by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer

In down economic times, companies seem to have carte blanche to limit salaries and make low-ball offers. But that shouldn't be the case.

Below are the top salary secrets your employer doesn't want you to know. With this information in hand, you'll be in a better position to get the pay you deserve.

Employers don't always offer a fair salary.

Some employers think they're being fair, but they're not up-to-date with the latest salary information. Others may try to pay less than the market value because they're financially strapped. That's why it's important that you know exactly how much money you should be making. A free salary report can help you calculate how much you should be earning in any job.

You can negotiate your salary in a tight job market.

In a recession, many people would rather take a pay cut than lose their jobs. Raises are hard to come by and new hires may feel they have less negotiating power. But that doesn't mean it's impossible to bump up your salary; it's just a little more challenging.

According to a recent survey from the Society for Human Resource Management, 80 percent of HR professionals say employers are willing to negotiate salaries. So, if you're looking for a raise at your current job, come armed with your marketplace worth and make your case. And, if you've been offered a job that pays less than you like, don't be afraid to name your realistic asking price. Keep in mind that, if you got the offer, you're clearly the best candidate for the job -- even in this highly competitive job market.

New hires sometimes earn more than long-term employees.

When there's a strong job market, organizations need to do whatever they can to attract top candidates. This often means that starting salaries may be higher for newbies than they are for long-term employees. Given the current economic conditions, that's less the norm these days, but it still happens in certain industries. If you suspect that a new hire with similar responsibilities is making more than you are, use current salary data to approach your manager with the request to bring your salary up to par.

Your performance doesn't decide your pay.

While your performance is one important factor in the salary equation, your pay is also a reflection of many other factors, including:

• The job market -- lower pay is more acceptable in tighter job markets.
• Location -- generally the higher the cost of living, the higher your salary.
• Years of service -- in many cases, the longer you've been with a company, the higher your pay.
• Organization size -- large organizations tend to pay more than small ones.
• Education level -- in most cases, the more education you have, the higher your pay. Take a free education test to find out how going back to school can help you earn more.

If you're a valued employee who isn't making the money you deserve, you do have options. Know your value and make your case with the help of your free salary report. And know too, that many employers -- particularly larger employers -- have a little more in the "raise kitty" than they let on.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Easiest Health Care Jobs to Break Into

This won't hurt a bit! Check out these hot jobs in a fast-growing field.

by Lydia Dishman, PayScale.com



Sure, the unemployment numbers are dismal. But there's one industry that's looking rosier every day--health care. Recent reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirm this: over the past 12 months, health care added 231,000 jobs--27,000 in July alone.


Though many people would like to get in, few make it past perusing the classifieds before becoming discouraged by the educational and experiential requirements. Though it's true that becoming a doctor, nurse, or specialized technician demands an advanced degree, there are some positions in health care that can be had without a four-year college commitment, and without a lot of experience.


But before you toss those thick course catalogs, know that many of these positions do require certification and/or a two-year associate's degree. The good news is that much of the schooling can be done on a flexible schedule or even online--perhaps while you're holding down the job.


Phlebotomy technician (PBT): median annual salary, $28,939
If you've got a high school education, an interest in science, and some health care experience, the American Society for Clinical Pathology wants to help you land a job as a PBT, collecting and analyzing blood samples from patients. The ASCP's Gelasia Croom says these workers are in high demand, due to lack of awareness about the job and retiring baby boomers.


Health-insurance agent: median annual salary, $38,205
Health-insurance agents provide easy-to-understand information and access to expert advice so consumers can make smart decisions about insuring their health. However, Fred Adams of HSA America notes that most insurance agents don't need an advanced degree. They must hold a license in the state where they plan to do business, but that license can be obtained in about two weeks, with no previous experience required.


Medical-records clerk: median annual salary, $25,189
If you're a stickler for accuracy and have great organizational skills, a career as a medical-records clerk may work for you. This is one of the few health care positions that doesn't require any patient interactions; workers assemble patients' health information--including medical history, symptoms, and exam and diagnostic test results--and manage the data for quality, accuracy, and security. Most applicants have an associate's degree along with a good command of computer software programs.


Physical-therapy (PT) assistant: median annual salary, $43,655
Thanks to aging baby boomers, demand for professional PT assistants is on the rise. If you have a high school diploma and good people skills, earning certification can take as little as six months. Then you can work with physical therapists to help patients exercise or learn to use crutches, for instance, and provide therapies such as traction, ultrasound, massage, and balance training.


Medical transcriptionist: median annual salary, $25,559
How fast can you type? Fingers fly when medical transcriptionists listen to dictated recordings made by doctors and other health care professionals and transcribe them into medical reports, correspondence, and other administrative material. Though more than half work at hospitals or physicians' offices, many medical transcriptionists telecommute from home-based offices. Slackers need not apply--accuracy is a top priority to prevent errors in patients' records.


Dispensing optician's apprentice: median annual salary, $23,600
Want to help people see better and look great? With a high school diploma, you could snag a position at an optometrist's office and receive technical instruction on the job, along with learning the finer points of office management and sales. Apprentices work directly with patients, fitting them for eyeglasses or contact lenses, while being supervised by an experienced optician.


careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Are You a Professional?

Are You a Professional?

Source : Tipsforsuccess. org

How you look, talk, write, act and work determines whether you are a professional or an amateur. Society does not emphasize the importance of professionalism, so people tend to believe that amateur work is normal. Many businesses accept less-than-good results.

Schools graduate students who cannot read. You can miss 15% of the driving-test answers and still get a driver license. "Just getting by" is an attitude many people accept. But it is the attitude of amateurs.

"Don't ever do anything as though you were an amateur.

"Anything you do, do it as a Professional to Professional standards.

"If you have the idea about anything you do that you just dabble in it, you will wind up with a dabble life. There'll be no satisfaction in it because there will be no real production you can be proud of.

"Develop the frame of mind that whatever you do, you are doing it as a professional and move up to professional standards in it.

"Never let it be said of you that you lived an amateur life.

"Professionals see situations and they handle what they see. They are not amateur dabblers.

"So learn this as a first lesson about life. The only successful beings in any field, including living itself, are those who have a professional viewpoint and make themselves and ARE professionals" — L. Ron Hubbard

A professional learns every aspect of the job. An amateur skips the learning process whenever possible.

A professional carefully discovers what is needed and wanted. An amateur assumes what others need and want.

A professional looks, speaks and dresses like a professional. An amateur is sloppy in appearance and speech.

A professional keeps his or her work area clean and orderly. An amateur has a messy, confused or dirty work area.

A professional is focused and clear-headed. An amateur is confused and distracted.

A professional does not let mistakes slide by. An amateur ignores or hides mistakes.

A professional jumps into difficult assignments. An amateur tries to get out of difficult work.

A professional completes projects as soon as possible. An amateur is surrounded by unfinished work piled on top of unfinished work.

A professional remains level-headed and optimistic. An amateur gets upset and assumes the worst.

