Showing posts with label Careers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Careers. Show all posts

Monday, May 30, 2011

Mistakes in a Resume That Kill Your Candidacy

You would find a great many sources that aim to aid you in terms of how to write a hi-fi resume and what formats to apply to your resume to catch instant attention of the employers. However, while writing a resume, many of the candidates do not take care of several basic things that they should NOT be including in their resume. Such small and unimportant looking things in the eyes of the candidate carry full potential to murder the opportunity to get a job right at the desk of the employer.

If you ask a candidate about the things that you mustn't do while writing a resume, he will come up with very general answers. Such as, try to stay honest while providing information regarding your education and past employments, keep your resume brief and up to the point, do not forget to revise and proofread your resume before submitting it, etc. Of course, you can't deny the importance of such things. Mostly while proofreading his own resume, only if a candidate views it with the perspective of an employer, he would be able to know what his resume is lacking mainly. There exist more lethal mistakes that an individual should try his best to avoid if he wants to keep the chances of his candidacy alive.

The prime factor that is going to tick your resume off is not properly showing off your achievements and honors that you have received during your academic years, trainings or previous employments. Most candidates just jot down detailed information about their past employments that are of not much importance to the recruiters. For example telling your employer that you have studied particular courses during the college years. If you do not mention about how these subjects that you have studied can be put to practical life or how you will uplift the standards of the technicalities of this organization, then it's useless and of no concern to your employers. Connecting your education well with your profession would enable the recruiters to evaluate and examine your true potential.

One other thing that most the resume contain is the over use of the buzz words. There exist a few words that almost every resume has found to contain. It can be a mood killer for your employer as he is probably going to get a glance over very many resume like yours for the same job option. If such buzzwords are unavoidable, you can always take help from thesaurus. Do not repeat such words in your resume as it will surely decrease the interest of the recruiter in your job application after reading a typical resume. Your words should create an environment of uniqueness for your employer in order to bag his attention.

It is a common practice that candidates do not revise their resume before sending it to any organization. It is crucial to get informed about the company's genre and then customize your resume specifically according to the demands and requirements of the company. It may seem time consuming but it's after effects will surely amaze you.

Failing to avoid such kind of mistakes is likely to lower the probability of getting a job even before your resume gets to the manager's desk. You may be qualified enough for the required job but if your resume is unable to impress the recruiters, you are likely to stay jobless in the years that follow.

About the Author: Cindy A Smith

Cindy A Smith is a professional resume writer and is highly passionate about writing instructive articles about resume writing. He is a widely renowned career expert, having worked with industry leaders in progressive positions in the human resources department.For more information about resume writing service.com, be sure to visit http://www.resumedocket.com

Professional Resume and Recruiters

There exist a very hundreds of articles, guide books and blogs about how a candidate should plan to go out of job hunting and shaping up his career. Those documents always view the very matter with perspective of a candidate who is hunting for a job. You will find this article slightly different from those as it will present to you what a recruiter has in mind when he's reviewing very many job applications every single day.

As an employer or hiring agent, uncountable number of resume and job application letters reach manager's desk. Every manager or recruiter spends some dedicated amount of time in reviewing all the resume and applications so that he may get a chance to catch the right kind of candidate. However, it is understandable that a recruiter would have to examine the qualifications of the candidate mentioned in the resume. It is true that many right candidates do not get the jobs they actually deserve just because their resumes do not portray their true potential. Candidates who are not that capable or deserve the very job are able to grab it on the basis of their resume. That's how companies roll. They are going to judge you from the document that you are sending to them to represent you and your skills.

According to the recruiters, candidates are always found blaming on the employment and recruiting system that most companies own. In such a tight job market, candidates should be given a little space and margin to show their worth. Their qualifications and skills do worth a chance. However, most companies refrain from doing it and demand a very experienced and well skilled employee which is quite unfair to the young and emerging candidates.

However, candidates should also understand that the blame shouldn't be put solely on the recruiters or the companies. It is the responsibility of a candidate to at least present proper and officially correct document in order to get into the process of recruitment. Most candidates do not take things seriously and then complain later. For starters, if you have a look at their resume, you can easily notice the common silly mistakes and absurd formats that each one of it follows. You would also find misinformation very commonly in almost every resume. Some of these mistakes can be extremely annoying and vexing for the recruiters. I'm not talking about young and inexperienced candidates. Many well experienced candidates who are there in the job market for years are found to have shaky resumes. They seem to be lost when it comes to resume writing rules. They create their own rules and follow them proudly. Good companies with strict ethics and rules do not tolerate such type of non-serious and casual behavior.

