Career

Showing posts with label Business Plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business Plan. Show all posts

Thursday, December 2, 2010

I'm sorry, but job interviews can be a real bore. If you get an interview with a company and have four people to meet, the odds are that two of those interviews will be boring. What do I mean by boring? Well, there are a lot of people asked to interview who don't do it very often and don't really know what to ask. There are also those that are so scripted that the candidate is forced to fall back on answers that are also scripted. If the interviewer was nervous or unsure going into the meeting and remained that way through until the end, you will be blamed for it.
Boring interviews end up in a cycle of generic interaction that leads the interviewer to neither like you or dislike you. In the post-interview meeting that most companies have, you will likely not stand out. Instead, as you are peeling off your business suit or scraping off your fancy interview shoes, you are being described as "OK", "good gal/guy" or "capable". Not very inspiring for the hiring manager and not much cover if he/she wants to make you an offer.
Whether your fault or not, you have not broken through to this interviewer. Because the interview was uneventful, even if the fault of the interviewer, you are going to pay the price.
So how can you turn a boring interview into a memorable one?
Turn the discussion around to focus on the interviewer.
In some cases, this will be a relief. They were not comfortable asking questions anyway. In other cases, they will love the idea of sharing a success or describing a key project that they led.
Yes, you have to take over. But you have to be careful. Each interviewer is different and may require a different style of takeover. Sometimes one question from you can change the entire structure of the interview, make it more personal and provide the opening for you to become more than just one of five candidates being seen that day.
How about some ideas, you say?
1. Ask the first question and keep asking.
Here's an easy one: How long have you been with (COMPANY)? Kicks off the interview as conversational and sets the tone a bit. If you sense that the interviewer likes talking, ask additional questions to better understand his/her role in the company and what influence they may have on the position in question. Once you've established a more conversational format, you can introduce key points about yourself with more precision.
2. Ask a personal question that focuses attention on the interviewer in a positive way.
"What have been your best moments here at (COMPANY)?" This allows them to share something with you and allows you to follow-up in a number of different ways. If the response is that the interviewer was critical in the installation of a new piece of plant equipment, ask him to show it to you. Oh, how an interview changes when you can get up, walk around and get conversational. You are now building a relationship and having an impact. And, by the way, everyone else you are interviewing with sees you on your walk - you look to be getting special treatment, right?
3. Ask questions to introduce your key and unique skills.
Ask a question like: Do you have a system to consistently guarantee new products will launch on time? After they answer, you are free to describe your skills here and cement yourself as someone who can make a quick and substantial positive impact. Be careful not to ask questions that could potentially embarrass an interviewer or force them to look less than strategic.
Now I hear some of you saying: "Hey, I'm thankful for every interview I can get. I need interviews, boring or not to get myself back in business!". I hear you. In times when interviews are hard to come by, your ability to make a really positive and obvious impact is crucial. You want the interview team to come in to the candidate review meeting with words like "wow", "I could see him starting here tomorrow", "that's the one we need". And those reactions won't come from a team of four when two of the four are asking standard questions and getting acceptable, standard answers. Don't wait until the end to ask your questions. You may run out of time and, for sure, you will not stand out. > employee  


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Are Your References Ready?

One of the most common forms of background check performed by companies hiring new employees is the reference check. They typically request that candidates provide them with three names of previous bosses. If you don't have three former bosses, then provide co-workers, teachers, college professors and/or professional colleagues as character references. 
The first thing you should do is develop your list of potential references and then contact each one. Explain that you're applying for a job, describe the type of work and the company, and ask if they would feel comfortable giving you a good recommendation.
If they have any hesitation, do not include them as a reference. Your goal is to have three strong references who can help you land the job.
Be sure to verify their contact information.

Don't list these references on your resume, but have them handy during an interview. Put the names, titles, phone numbers, mailing addresses and email addresses of your references on a single sheet of paper and take it to your interview.
After the interview, if this seems like a job you'd enjoy, go ahead and hand them this list of references along with any other "leave-behind" materials that are appropriate, such as a portfolio with samples of your work (this depends on the type of job, of course).

find all the vacancies in Job Vacancy Indonesia, Vacancy

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Monday, November 22, 2010

What To Do When Your Boss Is a Jerk

I've never worked for a boss I didn't like or respect. Sure, some were better than others, but I never considered quitting my job because of a bad boss. Unfortunately, many employees aren't so lucky.
If your boss is a total jerk, someone you'll never get along with, admire or respect no matter how hard you try, there are a few things you can do.
Wait. Is your boss close to retirement or promotion--or even better--termination? If so, try to bide your time and wait until that happy event happens. 

