If you are feeling as though you have a serious case of resume writer's block, don't feel alone. This is the case for many people, especially those who are re-entering the workforce or who are new at job searching. Fortunately, free resume writing software can help to relieve a significant amount of your stress and make it possible for you to create an effective resume and have it in the hands of prospective employers in no time.

Free resume writing software services vary in terms of what is offered and how the information you create can be accessed. Therefore, it is extremely important that you research these factors when considering the use of any free resume writing software. For example, some free resume writing software services are very basic in nature. This type of resume writing software provides only a basic template in which you must fill in all the information and provides no help on wording, etc.

More advanced forms of free resume writing software go a step beyond and also offers suggestions and tips on wording. In addition, some types of free resume writing software may only offer one format. Depending on your personal situation, that format may not be the most suitable to highlight your unique skills and abilities and detract from anything that could hinder your chances at gaining employment. Whenever possible, look for resume software that offers you a choice in format.

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Unexpectedly loosing your job can be a very traumatic and distressing experience at the best of times. If you are over 40 and can't find the job you deserve, you will need great inner strength and self belief to come out on top.

Could this be you?

You're working at your family's welding business during the day, and then go to your second job at night. You're 50-some years old, working as a cashier at Target. You always said that if you're 40 years old and have a career that requires you to wear a name tag, then to just shoot you!

Not that there's anything wrong with working at Target or wearing a name tag or working the family business. Those are all honest jobs. It's just that after 20 years with your previous company, and with your education and expertise, you hadn't exactly planned on ramping up to your golden years asking customers if they'd like to save ten percent on their purchase by opening a store credit card.

You heard rumblings about the company folding. But as far as you knew, the numbers were good. At least they were good. unemployed, unemployment, downsizing, out of work, job seeker, redundant, fired, sacked

Then competition took over and the owners decided it was a good time to bow out gracefully. You were hoping you weren't going to be one of the countless main wage earners to get let go. But sadly, you were. Unemployment ran out. You sent out literally hundreds of resumes and still nothing. Your spirits are down, you're frustrated (that's an understatement) and you even had to humble yourself to get some help from a local food pantry.

You've done all the online courses; you have tirelessly pounded the pavement and scoured the classified ads. You've even hit up all the online sources to jobs such as www.monster.com www.usajobs.com hotjobs.yahoo.com and about 800 other job boards that you regularly surf. If one more person tells you that a door closes and a window opens or that good things come to those who wait, you think you're going to puke.

You have a family counting on you; so now what? For starters, keep plugging along. Keep on keeping on. You know a job isn't going to fall from the sky, so you need to just accept that your job right now is finding a job. You are working and you're working harder than most at this task.

More importantly you need to keep a positive outlook. Yes that's easier said than done. But if you can't control the circumstances you can control your attitude toward it. You can either look at downsizing as an opportunity to do something different or to learn something new; or you can view it by accepting that you've been dealt a bad hand of cards and now all you can do is play it out. Do not view yourself as a victim. No good will come from that attitude.

You wouldn't have advanced nor had the longevity that you did in your former career had it not been for your wherewithal and internal drive. You need to find that strength again. If you're still having a pity party, it's time to get over it. If you've sent out that many resumes and exhausted what you believe to be all your leads and you're still bitter and feeling sorry for yourself, it's time to reevaluate. If you haven't already accepted a job that you're overqualified for and underpaid, then it's time you did.

Pride can be our biggest downfall. Working a family business that you never wanted to, or working nights at the concession stand may not be what you envisioned for yourself. View it as temporary. View it as a paycheck. View it as an opportunity to network with people you would have never had the opportunity to cross paths. Maybe your next customer could be a business owner that you've been attempting to get an interview with.

As for the people who give you clichés – know that they mean well. People who have not been a mile in your shoes don't understand it. They don't know what to say. Remember downsizing sometimes sucks, but it may be forcing you into a new opportunity that you really love. Make the best of it.

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Job hunting abroad can be both an opportunity and an adventure. There are hurdles to overcome when searching for the right job abroad. Let's take going to Madrid, Paris, Rome or London for example. It's not enough to just send resumes, the idea should be "get the luggage and get on the plane."