You would find all the recruiters and employers advocating the point that that a candidate should go through the process in an utter professional manner. How can a candidate expect to land a handsome job when he himself is behaving so childishly?

Making your recruiter happy does not involve rocket science. All it demands is a professional behavior and right kind of attitude. If you fail to follow the specifications and directions that your employer is expecting you to, how can assure them that you'd be able to understand and strictly follow the instructions after getting the job. Learn to make things less complicated for the recruiters and he will surely approach you to smooth out your life!

About the Author: Cindy A Smith

Cindy A Smith is a professional resume writer and is highly passionate about writing instructive articles about resume writing. He is a widely renowned career expert, having worked with industry leaders in progressive positions in the human resources department.For more information about Entry level resume writing services, be sure to visit http://www.resumedocket.com

5 Tips to Writing Good Cover Letters

Writing a cover letter is one of those things that everyone is going to have to do at some point in their life.

Generally speaking, cover letters are used to apply for jobs or request information from professional organisations but they can also be used for a wide range of other reasons such as attempting to sell something to a potential customer.

Cover letters have become hugely important over the last few years as they are widely regarded as being the first thing that someone uses to form an impression of you or your company.

A good cover letter should strike up a friendly rapport with the reader while conveying yourself as a knowledgeable, educated and professional person ... and given the fact that a letter is only supposed to be three or four paragraphs long, that's not always an easy task.

With that in mind, we've come up with a few simple ideas that will hopefully help allow you to create a professional sounding letter to your target audience.

Do your research
Before you even think about what you want to say you in your letter, it's imperative that you do some background research into the person or company that you're writing to.

Not only does this show that you've taken the time to research your subject matter, but it ensures that your letter isn't mistaken for junk mail and therefore thrown into the bin.

Stick to the essentials
A cover letter is only supposed to consist of a few short paragraphs so don't be tempted to write a huge essay as your reader will get bored and never reach the end.

Instead, make sure your paragraphs contain your main couple of selling points and then use the rest of your words to encourage your reader to have a look at the more in-depth documentation that you have also enclosed.

Keep your language simple
So many cover letters are ruined by their authors using two or three words when one will do and generally thinking that long words make them sound more intelligent.

Your letter should be kept as clear and concise as possible so both of these practices should be avoided. It's imperative that your reader feels comfortable with your letter and has a full understanding of what you're saying.

Be sure to state what you want
Now this may seem like a silly point to make, but so many letters carry on for four paragraphs and then leave your prospect wondering what you want. This is particularly important if you're requesting some kind of information.

Therefore, use your final paragraph to spell out your reason for writing. If you're hoping for a job interview, then be sure to spell that out clearly ... and to emphasise the point further, leave your phone number/email and state that you're available from a particular date.

Read and re-read
I know you'll have heard this before, but checking and re-chcecking your final letter is vitally important. It should hopefully go without saying that your spelling needs to be spot on, but don't just rely on a spell checker. They won't always pick up the subtle difference between words like there "there" and "their" so go through things manually too.

Equally, get rid of any slang or colloquial expressions that you might have used - they don't show you in a very professional light - and ensure that any numbers (apart from dates and revenue figures) are written as words rather (i.e. "eight months" rather than "8 months").

About the Author: Chris Atllington

Chris has a rather unhealthy obsession with poorly written letters and bad grammar/punctuation.

He has set up the website www.howtowriteacoverletter.org to offer his thoughts on letter writing.

Landing Temporary Jobs For Income

Financial specialists say that the economy is slowly but surely regaining its composure after its long bout with the global recession. However, like any other economy facing economic decline, there are still people who are finding it difficult to find a stable means of income. Despite the claims of a flourishing economy, many people are still unemployed and scraping the remains of their life savings to support their daily needs. If you're one of these people, you don't have to keep on waiting for a regular job. You can take on temporary jobs, otherwise known as temp jobs, to help pay for your expenses while waiting for a permanent job opportunity to come your way.

Why should you look for temporary jobs?

