Prizes Offered Help JobMob Win the Blogging Idol Contest

Prizes Offered Help JobMob Win the Blogging Idol Contest 4 One of the biggest blogs on the Internet, Daily Blog Tips, is running the Blogging Idol contest: the blog to gain the most subscribers by July 31st 2008 will be declared the winner. Here's how you can help JobMob to win while helping yourself and other JobMobbers in the process. Why does this matter for you? Being part of the JobMob Community means that “the more of us there are, the more of us can help and be helped,” whether in discussion on a blog post, with job leads in the JobMob LinkedIn Group or by networking via the soon-to-be announced JobMob Facebook Group. A contest of our own To make things extra interesting, I'm going to offer some prizes:eval The JobMob subscriber who brings in the most new JobMob subscribers by July 31st 2008 will earn a full resume consultation by me, a valuable service that I don't usually provide anywhere else due to the time and effort involved. Either me or a professional resume writer of my choosing will critique your resume and work with you to improve it until it's a hard-hitting interview-getter. The resume consultation prize is transferable. If you're already happy with your resume, you can give this prize to a friend, family member or another JobMobber that needs it more.eval More prizes if JobMob wins Blogging Idol The rules of the Blogging Idol contest don't allow me to give any cash incentives for new subscribers. However if JobMob wins the Blogging Idol contest â€" we're already in the Top 10 out of more than 100 blogs â€" it is ok to share Blogging Idol prizes with you. In that case, you would also win: A cash prize of US$150 or equivalent in shekels or any other currency that PayPal deals with, and A US$100 donation to the charity of your choice that accepts donations via the Internet Very important point #1: On July 31st, a unique password will appear in a place that only JobMob subscribers can see. To be eligible for the prize(s), you will need to give me that unique password if I ask you for it. Knowing what to win, how do you go about doing it? You have friends, family, Facebook friends, colleagues and acquaintances that would enjoy JobMob for the same reasons you do. In an email, ask them to

Advice for New Graduates

Advice for New Graduates Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'exeN6BkwRupvKJtILsKdHg',sig:'lwBNW8QyqOf_GRjJelKqVnx7L0LoQyS9gIqtYd_j3cU=',w:'513px',h:'335px',items:'467180213',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); It’s graduation time, and thousands of new college graduates will enter the market looking for their first serious job. The local market is certainly better than when they entered college four (or more) years ago; the unemployment rate has dropped from 11 percent in 2010 to around six percent today. Graduates will have a diploma in hand, but it may take more to make them competitive. Don Capener is dean of Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business. He’s a successful entrepreneur who joined JU in 2012. He speaks to business owners and employers every day about what they want to see in new graduates. The answer is consistent: bring us graduates who know how to solve problems. In business school, students learn to balance the risk and rewards and estimate financial returns over time. The challenge is making the transition from solving problems as an academic exercise to applying knowledge in the real world. It’s the working equivalent of moving from counting steps (1-2-3, 1-2-3) to dancing. There are very real barriers to making the transition from academics to real-world problems. In class, you’re often certain that there is a right answer â€" in fact, just one right answer, and it’s your job to find it. In the real world, there may be more than one right answer, or only a choice between two equally bad options. Glenn Llopis, writing for Forbes Magazine, says: “Great leaders use broadened observation; circular vision. They see around, beneath and beyond the problem itself. They see well-beyond the obvious.” Learning to be patient with a problem, to look for what others have missed, is a skill worth developing. In fact, persistence is one of the key indicators of future success.  Students who see problems as distractions and setbacks will spend as much time griping about the problem as they will trying to solve it. Future leaders realize that the problem is what they’re hired for; problems should be intriguing, not discouraging. Don Capener tells students: “Applying knowledge is a skill; it takes time and practice to develop. Most of us fear failure, even though it is by failure that we learn the most meaningful lessons.” Students who see grades as the result of their work won’t be as successful as those who see the learning as the goal.  There are some who think that achieving an “A” grade justifies almost any shortcut to success. But the A won’t help you when you’re sitting in your office alone, struggling with identifying and solving problems â€" only the learning will. Young graduates also make the mistake of trying to understand all the variables before making a decision. In the real world, you have to move on imperfect data. Andy Grove, author and one of the founders of Intel, talks about the idea of moving forward with decisions that make sense based on the information that is there, rather than the information that isnt. Waiting for more information may make for a better decision, but only if customers or market opportunities wait around for you to decide. Capener says, “Try and take responsibility and calculated risks… The initiative you show to ‘handle things yourself’ will set you apart from other millennials.” In fact, Capener says, the most important skill he gained over time was “asking the right questions.” What does that look like in practice? Martin Cooper, a young engineer at Motorola, was tasked with developing a car phone in the 1970s. He asked the question that revolutionized the world: “Why, when we make a phone call, do we have to call a place?” That’s what the right question looks like.