Getting a work permit is one obstacle in Europe. To stay there for an extended time, a residence permit is needed. This an only be granted once a working permit has been granted. Companies only provide non-European workers their work permits if they prove that there are no qualified European for the position. This is tough since the European Employment Services allows different companies to recruit prospects in eighteen European Economic Area countries. Remember that an ideal candidate is one who is able to speak the native language of a specific city other than English.

If you have your eye on Spain, a typed application letter with a resume must be prepared, including a recent photo and translated qualifications and/or copies of diplomas and other credentials. The letter must be written in a direct formal style citing the vacancy applying for. A must have for the closing should be "En espera de sus noticias, les saluda atentamente."

In the United Kingdom, newspapers are good sources of job openings. Assorted prime papers offer complement of job vacancies like "The Guardian," "The Daily Telegraph," "The Times," or the "The Independent" particularize vacancies daily. Companies are very particular regarding the reason you are applying. Research on their product offers, location of branches/offices, etc. There must be a reason why there is an interest to work for a specific company.

The application for jobs in Italy should also consist of a typed application letter. This should be formal and conventional in form. Using the Italian language is a must when explaining the intriguing reason for application. Diplomas and other credentials including impressive list of references should be handy during the initial interview. There are three to four expected follow-up interviews including a psychometric test. Put emphasis on personal appearance before the interview especially how the dress as this shows the concern in getting the job being applied for.

The average job search abroad ranges between six to twelve months. Experts consider searching for a job a full time job itself. Attending career counseling is helpful if unsure on what to do. There are a lot of great career resources who can give advise that best fits ones interests and passion.

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When a school searches for a new teacher, they already have an image of the teacher they want. Every school has certain qualities they feel a teacher must have to be successful. Those qualities can be many things depending on the needs and location of the school. While the qualities that each school considers important may vary, there are usually shared qualities that all schools would consider important.

The experience or background of a teacher is the most important quality a school looks for so your resume should highlight the qualities they are looking for. If they are looking for an ESL teacher for kindergarten students, it may be best to highlight activities that you have initiated and prepared at your previous positions. In addition, if you are looking at a position for a content subject such as science, highlight your knowledge and education in that area. This is especially important if you are a new teacher with little or no experience. Regardless, you should also have all academic qualifications available for the school to preview before you go for an interview. Most schools want to review the qualifications while considering applicants and will sometimes pass on teachers who don't submit these items for review when applying. Each school is unique so the best thing would be to have a cover letter that speaks to that school and the position they are looking to fill. Don't just have a blanket letter and resume that you mass mail to any potential school in the hopes of gaining employment. It may be beneficial to have a list of professional highlights that you can copy and paste into a cover letter based on the requirements of the position.

Another important consideration for schools is the personal qualities of a teacher. Most schools are looking for a long term commitment from a teacher so they want to make sure that teacher will fit within their school. The obvious qualities that come to mind are personable, positive and flexible/patient because these qualities will carry over into the classroom with your future students. In addition, the school will look at a teacher's qualities with regards to their professionalism because there is much that is required outside of the classroom. In other words, they will want a teacher that is organized and committed. If they feel that the teacher can't be depended on, they may not consider them a viable candidate. One of the things that may highlight a teacher's lack of commitment is a resume that shows numerous teaching positions over a short period of time. Remember that you will not be judged strictly by your qualifications but on the sum of who you are as an individual.

The factors that go into a school's decision to accept a teacher are varied and many so it is impossible to cover them all. Regardless, cover the basics looked for in any teacher and identify the unique characteristics or qualifications of a particular position. Remember that looking for a teaching job, like many other employment searches, is about selling yourself and the best way to do this is by identifying what the employer wants.

The following is an abbreviated list of characteristics posted by a teacher in response to a UNICEF request to "What makes a Good Teacher?":

Positive - Thinks positively and enthusiastically about people and what they are capable of becoming. Sees the good in any situation and can move forward to make the most of difficult situations when confronted with obstacles. Encourages others to also be positive.

