Awww...so sweet!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7w2QI9v1Ht0dGLUf-hcL6C758eVXPFIxeeTBXJcmAOlQ8CuwQLoy5kZqnYeTdt3ytsK12beAJ1aB9fM276GYhM9S0vnTPlh84vfuIoUFyse3IkSUIc4XCq6aLKTLKMg0ZOLMiXASBxxY/s1600-h/award.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369941581552036322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7w2QI9v1Ht0dGLUf-hcL6C758eVXPFIxeeTBXJcmAOlQ8CuwQLoy5kZqnYeTdt3ytsK12beAJ1aB9fM276GYhM9S0vnTPlh84vfuIoUFyse3IkSUIc4XCq6aLKTLKMg0ZOLMiXASBxxY/s400/award.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 159px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 161px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />No one ever nominates me for a blog award. Heck, I don't think hardly anyone even reads what I write. I'm not funny or witty like some of the bloggers out there. So many of you are talented writers with a great sense of humor and a wealth of information with great recipes and beautiful pictures. Me, well, I'm the first to admit it, I'm kind of boring.<br /><br />So when I saw sweet <a href="http://losingmyself2.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Ida</a> nominated me for a blog award, I was delightfully surprised. Me? Really? Someone actually reads what I write and likes it? Sometimes I practically fall asleep writing about my boring life. Thanks Ida! I really appreciate it.<br /><br />The deal is I have to pick my 15 favorite bloggers that I love and give them the award. Then they have to do the same.<br /><br />My first thought was, only 15? How can I narrow it to only 15? The funny thing is that most of these bloggers probably don't even realize I read their blogs every day. I don't comment as often as I want to, usually because I'm in a hurry. They've brought me much joy and laughter, as well as I learn something from them every day. Thank you to each and every one one of you.<br /><br /><em>Note: this is kind of a girly award I guess, with the flowers and "One <strong>Lovely</strong> Blog Award" title. But I don't think it should be limited to just female bloggers, so there are a few guy blogs listed below. They probably won't even acknowledge this, but I want them to know I read their blogs every day and love them. </em><br /><br />Okay, now you're turn to pass it on!<br /><br />1. <a href="http://thinfor30.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Quick...Save me from myself</a><br />2. <a href="http://mepschronicles.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Chronicles of Meps' Reconstruction</a><br />3. <a href="http://kristaskraziness.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Krista's Kraziness</a><br />4. <a href="http://ronmichel.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Ron is getting healthy</a><br />5. <a href="http://bbubblyb.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Fixing myself thinner</a><br />6. <a href="http://55aliveandlosingit.blogspot.com/" target="blank">55 Alive and Losing it</a><br />7. <a href="http://ellamaesjourney.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Ella's Journey To Become a Healthier and Happier Woman</a><br />8. <a href="http://liaallen.blogspot.com/" target="blank">My Life in Hospitality School</a><br />9. <a href="http://tonysdietlog.blogspot.com/" target="blank">I Don't Want to Die of a Heart Attack When I'm 25</a><br />10. <a href="http://tjsweigh.blogspot.com/" target="blank">TJ's Way or the Highway</a><br />11. <a href="http://skye-lynn.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Skye's the Limit</a><br />12. <a href="http://jackfit.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Jack Sh*t, Gettin' Fit</a><br />13. <a href="http://theantijared.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Tony "The Anti-Jared" Posnanski</a><em> Yes, I like him!</em><br />14. <a href="http://fatdaddyrantsblog.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Fat Daddy</a><br />15. <a href="http://carlosthelarger.blogspot.com/">You're going to need a bigger boat</a> <em>Seriously, how could I not give this award to Carlos?</em> :)<br />16. <a href="http://fightfatphobia.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Fight Fat Phobia</a><br /><br />Okay, I'm going to stop now. I could go on forever. I read a LOT of blogs and love all of them. Really can't say I've ever met a blogger I didn't like.

Awww...so sweet!

No one ever nominates me for a blog award. Heck, I don't think hardly anyone even reads what I write. I'm not funny or witty like so...

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How to be a Winning Job Candidate - 8 Lessons from the Campaign Trail

How to be a Winning Job Candidate - 8 Lessons from the Campaign Trail by CareerBuilder.com<br /><br />Think your job search is tough? How would you like to go on 300 interviews a month as your competitors try to discredit you and the media stands ready to report (and continually replay) any gaffe or failing to a snickering public.<br /><br />Next to running for office, a job search is a cake walk. But that doesn't mean you can't learn something from the world of politics. Here are a few lessons you can carry over to your own candidacy:<br /><br />Define Yourself and Your Message<br />Just as every candidate needs to differentiate himself to survive the primaries, your resume needs to stand out to get you the interview. Target it toward what the employer is looking for. Read the job description and research the organization. Ask yourself, "If I were the hiring manager, what would I want to see?" Showcase these skills and qualities in the top third of your resume.<br /><br />Be Prepared<br />Develop a concise sales pitch that explains why the company should hire you. Be ready to show thorough examples why you're right for the job and to answer any tough questions. Rehearse with a friend until you've got it down cold. Don't even think about winging it.<br /><br />The best candidates leave nothing to chance. Bill Clinton's performances were intricately choreographed, down to how and where he would move to look good on camera and catch his opponents off-guard (remember George H. Bush checking his watch at the town hall meeting?!). Even Reagan's "spontaneous" debate lines: "There you go again..." and "I won't hold my opponent's youth and inexperience against him," were well-rehearsed.<br /><br />Don't Exaggerate<br />Present yourself and your abilities in the best possible light -- without stretching the truth. Howard Dean's professing to be the only candidate from a farm state (Gephardt's Missouri has 100,000 farms to Vermont's 7,000) and his claim to have extensively studied the Bible "especially the book of Job from the New Testament" were mistakes of biblical proportions. And will Al Gore ever live down being the inventor of the Internet?<br /><br />Look the Part<br />Image consultants give both Kerry and Bush high marks on their attire and grooming. They dress slightly better than the dress code and always wear well-tailored, high-quality garments that are stylish, but not trendy; authoritative, but not stuffy.<br /><br />Build Rapport<br />According to body language expert Dr. Daniel Hill, the candidate to emulate is John Edwards. "Edwards is amazing. His smiles are genuine and he almost always looks composed and engaged. He's even loosened up John Kerry!"<br /><br />This comes as no surprise. As a trial lawyer, Edwards led seminars on how to establish intimacy with the jury. "Talk to them like you talk to people on your back porch," he says in a training video. "The jury needs to feel good about what you're asking them to do."<br /><br />Going After "Undecideds"<br />Veteran campaigners know it is the "undecideds" who can make or break them. According to political analysts, undecided voters typically aren't happy with the incumbent and are waiting for a reason to vote for the new candidate. The same can be said for an external job candidate competing against an internal one. If your interviewer seems conflicted or resistant, try to uncover their concerns. Follow up with a note or sample of your work that might help win over the undecided interviewer.<br /><br />Let them know you're eager to prove yourself. At the end of nearly every talk show appearance during the 2000 campaign, George W. Bush ended by saying, "I'm askin' for your vote."<br /><br />Don't Burn Bridges<br />Don't go negative on your past employer. It weakens your stature and makes people wonder what you'd say about them! Instead follow John Edward's lead. Be positive and gracious toward everyone even if you don't land this job, they may be able to offer you another one down the road.<br /><br />Never Give Up<br />You can't win them all. JFK ran for class president at Harvard and lost. Nixon unsuccessfully ran for both president and governor of California. And Lincoln lost his bid for the Senate before going on to become one of the most revered presidents in history. The great ones take losing in stride and come back to run and win another day.<br /><br />Search more than 100,000 Jobs by <a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

How to be a Winning Job Candidate - 8 Lessons from the Campaign Trail

How to be a Winning Job Candidate - 8 Lessons from the Campaign Trail by CareerBuilder.com Think your job search is tough? How would you lik...

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Pizza? Really Diana?

