Article Category : Self Improvement

1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how much you want to escape. When you find yourself sharing the latest horror story, stop in mid-sentence and say, “What I want to have is…”

2. Create an image that describes you in your job. Are you on a riverbank with no way to get to the other side? Lost in a jungle? Poking through a thorny hedge? When you get comfortable with the image, begin visualizing a change in the obstacle. Imagine building a bridge across the river or finding a path in the forest. Don’t force the image or the change. When you’re ready it will come.

3. Think of developing skills, not serving time. Take every course that’s offered and focus on skills that can lay a foundation for your own business or next job. Can you learn HTML or PowerPoint? Can you use some evenings, weekends and lunch hours to solicit some free lance gigs?

4. Focus on satisfactory, not superior performance. Use the time difference to build your new life. People often say, “I can’t do anything — I work ten hours a day!”

If you are firing yourself or expecting to be fired, your job is finding a new job. Be ethical: you owe your company the minimum you need to earn your salary.” But don’t be surprised if you start to accomplish more than ever and find yourself getting promoted.

5. What conflict are you escaping? Dishonesty? Corporate greed? Hypocrisy? Allow yourself to wonder if these qualities are mirrored in your own life — or even in your mind. If everyone around you seems dishonest, are you being dishonest with yourself? With others? After you resolve your own conflict, you may find the workplace has changed or you have been catapulted into a new, more satisfying life.

6. Put on your shield and armor when you enter your workplace. Everyone should learn how to create a psychic shield. Imagine that you are surrounded by an outer shell that is made of a solid material — so strong that nothing can get through to hurt you. Some people prefer to imagine a protective golden light, but I think the solid shield is stronger. Take two or three minutes to put on your shield, every day, before you enter the workplace.

7. Give yourself a gift every day — a splurge of time or sensual taste buds. Read a book, talk to a friend, eat your favorite food. Don’t deaden your senses with alcohol (although if you’re a wine connoisseur, your special wine can be a gift) or spend big bucks at the mall. Think simple.

8. Find at least one thing in your life to appreciate: the softness of your cat’s fur, the winter sky, the spontaneous hug from a friend. Appreciate as much as possible about your job: the money, the view from the window, the new computer, friendly conversations with the guy down the hall. Savor the experience. Appreciation is the engine that attracts good things into your life.

9. Tune in to your intuition before deciding what to do next. Meditate and listen to the world around you. The saying “frying pan into the fire” is real. If your goals and desires do not come from a secure place within yourself, you will find yourself paying undue attention to wet blankets (”If you quit you’ll never get another job”) and false friends (”Just quit! Move to Tahiti! You won’t starve!”). Sometimes the same “advisor” proposes both ideas in the same week. A good coach or counselor will give you confidence in your own intuition, not impose their views of what you should do now.

10. Write this down somewhere: After you’ve left — and you will — all that time will seem to have gone in the blink of an eye. You will have trouble remembering what bothered you so much. The rest of your life will still be ahead of you.

I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.

“Ten secrets of mastering a major life change” mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com

Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294

Category : tips,

Leaders Meet Challenge Heads-UP With Confidence

Article Category : Self Improvement

Maybe “buck” is better referred to as the Boss’ Challenge. Business owners are faced with making lots of decisions - some quickly made - others take more time with greater consequences.

Time Vs Wages –

A few years ago (maybe 30!) a top secretarial job paid $75. a week or less. You can compare it to the $700 weekly paycheck today. Has about the same buying power. Inflation is real. Salaries increase every year mainly to stay even with inflation, sometimes with less buying power.

Obviously, we refuse to talk about taxes (April 15th) or capital gains (that’s where nothing happens except the Government gets 20%) and then death taxes arrive when you have nothing to say about it. Up to 55% of the farm. Yes, a big Wow!

Death and taxes are for real. Best decision is to stay on the “right” track. God has a special plan for you and your future. Government has your best interest at heart, too. It’s always important to keep your house in order. Never know! You could wake UP dead! If not, tax report filing is soon due.

