Job Interview Preparation Makes for Great Conversation

Job Interview Preparation Makes for Great Conversation Come along with me on this recap of the great interview you just had, and how your preparation made it rock. Lets pretend Youve been keeping a list of possible interview questions and the best stories from your past history to illustrate those. The stories are very specific, crafted to leave a positive impression to the listener. You put all these together on a continuous basis, and at times when you werent stressed about an upcoming interview. When new experiences at work occur that make good stories, you add them to this list. Your interview preparation is very proactive! Additionally, you list highlights and results, again being specific as possible. 130% increase in customer satisfaction scores, etc. When you found this job posting, it was easy to pick out the highlights and results to put on your resume. You selected a subset from your master list, customized to the company and role. Not to mention You already had nice report covers ready to go. When they called you for the interview, it was simple to package up the specific resume and cover letters for the position. You asked who would be interviewing you, checking spelling to be sure you had their names right and what their title is. Those cover letters for the portfolios are written specifically to them. Easy. And you included relevant examples of your work, documentation of awards received, certifications, letters of recommendation, etc. in the packet. It only took a few minutes because you already had it ready to go, right? You put together enough portfolios for everyone interviewing you plus 2 extra generic ones just in case. Now its interview time You are relaxed. Calm. Heck, you review these stories from your past on a regular basis. You know them like the back of your hand. You are confident that given any question, you will have a closely related match from your prepared history when it comes up in the interview. No answers of the generic I would do this nature. No way. Those are easily forgotten by a hiring manager. No, you have a gamut of real-life stories at your fingertips. When those managers think about all those candidates they interviewed, you will stand out. Why? Because of the specificity of your answers. The way you told a story. Set up the characters and situation, relayed the challenges and how you tackled them. Because of your awesome interview preparation, now you can sit back and have a conversation. To get ready for the interview, you just need to come up with some good questions about the company. Not questions you could research online. Questions about the culture, about how they do whatever function you specialize in. Ask what challenges they are experiencing. Offer advice based on your expertise. Related: Essential Interview Techniques Every Jobseeker Should Know. Image: Shutterstock

Tips to Find a Resume Writing Service

Tips to Find a Resume Writing ServiceResume writing service Las Vegas is ideal for those who want to make a difference in their life. To get ahead of the competition, one must consider using professional resume writing service. The objective of such service is to provide great resume for the individuals who are applying for a position in Las Vegas.A resume is like any other written document, but it must contain some vital and specific information. It is a document that contains details of an individual's past record. As a matter of fact, all the data required is mentioned in the form of keywords. These are used by the search engines to provide ample results.When you type a keyword, the search engine picks up many sites that are related to your topic. For example, when you search for resume writing service in Las Vegas, you can come across lots of sites that claim to offer this service. If you want to avoid getting trapped by so many different sites, you can take a look at each site o n its own. The purpose of this is to find out whether these sites are legitimate or not.Resume writing service Las Vegas is a great help for those who do not have the time or the skills to prepare a resume. Besides that, it is also good for people who want to present themselves in a good light. A resume includes your past record. It may not be suitable for all employers. If you are unable to present yourself in a good light, you may need to find another job.Resume writing service Las Vegas provides excellent services for people who have done a lot of traveling and want to get jobs in different companies. For example, if you have been working for one company for quite some time, it is unlikely that you will get a job in another company where you started. It is then advisable to get a resume prepared from a resume writing service that offers resume writing service for international companies.Resume writing service will do all the work for you. You just have to keep it for submission t o the employer. If you are one of those people who want to get your resume ready in less time, you can get it prepared by the best. This will take less time as compared to the traditional way of preparing your resume.Resume writing service Las Vegas is a good option if you are thinking of a change in your career. Such service is good because it offers the latest technologies, skills and knowledge. With the help of technology, people can even manage their resumes online.Resume writing service is very useful for the graduates who want to find a job in this country. Even if you are a stay-at-home parent, you can still get a job in Las Vegas. The key here is to find the best resume writing service Las Vegas.