That's what my husband said to me Wednesday night when I said I was ordering pizza. Yes, really! I had a hell of a day Wednesday at work. Number three "hell-of-a-day" this week. The stress peaked at a meeting where I practically yelled at a coworker and stomped out of the meeting. Umm...how old am? Five? No, but I sure acted like it. I've never done anything like that in my life. Let's just say my fuse, which is rather long, finally ignited.<br /><br />Driving home Wednesday night I was trying to decide to get drunk or eat myself silly. I decided on the eating myself silly. The main reason was because I had a plan to work out like crazy the next day to work off the pizza I was planning to eat. My workouts suck if I drink, plus, given a choice I'd always rather eat my calories rather than drink them.<br /><br />I ordered the pizza online for the first time (and got 20% off, anything to save a buck). It was a very unfriendly website, kept kicking me off and deleting all my info. I haven't ordered pizza or eaten real pizza since I started with Weight Watchers eighteen months ago.<br /><br />I tried to order the super thick crust stuffed with cheese. When we finally got the pizzas (yes, I ordered two large) at 9pm, my husband asked me if I'd ordered crust with the pizza. Seriously, it was paper thin. Okay, maybe not paper thin, maybe cardboard thin, but thin cardboard. I've never seen crust like this in my life.<br /><br />I had ordered extra cheese and sauce. There was barely any cheese or sauce. I think what happened was the online form kept resetting itself when I made an error so it must have reset to "the thinnest crust ever made" and no extra cheese or sauce. The picture on the website showed the pizza was thick with ingredients. It wasn't, there were actually bare areas where there weren't any ingredients or cheese. It was the most pathetic pizza I've ever seen. It didn't even taste that good, really all I could taste was salt. Of course that didn't stop me from eating almost a whole pizza.<br /><br />I guess the weight loss Gods were looking looking out for me since I obviously wasn't looking out for myself. That was Wednesday night. I did better yesterday but when I weighed this morning I was up to 166.4. Yikes! I'm sliding down that slippery slope to fatdom once again.<br /><br />My new plan #4,987,080,999 is to go back to Weight Watchers tomorrow and officially weigh in, stay for the meeting and follow the Weight Watchers plan. I know, it's a very original idea I'm having here, to actually follow a plan. I'll post my official weighin tomorrow. I know it's going to be ugly but I have to face it and get back down to business.<br /><br />In spite of my stress and my bad eating, I've hit the gym every day this week. Yesterday my workout rocked. A full hour of cardio even though I thought I was having a heart attack about half way through it. Every time I eat really bad, like eating a pizza, I have a horrible time with my cardio the next day. My entire body ached and hurt, and even my heart felt like it hurt.<br /><br />I'm heading out to the gym in a few minutes. I was going to bike there but it looks like rain and it looks cold (no sun). Can summer really be almost over?

Pizza? Really Diana?

That's what my husband said to me Wednesday night when I said I was ordering pizza. Yes, really! I had a hell of a day Wednesday at work...

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Think You Have Job Search Savvy?

Think You Have Job Search Savvy? by CareerBuilder.com <br /><br />Think you've got job hunting down to a science? Test your job-searching smarts with this quiz:<br /><br />1. What is the most effective way to e-mail a résumé to a potential employer? <br />A) Copy and paste it into the body of the e-mail<br />B) Attach it as a plain text file<br />C) Attach it as a PDF file<br />D) Attach it as a Word document <br /><br />Answer: A. Sending an employer a virus that crashes his or her computer will kill your chances at landing the job. Plus, the hiring manager might hesitate to open attachments from unknown senders. <br /><br />2. What percentage of hiring managers automatically dismiss résumés or cover letters with spelling or grammatical errors?<br />A) Nearly 25 percent<br />B) Nearly 33 percent<br />C) Nearly 50 percent<br />D) Nearly 66 percent<br /><br />Answer: C. Forty-nine percent of hiring managers said résumés and cover letters with errors or typos go straight into the trash bin. Proofread carefully. <br /><br />3. True or false: Hiring managers count volunteer work as relevant experience.<br />A) True<br />B) False<br /><br />Answer: A. In a CareerBuilder.com survey of more than 600 hiring managers, 63 percent said they consider volunteer work to be relevant experience when evaluating a candidate. <br /><br />4. An employer will likely discard a résumé that leaves out:<br />A) Hobbies or other personal information<br />B) An objective statement<br />C) Dates of employment<br />D) Fancy formatting<br /><br />Answer: C. Omitting dates of employment raises a red flag to employers who may believe you have something to hide -- incessant job hopping, for example. You're better off telling the truth.<br /><br />5. True or false: An employer can choose not to hire you because of your credit score.<br />A) True<br />B) False<br /><br />Answer: A. Employers are increasingly using credit checks as part of the screening process. But don't worry: An employer must request your permission before running your credit report. If a hiring manager rejects you because of your credit, he or she must show you the report and tell you how to get a free copy from a consumer reporting agency.<br /><br />6. Which of the following is NOT an illegal interview question?<br />A) You have a very unusual last name. What is its origin?<br />B) Have you ever been fired from a position?<br />C) Are you planning to start a family in the near future?<br />D) I notice you're wearing a Star of David necklace. Are you very religious?<br /><br />Answer: B. While an employer can't base a hiring decision on sex, religion or national origin, your employment history is fair game.<br /><br />7. Hiring managers have seen a lot of bizarre job seeker tactics. Which of these stories is a fake? <br />A) Candidate sent flowers and chocolates to hiring manager's home.<br />B) Candidate brought Starbucks for the entire office.<br />C) Candidate photocopied his face as background for his résumé.<br />D) Candidate brought references -- in person -- with her to the interview.<br /><br />Answer: A. Some people go to extreme lengths to try and land a position. No word on how successful these candidates were.<br /><br />8. What percentage of hiring managers would think less of or outright reject a candidate who didn't send a thank-you letter after the interview?<br />A) 12 percent<br />B) 28 percent<br />C) 36 percent<br />D) 47 percent<br /><br />Answer: D. Politeness counts: Nearly 15 percent would automatically dismiss a candidate who didn't send a thank-you note, and an additional 32 percent would think less highly of the candidate. <br /><br />9. How many days do Americans receive, on average, as part of their compensation package?<br />A) 10<br />B) 12<br />C) 15<br />D) 18<br /><br />Answer: B. According to a survey by travel site Expedia.com, Americans receive 12 vacation days and give back an average of three per year.<br /><br />10. According to a survey of more than 875 hiring managers, what percentage of employers say the first salary offer is final?<br />A) 30 percent<br />B) 40 percent<br />C) 50 percent<br />D) 60 percent<br /><br />Answer: A. Nearly six-in-ten hiring managers say they'll extend a new salary offer once if a candidate asks for it. Nearly one-in-ten say they'll extend a new offer twice or more if they really want a candidate. <br /><br /><br />Score:<br />8-10: Congratulations, you're a job-hunting guru! <br /><br />6-7: Nice work, but there's room for improvement. <br /><br />4-5: Not bad, but be sure to brush up on your skills.<br /><br />0-3: Better get back to the drawing board.

Think You Have Job Search Savvy?

Think You Have Job Search Savvy? by CareerBuilder.com Think you've got job hunting down to a science? Test your job-searching smarts wit...

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Nine Tips for Better Online Job Hunting