Compared to regular jobs, temp jobs are considered to be more flexible. You can sort out your schedule easily because the working hours are shorter compared to regular jobs. You can still earn money without having to sacrifice quality time with your family and friends. Taking on a temp job is also a good way to gain work experience and learning opportunities for other jobs. For instance, if you thought you only know carpentry in the past, you may be surprised to know how skilled you just might be in gardening, fixing furniture or even installing gutters. Not only can you find a new work opportunity you can earn money from, you will also have the same job satisfaction you can get from regular jobs.

Another benefit of temporary jobs is that they are easier to find. Due to the downturn of the economy, there are fewer employers willing to take on more regular employees. Instead, they're leaning towards contractual and temp jobs workers. As such, you can easily find a means of income through temp jobs.

Where should you start looking for temporary jobs?

If you're interested in landing temp jobs, you can approach temp agencies that cater to these jobs. They will proofread your resume, ensure that you meet the standards of a certain job position and then send your resume to interested employers. It will not only be easier for you, you can also save more money under a temp agency.

There are walk-in temp agencies and there are also temp agencies that function online. Choose according to your convenience and where you feel most comfortable.

In today's economy, temporary jobs just might be the solution to your financial dilemma. You can still earn money while you wait for regular positions to come.

About the Author: Charles Havisham

Drake Recruitment has assisted organisations fix wide-ranging human performance problems, staff their organisations efficiently and effectively, and realise targeted objectives since 1951.

The company begins with a business needs analysis that pinpoints specific performance improvement opportunities. This offers insight into how they can provide solutions in the form of temporary jobs as one of the many reputable recruitment agencies to your organisation's problems and realise its planned goals and objectives.

The Importance of Personal Branding: How to Remain Relevant

So you have been out of work for a few months due to the recent economic downturn, but alas you have received the golden call requesting you to attend an interview. After hanging up the phone, and jumping around in excitement you suddenly realize that it has been almost a year since you've been on the hot seat in a formal interview session. You have the credentials, portfolio of recent clients and a solid reference list, however do you look the part?

As a result, you decide to seek professional help from an image consultant to assist you in remaining competitive and relevant amongst the dozens of qualified applicants vying for the same position. You are skeptical, and a little apprehensive but you decide to place the call. The responsibility of an image and style consultant, such as myself, is to utilize our clients personality, inner strengths, and career goals - integrate those components into creating a personable, credible brand for our client that will not only set you apart from your competition, but leave a lasting first impression that will speak volumes after you have left the interview.

When we think about branding, we often think about identifying symbols such as (Apple Computer), signature slogans (BMW - the ultimate driving machine), and distinguishing colors (Google). The result is a reputable, identifiable brand that communicates leadership, innovation and consistency. Similarly, an image consultant will work closely with you to identify your signature colors through a scientific process known as color analysis taking into consideration your power colors - these colors convey an image of authority, intelligence, loyalty and credibility. Next, we will identify the best silhouette styles or body-lines that will further enhance and compliment your physique. There is nothing worse than tugging and shifting your collar shirt, blouse or tie during an interview because you did not take the time to purchase the right size and fit for your body.

In addition, the style portion of your consultation is extremely important because it carves out a specific image that you wish to convey to a potential employer. If you are reentering the corporate world you will want to portray a clean, sharp, authoritative image that communicates credibility and organization. On the other hand, if you are being interviewed for a creative organization, such as a marketing firm or advertising agency there is some room to play up your creative personality - perhaps adding a signature accessory piece, such as a trendy necklace or bracelet for women, or a trendy new blazer and brief case for men. Your mission is to visually communicate to a potential employer that you are the face of the company. If you can successfully accomplish this task you have already opened the door even wider to secure the position.

Of course there is much more that will take place during your consultation, but these three key factors (signature color, body awareness and style enhancement) are essential in building and executing a credible and personable brand for yourself in a competitive employment market. Essentially, you are a walking advertisement and what you are visually communicating to your viewers consciously or not can have a positive or negative impact in how society in general will perceive you.

About the Author: Tonya Jarad

Renaissance is a holistic full service image consulting company, based in Toronto, Canada specializing in career and lifestyle's management for the contemporary, savvy woman. Whether you are a hip, witty stay at home mother, executive career professional or new graduate embarking into the corporate world for the very first time, we here at Renaissance are available to you for all your image and styling needs. At Renaissance we strive to capture our client's inner beauty and strength through our invigorating consultation packages designed to transform our client's total lifestyle and image from the inside out!

