Job Interview Tips – Get Your Job Interview Body Language Right
By Administrator | July 20, 2010
One of the important aspects of a job interview is body language. This means using your own body language to your best advantage and also reading the body language of the interviewer. If you don’t get your job interview body language right, it could cost you the job.
You might be surprised to discover what a skilled interviewer can tell about you just from reading your body language during the job interview. In fact, not just the interview itself, but just before it, if he watches you approach the building or as you are waiting in the reception area. And of course, also afterwards as on your way out after the interview is over.
Did you know that it is possible for someone to tell whether you are confident, a good team player or if you are going to tell the truth, even if you haven’t opened your mouth?
With this in mind, it is important to master the basics of effective body language before you go to your next interview.
First of all, be aware that you could be being watched from the moment you are within view of the building. So there should be no slouching, smoking or other behaviour which could be perceived as negative as you arrive. The way you behave as you are waiting is also important and may be scrutinized. So you should wait calmly and interact politely with anyone you meet.
If the interviewer holds out a hand, shake it firmly, introduce yourself politely and make eye contact. Sit up straight and be careful not to slouch as this gives the impression you are bored or lazy.
When the interviewer is speaking, lean forward slightly as this conveys interest and shows you are listening. You should also make appropriate eye contact throughout the interview. This means making eye contact in a natural and unforced way. Staring intensely at someone is very off-putting and should be avoided. If there are several interviewers, make a point of making eye contact with all of them when they ask a question.
Don’t cross your arms and legs, since this makes you look as if you are on the defensive or very tense. Putting your hands behind your head is often a sign of confidence or that you feel superior and therefore to be avoided in an interview.
Avoid any nervous mannerisms, like tapping on a table or chair or fidgeting with a pen or tissue. The interviewer will expect you to be a little nervous, but try to be as natural as possible.
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Stress : Work Productivity Killer
By Administrator | July 10, 2010
Stress, the number one productivity killer in any work environment and in any career profession you have chosen although some are less stressful than others to some degree. But overall, all of us has experienced it, which resulted to a decrease in our productivity.
The overall fear of getting stressed and burned out, decreases our productivity so what we do is instead of shying away from the stressful task we must face it first thing.
Take a break and relax Having a good Work and personal life balance is extremely important. If you think work is too important to miss. Guess again, taking a break, a vacation makes an employee more productive, and stress-free because after all you adjust “cleared your cache” so you’re off to a fresh start again.
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Top Ten Tips for Finding A Teaching Job!
By Administrator | July 4, 2010
1. Browse through employment postings on the web, especially sites that specialize in education jobs. These include Education Associations (i.e. Connecticut Education Association), local newspaper homepages,
2. Attend job fairs (many colleges with education schools have these). Generally schools are looking for teachers in March to June although August and December are other times that many districts have some turnover.
3. Tell everyone you know you are looking for a teaching position. Aunt Charlotte may work in the town hall or school system and hear about openings before they are posted.
4. Follow deadlines for the district you are applying to. Generally if you miss a deadline your out of luck unless they have not had a sufficient number of applicants (call to find out if you can still apply).
5. Substitute teach (especially long-term substituting) and invite administrators into your classroom. This way they can see your teaching style and know that you can handle a class.
6. Prepare for your interview. Be able to answer the tough questions. Ask the right questions too. Practice with a friend, significant other, etc. to rehearse your answers.
7. Compile a professional portfolio to bring to your interviews. Depending on the grade level and subject being taught will determine what is in your portfolio. You should always include: a resume, teaching philosophy page, pictures (if they are of students you need parental permission), sample lesson plans, teaching certification, student work, awards and anything else you are especially proud of.
8. During an interview dress professionally, portray confidence, and smile. This is a no-brainer, men should wear a suit, women should wear a suit and/or professional dress. Smiling is infectious, others will smile too if you do.
9. Call and send a thank-you note to the principal/committee for interviewing you to show you are interested in the position. Many have been hired on this one act alone.