Nine Tips for Better Online Job Hunting by Robert Half International<br /><br />It goes without saying that the Internet has drastically changed the way people today hunt for jobs. After all, it's probably been a few years since you've submitted a resume via mail or fax. But even though most professionals turn to the Internet first for help locating a new position, not all understand the finer points of a Web-based job search. Following are some tips to keep in mind the next time you look online.<br /><br />1. Think big. <br />It's wise to start your search by visiting large job sites such as CareerBuilder.com because of the sheer number of listings offered. In addition, employers of all sizes and in every industry are apt to list their job openings on sites with strong brand recognition. Checking out smaller niche Web pages can be helpful, but if you're at a crossroads in your career or willing to relocate, the big boards offer the widest view of what jobs are currently available.<br /><br />2. Scan the oldies but goodies. <br />When visiting job boards, many job hunters make the mistake of limiting their search to positions posted in the last few days. A position posted one month ago might still be open, especially if it requires hard-to-find skills. Plus, with most job seekers focusing on recent postings, you may be competing with fewer candidates. A dated job advertisement doesn't reflect the quality of the company or the potential desirability of the position. <br /><br />3. Visit recruiter sites. <br />In addition to browsing the large boards, visit the Web sites of recruiting firms that specialize in your field, which maintain their own job postings. Some even offer detailed career information and job search advice. The advantage of these sites is that job seekers can conduct highly targeted searches and also connect with a recruiter who can work on their behalf.<br /><br />4. Go surfing. <br />Job sites offer more than just listings. They also can serve as a launching pad for other opportunities. For instance, you may find an appealing job posting for which you are overqualified. Though you're not right for this role, you now know the company is hiring. Visit the prospective employer's Web site to see if there are any additional openings. Send a resume and cover letter to the company expressing your desire to be considered for future jobs.<br /><br />5. Get social. <br />Networking is one of the most effective ways of locating new opportunities, and the Internet makes it easier than ever to expand your web of contacts. Social networking sites such as LinkedIn.com provide "virtual" opportunities to connect with other professionals -- in your area or halfway across the world. Participating in chat rooms and discussion forums, such as those hosted by professional associations in your field or industry, also is an excellent way to find about open positions.<br /><br />6. Don't blast away. <br />Most job sites enable users to apply for a position with the simple click of the mouse. But don't blindly blast your resume to every company you come across. Hiring managers seek tailored resumes that directly tie a job seeker's unique skills and abilities to the requirements of the position. Take the extra time and effort to customize your application materials to each specific opportunity. <br /><br />7. Spell well. <br />Completing employment applications online is convenient but potentially costly if you're not careful. Be mindful of your spelling and grammar when typing information directly onto online forms. Typos are no less problematic on screen than on paper. In a Robert Half International poll of employers, typos and grammatical errors were cited as the most common mistakes job seekers make on their resumes. <br /><br />8. Tread carefully. <br />There's a time and a place for everything. With that old adage in mind, be careful of when and where you do your online job hunting. Using your company's computer and Internet connection to look for a new position is a bad idea. Employers have the right to monitor the sites you visit and the e-mails you send. So, resist the temptation to hunt for a new job at the office if you want to keep the one you have for the time being. <br /><br />9. Follow up! <br />When job hunting online, it's critical that you follow up with prospective employers after applying for a position. More than a few resumes have gotten lost in cyberspace. If you've submitted your application and haven't heard back from the company, make a call or send an e-mail to verify that the resume was received and to reassert your interest in the position. Don't worry; you're not going to annoy the employer. Eighty-two percent of executives polled by our company said job seekers should contact hiring managers within two weeks of submitting application materials.<br /><br />While the Internet has revolutionized the way job seekers connect with prospective employers, an online job hunt shouldn't be the only strategy you use to find a new position. The best searches combine a variety of approaches, including exploring the services offered by recruiting and staffing firms, touching base with members of your professional network, and participating in industry events where you can hobnob with hiring managers.<br /><br /><br />Robert Half International Inc. is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 330 offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com

Nine Tips for Better Online Job Hunting

Nine Tips for Better Online Job Hunting by Robert Half International It goes without saying that the Internet has drastically changed the wa...

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25 Best Jobs for Boomers

25 Best Jobs for Boomers by Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com<br /><br />Attention baby boomers - If you're not ready to spend the rest of your life golfing, traveling or doing anything else that comes after retirement, good news awaits -- you don't have to. Today's retirees are defying the stereotypes that surround retirement by changing careers, rather than ending them.<br />Clarence "Nic" Nicodemus, 64, is living proof. At the ripe age of 61, Nicodemus graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and was preparing for a one-year internship, according to a 2004 press release from Michigan State University. Nicodemus joined COM at age 57, after spending a decade teaching classes and doing orthopedic research at the University of Texas. He said going to med school was the next logical step in his career and a lifelong dream.<br />"I feel like I can relate to patients of any age," he said. "A patient can bring up any subject -- grandchildren or a death in the family or a disease in the family -- and I can relate to them."<br /><br />Like Nicodemus, many baby boomers - the chunk of our population born in 1946 through 1964 - haven't been able to work in highly fulfilling jobs. Working lackluster, draining, even hazardous jobs just to bring home a paycheck was the norm for boomers just trying to get by. But times, they are a changin'. "The chances are good that you [baby boomers] are better able than at any time previously to choose work that will be fulfilling,"Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D. write in their new book, "225 Best Jobs for Baby Boomers." For reasons that vary from being under less financial stress to being able to consider part-time work for the first time, boomers now have the option of making another career move instead of retiring. Farr and Shatkin analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to formulate lists of jobs with a high percentage of baby boomers -- specifically, the jobs for which 40 percent of the workforce is age 45 or older. The jobs listed had the best combination of high salaries, fast growth and ample job openings.<br />Of the 225 jobs highlighted in the book, here are the 25 best of the best according to Farr and Shatkin.<br /><br />Management analysts<br />What they make: $60,921*<br />Projected annual openings: 78,00<br /><br />Teachers,Postsecondary<br />What they make: $63,219<br />Projected annual openings: 216,000<br /><br />Logisticians<br />What they make: $39,637<br />Projected annual openings: 162,000<br /><br />General and Operations Managers<br />What they make: $78,762<br />Projected annual openings: 260,000<br /><br />Registered Nurses<br />What they make: $53,865<br />Projected annual openings: 215,000<br /><br />Anesthesiologists<br />What they make: $240,207<br />Projected annual openings: 38,000<br /><br />General Internists<br />What they make: $310,072<br />Projected annual openings: 38,000<br /><br />Obstetricians and Gynecologists<br />What they make: $238,714<br />Projected annual openings: 38,000<br /><br />Family and General Practitioners<br />What they make: $154,264<br />Projected annual openings: 38,000<br /><br />General Pediatricians<br />What they make: $159,625<br />Projected annual openings: 38,000<br /><br />Medical<br />and Health Services Managers<br />What they make: $77,350<br />Projected annual openings: 33,000<br /><br />Financial Managers, Branch or Department<br />What they make: $79,905<br />Projected annual openings: 71,000<br /><br />Treasurers, Controllers and Chief Financial Officers<br />What they make: $113,344 - $196,538<br />Projected annual openings: 71,000<br /><br />Chief Executives<br />What they make: $328,283<br />Projected annual openings: 63,000<br /><br />Government Service Executives<br />What they make: $148,584<br />Projected annual openings: 63,000<br /><br />Private Sector Executives<br />What they make: $148,584<br />Projected annual openings: 63,000<br /><br />Pharmacists<br />What they make: $88,619<br />Projected annual openings: 23,000<br /><br />Lawyers<br />What they make: $86,593<br />Projected annual openings: 53,000<br /><br />Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School<br />What they make: $133,062<br />Projected annual openings: 31,000<br /><br />Administrative Services Managers<br />What they make: $74,896<br />Projected annual openings: 40,000<br /><br />Sales Representatives, Agricultural<br />What they make: $53,034<br />Projected annual openings: 44,000<br /><br />Sales Representatives, Chemical and Pharmaceutical<br />What they make: $53,034<br />Projected annual openings: 44,000<br /><br />Sales Representatives, Electrical/Electronics<br />What they make: $81,600<br />Projected annual openings: 44,000<br /><br />*Salary figures based on data from CBsalary.com, powered by SalaryExpert.com<br /><br />Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

25 Best Jobs for Boomers

25 Best Jobs for Boomers by Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com Attention baby boomers - If you're not ready to spend the rest of your life ...

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7 Ways to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out

7 Ways to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out by Selena Dehne, Jist Publishing <br /><br />Let's face it: There's only so much your résumé can do. In fact, it can be jam-packed with impressive stats, industry lingo and design elements that rival those showcased in job-search books and still end up in an employer's stack of rejections. <br /><br />To avoid this fate, it's essential to show employers that you're more than the bullet points and clipped phrases listed on your résumé. You've got a personality, passions, goals and career experiences that make you unlike any other candidate for the job. It's up to you to share this information in your cover letter in a way that dazzles employers and strengthens your résumé. <br /><br />Cover letters provide opportunities that résumés don't to inject your personality, says Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., author of "Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to Get Jobs and Propel Your Career." "You can engage the employer, make an emotional connection, show results, and become instantly memorable by writing at least one paragraph in the form of a powerful story," Hansen says. <br /><br />She suggests that job seekers use their cover letter to tell stories about their interests or passions for a career field or to detail successful projects, accomplishments, solutions, results and more. In her book, Hansen outlines the following do's and don'ts for cover letters that tell such stories:<br /><br />Do make the letter as concise as possible. <br />Employers are spending less time reading cover letters than they used to. Ideally, your letter should be about four paragraphs, and one of those should tell a story.<br /><br />Don't neglect the "storyline" in the rest of the letter. <br />Even if only one paragraph in your letter is in story form, try to integrate the story's theme throughout your letter and tie it together by briefly referring back to the story in your final paragraph.<br /><br />Do make your stories specific and quantify results whenever possible. <br />It's always easier for the reader to picture you succeeding on the job when you describe a specific situation. In addition, employers are attracted to numbers that indicate results.<br /><br />Don't write your autobiography. <br />Telling a story doesn't mean describing your entire career; that's what your résumé is for.<br /><br />Do tell relevant stories. <br />Tell only the stories that are relevant to the employer's requirements, the problems you can solve, and the results you can achieve. If the relevance isn't immediately obvious from your story, help the reader make the connection by pointing out the skills and qualifications the story illustrates.<br /><br />Don't overlook story cues in want ads. <br />Study the want ad that describes the position that interests you. When writing your cover letter, strive to ensure that it responds to the ad's intent. To do this, incorporate the job posting's keywords and the tasks or responsibilities that are mentioned into your cover letter.<br /><br />Do use some of the employer's messages and language. <br />Go to the employer's Web site or pick up print publications about the organization. Pick out buzzwords and phrases. Play these back to the employer in your story. Employers who read language-mirroring stories conclude that the job seeker "gets it." <br /><br />Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/).

