How to Answer: 'Why Should I Hire You?'

By Joe Turner, author of "Job Search Secrets Unlocked"

"Why should I hire you?"

This is the classic question most of us hear during an interview. It's often preceded by the phrase, "I've already interviewed another person for this position who looks perfect." Then comes the killer question, "Why should I hire YOU?"

Sometimes the most innocent interview question can prove to be the key to the empire for some, while it can be the swan song for others.

The next time an employer asks, "Why should I hire you?" see the question in a new light -- as an opportunity to shine and pull ahead of your competitors.

Be careful to avoid clever retorts or comedic one-liners here. Your interview is serious business and a wrong answer will send you packing. This is the one question that interviewers like to ask because the answer can separate the contenders from the also-rans. Give a wrong answer and the large "game over" sign flashes above your head.

What hiring managers really want to know is, "What's special or different about you?" or "How are you different than all the other candidates who have applied for this position?" With this in mind, a good way to approach your answer here is to launch into your best "story" that answers this question: "Will you go the extra mile?"

Why is the employer asking why he or she should hire you? Because there are only five areas of interest he or she is concerned with:

1. Your skills2. Your knowledge about the company3. Your manageability4. Your affordability5. Whether you can go above and beyond your job description.

In this day of "lean and mean" operations philosophy, employers are looking for employees who can think bigger and perform duties beyond their jobs.

Realize that there will always be competing candidates with a higher skill level, more experience, more education and training or even a smoother interviewing style. The one equalizer though, is the ability to demonstrate how you have risen above and gone that extra mile to accomplish an important task, complete the job or realize an important goal.

Here, you recount that story of exactly how you worked 60-hour weeks, acquired new skills or did whatever it took to distinguish yourself and meet the challenge head on to successfully make the sale, save the project or rescue a client. If you can put a dollar value on the result, your story will only be that much more dramatic.

Knowing this ahead of time, it's wise to put in the time beforehand to work on your answer to this question. Pick your best example of how you went above and beyond in your job. Work on your story to perfect it. Set the scene, describe the challenge and describe your role and the successful conclusion. Use this as an example of how you use your particular set of skills in an extraordinary time to "give it your all" and produce a clear benefit to your employer.

Since no other candidate can duplicate your own personal story here, you'll make a memorable impression. Not only that, but quite possibly you'll pull yourself ahead of that "perfect" candidate who preceded you.

As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of "Job Search Secrets Unlocked," Turner has been interviewed on radio talk shows and offers free insider job search secrets at: http://www.jobchangesecrets.com/

Nine Ways to Win at Office Politics

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

Politics in the workplace can get vicious – and we're not talking about the governmental kind. Rather, office politics, or how power and influence are managed in your company, will be a part of your career whether you choose to participate in them or not.

Some workers say they don't want to get caught up in politics at work, but most experts argue that playing the game is crucial to your career success. By not getting involved, you may find your talents ignored and your success limited, and you may feel left out of the loop, says Louellen Essex, co-author of "Manager's Desktop Consultant: Just-in-Time Solutions to the Top People Problems That Keep You Up at Night."

"Politics get nasty when an employee is out for his or her personal gain alone," Essex says.
"Think of playing office politics as a game of strategy through which you are able to get the resources and influence you need to accomplish your goals. Most often those who are diplomatic, respectful and build coalitions with effective people win."

Here are Essex's nine tips to help you win at office politics and still gain others' respect.

1. Observe how things get done in your organization.
Ask some key questions: What are the core values and how are they enacted? Are short- or long-term results most valued? How are decisions made? How much risk is tolerated? The answers to these questions should give you a good sense of the culture of your organization.

2. Profile powerful individuals.
Pay attention to their communication style, network of relationships and what types of proposals they say "yes" to most often. Emulate those traits by drawing on the strengths you have.

3. Determine strategic initiatives in the company.
Update your skills to be relevant to company initiatives. For example, don't lag behind in technology, quality or customer service approaches that are crucial to you and your company's success.

4. Develop a personal track record as someone who gets results.
Style without substance will not gain others' respect, especially in today's organizations that focus on outcome.

5. Don't be afraid to toot your own horn.
If no one knows of your good work, you may lose at the game of office politics – when you really deserve to win. Let others know what you've accomplished whenever you get the opportunity. If you don't know the fine art of diplomatic bragging, you might get lost in the shuffle of your co-workers.

6. Treat everyone with respect.
Don't show preferential treatment or treat co-workers badly. You never know to whom someone might be connected, and rude behavior may come back to bite you.

7. Don't align too strongly with one group.
While an alliance may be powerful for the moment, new leadership will often oust existing coalitions and surround themselves with a new team. Bridging across factions may be a more effective strategy for long-term success if you intend to stay in your current organization for some time.

8. Learn to communicate persuasively.
Develop an assertive style, backed with solid facts and examples, to focus others' attention on your ideas and proposals. Good politicians can adjust their messages for their audience and are always well-prepared.

9. Be true to yourself.
After analyzing the political landscape in your company, if you decide the game is one you can't play, prepare to move on. It's not typical, but some organizations actually condone – even promote – dishonest, ruthless or unethical behavior. The game of office politics in this situation is not one worth winning.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

The Hard Stuff: "He Needs a Real Job!"

