4 Your Future

The Value of Respect at Workplace

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:20:06 GMT

The Value of Respect in Modern Organizations

‘Respect’ is an important value in every culture. We are all taught to respect other people; whether they are older or younger than us. We are also taught to respect properties and belongings that are not ours.

However, many working employees found themselves not being respected either by their subordinates or superiors at their workplace. Many have complained that they have experienced different kinds of uncivil behaviors, verbal and nonverbal abuse as well as bullying and humiliation from their superiors. These uncivil behaviors can include silent treatment, demeaning jokes, ‘scapegoating’, backstabbing, and harassment.

Types of ‘Disrespects’

There are many forms of ‘disrespects’ being displayed among the employees of different levels. Some come in the more ‘open’ method such as bullying, belittling others, demeaning jokes, as well as harassments. Hidden forms of abuse are like bad mouthing about certain employees or colleagues, gossiping, backstabbing, scapegoating and embarrassing employees in front of their peers.

Here are a few steps which you can take should you find yourself in such situation:

Examine Your Own Behavior First

When you start experiencing uncivil behaviors from people around you, you will feel uncomfortable. So, start to reflect on your own actions first. Have you shown any disrespect to your staff or colleagues? There may be many incidents which you may not recall well. You may have done so consistently or unintentionally. You may even have done so because you have seen your peers doing so.

Apologize to the person(s)

After you have examined yourself, gather the courage within you to own up to your ignorance. Do this as soon as possible. You may apologize openly or behind closed doors. Owning up to your ignorance takes a lot of courage. You will be appreciated for your effort. Apologizing can prevent ugly litigations and staff attrition, something you do not wish to happen to you.

Lead By Example

You do not have to wait for your superiors to realize that ‘respect’ in the workplace is an important value. You can start doing so – this is lead by example. Make it clear that you do not tolerate ‘disrespect’ at the workplace. Reprimand anyone showing disrespect to others immediately. When others see you showing respect to your colleagues, they will do the same too. The workplace environment will indeed be different.

Document the Aggressive Behaviors

There are arrogant people in any organization who look down upon others. They feel that their positions allow them to behave aggressively toward their subordinates.

If you should meet such people, you can document what they say. Carry with you a voice recorder. When you are verbally abused, record what is said by that superior. You need to report to the HR department immediately. Produce the evidence when you are asked to.

Should the case involve discrimination against beliefs, racial and sexual, get legal counsels immediately.

Get the HR to educate staff on the value of ‘respect’

Aggressive behaviors are usually the cause of internal conflicts among staff. Suggest to the HR to engage an organization trainer to educate staff on this value. Make sure everybody attends the training and have some follow up observations done after the training.

You can suggest to the HR to include a phrase or two about aggressive and uncivil behaviors in the Employee’s Handbook. Everyone in the organization will be more careful with what they say or do towards others.

As human is considered a precious factor in every productivity process, the HR of every organization have to make sure these uncivil behaviors are handled properly. If not, there will be a sharp fall in productivity. Nobody will want to work in such an unpleasant environment again.

Give opportunities to your colleagues or staff to express their appreciation for one another

This is for you if you are a boss of an organization. Organize some activities where everyone in your organization can participate. Let them help each other. Give them a chance to thank and praise each other. Let them know your organization appreciates them too.

If you are not in any superior positions, you can still do something. Be the first to show appreciation to your colleagues. Respect their actions and thoughts. In return, you will be respect too.

Commit to the principle of respecting others and their individuality

Everyone has different behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, lifestyle, perspectives and visions. It is because of these, everyone deserves to be respected. You have your own individuality too. You also demand respect from others, especially your colleagues and staff. So, you have to be committed to this principle all th time!

Take a firm stand against uncivil behaviors all the time. Do not let anyone in your organization get away with it. It is contagious! Many employees, for fear of their work and future, choose to keep quiet and silently endured the stress and depression. You can imagine what that will do to an organization’s reputation.

Only people who respect others and insist on doing so will find themselves being labeled as ‘effective individuals’. Keep your job and keep your staff. Show them the respect they deserve.

Frencessca is a freelance writer. She is also a language instructor as well as a business and motivational trainer. Her latest project is a series of English writing modules for young Malaysian learners. Her website is http://freewebs.com/fren123

Accept Your Pasts

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:50:24 GMT

Accepting your pasts
will bring you to
where you will be in future

Keep Your Job by Communicating Effectively

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:25:54 GMT

Ever wondered why companies, large or small stress on ‘communication’ when they are hiring new staff? Yes, they all know the importance of ‘communication’. Now, let us describe a little detail about communication.