A professional handles money and accounts very carefully. An amateur is sloppy with money or accounts.

A professional faces up to other people’s upsets and problems. An amateur avoids others’ problems.

A professional uses higher emotional tones: Enthusiasm, cheerfulness, interest, contentment. An amateur uses lower emotional tones: anger, hostility, resentment, fear, victim.

A professional persists until the objective is achieved. An amateur gives up at the first opportunity.

A professional produces more than expected. An amateur produces just enough to get by.

A professional produces a high-quality product or service. An amateur produces a medium-to-low quality product or service.

A professional earns high pay. An amateur earns low pay and feels it’s unfair.

A professional has a promising future. An amateur has an uncertain future.

The first step to making yourself a professional is to decide you ARE a professional.

Are you a professional?

Job Info , Jobs , Career

My Uncomfortable Secret to Motivation

Source : Motivation123. com

A five-letter word is my secret.

As you probably know, routine casts a trance-like power with devastating impact. As a result, it is an absolute necessity to break free of its grasp.

If you can't find a way out of the vicious pattern and into a new set of thoughts, feelings, and actions, you have no hope of changing or improving your life.

Consider this five-letter word my guaranteed release.

Working with remarkable speed, it personally shakes me out of autopilot, delivers an eye-opening wake-up call, and motivates with more force than anything I know.

Not bad for a five-letter word.

My hope--and my assumption--is that it will have the same positive effect on you.

The Word, My Release
I know a time will come when I'll no longer be able to act on the things I want, the things I've dreamed about experiencing and things I've always wished to become.

I will have to let them go. I will have to let go of all those exciting ideas I tossed about in my mind, all the goals carefully constructed while daydreaming.

They will have to be put to rest, once and for all. And I will never experience them.

Never.

This is a frightening thought for me. It is startling, can be gut-wrenching, and tip-toes toward terrifying.

But it's also something else. And it's here, on the other side of the coin, that I find my secret.

The Flip-Side of the Word
Coming to grips with reality can be scary.

So much so, that most men and women choose the other door. They hide from the truth and tuck their dreams into the fairytale 'someday.'

'I'll do it someday...someday.'

A sigh of relief follows and it's back to the safe and comfy routine. No need to face fears, no need to rise to challenges, no need to take action. That will all happen someday--but not today.

If only this were true. It is not.

Here is the truth: Someday eventually meets the edge of the cliff. Someday eventually runs out.

Someday eventually turns into never.

Frightening? Perhaps. But it's also your way out. It's also your release from the routine that strangles your hopes and dreams.

By focusing intently--and I mean intently-- on 'never,' in regard to your lifelong wishes and wants, you will be shocked out of your pattern of procrastination and jolted into a new mindset.

You'll have the motivation you need to stop hesitating because you know, without question, if you keep it up, you'll never experience the life you've been waiting for all these years.

Without action, talk is only noise. Below is what I do in particular to get the most out of this five-letter word. It's something you can do, anytime and any place, to dismantle procrastination and ignite your inner drive.

Action Steps - Short & Sweet
Think of something you want. Not a lip-service dream, but something you truly desire, something either for yourself or for someone else.

Our results have shown that people imagine themselves experiencing the joys of progress or success when asked to think of a goal.

This time I want you to do the opposite.

I want you to imagine, vividly, that your idea, your chosen dream or goal, cannot happen. No matter what you do, you'll never get it. Never. Never.

If you do it right, you'll feel anxious, like you have to get up out of your seat right now and do something before time runs out. This is the power of 'never.'

Don't hide from the truth. Let it smack you in the face and punch you in the gut. Only then can it snap you out of the routine and drive you into action. Only then can it change your life.

If you don't do something now, you may never do it then.

Never hide, never avoid, never run from 'never.' Use it as a fire to place beneath your greatest ideas and accept it as a truth that can set you free.

Embrace...'never.'

Job Info , Jobs , Employment

Negotiating Salary Tips

By Stephen Cohen

For someone who is employed one of the hardest things to do is trying to negotiate their salary. Many people are afraid to confront their boss about a possible pay raise and have no idea as to how to approach the issue. And, once they do get a chance to talk about their pay they do not know how to effectively make a case for a salary hike.

Understanding how to properly and effectively negotiate your salary is an important aspect of your job. Sometimes you can not just wait for the next pay raise, and you need to confront the issue This article should help you with some tips on negotiating your salary.

A very common mistake that many people make when trying to speak with their boss about their salary is that they are unrealistic with their requests. You can not try and increase your salary by some ridiculous amount because you feel you deserve it. You have to be reasonable with your requests. Understand where you are with in the company and try to work from a reasonable stand point when asking for a pay increase.

If you are going to ask for a raise then you need to have something to prove what you are worth. For people who are just being hired you should bring in proof of your salary from a previous job. This shows your future boss what you were being paid and that you are not just making numbers up.
If you are asking for a raise then bring in some form of performance goals that you have met or things that you have done to go above and beyond your daily workload. Do not expect to go to your boss and ask for a raise just because you want one or feel like you deserve it. You need to have reasonable proof that shows you are worthy of the next level.

You are going to need to need to be flexible. Expecting a direct raise in your base salary may not be realistic, but if you look at other ways to increase your overall compensation then you may get more out of your negotiations. Instead of just concentrating on a higher salary, maybe think about getting some form of bonus or an increase in your health insurance plans. This may make it easier on the company, in a cost effective way, to help both you and the company out.

Going to your boss and simply asking for a raise is going to be tough to do. One way to possibly grab his or her attention is to come up with some form of performance goals for yourself. This way the company will see a benefit from your hard work and you can be rewarded.

These are all great ways to approach your boss next time you look for a raise. The most important part is being prepared and being realistic.
This article was provided by the authors at LiveLoveCoffee.com an online coffee shop with articles discussing interesting morning chats and reviews on Single Cup Coffee Maker.

Job Info , Jobs , Employment

10 Effective Employee Benefit Ideas from Google Headquarters

Google’s founders often state that the company is not serious about anything but search. They built a company around the idea that work should be challenging and the challenge should be fun.


To that end, Google’s culture is unlike any in corporate America, and it’s not because of the whimsical lava lamps and large rubber balls, or the fact that one of the company’s chefs used to cook for the Grateful Dead. In the same way Google puts users first when it comes to online services, Google puts employees first when it comes to daily life in its offices.


“The goal is to strip away everything that gets in our employees’ way. We provide a standard package of fringe benefits, but on top of that are first-class dining facilities, gyms, laundry rooms, massage rooms, haircuts, carwashes, dry cleaning, commuting buses – just about anything a hardworking employee might want. Let’s face it: programmers want to program, they don’t want to do their laundry. So we make it easy for them to do both.” Eric Schmidt, CEO Google


Benefits Philosophy: We strive to be innovative and unique in all services we provide both to customers and employees, including our benefits and perks offerings. We realize and celebrate that our employees have diverse needs, and that this diversity requires flexible and individually directed support. Our priority is to offer a customizable program that can be tailored to the specific needs of each individual, whether they enjoy ice climbing in Alaska, want to retire by age 40, or plan to adopt 3 children (Google Jobs).