Had to have a little fun! None of us like paying taxes but you do remember that NO income requires NO taxes. Not a good choice!

LEADERSHIP

Down to business! Where the rubber meets the road. Everyone who calls him/herself a leader does not have a clue. Look behind you. Is anyone there?

A BIG word with FEW followers. Many employers, supervisors, bosses, chief executives are NOT leaders. Sometimes the “peter principle” has arrived. Basically, that means the person is in over their head.

Leaders are people motivators. They have the ability to inspire others. To bring out the best performance. To make everyone feel important. From the lowest level position to the top job.

Quality leadership means knowing the details. Processing information that is critical to grow the business. Outfront! Beats the competition head-on.

Understands key issues involving the financial results that keep the company solvent. Profitable. Moving in the right direction.

COURAGE

Not everyone is willing to STEP-OUT when the tide is pushing in the opposite direction. Employees have to be lead by a confident Boss, strong co-workers/leaders who stand UP regardless of contrary opinions. It’s called self-worth. Un-intimidated.

Character is the “core” (center) of quality leadership. Ethical behavior never fails. Honesty is a non-issue. Never in doubt! Integrity is always there and known in the marketplace.

Most of us know “leaders” without the core values. Drive (hard charging) without the integrity or competence. Others are overly ambitious but lacking in integrity where you end up with poor results.

GOOD JUDGMENT

You have to do the right THING. This is an important leadership quality. Making sure that you not ONLY are doing everything RIGHT but on the right TRACK.

As you know, my career choice was 32 years in the staffing business. Those years went by quickly. Looking back you see many judgment errors in the hiring process. Lots of reasons. Many firms are handicapped in their hiring decisions.

Sometimes it is their failure to put competent staff in human resources. You can have an unqualified (lack of knowledge) person making wrong decisions. Hiring the wrong person for the position or job.

Leaders develop other leaders for your organization. Losers develop more losers for your firm. Not the best way to build a profit center.

Change is a constant. Nothing in your personal or business life is standing still. Every morning is a new day. New challenges. New Opportunities. You are either moving forward or backing up. Important decisions to make. Both in your personal relationships and in your business.

As you know, new technologies are rapidly changing the way all of us run our business. Either you embrace it or get left behind.

Action Tip: Leaders meet challenge head-on. Staff motivators. Core values are at the front of their decisions. High integrity. Honest. Trustworthy. Willing to stand up and be accountable. Accepts blame. Buck stops on their doorstep.

Don Monteith spent 32 years in the Staffing Business. His firm placed thousands of job candidates in their Dream Job. Today, he shares his expertise. Learn more by visiting his website at: http://www.HowToGetYourDreamJob.com

Boost Your Self-Confidence with These 5 Tips (and create the life you really want!)

Article Category : Self Improvement

Imagine this day: You wake up in the morning, feeling well-rested and at peace because you know, beyond a shadow
of a doubt, what you need to do to live the life you most want. You have a clear vision of what you want your life to
look and feel like and a sound strategy that will get you there. In fact, not only does the future look promising;
TODAY feels great. You are proud of yourself. You feel confident in your ability to create and live the life you most want, today and well into the future.

How you feel about yourself plays an important role in your ability to live your best life. With a healthy self-confidence (aka, self-image, self-esteem, self-respect) you’ll take more chances and overcome obstacles –  faster. You’ll set your SELF in motion which will set the world around you in motion. You’ll get what you want and each time you do your confidence will soar and the belief you have in yourself will grow stronger. You’ll see life through the eyes of a person who not only BELIEVES they can do it - you WILL do it!

How do you BOOST your self-confidence?

Here are 5 easy-to-try-out tips.

1. Speak well of yourself. In the Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz writes, “Through the word you express your
creative power. It is through the word you manifest everything. . your intent manifests through your word. Depending on how it is used, the word can set you free, or it can enslave you even more than you know.”

