Your Interview Secret Weapon

Have you ever been on a date where you had nothing in common so you spent your time asking questions about the other person’s past?

“Where did you work before that? Where did you grow up? Where did you move to after that? How many brothers do you have?”

You get the idea. Your brain is in escape mode and your mouth is simply buying time until you can leave. Continue reading

The 10 Second Window of Opportunity, Resume Hour Glass

Do you know that a hiring manager just spends 10 second with your resume before deciding to forward or junk it? Ten seconds is all you got, to impress that person to get to the next step of the hiring process – “interviews”. I have seen many folks who can easily market themselves in person but they are poor at condensing them in a piece of electronic paper. This article helps you focus on beating the “Resume Hour Glass”. Continue reading

Fuzzy Headed Job Goals Lead to a Fuzzy Headed Life!

May I clarify in this article what I believe to be “fuzzy headed” life and job decisions. I believe both are entwined: life and job.

“Fuzzy Headedness” is a result of notHAVING and ACTING on life goals. It’seasy to fall into the trap of not makingreal decisions for oneself. Others canmake them for us. We can drift and goto the job and life that just happens.I think we all know people that have livedlike this for a long time! Continue reading

How To Get That Promotion

If you’re looking for that promotion or pay rise then you’ll need to be noticed by your employer, so here’s a few tips to stand out from the crowd:

Have a Friendly & Positive attitude towards Everyone you come into contact

Provide Service and treat Everyone as your customer

Be Professional at all times

Always look for extra work, especially when others are ducking for cover to avoid it

Watch what your colleagues are doing, copy from the ones who are receiving praise for their efforts but learn to do it better than them, while avoiding doing what your “lazier or negative” colleagues are doing Continue reading

Writing Resumes That Attract Your Perfect Job

Let me introduce you to Ben. He made it happen

Ben was a comptroller. He liked what he did and wanted to find a similar job after his position was eliminated during a re-organization. He brought to our initial meeting a resume that outlined his employment history and education. There was no professional summary and nothing that identified how his market value differed from all the other bean-counters out there with similar experience.

I sent him home with an assignment to create a professional summary. This is what he wrote:

I am an Accountant/Comptroller with expertise directing all aspects of finance and accounting functions for manufacturing and distribution industries. Core competencies include data management, financial analysis, and direction of integrated services. Continue reading

Your First Summer Work in the UK – Picking Strawberries The Right Way

Most jobs on farms in the UK involve picking strawberries or berries in general, raspberries and possibly other berries with which I have not have the lucky chance to pick.

Picking strawberries is very demanding and hard work and if this being your first summer job, then it will take lots of patience and clear mind. You might be picking in tunnels, which has an advantage of you being able to stand, on the other hand, tunnels are hot as you would expect, and you will have to endure that for you to pick. Tunnels are usually picked in the early mornings and this is being done quickly so that you do not have to stand the mid day or afternoon heat. Continue reading

Job Search 101

The whole job search effort is completely exhausting and at times just plain pathetic. It is what it is and if you are unemployed know that the job search experience is one familiar to everyone at some point and time, so don’t feel alone. One of the major mistakes many job seeks make is not being able to keep the whole job search experience organized. Remembering who you spoke to on what day, concerning what job can be a true “mission impossible.” Continue reading

Top Ten Reasons to Start A Catering Business

There is little doubt that Americans still have a deep abiding love for all things eatable. Despite the health craze that has forced Ronald McDonald to sport a jogging suit, Whoppers, Big Mac’s, and French Fries is truly why we have fat thighs. So what’s the answer? We need great home-grown cooks who are not into the fast food obsession. Do you love to cook and suffer from severe withdrawal when denied the opportunity to prepare your famous spinach stuffed chicken breast served with broccoli and roasted garlic? Do you want to profit from the food you prepare in your kitchen? Continue reading

Cover Letter Warning: Watch Out For the BIG BAD WORD!

Dear Job-Seeker:

Just as Goldilocks was suspicious of the big bad wolf, be wary of the big bad word! You know the kind. Pursuant. Heretofore. Credence and all their contagious cousins! Unless you keep your guard up, these little pests will infest your cover letters like termites in a wood pile! Don’t let them.

Remember, employers are regular folks–just like you and me. They don’t want to carry around a ten-pound dictionary in order to get through what should be a clear and concise cover letter. Decide today that you will communicate with your potential employer as though you were two friends sitting over a cup of coffee. Everyday language, a touch of humor, and specific details about what you can do for the company and why you’re the one for the job will take you further than any five-dollar word you heard on a national spelling bee! Continue reading