Bite your tongue. Keeping anger and frustration bottled up inside is not healthy, but neither is complaining about your boss at work. So if your family can tolerate it, vent at home instead. It'll make you feel better even if it does nothing to help your situation. It may be tempting to complain about your boss at work, especially if coworkers are talking about the same problems. But resist that temptation! If your boss finds out that you are complaining about him, he'll have a legitimate reason to take appropriate action against you and make your life under him worse than it already is.
Continue to work hard. Regardless of how your boss treats you, it's in your best self-interest to continue doing your job to the best of your ability. Stay focused and think about how your efforts are helping the company as a whole. If you do a good job, you may get noticed by your boss's colleagues or even his superiors. Maybe a better opportunity will arise.
Try to improve your relationship. If your boss is a complete jerk, this may be impossible no matter what you do. But if he's only a partial jerk, perhaps it would be worth your time to try to make the situation better. After all, this person may have control over your advancement up the career ladder. And while quitting may seem to be the easiest thing to do, searching for another job, having to explain why you left your last one, and struggling to get a decent reference from an ex-jerk-boss may make leaving a difficult option for you. Instead, swallow your pride and try to understand your boss's management style and personality and adapt yourself to that. For instance, if he's a micromanager, give him constant updates and details on what you're doing (even if you think it's a waste of your time and he should just trust you to do your job).
Effective communication is very important, and it works both ways. If your boss is unclear in telling you what he wants, ask questions until you know exactly what's expected. During performance evaluations or one-on-one discussions, ask him what you can do to meet his expectations.
Go over your boss's head. This is rarely a good idea. But if you've tried everything else, and you feel that your boss is making serious mistakes that affect the company (and not just you), consider talking to his superior. If you take this route, be prepared with specific examples and proof, not just accusations. And realize that this tactic may backfire on you (especially if your boss's boss is also a jerk).

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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Dressing For Success At Your Job Interview

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy


Have you got a job interview coming up and you're not quite sure what to wear?
Here are some tips to help you achieve a professional, polished look.
Stay Away From Scents:
Many offices now have a scent-free policy prohibiting workers and even visitors from wearing perfumes, colognes, and very odorous deodorants. Even if they don't, you should refrain from wearing scents when interviewing. This goes for men and women. Many people are irritated by odours and others might have mental associations with certain odours. A perfume can quickly remind them of someone they dislike. You want to be a blank slate, where only what you have to say, your experience, and your skills do the talking for you.
Dress Comfortably:
You don't want to look uncomfortable and ill at ease in what you're wearing. That being said, you should have a polished professional look. You've heard the expression "Dress for the job you want to do." You should go one step further. You should dress for the job that you want, but a touch more dressy. A good standard for a management job interview is a nice traditional dark suit, with a clean, pressed dress shirt and co-ordinating tie. Remember to wear comfortable dress shoes with dark dress socks. If you don't wear suits often, try on your outfit a few days in advance to make sure everything still fits from the last time you wore it.
For women, the same standard applies. Remember that you want to project a professional image. A good standard to go by is a nice fitted suit jacket in a neutral color like navy with either matching pants or skirt with an unfussy neutral blouse. Your shoes should be classic and just blend into your outfit. Don't forget plain pantyhose.
It's important to be comfortable as this helps you look confident and successful.
Don't Stick Out:
Interviews aren't usually the time to make a loud, personal fashion statement. Of course, you can certainly inject your own flair and style into your outfit. And for some job interviews in the creative fields, flair is a great thing. But make sure it isn't inappropriate. Get a friend's advice if you aren't sure. Sometimes we get used to wearing a certain style and we don't realize that perhaps, the trend has passed. It's important to stick with the basics and to be professional. The whole point of the interview is to get across how qualified you are, how your skills will be a great fit for the company you are applying for. Don't give them anything to remember you by but your content.
When interviewing, wear clothes that are or appear new. Women shouldn't wear clothes that show cleavage, skirts that are cut too short, see-through tops, or very high-heeled shoes.
Of course, we want to look our best at an interview. Women should refrain from wearing loud makeup. Everything should blend in nicely and your makeup should not be so dramatic that it distracts your interviewer.
Hygiene:
Remember to look and smell nice to be around. Enough said.
Before Your Interview:
  • Try on everything a few days before to make sure everything fits as it should. Snip off any stray threads from your clothes and mend any loose buttons or snaps. You don't want something coming apart unexpectedly.
  • The night before, press anything that needs pressing. Don't wait until the day of, in case your iron doesn't work properly, or you burn something accidentally.
  • Take an extra few minutes to quickly polish your shoes.
  • De-lint your outfit, especially if you have pets in your home.
  • Get a haircut a couple of days before. This gives you extra time to correct any problems in case it doesn't turn out the way you were expecting.
  • Before you leave the house, take off one accessory. We tend to overdo garnishes when we are nervous and dressing up. Keep jewellery to a minimum - a wedding band (if applicable) or a ring, and a subtle watch, and plain earrings for women.
  • Women, bring an extra pair of pantyhose with you.
If you have any doubts about wearing a certain outfit, piece of clothing, or item of jewellery at an interview, leave it at home. Following these simple steps, should help you feel confident, prepared, and polished for your interview. Good luck!