3 Ways to Stay Cool in Interviews and Get Your Dream Job

3 Ways to Stay Cool in Interviews and Get Your Dream Job As an experienced counselor with a fairly deep understanding of human nature, I can say this with total confidence: job interviews freak people out! In my time as a therapist, Ive interacted with some truly capable people. Ive coached business professionals who wield a great deal of influence, Ive counseled semi-professional athletes ready to take their game to the next level, and Ive mentored bright-eyed college grads who had a lot of ambition and very big dreams. And no matter who I talk to, Im always amazed to find that all of them (and I mean, all of them!) experienced a great deal of anxiety at the thought of being interviewed. From a psychological perspective, the fear is totally reasonable. The dynamics of a interview are wildly unsettling, and play on our innate fear of rejection. Think about it: an interview is a time-limited interaction with a total stranger, who will judge every single word you say, and analyze every action you make. He or she will openly scrutinize you. A few days or weeks after your meeting with the stranger, you will receive a phone call or an email, and be notified whether you have been rejected or not. Not fun. Pretty terrifying, really. So, as I noticed each of my clients was experiencing the same emotion regarding the same event, I put together an intervention to help them relax, focus, and make the most of every interview they find themselves on. The techniques I used are listed below, and each one is simple, actionable, and, most importantly, backed up with a lot of research! Use them to your advantage: 1) Envision your success before you start: Visualization is frequently used in the sports world, and many public figures (notably Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey) have sworn by the principles powers. The idea is simple: condition yourself for the goal you want to achieve by imagining it clearly in your mind. It sounds simple, but the research backs up the idea. One study showed that mental practice is almost as effective as actual, physical practice, and that doing mental practice and physical practice is more effective than either practice alone. So how does it work? Visualization activities must follow a very specific path. First, find a quiet place and relax. Then begin to imagine yourself with the person or the people interviewing you: what do they ask you? How do you answer some of the tough questions they ask? How do you calm yourself when you begin to feel nervous? The clearer your visualization, the better the technique works. In truth, visualization is really a form of preparation: you imagine the obstacles youll face, and you creative find ways to meet and overcome them. 2) Use social proof to your advantage: We are intrinsically social creatures, and we are constantly reading the emotional cues of the people around us. It is natures most effective way of learning about danger and learning about opportunity, and it is deeply engrained into our psyches. So how does that affect your job search? Almost 65% of all new employees at any given company attained their interview through someone they know. There are plenty of conclusions you can draw from this (the most obvious being if youre looking for a job, youre most likely to get it through someone you know, so tap into your contacts), but the important idea is that your interviewer will be more likely to hire you if someone can vouch for you. If you use your network to get your job interview, you are providing powerful social proof, and your interviewer already knows that someone values you. Unfortunately, many people interpret the 65% statistic to mean that the odds are against them if theyre going into an interview without a connection to the interviewer. Luckily, you can provide social proof in your interview discussion. There are two ways to do this: During your interview, talk about people you know, and share stories about working with your bosses and interacting with decision-makers are your previous company. Dont be boastful and dont be a name-dropper, but make sure that your interviewer gets the feeling that others liked working with you and valued your efforts. Provide your own social proof. The trend is to include the words References available upon request somewhere near the end of your resume, which is thoughtful after all, you dont dont want to deluge your interviewer with paper (especially before theyre interested in you). But if youve made it to the interview stage, do not leave your interviewers office without handing him a letter of recommendation. The letter can be from a former employer, an old professor that youve worked with, or a community leader that youve volunteered for, but make sure its a person with recognizable authority, and make sure it details you as competent, motivated, and easy to work with. 3) Give yourself a 24/7 pep talk: A researcher at the University of Pennsylvania found that personal success was almost invariably related to that persons explanatory style. That is, the most reliable way to tell whether a person will succeed or fail is to see whether they interpret their life in an optimistic or a pessimistic way. The research makes sense: how you interpret your circumstances determines how you feel, and how you feel determines how well you perform. So be nice to yourself! When you think about your job hunt, interpret your efforts in an uplifting way that makes the situation seem positive. If youve recently been laid off and youre looking for work, dont interpret your job loss as a negative: think of the new adventures youll have at your next place of employment, and how youre about to take the next step of your professional career. If youre looking for your first job out of college, dont see yourself as inexperienced, but rather as a blank slate ready to dive in and learn all you can at your new job. Chances are that even though youre speaking nicely to yourself, youll still feel nervous, and thats normal expected, even. But you have a choice: you can speak kindly to yourself and foster positive feelings, or you can beat yourself up and feel awful. Not all choices are easy, but this seems simple. Go get em! Remember, job interviews can be daunting, but youve got some pretty powerful tools to use: you can see the outcome you want, you can use social proof to display your value, and you can get psyched, because the job you want is almost yours! Author: Matthew Burke is a therapist in northern New Jersey. He serves as a job coach for many of his clients, and runs the cnacareeragency.com  to help students and career changers enter the field of health care.