When you take a close look at these employee benefits Google provides, you will see a common thread that indicates how much Google sees their employees as a close-knit family. The thought, consideration and assistance they offer, with their employees' needs being the focus, is the glue that keeps their workers happy, healthy and financially taken care of.



10 Simple and Effective and Effective Employee Benefits You Can Learn from Google:

Here are some of the benefits, other than the standard good health care and retirement plans, that people who work at Google love. Maybe you can incorporate some of these ideas into your Employee Benefits Package:

1. 529 College Savings Plan. Now, this is an incredible benefit that provides a way for employees to save part of their paychecks for post-secondary education for themselves or their children.

This plan is another offering besides Google's Flex Spending Account and their matching 401(k) Plan options.

2. Maternity Leave. Google offers up to 18 weeks off at about 100% of an employee's regular pay. That's especially generous because many large corporations only give up to four weeks' paid.

Check this out: on top of the fantastic paid leave, new moms and dads are able to have take-out meals covered up to $500 during the first 3 months they are home with the new baby.

3. Parental Leave. This is a special benefit for non-primary caregivers. For example, if your sister wound up in the hospital and needed you to fly out to care for your nieces and nephews, you get up to 7 weeks off, paid at approximately 100%.

4. Employee Referral Program. Google's motto is, "Good people know other good people," and encourages recommendations of candidates for openings. If they hire your referral and remains employed at Google for at least two months, the referrer (you) gets a nice bonus.

5. Back-Up Child Care. If your babysitter doesn't show or your daycare suddenly closed its doors one morning, Google will provide five days of free childcare through Children's Creative Learning Center (CCLC), for ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age.

6. Gift-Matching Program. Let it never be said that Google doesn't contribute to charity and go the extra mile to encourage their employees to get more mileage out of their charitable dollars.

Google matches contribution of up to $3000 per year from eligible employees to non-profit organizations, says the Google site. "Bolstering employees contributions to worthy causes with matching gifts doesn't just mean helping hundreds of organizations, both locally and globally, it's also a tangible expression."

7. Adoption assistance. Google assists their employees by offering financial help in the adoption of a child.

Google will reimburse the adoptive parents up to $5,000 for legal expenses, adoption agencies, or any other professional adoption fees. On top of this, parental leave and take-out benefits also apply here.

8. Financial Planning Classes. Google provides their employees with objective and conflict-free financial education courses that are comprehensive and cover a wide variety of financial topics---free.

In addition to these courses, Google offers EAP, an Employee Assistance Program that provides services for employees and their dependents that include free short-term counseling, legal consultations, child care referrals, and even pet care referrals.

9. Great On-Site Services. Google headquarters in Mountain View, California provides their employees with an on-site oil change, car wash, massage therapy, dry cleaning, hair stylist, gym, fitness classes and bicycle repair.

In addition to these services, gourmet chefs create a wide variety of healthy and delicious---and free---lunches and dinners for Google's employees. Google also offers satisfying snacks in between meals.

10. On-Site Doctor. Also at Google's Mountain View headquarters, employees have the convenience of seeing a doctor for medical attention right on-site.

This perk could save having an employee leave the workplace in order to be seen by a medical professional.

Important Points to Remember when Adding Employee Benefits to your Business:

• Make sure your benefits and rewards match the accomplishments. In other words, a reward does not need to cost a lot of money; what matters is that the benefits is of value to the employee.
• Center your company benefits around your employees' needs.
• Be fair with reward systems. Make sure that whatever benefit or reward system you set up can never be construed into “playing favorites.”
• Don’t let your mood(s) dictate when to offer benefits or rewards to employees for jobs well-done. Employees can detect when an employer is sincere when showing appreciation.
• Never use benefits or rewards as leverage to get what you want. Don’t put a reward in place for everyone and then use it against everyone---for lack of performance by one or two people---by taking it away. Again, be fair to all.
• Learn to incorporate and give rewards to the right employees for the right reasons.

Job Info , Jobs , Employment

7 Things To Evaluate In An Employee Evaluation

Source : A Touch of business.com

Why An Employee Evaluation is Important

Even if you own a small business, performing regular employee evaluations helps to keep employees on track with your goals for the company; reward good work performance, and help to give the employee direction.

Employee evaluations are also important to you, as the business owner, in order to determine if you employ the right people for the roles they play in the company and to use the evaluations in order to call attention to areas that need improvement.

Evaluations offer an excellent opportunity to review stages that employees are at and where and how they can grow to another level.


What Items should be Present in an Employee Evaluation?

While many companies are moving toward self-evaluations and software, the same elements are present as when using the old-fashioned form method:

• Job performance.
• Attitude.
• Ability to listen.
• Readily accepts responsibility(s) and is accountable for actions.
• Commitment/dedication/ownership of his/her job.
• How well the employee interacts with other employees and customers.
• Desire to learn and grow with the business.

1. Employee Evaluation - Track Performance

• Overall employee performance is the culmination of all evaluation criteria. Many supervisors use a scoring system and determine a level or percentage based upon the scoring of the other items in the evaluation.
• For this reason, many business owners have opted to perform a 30-day evaluation and, from then on, perform scheduled evaluations every six months instead of yearly. Many businesses learned that a year was too long to “touch base” with the goals, achievements, and areas that needed improvement with their employees.
• Additionally, performing 6-month evaluations add incentive for promotions and pay increases.

2. Employee Evaluations Determine Employee Attitude

• To many people, attitude is everything.
• An employee who has a positive nature and attitude is an asset to any business, large or small.
• Employees who have a positive outlook will always see a glass half-full; not half empty. These people strive for a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work, not for a sense of preserving ego, but having their own sense of a job well done.
• While having a positive attitude can be taught through examples of others, books, and seminars, those employees who are forward-thinkers and positive thinkers as a part of their personality are great assets to businesses.

3. Employee Evaluations Show an Employee’s Listening Skills

• Hearing is much different from listening. While employees hear what you or supervisors say, have they listened?
• Let’s use the analogy of parenthood. Parents know instinctively if their child has listened to directions---and not only heard the directions, but show he or she has listened by following through with the desired action.
• The same theory applies to employees. While they are not children and should not be treated as such, listening skills are as important as any other aspect of their jobs and tasks.

4. Employee Evaluations Ascertain an Employee’s Level of Responsibility and Accountability

• A responsible employee is an accountable employee.
• This means that there should be no excuses and no finger-pointing if and when confronted as to why certain tasks were poorly performed---or not performed at all.
• Caution should be exercised when determining an employee’s level of responsibility and accountability because, often, the business owner did not explain a process thoroughly or in a way that the employee understood well.
• Additionally, bear in mind that if there is a problem involving tasks and their completion, the finger is most often pointed at the business ownership itself.