10. If you receive an offer, respond promptly. Even if you are not taking the position you should respond because who knows what will happen down the road and you may be in the same district again looking for a position. This has definitely been known to happen.
Good Luck!
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Assess Yourself
By Administrator | June 10, 2010
It is very common to see businesses spring one after the other and it is common that they fail simultaneously as well. The flourishing and dying of businesses have many reasons: tough competition, poor market, and so on. With the businesses that stay tough and thriving, it is common to think that the people behind these are born businessmen.
But are there really born businessmen or entrepreneurs? Born to do business? Born to have a successful business?
Like with all other things, you must assess yourself before you start doing anything. What are your skills? What are your capabilities? Best of all, what knowledge do you have and how much of it do you really know? Can you tell your own strengths and weaknesses? Do you have the willingness to work long hours to maintain your business? Do you have the willingness to actually devote time to build an enterprise? These questions will help you know what it is that you want and can actually do.
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Writing A Covering Letting For Job Application? You Need These Tips
By Administrator | May 22, 2010
A covering letter for your job application is not only essential, but it may be the one thing that separates you from all the other candidates-follow these tips to make sure it separates you for positive reasons instead of negative!
When writing a covering letter for a job application,
it’s often tempting to go overboard and make it really long so you can explain exactly why you would be great at the job-but don’t do it! Recruiters are tremendously busy people in just about every industry, so if your letter seems like too much effort to read, they just won’t bother. With that advice in mind it can also be tempting to just make it the bare minimum length-this should also be avoided as how can you sell yourself in such a short space?
Impact is one of the key points for writing a covering letter for a job application.
We want to make ourselves stand out in the mind of the recruiters when they come to make their choices. We can maximize that impact by tailor making each resume and cover letter for each particular vacancy. It can seem like a huge amount of time to invest, but you will probably find that the extra effort will pay dividends.
Break your covering letter up-
so many people use the same method/template for writing a cover letter, you can really stand out by making a few fundamental changes like using headings etc. As we said before, it’s all about impact, so standing out in this way will be positive and will help make the most of our impact.
Follow it up-
Too many people treat covering letters for job applications as disposable, and adopt the shotgun strategy-fire off enough pellets, and you are sure to hit something right? Well in reality, taking the time to follow up with each application you send can really show the potential employer how dedicated and organized you are. It may well make them chase out your application and reconsider it, which is rarely a bad thing.
Be perfect-
A mistake in a cover letter will cost you the job. With the technology available these days, most people write the letters on a computer, so there is really no excuse for not hitting that that spellcheck button. Always keep in mind that one tiny mistake may cost you the job, so make sure the cover letter for every job interview is 100% perfect before you send it off.
As mentioned, the cover letter to a job application can be the most important part-most people don’t make the effort to maximize their impact with a well written letter, so now you can take full advantage of that!
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How to get promoted? (3/3
By Administrator | May 10, 2010
by mheo soriano
Be a positive force
Show your employers that you are have that “down to the business” approach in your career and potential promotion. If you do not do this, chances are that the spotlight would be focused on someone who is.
The more you prove that you are a valuable asset to the company, the more your superiors will think that you deserve the promotion.
However play things clean and fair. Don’t be envious if someone surpasses you, instead take it as a challenge that you can do it too. Have a good working relationship not only with your superiors but also to your co workers.
To be continued…
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Top 3 Job Search Tips
By Administrator | April 28, 2010
There are so many people seeking work right now. I am a certified career coach, but these following tips are not just intellectual ideas, they are extracted from the lessons I learned recently during my own job search process.