Employment References Tip Use Performance Reviews for Speed

Employment References Tip â€" Use Performance Reviews for Speed Checking employment references can slow a job search and a hiring process down.However, you might be able to avoid that by giving your prospective employer copies of your written performance reviews.If you get reviews, and theyve been good to great, take them with you to interviews. They likely address many of the topics employers cover in reference checks.For instance, they contain:Your dates of employment.Your job title.A description of your most important responsibilities.A description of your performance, which is a positive reference.Your managers name, title, and signature.Thus, they give your potential employer almost everything they ask for when they check references and they do it NOW.Give Your Performance Reviews to the InterviewerAs your interview closes, hand the hiring manager a file folder that holds your reference list and your reviews. Tell the hiring manager you thought they might be interested in what other managers have said about you and your job performance.They can call your professional references, you have included their contact information, but the reviews will give them pretty much the same information right now.The NuancesBe sure to use a file folder, not an envelope. And write the managers name on it.Why? Because it’s almost impossible to hold a file folder without opening it, especially if there’s something juicy, like a confidential performance review, inside it. And especially if it has your name on it.Conversely, its pretty easy to toss an envelope aside.Trust me, after you leave, they will flip the folder open and read the positive feedback you have received from past managers.If your interview left them with doubts about your candidacy, this information will help relieve their concerns. If they liked you, this information will confirm and help solidify their positive opinion.No Performance Reviews â€" YetWhat if you don’t have any written performance reviews? If you’re working, its a good idea to ask your boss for one b efore you start making job applications.If your boss doesnt want to prepare it for you, write the review yourself and offer it to him/her as a draft. Ask for edits. Then copy it to your company’s form for your boss’s signature.The Speed Reference CheckIf the employer wants to hire you, your performance reviews might satisfy them to the extent that they forego further employment reference checking.That can speed up a job offer by a week or two. I have seen it happen more than once.Image: Stockgiu Updated July 2019 2010 2019, Donna Svei. All rights reserved.Donna SveiDonna Svei, an executive resume writer and former C-level executive, retained search consultant, and CPA, writes all of AvidCareerists posts. She has written for and been quoted by leading business, general, and career media outlets, including Forbes, Mashable, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Lifehacker, Ask.com, Social Media Today, IT World, SmartBrief, Payscale, Business News Daily, and the Muse. Let her background and experience inform your job search strategy and decision making.Learn more about Donnas executive resume writing service or email Donna for more information. Interviews â€" References (5 Posts)