How to Pose Interview Questions You Should Never Ask - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Pose Interview Questions You Should Never Ask - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Hiring managers and HR pros will often close out a job interview by asking an applicant if her or she has any questions themselves. This is a great way to learn about the company’s expectations and the job but it can open a Pandoras box of potential landmines if you’re not careful. Remember, you’re being judged and here’s a time where using your social intelligence could pay off. It’s not to say that you can’t ask any tough (or real) questions but it’s important to focus on how you say it.   The old adage “It’s not as much what you say but how you say it” holds true when interviewing. Here are a few examples of how to ask the questions you really want to know without offending your interviewer and without showing you’re out of touch with reality. Don’t ask, “When will I be promoted?” You can ask, “What will I need to get a promotion?” Don’t ask, “When can I expect a raise?” The word “expecting” will instantly label you as a member of the entitlement generation and will damage brand YOU! You can ask, What work can be done to work up to a higher compensation level?  This shows your focus is on the work not merely the reward.   Consider that many companies are having hiring and salary freezes so you need to phrase it properly so you dont seem like youre out of touch. Questions you should completely avoid in a first interviewdont even try to rephrase them! Don’t ask, “What’s the salary for this position?”   This immediately communicates that money is on the forefront of your mind versus what you can do to contribute there.   Even if salary is a key concern…don’t ever ask this question in a first interview! Don’t ask, “What kind of flextime options do you have?”   This kind of question in a first interview would be a big turn-off for the interviewer as it sounds like you are looking for ways to get out of the office. It may be that flextime is critically important to you but you still shouldn’t show all of your cards in the first interview as it could label   you as inflexible.   Another candidate with equal talent and a comparable resume to yours who communicates a desire to work according to the firm’s needs will snatch up the job leaving you without any chance of getting a second interview thus ruining your chances for getting a job offer. Many companies may offer flextime but its inappropriate to ask this in the first round of interviews. Don’t ask any questions that show you haven’t been listening:  Listen carefully throughout the interview. Asking a question about something that was already said will send off a red flag NOT to hire you. Dont ask about the companys mission! You should know the answer going into the interview. (see the company website or the management profile) You can ask about the companys corporate culture. Thats an appropriate question that would be better answered by an insider than on the companys website. Dont ask:  Whos your competition? You should know the answer to this question from your pre-interview research! Knowing what questions not to ask in the first interview can help you stand out in a good way.   Sometimes you can rephrase the question, but there are times when you just need to hold off and wait until you’ve been given the job offer to ask about specific requests that involve salary and scheduling. Try to imagine if you were the interviewer and were looking for the ideal candidate, who would you prefer to hire? Someone who is knowledgeable about your business, has a clear idea of how s/he could add value and where focused on seeing how they could help fix problems orsomeone whose primary focus was on their own needs i.e. salary, raises, flex-time etc.  The answer is rather obvious.  You would choose the first candidate.  So why not try to be that candidate from day one and make a great first impression so you get the job offer.  At that point youll be in a stronger position to negotiate for salary, a promotion or flextime. Author: Beth  is Founder and President of Get Hired, LLC.   She advises students on how to bridge the gap from school to career.  Beth is the co-author of  From Diploma to Dream Job: Five Overlooked Steps to a Successful Career.  Her coaching assists students and career changers to successfully match their needs, interests, passions, skills, and personal goals with the needs of a sustainable industry in a sustainable location.  She is a resource for print and online media and offers workshops for University Career Service Departments, Executive Recruiters, Outplacement Services, College Guidance Counselors and College Alumni Associations. See website for more details about Beth’s services  www.fromdiploma2dreamjob.com.  Beth’s Webinar was sponsored by George Washington University’s Career Services Dept. for their worldwide alumni association:  Leverage Your College Diploma.  You can follow Beth on twitter @BethKuhel