Communication is a process of transferring information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium so that the information is understood by both parties. There may be many ways of communication; however, both parties must understand a common language to get the information across.

It is not wrong to say that we, human can acquire ‘communication’ skills. Although we can talk and hear, we must learn to speak and listen effectively to communicate. We all develop our abilities in listening, speaking and identifying other non-verbal meanings in the learning process of communication.

By now you should realize that those who have succeeded possess effective communication skills. And, yes. These skills can be learned. You do not have to pay to attend any course. Use these simple strategies to help you communicate better.

When someone is speaking to you:

· Make eye contact

It is polite to look at the person talking to you. An eye contact here shows that you are paying attention to what is said. Remember not make any assumptions but wait until the speaker finishes his message. If the message is important, jot it down so that you can take actions later.

· Rephrase the massage

When the speaker has finished, you can rephrase and repeat the message to the person. Not only you must get the exact message, you need to understand it as well.

· Minimize the background noise.

Unless you are with a group of people, you can choose to stand closer to the speaker. Learn some lip reading techniques so that you can receive the message easier.

· Listen actively

When you listen actively, you will ask intelligent questions. The speaker will immediately know that you are interested in what he/she is talking about.

· Acknowledge verbal and non-verbal communications

As someone is communicating to you, look out for some non-verbal language from the person. When you pay some attention at the speaker’s body language, you can interpret the speaker’s message easily.

· Share your ideas when asked to

Sharing ideas is a form of communication. It helps to come up with more ideas to solve some problems. However, do not interrupt when someone else is talking. Always wait for your turn. Even if you have no ideas to share at the moment, do not criticize other people’s ideas.

When you are the speaker:

Articulate the message clearly (face to face)

As the speaker, you need to speak clearly, plainly and directly. Do not mumble. Be as natural as you can. Make your colleague(s) or listener(s) feel at ease. Do not raise your voice even if you are speaking to a group of people. Make eye contacts with your listener(s) or colleague (s).

Use a common language which your listener(s) can understand. Remember not to use ambiguous words. You are not showing off your expertise in the language! Always look at your listener(s) for responds. Acknowledge all verbal and non-verbal (body language) responses.

Use examples in your message

It is always helpful to expand your ideas or messages using examples. However, be straight forward and not beat around the bush.

Be open to suggestions

Communication is a two-way process. So, after a presentation of your idea, give your colleagues a chance to share their ideas too. Remember, do not reject or criticize ideas openly or utter any words that may disgrace your colleagues. Always look for non-verbal responses while someone is sharing his/her idea.

Adopt a positive attitude

As the speaker, you should speak with positive sentences. Everyone responds better to a speaker with a positive attitude. And thus the setting will become livelier. Make sure that your body language agrees with your message.

Your non-verbal communication is important

You may not realize that when you are talking, your listener(s) or colleague(s) are actually acknowledging your body language and facial expressions. Even when you are not in a good mood that day, be sincere and open.

Make a connection with your colleagues

It is important to find a common ground between you and your colleagues. They will accept you readily because of this connection. The same connection will also help you to solve many problems.

Build a trust with your colleagues

Trust is an important bond that will make your colleagues willing to listen to you. This trust will pave a way to many new ideas. Your colleagues will be willing to share and contribute good ideas because they trust you as their leader.

Eliminate background noise

As the speaker, you can minimize the background noise. Go somewhere quiet. Speak to your audience in a closed office or room. Turn off all mobile telephones for the time being. However, do not make the meeting longer than half an hour. You’ll receive all sorts of negative non-verbal responses if you take up a lot of their time.

Choose the best channel to communicate

When direct face to face communication is impossible, there are also other medium to choose from. You can use the telephone or the fax machine. These days, chat programs, office blogs and other message boards are used widely in offices. Make sure the message you want to send out is clear, precise and direct.

Do not forget that every staff, including your top level personnel can access the message too. Choose your words carefully. Do not try to degrade anyone in your message. Always remind yourself not to send the same message more than once at a time. At all times, respect the receiver(s)’ need for discretion.

So, instead of being fearful that you cannot keep your job, acquire these communication skills as soon as possible. These skills are always useful no matter where you work. Change your attitude, if needed. Nobody cares for someone who shouts and barks to get his/her messages across. Polishing up your communication skills can help you to go very far.

http://www.freewebs.com/fren123

Visions

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:41:28 GMT

Have visions,
will travel!

Have visions,
will sparkle!

Yesterday's Dream

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:06:10 GMT

Yesterday was a dream.
Live today well;
so that it will not be
tomorrow's nightmare!