1. Intentionally target your ideal work situation and pursue them even if they have no Job Listings.
The truth is that most jobs are filled via “internal” connections within an organization before they ever get posted to the public. (internal meaning the friends, family and colleagues of those already working at the company) By the time a job gets posted on Craigslist or a job board, job site, or in the newspaper, it becomes victim to an overwhelming pile of resumes. Due to this huge load of qualified and overqualified resumes, your chances of standing out are pretty slim. So try another approach altogether. Ask yourself who you really want to work for and what you want to do. Choose what you have the most qualifications or the most passion for and get as specific as possible about your ideal job situation. Then do your research and single out a small group of target jobs and gather relevant information about the company and people in leadership. If possible, deliver your resume in person and make a friendly positive impression on anyone and everyone you meet during the process. Perhaps they have a position opening up in the near future, or are open to hearing what you have to offer. In any case, you have shown yourself to be pro-active and flattered them by choosing them specifically, so you have already set yourself well apart from the majority of the competition.
2. If you can’t find a job, Create one.
If you get depressed looking at the list of available jobs and feel like you would not fit into any of them, then maybe you should try custom making a job to suite you. There are many ways you can go about creating a job. As is often true, the only limit is your imagination. Some Possibilities: Volunteer for your favorite organization and offer to creatively fundraise to pay for your salary. Propose a position for yourself and then make it risk free by offering to work the position for a period of time for free to let them feel the benefits it will generate. Turn a hobby into a side job. Teach a class or workshop in something that you love/are good at. Basically, look for needs and opportunities everywhere and then get creative.
3. Create a simple Follow-Up System.
It is very easy to attach a resume to an email and hope for the best. But it is relatively rare to be organized and persistent enough to actually follow-up. This is an easy place to set your self apart from the masses. Example of a very simple system: Create a Follow-Up List on your desk, and document the relevant info about the position you applied for and date you applied. Then schedule 2 or 3 follow-up communications in the week or two following your initial application. You want to be persistent in a friendly way and not become a nuisance. There are software applications and calendars, and phones and coaches and friends and many possible elements to utilize in customizing a system that works for you. Get creative in making your own follow-up system- and make sure to use it!
Best of Luck to you in finding or creating a great job!
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Kroger Online Job Application Tips
By Administrator | April 23, 2010
If you are interested in working for Kroger’s it is important that you learn some information about the company. Many people who fill out applications online fail to take the time to research a business. Those who do take the time to find out about a company, often turns up better results when they fill out a Kroger online job application.
Tips should be considered when you are looking for work as well. Tips can help you to use effective strategies when applying for jobs online.
About Kroger’s
Kroger is a grocery chain that is located nationwide. For in excess of 125 years, the business has built over 2,400 supermarkets. They have built a wide range of department establishments, which are located in over thirty states.
Banners
Some of the banners that are used to identify the firm include, Ralph. There is also Smith Dillions’ and so forth. Kroger is also associated with more than 700 convenience stores, and a surplus of 390 jewelry stores.
There are over 730 gas stations as well. Kroger has over 40 food processing plants, which is located in several locations.
The company has supported hunger relief and the health sectors. Local schools are also supported by
Kroger’s, as is grassroots…
What the company looks for:
Since the business is built on respect, safety, inclusions, integrity, diversity, and honesty, your resume and application should include these behaviors.
Mangers who hire new employees often search for people who can hold up to their reputation and share with their passions.
They often want good customer service reps that show fairness and respect to consumers. They like to see new people start work who can be open, show leader abilities, and mostly those who are honest.
Concluding tip
The reputable corporation has compiled a great deal of background information about their company on their web site. It is worth checking out if you plan to apply for a job. When you know a good deal about any company you are interested in applying for work, it shows integrity, sincerity, and good deeds on your part. Managers like these qualities. Go online to learn more tips.
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How to get promoted? (2/3)
By Administrator | April 10, 2010
by mheo soriano
Be Noticed
Make yourself visible don’t be just some passive employee who just punches his time card everyday for his monthly salary. Show passion and dedication to work. However avoid feigning passion because your co-workers and superiors will just see it through. Develop passion and love for your work and do what you think needs to be done.
Try assessing for an unresolved problem within your company. And what method you can suggest or do to solve it that will highlight your skills and experience.
Think of how you can contribute to the immediate objectives of the team or department involved.
When you’ve come up with a plan, you can present it to your superiors.