Dependable - Honest and authentic in working with others. Consistently lives up to commitments to students and others. Works with them in an open, honest, and forthright manner.

Organized - Makes efficient use of time and moves in a planned and systematic direction. Knows where he or she is heading and is able to help students in their own organization and planning. Can think in terms of how organization can be beneficial to those served.

Committed - Demonstrates commitment to students and the profession and is self-confident, poised and personally in control of situations. Has a healthy self-image. Encourages students to look at themselves in a positive manner, careful to honor the self-respect of the students, while encouraging them to develop a positive self-concept.

Motivational - Enthusiastic with standards and expectations for students and self. Understands the intrinsic motivations of individuals, and knows what it is that motivates students. Takes action in constructive ways.

Compassionate - Caring, empathetic and able to respond to people at a feeling level. Open with personal thoughts and feelings, encouraging others to do likewise. Knows and understands the feelings of students.

Flexible - Willing to alter plans and directions in a manner which assists people in moving toward their goals. Seeks to reason out situations with students and staff in a manner that allows all people to move forward in a positive direction.

Knowledgeable - Is in a constant quest for knowledge. Keeps up in his or her specialty areas, and has the insight to integrate new knowledge. Takes knowledge and translates it to students in a way which is comprehensible to them, yet retains its originality.

Creative - Versatile, innovative, and open to new ideas. Strives to incorporate techniques and activities that enable students to have unique and meaningful new growth experiences.

Patient - Is deliberate in coming to conclusions. Strives to look at all aspects of the situation and remains highly fair and objective under most difficult circumstances. Believes that problems can be resolved if enough input and attention is given by people who are affected.

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So you were thinking you might write your own resume?

That's okay, if the following applies to you:

* You are an excellent writer.

* You are adept in grammar and spelling rules.

* You have a solid understanding of the telegraphic writing style (which eliminates the use of personal pronouns, such as "I" and "me" and articles such as "the" and "a").

* You are an expert MS Word user.

* You keep up to date on industry trends.

 

* You are knowledgeable of resume layout and design.

* You know what information is relevant on a resume.

* You know what information is NOT relevant on a resume.

* You can devote several days to the resume writing process (research, preparation, writing, and editing).

Many people find they do not have the time or resources to write a professional resume that will get them results. You might also realize along the way (like many do) that hiring a professional resume writer will actually SAVE you money!

How you ask?

Imagine you have recently become unemployed and your previous salary was $34,000 annually and you are looking to remain at the same salary. Every week of unemployment equates to losing $653.85 in potential wages.

The average out-of-work American is unemployed for 18 weeks. So using the assumed $34,000 annual salary, you could lose $11,769.30 in potential wages.

On the other hand, people that have utilized my professional resume writing services have reported getting hired on average within 5 weeks.

That's a savings of over $8,500!!

Here's an analogy for you.

I can change the tires or the oil on my car. However, I would need to devote a lot of time and effort into learning how to replace my transmission. A mechanic on the other hand could have it done in a day or two because they have the tools, knowledge and resources necessary to get it done properly.

Since I am not a mechanic, not only will it take me well over a week, but I may not even do it correctly (and consequently cost myself even more time and money).

So the next time you think it's too expensive to have a resume professionally written, you need to ask yourself, "What does your resume cost".

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Career planning necessary to work out

Career planning is one of those things you don't learn about in school but what decisions you make with your career affect your future in more ways than one. No matter what choices you make regarding your career, make sure you have it worked out before you step into any interviews. Your interview is your prospective employer's first impression of you. How you sell yourself career wise is how your employer will see you for the duration of your employment with him or her. Don't sabotage your own career.

Don't be unprepared for the interview question, "So where do you want to be in 5 years."

Here are some of the ways that decisions regarding your career affect you:

• You salary depends on your career decisions. You need to start as high as possible and get as high as possible pay raises, both at one company and in between jobs. Remember that you're the only one that cares about your salary.
• Your education should complement your career. You should always be taking some form of education whether it is in a traditional class or in a distance learning program. Education, strategically taken, can help advance career or give you more career options.
• Your career path. If you don't plan strategically where you want to be in five years, you'll still end up somewhere in five years. Right? Better that your career path follows your career goals than somebody else's.