5. Employee Evaluations Show How Much an Employee is Committed to His or Her Job

• Tardiness and many sick days is often an indicator that the employee is not committed or dedicated to his or her job. In other words, the employee is “there for a paycheck.”
• Commitment and dedication to one’s job also leads right back to the business ownership and “employee cultivation.”
• Does your business provide job incentives such as regular pay increases, bonuses, paid vacation, health insurance, and a reward system? Often, if a business has benefits that offer growth and tokens of appreciation or “rewards,” employees feel more attached to the business’ personality and benefits package and system.

6. Employee Evaluations Include an Employee’s Level of Social Skills

• An employee who possesses a positive and professional set of social skills creates several advantages for a business.
• If an employee not only works well with other employees, has a team-player spirit, these qualities spill over into having great customer service skills. This not only helps to maintain a smooth-flowing and cooperative work environment, established and new customer relationships can be developed and maintained using even ONE employee’s good social skills.
• Letters of commendation from customers should be filed along with employee records, for instance, and included in an evaluation.

7. An Employee Evaluation can Help Determine the Longevity of an Employee

• The longevity of an employee includes how much the employee is excited about the field of the business.
• If your business does its job by incorporating bonuses, incentives, rewards, and evaluations, employees who love the field itself are most likely to stay and grow with the company.
• In addition, employees who are excited to be working in a field they have a passion for are also seekers of additional knowledge and know-how, can be cultivated for managerial positions and motivate others, and are most easily cross-trained.

Important Points to Remember with Employee Evaluations:

• Develop and write down goals, strategies, and measures for success to compare with those of employees.
• Give consistent ‘credit where credit is due’ and do regular evaluations at smaller intervals of time such as every 6 months as opposed to yearly. This will add to employee performance and employee relations.
• Be fair when assessing evaluations; sometimes the business itself needs fine-tuning in order to gain better employee performance.
• Leave enough time to go over evaluations with employees. Many business owners take their employees to lunch when conducting an employee evaluation in order to “lighten up” the atmosphere.
• Makes sure all assessments have data to support them such as letters of commendation as well as documented dates and times with mishaps of the employee so that an employee can never interpret their evaluations as part of favoritism or used as a personal attack.

Job Info , Jobs , Employment

How to Boost Your Personal Power and Command of Life

Source : Tipsforsuccess.org

You are about to read about one of the most effective self-improvement tools ever discovered. This one technique can do more for your mental strength, job performance and overall competence than dozens of self-help books or motivational seminars.

This simple formula eliminates self-criticism, fear and stress. It is applicable to any situation and works every time. You can use it repeatedly without limitation.

L. Ron Hubbard discovered the KRC Triangle in 1960.

"THE K-R-C TRIANGLE"

"The points are K for KNOWLEDGE, R for RESPONSIBILITY and C for CONTROL."

"It is difficult to be responsible for something or control something unless you have KNOWLEDGE of it."

"It is folly to try to control something or even know something without RESPONSIBILITY."

"It is hard to fully know something or be responsible for something over which you have no CONTROL, otherwise the result can be an overwhelm."

"Little by little one can make anything go right by

"INCREASING KNOWLEDGE . . . ,"

"INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY . . . ,"

"INCREASING CONTROL . . . ."

"If one sorts out any situation one finds oneself in on this basis, he will generally succeed."

"By inching up each corner of the KRC triangle bit by bit, ignoring the losses and making the wins firm, a being at length discovers his power and command of life." — L. Ron Hubbard

KRC Triangle Application Recommendations

Select a problem and write it down or type it into your computer. Then write or type the answers for each of these five steps.

1. Raise the Knowledge corner.

How can you increase your knowledge about the problem? What do you need to learn about it? What should you study to better understand the problem?

2. Raise the Responsibility corner.

How can you take more ownership for the problem? What parts of the problem are you responsible for? Can you accept responsibility for the parts you did not cause?

3. Raise the Control corner.

What part of the problem can you control? How could you take a little more control for the other parts?

4. Ignore the losses.

If you focus on losses or failures, they get bigger and more overwhelming. You then pull in even more losses. So find ways to ignore these losses.

If ignoring losses is difficult, try writing them down on a sheet of paper and then destroy the paper. Shift your attention. Stop talking or thinking about them. Avoid people who bring them up. Move on.

If you catch yourself dwelling on losses, knock it off. Put your attention elsewhere. Stop talking about losses. And learn to ignore the failures of others as well.

5. Make the wins firm.

What can you do to make your successes firm? How can you solidify them?

Maybe you can write them down or put them on a wall. Keep a record of your wins. Talk about them to everyone you can. Celebrate them.

Also, make a habit of finding and focusing on the wins of others. The more attention you put on success, the more success you get.

Some of your answers to these questions are easy, enjoyable steps. Do those right now! You will see a sudden improvement in the problem.

Then do the tougher steps you wrote. Once you start on them you will find they are not so tough after all.

If following these five steps does not completely solve the problem, repeat the steps until the problem is gone forever.

As well as solving problems for you, these steps will start to bring out the best in you. You will discover a new sense of command over life that you have always had, but never used.

Use the KRC Triangle to release the real powerhouse you know that you are.

Job Info , Jobs , Employment

12 Steps To A Promotion

By : Edward Chalmers

Climbing the corporate ladder requires hard work, good timing and a little bit of luck. It would be great if your academic credentials, job skills and performance reviews would magically open the doors to the executive suite, but life's not like that. You need to create and execute your own plan.

Here are some tips to help you land that promotion.

1- Master your current job

Even if you're not interested in making your present position your life's work, give it your very best. Keep track of your accomplishments. Find ways to increase productivity. Offer well-researched suggestions that will reduce costs. Accept constructive criticism. Always be prepared to deal with any situation without becoming defensive, blaming others or blowing your professional image.

2- Volunteer to take on (valuable) extra tasks

Plan your strategy. Sometimes it's better to take on a series of smaller tasks instead of a flashy major project in addition to your regular workload. While others are vying for the more visible responsibilities, you'll be proving your worth and value by efficiently taking care of the less coveted ones.

3- Make your boss look good

Even if you do not particularly like your current manager, make it your goal to ensure the department is successful. When your boss gets promoted, someone has to take his place. Why shouldn't it be you? When you're seen as knowledgeable, skilled and interested, you'll be considered promotable. Just don't be a brownnoser or tie yourself too closely to your boss. If he's fired for incompetence, you don't want to be guilty by association.

4- Stay in close contact with the HR department

Making friends with people in personnel will help you find out quickly about upcoming openings. Your human resources department can also advise you of available training opportunities. Let it be known that you have long-term goals with the company. When decisions are being made for career development opportunities, you want to be on the HR short list.

5- Maintain positive relationships with the staff

You're not going to like everyone you work with, but no one else needs to know it. Be polite, considerate and courteous at all times. Be a team player and share accolades with others. By acknowledging the efforts of other employees, you'll earn their trust and respect. And watch your reputation: Keep your personal relationships private and don't do or say anything you might regret in the office, on business trips or at company functions.