Interview questions for elementary teachers

A teacher's job is one of the most challenging job, and one of the most valued positions in today's professional world. Especially the elementary teacher's job is quite different as well. So is the interview also different from others. There are few reasons for the same like dealing with primary children on a daily basis is not a simple job and you should be able to teach them through various methods. Therefore, the interview questions asked during the interview are also much different than others. There are many samples available for this purpose online.
Elementary teachers are one of the most important people in the life of a child as the children are nurtured by them at the youngest age of their life. Thus, the responsibility of an elementary teacher is very important as they are educating the next generation on a daily basis to get a bright future for them. Thus, while selecting such an important person, the interviewer has to be very careful and ask questions in such a way which will bring out the true personality of the person and they should also be able to judge the person's positives and negatives, and strengths and weakness.

Following are the questions which are commonly asked during the interview. However, an interview has to be detailed, but not boring. The answers you give has to be short, but to the point and not incomplete. Be optimistic and let your confidence flow with your answers regarding your background, experience and knowledge. Here are some questions which you can practice before your actual interview:
• In what set of activities you think you are strong?
• Which grade will you prefer to teach and why?
• Describing an ideal reading program.
• Assume a normal day of school and the activities of children.
• What is called guided reading?
• How will you include phonics into a balanced literacy program?
• What will you do, or what will be your reaction if an angry parent comes into the classroom in the morning and yells at you for placing their child in a wrong reading group?
• What do you know about (XYZ) grade development ability and how would you utilize that knowledge into the curriculum?
• What is the important aspect of (XYZ) grade?
• What are the ingredients for a balanced reading program?
• Are you used to everyday math and/or investigations?
• What activities will you carry out in your classroom, and what will the children do?
• Describe rules for (XYZ) grade classroom vs. (XYZ) grade classroom. Decide the rules for both the grades.
Thus, if you study these questions for a while, you won't be able to face any kind of problems during the interview.

About the Author: Ashton Lopez

Ashton Lopez is professional expert in providing interview tips and interview questions.

How Much Value Do You Place on Your Visual Presentation in Securing a Job?

Most people in business today are eager to learn and improve their business skills. They read articles; they listen to webinars; and, they attend bootcamps in the hopes of securing a better future for themselves.

Your competition is fierce. Other candidates are just as hungry for the job as you are. Many may be just as talented as you in fulfilling the duties required for the position. This is when having the knowledge and necessary skills in presenting yourself professionally could be the deciding factor in who gets the job.

Have you ever considered your visual presentation when applying for a job? What impression do you make when you enter the room for your interview? You may believe that a judgment will be made after you begin speaking. The truth is you are being judged the moment you enter the room.

Do you walk with purpose or is your approach timid and diffident? If your shoulders are slumped and your eyes cast downward, what impression are you making? Your visual image accounts for 55% of the image you are projecting; and, part of that visual image, is how you carry yourself. Yes, your attire is important but what is your body language conveying?

Do you approach the prospective employer and extend your hand as you introduce yourself? Being first to offer a greeting goes a long way with the individual who is deciding your future. It speaks confidence. That quality is high on the list of characteristics which an employer is seeking.

Of course you will be nervous. This is to be expected. Instead of buckling under to your fear or nervous jitters, however, you should embrace it. That rush of adrenaline can sharpen your senses, making you much more alert and focused. And the best way to do that is to breathe with the support of your diaphragm. Breathing in this manner actually lessens your stress; shallow or lazy breathing, which is typical of the majority of the population, actually increases your stress or your fear.

Before your next interview, set up a mock interview with a friend or family member and use a video camera. Record yourself entering the room, greeting your interviewer and then taking your seat. (Remember to take the hand of the other person and shake it firmly - not too hard and not too soft.) Play the video back and study how you carry yourself. Do you look confident and assured? If not, practice until you are pleased with your deportment.

Your success in the interview involves more than just your education and experience. A confident, composed entrance will project the right image and set the stage for the questions to follow.

About the Author: Nancy Daniels

The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels provides private, group and corporate training throughout the United States and Canada as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement and presentation skills. Visit Voice Dynamic and voice your opinion in her new blog.