7 Ways to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out

7 Ways to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out by Selena Dehne, Jist Publishing Let's face it: There's only so much your résumé can do. ...

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Basic Skills Resume

Basic Skills Resume - From 'The Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book' by Michael Farr, Career and Job Search Author <br /><br />This resume is a good example of how a skills resume can help someone who does not have the best credentials. It allows the job seeker to present school and extracurricular activities to good effect. It is a strong format choice because it lets her highlight strengths without emphasizing her limited work experience. It doesn't say where she worked or for how long, yet it gives her a shot at many jobs.<br /><br />You'll get the best results from a skills resume by using it when you have a referral to an organization instead of using it to apply cold or to an ad. Since the skills resume usually doesn't list specifics of work history, many employers will toss it out in favor of your competitors' resumes that do. So, stick with using the skills resume primarily when you're networking for a job.<br /><br /><br />Lisa M. Rhodes<br />813 Lava Court - Denver, CO 81613<br />Home: (413) 643-2173 (leave message)<br />Cell: (413) 442-1659<br />lrhodes@netcom.net<br /><br />Objective<br />Sales-oriented position in a retail sales or distribution business.<br /><br />Skills and Abilities<br /><br />Communications -- Good written and verbal presentation skills. Use proper grammar and have a good speaking voice.<br /><br /><br />Interpersonal Skills -- Able to get along well with co-workers and accept supervision. Received positive evaluations from previous supervisors.<br /><br /><br />Flexible -- Willing to try new things and am interested in improving efficiency on assigned tasks.<br /><br /><br />Attention to Detail -- Concerned with quality. Produce work that is orderly and attractive. Ensure tasks are completed correctly and on time.<br /><br /><br />Hard-working -- Throughout high school, worked long hours in strenuous activities while attending school full-time. Often managed as many as 65 hours a week in school and other structured activities while maintaining above-average grades.<br /><br /><br />Customer Service -- Routinely handled as many as 500 customer contacts a day (10,000 per month) in a busy retail outlet. Averaged lower than a .001 percent complaint rate and was given the "Employee of the Month" award in second month of employment. Received two merit increases.<br /><br /><br />Cash Sales -- Handled more than $2,000 a day ($40,000 a month) in cash sales. Balanced register and prepared daily sales summary and deposits.<br /><br /><br />Reliable -- Excellent attendance record; trusted to deliver daily cash deposits totaling more than $40,000 a month.<br /><br />Education<br />Franklin High School, 2001-2004. Classes included advanced English. Member of award-winning band. Excellent attendance record. Superior communication skills. Graduated in top 30 percent of class.<br /><br />Other<br />Active gymnastics competitor for four years. Learned discipline, teamwork, how to follow instructions and hard work. Ambitious, outgoing, reliable and have solid work ethic.<br /><br />Excerpted from 'The Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book' by Michael Farr. Reprinted with permission from Jist Publishing.

Basic Skills Resume

Basic Skills Resume - From 'The Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book' by Michael Farr, Career and Job Search Author This resume is a g...

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Warning: Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search

Warning: Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor <br /><br />That cute, affable guy who brags of his drunken exploits on FaceBook.com may be meeting a lot of other partiers online, but he's probably not getting added to the "friends" lists of many corporate recruiters. A recent study by the executive search firm ExecuNet found that 77 percent of recruiters run searches of candidates on the Web to screen applicants; 35 percent of these same recruiters say they've eliminated a candidate based on the information they uncovered. <br /><br />"You'd be surprised at what I've seen when researching candidates," says Gail, a recruiter at a Fortune 500 company who recently began looking up potential hires on the Web. "We were having a tough time deciding between two candidates until I found the profile of one of them on MySpace. It boasted a photo of her lounging on a hammock in a bikini, listed her interests as 'having a good time' and her sex as 'yes, please.' Not quite what we were looking for."<br /><br />"Another time I went to a candidate's site and found racial slurs and jokes," Gail continues. "And there was yet another instance where a candidate told me he was currently working for a company, yet he left a comment on a friend's profile about how it 'sucked' to be laid off, and how much fun it was to be unemployed!"<br /><br />As the amount of personal information available online grows, first impressions are being formed long before the interview process begins, warns David Opton, ExecuNet CEO and founder. "Given the implications and the shelf-life of Internet content, managing your online image is something everyone should address -- regardless of whether or not you're in a job search," he says. Because the risks don't stop once you're hired. <br /><br />Twenty-three-year old Kara recently took a job as a management consultant at a high-profile practice in the Los Angeles area. An Ohio native, with no friends or family on the West Coast, Kara put up a profile on MySpace in the hopes of meeting new people.<br /><br />Kara was judicious in how she set up her site: "I didn't fill out that cheesy questionnaire many people post, where you describe your best feature and say whether or not you shower every day." she says. "I used a photo that was flattering but not at all provocative and was even careful what music I chose."<br /><br />Within a few months, Kara met many others online who shared her interest in biking and water sports. One Friday morning, Kara decided to call in sick and go surfing with a few of her new pals. That weekend, unbeknownst to Kara, her friend posted some of the day's pictures on her profile and sent Kara a message saying, "We should call in sick more often." <br /><br />Unfortunately for Kara, her boss happened to be patrolling MySpace to check up on her college-age daughter and came across Kara's site and the dated photos!<br /><br />Mortified, Kara says she learned an important lesson -- not only about honesty, but about how small the world of online social networking can be and how little control you have over any information put out there.<br /><br />Not all employers search candidates and employees online, but the trend is growing. Don't let online social networking deep-six your career opportunities. Protect your image by following these simple tips:<br /><br />1. Be careful. Nothing is private. Don't post anything on your site or your "friends" sites you wouldn't want a prospective employer to see. Derogatory comments, revealing or risqué photos, foul language and lewd jokes all will be viewed as a reflection of your character. <br /><br />2. Be discreet. If your network offers the option, consider setting your profile to "private," so that it is viewable only by friends of your choosing. And since you can't control what other people say on your site, you may want to use the "block comments" feature. Remember, everything on the Internet is archived, and there is no eraser! <br /><br />3. Be prepared. Check your profile regularly to see what comments have been posted. Use a search engine to look for online records of yourself to see what is out there about you. If you find information you feel could be detrimental to your candidacy or career, see about getting it removed -- and make sure you have an answer ready to counter or explain "digital dirt."<br /><br />Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Warning: Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search

Warning: Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor That cute, affable guy who brags of ...

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Have Employers See Your Resume First!

<p><span style="font-size:130%;">Have employers see your resume first!</span></p><p>How do you benefit?</p><ul><li>Stand out among the other 30 million resumes on CareerBuilder</li><li>Increase your resume’s visibility by up to 92%</li><li>Move to the top of employers’ resume search results lists to be seen FIRST</li><li>Immediate results</li><li>See which employers are viewing your resume</li><li><p>Save time and skip to the head of the line. <a id="mxsrLanding__ctl0_cbhlUpgradeNow" href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Resumes/PostResumeNew/PostResumeStart.aspx?cblid=scpruhmpg1&ResumeUpgrade=true&lr=cbrockl"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Upgrade your resume now</span></strong></a> </p></li></ul>

Have Employers See Your Resume First!

Have employers see your resume first! How do you benefit? Stand out among the other 30 million resumes on CareerBuilder Increase your resume...