By Karen Karbo

Q: My husband was laid off from his engineering job about five years ago, and hasn't been able to find another one. He's been working as a substitute teacher and is good with special-needs kids, but won't become certified or accept permanent work in this area. When we don't discuss his job hunt, he stops looking. I recently tried to approach him again about getting certified, and he screamed and sobbed. I can barely manage our finances on my teacher's salary, and our kids will need college soon. Any advice? —L.N., 48, Mesa, AZ

A: Sometimes men are a little like horses — you quit kicking them on, and they figure this means it's time to stop and graze. But it isn't your job to kick your husband on. Rather, you need to understand what your financial responsibility is and what his is and proceed accordingly. So sit down and figure out your monthly expenses, including at least 15 (but preferably 20) percent of your salary that will go toward savings.

Whatever amount you arrive at, half is his responsibility, and he's got to figure out how to get it. Maybe he'll push harder to land an engineering job.

Maybe he'll see if he can snag some more substitute-teaching work, or maybe he'll decide that becoming certified is a good idea after all. Maybe a flush relative can float him a loan. If worse comes to worst, they're always hiring at Starbucks. The point is, as long as it's legal, how he decides to solve this problem is up to him. Give him a couple of months to get his ducks in a row, then tell him when you're going to expect his full contribution.

Of course, there's always the possibility that, without telling you, your husband has made the unilateral decision to, um, retire early. If that turns out to be the case, I'd find myself a couples counselor to impress upon him the seriousness of the situation. Money can't buy love, but serious, unresolved conflicts over money can press love to its limits. Your husband needs to know this.

Award-winning writer Karen Karbo is the author of How to Hepburn: Lessons on Living From Kate the Great. She's also a mom, a writing teacher and a horse owner. Send your questions to her at: The Hard Stuff, REDBOOK, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019 or karenkarbo@redbookmag.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and length, and must include your initials, age, city, and state. For more advice from Karen, go to redbookmag.com/karenkarbo.

Source: MSN

Get Paid For Surveys - Make Money With This Easy, Work-from-Anywhere Job!

By Jorge Chavez

If you are new to the Net, have few technical skills but want to make some extra money in your spare time, you should consider paid surveys.

Surveys are a huge business on the Internet. There are thousands of new surveys being made every week. To get people to participate, survey makers pay participants in cash or equivalent. When you participate, that's how you get paid for surveys.

An average survey will pay between $5 and $25, with some going as high as $150. The little ones only take a few minutes to complete, and if you do a couple a day it can add up fast. Most people report incomes of $200 to $600 a month, with many reporting incomes of $1,000 or more.

If you are a consumer, 18 or over, and have enough computer skills to send and receive e-mails, then you qualify to be a paid survey participant and get paid for surveys. You will need to get your name, e-mail address and demographic data (zip code, gender, age, etc.) on file with a number of good survey makers.

There are over 700 survey makers in the U.S.A. and over 3,000 worldwide. The problem is in choosing good ones. Only about 20% are first grade. Another 40% are second grade; they don't pay as well, but are still worth your time. The remaining 40% are just time-wasters, to be avoided.

The best way to get a good list of survey makers is from a paid survey membership site. There are 200+ such sites that maintain lists of good survey makers for their membership. For a small membership fee they will let you in to use a copy of their list. Generally you get back that fee with the first 2-3 surveys you take.

Beware of "free lists" being offered on the Net. In reality, there are no "free" lists. If you aren't paying for it the survey makers in the lower 40% are! They must recruit more survey participants to replace those that quit (usually because they didn't really get paid for surveys and got tired of working for free)...

In selecting your paid survey site, only deal with those that have a strong, get-your-money-back guarantee. From those with strong guarantees, look for one with a low refund rate. Low refund rates indicate happy clients who are making money. High refund rates indicate just the opposite.

When you pick your site and get access to their list, it will be important to sign up with all of the preferred survey makers on that list. You won't qualify for all surveys. Any one given survey maker could invite you to take 3-4 surveys a month down to 2-3 a year. To make real money you will need 100 to 200+.

The more you get signed up with, the more survey invitations you will get and the more money you will get paid for surveys...

For more details about how to get paid for surveys and make money while doing so, follow the links below...

To learn more about how to get paid for surveys and how to make good money with them, visit: Get Paid For SurveysTo learn more about refund rates and comparing paid survey sites to pick the best one, visit: Free Paid SurveysPaid Survey Site RankingsJorge Chavez is an experienced, independent paid internet survey expert at: http://surveysentinel.ya23.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jorge_Chavez

How To Handle a Panel of Interviewers During a Job Interview

By Carole Martin

The best way is to handle a panel of interviewers is to take them on one at a time. The board or panel is not one entity, but several individuals coming together with the common goal of hiring the best candidate for the job. At the same time, each person has his own agenda or department's interest at heart. For example, the HR manager will be checking to make sure you are a good fit with the culture and people working at this company. The hiring manager will want to know about your technical skills or business know-how. And the person from accounting will want to know if you are savvy enough to operate a business budget.

Board or panel interviews are usually rather formal and organized, using a standard set of questions for all applicants. This type of interview is typically used in academia, government or for high-level executives but can be used for any other type of position in any company.