Come and Give New Direction to Your Career in Jalandhar

Jalandhar is the dramatic city in North India in the state of Punjab which is full of life and also offering the better employment opportunities in various industries. The city is majorly recognized for the sports industry. It is consist of the several industries that manufacture the high quality of sports goods and equipments like cricket balls, bats, foot-balls, hockey sticks, badminton rackets, and many other goods. The sports industry in Jalandhar is the major concern of monetary gains. Moreover it offers the numerous jobs in Jalandhar and number of people is getting employed.

How Does Your Future Career Get Help From Your Work Experience

While an individual is trying to take advantage of pursuing a specific career, there are usually two factors which can considerably impact their possibilities of obtaining these positions. The first factor is found with obtaining a high quality education, which will provide a person with the knowledge necessary to improve business potential and understand how various markets work. The second factor is found with utilizing a resource, such as work experience Melbourne, where you could display to a company the value you offer them over another candidate.

How to Find a Suitable Career

Everyone wants to be successful in a job they love doing. If you don't yet know what type of career you want to get involved, you should start finding it now. There are many ways to find a suitable career. One way is to take the career test. You can fine free career quizzes on the internet. Each quiz is different from the other so you may want to take all of them. The result of the test is displayed on the website after you have answered all the questions. When answering the questions, be sure that you don't tell lies to yourself and put in the wrong answer. In this way, you will be able to determine which career suits your interest. Examples of popular career test include RIASEC/Holland interest scale and etc. In the RIASEC/Holland interest scale test, you will be tested on six different areas. By determining which of this area you interest, you can easily browse jobs related to it.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Position Yourself for Success in Creative Careers

As we all know, the job market is pretty challenging right now, especially for new grads. Recently, I was asked by some soon-to-be graduates about how to get started in a creative career. Nabbing that first job, either as a freelancer or permanent staffer, is going to take some time and not to mention some drive. So think of marketing yourself as your first job in order to attain your goals. Design some stand-out business cards and come up with a strategy as to how you are going to make your first "sale."

Are hunting for a job or serious in building your career

Companies need to fill up the vacancies and create more job opportunities with time to meet the growth. The interesting aspect is that how to identify a right candidate and recruit them. The issue is not on how to reach a candidate but how to process the need and make a right choice. More often than not, candidates are called for an interview and their caliber is judged in an hour. Is it right way? or should corporate needs to re-look and review the entire approach?

Monday, November 23, 2009

Free Job Interview Questions

When entering into an interview - whether you are the hiring manager or potential employee - it helps to know which questions should be asked. As a hiring manager, you want to ensure that you know as much as possible about a potential employee before hiring them. As the potential employee, you want to be prepared to answer everything that's asked of you. Below, find examples of the most common and useful types of questions asked during an interview.


Open Questions - These questions are open-ended. Examples include "Tell us a little bit about yourself" and "What do you know about this job?" By asking these questions, employers can get to know you and learn what you know about the company. So, as a potential employee, make sure you do your research. Say things about yourself that are relevant to the company and make sure you know what they do on the job.

Hypothetical Questions - These types of questions are usually along the lines of "What would you do in a certain situation?" By answering, a potential employee lets the hiring manager know how they handle problems, resolve conflicts, and how they will be able to work on the job. Think through your answers carefully before answering.

Leading Questions - Leading questions are usually aimed at learning the employee's specific skills. A hiring manager may ask something like "Give me some examples of your communication skills." As a potential employee, make sure to give solid examples.

Behavioral Questions - These questions help the hiring manager learn about a potential employee's personality and abilities. The manager may ask about a problem that the employee has solved in the past. The employee should be able to explain the situation, tasks they had to handle, actions they took, and the result.

Closed Questions - These types of questions are used for clarity. They may address a potential employee's previous experience, technical skills, or abilities. Oftentimes, these can be answered with a "yes" or "no."

As a hiring manager, think about what you want to learn from potential employees and use a combination of the above question types when interviewing. As a potential employee, make sure you are prepared to answer every type of question. Take the time to review your skills and learn about the company before going into an interview. Preparation is key to making a good first impression.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Career and Job Planning

Each individual is responsible for building his or her own career. In this ever-changing world, everyone is looking for new ways to earn living. The purpose of career and job planning is to develop strategic plan based on one's talents, aspirations and background, leading to a happy personal and professional life. Career planning involves identifying your choices, and then forming the goals that suit your individual needs, and the realities of job world.