Interviewing shouldn't be all about what you want; who would want to hire somebody like that? But if your interviewer asks about your career plans, make sure you have something prepared to say. Don't let your interviewer decide your fate at your new company. Have a clear vision of where you want to be in five years and convey it to your interviewer. Then shut up and listen to what your interviewer has to say.

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Individuals enter a paralegal school and obtain paralegal certificate because of several objectives. Some attend paralegal classes to earn paralegal certificate and would provide them enough passport as an entry-level to an employment; others seek paralegal education to lend them more knowledge on paralegal matters; others necessitate themselves to be equipped with the continuing trend in terms of paralegal concerns or enhance/empower their know-how or expertise in the technicalities of paralegal activities. Whatever objective they may have behind acquiring additional knowledge in paralegal profession, there are paralegal schools sprouting everywhere the country and who offer different paralegal programs and paralegal certifications. Each paralegal school stipulates similar concepts of goals and objectives as a means of assuring the quality of paralegal studies.

For paralegal schools, it is extremely essential that they abide with the trend in the paralegal world. They should continually incorporate changes brought along by the constant evolution of each phase in the legal world. A paralegal school should also collaborate with the employers, legal practitioners, and professional associated in working toward improving the whole application of paralegal education and consequently for a better paralegal services. As paralegal schools prepare student for a rewarding career in the field, they should also carry with them specific goals like making the students understand the concepts of critical and analytical thinking skills in paralegal work. Likewise, they should also enable students adopt understanding of the paralegal role and paralegal's delivery of services. Also, specific goals should be offered in relation to the students' ability to develop the importance of communication skills, knowledge in manual legal research techniques, professional caliber legal writing skills, and knowledge in the federal and state court systems.

Furthermore, it is also particularly significant to let students imbued of the relevance of understanding in the use of legal vocabulary that is required to function within the community. Adeptness in computerized as well as manual legal research techniques are also one of the programs a paralegal school should be equipped with. Other relevant objectives would focus from the mastery of the rules of professional office etiquette, develop and maintain effective case management, to understanding the sensible contacts with different cultures and other backgrounds in the society. Paralegal schools also offer more objectives to allow students get concrete knowledge of the components a paralegal matters entail. They are totally committed to bringing the students to the real mobility of paralegal world especially after completing the course and ready to tackle paralegal profession.

Some paralegal schools grant paralegal programs that will lead students to obtaining paralegal associate's degree, paralegal bachelor's degree, and paralegal post-baccalaureate certifications. Through these paralegal schools, students will earn paralegal trainings that will make them relevantly and highly qualified in the field of paralegal career. Paralegal schools offer flexible options for paralegal studies. They have the traditional way of conducting paralegal classes. These paralegal courses are good for those who have the privilege to go full-time student. And for those who are working at daytime, they can access paralegal online classes. Both offer the same quality and courses and would provide the same goal and objectives.

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It is a very tough job market now days. You have to have additional skills to be successful. A little careful study and practice will give an edge over the others and you will come out with flying colors. Here are some useful tips and suggestions.

First step for getting a job is to be able to get a call for personal interview from perspective employer. Your record till date matters a lot and how do you present that in the CV will get you noticed among the crowd. Be sure that your CV is written properly and is impressive. You may like to take expert help for writing the CV.

Second step, which comes across, will be in form of written test for

·IQ and reasoning.
·English.
·General awareness or general knowledge.
·Abilities with basic math.

The third and final step before you are called for a final interview could be in the form of a Group Discussion where your various abilities, which are discussed later, will be tested.