Another multiple-type interview is the team or "good cop/bad cop" interview. The team is usually made up of two interviewers, one who asks the questions and one who takes notes. The two typically trade roles, which can be confusing if they have different styles. In fact, one person may be kind and gentle and the other more harsh or pushy. Just remember, these inquisitors are working together toward the same end. Treat them equally, not favoring one over the other.

Regardless of the type of interview, the best advice is to prepare and practice beforehand. When you have your script written and rehearsed your answers, you will feel prepared and more confident no matter how many people you have to face.

A good tip is to try to shake hands with each member of the panel before and/or after the interview if at all logistically possible.

Lastly, remember to make sure you get each person's business card, hopefully at the beginning of the interview, so you can address each person by name. And, when you write your follow-up/thank you note/email you can address each person correctly. When responding to an individual, try to remember what he or she was particularly interested in when they asked questions or received your answer.

Remember each person has an agenda - it is up to you to zero in on that interest and make the most of it.

Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and mentor. Carole can give you interviewing tips like no one else can. Get a copy of her FREE 9-part "Interview Success Tips" report by visiting Carole on the web at The Interview Coach

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carole_Martin

Where Can I Find An Available Mystery Shopping Job?

By Lenora Barth

Do you want to make some extra money with mystery shopping? With customer service becoming more and more important in every industry, businesses are looking to hire secret shoppers. Thus, there are an increasing number of available mystery shopping jobs.

I have been making extra money with mystery shopping for a while now, and in this article, I will discuss what you should do to get started.

1. What Does A Mystery Shopper Do Exactly?
You will need to make observations and write about your shopping experience, and then send it back to the business. At other times, you may be asked to do more specific things, like asking staff specific questions or make particular observations about product arrangements etc.

Nowadays, the businesses will send their forms through the internet, so it would be essential for you to have an active internet connection.

2. How To Apply For Mystery Shopping?
There are many companies looking for secret shoppers to help them evaluate their businesses. I personally get my list of companies from a mystery shopping resource website that collects the profile of companies that need to hire people like me.

After you have found hiring companies, you can send them an email, or give them a phone call to tell them why they should hire you. You may want to highlight some of your strengths that will help you during your shopping trips.

3. Getting Your First Assignment
After your application has been processed and accepted, you will be sent instructions on your shopping assignment. Ensure that you complete it on time, and remember to note all the things necessary. To start receiving shopping jobs, you can visit the website link below to learn about the resource site that I use.

Do you know where you can find the best mystery shopping jobs? Learn all the secrets the author uses at http://www.review-best.com/shopping/mystery-shopping-sites-exposed.htm to become a highly paid mystery shopper, and a review of the Top 3 Mystery Shopping Resource Sites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lenora_Barth

Teaching Abroad - A White Collared Job

By Judy Wellsworth

There have before now been a lot of persons who are making an stipend for the initiative of obtaining an English line of work in other countries. Among these is Japan, where the demand is great, what with their urgent desire to learn the language.

There have before now been a lot of persons who are making an stipend for the initiative of obtaining an English line of work in other countries. Among these is Japan, where the demand is great, what with their urgent desire to learn the language. If you are fascinated in teaching English in Japan, there are several things which you have to know about. One of these would be the terms of the contract, the best school, the most relaxed city, and the benefits. If you are not necessarily interested in traditional teaching jobs in schools, there are other kinds of teaching jobs available to you. You can work in areas of training, tutoring, adult education, and more, which are teaching jobs in non-traditional settings. However, the maximum area of appreciation in ideas jobs will persevere to be in schools.

Different ways How You Can Get Teaching Jobs:There are two basic ways to teach English as a foreign language. One way is to do so in your home country. All over America and other English-speaking countries, there are English classes offered by the administration and by various learning institutions. These classes are designed to help non-native English speakers learn English in a fast-paced, student-centered environment. Programs like this are great for EFL teachers who can't make the commitment to travel abroad. The other option is to teach English as a foreign language in another country. This is where the majority of teachers end up, since there is a much greater demand for teachers in the student's native countries. Teaching abroad is also considered more of a face up to because of the travel required- most teachers are expected to spend at least a year at a time in the country where they are engaged.

If you are looking for teaching job openings or want to start a new career in teaching then this job site is for you. This site will show you somewhere to find the hidden teaching jobs that exist all over the internet. The secret is to know where to look and how to extract the teaching jobs. Great teaching jobs overseas exist ion many European countries such as the United Kingdom and more than ever in London.

If you are a teacher then you should investigate teaching jobs London for sure. The teaching jobs UK are very stable and high paying jobs. Teaching jobs also exist all across the United States. Some of the top states hiring are Missouri, Texas, etc. Missouri teaching jobs are exceedingly sought after and if you are looking for Missouri teaching jobs, then this site can help show the way you in the right course.

Top-Teaching-Jobs.com is a one stop direct for anything and everything related to finding teaching jobs and teaching resources such as links to teaching recruiters and teaching employers. One thing taken for granted by many before teaching abroad is the possibility to meet and interact with interesting people unlike anyone at home. You will develop lasting friendships and important professional relationships while teaching everyone from young children to corporate executives. Many teachers take great pride in the fact that their students stay in contact years after returning home.

Despite this fact, you may also experience a distinct sense of isolation while teaching abroad. This lack of involvement from the known world allows many to spotlight wholeheartedly on teaching while forgetting previous worries; the practice can effortlessly be eye-opening and stirring if the proper enthusiasm exists.