Try These 5 Tips To Reduce Depression And Anxiety - Classy Career Girl

Try These 5 Tips To Reduce Depression And Anxiety Editors Note: Its important to note the difference between being depressed and having depression, likewise with feeling anxiety and having an anxiety disorder. Being depressed is a response to something generally tough to handle. It has a tangible reason and often goes away on its own. Depression is a medical condition with a physical brain and is cured with medical treatment.  It is generally not a  response to trauma or major life changes, its because of chemical imbalances in the brain. Depression is not cured by exercise, home remedies, a good night’s sleep, friends, more faith in Jesus, or even the love of a family (though these things will help).  Professional help is required in the case of depression and anxiety disorders. Nothing can completely substitute or replace the help of a psychiatrist or psychologist. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger call 911 or  your countrys corresponding hotline number. Depression and anxiety are common mental health issues. Depression and anxiety are two different mental states. Most depressed people feel unimportant, worthless, somber, and unable to cope with life. On the other hand, anxiety is the constant feeling of dread when thinking about future events. Feelings of depression and anxiety are often linked since both display similar symptoms. If in a state of depression or anxiety, a person may continually suffer from abdominal pain, increased heart rate, sweaty palms, insomnia, headaches, and irrational fear. These negative feelings, however, can be treated effectively. Try These 5 Tips To Reduce Depression And Anxiety 1. Get Enough Sleep Sleep allows the brain to breathe. When a person sleeps, the brain does not entirely shut down. Instead, it exercises itself, restfully. You must make sleeping a habit. Plan your sleep schedule. Dont deprive yourself of sleep, and dont oversleep. Do not force yourself to sleep, either. Prepare yourself for sleep by relaxing and trying to maintain a state of calm. Purchase an alarm clock and plan to wake up when the alarm rings every morning. Do this regularly until you make a habit of it. 2. Exercise Daily Daily exercise will help you get rid of the negative vibes that cling to you. When you exercise, your blood pumps faster, which causes you to sweat. Perspiration releases chemicals and burns fat as well. Use exercise as a distraction from negativity. Exercise can help your body consume excess energy. Instead of using your precious energy contemplating the negatives, try hitting the gym. [RELATED: 6 Easy Habits of Really Happy People] 3. Eat a Well-Balanced Diet Nutrition is essential to start your day. Feelings of depression and anxiety discourage healthy eating habits. Make sure to eat the right kinds of food. Fruits, vegetables, and meat will always make up the essential components that make up a well-balanced diet. Dont let yourself become too dependent on fast food, junk food, and processed food; these foods dont contain many nutrients. Additionally, dieticians and nutritionists can offer individual diet plans, so consider consulting an expert. Supplements always complement a well-balanced diet. 4. Laugh Your Way Out Of Anxiety They say laughter is the best medicine, and theyre not wrong. A smile only uses a few muscles. Laughing can help you cope with the stress hormones that cause depression. A good laugh will help lower the heart rate and decrease blood, resulting in feelings of relaxation.   Enjoy every moment and try not to isolate yourself. 5. Hang Out More With Your Friends Dont let feelings of depression or anxiety imprison you. Spend your life in the right way, seize every moment, and make every minute worthwhile. Let your friends help in coping with your feelings. Their company will help with feelings of alienation. Share a good laugh. Look for people who listen to your fears. Let them know how you feel. Voicing your emotions will help lighten your burden. Professional help is beneficial in the case of depression or anxiety, but sometimes you are the best doctor you can have.