Congratulations now that you are through with first three steps the finale has come and you have to show "Do you have it in you". For this you have to know what do they really want?
What your interviewer is looking for is how suitable you will be for the job can you hit bull's eye by having showing them suitable mix of Qualities in you? Just remember that having these qualities is one thing and demonstrating these is another, which is more important. Do not think that you have the qualities and it is for them to judge these qualities. You will 100% go wrong. The qualities are

Must Qualities Following qualities can be considered to be must which you must posses, however depending on job profile there could be some differences: -

·Your Attitude
·Sincerity
·Faith in yourself
·Determination and self confidence
·Depth of knowledge
·Analytical abilities
·Integrity
·Interpersonal Skills
·Team spirit
·Loyalty
·Discipline
·Leadership
·Clarity of Thoughts

Should Qualities. These are additional qualities which, though not essential qualities but can be labeled as desirable qualities: -

·Maturity
·Adaptability
·Flexibility
·Wisdom
·Punctuality
·Written and verbal communication
·Initiative
·Your over all Personality
·Ability to influence others
·Physical Appearance
·Tolerable stress levels
·Sense of Humor
·Value System
·Motivation Level
·Honesty
·Good IQ and EQ
·Noticeable past demonstrated performance
·Good listening skills

This all put together reflects your overall potential for the suitability of the post on offer. There are few more qualities which can be put as could have qualities, which will give you, edge over others should there be a tie among you and your competitor: -

·Learn to solve problems and not create them.
·Plan and organize work in systematic manner.
·Get things done through other people.
·Show evidence of your motivations and interests.

Let us come closer and see what prospective employers have to say about their disliking about a candidate. These are results of a survey, which was undertaken by a popular magazine to find the reasons for not hiring an otherwise suitable candidate: -

You can eat away your chances of success if you: -

·Act disinterested
·Do not do your homework
·Talk too little / TOO MUCH
·Display bad manners
·Run down your current or past employer
·Take credit for things you did not do
·Hide holes in your resumes
·Show lack of confidence in the prospective employer
·Negotiate too early about the salary even before they tell you that you are hired.

Their Criticisms of the candidates

·Did not prepare well for the interview
·Failed to listen to questions asked / answered the wrong question.
·Provided superfluous information and unnecessary detail.
·Made negative comments about yourself / Showed low self-steem.
·Made negative remarks about the company or the interviewers.
·Were poorly motivated - didn't ask job related questions - didn't take opportunities to sell yourself.
·Showed poor face-to-face communication skills

Certain don't during the interview

·Use interviewers' names, unless asked.
·Sit down, until you are invited.
·Worry about being nervous. Be sure that makes you more nervous.
·Show samples of your work, unless specifically requested
·Show disappointment if things aren't going your way.
·Correct the interviewers unless in a tactful manner.
·Say anything negative about yourself/put yourself down.
·Criticize your current or previous employers.
·Give up hope if the interviewer is negative/abrupt.
·Ask how well you've done in the interview.
·Talk about salary/benefits/holidays unless they bring it up

Before D Day

·Do company research. Know about the company in general and the department you are being tested for. This will give you the idea about the type of questions you will be asked and also prepare for the answers you should be giving.
·Identify your skills & personal strengths and list these in a logical order.
·Match your skills to job requirements. By doing so you will position yourself at an advantage over others having similar qualifications and experience.
·List likely Interview questions

During the interview. Be careful your

·Turnout
·Body Language
·Listening and verbal skills
·Knowledge
·Sharpness
·Grasping power
ARE BEING PUT TO TEST

A word about Turn out

In a major survey of employer attitudes to candidate's appearance at job interviews, the majority agreed that grooming strongly influences their decisions on who will be hired.
The Secrets of Interview Success
·Express yourself with clarity and precision.
·Speak confidently, making sure to support your answers with relevant examples from your work
·Always relate your answers to the job for which you are applying.
·Always present a positive face
·You should state and supply evidence that you enjoy your job; that you are enthusiastic and ambitious; and that you welcome challenge.
·It is important to tell the truth in interviews.
·Convince them that your experience qualifies you for the job on offer.
Group Discussions: What is Group Discussion

Group Discussion is an important part of the selection process where employers evaluate the candidate's potential to be a leader and also the ability to work in teams. Groups of 8-10 candidates are formed into a leaderless group, and are given a specific situation to analyze and discuss within a given time limit, which may vary between twenty minutes and forty-five minutes.