You can also find more info on Teaching Certificate and Teaching Courses. Teachingjobshelp.com is a comprehensive resource to known more about teaching jobs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_Wellsworth

3 Big Mistakes Made By People When Applying For a Job in Nigeria

By Oluwatoyin Omotoso

Have you ever applied for a job with the hope that you have the necessary qualifications but you were not able to get the job? This might be due to one of the following mistakes:

"Read this and pass it across to others"

1. Not specifying the position you want in your Resume.- A lot of people apply for jobs using the same unedited Resume they used in getting their former job. Some also forget to specify the position they are actually applying for in their Resume. Watch out for this when next you are applying for a job.

2. Not distinguishing yourself from other applicants- A lot of people are applying for that Job you are applying for. How do you make yourself different from them? Always put expert touches to your documents (Cover letters and Resume) Also print it on High quality papers.

3. Not knowing anything about the position ( Company) It is disheartening that during interviews, most people show that they do not know much about the job they want to get? Who would employ someone like that? Before going to the interview, read everything you can find about the job you want to get.

4. Not dropping a thank you note- Do you know that a lot of Nigerians do not know anything about "thank you notes" This simple idea can hook you up with even unbelievable Nigeria Jobs.
Start right now to examine yourself and take note of all these mistakes the next time you are applying for a job. I wish you success.

Free Special Report Reveals "7 Proven Strategies guaranteed to help you get a good job in Nigeria in 21 days or less.
Get it at http://hotjobsecrets.com

Getting Ahead In Your Job Or Career With Your Creative Ideas

By Martin Mak

Do you have a great idea to can raise the bottom line of the company you work for? Such an idea could be to raise productivity, lower the cost of production or a clever idea to raise staff morale.
In the past, you may have a frustrating experience when your idea was rejected or ignored. The reason could be that nobody told you "the secret". When a great idea pops into our head, the next step is to sell your idea so that others will buy into it. Here are seven important steps that you can take in that process;

1. Don't get too excited about the idea. Think it through a couple of times. It may have flaws that others can see, although they may not be apparent to you. Take time to work through the kinks.
At the same time, others may not see your idea's financial rewards that you find obvious.

2. Don't get frustrated by rejection. Most great ideas face some form of rejection. You can deflect negative criticism by asking for constructive input, for instance, getting feedback to improve an idea or to overcome a hurdle.

3. Ask correct questions. Aim to understand what your managers mean by creativity and innovation. What is their "box" when they use the term "out-of-the-box"? How do they view the development of the products, processes and technology supporting them? This step is crucial in discovering "the secret".

4. Collect pertinent information. Are there technological or market trends that can help you back up your ideas? Are you aware of developments of local and foreign players in the industry? Can you provide what your customers are looking for?

5. Create many ideas. Its time to stretch your imagination to create more than two options. Use your memory and past experiences to guide you on how you can improve a situation. These are the best guides for great ideas. When you generate many options, you will get a better understanding of the different perspective and possibilities you have.

6. Choose your ideas carefully. What should your perfect solution look like? Start building a series of criteria or "must haves" to guide you to a great solution. You may wish to make a spreadsheet or chart to help you tick off the essential features of a great idea. Then give each feature some points, the more important the feature, the more points you should award.

7. Make ideas into solutions. Identify and remedy potential flaws or turn them into leverage points. The weakness of an idea can become its strength if seen from another perspective. For example, 3M's Post-It pads use a weak glue and it was a result of an unsuccessful attempt to create a strong glue for paper.

Six Great Guidelines To Creating A Great Idea

1. Start small. Think of a modest feasible improvement. You can later add on to it as you get more competent and create great benefits for your company.

2. Your knowledge bank is your resource. Keep a look out for your competitor's products and global trends to help you gather fresh insights.

3. Persevere and persuade. This is the toughest part of the process. You need to be a great sales person to sell your idea. That means communicating the calculated risks, the testing period and monitoring the milestone of progress. Remember never to sell an idea purely on excitement.

4. Do not succumb to the fear within. All novel ideas have an element of risk. We all have an inner fear that tell us that it won't work or we're opening ourselves to ridicule. As Einstein once said, "If the idea is not absurd at first, there is no hope for it". The process of making sense or connecting an idea to reality is a separate one.

5. All great ideas have their own time. Some of them may flourish at a later date.

6. Learn from your mistakes. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. There are valuable lessons to be learn from them. You can apply these lessons in future innovative initiatives.

All great ideas take time to nurture. Your memory is the storehouse of your creative genius that you can use to create great ideas. Remember to value other people's perspective. With that, you will enable the company to see the possibilities of new business models and markets or even to re-define the industry.

Martin Mak has developed a new program to help you improve your memory and enhance your learning experience. Find out more with his popular and free ecourse. =>http://www.mightymemory.com/memoryarticle.html

Top 5 Tips For Improving Your CV

By Kath Finney

Your CV is an invaluable mechanism for creating a positive impression to organisations that you are interested in working for: it is the foundation on which their perceptions will be based, so it is important to take the time to make sure your CV contains everything that is needed in order for the recipient to decide that they would like to invite you for an interview.

Your CV serves as a special kind of autobiography, offering a short written account of your achievements and experience. To make it as effective as possible, imagine yourself in your potential manager’s place and think about the skills and qualities they may wish to invest in and why. You can then organise and present the information in your CV in a way that is most likely to interest potential employers.