We become what we think about most of the time. We become what we say about ourselves. If you continually tell yourself you “can’t do something”, or that you “don’t have what it takes”, you’re sure to create that reality for yourself, because that is how you see yourself. On the other hand, if you repeatedly say and think to yourself something like, “I am capable of creating a life I love”, soon you will begin creating a life you love.

Speak well of yourself and you’ll begin believing you do have what it takes to create and live the life you most want.

2. Surround yourself with self-confident people and positive environments. Sounds a bit obvious, but if you have friends that lack confidence, you probably do too. That’s because your environment, what and who you surround yourself with, plays a big role in how you see and treat yourself.

Negative environments are hard to break free from but break free is what you must do. If you’re surrounded by people
who criticize others (and you) and speak poorly of themselves - get out! Remove yourself from their company. In fact, no company is better than toxic company. Seek out friends who are confident and you’ll feel your confidence increasing.

3. Take action on what you say you’re going to take action on or don’t say it! Don’t say you’re going to do something
unless you really intend to do it. We’ve all experienced the “big talker” - the person who talks about their big plans but never does anything to make them happen. The “big talker” loses face because no one believes they’ll do what they say they’re going to do.

Don’t lose face with yourself. ONLY talk about things you intend to take action on or don’t talk about them. Walk your talk. Keep your promises. Be impeccable with your words and you’ll become a person of integrity. Integrity breeds confidence.

4. Accept fear and obstacles as a natural part of life - and growth. Don’t beat yourself up when you find yourself gripped by fear and other emotions. Don’t judge yourself for having these feelings. And don’t feel like you’re inadequate or don’t have what it takes. From time to time, everyone feels afraid, confused and out of sorts. Be aware when these feelings are present but don’t let them stop you. Keep moving forward by telling yourself you’re much more than the obstacles you face and failures you experience.

5. Take time out to focus on all that you have done well. Once a month, take a few moments to write down all that you have done well - it’s probably more than you think. Acknowledge the work you do, your strengths and accomplishments on a regular basis. In doing so, you’ll begin seeing yourself as a person who does things right and gets things done. You’ll begin seeing and appreciating all the good you do.

Practice just one of these tips and you’ll start feeling better about yourself. Practice more than one on a consistent basis and your life will change - guaranteed! You deserve to live a life you feel great about. Don’t settle for less because you lack the confidence to go after what you want. BOOST your confidence and you’ll wake up each morning feeling like anything’s possible!

“To have that sense of one’s intrinsic worth which constitutes self-respect is potentially to have everything.” JOAN DIDION

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Cari Vollmer, personal growth expert, is the founder of LifeOnTrack.com and InspireYourDay.com.  For practical life strategies and success tips, sign up for LifeOnTrack.com’s FREE e-zine, LivingOnTrack, at http://www.LifeOnTrack.com

Category : confidence

Top 10 Tips for Career Advancement

Article Category : Career Management, Self Improvement

Here’s a list of the top 10 tips you can use to advance your career:

1. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know.”?If you don’t know something, say so; don’t try to fake it.?

2. Take responsibility for your actions. If you’re at fault, admit it and take the blame. If you’re wrong, apologize.

3. Never gossip. Gossip can hurt the careers of two people: the person being talked about, and the person doing the talking.

4. Never say “That’s not my job.” Don’t think you are above anything. Pitch in and set a good example, especially if the job is one that nobody else wants to do. Your willingness to do so will be noticed and appreciated!

5. Share the credit. People who share credit with others make a much better impression than those who take all the credit themselves.

6. Ask for help when you need it. Don’t let a difficult task get out of hand. When you need help, ask for it — before things get worse.

7. Keep your dislike to yourself. If you don’t like someone, don’t let it show. Never burn bridges or offend others as you move ahead in your career.

8. Don’t hold grudges. Life isn’t always fair. If you were passed over for promotion, didn’t get the project you wanted, etc., let it go. Be gracious and diplomatic, focus on the future and move on. Harboring?grudges won’t advance your career.