Cultural Etiquette is Necessary for Business and Career Success

Cultural Etiquette is Necessary for Business and Career Success Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comIt is expected that the average millennial will have more than four careers throughout their lifetime. When you also consider the increasingly global nature of our economy, you realize that at some point you will be working with people or a company from another culture. Your ability to work effectively in that situation will determine your success or failure.Learning to navigate through varying cultural etiquettes is a skill all career-minded millennials should develop. If you already speak a second language, have lived in another country, or have even traveled a few times internationally, you have a head start. If not, no need to worry. Being aware there are different etiquettes and being willing to learn them when needed is your most valuable asset.DefinitionevalCultural etiquette refers to the guidelines for what is polite and appropriate behavior in a country or culture. Every day, you adhere to different sets of etiquette in the United States: business , personal, and familial.evalYou probably don’t think of the rules in that manner, but you are aware of what your boss, your coworkers, your friends, and your family consider to be rude and polite behaviors. There may even be some different rules in each case. Well, it is not any different from other countries.Each country has its own rules of accepted and appropriate behavior that will differ from what you currently know.As Americans, we often think that other western cultures will be similar enough to ours that it will not matter, especially if they are English speaking. However, this is not true; each country has its own context, and your awareness of this dictates your success.LearningHopefully, on your first out-of-country business trip, you will have coworkers to help guide you through the correct behaviors. If your company has decided it is time to go global, and you are on the cutting edge, there is one thing to keep in mind about the process of learning that first country ’s customs: be respectful.This is someone else’s culture. While aspects of it might seem silly to you, it is probably rooted in hundreds of years of tradition for them. That is not something to ignore. You would expect them to respect you if the roles were reversed. Even if you do make a faux pas, if you are seen as trying your best and being respectful, it will be probably be ignored rather than becoming a deal-breaker.While each country will probably have its quirks, there seem to be five main areas of difference.Greetings and Forms of addressFirst impressions can help or taint negotiations. If you greet someone correctly, it will get you started on the right foot. It is surprising how many variations there are in greetings. In America, a firm handshake with good eye contact is expected, and most people are fine being addressed by their first name.evalBusiness cards are simply a tool to exchange information and are handled quite casually. On the opposite end of the spectrum ar e the Asian countries which have more structured rules. For example, in Japan, business cards are treated with respect, presented more than given, and are always given with two hands.Often business cards are exchanged even before greetings, which are usually bows rather than handshakes. Other variances include France, where handshakes are much lighter, and Germany, where you introduce yourself by the last name only.ClothingAppropriate clothing is dictated not only by the culture but often also by the industry. If you are in the heavy manufacturing industry, more casual clothing might be appropriate. However, it is rarely wrong to be dressed in business conservative. If unsure, wait until you see how your counterpart is dressed.For women, it can be a little more difficult. Pants are problematic in some countries; heel height and skirt length must all be carefully considered. Conservative and dark colors are always safe. Women should always go easy on the accessories.evalTimeevalThe c oncept of punctuality varies from country to country. In the United States, being on time usually means being five or ten minutes early. In Russia, you must be on time, but your hosts will quite often be extremely late. Australians consider being 15 minutes early on time.The importance of deadlines is also variable. Germans adhere strongly to timelines, whereas the Spanish and Mexicans often view them more like guidelines than hard and fast rules.DiningSharing a meal is a time-honored way of bonding. Unfortunately, it is also one of the trickiest when it comes to etiquette. Obviously, just the differences in food can be problematic, especially if you are a picky eater.In many countries, it is rude to not eat everything on your plate, whereas in Taiwan, you are expected to leave some rice in your bowl. In India, they eat mostly with their right hand, never with their left and rarely with utensils.In Chile, it is rude to eat anything with your fingers, and in Germany, you even cut up a hamburger and eat it with a knife and fork. Beverages also have many rules.In Russia, you can never turn down vodka or mix it with anything. Here in America, we love our Starbucks at any time, but in Italy, you can only have cappuccino before noon.ConversationIt is rare when you won’t have to make at least some small talk with your counterpart. In Switzerland, it is rude to ask about personal matters, whereas in China, questions about salary or the size of your house are normal.You must also be careful about compliments. In some middle eastern countries, if you admire something, your host may feel obligated to give it to you. Even if you need a translator, make sure you have some knowledge of their country, specific city or area, and culture to use as conversation starters.Cultural etiquette is an important skill for everyone, but imperative for anyone looking to succeed in the international corporate world. If you are known as someone with impeccable cultural etiquette skills, you will be valuable to any company.evalIf you have a connection with a specific country, learn everything you can about that country: language, customs, and business culture. You can use your expertise to market yourself to businesses looking to expand in that country or even organizations doing social work there.It can be hard for a company to effectively market in another country. Your expertise can help a global company avoid any missteps when going local.If you are a millennial contemplating your career path, make time to develop cultural awareness. It will help you in all of your endeavors.