Easily avoidable errors are common among the CVs put forward by engineering personnel, according to the results of a recent survey by specialist technical and engineering recruitment firm, NES. The company, which places technical, engineering and IT personnel, has issued five top tips for maximising the impact of a CV, based on the errors identified:
Pay attention to the layout of your CV:

The way in which you present your CV requires careful consideration. Over 70% of the recruitment consultants questioned in the survey by NES cited a poor layout as one of the most commonly occurring errors made by candidates when composing their CVs.

Uniformity, clarity and flow of information are particularly important when you bear in mind that an employer only needs to look at a CV for a few seconds before deciding whether or not to continue reading it.

Information should be presented under clearly labelled sections, with education and employment history documented in reverse chronological order – with the most recent position first. Contact details should always be clearly visible at the top of the CV. The most effective way to present your CV is with bullet points, bold headings and underlining. These simple methods can achieve a clear and structured style.

Check (and double-check!) for spelling and grammatical errors:

The importance of checking over your CV for spelling and grammatical errors cannot be stressed enough. Despite wide agreement that spelling, punctuation and grammar must be perfect when writing a CV, almost half of the survey respondents regularly encounter this type of error.

This suggests that applicants are either over-familiar with their own CVs having spent a lot of time compiling them, or are over-reliant on spell-checkers. The simplest way to avoid submitting a CV containing these types of mistakes is to ask someone else to read over it.
Tailor your CV to a specific role:

Tailoring your CV to a particular role will generate a much more positive response from employers than mass-mailing a standard CV to a large volume of recipients, according to NES recruitment consultants. In the survey, 50% of consultants cited failure to tailor a CV to a specific role as something they most frequently came across. While this relates primarily to permanent or long-term expatriate positions, contractors should tailor their CVs according to the specialist area of the organisation for which they would like to work.

Explain gaps in work history:

According to the same survey by NES, large gaps in work history were also cited as frequently encountered among technical and engineering CVs. Almost half of NES recruitment consultants said that this acted as a deterrent to hiring managers.

People who leave gaps in their work history leave employers with no alternative but to question why they have done so. By explaining that you spent time travelling or had a career break, you will eliminate the need for this: seemingly fragmented careers are unlikely to create a positive impression; although with contract roles, greater potential for career gaps means that it is only necessary to explain significant breaks in continuity.
Document the responsibilities of previous positions:

The fifth most frequently encountered CV error, according to over a third of respondents, was failure to list the responsibilities of a role. NES advises candidates to be specific and, wherever possible, tie in responsibilities to achievements. The company insists that, when composing your CV, there is no time for modesty: self-promotion is imperative.

To ensure that you secure interviews, read over the above tips and apply them to your own CV. Is it the CV of the perfect candidate? Give yourself a head start by paying attention to detail at this crucial stage of your job search.

www.nes.co.uk

NES is a leading global technical recruitment business providing professionally qualified contract staff to blue chip clients across the world in the oil and gas, infrastructure, rail, power and IT sectors. Founded in 1978, a committed workforce has facilitated the company's success and continues to ensure that NES experiences ongoing growth in terms of customers, geography and sector.

Finishing and Leaving Your Job Interview

By Stephen Whelan

If you are offered the interviewers hand, end with a firm, confident handshake (ensure you don’t grip too hard) and a self-assured smile. Even if you feel you could have improved on some aspects of the interview, a self-confident exit could go some way to salvaging the interview for you. Whether you think it or not you will convey this confidence to the interviewer and you will leave a positive lasting impression.

Remain as professional as possible; remember the job is not yours until you have been offered the post and signed your return copy of the contract! Thank the interviewer for the time that they have afforded to you, say goodbye in a friendly manner and leave the room. Leave the interview as if it was an absolute success.

Whether or not you feel that the interview was a success or not, I suggest that you put it completely out of your mind when you leave the room and only reflect on your performance at a later date. I’ve done this myself and when you occupy your mind too much on what you said or could have said it can have a destructive impact on later job interviews you may have. At the very least you should be confident that it has provided you with tremendous preparation for the next one. Like all interviews I suggest you prepare in exactly the same way for any further interviews to follow.

I suggest that you go back and reflect on the interview a few days later to determine how you performed on the day. I always went over the particular areas where I felt I mentioned the wrong thing, gave an incomplete answer or there were things I wished I had said but left out.

Don’t worry about this, many people do this after the interview and needlessly beat themselves up and over analyze every aspect of what was said, or what was not. Remember you may have mentioned numerous, valid and relevant points and hit on the main acceptable answers and these are the positive aspects that you should dwell upon. Just take a note of the plus points of your interview, for example, how well you prepared, your interview technique, positive answers you delivered and how you could improve in the future. By doing this you have reflected this on paper and ensures that you don’t forget these aspects for any future interviews

Waiting to hear about the job – The long wait

It's all over! All the hard work is completed and any nerves and tension of the whole process begin to drift away. After you have made and received those well wishing calls from your family and friends to find out how it went you begin to relax and you are glad it is all over.

Well it is not. You have one final task to complete and then it’s all over.