9. Be humble. When you’re right, don’t gloat about it. Never say “I told you so!”

10. Make others feel important. Compliment others, emphasize their strengths and contributions, and help them whenever you can. They will enthusiasitcally help you in return.
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Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, “Career-Life Times.” Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.

Seven Steps to Making a Successful Career Change

Article Category : Career Management, Self Improvement

My first job was secretary to Moses. Having to transcribe and make 2,430 copies of the Ten Commandments convinced me I was on the wrong燾areer path!?OK, maybe I’m not quite THAT old. But I did start out as a secretary.?While I didn’t mind the work, eventually I decided it wasn’t very satisfying. I often felt like a “tool” that helped others contribute to the organization’s success. I wanted to make my own contributions, to find creative ways to make a difference. It took me about 12 year to come to that conclusion, decide to do something about it, and change my life.

If you are not happy in your current job, perhaps it’s time to think about making a change yourself.?Here’s what you should do:

1.?Determine why you’re not happy.?Are you really unhappy with the work you do, or just upset with your salary, boss, coworkers,爋r the office environment? There’s a difference between hating your job and hating your work, and realizing that will help you decide what course to take.

2.?Find your passion.牋 What do you love doing more than anything else? List your top three favorite activities. Try to be a bit realistic here and choose activites that you might be able to earn a living with.?For instance, if your three favorite activities are sleeping, eating and watching TV, your career options are somewhat limited. But do include hobbies and activities one doesn’t always associate with work.

3.?Evaluate your strengths.?What are you good at??Consider more than just your technical skills. For example, do your prefer leading or following; analyzing or simplifying; working alone or with a group??

4.?Do research. What career fields would allow you to use your passions and strengths to earn a reasonable living? There are some爂reat online resources (such as www.jvis.com) that offer tools to help you do a self-assessment and then find careers that match your interests and skills:?/P>

5.?Consider alternatives to jobs.?Some people go into business for themselves when they become fed up with their jobs. If you think simply switching careers isn’t enough, look into that alternative and others, such as… marrying a millionaire, becoming a beach bum, winning the爈ottery, writing children’s books, painting and selling pictures, doing consulting work… the sky’s the limit!

6.?Create a plan.?Once you know where you want to go, figure out what steps you must take to get there.?Determine exactly what you need to do, how much time it will take, and what it will cost.?It’s probably best not to leave your current job until you’re ready and able to start earning money with your new job/venture.

7.?Get help.?You’ll be amazed at how helpful people will be when you tell them your plans. Talk with family, friends, professional associates, club members; participate in topic-related online forums; NETWORK as much as possible!?Achieving great goals is always easier when you have others cheering you on and helping you out.

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Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, “Career-Life Times.” Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.

Category : career-change

Three Ways to Transition to a New Career

Article Category : Career Management, Self Improvement

As a Certified Personnel Consultant working for Find Great People International in Greenville, South Carolina, I receive telephone calls from people who are considering a career change. For some, transitioning to a new career is easier than others. Some professionals already possess a foundation of skills to make the transition easier. I’ll give an example. An unemployed network engineer and hobby electrician decides to become an electrical contractor for new construction. His transition might be easier because he needs minimal training to enter the new field. But others require training, or additional schooling, which can sometimes be costly.

Strategy for Changing Careers

It’s best to take a strategic approach when changing careers. The first step is identifying a career of interest to you. Then, visit jobsites like Careerbuilder.com,Monster.com, and Hotjobs.com and search for job postings by keywords or titles relating to your newly desired career field. Next, read through the job postings identified, analyze them, and try to determine the knowledge, skills, and abilities employers are searching for in this field. Once you’ve researched your chosen career, deepen your knowledge through class work or mentoring with a friend whom you respect and whose experience might relate to that field. In order to advance in your field of choice, an undergraduate or advanced degree may be necessary.