They may be given a case study and asked to come out with a solution for a problem. They may be given a topic and are asked to discuss the same.

What is being tested?

You'll have to be able to understand the other person's point of view while making your point and ensure that your team as a whole reaches a win-win situation.
The group discussion is a test of your interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people.

The objective of a group discussion is to mainly check your team playing skills because as a manager, you will be working in organizations with people

Skills Tested during Group Discussion

·Persuasive Skills
·Communication Skills
·General awareness and knowledge
·Power to influence others
·Listening skills
·Ability to withstand pressure
·Interpersonal Skills
·Logical Thinking
·Leadership and team Skills

And other Skills

·Comprehension of the main idea and ability to generate ideas
·The rapport you strike
·Patience
·Assertion
·Accommodation
·Responsiveness
·Body language

Remember having qualities is one thing and demonstrating these during the discussion is another

Handy Points to remember

·Knowledge is strength.
·Addressing the Group as a Whole.
·If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate.
·A GD is not a debating stage.
·Language use should be simple, direct and straightforward.
·Maintain rapport with fellow participants.
·Use positive body language.
·Communicate with each and every candidate present.
·While speaking don't keep looking at a single member.

Tips for the Group Discussion

·A Good level of general awareness will come in handy.
·The wider your reading interests, the better prepared you will be.
·Take time to think of what you are going to say.
·Work out various strategies to help you enter the discussion.
·Starting the discussion is considered to be good however it isn't that important; what is important is that you speak for a period long enough for you to be able to communicate your viewpoint.
·Be patient; don't lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to.
·Don't take the discussion personally.
·Be responsive to ideas from other people and very receptive and open-minded but don't allow others to change your own viewpoint.
·Employers are looking for a range of different skills and although you may think that leadership is key, and want to demonstrate this in a discussion, you need to be careful that you don't dominate the discussion as this may come across as aggressive.
·Quality and NOT QUANTITY: Often, participants think that success in-group discussions depend on their decibel levels. Ironically, it's the opposite.
·Rounding the discussion off - when about 2-3 minutes are left, someone in the group must take the initiative and summarize all the issues discussed. Let it be you.

Remember the six C's of effective Communication

·Clarity
·Completeness
·Conciseness
·Confidence
·Correctness
·Courtesy.

Here are some of the GD topics of leading Institutes

·Managerial skills learnt in the classroom can never match those learnt from experience.
·Democracy is hampering India's progress.
·MBA in India is highly overrated.
·Religion is a private affair and should be of no concern for the state.
·Decreasing defense expenditure and increasing social expenditure is the need of the hour.
·Women's empowerment will lead to social development. (IIM Kozhikode, March'99)
·Computers result in unemployment. (FMS Delhi, March'99)
Are we raising a generation of burnt out children? (IIMB, Mar 97)
·Advertising is all glitter and little truth. (MICA, Apr '97)
·Is bureaucracy a hindrance to economic reforms in India? (IIMC, July '97)
·Filmmakers are indulging in cinematic Fortitution in the name of folk culture. (IIML, Mar'97X Are we raising a generation of burnt out children? (IIMB, Mar 97)
·Under Indian parliamentary democracy it is impossible to ensure balanced regional development. (IIMC, Mar '97)
·Corruption is the main outcome of democracy in India. (IIML, Mar '97) In an over-regulated society corruption is inevitable. (MICA, Apr '97)
·For the poorer sections of society, a state-controlled economy is better than a liberalized economy. (IIMC-PGDCM, March'97)
·With IT replacing middle level management, software jobs are more lucrative than MBAs (S.P Jain, March'99)
·Do you think accent holds you back? Would you prefer everyone speaking uniformly? (XIM Bhubaneswar, March'99)
·Men resent women power at work place (NMIMS, March'99)
Youth in India are becoming greedy by the day (MICA, March'99)
·MBAs should be taxed at higher rates in the country (IIMB April'99)
·Efficiency and corruption go hand in hand.