Write your thank you note to the employer outlining your thanks for their time and effort. I suggest you do this as quickly as possible for three reasons. It shows you are professional, well mannered and shows that the job is important to you. While these are all admirable qualities that the employer will look for, in most cases, it will not influence the final interview decision, but you never know. On a more practical level the purpose of writing a thank you letter is that you may be the only one who has made the effort to do so and therefore raise your profile within that organization.

In turn, your name will unquestionably leave a long-lasting impact in the interviewers mind and give you a potential competitive edge over others in the future. So, take the time to write a short thank you letter the advantages for you are obvious.

Stephen Whelan is a Senior Manager in the largest Health Trust in Northern Ireland. He has extensive knowledge and experience in the recruitment process.

As part of his remit as a senior manager and in his previous posts leading up to his current appointment he has interviewed hundreds of candidates for innumerable vacancies. In this respect he has invaluable knowledge of the selection and recruitment processes from both sides of the table.

Stephen is also a qualified coach and obtained his Coaching in Work Certificate in 2007 which fits perfectly with helping people achieve their highest potential in the job interview process.

Accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management he has excellent skills and abilities that develop others in their pursuit of excellence and brings all of this experience to the table in helping people through the job interview process.

Stephen is currently constructing his website and offers amazing resources for job interview success at http://www.job-interview-success-guide.com

Why You Should Wear A Proper Respirator For The Job

By Henry Dickinson

Many jobs carry a variety of risks, among them hazardous materials in the air that make breathing difficult or pose a health risk from inhalation. In such situations, good respirators are of vital importance. 3m respirators can be counted on in any situation where the air quality may be compromised. 3m respirators are available for a number of uses, both on the job and in the home. Both economical and practical, 3m respirators offer reliable protection against a wide variety of vapors, gases, and particles in the air.

In the home, 3m respirators protect from some of the same dangers encountered in hazardous work situations. Metal particles from welding and torch work pose a danger without proper protection. Also, no paint scraping or heat stripping on older homes should be conducted without protection from lead particles. Vapors from stripping furniture and other similar chemical projects can be hazardous as well. 3m respirators are so inexpensive that anyone can afford to keep one at hand in the tool kit.

Work hazards can come in the form of metal particles, oil particles, organic and inorganic vapors and gases, and other dangers such as lead, cadmium, asbestos, and arsenic. 3m respirators provide protection against immediate health risks such as poisonous gases and slower, more insidious culprits such as asbestos. There are 3m respirators designed to protect against any impurities.

In addition to protection, 3m respirators also offer flexibility. Drop down face pieces, for instance, are designed for use with hardhats. Some workers may require frequent removal of the respirator, and the drop down face piece is convenient to use.

3m respirators are designed with comfort in mind as well as protection. No protective gear is any good if it is too uncomfortable to wear, and nothing is as distracting and annoying as a hot, uncomfortable face mask pulling at your nose. 3m respirators are designed to be lightweight, soft, and well-balanced. They come in three sizes so you can get a perfect fit, too. You are much more likely to protect yourself with 3m respirators because they feel more comfortable than other masks.

Never undertake a job where the air quality is potentially a safety issue unless you are wearing a proper respirator for the job. 3m respirators offer reliable protection and solid value.
Henry Dickinson is a writer and DIY expert, based in Alvord, TX. http://www.boss-safety.com/shop/index.php

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a Job

By Kalandra Robinson

There is much more that comes with applying for a job than simply submitting a Cover Letter and a Résumé. Here are 5 of biggest mistakes employers have found when selecting potential candidates: Not researching the potential employer. Performing a simple research on the company you may find interesting will not only show what positions are available in the career section, but it will also reveal the specific type of people they are interested in. Employers look for specific ethics and professional understandings in people. Performing a research is not difficult. Simply visit their company website and briefly review each and every tab and link you can find. Take note of all their various locations, whether national or international. If the website has financial information, take a long glance at that. The financial information will give you a good idea of how much money they make and/or lose in a given period. This will help you learn how stable or unstable the company is. Review the company's Mission Statement. Determine what their ethic is, if they even have one. Employer's perform various types of research on potential employees; why not protect yourself as well.

Failing to accurately communicate your professional expectations is another area employer's have found employees are unable to do. Employer's hire to solve problems. It is very important that you are able to effectively communicate why you are the best candidate by clearly identifying your experience.

Interviews are the time to reflect your absolute best characteristics and professional attributes. Do not bring food to an interview; if you have eaten right before, make certain you are clean and show no signs of it. Do not bring cell phones; if you do, turn them off. Do not share irrelevant information during interviews and it is an absolute no-no to speak negatively about a past employer.

As mentioned earlier, it is very important that you are able to effectively communicate all your best professional efforts. Poor communication skills are high on the list of non-desirables for employers. Speak with confidence and demonstrate your expertise with grace. Speak high about who you are and why you are the best fit for the position. Practice an interview with family or friends, people you can trust and will be honest with you on areas you may need to improve on.
Don’t be afraid of showing enthusiasm. Along with professionalism and a clear ability to perform the job, employers look for people that are enthusiastic and upbeat.

Whatever phone number you leave as a contact, make sure the voice mail message is professional. There are many people that have 1 cell phone that is used for their home and entertainment purpose. Nevertheless, be sure the voice mail message is professional. Use a professional email address if you leave one, also for contact. An email address with your name attached is professional. Use professional providers.