Show off those skills, teach someone your position and always look good

6- Let your leadership skills shined

Every rung on the corporate ladder requires a strong image as a natural leader. Offer encouragement to others in the office, recognize special achievements and, on occasion, organize office outings. Getting the staff together for a beer after work is a great team-building tool.

7- Groom a successor

If you're the only one who can do your job, guess what? You'll be doing it forever. Share your knowledge and skills. When you're going on vacation, ask other people to handle aspects of your job and teach them how to do them well.

8- Get a mentor

Find someone you trust, preferably a senior manager or director with a lot of experience and a large network. Ask for advice. Discuss your career goals with him and plan your strategy. Sometimes you need to take a lateral transfer to gain a different type of skill in order to return to your preferred area in a higher position of authority.

9- Take additional training

No matter what your educational background is, there's always more you could learn. Look into night courses, seminars and workshops, and ask your mentor and your boss if they would add value to the company. Read business publications and books. Sign up for online informational newsletters. Stay up-to-date on your industry as a whole, not just your job.

10- Look presentable at all times

It's difficult to see vice president-potential in someone who constantly dresses down. If khakis and polo shirts are the standard in your office, make sure yours are clean, well-pressed and of good quality. Have a sports jacket handy in case you're called to an important meeting in the executive offices. Keep your hair stylish and your shoes polished.

11- Perfect your elevator pitch

You never know when opportunity will knock. If you meet the CEO, introduce yourself in a way that will leave him wanting to learn more about you. When networking or meeting clients, you want them to remember you for the right reasons. Never brag and don't be pushy. Ambition is an admirable trait unless you're perceived as being an egotistical showoff.

12- Watch your timing

It's usually better not to ask for a promotion. Avoid bringing this up when your boss is obviously stressed and has a strict deadline to meet. Choose the time wisely and let it be known that you feel ready to take on additional responsibilities. Try not to show you are in a rush for a raise and a new title.

Be patient.
promotions don't just happen
You cannot expect to be offered a promotion based solely on merit, potential or seniority, and there will be times when someone seemingly less qualified is offered a position you feel you deserve. Don't quit in a childish huff or you'll prove that you weren't the right person for the job. Hang in there and continue following these tips. An even better position may become available or the incumbent will fail miserably and you'll be promoted to replace him.

Remain focused on your long-term career goals. Maintain your integrity, your confidence and your efforts, and you'll get yourself promoted.

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How To Give Constructive Criticism in the Workplace

By : Wendy Coleman

Constructive criticism, also referred to as constructive feedback, is a crucial part of the workplace. It is difficult to tell someone something negative that will not hurt or make him or her feel bad. But sometimes you need to give critique, so that the productivity and efficiency of the business can be improved. Consider the following suggestions on how to give constructive criticism in the workplace.

Present the issue

Whenever you give constructive feedback make sure you concentrate on the current one. It is not advisable to talk about past issues during the discussion. This is like badgering your employee or co-worker with criticisms which would agitate him even more. Also, whenever you bring up the past problems of that person, he or she would tend to get distracted or confused and thus would overlook or fail to remember what the constructive criticism of the current issue really is. Whenever you focus on one issue and remain on task, you can give specific solutions that he or she should take. Do not allow your discussion to wander. This is important because you help him or her recognize what the issue is and how it affects others and the rest of the company.

Negative and positive feedback

During your conversation, combine healthy negative comments with positive ones. It is best to mention his or her good qualities and strong points so that you can talk to him or her about your intentions of helping. This way the criticism is softened. Be calm when giving out the constructive feedback. You should not take things personally and avoid criticizing his or her traits or character. This will embarrass him or her and in the end, this will reflect on you. Eventually, your employees or co-workers will not respect you. You should also try putting yourself in their shoes whenever you give constructive feedback. Whenever you empathize when providing criticism, you tend to be more sensitive to what you will say and what your employees will feel.


Action plan

List down the specific points your employee should improve on or behaviors he or she should change. You can also set a specific time or a deadline for them to reach their goals. This way he or she would have concrete ideas that he or she can use to better his performance. You can also provide him or her with opportunities of training and development and even mentoring. You can set meetings at the end of the month or at the end of the week to check on your employee's progress and improvement.

Response from your employee

Give him time to respond to your feedback. Be open and listen to whatever he or she has to say about what he or she has done. Give him the chance to explain his side of the story. Always remember to remain professional and not keep it personal. If he or she is afraid to speak up after what happened, allow him to respond through writing. It would be good if you keep your office open to written responses from your employees.

Giving feedback in a constructive way will even boost your employee's or co-worker's self-esteem and thus increase productivity and output.

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Six Secrets Of Successful Networking

By: Victoria K. Munro

Networking is an art as well as a highly effective tool to grow most any business. Anyone can become an effective networker and enjoy the process, provided they're willing to invest a little time and energy. Just showing up and hoping for the best won't result in success. Apply the Six Secrets below and make networking work for you and your business.

Secret #1: Keep an Upbeat Attitude
Attitude is critical. Failure to maintain a positive, enthusiastic attitude towards networking is guaranteed to diminish your success. Put yourself in a good frame of mind by remembering that you can learn and benefit from everyone you meet.

Focus on what you'll gain. For example, you can:
• Get to know potential power partners and people who might be able to help your clients or who might eventually become clients themselves.
• Learn from other people's experiences as you listen to them.
• Make new friends.

Secret #2: Go with a Game Plan
Wear something unique that stands out and makes it easier for others to ask you questions and start a conversation. Pins, custom nametags or embroidered logos can also pique someone's curiosity and beg a question.

Create meaningful conversational starters. Instead of asking, "What do you do?" when you meet new people, you could ask:
• What do you enjoy most about networking?
• What do you find most rewarding (or challenging) about being a business owner?
• What are you passionate about?

Secret #3: Craft a Dynamic 30-Second Commercial
At most networking functions, you will be repeatedly asked what you do. Respond with a commercial that is:
• Emotionally engaging
• Memorable
• Succinct -- don't ramble
• Sincere and caring -- expressing genuine passion for what you do
• Intriguing -- causing people to ask more questions

Use strong visual language -- word pictures they'll remember. This will make it easier for them to refer you when they meet someone who needs your products or services. A friend who operates a pest control company gave the same short message at his leads group each week. "If it moves and you don't want it to, call me!" No one ever forgot what he did. A children's portrait photographer encourages potential clients to buy the gift that she guarantees mom-in-law will never return. Always focus on the benefits you offer.

Secret #4: Get a Great Business Card
Always carry an adequate supply of business cards, and make sure that your card truly reflects who you are and what you do. This may be the only representation of you and your company you'll leave with someone. Hire an expert to create a card that clearly, attractively and accurately portrays who you are and what you offer. A creative tag line can help explain even a complex concept and make it memorable.

Secret #5: Don't Focus on the Food
Plan to eat before arriving at an event. If that isn't possible, take care of your hunger first, then start networking. Don't try to mix the two. It's impossible to give someone your full attention while balancing a plate and glass and digging in a purse or pocket for a business card.