Deep Gratitude

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:29:22 GMT

Accept all things offered with
deep gratitude.

Make Yourself Deserve That Job Promotion

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:24:02 GMT

You have been an employee in a company for some years. You know your duties well. You have the aspiration to be promoted as you know you are qualified. However, there are a few more 'seniors' in line for the same promotion.

Should you just forget about it? Is there anything you can do to get the promotion? Here are a few tips to help you to get ahead of others:

1. Upgrade yourself

You can do so by signing up for out-campus or distance learning courses. Choose a course that you can do well and not so expensive. Most employers like the fact that their employees are willing to upgrade themselves.

2. Get more information about the job

Here, it means the new job. Gather as much information as you can about the job you eyed on. Learn what you do not know so that you have the experience now. However, be discreet. Showing off that you are competent can cause you to lose the opportunity easily.

3. Complete tasks ahead of time.

Complete all the tasks assign to you well. If possible, make sure they are faultless. This is so that nobody, even your rivals can question your reliability. You do not have to be perfect. Yet, you need to prove that you are a responsible person.

4. Lead where you are

You do not have to wait to be a leader. Everyone has a gift to be a leader. It is a matter of knowing how and when to exercise the gift. Lead where you are now. Lead with your actions. People will know a leader when they see one. Display traits of a good leader.

5. Be a 'star' employee.

A ‘star’ employee receives additional perks. He/She can be easily promoted if there is a suitable vacancy. However, a ‘star’ employee must also be a leader, hardworking person.

6. Talk less at work.

Employers prefer their staff to talk less while at work. They like their staff to concentrate in their work. However, fact and fiction are two different things. Employers cannot suppress their employees to have small talks or chats while working. So, you just have to talk or chat less.

7. Do not take sides.

Do not get involve in any dispute between office staff in the first place. In reality there may be many factions in a company. Each faction has its own leader and beliefs. However, no every staff is involved in these factions. Be careful. Do not take sides. Office politics can murder your promotion chances.

8. Do not believe all the gossips you hear from your colleagues

Not all gossips are bad. However, you have to choose whom and what to believe in. Since it is named ‘gossip’, then the story must have been edited and rewritten before it reaches you. So, be sensible when you deal with gossips and gossipers.

9. Do not gossip or start a story.

Since you have to careful when you hear gossips, you must not be a gossiper yourself. Do not start a story even if you have a reason to do so. Make sure the story ends with you. Do not go around telling others.

10. Take your work seriously.

When you are serious handling small assignments, you will take on big assignments with the same seriousness too. You know your duties, so you do not need anyone to look over your shoulder to see what you are doing. Your employer or the top personnel knows.

11. Complain to the right channel

If you need to complain, do so through the right channel. Do not write poison letters or spread fabricated news to your colleagues. This may put you in a disastrous situation. You may lose not only your job, but also your reputation which you have been working hard to build all these years.

If you are serious about that promotion, then be the employee your bosses and subordinates can trust. If you want your working career to be fulfilling and enjoyable, do not do anything you will regret later. Make yourself deserve that promotion.

If by this time next year, you are still not promoted, then you should know what to do. There are many opportunities out there that will be yours to pick and choose. You have proven yourself in this company and it is time to move on.

Blunders that Can Cause You A Job Opportunity

Sun, 25 May 2008 05:51:54 GMT

Attending interviews means better working opportunities. Everyone with the thought of getting a better job opportunity loves the chance of attending an interview with the top personnel of the company. This is the time the candidate can really 'advertise' himself.

However, there are times candidates make blunders. Worst of all, they make one blunder after another just when the hiring company is about to offer them that ‘dream’ opportunity!

Listed here are some of the common blunders and reminders of what to do in those situations:

1. Candidates did not attend the interview without any apologies

Reminder: If you face any problems, just give the person in charge a call to inform them of your predicament. You can request for another day if the person permits you to do so. Apologize graciously.

2. Did not bring copies of original documents.

Reminder: You should bring along copies of all your original documents. Bring along a few extra copies of your resume and cover letter too. The hiring manager will be grateful to you for your thoughtfulness. Bring along your own stationery too. You will need to fill in a formal application form before the interview starts. In this case, you do not have to borrow a pen from the staff.

3. Did not greet the interviewers.

Reminder: Even though you may be a serious person, a smile is good for you. Practice greeting others, even if only with a smile. The first impression is when you start greeting others.

4. Wore the wrong outfit for the occasion.

Reminder: To be sure, always wear a formal suit if you are applying for an office job. Any conservative color is all right. It is good to advisable not to wear too many pieces of jewelries.