After the Interview

·Each job interview should be a learning process. Learn from your mistakes - don't repeat them.
·Carry out a post-interview analysis immediately after the interview while it is still fresh in your mind.
·Review tough questions and make notes for your next interview on areas where you might handle difficult questions better.
·Motivate yourself to approach your next interview in a positive frame of mind.
·Use the experience gained at each interview to improve your technique and overall presentation

Seven Mantras for Success

·Communication Skills
·Influencing Abilities
·Problem Solving
·Creative Thinking
·Social Skills]
·Managing Finances

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Although it's been said that "You can't judge a book by its cover," it happens all the time. In business as well as in life in general we are always judging and being judged. That all important first impression is lasting.

It's been statistically proven that people make judgments about others in the first 30 seconds to one minute of meeting them. Therefore, job seekers have only a short time to make that impression a positive one.

Everyone knows they should be clean, neat and polished "looking" when they walk in the door for the interview. That's only part of the preparation though.

When seeking employment, there is something you can do to make yourself memorable to the interviewer. Improve your interview skills. Following are ten (plus one) easy ways to do this. Each will demonstrate positive things about you to the interviewer.

1. Arrive for your interview at least ten minutes early. You show that you are interested and have manners enough NOT to keep the interviewer waiting.

2. If you are sitting when the interviewer arrives, stand up when they come in. Introduce yourself and give a firm handshake. Again, this speaks to business etiquette and interpersonal skills.

3. Prior to the interview, make sure you have scoped out the business. How? Research them online and discreetly stop by/drive by to gauge how people interact; what they are wearing, etc.

4. Be polite to everyone you meet. Leave the receptionist with as good impression of you as any other VIP! This shows that you consider everyone important.

5. Have questions for the interviewer and make sure you've listed them ahead of time. This shows you've given some thought to the position and have some idea of what the business is about.

6. Be able to discuss what you are "all about" in a two minute speech. Practice and memorize it ahead of time. You will almost always hear: 'Tell me about yourself." This way you can be ready to respond.

7. Bring at least two fresh copies of your resume. (Use good stock resume paper and not the paper you use every day.)

8. Make sure your resume reflects you. Don't make up things to make yourself look good-you will be found out.

9. If you are now employed, do not badmouth your current employer. When asked why you are seeking other employment, it's fair to say you want to expand your horizons or opportunities. Perhaps such opportunities are not available in your job. If you badmouth your boss, it will make the potential employer question your professionalism and loyalty and make them wonder how you would talk about people if you were hired.

10. After the interview, send a thank you note. In it you'll thank the interviewer for taking time to see you and you'll indicate that you are very interested in the position.

Finally: Ask for the job! So often people leave interviews and never express their interest. That's a mistake. When you don't ask for the job what message do you send the interviewer?

By using these suggestions, you'll make a great impression on the interviewer. As a result, you'll be the "book" that that is read beyond just the cover!

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Many of us have been told that a college degree is necessary in order to land a satisfying career that has a good salary. However, while experts agree that most careers do require postsecondary training or education, statistics show that only a small percentage of jobs will demand a bachelor's or professional degree. If you are undecided about whether or not attending a four-year college is right for you, what is a reasonable alternative?

A great option to a four-year college is a vocational training program. Vocational training programs offer specialized instruction to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to perform a specific job. In addition, these programs often have small class sizes -- which allow for one-on-one communication with the instructor -- and are completed in a much shorter timeframe. Many training programs are also offered on the Internet, enabling you to study from the comfort of your own home and on your own schedule.

There are also an unlimited number of careers that can be had through vocational training. A great job such as working the front desk of a dental office is easily achieved through vocational training. Additionally, vocational training prepares students for immediate employment by focusing only on the material that matters; while a four-year college expects students to take a variety of courses that usually have nothing to do with their interests and end up costing them a lot of wasted time and dollars.

On the front and back end, vocational training is much lower in costs than college tuition. Today, the average price of a four-year college is somewhere around $15,000 per year; while a vocational training institution averages 60-80% less. And the costs don't end at graduation either. Many college students end up paying back hefty loans that they had to use in order to pay for school - before they even land a job!