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Five Ways College Gave You More Training Than You Thought

Five Ways College Gave You More Training Than You Thought by Laura Morsch, CareerBuilder.com writer <br /><br />According to CareerBuilder.com's 2006 college survey, one-in-four hiring managers say relevant experience is the top thing they look for in a new graduate.<br /><br />If you can find a paid internship or can afford to take an unpaid one, more power to you. You have a head start on the job market.<br /><br />For the rest of you -- even if you've never worked in an office -- your college days have given you more experience than you might think. You just need to strategically market your campus activities. Before you write your résumé, consider your:<br /><br />Coursework<br /><br />Remember those weeks you spent in the student center working on that group advertising project? That's experience. So is that 3,000-word investigative journalism story you researched all semester. If you worked on a project or report in the classroom that directly relates to a certain field, by all means include it on your résumé.<br /><br />Sometimes, creating a strategic list of classes you've taken can give you an edge. For example, say you're a premed-turned-journalism major. You'd be a great candidate if you came across a posting for a science reporter job. Create a "Relevant Coursework" section on your résumé, and list your important journalism classes alongside the biology and chemistry classes you took as an underclassman. <br /><br />A word of caution: Don't list classes for the sake of listing classes. The section is called "Relevant Coursework" for a reason.<br /><br />Part-time jobs<br /><br />Meticulously folding T-shirts into identical stacks at the Gap or bussing tables at Red Lobster might not seem like the kind of experience employers are looking for. But your part-time gig taught you some important skills that can translate to any workplace. <br /><br />Think about when you waited tables: You probably learned to diplomatically handle all sorts of people -- even the difficult ones. Plus, working your way through school (especially if you didn't let your grades suffer) shows dedication and impressive time-management ability.<br /><br />When you include these jobs on your résumé, the key is to not just list your job duties. Focus on accomplishments (like when you increased sales by 10 percent at the hot dog stand) or skills learned on the job.<br /><br />Campus leadership positions<br /><br />It's impressive to be dorm president. It's even more impressive when you show how you successfully managed a $10,000 budget and created and implemented a plan to reduce dorm vandalism, reduced cleaning costs by 50 percent year-over-year. Don't rely on a fancy title -- show how your time and hard work made an impact on your organization.<br /><br />Clubs and other extracurriculars<br /><br />So, you couldn't get a job because you spent all your non-class time on the basketball court? Your time as a varsity athlete likely taught you leadership, teamwork and some serious time-management -- all things employers consider to be important. <br /><br />Or maybe you were in charge of your sorority's recruitment. You now have experience managing a budget, supervising a staff and coordinating PR efforts to make your sorority's image as positive as possible. <br /><br />Volunteer work<br /><br />If you spent a day or two a week helping out at a nursing home or writing up fliers for a political campaign, don't discount the value of your work. More than 60 percent of hiring managers say they count volunteer work as relevant experience, according to CareerBuilder.com. Again, keep in mind that a list of accomplishments and skills is much more compelling than a list of job duties.<br /><br />Laura Morsch is a writer for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Five Ways College Gave You More Training Than You Thought

Five Ways College Gave You More Training Than You Thought by Laura Morsch, CareerBuilder.com writer According to CareerBuilder.com's 200...

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Starting From Scratch - Job Search Tips for New Grads

Starting From Scratch - Job Search Tips for New Grads by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor <br /><br />College graduation can be a mixed blessing. While students look forward to finally pursuing their career aspirations, it's not easy to leave behind the safety of academia. And, if you're like many recent grads, you probably have only a vague notion of what you want to do with your life. While charting your own path is always a challenge, there are steps you can take to help make the big decisions a little easier.<br /><br />Deciding on a direction<br /><br />The initial bump young professionals often encounter on the road of life is caused by too narrowly defining the career options available to them. For example, if you do not want to become a researcher or professor, you may worry that your anthropology degree leaves you ill-prepared for other careers. But chances are your coursework exposed you to many other skills that employers seek, such as knowledge of statistical analysis and strong writing abilities. Viewed through this lens, your potential professions range from market researcher to journalist.<br /><br />In fact, a college degree provides you with a number of transferable skills, including critical thinking abilities, research capabilities and knowledge of a variety of computer software. The beauty of a college degree is that it opens doors. <br /><br />If you don't know where to start following graduation, consider the things you enjoy. What do you find yourself talking to friends and family about? What is the first section of the newspaper you turn to? What are your favorite Web sites? Answers to these questions can provide you with some insight into the professions you might want to pursue.<br /><br />As you consider potential career paths, be realistic. Too often graduates are blinded by an idealized version of their dream job. For example, a career in television production generally begins with a low-paying position that's long on hours worked and short on creative independence. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Everyone before you most likely followed the same path, learning the business from the ground up. Just be sure you are aware of all the steps you need to take to get where you want to be.<br /><br />Research different jobs or industries by reading as much as you can about them in newspapers, magazines, trade publications, blogs, message boards and Web postings. Also consider arranging informational interviews with those currently employed in a profession of interest. During these meetings, you can ask about how the person you're meeting entered the field, what types of things make the job exciting and what challenges you should expect, among other things. Your friends, family and even former classmates or professors may be able to help you arrange informational interviews.<br /><br />Finding the job of your dreams<br /><br />One of the best tools in your job search is probably right under your nose: your school's career center. Don't forget that the counselors there can help you write a résumé, assist you in preparing for an interview and provide you with job leads. Often, you can continue to receive guidance from the career center after you graduate. Alumni associations also are valuable resources. They frequently hold job fairs and host networking nights where you can meet working professionals who have graduated from the same school as you did. <br /><br />In fact, networking can be the most effective way to find your first job. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 80 percent of available jobs are never advertised, and more than half of all employees land their jobs through networking. Taking part in industry events, volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and visiting online networking sites can help you expand your list of professional contacts. Simply keeping in touch with people you've met at school is another good way to hear of job leads and gain referrals.<br /><br />Despite the effectiveness of networking, the most successful job seekers use of a variety of approaches, from searching the Internet to browsing trade publications to cold-calling companies of interest. Just remember not to rely on one method too heavily and to continually evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts. For example, if you've applied to dozens of jobs you found online and have yet to be called for an interview, step back before applying to dozens more. You may need to revamp your résumé and make it more targeted to each opportunity. Or, you might consider following up with a prospective employer a couple of weeks after sending your application materials. In a survey by Robert Half International, 82 percent of executives polled recommending touching base with a hiring manager after submitting a résumé. <br /><br />And don't forget about temporary work. Working with a staffing firm to find short-term assignments allows you to build additional skills, explore new fields and organizations, and meet people who may be able to help you in your career. Also, it's not uncommon for a temporary assignment to turn into a full-time opportunity. Employers are increasingly relying on project and contract professionals to help them meet current hiring demands. If you find these opportunities, don't hesitate to put them on your résumé: 56 percent of executives polled by Robert Half International said they consider steady temporary experience to be equivalent to full-time work. <br /><br />The best advice when starting your career: Remain confident. You bring a high level of energy and motivation, as well as the desire to succeed, to a new job. Employers will value your enthusiasm and willingness to take on any challenge.<br /><br />Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Starting From Scratch - Job Search Tips for New Grads

Starting From Scratch - Job Search Tips for New Grads by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor College graduation can be a mixed blessing. W...

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Job Searching on Company Time? Six Tips

Job Searching on Company Time? Six Tips by Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources for CareerBuilder.com<br /><br />You're told to treat your job search like a full-time job. But when do you have the time to look with a schedule that includes working 50-plus hours a week, going to school, caring for a family, running errands and trying to squeeze in some shut-eye? Simple. You do it at work.<br /><br />Whether scouring job boards, searching company Web sites or monitoring list servs, 11million people on average look for jobs online every week. One-quarter of workers who use a computer at work admit to searching on company time, according to a survey by staffing company Hudson Highland Group. And, job site traffic spikes on weekdays during lunchtime hours.<br /><br />But proceed with caution when searching for a job on company time; the key is to keep your current job, and income, until you find a new one. Follow these tips:<br /><br />Know the rules.<br /><br />A growing number of employers have established policies on employer Internet use including monitoring employee personal e-mail abuse, personal instant messenger use, operation of personal Web sites on company time, personal postings on corporate blogs and operation of personal blogs on company time. Those companies are putting their policies into action: 26 percent of employers have fired workers for misusing the Internet and another 25 percent have terminated employees for e-mail misuse, according to a 2005 survey by the American Management Association (AMA).<br /><br />Play it safe.<br /><br />The AMA study found 76 percent of businesses monitor employee Web use and 55 percent keep and review e-mail messages. Use a personal e-mail account when discussing job search-related items and applications. Plus, employers would rather receive correspondence from personal accounts than from competitor addresses. And most importantly, you don't want to send a message to a potential new employer that you conduct job searches on company time.<br /><br />Don't advertise your search.<br /><br />Don't wear your interview suit to your biz-casual office. Nothing sets off a red flag like wearing a suit to your dressed-down office. So how should you handle the wardrobe dilemma? For both men and women, suit bottoms (i.e. pants, skirts) are always passable for business casual. Bring a shoulder bag/duffle with a jacket in it, and change en route to/from the interview. For women, it is especially easy to wear a casual shell under a suit -- once a jacket and stockings are removed, no one will detect an afternoon interviewee. For men, make sure your shirt stands on its own without a tie and you can easily make the switch.<br /><br />Choose references wisely.<br /><br />Former co-workers who have left to go elsewhere are usually the first ones to turn to if you want to keep your search confidential. But current co-workers are really the ideal names to pass along to your potential employer. Put a significant amount of thought into who will keep your confidence at your current job. Oftentimes, people find peers rather than managers to be safer bets. As long as your reference can speak to your work ethic, enthusiasm, drive and accomplishments, you don't need to search high and low for a senior executive to speak on your behalf -- go with who knows you best.<br /><br />Timing is everything.<br /><br />The breakfast interview is an ideal forum. Meetings scheduled at 8 a.m. are often finished in time to arrive at work by 9 a.m. If they run over, any number of reasons can be offered for a delayed arrival, but don't go over the top. "Personal time" for a relaxing respite is still an acceptable reason for taking vacation time. Claiming sick runs you the risk of being asked to log on and work from home, or at least making yourself available. The best maneuvers are those when an interview can be tacked onto other pre-planned time off (long weekends, etc.) or non-work hours.<br /><br />Never stop giving your all at work.<br /><br />Job seekers can experience intense paranoia at work. If you devote yourself fully to what you're doing in the hours you're there (and job search with a vengeance in the hours when you're not), you'll continue to get the praise and recognition to keep you on track at your current job. In the end, the possibility always exists that you'll stay. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by making co-workers suspicious and then maybe not landing a new job.<br /><br />Rosemary Haefner is the Vice President of Human Resources for CareerBuilder.com. She is an expert in recruitment trends and tactics, job seeker behavior, workplace issues, employee attitudes and HR initiatives.