With this they will notice that you are pro active and they will think you deserve a promotion.
To be continued…
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Looking For A New Job or Promotion? Feng Shui Can Help You Get It!
By Administrator | March 24, 2010
Yes it’s true! Feng Shui can help direct the energies that surround you in order to get a new job or promotion! Are you read for a full out career change? Or are you just frustrated that all the good promotions keep passing you by?
Good Feng Shui works fast! Try following some of our steps as outlined below get ready to step into a new adventure!
If you are looking for a promotion, pay increase, more interesting work or a change of job and career you need to activate or enhance key sectors of your home.
THE NORTH SECTOR (CAREER)
First things first, stand in the middle of your home and with a compass determine what direction is north. This is your career area. If a bathroom or storage room is located here than activate the north direction of your family or living room instead.
How can You activate this area?
Any thing to do with water is good here! The colours of dark blue or black, or the metal colours of white, gold, silver or metallic! a water fountain, an aquarium, mirrors, paintings of water, images of fish, anything metal, wavy shapes! You get the idea!
THE NORTH WEST (MENTORS & NETWORKING)
Locate your Northwest direction with a compass. This are is where you are asking for help from other to help you with your career. The energy found here will help with decisiveness, determination and authority.
How can you activate this area?
Anything to do with metal is good here! The colours of metal are white, gold, silver or metallic, Earth colours of yellow, beige and brown are also good! Any objects made of medal (bowls, fixtures), coins in a crystal bowl, religious objects and images of powerful leaders. Place symbols of what you want to come into your life here (are you targeting a certain company – place their image here!). This is a good spot for your computer (networking). Anything to do with earth (stone, porcelain) is good here as well.
THE SOUTH (RECOGNITION & FAME)
Are you looking for more publicity for your company? Or do you want to get into Show Business, Media, PR or Sales? Than this is for you! There is talkative energy here and it includes popularity and sociability.
How can you activate this area?
The colour of fame? Red of course and all colours close to red – burgundy, pink, coral also the wood colours of green and light blue! Fire is the best activator – a fireplace, candles, triangle shapes. Images of Birds (in particular the red phoenix) are good here. Leave a light on all night in the south or in the south garden. Lights denote fire!. Whatever you want – imagine you already have it and place a symbol of it here!
THE EAST (FAMILY & HEALTH)
This direction is often overlooked as people think it is only for health. Not true! The east brings the most Sheng Chi or growth chi so it is ideal for ambition and growth.
How can you activate this area?
This is a wood area – so plants here are ideal! A bamboo plant would be a great addition. The colours of green and light blue work here as do blues and blacks. Healthy flowers in water, Tranquil images of water, water features, and items of self respect that you cherish.
THE SOUTHEAST (WEALTH & PROSPERITY)
If you want to grow as a person and attract more of the good things in life than activate this area!
How can you activate this area?
This is a wood area therefore the colours of green, brown as well as the water colours of blue and black are all good. Wooden decorative ornaments, any plants, peaceful ocean artwork, fountains, symbols of your blessings all work well.
YOUR OFFICE!
Your home office or company office is very important to set up properly. Ideally you need to know what your kua numbers are and ensure you are facing your success directions, but here are a few simple tips to get you on your way!
1.Your desk should face the power position (so that you can see the door) if you can’t face this then make sure you position a mirror on your desk that reflects the door so that you can see who enters at all times
2.It is best to have a solid wall behind your back – no window – if you do have a window keep the blinds closed if you can
3.Do not pile files in front of you – put them away neatly
4.Place a picture of a mountain behind you for added support
5.The south wall is a good place to display diplomas and awards
6.The SE is your wealth corner – activate it a water image
7.Keep your workspace clutter free!
8.Do not have exposed shelves directly behind you – keep them off to one side
Don’t forget that with each change you make you must do it with intention and be very clear what you want. Wanting a new job may not be clear enough and if may be one that you dislike. Wanting a specific new job or a specific new career will bring you the results you want!
2007 Fay Chapple
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