Kalandra Robinson writes articles and ebooks on subjects including Employment and Careers, Motivational and Self-help, and Credit Management. Visit http://www.robinwords.com

Job Search Strategies - Resumes That Rock - Seven Tips For Creating a World Class Resume

By Jane Trevaskis

First, and foremost, remember than a resume is used to screen out, not in. It is used to reduce the foot-high pile to a manageable handful. And this function is usually performed by someone other than the hiring manager. So, your goal is to get past this step to the person who can actually decide to hire you. Most people create a resume at the beginning of their career and simply update it from then on. Now might be a good time to take another look at yours. Here are seven tips on how to best translate your accomplishments into a resume.

1. Start with a summary. I know you think of a summary as the ending of a document. Think of this more like an executive summary at the beginning of a proposal. Most importantly, it is the only part of your resume that is almost always read. It’s the portion where you talk about the scope of your career and those capabilities that won’t fit into a specific accomplishment bullet.

2. Focus on accomplishments rather than responsibilities. You want your resume to reflect the successes you have had throughout your career. It’s much more effective to say that you brought in 150% of sales goal than to say you were responsible for sales in the southeast region. Review your career and focus in on the Situation you were presented with, the Actions you took and the Outcome you produced.

3. Never more than two pages. Most people who see lots of resumes automatically discard any that exceed two pages. If you are a recent college graduate, one page is probably plenty, but more than two is a real no-no. The only exceptions are academia and organizations that are closely related to academia. Then it is frequently called a curriculum vitae (or c.v.) instead of a resume.

4. Make it easy to read. If it’s hard to read, most people won't even try. Beginning all sections of the resume with action verbs helps. You can find lists of action verbs specific to your profession from books in the career section of your local bookstore on just google the term “keywords” and you'll get more than you could ever use. People scan resumes, they don’t read them. Most people who read lots of resumes spend less than 10 seconds on the first pass through – and that’s the one when they reduce the number of resumes that will be read more thoroughly from, for instance, 100 to 10. So, scan your resume yourself to make sure that your points get across in a less-than-thorough read.

5. References available upon request – NOT. Everybody knows that references are available and, since you have limited space on a resume, you don't need to waste the space. But you do have to have identified at least six people willing to serve as a reference and be able to provide their names and contact information within 24 hours of a request.

6. Education. The degrees you hold are important but, if your major wasn't relevant to this opportunity, don’t mention it. If you are looking for a job in a technical arena and your degree is in art history, it's better to just skip it. And if your degree is more than five years old, the date doesn’t go on your resume. However, both the institution you attended and the degree you earned are very important.

7. Optional Sections and Addendum. The final section of a resume is where you put those other parts of your background that are applicable. This section could list certifications, memberships (both professional associations and applicable volunteer involvement), awards, military experience, or technical skills. If you have an overload of one kind of optional information (patents, publications, technical skills, etc.) it can become a one-page addendum that you won’t give to everyone. However, an addendum must focus on only one subject – it is definitely not a third page of your resume. One addendum per resume.

Now, take a look at your current resume and spruce it up with these tips.

With your permission, I’d like to offer you a free report: Action Verbs for Resumes. You can download it by going to http://www.acatalystinyoursuccess.com/Report_Action_Verbs.html

If you would like to hear more about resumes and the other tools you need to conduct a successful job search visit http://www.acatalystinyoursuccess.com/Career_Home_Page.html
From Jane Trevaskis and Success-Catalyst.com

Florida Roofing Contractors - Finding The Ones Who Will Do A Good Job

The sunny state of Florida is considered as one of the most or hurricane-prone areas in the Continental United States. Given this, it is imperative for many homeowners and builders to consider major engineering improvements and upgrades in ensuring that a home's roof holds it own during severe storms. Hence, priority should be given to every component of the roof, as well as the rest of the house's structure, to enable it to withstand the extremely violent wind speeds that hurricanes bring.

A House Needs A Good Roof
A roof refers to the uppermost covering component, or structure of a home or building. The main purpose of the roof is to primarily protect both the building itself and its interior material and content from the standard elements of weather, such as rain, snow, sleet and heat. However, depending on the nature of the structure, a roof may also protect against heat, sunlight, cold and wind.

If the roof is the covering for a house, then all of the mentioned protective functions should be considered. Other building types, like garden sheds, conservatories or greenhouses will need to guard against rain and wind and frost, but allow the entry of light.

A house's front porch could be installed with roofing materials that mainly protect against sunlight but also admit other natural elements. The different types of structures and homes that require roofs range from the size of a letterbox to that of a synagogue or cathedral, or sports stadium, with these structures being the most socially significant.

Get Info On Which Roofing Material To Choose
Installing a new roof is one of the most significant and expensive aspects one will run into as a homeowner, since a home's roof is the first line of defense against the different forces and elements weather brings. It is imperative that a homeowner hires the best roofing contractor possible. Depending on where you live, roofing contractors are aplenty, therefore, it is important that one follows the basic rules of roof construction and repair to help you find the most qualified contractor to do the job.

A homeowner should also have adequate information on what roofing materials to consider. The owner should have a keen eye on what type of weather proofing material to utilize; should you use shingles, membrane roofing or metal roofing, for instance.

Shingles, also called shakes in North America, is the generic term for roofing material that comes in many overlapping sections, irrespective of the nature of the material. More specifically, it can be used to mean wooden shingles.