Speak to a Recrutier

Another way to make an effective career change is to contact someone like myself ? a recruiter or “headhunter” who specializes in your desired field. The purpose of your call is to gather information about your chosen profession. For example, at Find Great People International, we have recruiters specializing in manufacturing, information technology, health care, apparel, finance and accounting, and professional temporary staffing. It may be helpful to jot down a list of questions before your call. When I speak to someone about changing careers, the individual usually acknowledges they do not possess the skills or experience to do the job yet — but they are eager to break in. I evaluate their skills, based on a series of questions. Sometimes they’ll have a foundation for the new career and that’s a starting point.

Education: a Positvie Step

Schooling or training is a wise first step for many who shift careers, provided they have the money to pay for it. There are times when I recommend a national training center with locations throughout the U.S. Or, since I specialize in the IT field, I’ll suggest a technical training institute, or a technical college that offers supplemental training. Some certifications and trainings in the computer field can range between $8,000-10,000. This may seem steep, but the truth is most places of employment will not hire you without some sort of training.

Step Into Your Field in a Better Job Market

There is a third, bolder angle, which works better in a more robust job market. Simply investigate companies in your field of interest, contact them directly, and ask them if they are hiring entry level. If you are lucky enough to speak to a hiring authority, or someone in a position to be helpful, use the time to sell yourself on the transferable characteristics you possess as an employee.

Transferable Characteristics as an Employee:

• complete projects on-time and within budget
• work well with people
• reliable and dependable
• follow-through skills
• computer skills

Highlight Former Profession

Do not overlook the generic qualities of your former profession, when presenting yourself to a potential employer in a new field. These include verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication, and are considered portable skills. If you feel you are lacking in some of these key areas, then think about acquiring these skills through training. I have often recommended something like Dale Carnegie’s course, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” If the cost for this course is prohibitive, then consider acquiring some books or audio tapes which help to build these skills.

To maximize success in your new field, I suggest that during the education or retraining process, you become a member of a professional organization. Plug yourself into an association, either local or statewide, related to your specific industry niche. Go to the monthly meetings. Get to know people. Start selling yourself by way of relationships and friendships. By the time you’ve finished your education, you’ll have a network of people who will be aware of your skills and availability.

Select any one of the three methods I’m recommending, or combine aspects of all three. You’ll be well on your way to landing a new position. Your new field might not open up to you right away, but if you are persistent about it, you should be successful.

About The Author

During the past 14 years, Steve Hall has been a consultant with Find Great People in Greenville, S.C. He has successfully found several hundred great people for clients all over the Eastern U.S. His focus includes Retail, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Insurance, and Financial Services. For the past five years, Steve has averaged an interview-to-hire ratio of 3 to 1, compared to the industry average of 7 to 1.

In November 1994, Steve achieved his Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) certification. He is one out of approximately 90 in the state of South Carolina with this designation. In addition, he has served as President for the State Recruiting Association and is a tenured member of the Board of Directors for that organization.

Steve Hall received his BS in Marketing Management.

shall@fgp.com

Salary Negotiation: How To Earn More Money and Respect From Your Employer

Article Category : Career Management, Self Improvement

Despite how important fair pay is to most of us, effective salary negotiation is an often misunderstood and avoided topic. Current research indicates the average duration of a position today is 3.8 years. Over the lifespan of your career, how well you negotiate raises or starting pay will have an enormous cumulative effect on the quality of your life.

So why does this skill remain elusive for many career professionals?

Most of us do thorough research and prepare extensively for a job interview. We create the perfect resume, slave over cover letter drafts, and rehearse answers to anticipated interview questions. We make sure we’re dressed right, have references, and are on time. But all too often, only cursory attention is given to thinking through how, when, and why we’ll end up being happy with the terms of our pay.

One problem is that cultural taboos in our society make talking about money a no-no. Many of us regard money negotiation as inherently unseemly, or we feel guilty about not accepting what’s been offered so nicely. Isn’t haggling supposed to take place if you’re buying hand-made rugs somewhere in Turkey?