Secret #6: Make a Fabulous First Impression
There are no second chances at making a fabulous first impression! Business is built on relationships, and you're there to start building new relationships, not to sell your products or services. A key to making a good first impression is ensuring that the other person feels important, allowing him or her to bask in the spotlight.

Apply the secrets above and develop the fine art of networking to grow your business.

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Networking To Find A Job

By: David J Clemen

The best and most common way to find out about open positions is through networking. Networking is all about talking to people. As you talk to people your network begins to grow. Once you have built that network it will grow and grow as you communicate with more people. That network will be a valuable resource to gain advice, information and other support to help you be successful professionally.

Networking is not just about calling everyone you know both personally and professionally and asking if they know of any open job positions. An effective networker will take a much different approach.

First they will start by listing as many names of contacts they have that they can possibly think of. This list can consist of both personal and professional contacts. The very next step is to put together some type of presentation. It is important to remember at this stage it is not about just calling up and asking if they know of anyone hiring. The initial goal is to be seeking career and industry advice. The reason you are doing this is because you will not come off as a desperate job seeker but someone doing research. If you just ask about open positions they will quickly say “no” and that will be the end of it. What you want to do is build an active network that will be keeping you in mind when something does cross their path. Here is a better way to approach it a good suggestion for your networking presentation.

“Hi Bob, Jim Jones at ABC Company suggested that I give you a call. Jim and I have worked together over the years and he mentioned you work in the software industry and are the VP of Product Development. I am a programmer and feel you could probably give me some valuable career advice. I would really appreciate some of your time. Would you be available for a cup of coffee next week?”

You did not ask for a job but advice. There is a big difference. People are always willing to help someone that has made them feel good about themselves and who appears to be genuinely appreciative of their time. This approach can be utilized in many ways. You can ask for job hunting advice (resume, cover letter, etc...), industry advice, contacts, industry information and much more. As these people are giving you advice they are learning more and more about your experience and qualifications. Making them a very effective tool for you to identify open positions.

By having these conversations you now have people that are familiar with you keeping you in mind for positions. Also always remember to send a thank you letter to these people. It will go a very long way.

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How to organize your work day (part II)

Develop your system

A filing system is essential to staying organized on the job. Some people prefer to keep everything on their computer so they have a digital record, and some people prefer the tried and true method of paper files. While I advocate the Green practices of keeping everything digital, I find a combination of both works best for me. That way, if I lose something and a client calls, I can lay my hands on the pieces of information I will most likely need if my computer is off or, perish the thought, crashes all together. Develop a good filing system and use it faithfully to organize your work day.

Filing cabinets are a great way to keep everything sorted and organized without having it sitting out in the open looking like a mess. It is easy to access and keeps everything neatly tucked away until you are ready to use it. Keep things even better organized with classroom storage tall baskets with handles from a teacher supply store. Small items such as pens or boxes of extra paperclips can be stored and easily accessed in them. Having extras of things you use regularly is an excellent way to organize your work day.

If you do not have to leave your office to get supplies, you make more time to work on that To Do List.

Set a time limit

Many of us who work from home especially are in love with our timers. There are a number of timers available for free online. In fact, I am using Online Stopwatch right now. You can also use a simple kitchen timer. Simply figure out how much time you need to complete a project or a portion of your project, set the timer and do not stop until you hear it ring or buzz. It is a simple idea, but brilliant.

By making yourself work until the timer goes off, you can complete a good chunk of your project. Just make sure you do not get distracted by the phone or an unnecessary visitor. You can set your timer in small increments of fifteen or twenty minutes at a time. It doesn’t matter how long, just stick to the time.

Be realistic

And finally, be realistic. You cannot finish everything all in one day. There will always be something to put off until tomorrow and that is fine. If you follow these steps on how to organize your work day, you will find there are lines through many of your tasks on the list. When you get to work the next day, re-write your list and remove those items that are complete. Feel free to add new tasks, but know that they will eventually be moved off your list for good.

It is an art to figure out how to organize your workday. If you follow a plan, you will feel as if you have accomplished more than your thought possible.

Speaking as someone who has lived with lists for years, it’s a beautiful thing!

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How to start a t-Shirt business (Part II)

Source : A Touch of Business.com


Standing out in the crowd

Because it's become so easy to start up a t-shirt business in the 'aughts, the competition (especially online) is extremely fierce. So much so that very few people are able to make a full-time living with either t-shirt design or sales.

There are several things a new t-shirt business can do to make success more likely. For instance, it's always a good idea to make a real effort to get hip to what your target demographic really is wearing these days – don't guess.

Furthermore, you're far more likely to make a quick impact by focusing on a very particular market segment. It's not enough to market your t-shirt to “young people.” You'd do better to focus on a very specific niche market such as “young people with motor scooters” or “Irish-American skateboarders.”

You can come up with designs yourself or partner with local artists to share the profits. Even if you don't have any talent with design software or drawing, you can make designs that feature words only.


Marketing for success

Though competitive, many people are able to make a nice side-income from t-shirt business opportunities. Many who do so eventually branch out into other items of apparel. For instance, if you've invested in screen-printing equipment, you can pay the extra for large-format equipment that allows you to make banners and signs.

The only thing holding you back is a marketing effort. All t-shirt business models should include quite a few free-samples and plenty of innovative give-aways to get people to pay attention. Don't be afraid to hit the pavements and get your t-shirts on as many backs as possible. Never be afraid to hand out your cards.

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Using Career Success Stories in Interviews and Networking

by Frank Traditi

Companies hire you based on your ability to demonstrate what you can do for them and how you can solve their problems. While a hiring manager expects you to have all of the functional skills necessary for the job, they are much more interested in how you can use your special abilities to handle the challenges given to you if you were in the job. The big question is how do you demonstrate this ability in an interview when they haven't seen you at work yet? The most effective method is to tell a story.

Often during interviews you'll get the opportunity to highlight your unique talents. A very effective way to do this is to introduce your career success stories about how you overcame significant challenges. You may have suggested a creative idea to handle an employee performance problem. Maybe you instituted a step-by-step process to reduce customer complaints. Perhaps your persistence paid off to close a multi-year contract with the largest customer the company has ever seen.

All of these actions resulted in great accomplishments throughout your career. Now you get the chance to tell the story of how you did it. To help you tell your story in the most convincing way, you need a simple format to work from. Here's an easy, three-step process to put the pieces together for your success stories when you get the opportunity to tell them.


1. Describe the problem or opportunity you faced.

Here you should describe the situation you were up against. It may have been a special project that you were assigned or a highly volatile customer issue. Perhaps it was an aggressive sales objective never attempted before. You're setting up the plot of your story here.


2. What did you do?

How did you deal with the challenge? Perhaps you devised plans, assigned tasks, coordinated meetings, created a system, or mobilized a team to tackle the problem. Describe the process, step-by-step, of how you attacked the problem through to resolution. Remember, you are explaining and marketing your ability to solve problems.