Job Searching on Company Time? Six Tips

Job Searching on Company Time? Six Tips by Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources for CareerBuilder.com You're told to trea...

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Seven Things to Tell an Interviewer

Seven Things to Tell an Interviewer by Joe Turner, Career Coach<br /><br />Many years ago when I hated what I was doing for a living, I was encouraged by my career coach to write down several short stories about times and events in my life where I influenced the outcome. I was stumped at first, but after a few days, I came up with more than 15 pages of stories of times in my life where I influenced the outcome and either grew myself and/or bettered the existence of either myself or others around me.<br /><br />So what does this have to do with a job interview?<br /><br />If you read other books on job interviews, you'll notice they feed you lists of interview questions and answers to memorize. An interview is not an interrogation, however it's a conversation. To make it that way you need to come armed with a multitude of small stories about both your business and personal lives.<br /><br />When you go into an interview, you need to leave your nerves at the door. The best way to prepare is to be yourself. The best way to be yourself is to tell your own story (or stories).<br /><br />This is especially great for the competency-based interview being used more today. In a traditional interview, the interviewer will ask you questions focused on whether you have the skills and knowledge needed to do the job. A competency-based interview goes further by asking you additional questions about your character and personal attributes that can better determine whether you fit their corporate culture. These are called "behavioral competencies."<br /><br />A competency-based interviewer will spend about half the interview on your job skills, and about half on your behavioral competencies. He or she will be looking for evidence of how you have acted in real situations in the past.<br /><br />An employer wants to find out:<br /><br />Are you an asset or liability? In other words, will you make money or save money for the company?<br />Are you a team player? Will you fit into the corporate hierarchy or be like sand in the gears? Can you take and give (if appropriate) orders?<br />Will you fit into the company culture? They don't want prima donnas.<br /><br />The best way to show these traits is to take the initiative and have several personal stories that you can tell, taking maybe 30 to 90 seconds each.<br /><br />You may want to start by developing your stories around these seven areas:<br /><br />1. Times where you either made money or saved money for your current or previous company.<br /><br />2. A crisis in your life or job and how you responded or recovered from it.<br /><br />3. A time where you functioned as part of a team and what your contribution was.<br /><br />4. A time in your career or job where you had to overcome stress.<br /><br />5. A time in your job where you provided successful leadership or a sense of direction.<br /><br />6. A failure that occurred in your job and how you overcame it.<br /><br />7. Any seminal events that happened during your career to cause you to change direction and how that worked out for you.<br /><br />I want to emphasize that an interview should not be an interrogation. It should be a conversation between two equals. When you accomplish this you come away a step closer to your goal of landing the job you really want, because...<br /><br />It's the conversation that wins an interview, and it's the conversation that wins the job<br /><br />To have a conversation, have your stories ready.<br /><br />As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their career. You can discover more insider job search secrets by visiting http://www.jobchangesecrets.com.<br /><br />It doesn't hurt to look! <a href="http://www.mygvbiz.com/getrich">www.mygvbiz.com/getrich</a> Become an Independent Distributor Today!

Seven Things to Tell an Interviewer

Seven Things to Tell an Interviewer by Joe Turner, Career Coach Many years ago when I hated what I was doing for a living, I was encouraged ...

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The Resume-Interview Connection

The Resume-Interview Connection by Bill Broderick<br /><br />Back in the 1950's, a Time magazine reporter interviewed a world-famous pianist about his work. The reporter asked: "What's most challenging about playing the piano?" The pianist thought for a moment and replied: "I do OK with the notes, but the spaces between the notes give me lots of trouble."<br /><br />What he meant, of course, was that he was very competent at the mechanics of playing the piano, but found the subtlety and nuance of making music, getting the "spaces between the notes" right, a continual life-long challenge.<br /><br />Job seekers are getting great advice today from a variety of sources about pursuing career opportunities. The total job search process is well-documented in terms of how to perform discrete steps such as drafting a resume, preparing and using cover letters, using job boards on the internet, etc.. While mastering each of the steps is important, it doesn't necessarily enable a job seeker to address the "spaces between the notes" of the Job Search process. Good mechanics may not be enough to get to the job offer.<br /><br />Here's a summary of some key issues to address to be effective in working on those "spaces between the notes."<br /><br />Understanding the first steps taken by the employer is vital for the job seeker, so let's begin there.<br /><br />Job Specifications: what the company wants<br />When a position becomes available in a company, the HR function and hiring manager review and reach agreement upon the criteria for selecting the right person. Job specifications define requirements such as education, work experiences, industry background, skill sets and technical proficiencies, which may result in eight to ten criteria for the hiring decision. The specifications, in turn, drive all phases of the selection process, such as resume screenings, evaluation of job fair candidates, interview assessments, etc., through to hiring of the final candidate.<br /><br />The job specifications are readily available to job seekers in ads, postings on company web sites and other sources. The order of presentation of the specifications also demonstrates what is most to least important and may suggest possible tradeoffs and areas of flexibility as well.<br /><br />The challenge of the job seeker is to get at the "spaces between the notes" by effectively addressing the job specifications at every stage of the selection process: the resume design, the phone screening interview and the job interview. Consider the following:<br /><br />Resume Design: send a clear message<br />A resume screener searches for candidates who match the specifications. A strong, focused resume that captures three or four core competencies plus related accomplishments allows the screener to make multiple connections with the job specifications. The resume screener doesn't need to know all that the job seeker has ever done; instead, he/she is looking for the match between the specs and the background outlined in the resume.<br /><br />Some key points:<br /><br /><br />Core competencies are the key skills of the job seeker, those skills that are performed well, with subject matter expertise, supported by solid accomplishments.<br /><br /><br />Core competencies should be evident throughout the two-page resume.<br /><br /><br />Every job seeker has one set of core competencies, so one resume should be used, mixing and matching the presentation of the core competencies to improve the correlation with job specs as needed.<br /><br />If the core competencies match up well with the specs, then the process moves forward.<br /><br />Phone Screening Interview: get "on message"<br />Recruiters contact those prospects that appear to match up well with the specs to determine if they are viable candidates. Like resume preparation, there are abundant resources available for how to handle this step as well, but some key points to improve performance are:<br /><br /><br /><br />Recruiters ask questions because they don't know what the answers are. Respond to the questions asked, avoid using questions to segue into other areas.<br /><br /><br />Comments about career, job roles and responsibilities are most effective if the job specs are used to drive the details.<br /><br /><br />Core competencies should be presented using the priorities of the job specifications as script direction. Any shortcomings versus the specs should be addressed by citing other, comparable achievements.<br /><br />Finally, close the call with a summary of core competencies and state a strong interest in a meeting to discuss the opportunity.<br /><br />All other considerations being equal, the job seeker who stays "on message" by presenting his/her core competencies in terms of the job specifications will get the opportunity to interview for the position.<br /><br />Interview: talk about the specifications<br />Interviewing job seekers enables a company to evaluate the candidates, test their own expectations and find the "best fit" to effectively meet their hiring goals. Consider some key points about job interviewing:<br /><br /><br />The job specs provide a "road map" for content. Use the specs to share details about career, job roles and responsibilities that connect to the specs.<br /><br /><br />Listen to the Interviewer and answer the questions asked.<br /><br /><br />Be prepared to ask a few solid questions that demonstrate knowledge and comfort level with the job specifications, which will illustrate that you "walk the talk" when it comes to the company requirements.<br /><br />A final point: ask for the job!<br /><br />Summary<br /><br />Today's job seeker is on a steep learning curve to successfully launch and sustain a career search process. But focusing upon one's career, skills, abilities and goals is not enough. The key issue to address is the company goals and job specs. At each step of the resume/phone screen/interview process, the job seeker is challenged to integrate the job specifications with his/her core competencies, fully demonstrating the connectivity between their skills and company needs. Doing so effectively enables the job seeker to get the "spaces between the notes" right and greatly increase the potential for success in the interview/selection process.<br /><br />Bill Broderick is a Management Consultant in Human Resources with a broad background in executive search andselection as well as career coaching. His firm is Management Practices Institute. He also manages anInternet startup, www.emailresume.com, dedicated to supporting jobseekers in the effective use of the Internet. He can be reached at: info@emailresume.com.<br /><br />It doesn't hurt to look! <a href="http://www.mygvbiz.com/getrich">www.mygvbiz.com/getrich</a> Become an Independent Distributor Today!