5. Brought along a newspaper into the interview room.

Reminder: Bring along a small brief-bag. Keep all your documents and stationery in your bag. Also keep the newspaper, magazine or story book into your bag. Do not leave anything behind.

6. Candidates bragged about their abilities.

Reminder: Be careful when you brag about your abilities. If you are being hired, you will be checked against your stories. You will be the laughing stock of the staff. The hiring manager will be angry as you have also made a fool of him/her. Just be honest. Only you know your own capabilities.

7. Criticizing the former bosses and companies.
Reminder: If you have had some dreadful experience in your previous company, keep them to yourself. Nobody wishes to waste those few important minutes to listen what you have to say. After all, it is also rude to talk behind one’s back.

8. Chewing gums or sweets during the interview

Reminder: It is impolite to eat or having food in your mouth during an interview. Unless you are served with a glass of water, do not even drink during the interview.

9. Gave away secrets of former company.

Reminder: Never discuss about your past companies. Most hiring managers are only interested in the scope of your work in the previous companies. Do not volunteer to furnish any company secrets. Remember that you are not a spy. You will be disgraced when you are found out.

10. Candidates were only interested about the benefits of the job and demanded for more

Reminder: It is all right to ask the hiring manager about your fringe benefits, but it is a mistake to ask for what the company does not offer. All companies do have a special package for each level of the employment. If you want more, then you have to work hard to get the other package.

11. Candidates disclosed the person(s) they knew in the company

Reminder: Even if you have friends working in the company, just keep quiet. Your friends are not accountable for your performance should you be hired. Nor will they be blamed if you are fired.

12. Candidates were too busy asking their own questions during the interview

Reminder: Although candidates are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the position, they are allowed to do so only at the end of the interview. During an interview, the hiring manager should be asking and you, as the candidate must be ready to answer and furnish any information required. You may jot down the questions you want to ask before the interview. Some interviewers like candidates who ask questions.

13. Candidates’ ringing mobiles phone interrupted the interview

Reminder: It is advisable to switch off your mobile phone or change into a silent ringing mode before you enter the interview room. Do not allow such carelessness mess up a good opportunity.

No matter what, there are still many blunders candidates like you may make. Just remember that you may be blacklisted easily. Some interviewers are just being nice. You should know when you have crossed the line. If you have not heard from this particular company again, you will know you need to be prepared for the next opportunity.

It takes lots of courage to face one’s mistakes. Just do it.

Command Longer Attention with a Dynamite Cover Letter

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:13:27 GMT

You may receive better job opportunities from time to time. Then it will be time to edit or change your resume. Yes, it is a tedious job. There are so many elements you need to change and add.

This is where your cover letter comes in handy. Covers letters are actually an excellent means to customize your message for each opportunity. You just have to change some wording of the first cover letter to suit the new opportunity. This is easier than rewriting the whole resume again.

The resume is an overview of who you are, but a cover letter is the answer to every hiring manager’s question – ‘Why should I hire you?’ It enlightens them why you are the best and suitable candidate for the job. Just make sure your cover letter is interesting!

How do you compose a dynamite cover letter?

A good and compelling cover letter should be

· Concise

Short and to the point. This is not a history paper. It is an advertisement and you must appear impressive to grab the attention of any hiring manager.

· Confident

You must sound confident when you present yourself for the opportunity. Use a positive tone to convey to them that you are the ‘right’ candidate. However, do not be over-confident as that will lead you nowhere. Write what you need to write and no more.

· Customized

A cover letter should be easily customized for each different opportunity. Your cover letter should be able to represent you as the ideal candidate for the opportunity. Include in the letter what you can say about your career that is relevant to the opportunity at the moment.

· Creative

Think about your key selling points and how they can help to benefit the company. Mention the qualities or achievements that you have that will certainly differentiate you from other applicants. Make your cover letter unique so that you get the interview.

· Clear

Your cover letter must be clear and drive to the point. No beating round the bush. The hiring manager does not have much time to play guess. Your objective here is to get an interview, in that case, let your cover letter says so. Be very clear that you expect an interview because you are the ‘best and most suitable’ candidate.

A good cover letter is one written with the opportunity in mind. Make sure you did some background research of the company and the opportunity before you write the cover letter. State how you will succeed in the targeted position. Grab the attention of the readers by providing some insight to your personal achievements and experience.

There many books written with examples of good cover letters. Learn the art and master it. You will not fret and complain the next time you need to write a resume and cover letter again!