How to Plan Your Career and Job
Planning a career and job is an important step for anyone who is either looking for job, or is already employed. It helps to set clear goals, and map the future career path. This panning helps you determine your weaknesses and strengths, and also helps you learn about your career options in different industries. If you are yet to enter the industry, career and job planning takes the form of interviews with prospective colleges, assessment tests, networking with other students and advisors and then finalizing your plan over a period of time. This will equip you with enough skills, knowledge and tools to enter the work world.

Job and life experiences, educational backgrounds and personal goals can either minimize or maximize the potential target career and jobs. Planning for your career involves doing some deductive reasoning and research about the locality of your job search. The types of jobs that are currently in demand vary greatly depending on the location. Getting the basic knowledge of geographic location and observing the statistics can provide you good information regarding jobs that are most competitive and highest in demand.

If you are already employed, there are certain mistakes you need to avoid so that you can plan your career and job well. Do not look for employment in other field without doing intense introspection, do not enter any field just because someone else is doing well in it, do not look for hot fields unless you feel they are suitable for you, do not go back to school without doing some test-drives in the new field, do not try to make the switch alone, do not make money the only deciding factor, be very careful when seeking services of search firms or placement agencies, do not expect to make the switch overnight and do not expect the career counselor to tell you which field to enter.

The foundation of your job search or career shift is solid, good and honest curriculum vitae. It must describe all your qualifications and entire professional career in detail. An effective resume can help you get your foot in the door and lead to personal interviews.

Knowing your salary range is an important aspect of career and job planning. This helps eliminate the prospective jobs falling outside your salary range. To know your realistic salary range, you need to do some research. The first important step is to know your fixed and variable expenses so that you know how much you need to maintain your current standard of living. While determining your salary range, keep in mind that what you might think you are really worth does not matter as much as what the employer thinks the job is worth.

Another important aspect of career and job planning is to get focused. You need to make real choices based on your career aspirations, skills and background.

Once you have successfully formulated you career and job plan, you need to find the employment through your contacts, friends, recent alumni, networking, professors and so on. If you are a fresher, it is advisable that you have a mentor who can also act as a resource in your job hunt. If you are planning a career move, yellow pages, classifieds, career fairs and employment agencies can be quite helpful.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Job Interview Guidelines

Guidelines to job interviews help you prepare better for that crucial make or break moment with the employer. Prepare well for your interview.

After searching every job ads pages of every newspaper and every job sites, you are finally called in for an interview. Although securing an employment and not the interview itself is your main goal, passing the interview is a very important phase.

An interview is your opportunity to present yourself, your talents and what you can offer potential employers. You very well know that competition for employment is tough these days. So you have to be well prepared and make the best impression in your job interview. Here are eight guidelines about interview to help you get the job.

Know where the company is. You think this is just a minute detail but it can make a big difference. You do not want to arrive late (and stressed) at your appointment. Prior to the interview, conduct your research and know where the company is exactly located. This important information gives you a rough estimate of your travel time.

Make sure to arrive at the place at least 15 to 20 minutes to allow yourself to freshen up and go to the powder room if you must. Many companies also ask their applicants to fill out application forms prior to the interview proper so the extra time will enable you to accomplish this without pressure.

Your appearance is as significant as your substance. The way you walk, the way you carry yourself and your fashion style speak a lot about you. Researches say that 65% of communication is nonverbal. Image and gestures are powerful factors in a job interview. So you must look decent, confident, poised and smart. Always create an impressive first impression.

Know your talents and potentials. Be confident of yourself and of what you can contribute to the company. Keep in mind your skills, education, working experience and training. Be ready to answer the common job interview questions like, "what makes you the best candidate for the job?" and "what do you have to offer the organization?"

Show a positive manner. This means providing positive responses to seemingly negative-based questions at all times. Never ever give negative criticisms of previous employer/s. You have to keep going even though you made a mistake in some instances. Employers are generally impressed with an optimistic attitude.

Be tactful and honest. Tact and honesty are signs of professionalism and good breeding. Answer all the recruiter's questions tactfully and honestly. Most interviewers are trained and experienced when it comes to assessing people's personality. they will always know if you are being truthful or not. This will greatly affect your chances of getting into the second interview and clinching the position as well.