Affordable Resume Writing Services in India

Affordable Resume Writing Services in IndiaThe world has gone to a complete and utter pitch with the advent of internet technology, and the instant career solutions have come into wide use. Hence, now, everything is easy. One can find the solution to all of his/her problems, if one uses the online and affordable resume writing services in India.Resume is the very first thing that is presented before any kind of employment as it marks the new beginning for every prospective job applicant. It is like the opening day, as job aspirants should make all their efforts in order to be able to grab the first opportunity. To attain success you need to search for a reputed and qualified firm that is dealing in affordable resume writing services in India. The best thing about these firms is that they have different packages which are tailored to meet the needs of the candidate.Resume writing services India have all the latest tools and techniques in writing for every field. They are well equipped to handle the issues related to basic writing which includes the grammar and composition of resume. They know the right amount of punctuation and spelling, so that there are no errors in the resume. This will help you find your niche in the online world of recruitment.When you look at it, you must be thinking that who would be interested in entering the online arena to seek employment? If you search for a reputed and experienced resume writing services in India you will realize that not only the unemployed people but also those looking for more jobs too can apply for the jobs. The most common purpose of these services is to promote your work experience and credentials.Resume writing services India is available in the form of online and cheap services and packages. These services are provided to the students in the form of professional resume writers and they will be provided with affordable rates for maintaining good relations with the candidates. So, there is no need to worry abou t the price as these services have reasonable prices.This implies that you don't have to spend money on hiring an expensive and experienced resume writer from India. This is because these professionals are well equipped with great knowledge and experience in writing resumes in India. Their main aim is to enhance the prospects of the candidate by carrying out their tasks and gaining benefits for the candidate.Online resume writing services in India are actually an answer to the need of every person, who wants to get the job as per his capacity and need. This is because they have got a vast experience in writing resumes in India. They will always try to be good to the applicant and use the latest tools and techniques for the job. The experience of the writers makes them qualified to deal with any kind of resume writing problem that an applicant may face.With their excellent service they get feedback from the entire candidate. This feedback will be helpful for the future writing jobs a nd they can use this feedback in their future assignments. In order to do that they will keep on learning and will be updated with the newest technologies.

6 things I learnt while doing an internship in London - Debut

6 things I learnt while doing an internship in London - Debut Everybody wants an internship in London, dont they? And why not? London is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of and if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere (do not tell New York I said that). Its only natural then that you should want to test your mettle in the big city. Its the dream of most people to work and thrive here. So if you manage to get an internship in London, take heed of these lessons I learnt just a few months ago when it was me in that position. The commute is pure hell An internship in London will build your resilience in ways you cant imagine, simply by having to travel back and forth between it and home. No matter how far away you live from your office, the rush-hour tube is likely to be the key to it. And its not as idyllic as this GIF makes it look. Fun fact: pretty much everyone will get closer than they intended to an armpit in their face at some point when travelling on the tube. Also, at that point in the morning, everyone smells of stale toothpaste and hot milk. They  will breathe that into your face. Nothings promised This is an important one to remember for any internship, let alone one in the fast-paced, ever-changing city of London. Internships are great and necessary to build up that valuable experience, but they dont always lead to a permanent position. Its a difficult conversation to have but make sure youre clear on what the chance for progression is. Get answers early, even at interview if possible. I ended up going permanent here at Debut, but it wasnt always certain that I would. If I has known to ask early, I would have. They wont always know what to do with you Unless you go somewhere where they run a program for interns, you might find an internship in London lacks the structure of a regular job. This is particularly true for some start-ups and small companies, where you might find your role changing according whatever the business needs are your department. Its also common to be stuck with a little bit of admin, to be extraordinarily busy at times and then not busy at all at other times. Comes with the territory, pal. Everyones keen to show you the ropes Dont believe what they tell you about people in London being rude, office folk are very patient and collaborative with a new starter. In fact, you might get so much good advice that you dont know what to do with it. Listen to your manager of course, but take as much advice as you can from other members of the team, senior people, heck, even the reception staff and janitors usually have a useful tip or two. Yes, every office has a local The thing youve seen in all those work-based sitcoms is 100% a thing in real life. Some places youll work will bring the food and drink to you (we got beers on tap at Debut HQ the dream) but for the most part, the local really exists. That café thats the lunch spot (shout out Nepa on Corsham Street), that pub on the corner, theyre the centre point for all office relationships to grow and all banter to blossom. Ask anyone who works in media about Media Thursdays, when everyone flocks to their favourite Soho haunts for a big night out, youll get what I mean. But theres so much more to see Just because your office has a favourite place to go doesnt mean you should use it as an excuse not to push the boat out. Doing an internship in London is a wonderful opportunity to explore one of the greatest cities in the world. Forget all the touristy stuff, explore the sights and sounds that make you tick. Everyones London is different and this is your chance to carve out your own. Good luck, intern. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Does a Coworker Have Eyes on My Job - CareerAlley