In short, it is important to understand now what your choices are for postsecondary education. A great part of graduating high school and becoming a responsible adult is learning to make the decisions that are right for you. So mosey on up to the counter and take a good look at all the options available on the menu before you decide to order what everyone else recommends.

"Changing Lives...One Career at a Time."

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Some interviewers do a good job and make sure they ask you pertinent questions. However, most interviewers are not good at interviewing and therefore will not ask you questions that will let you provide information showing how you're qualified and can do the job. A study by psychology professors Hunter & Schmidt in "Psychology Today" found a typical employment interview is only 7 percent more accurate than flipping a coin. This is because the typical interviewer doesn't know the right questions to ask and makes a decision based on their "gut feeling" about a candidate.

Unless you're dealing with an exceptional interviewer, which you can usually determine rather quickly, you should take it upon yourself to insure you find out what the employer is looking for and convey how you can do the job. There are two important things you need to accomplish in interviews: one is providing the interviewer with factual information supporting the idea that you are a good fit for the job; the other is for the interviewer to connect with that logic on an emotional level. Trial attorneys face a similar challenge when presenting their case to a jury. They need to provide them with both factual information and with an emotional connection to their version of the story.

The most powerful way of creating an emotional connection is through visualization. Just as a jury needs to visualize an attorney's version of a story for them to have an emotional connection with it, an interviewer needs to be able to visualize you in the role they're hiring for, doing the tasks of the job. The interviewer needs to see you doing those things and needs to be able to visualize the outcomes. Helping someone visualize your story can be done by using detailed descriptions of actions and through appropriate use of hand gestures and body language.

To illustrate, instead of saying the person burglarized the house, which is an abstract idea, a trial attorney would describe the actions: John walked up the brick walkway at 8:00 pm on a moonlit evening, shattered the side window and climbed into the house. The first way of explaining what happened just gives an abstract idea which creates either no image in the listener's mind, or just a vague image that they won't remember. The second way provides a vivid image they can easily recall and connect to. The attorney might even use some gestures and body language when talking about walking up the steps or shattering the window, which further reinforces the visual imagery.

"Lead with Need"

One of the most common mantras in the sales world is "Lead with Need." This means before you start blabbing about how great you are, find out what the customer needs first. Recruiters often describe jobs in terms of skills and education required. These are really just symptoms of a person who could be capable of doing the job but don't explain what is actually involved. You need to dig deeper and find out from the recruiter the specific tasks that need to be accomplished. Here are some examples of specific tasks:

- Migrate the office from Windows 2000 to Windows 2003
- Install the SAP enterprise software system in all offices nationwide
- Increase sales of our photocopiers to the pharmaceutical industry by 25% over the next 9 months
These are examples of deliverables - specific tasks that need to be accomplished. Ask follow-up questions to be sure you understand. Take notes when the interviewer is talking if you like. One caveat if you take notes: Just make sure you're coming across as being sincerely interested in the position and not coming across as a salesman or manipulator.

Pitching Your Background & Visualizing Success:

- Once you understand what the job entails and what needs to be done, you should mentally match the tasks with things you've done in the past.
- Start off talking about your strongest competencies, tying one of the tasks to be accomplished with something you've done successfully.
- You could start off talking about the task they need done, then talk about how you did something similar before, then paint a picture of how you would do it for them, including action words to help them visualize you actually doing it.
- Talk about symptoms of the success your efforts will create. Could talk about a more productive workforce with people spending more time talking to clients instead of doing paperwork. This will help create visual images in the mind of the interviewer that will help them remember you and make it easier for them to see you as being successful in the position.

For example, if the employer needs to migrate their systems from Windows 2000 to Windows 2003, you could first talk about how you migrated a similar-sized company a couple years ago from Windows NT to Windows 2000. You could talk about how you planned the project, how many people were involved, and how the end-users' productivity changed at the end (hopefully for the better). Then talk about the steps you would go through to do it for them, being as descriptive and visual as possible.

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