The Resume-Interview Connection

The Resume-Interview Connection by Bill Broderick Back in the 1950's, a Time magazine reporter interviewed a world-famous pianist about ...

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Things I Previously Forgot To Tell You

Dave's Automotive in Fallon also sells boxes and aluminum carports. Moreover, they rent trucks. If you return your truck five minutes late for a good reason, they will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid charging you for an extra day. They also sent me a card thanking my for my $30.12 worth of business. You can spend more than that filling your gas tank anywhere but do they send you thank you notes?<br /><br />Sierra Joe's in Dayton is unpretentious, clean, and accommodating. The sign says they have a Turkey Burger and a Jalapeno Burger, but they will actually put jalepenos on your Turkey Burger if you ask.<br /><br />Dayton has a Starbuck's and I am a faithful member of the Starbucks family. I used to be the <em>de facto</em> chaplain to Starbuck's in Macon. They know what I want before I ask at 2 Starbucks in Las Vegas. I never pass the <em>tres</em> sophisticated Starbucks at Keystone & 7th in Reno -- but in Dayton, I go to Makin' Coffee. No glad handing perky greetings. Nothing slick. No way could you think you are in Seattle. But the coffee is first rate, the decor has a darkish Northwestern countercultural charm, and the people are kind. There is a sensitivity bordering on sadness there. And on the wall is a reflection by a single dad whose teenager committed suicide. Makin' Coffee is the real deal.

Things I Previously Forgot To Tell You

Dave's Automotive in Fallon also sells boxes and aluminum carports. Moreover, they rent trucks. If you return your truck five minutes la...

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Job Search Mistakes Even the Pros Make

Job Search Mistakes Even the Pros Make by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor<br /><br />When most people think of job search mistakes, they imagine a young person, fresh out of college and naively charging into the job market. After all, once you have been working for awhile, you know all of the ins and outs of finding a job, right? Wrong. In fact, even professionals who have been working for decades sometimes mess up when it comes to looking for a new job.<br /><br />Jim Liston is the chairperson of the Business and Professional Exchange of Greater Indianapolis (BPE), an organization that provides support and resources to professionals who are going through career transitions. Liston says he sees many professionals who have been employed so long that they have forgotten how to look for a job. He likens their process of re-entering the job market to riding a bike. "You re-learn, but it is an awkward process," he says.<br /><br />If you want to make sure you are on the path to a successful job search here are five errors to avoid:<br /><br />1. Forgetting to keep it simple.<br />By the time many people climb to the top of the corporate ladder, they often become accustomed to having others listen intently to what they have to say. Therefore, some professionals develop a bad habit of over-answering, over-explaining and just plain talking too much. Not knowing how to sum up your qualifications, skills or desires in a short time can be costly in a high-pressure interview situation. "Giving your best shot in 30 seconds is a real challenge," says Liston. He says all professionals need to know how to present themselves and what they are looking for succinctly, clearly and briefly.<br /><br />2. Being afraid to ask for help.<br />Admitting that you need help is hard for any professional, particularly someone who has been working for many years. Liston says he finds many members of the BPE don't want to burden others. "But people by nature want to help," he says. He notes that anyone looking for a job needs to pull out their Rolodex and start spreading the word that they are on the market. You never know when a friend of a friend of a friend will have the perfect lead waiting just for you.<br /><br />3. Getting discouraged.<br />Liston says that an individual's job is often so much more than a paycheck. "For many," he says, "when you lose your job, you lose your identity." Once this identity is gone, some people have a hard time keeping motivated. They stay inside, stop socializing, stop looking for leads and become downright discouraged. No matter how long you have been working or out of work, staying active in your job search is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Join a professional organization, motivate yourself to get up and get dressed early each morning, and keep your social calendar full. The more people you meet, the better your chances are of finding the perfect opportunity.<br /><br />4. Having an old, outdated or ineffective résumé.<br />Robin Ryan, a Seattle-based career counselor and job search expert, says that job seekers of all types make résumé mistakes. One of the most common is résumé length. Are multiple-page résumés acceptable for those who have been working for more than 10 years? Ryan says no, and says everyone should keep their résumés to one page. She points out that companies see hundreds of résumés for every open position, which means hiring managers must scan each résumé quickly. "You're getting a 15-second glance," she says. Clearly outline your most important skills and experiences on one page. It will ensure your most important information actually gets read.<br /><br />5. Neglecting to run a focused job search.<br />Liston says he sees many professionals who have a hard time finding a job because they lack focus. In fact, he suggests that any job seeker think of the search as a job. Just like a job, you need a game plan in place that guides your actions, tasks to complete each day, goals to work toward and accountability. "The ones who succeed in finding a job more quickly are the ones who treat the job search as a project," says Liston.<br /><br />Looking for a job is never a piece of cake, regardless of whether you have two years of experience or twenty-two. But knowing some of the mistake to avoid can help get you on your way to running a job search that any professional would be proud of!<br /><br />Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Other writers contributed to this article.<br /><br />It doesn't hurt to look! <a href="http://www.mygvbiz.com/getrich">www.mygvbiz.com/getrich</a> Become an Independent Distributor Today!

Job Search Mistakes Even the Pros Make

Job Search Mistakes Even the Pros Make by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor When most people think of job search mistakes, they imagine ...

