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

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Your First Days on the Job: 10 Tips

Now that the excitement of landing that coveted job has tempered a bit, you may be feeling some anxiety anticipating those first days. It's only normal. After all, you're jumping headfirst into new surroundings, meeting new people and facing many new challenges.Follow these 10 tips and you'll lay the foundations for success at your new job:

1. Arrive on time. Don't think because you are new you will just blend into the woodwork and no one will notice if you're a little bit late. Nothing says, "I'm a slacker," like arriving late for your first days on a new job. If you can, even show your face a little early.

2. Dress appropriately. First impressions can be lasting. Just because you're not wowing them in the interview any more, it doesn't mean you shouldn't dress to impress. Rather than have to work twice as hard to erase the image of the creased or dirty shirts you wore during your first week, knock 'em dead with a clean, polished look.

3. Meet your colleagues. Make an effort to remember names. Nothing is nicer than being greeted personally. Try to learn the names of your colleagues, including support staff, and you'll make friends fast.

4. Listen. One of the best ways to learn is to listen. Consider yourself a blank slate and take note not only of information you hear in formal meetings, but pay attention to the little nuggets shared during casual breaks or in the canteen.

5. Ask questions. Not only does asking questions give you visibility at meetings and involve you in discussions, it's a great way to learn and demonstrate your industry knowledge.

6. Get involved. Even if it's just organising a lunch meeting or a happy hour, head up a project to get your name out there and to meet some of your colleagues.

7. Communicate. Communication is very important not only in your first few days, but every day. Just about every company has 'unwritten rules' so don't be afraid to ask your colleagues for advice. And make sure you keep your boss abreast of your current projects and let her know if there is a particular project on which you'd like to work. You can't expect people to read your mind.

8. Avoid gossip, don't get sucked into the rumour mill. Because you're new and still relatively unknown, some colleagues may feel more comfortable venting to you. Don't respond or give unspoken credence to the barbs by laughing, nodding or displaying exaggerated facial expressions.

9. Stay past 5. Even though you may not have a lot of work to do yet, it couldn't hurt to stay a few minutes after the whistle blows. Don't shut down your computer at 4:59; rather stay 10 to 15 minutes after close of business to show your commitment.

10. Be upbeat. These first days can be awkward, confusing and full of doubt. But don't let it get you down. Begin and end each day with a smile and a cheerful greeting. Your positive attitude will brighten the office.

Source: MSN

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Getting through your job interview

You may have gone through every step of preparing to land a good job with confidence by gaining experience, honing your education, and writing a good, solid resume. Once those efforts start to pay off and you get a call for an interview with a potential employer, you may find yourself struck with a bad case of nervousness. This problem is common and, fortunately, it's one that's all in your head - there's nothing about a job interview you should be nervous about if you're confident and secure.

Practicing interviews goes a long way to giving yourself self-confidence. With the help of friends or family, you can prepare yourself to answer questions without hesitation and try a few different answers to choose the one that sounds best. Rehearsal is important for making sure you look confident to potential employers. You can also use a mirror to see how your face and eyes display either nerves or confidence. Work on eliminating small details that will give an impression of self-doubt. Once you enter the interview and finally meet your potential employer, use a firm handshake and a smile, keep yourself from looking down at the floor, and definitely try not to shift too much from nerves.

It is important that you be open and totally truthful when answering questions for a job interview. You will no longer be in contention for the job if you are caught in a lie. Before the interview, give some thought to how you will answer difficult questions about your work, education, or personal history. If you've made mistakes at your previous employment, soften the blow by the way you phrase your answers, but don't leave the wrong impression by glossing over the questions.

During an interview, it helps to know what is questions are legal and appropriate to ask. In some cases you are not legally required to answer certain questions and your refusal cannot be held against you. Be aware of this fact: there are some topics that are illegal for interviewers to approach. It does help to know your rights, but you shouldn't be belligerent about it. Even if you are admitting to something you must explain, such as a big work history gap or a lack of career goals, give your answers to your potential employer with confidence.

Many articles and books have been written on how to dress for an interview. It is almost all common sense. The best way to look during an interview is clean and neat in a business suit or professional looking blouse and pants. If you look professional, dress professionally, and are well spoken, you are well on your way to getting the job you desire.

Finally, once the interview is almost over, help your case by asking your would-be employer questions about the job you're applying for or the organization itself. Asking questions shows that you have a serious interest in where you work.

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Sell Yourself on Your Resume

I do a lot of research online for various projects. I have also done a lot of interviewing to fill vacant positions for companies that I had previously worked for. So what do these two things have in common? I'll get to that in a moment.

I want to touch on today your resume and for many that I have seen in my own experience, I really should say the lack thereof in regards to your resume. Potential candidates have sent me resumes (regardless of how or what format) that are just really bad. They lack a certain haracteristic that I am going to talk about in moment. Without this I was really unable to determine anything about them.Chances are you may be missing this as well.

One thing I noticed about the internet in doing my research is that thousands if not hundreds of thousands of websites crave this item. This item allows these sites to stay fresh, new and up to date. Do you know what that item is? Simply, it is content.Content is key in the online world as it is on your resume. I have read numerous resumes that lack good quality content. Without it I derive that either one, they do not have the experience that I require, or two, they are not thorough enough in the work that they do.Content in regards to your resume is nothing more than elaborating on your expertise, experience and education.

Give the person reading your resume a reason to get excited. For example if you are applying to be the new widget sales person, don't just put down as your prior experience, "sold XYZ product from start year to end year". Do you see how vague that is? Instead elaborate on that. Tell the person what you accomplished and how it relates to helping their company. For example, "From start year to end year I was responsible for the sales of our XYZ products. During this time I sold X number of units that accounted for 19% of the total sales for our company. Due to my success of selling the XYZ product line I created a new training aid for our company that was taught to other sales team members and in turn helped increase company revenue to about 33%." You get the point.

Elaborate on each job experience that you put down. First explain what you did in complete detail. Then talk about how your experience their helped the company you worked for and finally finish off by stating how you were able to contribute to the team members around you to make the company a better place.If you follow this simple plan to fully detail your resume you will be sure to wow anyone in any company with what you bring to the table. Remember you are judged for a job long before anyone even talks to you.

About the Author:

Mr. Podlesny is a freelance writer.

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