We want to believe that the first offer we hear should be the highest dollar figure possible; moreover, we don’t want to “rock the boat” and potentially ruin our chances of landing that great job. That voice inside of us whispers “Everything in this interview has been going great! Don’t wreck it now!”.

Like it or not, though, you’re a negotiator. You can’t get off this ride. Negotiation routinely takes place in dozens of ways in our daily lives. Given the fact that you will make or lose several thousand dollars in the span of a few minutes, learning how to respectably negotiate your pay is vital! Notice I say respectably.

Unfortunately, I see countless candidates who either come off way too aggressively, or much too meekly, for their own good. This is often because of a lack of self-preparation and practice. Many candidates also fail to realize their position in the marketplace and the position of the employer. Not good!

The good news is that salary negotiation skills can be learned or improved upon. Here are seven key tips to being paid what you’re worth while maintaining a healthy respect others have for you:

? Don’t believe that effectively negotiating your salary means that you must have the mentality of a used-car salesperson! You aren’t being slippery, out of line or ungrateful to not accept the first figure that’s tossed out. Most employers value candidates who clearly possess self-respect and confidence in themselves; these qualities are revealed through the skill and poise in how you negotiate your pay-they are aso revealed if you do nothing.

Think about it: Doesn’t it make sense that if you demonstrate effective negotiation capabilities for yourself, that in turn you’ll negotiate smartly for your employer, too? Hiring managers pick up on this.

? Do remember that your value is far more important than a number somewhere on a spreadsheet. Yes, this is true despite common cries that “payroll budgets being fixed, this is the best we can do” or “in this economy, you must be realistic.” Employers by and large are not searching for “cheap bargains” but want value in their employees.

A common misconception is “I’ll have a better chance of getting the job if I don’t ask for much money-I won’t cost as much as other candidates.” Don’t go there! Concentrate on the value you bring, not how little you cost. By the way, if you do this properly, the question of “previous salary history” should be much less relevant. This means you will have a better chance at jumping to higher ranges faster in your career.

? Don’t (and I mean never) accept any form of benefits before you negotiate your salary. Why? Once some form of compensation other than salary is accepted by you, the employer has leverage in justifying why your salary should be lower. Remember to always get agreement on the starting salary first. Then negotiate non-salary benefits and special considerations afterwards.

? Do delay talking about compensation; try to discuss your value, and the specific benefits you can bring to the table, for as long as possible. The employer should perceive you as a valuable, one-of-a-kind resource-not an off-the-shelf good with a price tag.

Think of those high-end infomercials that delay revealing what the price of the offer is until the very end (if at all). The whole point of the infomercial is to draw your attention to the value of the good or service and its many different uses and applications.

Certainly something that clearly validates a gain or cost-savings of $25,000.00 would be attractively valued at $2,499.99. But would you really pay attention to an ad that immediately said its cost was $2,499.99? Probably not! The same psychology applies to salary negotiation. The longer the interview process continues, the more likely you will be regarded as a valuable resource obviously worthy of upper-range pay.

? Don’t accept any offer, no matter how lucrative, on the spot. Instead, express your continued interest in the position and how you clearly see yourself making contributions (specify them one more time again). Then always ask for 24 hours to consider the offer. Certainly a day will give the hiring manager time to find any necessary “wiggle room”, if need be.

Be passionate and excited, but don’t lose your objectivity-any position that will be the center of your daily professional life for years to come won’t melt in 24 hours. Right?

? Do remember the old axiom “he (or she) who speaks first loses.” Wait until an offer has been made-but don’t respond immediately. Remember that in many cases, what is initially offered to you may be the lowest figure the hiring manager dares to put forward.