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Deciphering Resume Types

Deciphering Resume Types by CareerBuilder.com<br /><br />Creating a resume is the very best way to document your career and accomplishments. If you build and maintain one as you move along your career path, you'll be able to capture key achievements and results while they are still fresh in your mind.<br /><br />Everyone who works or is thinking about working needs a resume. Industry consolidations, economic conditions, earnings shortfalls, and changes in management or ownership can alter a person's job satisfaction or status in an instant. Whether you are going to school, dissatisfied with your current job, or happy and gainfully employed, a well thought out and up-to-date resume is your best defense and offense.<br /><br />The majority of resumes follow a similar format by listing most recent jobs and work experience first. This is called a "reverse chronological" format. But there is also the "skills-based" or "functional" format that highlights what you can do rather than what you have done. Some find that blending these two formats is the best way to summarize their experience and capabilities. Those in teaching and scientific professions, especially people with advanced degrees, find the "curriculum vitae" or CV most effective. How do you decide which format is best? Following are some tips and guidelines for when to use which format.<br /><br />Reverse Chronological<br />This is the format familiar to most employers and hiring managers. It normally includes a career objective or summary at the top, and is followed by a listing of each job the person has held, starting with the most recent, and a brief summary of responsibilities and accomplishments. Reverse chronological resumes should include job titles, dates of employment, and company names and locations. For each position you held, you should give an overview of your essential responsibilities and your related accomplishments and achievements. This should be followed by a summary of your education and training.<br /><br />Using this format is best for those who have had a steady work history and a record of increased responsibility and career growth. This is also a great format if the companies you worked for, especially your most recent employer, are well-recognized and well-respected within your industry.<br /><br />Skills-Based or Functional Format<br />A functional formatted resume ignores chronological order and focuses on your career in terms of your skills and capabilities. This format helps readers focus on what you can do rather than what you have done. By using the functional approach, you can tailor your resume to highlight skills and competencies sought by potential employers. You can show how you ideally match the requirements of a particular job for which you are applying, by including relevant achievements and accomplishments related to specific skills.<br /><br />The functional resume includes a career objective that states what type of job you desire or a career summary that encapsulates your work history, education and strengths in a sentence or two. The main body of the resume provides a summary of three to five skills you possess and demonstrates your proficiency in the particular area through accomplishments and measurable results related to the skill. One added benefit of this format is that you can include learning from both paid and volunteer work. In its purest form it omits dates, employers and job titles, however, most employers expect to see this information somewhere within a resume.<br /><br />The functional format is ideal for those who have had gaps in employment or for those who have changed careers over the years or had unclear career paths. It is also great for new graduates who don't have much paid work experience.<br /><br />Combination or Blended Format<br />If you can't decide which format to use, you may wish to develop a resume that utilizes the best of both formats. These resumes will include reverse chronological listings of the most recent jobs you've held in addition to showcasing your particular skills and accomplishments. It might begin with a summary of qualifications and bulleted skills, followed by a chronicled job listing that demonstrates, through measurable results, how you used or applied the skills you just highlighted.<br /><br />Curriculum Vitae<br />An academic curriculum vitae is a comprehensive document or biographical statement of your experience and achievements. It is normally four to eight pages in length and is used primarily for those who work in a PhD-driven environment where higher degrees, research, published works and professional accreditation and recognition are valued. A summary of professional qualifications and accomplishments are listed first. This is followed by a detailed listing of education and academic degrees, recognized achievements such as major research works, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, and professional affiliations and credentials. Only those who are pursuing careers in science, such as biotech or research, academia, think tanks and the like should use this format.<br /><br />It doesn't hurt to look! <a href="http://www.mygvbiz.com/getrich">www.mygvbiz.com/getrich</a> Become an Independent Distributor Today!

Deciphering Resume Types

Deciphering Resume Types by CareerBuilder.com Creating a resume is the very best way to document your career and accomplishments. If you bui...

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Finding a Great Job if You're Over 50

Finding a Great Job if You're Over 50 by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor<br /><br />According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 16 percent of today's workforce is age 55 and older, and that number is expected to reach 21 percent by 2014 -- an increase of more than 11 million workers. As the American population ages, companies are realizing older Americans are a vital part of their workforce, and are starting to put programs into place to attract and retain these workers.<br /><br />Companies are increasingly focusing on this segment of the American workforce and are offering older workers more flexible work options and helping them better balance work and family issues, says Deborah Russell, director of economic security for the AARP, a nonprofit organization for people over 50.<br /><br />And in the face of impending labor shortages, many companies are turning to their own retirees to fill open spots. Bringing a former employee back on board provides a wide range of benefits to the company, as retired workers need less training and are already familiar with company policies and standards as well as business protocol.<br /><br />Every year, the AARP releases its list of the "Best Employers for Workers Over 50." They look at companies in a variety of industries and evaluate businesses in the areas of recruitment practices, continuing opportunities for advancement, flexible work schedules and benefits. The AARP found that while many companies still have a long way to go when it comes to attracting and retaining older workers, there are a number of businesses that have put innovative programs in place that benefit workers over 50.<br /><br />If you are an older professional and want to find an employer who is open to workers of all ages, Russell offers the following tips for evaluating a company.<br /><br />1. Examine the company's recruitment practices.<br />Russell notes you can learn a lot about a company by how and where it recruits employees, as well as what its recruitment materials look like. Is the company recruiting at a variety of job fairs? Is it open to applications from all workers? Does it have a formal program to offer positions to retired workers? Can you see a variety of ages represented in company brochures and other branded materials?<br /><br />2. Ask about advancement opportunities and training.<br />The AARP found that many of the best companies for older workers have special programs in place to provide employees with advanced and ongoing training, help employees move positions within the company and offer career counseling. These programs help older workers keep important skills up-to-date. Some companies even offer online courses for employees, which enable older workers to take courses at their own pace.<br /><br />3. Research the company's benefits.<br />While you might not be able to find out everything about a company's benefits in the early interview process, you can research the company's Web site and other materials to find out what benefits it offers. Many of the companies on the AARP's list have benefits that are particularly attractive to older workers, such as allowing 401(k) "catch-up" contributions and time off to care for dependents beyond what is required by law. Some also offer phased retirement programs, and several hospitals on the list offer healthcare services either at a discount or at no cost to employees covered under company health plans.<br /><br />4. Examine the overall company image.<br />Take a look at all company collateral and its Web site. What is the image the company is portraying? Also, look around the company when you are interviewing. Do you see other older workers? Ask about the company's mission and goals. Russell says it is important to determine if the company "values its workforce, or just its bottom line."<br /><br />For more information about the AARP and its list of the "Best Employers for Workers Over 50," visit the organization's Web site at www.aarp.org/bestemployers.<br /><br />Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Other writers contributed to this article.<br /><br />It doesn't hurt to look! <a href="http://www.mygvbiz.com/getrich">www.mygvbiz.com/getrich</a> Become an Independent Distributor Today!

Finding a Great Job if You're Over 50

Finding a Great Job if You're Over 50 by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 16 per...

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One Click to a New Job - Responding to Online Job Postings

One Click to a New Job - Responding to Online Job Postings by CareerBuilder.com<br /><br />Wouldn't it be nice if you could just press a button and find a great new job? With all the job search tools available online, you can. New opportunities are only a mouse click away in cyberspace. The only problem is the competition can be tough with so many other space travelers taking advantage of the Internet to market themselves to potential employers. The key to success when responding to online job postings is using the right strategies to break out the pack and get noticed.<br /><br />An estimated 80 percent of companies use technology to help scan resumes and store the data in keyword-searchable databases for future use. So how does a computer decide who stays and who goes? In simple terms - keywords! These electronic processing systems are designed to seek out resumes that contain specific keywords chosen by the recruiter.<br /><br />What are the right keywords for the job you are seeking? You'll need to spend some time researching job postings and help wanted ads for jobs that are closely associated with or nearly a perfect fit for your experience. Read as many job postings and job descriptions as you can find and start writing down words that you see over and over again. Then, incorporate these words into your resume(s) and cover letter(s).<br /><br />For example, a recruiter is looking to hire someone to work in his manufacturing plant. He also needs the employee to operate the company's computer tracking system and conduct quality assurance testing. He will likely choose the following words to seek out applicants: Manufacturing; Computer; Quality Assurance.<br /><br />The inclusion of these keywords is important, but make sure not to overdo it. Today's scanning technology is advanced and programmed to identify resumes that appear to duplicate a company's job posting. If you basically cut and paste a job posting into your resume, it will not be considered and your name will remain in the company's system in the red flag file. It is better to pepper in keywords as they relate to your experience.<br /><br />After the initial screening by the computer, recruiters take over and begin reviewing resumes for qualified candidates. Primarily, they will look for relevant experience and qualifications. That is why it's important to highlight your accomplishments up front.<br /><br />One happily employed Public Relations executive suggests throwing out the window any humble thoughts and hushing that inner voice that says you are bragging. Start your cover letter with a clear statement outlining your skills and abilities and try to put a different spin on your communications to stand out. For instance, her cover letter opens with: "Communications expertise. Results-driven media strategy. Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously...there are just some of the benefits I can bring to your organization."<br /><br />She knows this technique works because she's used it to successfully land her last two jobs. As she says, "If you don't toot your own horn, who will?" Experts agree that by stating your key selling points right off the bat, you are maximizing your resume's chances of being placed in the "call for interview" file instead of the circular file.<br /><br />Experts also say that the appearance and professionalism of your communications are critical. All too often, recruiters and hiring managers report finding typos and grammatical mistakes in the resumes and cover letters they receive. Before responding to even one more online job posting, take the time to edit your resume, proofread it and proof read it again. It's also a good idea to ask someone else to review it for you.<br /><br />Once you are sure your resume and cover letter have the right keywords in place, are aggressively advertising your skills and qualifications, and are error-fee, start pushing those buttons and let the opportunities come to you.<br /><br />It doesn't hurt to look! <a href="http://www.mygvbiz.com/getrich">www.mygvbiz.com/getrich</a> Become an Independent Distributor Today!

One Click to a New Job - Responding to Online Job Postings

One Click to a New Job - Responding to Online Job Postings by CareerBuilder.com Wouldn't it be nice if you could just press a button and...

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