Is Your Résumé the Cart before the Horse - Hire Imaging

Is Your Résumé the Cart before the Horse - Hire Imaging People frequently contact me to help them develop a résumé. Okay; that’s something I love to do! Great! However, I can’t tell you how often these prospective clients will go on to say that they are not sure how to gear the résumé. Jim’s an example. In our initial phone and email communications, I asked him what he wanted to do; and where this resume would be going. He said he didn’t want to rule anything out. He was open to marketing, sales, operations or technology roles (management or non-management); he was open to any industry. When I questioned him on how he planned to market himself on the résumé, he said he wasn’t sure; that he thought that was MY job; that maybe a “one-size-fits all to cover the bases” would be best. WRONG! Jim thought he was being flexible. In reality and on paper, he would simply appear unfocused and wishy-washy. The résumé is a marketing document designed to sell the product (you, the job candidate) to the buyer (employer). That buyer is shopping for a particular talent to bring a certain skill set, credentials, value proposition and brand to the role and company. And frankly, the hiring folksâ€"recruiters, human resources or other decision-makersâ€"are not going to take valuable time to figure out what your résumé is trying to sell. It is not their job to figure out what you want or why they should hire you. No company worth its salt would ever market products without a focused campaign strategy and relevant brochures or marketing collateral; nor should you. To take advantage of opportunities that are out there, know what you want in your career, where the hiring is occurring, what qualifications you need to achieve your desired career goals, and THEN how to best market your qualifications. Assess your likes and dislikes. What do you really like doing when you’re at work? What excites you and makes you lose track of time? What’s your passion? What are your key strengths? Spend some time with career assessments if needed. Spend some time rediscovering yourself. Research careers. Once you know what you want, spend some time researching the types of opportunities that seem to fit. How much research you do depends on how much of a change you’re making. For example, changing from salesperson to webmaster will take more research than moving from salesperson to sales manager. Two helpful Internet sites to begin researching jobs are O*Net Online and Occupational Outlook Handbook. List your value proposition. Think of everything you’ve done in terms of how it is transferable to what you want to be doing, and showcase it that way. For every item you will be putting on your résumé, think of how the skills you’re listing support the idea of doing what you want in your next job. What sets you apart from the competition? What benefits will the employer gain from hiring you relative to your stated target? It is crucial to take stock of your brand, which is how others see you and what you’re known for. It doesn’t change; it’s authentic and consistent. So, how does it relate to your target goal and audience? Think about gaps. You may find that you need to update your skills or expand your knowledge (or experience) to more viably compete for the job you want. Mine multiple job postings related to your career goal. Look for a common pattern in criteria and qualifications. Is there a gap? Take it slowly to figure out what you need and how you can realistically attain it. Even a great strategic and well-written résumé can’t create required criteria that are not there. Get the inside scoop. If you are unsure about your job role/industry targets after going through self-assessments, think about temping, volunteering, conducting informational interviews with people in the field of potential interest, or in attending a professional association or chamber event to find out more about different fields and positions. Talk to your high school or college career services; or to your local media specialist. If you’ve been laid off, take advantage of your area’s workforce center or related services that may be able to help you with assessing the right fit. Hire a career coach who can guide you through career exploration. When you have a clearer focus of your career goals in terms of type of position, level, industry, etc., then move on to the next pre-résumé steps. Ask yourself three questions framed around HOW, WHAT and WHERE in your job search campaign. Be able to answer them all before either writing your own résumé; or having one done by a professional résumé writer. How will you paint a picture of you (the product) to potential employers (the buyers)? What will you highlight about your past experience, skill sets, credentials, and personal career brand that tie directly to your current objectives? What résumé format will you use? Have you thought about the strategy of using a chronological, functional or hybrid résumé? What format will work best for you? Which format will optimize your ability to bring the title, skills, brand and value to the top of the résumé? Where are you going to look for a job? How will you identify and approach these companies? How will this affect the type of résumé you develop? Once you have brainstormed as to what you want and figured out where that is, THEN you are ready to sell and market with a great résumé! And if you still have two or more different career targets, then create different résumé versions that are focused, branded and loaded with metrics-driven success stories relevant to your goal and target audience. Then the horse is pulling the cartâ€"the résumé is serving as a valuable tool in a well-planned and executed job search campaign!