This is mission critical territory: Often, even casual remarks made by you constitute implied acceptance of the offer…Which can quickly become explicit acceptance as the conversation moves on. Don’t let this happen! Instead, intentionally steer the conversation back to the responsibilities of the position. Who will you be supervising? What are some tangible, specific contributions you see yourself making? Where do you picture yourself in the organization in the future?

The greater long-term picture you create, the greater the likelihood you will negotiate more effectively. You can only really begin to negotiate after you have clearly brought to life realistic present and future scenarios.

? Don’t over-negotiate. How do you know when to recognize what is too little or too much? By researching your market ahead of time. Don’t just go to www.salary.com and think you “should” be earning a certain dollar figure without taking into consideration the unique opportunities every employer possesses. This is not really true research.

A salary is compensation paid for services performed. Your salary should be commensurate with your skills and experience built yesterday, but negotiated for the work you will be doing today and tomorrow. Remember, you don’t get what you deserve in life…You get what you negotiate!

Would you like more help? Check out this month’s HireWorks Recommends for some great resources.

Special Offer! This month we will review 10 Resumes at no charge. Find out what improvements you can make to get the attention of hiring managers and land that important first interview! Click Here to submit yourself to be among the first 10 people to respond!

Biography: Lucia Apollo Shaw is the President and CEO of HireWorks, Inc. HireWorks is a professional search firm specializing in the Life Sciences. HireWorks offers research services, contract staffing, and permanent placement services.

She has been helping her customers for nearly 9 years - working both as a third party recruiter for CDI Corp (staffing customers like IBM), Trilogy Consulting (now Venturi Partners) staffing the Biotech and Pharmaceutical industry and in places like Duke University where she was a corporate recruiter and Team Leader for recruitment for Duke University Hospital. Lucia earned a B.A. from the State University of NY (University Center at Albany) and pursued Graduate Studies in Public Administration at the Sage Graduate School in Albany, NY.

To subscribe the The Hiring Insider please visit http://www.hiringinsider.com

Category : job, package

Job Interviews: What to Wear

Article Category : Interview Tips, Self Improvement

It takes between seven and seventeen seconds for a person to make an impression of us and much of that impression is based on how we look. It stand to reason, then, that what we wear to job interviews will make a far greater impact on our success than anything we’re likely to say once those first crucial seconds have passed.

Dress For the Job

If you’re applying for a job as a sale assistant in a trendy boutique in a hip part of town, what you wear will need to be very different to what you’d wear when being interviewed for a job as a lawyer’s personal assistant.

By wearing what you believe you’d wear to work if offered the job, you’re silently saying that you understand the position you’re applying for and that you have the knowledge to fulfil the company’s expectations.

If you’re applying for a job where you’d be wearing a uniform, think about the kind of uniform that you’d be likely to wear. Is it very casual, as in the unformed overalls given to a car mechanic? Is it smart casual, as often worn by delivery couriers? Is it smart, like the kind of uniform worn by bank employees or perhaps a hotel doorman? Choose your wardrobe to reflect the uniform.

Men:

Category : wear, presentation

Think Twice Before You Change Jobs

Article Category : Career Management, Self Improvement

You’ve got the itch to change jobs. This might be a good time to make the move.

The Wall Street Journal has just reported, “Job-seekers from rank-and-file workers to senior executives are preparing their resumes for what may be the strongest fall hiring season in years.”

“Before you jump to a new job, be certain you have good, sound reasons for wanting to make a change,” advises Ramon Greenwood, senior career counselor at Common SenseAtWork.com. “You may believe you can accelerate your career with a new job. You may be bored or running away from personal problems.”

First, ask yourself, “Are there things I can do to make my present situation more acceptable?”

Don’t be lulled into believing that the grass will necessarily be greener in another pasture. Or that a new pasture will be a great deal different from the one you are grazing in now.

Except in the most extreme reasons, do not leave your present job until you have another one firmly in hand. If it was ever true that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush, it is when a job is concerned. Remember, it is always easier to get a job when you have one.

What Do You Want?

Take the time to figure out what you really want to do.