Keep eye contact. Remember that eyes are powerful. Most recruiters and executives take notice of the body language of a potential worker and this covers posture, mannerisms and eye contact. Avoid looking away when hard questions are thrown into you. Maintain eye contact and smile during hand shakes and introductions, as this shows openness and friendliness.

Keep responses clear, concise and specific. You need not give long, irrelevant details to questions except if you are asked to provide more details. Limit your answers to not more than 3 minutes per question. Be specific and give quantifiable as well as concrete information. Avoid the tendency to over generalize.

Be prepared with your success stories. Do this by creating a list containing your skills and accomplishments. Think back of your previous work experience and choose two or three cases wherein you were able to successfully utilize your skills.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Choosing The Right University Will Help Your Recruitment Potential

Once you are at the stage of applying for university places think about what area of your study you have been most keen on or excelled in, this is not always a clear cut decision as a lot of students still don't really know what they want to do in the future or what degree will get them there. It cant harm to create a list in these circumstances and writing down the subjects you have enjoyed most from your academic career do far and adding in things you enjoy outside of study, for example sport or music. This way you should come up with a list of skills and subjects that interest you then you can match them to courses at universities to find one to suit you.


Applying
When you decide to apply for university begin by looking online for universities that offer courses in the area of study that you are interested then take some time to look around their website and apply to have their prospectus sent to you these things will help you to get a feel for what the university can offer and how they teach their subject and what the local area is like for off campus activities. It is worth researching thoroughly at this stage as this decision can affect your future career prospects. If you know someone at a particular university ask for their views on the university. At this stage try not to just follow the crowd, your friends may be going to a certain university, but make sure that it ticks all your boxes as although social life is important in university you meet loads of new people wherever you go.

League tables
When applying it is worth checking out the university league tables, these do vary year on year and some are certainly better performers than others both in course content and status. Cambridge and oxford will consistently be in the top UK universities league tables and are certainly recognised both in academic and general society as good universities. But they are not always accessible to all, both in terms of achieving the right grades and being able to afford the fees. Use the league table as a guide to check out the universities that perform best in your chosen area of study.

Accepting the right place
Once you have applied and nervously awaited responses from your carefully chosen universities, it is worth remembering it is possible to be accepted by all the universities you applied to. At this point you can re visit the information you already know about the universities and also it is worth noting that some universities are looked upon more favourably than others by recruiters once you have finished your degree roughly 65% of employers target universities based on their reputation for providing quality courses and the reputation the institute has in the employers specific area. Even when it comes to the application process some university qualifications could be seen as producing a better grade of candidate. Some university degrees can lead to higher earnings in the future too.

Scholarships
Scholarships can be an added boost to those who have the academic capabilities but not the funds to attend universities of their choice such as Cambridge and oxford. Obtaining a scholarship could greatly enhance your career prospects in terms of employability and earnings.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Still More Behaviors for a Successful Job Search

I have conducted hundreds of employment interviews for positions ranging from manufacturing shop floor to the executive level. After awhile you begin to notice that successful candidates did certain things that contributed to their positive outcome. Likewise, unsuccessful candidates had certain other actions in common which led to their not being chosen or did not help them.

Hiring managers tell me they can see if someone is right for the organization minutes after the handshake. In a recent Robert Half survey, executives polled said they typically form an opinion of a candidate within the first ten minutes of an employment interview. With such a short amount of time to interact with a hiring manager, what can the candidate do to achieve a positive response?

The most macho of people can be daunted and undone when it comes to facing a job interview. Like public speaking, many have interviewing on their list of their top five most dreaded things to experience. Is it possible to embrace or almost enjoy job interviews? Answer: yes. Following are some behaviors to keep in mind that should help maximize your potential for a successful outcome:

Be cool. A great way to make a good first impression in an interview is to master the interview butterflies. I agree, this can be very hard, but you must try. Feeling stress is a natural response to the interviewing process, and most candidates experience it at some level. The trick is not to show it.

Leverage. Though most aspects of the interview are outside a candidate's control, it is important to leverage the things that are in your power. One example: give yourself a time cushion, and plan to arrive at the interview destination 10-15 minutes early. The consequences of arriving late to an interview are huge. Even if only a few minutes late, you will arrive breathless and already on the defensive. Your goal for the interview is to appear confident and in control, and the need to give excuses for tardiness is inconsistent with that goal. Planning for some extra time in case you get lost or find unexpected traffic travel conditions also allows you to compose yourself and relax a little. Sweaty palms also do not help achieve your goal of a confident persona. Practice at getting yourself to gear down through use of long, slow breathing and other time-tested relaxation techniques.