How To Use Digits Instead Of Writing Out Number On Your Resume

How To Use Digits Instead Of Writing Out Number On Your ResumeEmployers nowadays may ask you to use digits instead of writing out the number on your resume. This is something you should be prepared for. Your future employer may still be using a typewriter, but this does not mean you are stuck with a resume that only looks professional.You can find a vast variety of cover letters that say use digits instead of writing out numbers. It is true that the first impressions are really what companies look for. They want to feel comfortable when they read the letter because they know they can ask some questions to clarify any information they do not understand.Remember that a resume is your introduction. If you do not know how to properly represent your personal information and if you are not careful about where you write out your number, you will not have a chance to get your foot in the door. Therefore, it is important that you make sure that you hire someone that has experience in writing cover letters that using digits instead of writing out numbers.The cover letter if a prospective employee is a chance for you to let your potential employer know that you know the rules of the job. After all, this is the first impression your potential employer will have of you. You want them to recognize you as an applicant who takes yourself seriously, thus, uses only digits and letters.A person that knows how to write out a resume is more likely to get a job interview because of his or her education, work experience, and personality. While the idea may seem logical to you, many people use a resume that is simply a list of numbers. Even the best copywriters in the world cannot write out a perfectly formatted resume.For example, someone with your last name but using your middle initial of Nand writing out K, M, or T as their company's name would not have the appropriate spelling for your position. Instead, use the other letter combinations that can be substituted in your position. This makes the cover letter very professional looking.In fact, your recruiter's life can be filled with so many decisions that would be a waste of time if you were stuck using digits on your resume. Every decision you make, whether it is a decision to use your real name on your resume or whether it is a decision about how you represent your number, is going to reflect on your ability to get a job at your prospective company. So, make sure that you use a recruiter that understands this.The next time you use digits on your cover letter, do not think that this is the way it is always going to be. There are many examples out there that prove otherwise. Make sure that your recruiter can accommodate your changing needs when you want to go back to the days of a professionally formatted resume.