Wealth and life

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:16:00 GMT

Desire for Wealth is
to fulfill the desire of life.

Sell Yourself with a Powerful Resume

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:52:56 GMT

Can your resume grab someone’s attention for more than 10 seconds? No, you don’t know, and may not even know. But, why only 10 - 15 seconds? Can’t it be longer?

Well, that’s how long a hiring manager would pay attention to anyone’s resume and cover letter. Whenever there is a job vacancy, there will be hundreds of applicants. A 10-15 second is better than none! No hiring manager is not going to read the resumes word by word.

Your resumes are like advertisements. You are selling yourself to get an interview. Like advertisements, you need to highlight your strengths, competencies and quantifiable accomplishments in order to grab the interviewer’s attention. You need to answer the question every hiring manager has in his mind – ‘Why should I hire you?’

How you write a good copy of resume and use it over and over again is important. All the resumes need to have powerful messages. Customize the messages in your resumes each opportunity.

Use industry-specific words or phrases in your resumes. Convey to the readers your experience and accomplishments to demonstrate that you do have the expertise. Then, keep your message short and simple, but powerful.

If you think interviewers like long resumes with boring information, then you are wrong. Many resumes ended in the waste baskets everyday. Companies are always in a hurry to hire and there are many applicants to choose from. Every hiring manager has limited time to choose the best candidate, the one who can answer, “Why should I hire you?”

Readers can easily detect the image you are trying to portray in your resumes and cover letters. So, be professional. A powerful resume should contain these elements:

· Profile or summary : This is a very important part. You write it to provide an overview of your personality and experience. Your message here must be short, simple but powerful. You need to capture your reader’s immediate attention. It can be written like this:

- ‘Experienced, result driven, high profile corporate management coach known for consistently delivering exceeding expectations’

- ‘Meticulous, results-oriented, dedicated and accomplished consultant with a proven track record of achieving significant objectives’

· Accomplishment or achievements : Include in this section a bulleted section of your quantifiable accomplishments and results. This is also the part where you can hard-sell yourself. Grab the reader’s attention using positive quantifiable descriptions such as:

- reduced expenses by 25%

- increased annual revenues by 45%

· Expertise or skills : Be specific in this section. Do not simply state some general skills and ask the reader to guess. Use words/phrases that describe you area of expertise. Get clues from the job descriptions of the advertisements to help you. Make sure you are using the correct words/phrases for each opportunity you desire.

· Education : Include the pertinent education that is relevant to the opportunities. If you have no working experience, you can expand this section by listing some of the courses you have attended. However, if you have some working experience, limit this section to only what is important.

· Work experience: This is the list of different jobs you have had. You may need to provide objective details about your duties (main responsibilities) for each of the position listed. You can organize the information according to the date or category.

You do not have to start your resume with an objective. Your profile has described you well. Putting an objective on your resume can really limit your opportunities. An objective specifies that you are only interest in that particular position only. The hiring manager may not pass your resume to another department which may give you the opportunity you need.

Another element which you do not have to include in your resume is references. It is enough to include the statement – ‘References available upon request’. If you are applying for certain senior positions, you may need to include references. However, include the list of references on another sheet of paper.

Follow these few rules when you write your resume:

· Brief, clear and drive to the point – Do not use long descriptive sentences which can cause confusion.

· Objective and quantifiable - Write factual statements with simple but powerful messages

· Action oriented - Use more action words to bring your experience to life and get you noticed.

· Easy to read – Do not include too much information. Interesting and relevant information will do.

· Short (One to two pages only) – This is important as all hiring managers have only 10 – 15 seconds to scan through every resume. If you can create interest in anyone in that short time, you do not need a long resume.

· Relevant to the position applied - The information provided must be relevant to the position applied only. Hiring managers know what type of candidates they want. So, do not try to show off by including all unnecessary information.

· Include only sensible information – Do not list these items : expected salary, weaknesses, or any of your IQ results!

· Internet ready - Create resumes that you can send to the prospect companies by emails. Use ‘text only’ format. You can also convert your resumes into PDF files so that the format stays when it is viewed by the readers.

· Attention grabbing – If your resume is an advertisement, it must be able to capture at least 10 -15 seconds of the reader’s attention. If your resume is not getting any response, it is time to review and rewrite it.

· Reviewed and edited by someone else – Ask someone to give you the feedback to your resume. If there are criticisms, good, re-edit it. Be careful with spellings and typo-errors. Do not allow the readers to laugh at you because of a silly mistake. Edit it a few times until you can produce a good and powerful resume.