3. What was the positive result?

Describe, as specifically as you can, the positive outcome of your actions. How did you save or make money for the company or department? What changed for the better as a result of your initiative? Did a difficult communication problem disappear after you got involved? Did you repair a big customer problem? The more you can point to specific, bottom-line results, the more convinced a hiring manager is that you are person for the job.

Another great place to incorporate storytelling is with your network. When your contacts have an opportunity to refer you to their contacts or even a potential hiring manager, they can tell your story. A memorable story shared with a new contact creates a place mark in their mind about you. That simple connection can help create a new relationship with someone influential in your career. We've all heard stories about the service provider who showed up and solved a huge problem at our homes or offices. It works the same way for job seekers. Your network is out praising your abilities to their contacts, and the connection is made.

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How to Build and Expand Your Career Network: 10 Proven Techniques

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Just about every article on job-hunting you'll read on Quintessential Careers or any other career site says the same thing -- almost to the point of making it a job-seeker mantra: "the most effective method for finding a new job is through networking." Listening to job-hunting gurus and career coaches results in the same call to action -- to contact your network of contacts and enlist their help in uncovering job leads.

The problem for many job-seekers, though, is not so much in understanding the extreme importance of networking, but in the execution of networking. More specifically, job-seekers wonder, where do all these networking contacts come from -- and how can I get people to be part of my network? The key point to remember is that networking is relationship-building. Your network consists of people you've met (either in person or online) -- and you build your network by going out and meeting more people.

Then the question becomes, how do I meet people to add to my network? The thrust of this article is to provide you with 10 proven techniques for building and expanding your career network.

1. Ask members of your current network for referrals. There is probably not an easier way to expand your network than to simply ask your current friends, family, and associates for the contact information of others whom they think would be beneficial for you to know. The "friend-of-a-friend" connection is quite strong and usually very successful. "Who else should I be talking to?" is a good question to use when asking for referrals.

2. Join professional or trade organizations. No better method exists for finding people who share the same professional interests and goals than joining one or more industry organizations. Once you're a member, you'll usually get access to the membership list, which can open up many new prospective network contacts. Most organizations also run regional or national meetings and conferences, which leads to the next technique for building your network of contacts.

3. Attend professional/trade meetings, shows, etc. The great thing about trade shows and industry meetings and conferences is that you'll encounter new people to meet -- and opportunities for both "meet-and-greets" and more in-depth meetings. Seek out peers as well as more experienced members -- and even speakers -- to add to your network.

4. Volunteer. Providing your time and effort to a needy cause is perhaps one of the strongest venues for networking -- because you are working side-by-side with people who share your passion for helping others -- but often overlooked by job-seekers either too busy or too focused on finding industry contacts. Find an organization that needs your help (and there are many) and start volunteering.

5. Attend networking events. This technique is a no-brainer for adding more people to your network of contacts. Various groups hold networking events, including colleges, professional and industry associations, chambers of commerce, and the like. Review community calendars online or in your local newspaper for details.

6. Contact former professors, college alumni association, and/or career services office. One of the strongest ties that help in building new and strong network contacts is sharing the bond of a college or university. Making additional contacts with people affiliated with your college gives you a solid base of shared experiences -- and a strong connection to build upon.

7. Join or ramp up your activities on social and professional networking sites. Once you're a member of Facebook, LinkedIn, or a similar networking site, you'll immediately be provided with strategies for adding friends or connections, such as reconnecting with people who attended the same schools. Electronic connections are not nearly as strong as personal connections, but that should not stop you from at least trying this technique. You can use your virtual connections to grease the wheels toward face-to-face meetings. (Remember to develop and keep a professional profile on these sites.)

8. Join or start job club. In some ways, a job club is the ultimate networking experience because the people you meet there all have shared experiences and the desire for a new job. Run the right way, a job club is a very positive and rewarding experience, a chance to help yourself and others. Learn more in our article, For Networking and Support, Join or Start a Job Club.

9. Conduct informational interviews. There is no better strategy for entry-level job-seekers and career-changers to find and add people to your professional network than to conduct several (or many) informational interviews. As the name implies, it's an interview you initiate with someone in your profession/industry whose brain you can pick about how s/he got their start, moved up the ladder, and so forth. Interested in learning more? Go to our Informational Interviewing Tutorial.

10. Contact former co-workers, vendors, customers/clients. Many times as we move from job to job, employer to employer, we lose touch with former co-workers, customers, and the like. These people all had a relationship with you before and could again -- you simply need to reconnect with them.


Final Thoughts -- and Strategies
Above all else, remember that networking is a reciprocal relationship. You may be seeking help uncovering job leads today, but tomorrow someone in your network may be asking for your help. Never be afraid to ask people in your network for help; don't ask them to get you a job, but do ask them for possible leads, other people they know that you might add to your network, and any advice or other information you seek. When meeting people for the first time, don't make it all about you; ask about the other person and what s/he does for a living.

Finally, always be prepared for networking -- because the opportunity to meet someone can happen literally anywhere… and the person could change your life. To be fully prepared for networking, always carry networking or business cards, have a short elevator speech introduction at the ready, and keep a copy of your resume with you (electronically or in print) just in case a networking encounter leads to deeper possibilities.

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Avoid These 10 Interview Bloopers

by Deborah Walker

We've all heard stories of job candidates who looked great on paper but who were absolute disasters in person. With fewer and fewer interview opportunities available in this competitive market, it's essential to make the best possible first impression. You can learn from the mistakes of others and avoid the top 10 worst interview blunders.

Poor handshake: The three-second handshake that starts the interview is your first opportunity to create a great impression. But all too often an interview is blown right from the start by an ineffective handshake. Once you've delivered a poor handshake, it's nearly impossible to recover your efforts to build rapport. Here are some examples:

• The Limp Hand (or "dead fish"): Gives the impression of disinterest or weakness
• The Tips of the Fingers: Shows lack of ability to engage.
• The Arm Pump: Sincerity is questionable, much like an overly aggressive salesman.

Even if you're a seasoned professional, don't assume you have avoided these pitfalls. Your handshake may be telling more about you than you know. Ask for honest critiques from several friends who aren't afraid to tell you the truth.

Talking too much: In my recruiting days, I abhorred over-talkative candidates. So did most of my client employers. Over-talking takes a couple of forms:

• Taking too long to answer direct questions. The impression: This candidate just can't get to the point.
• Nervous talkers. The impression: This candidate is covering up something or is outright lying.

To avoid either of these forms of over-talking, practice answering questions in a direct manner. Avoid nervous talking by preparing for your interview with role-play

Talking negatively about current or past employers/managers: The fastest way to talk yourself out of a new job is to say negative things. Even if your last boss was Attila the Hun, never, never state your ill feelings about him/her. No matter how reasonable your complaints, you will come out the loser if you show that you disrespect your boss because the interviewer will assume that you would similarly trash him or her. When faced with the challenge of talking about former employers, make sure you are prepared with a positive spin on your experiences.