Does a Coworker Have Eyes on My Job - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Competition or envy around the workplace is inevitable. Especially with the financial crisis, people wanting to have a higher salary are making ways to achieve a higher status within the company. If you feel that your coworker has eyes on your job, you may find it difficult to deal with the situation. With that in mind, what do you need to do to stay one step ahead of those who may have designs on your position? 1. Be observant Observe your coworkers actions and do not readily assume that he/she wants your job. Do not automatically think of every little thing in a negative light. Simply put, dont be too paranoid. If in some way, you were able to confirm that your coworker really has bad intentions and is determined enough to do anything just to get you out of the position, this is the time that you would need to take extra precautions. Do not let your coworker sabotage your work or take the credit that is rightfully yours because of the excellent work that you were able to produce. Be conscious of your surroundings and know if this person back-stabs you and says negative things about you, both to your other coworkers and to your boss. 2. Dont get too stressed with whats happening Despite of being conscious of what your coworker is trying to do, do not get too stressed. No matter how annoyed or angry you are, try to remain calm and compose yourself. If you think too much about this problem, you might end up screwing your work and delivering off the mark. With this, you might accidentally help your coworker in his/her grand plan of ousting you in your position. Just remember that you are assigned to that position because the management trusts you and you are capable of accomplishing what the job entails. So relax and dont let this get in your way. If possible, you may also confide to a trusted friend or coworker and discuss the situation. Who knows, you might get reasonable pieces of advice from him/her. If not, then at least you were able to get this out of your chest. 3. Focus and work harder In relation to the previously mentioned tip, the best thing that you can do is to focus on your work and strive to become even better. Show others especially your coworker thats after your job that you deserve your position. By doing this, you will not only be able to get a better hold of your position, but also make your coworker with ill intentions frustrated and might eventually make him/her stop. 4. Talk to the coworker youre having issues with Communication is very important in solving problems related to interpersonal relationships. Talk to your coworker and express all your concerns. Make sure that you are going to do this calmly and not in a hysterical manner. Aside from that, you must also listen to what your coworker has to say and try to understand his/her side. If you experience this kind of problem, then welcome to the corporate world. You must know that this is not new to the corporate setting. It is probably normal for people to want something better for themselves. However, it becomes a problem when people start to do nasty things just to achieve their goal. At some point in your life, you will be assigned to work alongside people of different personalities. Welcome the moments that you are faced with this kind of problem or other related ones. Take it as a challenge and as a chance to improve the way you interact with other people both within and outside the workplace. After all, overcoming this may contribute to your own personal growth. About the Author: Tina Samuels writes on social media, marketing, small business, and how to rank first on Google. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif

Three Formatting Faux Pas on Your Resume That the Applicant Tracking Systems Cant Read! - Hallie Crawford

Three Formatting Faux Pas’ on Your Resume That the Applicant Tracking Systems Can’t Read! In an effort to creatively format one’s resume, our clients will do some things well and other things not so well. I’ve made a list below of the mistakes we’ve seen people make when formatting their resume. Why is this important? For the obvious reason that your resume needs to look good. But you also need to be careful with your resume formatting because of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). We all know that companies use them to sift through resumes to determine who is a qualified applicant, and who isn’t. And clients will often ask us how to beat them so to speak. There is no magic bullet to do so, but there are things you can do to help ensure your resume gets through the check points and gate keepers. Keep these formatting faux pas in mind to get past the software as frequently as you can 1 Don’t use tables. Yes, I know this is a great way to include a list for competencies, format your contact information, or to creatively format your overall resume. It makes things easier to read. However this is a big NO-NO because some ATS systems cannot read the content in your tables. 2 Don’t use text boxes. This is another great way to include information in a visually appealing and easy to read fashion but is yet another object that can’t be read, therefore any content in a text box can potentially be lost. 3 Don’t put your contact information in the document’s header or footer. Some ATS systems cannot read the information in this section, resulting in a resume with no name or contact information. The moral of the story is if you want your resume to be properly read by a company’s applicant tracking system, do not use any of the features above. Instead use the other formatting features of Word or your preferred software to create and style your resume. Thank you to one of our resume experts, Jasmine Marchong, for this article and the resume tips.  Want more Resume and Cover Letter Tips? Watch these helpful videos Hallie has created by clicking here. Schedule a free consult with HallieCrawford.com today