You can use bullets and simple paragraphs when writing your resumes. Just do not overdo it. Good and well written resumes can open the door to many interviews. You can also refer from so many books on resumes in the market.

So, start writing your resume now!

Wealth

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:53:42 GMT

Life is Wealth;
When wealth increases,
so does life.

Finding Inspiration

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:01:22 GMT

To find your inspiration:
First, know your purpose;
Then, work toward it.

Opportunity

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:18:41 GMT

An opportunity does not throw itself
onto one's lap.

An Honest Presentation of Yourself at the Interview

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:41:00 GMT

So, you have lost your job. Of course, you will be disappointed. But, do not let the disappointment stop you from looking ahead. Be objective and try to understand what happened. Truths are heart breakers. Yet, if you accept the defeat, you will be prepared and able to avoid the same problem in future.

Not everyone has a chance to learn his or her mistakes. If you are given a second chance, that is good. Take the opportunity and make the best of it. If not, move on. Life is too short to wallow in such disappointment.

At this juncture, ask yourself these questions:

- What have I learnt from this lesson?

- Where can I make improvements?

- What do I really want from this job (or a new job)?

- What can I do so that the outcome can be different?

If you cannot answer the questions, give yourself two hours to grieve and then look past the failures. Bury the past as soon as possible.

Now it is the time to analyze yourself. You need to reassess you strengths, capabilities and talents. First, identify your core competencies. Take time to identify your abilities.

· What are you good at?

· What are your strengths?

· Where does your passion lie?

These are the questions you need to ask yourself. Think hard and list down the answers. Go through the answers again and again until you are sure and satisfied. This will make you more prepared when you are asked in the next interview.

Focus on what you are good at in every job hunt. The chance of you landing a job that suits you will increase significantly. However, always be honest about your strengths and weaknesses.

Think about your competitors. They are also job hunting like you. Some of them have more years of experience and receive higher education than you. However, you need to be better than anyone of them. You need to present yourself as the best candidate for the position. You may want to present your core strengths and competencies along with your personality and appearance that will ultimately put you in a better position to get that job.

The key here is to identify your selling points to make yourself appealing to your potential employers. Get a sheet of paper and do the exercise below, answer the questions honestly.

· List your Personality Traits

(outgoing/social/emphatic/creative/motivated/etc)

· List your Work-related Personality Traits

(team oriented/detail oriented/multi-tasking/etc)

· List your Personal Achievements

(charity/community services/etc)

· List your Job-related Accomplishments

(awards/certificates/featured in company’s news/etc)

· List your Cognitive Skills

(interpersonal/problem-solving/creativity/etc)

· List your Functional Skills

(managing people/reducing expenses/processing payroll/copywriting/managing projects/etc)

· List your Job-related Knowledge

(year-end reporting/procurement/marketing/accounting/etc)

· List your Credentials

(educational institutions and professional body certifications/degrees/etc)

This exercise helps to keep you in focus, build your confidence as well as helping you to find the right job for yourself. If you focus on the good in you, you will definite have better outcomes.

It is all right if you have not discovered some of the work-related personality traits or functional skills. Remember it takes some time to acquire these skills as not everyone has them. However, you can still answer the question, “Why should we hire you over the other candidates?”

Tell them about your achievements. Remember to identify your positive attributes that are relevant to your targeted job. You also have to know your selling points well. Let them know how hiring you will benefit the company! Whatever you say, always be honest!

Rest

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 06:51:17 GMT

A short rest is
the beginning of a new journey.

Getting Into the Mind of the Interviewer

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:21:19 GMT

    Is that possible? Not really. On a certain level, we may have the same opinion of certain topics. We may even have the same likes and dislikes. Yet, there are many things that set each and every one of us apart; experience, education, locality, culture, social and so on.
    It is wise not to outsmart the interviewer or anyone that may jeopardize you chance to secure a position in that particular company.
    Questions any interviewer would likely ask are:

Please introduce yourself.
A good chance for you to exaggerate for a few seconds (but not too much). Remember, if you exaggerate even a little about yourself, you may need to tell some lies to cover the ‘exaggeration’ you have made. Never do that. You just do not have enough reasons for telling too much. It is enough if you are able to describe yourself briefly.
Most interviewers are not ready to spend more than one minute to listen to your ‘greatness’. They know you would not be there if you are so great! Just tell what they want to hear; your most recent projects or assignments.

    What attracts you to work in this company?
    My personal advice; you will not be able to answer this question if you did not do any research about the company beforehand. Always be ready at any interview. As we are all living in societies with overloaded information, it is not too difficult to do any background searching.
    Be sincere when you answer this question. Although you are attracted with the position or the benefits, do not mention so. You can tell them what you can contribute to the company. Be convincing when you do that. Some interviewers are good in reading body language and facial expressions.