Showing up late or too early: One of the first lessons in job-search etiquette is to show up on time for interviews. Many job-seekers don't realize, however, that showing up too early often creates a poor first impression as well. Arriving more than 10 minutes early for an interview is a dead giveaway that the job seeker has too much time on his or her hands, much like the last one picked for the softball team. Don't diminish your candidate desirability by appearing desperate. Act as if your time were as valuable as the interviewer's. Always arrive on time, but never more than 10 minutes early.

Treating the receptionist rudely: Since the first person you meet on an interview is usually a receptionist, this encounter represents the first impression you'll make. Don't mistake low rank for low input. Often that receptionist's job is to usher you into your interview. The receptionist has the power to pave your way positively or negatively before you even set eyes on the interviewer. The interviewer may also solicit the receptionist's opinion of you after you leave.

Asking about benefits, vacation time or salary: What if a car salesman asked to see your credit report before allowing you to test drive the cars? That would be ridiculous, and you'd walk away in disgust. The effect is about the same when a job-seeker asks about benefits or other employee perks during the first interview. Wait until you've won the employer over before beginning that discussion.

Not preparing for the interview: Nothing communicates disinterest like a candidate who hasn't bothered to do pre-interview research. On the flip side, the quickest way to a good impression is to demonstrate your interest with a few well thought out questions that reflect your knowledge of their organization. [Editor's note: To ensure that you are prepared, see our article, The Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Preparation.]

Verbal ticks: An ill-at-ease candidate seldom makes a good impression. The first signs of nervousness are verbal ticks. We all have them from time to time -- "umm," "like," "you know." Ignore the butterflies in your stomach and put up a front of calm confidence by avoiding verbal ticks. You can also sometimes avoid verbal ticks by pausing for a few seconds to gather your thoughts before each response.

One of the best ways to reduce or eliminate them is through role-play. Practice sharing your best success stories ahead of time, and you'll feel more relaxed during the real interview.

Not enough/too much eye contact: Either situation can create a negative effect. Avoid eye contact and you'll seem shifty, untruthful, or disnterested; offer too much eye contact, and you'll wear the interviewer out. If you sometimes have trouble with eye-contact balance, work this issue out ahead of time in an interview practice session with a friend.

Failure to match communication styles: It's almost impossible to make a good first impression if you can't communicate effectively with an interviewer. But you can easily change that situation by mirroring the way the interviewer treats you. For instance:

• If the interviewer seems all business, don't attempt to loosen him/her up with a joke or story. Be succinct and businesslike
• If the interviewer is personable, try discussing his/her interests. Often the items on display in the office can offer a clue.
• If asked a direct question, answer directly. Then follow up by asking if more information is needed.

Allowing the interviewer to set the tone of conversation can vastly improve your chances of making a favorable impression. You can put the interviewer at ease -- and make yourself seem more like him or her -- by mirroring his or her communication style.


Final Thoughts
Just as a strong resume wins you an opportunity to interview, strong interview skills will win you consideration for the job. You already know that you won't earn an interview unless your resume sets you apart as a candidate of choice. Similarly, you should know that polishing your interview skills can mean the difference between getting the job offer -- and being a runner-up.

Start your job search with a resume that creates a stellar first impression, then back those facts up with your extraordinary interview skills. You will have made yourself a better candidate by avoiding these ten interview pitfalls. And no one will have to talk about you as the candidate who "almost" got the job.

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Acing the Behavioral Interview

by : Jeanne Knight

Behavioral interviewing is an interviewing technique created in the 1970s by industrial psychologists that has become quite popular with employers. The premise behind behavioral interviewing is that the most accurate predictor of future performance is past performance in a similar situation. For those unfamiliar with this interviewing style, a behavioral interview can be a challenging experience.

Unlike traditional interviewing, which requires opinion-based answers to questions (Tell me about yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Why do you want to work for this company?), behavioral interviewing requires job candidates to relate stories about their past employment behaviors. These stories are prompted by questions directly related to the skill sets the company has determined are needed for a position.

So, if a particular job requires strong communication and team- building skills, then, in a behavioral interview, candidates would be asked to recount past accomplishments in those areas. Behavioral interview questions often start with phrases like, "Tell me about a time when..." or "Describe a situation in which..." or "Give me an example of..."

The challenge with the behavioral-interviewing style is that, while your skills and experiences could be a perfect match for a position you are seeking, an interviewer could discount your candidacy if you are unprepared for, or struggle with, the behavioral-interview format.

So, how do you prepare for a behavioral interview? First, you'll want to put yourself in the shoes of the prospective employer and imagine what the ideal candidate for the position you are considering would look like from the hiring decision-maker's perspective. Then, take some time to thoroughly review the job posting and job description if you can get it) and research the company and its culture. Look for cues about which skills are necessary for the job and which are highly valued by the organization. Then, based on your research, identify the skills the successful candidate would have and the behavioral-based questions that correlate to those skills and might be asked in an interview.

Following are examples of skill sets and some associated behavioral-based questions. [Editor's note: While the number and nature of behavioral questions that could be asked is virtually limitless -- thus making behavioral interviews difficult to prepare for -- the questions lusted below provide the flavor of the type of key skills that employers may probe and the questions they may ask to do so.


DECISION MAKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

• Describe a situation in which you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
• Give me an example of a time when you had to be quick in coming to a decision.

LEADERSHIP

• Have you ever had trouble getting others to agree with your ideas? How did you deal with the situation and were you successful?
• Describe the most challenging group from which you've had to gain cooperation.

MOTIVATION

• Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
• Give me an example of a situation in which you positively influenced the actions of others.

COMMUNICATION

• Describe a situation in which you were able to successfully communicate with another individual who did not personally like you (or vice versa).
• Give me an example of a time you had to use written communication to convey an important argument or idea.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Give me examples of what you've done in the past to contribute to a teamwork environment.
• Give an example of an unpopular decision you've made, what the result was, and how you managed it.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION

• When scheduling your time, what is your method for deciding which items are priorities?
• Describe how you've handled a sudden interruption to your schedule.

Developing Stories as Responses
Once you've determined which behavioral-based questions you might be asked during an interview, look back on your past experiences and develop stories to answer those questions. Your stories should be detailed, yet succinct, and should always include the following three elements:

• A description of a specific, real-life situation or challenge you encountered.
• A description of the tasks and actions you took to overcome that challenge.
• A summary of the results of those actions. (Try to quantify these results whenever possible.)

Sample Behavioral Interview Response
Here is a sample answer to a behavioral interview question that incorporates each of these elements:

Question: Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it. Response: Because of cuts in funding to our adult continuing education program, we faced the daunting goal of drastically reducing our promotional budget without sacrificing our media presence in the community. As program coordinator, I researched alternatives to the effective yet costly course brochure the program produced and distributed biannually to an average of 60,000 residents in our service region. I successfully negotiated with two local newspapers to produce and distribute a new course brochure that increased distribution by 33 percent to 80,000 residents and decreased costs by 50 percent.

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