Anticipate questions. Another thing successful job candidates do is to anticipate questions they are likely to be asked, and give pre-thought to the answers. This bit of preparation will be a confidence booster and stress reliever. Whether any or all of those specific questions are asked, many of the answers often prove useful with respect to other questions. The more pre-work you do for the interview, the more it calms nerves.

No matter what your career experience, doing these behaviors will help you get an edge over the competition for that new job.

Friday, October 2, 2009

A look at Management Accountants

Continuing our series of looking at finance jobs, in this article we are going to look at Management Accountants. The role of a Management Accountant is often best suited to individuals with strong problem solving skills within financial situations. They will be expected to use upto date financial data to find ways to cost save, aid growth and profitability. Recommended changes can be anything from changing a supplier to introducing new procedures to the business.

A Management Accountant can work in house for an individual client or work for an accountancy firm, where their services will be offered to multiple clients. The training and benefits packages are often what help potential candidates choose where to work. Tasks and activities a Management Accountant will perform will range from preparing financial documents and statements, keeping check of spending, cutting costs, helping in financial decisions and providing general financial help to departments and managers.

Businesses will use Management Accountants to make sure they are following financial governance requirements and regulations. Depending on the size of the business that the Management Accountant works for, they may have a team to help them in their duties.

The role requires candidates to work traditional business hours, but at the end of each month and year, it tends to get busy and they will be required to work some extra hours. Skills that recruiters will look for in Management Accountants include good analytical skills, maths skills, computer skills, problem solving, understanding of business, attention to detail, presentation skills and good team working skills. Management Accountants are expected to either have professional qualifications or be working towards gaining them.

The most popular accountancy body in this line of work is the CIMA, but there are another five institutes you can also qualify with.

Fully qualified Management Accountants need to have passed their exams and have three years work experience. To get a full CIMA accreditation, they will need to pass 14 exams.

Once individuals become fully qualified they will become very popular and in demand. There are many paths they can take that will lead to lucrative career opportunities. Trainees in this line of work can earn up to £26,000 but as soon as they pass their exams, then can earn around £45,000. More senior Management accountant jobs can expect a salary of up to £100,000 and great bonuses. For more information on Management Accountant jobs speak to a finance recruitment specialist.

Retraining For Your New Career

When new college graduates enter into their new careers, it is usually a time of excitement that is accompanied with a feeling of accomplishment. However, when you have already spent years at a career before you have to make a switch and start over, then it is a much more difficult experience. You may need to rethink your career objectives, or even consider training for a new career entirely.

There are many reasons that adults have to start over with new careers. They may have lost their job due to downsizing, closing of a company, leave of absence for an illness or a number of other reasons. The state that our economy has been in for the past several years has resulted in the loss of a number of jobs and closing of businesses that have been established and operating for many years. These conditions have led to a large number of adults who are looking for a new start.

For others, it may be a matter of setting things right. After several years of performing in a job that they are unhappy with, they may decide to quit their job and go after a new career that they have always dreamed of. Getting stuck in a field that you are unhappy with is a situation that should be remedied whenever possible. If you aren't happy at your workplace, those negative feelings will probably spill over into other areas of your life.

There are some ways that you can make the change in careers much easier. By preparing yourself and having a better idea of what to expect, you can increase your confidence and make yourself comfortable in your new surroundings. This is a good way to start a career that will be successful for a long time.

- Keep reminding yourself that this is going to be a positive experience. This is your opportunity to have a career that makes you happy and you deserve it.

- Be confident. If you have been hired to do a job, then you obviously had the qualifications that mattered to your employer. Don't go into it doubting yourself.

- Go the extra mile. Don't be a stickler about sticking to your job description. If you help a company out when they are in a bind, it may benefit you when it is time for promotions.

- Make yourself a valuable asset to the company. Starting out, you will likely be at the bottom of the totem pole. If the company relies on you for important functions, you will be less likely to be cut if they need to downsize later.

- Learn everything you can about your new job. If there is company literature that everyone else ignores, read it and learn it. Study up on any systems you have to use and try to improve your job skills as much as possible.

A positive attitude can be the best tool in your arsenal when it comes to retraining or considering a new career path.