    Where will you be in 5 years’ time?
    A common question which can be asked in any interview.
    You have to think carefully before you answer. You may choose to answer it assuming that you are still with the company but in a higher position. You may also choose to answer that by then you are an established business owner.            No matter how you choose to answer, be aware that this is not an easy question although it sounds easy. It is asked so that the interviewer will know your plans for the future.
    Do not answer it with a joke. The interviewer may be amused at that time, but how you are assessed is another matter. Always be serious. Eye contact is important.

    What do you expect from this job? Or What is your expectation of this job?
    Whenever this question is asked, candidates have the feeling that they have the better chance of being chosen. Then, begin the long description of one’s expectation. Sometimes it can be so ideal that the interviewer will raise his/her eyebrow and give a wry smile.
    Be brief. It is enough just to say that you wish to bring things to a higher level. You are not even sure if you are the right candidate. The company has many other candidates waiting to be interviewed. It is not good to let others wait an extra hour.
    Why do you think you are the right person for this job?

You can give lots of reasons but not too many. The interviewer knows more about the right person for the job than you. You can start by saying how you suit the job, the advantages if you are hired, and so on.

Everyone has some good in him. Use that to your advantage. Be humble, though. Presenting yourself as someone capable is good. Do not overstate your competence or you will be seen as boastful.

    If the interviewer thinks that there is another job opening which is suitable for you, ask more questions about that too. There are chances, although that job is not a managerial one, you can work your way up. If you are keen to join the company, why not accept the offer, instead of competing with other higher qualified candidates.
    Do you believe in socializing with your colleagues as a way to enhance workplace relationship?
    No pointers for this question. You can say whatever you think is right. Just remember that in every workplace, there will be many other employees too. Socializing is good to enhance relationship among the employees.
    You may choose not to attend certain functions later if you dislike them. However, you must please the interviewer by giving an honest answer.
    Are you an opportunist?
    Well, each of us is an opportunist. Just make sure you know where you stand. Answering this question is not going to jeopardize your chance to get the job. Usually, only a good opportunist able to achieve high. So, think carefully before you answer.
    Nobody likes to be taken advantage of by others. An opportunist may take advantage of his work, position or even his colleagues in order to get something of his desire. In another word, an opportunist is a very ambitious person. Not everyone likes an opportunist, except the CEO himself!

What is your expected ROI (Return of Investment)?
So far, not many interviewers will ask this question. Yet, some interviewers from the Human Resource Department will ask it. It is interesting to note that we all seldom think of the ROI we would get from the job apart from the salary and other fringe benefits we will receive.

Ask yourself questions like: What am I going to get from this job? Will there be a promotion opportunity? Can I apply to another department after some time? Is the contract benefiting me or the company?

Everyone has a different expected ROI. Do not worry too much about that. Just remember that whatever your answer is, there is no right or wrong.

These are some of the questions I found my trainees having trouble answering every time they attend interviews. Apart from the questions, your competence in a certain language, such as English, has to be good. You will need to do all the communication in English.

Other issues maybe how you dress to an interview. Stop wearing that old, faded torn pair of jeans. Even if the company belongs to a family, please wear something formal. Ladies can wear simple business suits. No red or any bright colored coats. A brown, blue, gray or black will do just nice. Do not overdo your make-up. Use light perfume and best of all, smile.

(Most)Young men know how to dress formally. Just make sure the pen in your breast pocket does not leak. You will be embarrassed when facing the interviewer. Do not wear a belt with a big buckle. It will definitely take away all the attention.

Body language is another factor an interviewer will look at. Just one look and he/she can tell if you are nervous or scared. Take a deep breath before you walk into the room. Avoid drinking too much water or you will end up going to the toilet every few minutes. If the interview takes half an hour or more, it will definitely make a bad impression when you need to excuse yourself so often. Just relax and be yourself.
Always be courteous, even when you are told that you may not be suitable for the position. Do not show any anger or dejection when you receive the bad news. You may not have the heart to smile, but do so anyway. Do not let others see how desperate you need the job.

When you are ready, good luck!

Life

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:47:05 GMT

Life is metamorphosis

Getting Ready for A Job Interview

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:29:13 GMT

Interviews are conducted by companies to get a general overview of the candidates who applied for the vacancies advertised by them. Interviews can help the companies to choose the best candidates for the jobs. Candidates have to bear in mind that an interview is important as this is where the first impression is made.