Membrane roofing is in installed large sheets, commonly fused at the joints to form a continuous surface. Metal roofing is considered to be an affordable roof material, and could be either corrugated, mechanically seamed or flat seamed in form and structure.

Picking The Right Contractor
Before commencing on any major home improvement project, such as roofing, it is best that you first consider talking to several roofing contractors to make sure you are getting a fair deal before hiring the services of one. For roofing repair or installation, it is advisable to obtain at least three bid offers from different roofing contractors to enable you to compare prices, methods used and experienced required.

It is also imperative to take note that the least expensive wouldn't necessarily be the best one. It would be wiser to be cautious about any contractor that dives below the other bids by a large amount, since it is likely that they will offer shoddy service or are not being honest with what the total price should be, or if there are any hidden costs. Aside from getting bids from at least three different roofing contractors, it is also important that the owner also does a little fact-finding work on the contractor.

Do Your Own Research
The homeowner should take note that reputable roofing contractors are licensed and are willing to provide at least three to four references vouching for their good work record. Having done good research on your prospective roofing contractor gives you the peace of mind knowing that you're hiring a credible professional for your roofing requirements.

Florida has a wide array of roofing contractors, and among these are Spilker Roofing and Sheet Metal, of Merritt Island in Brevard County. The company's services include new or re-roofing projects, and installation or repair of commercial, industrial and municipal structures, sheet metal fabrication, roof maintenance programs, leak repair, and designing wind vented roofing systems for resistance against hurricanes.

Another Florida roofing firm is Innovative Commercial Construction, Inc of St. Petersburg, Florida. Innovative Commercial Construction has 20 years of experience in roof renovation and restoration services, paint and waterproofing and roof design services.

Whichever of the Florida roofing contractors you choose to commission for your roofing job, take heed of the tips mentioned above to make sure that you get maximum value for your time and your money. Remember, your roof is your first defense against the intermittent Florida weather.

Ernest Jarquio is a dedicated family man hopelessly addicted to do-it-yourself projects. For more information, visit Flooring2Roof.com, where he discusses various subjects such as Florida roofing contractors, roofing contractors in the UK and Orange County roofing.

Summer Time Job Searching

By Carole Martin

The temptations are there – warm, lazy, casual days, when the shoes of choice are "flip flops." Taking the summer off and getting back into the groove of things when the "kids go back to school" would be very easy. You think to yourself, "Nothing's happening during the summer anyway – everybody goes on vacation during these months."

Stop! This is not the time for giving in to those pleasures and giving up on your job search, at least not all the way. You are better off pacing yourself during the summer months, and not stopping your search altogether.

Currently, the numbers of jobs being added to the workforce are reported as a positive sign that things may be opening up on the job front. You don't want to miss out on new opportunities or let someone else get that great job you've been waiting for – do you?

Here are six ways to get through your job search this summer and still enjoy some sun and fun – guilt free.

1. Get up earlier. The sun is up earlier and the early morning hours are much cooler than at high noon. Try leaving your blinds open or shades up and rise when the sun begins to stream through the window. Try to remember what it was like getting up for work on those cold, winter mornings. One bonus to early rising is that the house can be quieter. Hit the Internet before the rest of the family or household is even out of bed.
2. Set a schedule for yourself. Plan to work at your job search for a certain number of h
ours each day – 2,4, or 6 hours. Stick to the schedule that you set for yourself. If you work on the schedule that has a beginning and an end, you can quit on time and still enjoy the rest of the day – guilt free.

3. Take advantage of new networking opportunities. Getting outside more often or going to new places, will expose you to more people. Be sure and make contacts whenever and wherever possible. The best networking is done in the least expected places. You may be sitting at the community pool and connect with a neighbor you haven't seen all winter. Suddenly you have a new contact.

4. Use discretion when networking. Remember, it's summer for everyone. Don't take away from the relaxation of the day by "talking-shop." Be careful to use common sense and good manners when networking. You are never seeking a job – you are seeking information. Conversations can lead down new paths if you don't force the issue.

5. Work in the cool of the evening. Some people work best in the evening. If you are one of these people it is best for you to work when you are your most creative. Play during the day and set for yourself an evening schedule to work the Internet, to do research and to send e-mails.
Contacting people by phone when working in the evening is difficult, however. You may have to work in some day hours to connect with people when necessary.

6. Forget your search and enjoy. When you decide to enjoy a summer picnic or an all-day outing, let go of your job search and enjoy the day. Permit yourself a vacation day from your "job" of job search. Give yourself permission to have some fun and not feel like you should be out there job-hunting. The idea is to feel guilt free and to have some summer fun.

Although job hunting is certainly a key goal for anyone who has been out of work, it is also a good idea to take time "to smell the ocean" once in a while. You will find yourself refreshed and more energized if you take time to enjoy family and friends. By giving yourself permission to take the day off, you can "play" without the guilty feelings that you "should be home working." By setting some limits for yourself, you can work hard and still play. You might even surprise yourself by how productive you can be as a result. As the slogan goes, "You deserve a break today!"

Copyright (c) 2007 Carole Martin, The Interview Coach

Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and mentor. Carole can give you interviewing tips like no one else can.

Get a copy of her FREE 9-part "Interview Success Tips" report by visiting Carole on the web at The Interview Coach