What will it take to make you happier? It is not enough to know what you want to change from; you need to know what you want to change to.

Be specific in answering these questions. Don’t allow yourself to be driven by a sense of vague malaise to make a change just for the sake of change. If you can’t spell out in writing the valid reasons you want to move to a new job and be equally specific about what you want that job to be, don’t set the process in motion.

Recognize that you are contemplating a serious and difficult undertaking, even under the best of circumstances. There is always some risk to your present situation when you start looking around. What will your present employer think if the word gets around that you are “looking”? At best, the whole process is usually disruptive and can be traumatic for you and your loved ones. Determine that you have the courage to live with the dangers and uncertainties of making a change.

Survey the situation. Be sure there is a market for the skills you have to offer where you want to live.

If You Go, Go Full Speed Ahead

If, after giving the matter careful thought, you are convinced you would be better off in a new situation, go for it full speed ahead. The search for a new job is not a time for half-measures. To vacillate between courting new employers and sitting back in a coy mode, hoping to be courted, will surely breed frustration. Mount a campaign and invest whatever time and energy are required to reach your objective.

If you have something to offer that the market wants, you will find a new job. However, it will take time. There may come a point when you decide that by comparison your present situation looks quite attractive. So you may decide to stay put, at least for the time being. So don’t burn bridges behind you.

And don’t worry about there being a stigma attached to changing jobs. A lot of other people are shopping for new jobs at any given time. It has been estimated that today’s college graduates can expect that on average they will have held eight different jobs by the time they are 40.

In fact, some personnel recruiters argue that your resume will be stronger if it shows some changes in jobs, so long as the reasons for changing are positive.

Ramon Greenwood is former senior vice president of American Express; a professional director for various businesses; a consultant; a published author of career related books and a syndicated column. Senior career counselor for http://www.CommonSenseAtWork.com.

Visit http://www.CommonSenseAtWork.com, to sign up for his f#ee semimonthly newsletter or contact him at ramon@CommonSenseAtWork.com

What You Need To Know Before Committing To Vocational Retraining

Article Category : Self Improvement

You’ve thought a lot about the kind of work you want to do. The duties, the pay, the hours, the environment ? everything sounds right. According to the newspaper ads, there is a big demand out there. You find a program that sounds really good. You are all ready to sign on the dotted line.

Stop! Before you invest your time, your energy, and a good chunk of your money in this direction, ask some tough questions.

1. Request that the school provide you with placement statistics ? these are required by the state for all approved vocational courses. Statistics can be misleading so ask for details ? what kind of job did the graduates find, how much did it pay, how long did it take them to find it?

2. Ask for the names and telephone numbers of 6 recent graduates you can contact for feedback. Good schools often have recent graduates visiting on site to share their experiences with current students. If the school refuses to provide such a list, or cannot provide it for whatever reason they give you, red flags should be immediately raised.

3. Is State Licensure or Certification required for this field? If so, what is the school’s passing rate? What is the examination’s pass rate overall? How do they compare?

4. Arrange to audit one or two classes. Evaluate the instructor and the program organization. Talk to the other students about their experience.

5. Visit the placement office and find out what services and support are offered. At a minimum, you should receive a professional resume and multiple job leads. An excellent school will also provide interviewing skill training and employer background information. Find out if the school works consistently with several local employers which indicates that their graduates have been positive hires in the past.

6. Sit down with the Sunday Classifieds and circle employers in the field. Then call them for information. Are new graduates considered or is actual work experience required? Is the school known in the business community and what kind of reputation does it have? Has this company ever hired a graduate of this school? How would the employer recommend that someone enter this field?

If the school comes through with flying colors, move ahead with the knowledge that obtaining a first job after training is always difficult but you have some sources of support.

If your questions have revealed weaknesses in the program, evaluate other schools or consider selecting a different career goal.

Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, while serving as a respected Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers’ Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive and emotionally supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker’s Edge, she can be reached at http://www.virginiabola.com

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