The first thing you need to do when you receive a letter or telephone call to attend an interview is to find out more about the company. With the advance of technology, and broadband internet connection, the web is almost a free directory for all the companies. It is just an easy task to do a simple research of the company. Do not make a fool of yourself by asking the interviewer about the company. This will flaw the good impression the interviewer has for you.

Next, prepare your resume. Imagine yourself as an interviewer. Think of all the questions an interviewer will ask. If it is an executive position, make sure you list your previous relevant executive experience, include some management experience too (if you have). If you have good references, you can also list them down. Ensure you still have good relationships with your references. That is why it is always good not to burn bridges when you decide to resign from previous jobs.

However, if you are a new entrée, and the company is taking in some management trainees, just make sure you have some good references ready. Experience is not really important in this case as the company may contact your references for more information. Do not feel ill at ease if you have nothing to offer. Your academic result may be a great help too. If you did well in your co-curricular activities, that may also be an excellent testimonial. Some companies accept sport-persons to help them in their annual sports events.

Now it is time to compose your resume and cover letter. Use only plain white A4 papers and not perfumed or coloured papers. Make sure your resume is not longer than two pages. Use ‘Times New Roman’ with a 12-point-typefont. You may use other fonts as long as they can be read easily. Check your grammar and spellings. Then, print out your resume and cover letter using a good printer. Make two copies so that you can keep one as reference.

Get ready the outfit you want to wear to the interview. The outfit must suit the occasion. For any executive position, it is good to wear dark suits (ladies) or a pair of dark trousers, pastel coloured long-sleeve shirt and a dark coloured necktie (men). Do not wear any gold adornments. You may not get any extra marks but if you must, then be discreet. Remember to wear a comfortable pair of shoes. You may need to wait for a few hours, so it is good to be comfortable.

Be at the venue at least half an hour before the actual time. If the interview takes place outside your town, be there a day earlier or at least an hour earlier. Doing so will make you feel less stressful. You will also be able to take note of the company during working hours. Do not put a bored look on your face while waiting for your turn. Put on a smile instead. Everything will be all right.

Tips for Attending an Interview

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:07:09 GMT

These days, many fresh graduates are attracted by job advertisements that promise high paying jobs with a short list of responsibilities. Yet, most were shocked when they tended the interview. The interviewer asked them so many questions, (some are rather personal too) and they were dumbfounded. Some of the responsibilities asked during the interview were not even listed in the advertisement!

If you are one of these fresh graduates, what should you do? What have you learned from the interviews you have attended so far?

The first step is find out all you can about that job. Check again if the vacancy matches your experience. You must be specific in this part. Think and reconsider if you are able to do what are listed. Don’t ever think that just because you can learn something new at the job, you ignore the need to update your skills. Most companies want their employees to contribute and not to learn!

Of course, the next step is to find out about the company. This is an easy job. With the advance of modern communication technology, most companies are listed in the directory of many search engines. So, unless the company is a new start-up, chances it is listed too is great. Read to understand the background and the activities of the company.

You can accept advice from others on how to prepare yourself physical before an interview. However, only you can prepare yourself mentally. This is never an easy task.

Many people may have told you how to hold yourself up during an interview. However, many did not expect the questions the interviewer would ask during an interview.

Just be careful how you answer those questions.

What is your expected ROI (Return of Investment)?
So far, what was your ROI?
Why did you leave the last job?
From your resume we could see that you only worked a few moths in that company, can I trust that you would not leave us after a few months?
Can you trust people?
Can people trust you?
Are you a people’s person? (Are you able to work with people?)
Can you communicate with co-workers who are generally younger than you?
Can you do management work?
Are you an honest person?
Do you believe in socializing with your colleagues as a way to enhance working relationship?
Why didn’t your parents push you to do better?
Your past experiences show that you are an opportunist, can you explain?
Can you lead a team of energetic young achievers?
Do you consider yourself a loyal person?
Can you justify why we should hire you?

If you have some years of working experience, you may be able to answer some of the questions; however, if you are a fresh graduate, you will be dumbfounded.

My experience taught me that the best person to do any interview is the superior officer of the department. He or she is the person who knows what type of person matches the job. A superior officer is looking for someone who can do the job, find the solutions to all the problems the department is facing; not someone with a ‘super track record’, who knows his ROI.

All right, you may not be the suitable candidate, so what? There are so many other smaller companies waiting for you. Just walk out politely from the company, and remember that you are still the best despite that you failed the interview.

If you are qualified, and chosen for the job, congratulations! Don’t forget that your journey does not end there.