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Monday, October 25, 2010

2 Keys That Are A Must For Starting An Online Business

By Steven Downward




Starting an online business is something that millions of people around the world would love to do. Having the ability to make their money off of the internet is really powerful. Now many of these people do try to start an online business but they fail. They fail because they don't have these 2 keys that are needed to create success online.

The first key is DETERMINATION. TheFreeDictionary.com defines determination as "A fixed intention or resolution", basically saying that we need to be hard set on whatever goal that we have set out.

See there are a lot of different challenges that come up when building an online business. Things will happen that you never planned on happening and they will end up setting you back. Without having the determination, you will end up quitting or giving up. If you give up, you will never have a successful online business.

The second key is PATIENCE. Patience is a big one and it's really important for creating success online. Many people feel that there is some magic button that they can just push and they will be making money online. This is not the case. It's going to take some skill and you will need to spend the time to master these skills.

There are a lot of things that one needs to learn when building a business online. Things like marketing, outsourcing, website development, collecting money, creating or getting a product to sell, are just a few examples of the different skills that one needs to learn. Without having the patience you will get discouraged and frustrated and want to quit.

So decide right away that you will have the determination and the patience that is needed to create a successful online business. Because if you don't, you will have a really hard time filled with a lot of frustration. So don't do that. It's not good for you and it's not good for your business.


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5 Tips to Succeed and Create Wealth Online

By Michael T. Anderson




There is no one way to succeed and create wealth online. There are a number of divergent paths one can take to secure financial independence via the Internet. Here are 5 tips to help you on your way to success online no matter what path you choose:

1. There are no markets that are too saturated to make money from - You will often see people advising beginners to steer clear of saturated markets like "lost weight" or "make money" when, in fact, these are some of the most profitable markets there are. Instead of attacking the big market, look for sub-niches that can be exploited to create wealth online.

2. Promote something worthwhile - Pick a good product to promote and you'll find that you can not only sell that product but you can go on to sell more items to the same customer. Pick a poorly put together product and you'll never be able to make another sale to that person. You can't shine up a turd and sell it more than once.

3. Get help if you need it - If you are floundering and can't figure it out, don't hesitate to ask for help on one of the many forums. If you don't get the help you need, it may be beneficial to hire a mentor that will walk you through the process. Once you've been through it once, it's a matter of rinse and repeat.

4. Don't jump from method to method - In order to create wealth online, you need to learn one method inside and out. Choose a method and stick with it until you figure out how to make that method work for you. Once you've figured it out and are making money at it, scale it up and then look at other methods of making money. Trying to do too much all at once has killed off more than a few Internet marketers.

5. Don't quit your regular job until you're making enough money - Quitting your job to focus on working online will put you under the gun. Now, instead of simply making a little extra cash, you HAVE to make money to put food on the table. Most people do not work well under this kind of stress and it can lead to you making unwise decisions. A desperate person is more likely to make a mistake that can cost a lot of money.

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5 Crucial Steps To a Solid Internet Income

By Tasso Pepi




Do you still remember the time before the Internet actually existed? When we had to go to the local public library to borrow books for research, or send our overseas friends snail mail that they will receive in two weeks? It seemed so long ago, right? Before the 90s, one would have never imagined that we can connect with people virtually around the world. The Internet has evolved tremendously over the past couple of years, and what's even greater is that we can make fast money online!

If you think internet income is easy, think again. It may seem simple at first, but it actually takes a considerable amount of time, planning and effort to be successful in this field. You need to be able to learn some basic concepts around internet income and marketing before you begin. It is definitely not a simple task, but it's not rocket science either; if you are successful, you can start to reap the rewards sooner than you expect.
Still thinking about the kind of business that you want to get yourself into?

Here are a couple of samples that have thrived online. You may want to try one or more of the following:

1. Writing for the Web.
This is probably one of the simplest and easiest ways to generate income without even leaving your house. Online content writing is quite popular and gives you the opportunity to earn extra even if you have a fulltime job. Sites like oDesk.com and Elance.com provide a lot of virtual jobs that cater to blog and article writing, translation and transcription.

2. Trying On Traffic.
You may invest on the latest technology for your website, but without a steady flow of traffic, all your efforts will be futile. Whether you have decided to make money as a direct internet marketer or an affiliate, you need to make sure that web traffic is one of your biggest priorities.

3. Naming Your Niche.
Niche marketing is also gaining increasing popularity these days due to the success of programs that used this concept. There is nothing wrong in selling broad and wide-ranged products, but due to the number of options an Internet user has, it gets more difficult to increase web traffic. Finding a niche market can also be a little tricky. Fortunately, there are several keyword niche tools available online that you can use.

4. Salary From SEO.
Search engine optimization or SEO is targeted towards improving a web site's visibility in major search engines. Feel free to read up on on-page and off-page optimization, since both these methods will help you expand your customer base exponentially and provide you a steady flow of web traffic.

5. Marketing Methods.
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular methods of generating internet income, especially for entry-level or beginner marketers. This method takes away the pressure of manufacturing a product but instead focuses on promoting the product and making money in the process. Aside from being an affiliate, there are varieties of marketing methods to select from.


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