Five bad questions for any interview

Five bad questions you might be tempted to ask: what hiring managers may think when they hear them:

Question: Is job-sharing a possibility?
What the interviewer may think: Possibly, but does this mean you can't give us a commitment for full-time work?

Question: Can you tell me whether you have considered the incredible benefits of telecommuting for this position?
What the interviewer may think: Why do you want to get out of the office before you have seen the office?

Question: I understand that employee paychecks are electronically deposited. Can I get my paycheck in the old-fashioned way?
What the interviewer may think: You are already asking for exceptions. What's next? And are you afraid of technology?

Question: I won't have to work for someone with less education than I have; will I?What the interviewer may think: You clearly have a chip on your shoulder. Why should we take a chance that you don't have other interpersonal issues?

Question: The job description mentions weekend work. Are you serious?
What the interviewer may think: We're serious about the job description. We're suddenly less serious about you.

Rules to a great Cover Letter

Bad Cover Letter

1. Too long  / with too much formality
2. No substance & Empty buzzword
3. Re-write your resume

A Good Cover Letter

1. Should be short, concise and passionate; while telling your job story.
2. Should be personal and intriguing (give examples).
3. Should tell why you are interested.
4. Should be your elevator pitch with an interesting hook.

Negotiate a Win-Win Compensation Package

In most cases, pay is often a primary motivator for work.

Key Point: Don't base your salary solely on your current earnings. Keep in mind that salary ranges provide for a broad spectrum of candidates, and your experience or relevant skill set may not be considered to be at the top of that range. Depending upon the position, there could be other forms of compensation involved, most notably annual bonuses or sign-on bonuses.

Establish your priorities and how compensation factors into the equation. If money is not your primary reason, don't make it a sticking point.

Demonstrate your value to the interviewer by detailing your accomplishments and what they have meant to the bottom line of your current or past employers.

 
Don't get bogged down in talks about your current earnings if they are not relevant to the position. Gear the conversation to the worth of the position or the skills and experiences you have rather than your current earnings.

Ask the interviewer for the salary range rather than what you are hoping to earn. This way, you'll be in a position to know how close or far off your expectations are.

Leverage other factors to your advantage such as a forthcoming salary increase or that you're assessing other potential employment situations.

Bottom line: think big picture. If everything about the offer matches your criteria - job description, reporting manager, working environment, and company policies and mission - get the best compensation package you can while letting the hiring manager know you are the best candidate for the job.

My Book was published on 7/19/2011

Book Title: “Why Not Me”

It details a path to self-awareness and talks about ways to build a support network to help individuals pursue their passion. The book begins by showing the reader how to identify their passion. The initial pages help the reader figure out: who they are and proceed to merge their current skills with what they have to develop. The book reaches for the simple things, like: defining who you are, how you view yourself and how you think other people view you. It is an easy read with self assuring messages throughout.

7 Ways to Show your worth on a Resume

The Power of Accomplishments

To convince potential employers that you are the best candidate for the job, you must be able to clearly state & sell your accomplishments.

Step 1: Write one-line statements about your experiences (in school, at work and through community/professional activities).

Step 2: Use action verbs to show accomplishment statement. Examples:

  Reduced operating expenses by 25% by improving efficiency & decreasing expenses.

  Selected new vendors for office services, resulting in improved customer service & satisfaction.

  Generated $50,000 in new sales during first 12 months.

Step 3: Accomplishment statements should be comprehensive.

Step 4: Use the most powerful verbiage to show results.

Step 5: When using a chronological résumé, list your accomplishment beneath the company where you acquired it.

Step 6: When using a functional résumé, group related accomplishments together under functional headings

Step 7: Finally, review your accomplishment statements in the context of your specific job objective; then organize & present the statements in order of their relevance to the potential employer

Marketing Essentials

• Show your skills while using the tools and techniques to identify, evaluate and solve problems.
• Plan must be compelling with the abilty to increase participants.
• Discover creative ways to apply marketing principles and practices to meet your needs.
• Know why you are doing it.
• Think like a marketing professional, by continuously promoting your ideas.

Happy Marketing

Even in a Small World: You can be Big!!!

1. Break new ground
2. Come up with Innovative Ways of doing things
3. Bring new products to the forefront
4. Redefine your strategy
5. Continue to discover new markets

That's a great way to do it!!!

Improve Your Interview Skills

The biggest mistake in interviewing is not being fully prepared. Although your resume lands you the interview, it is ultimately the interview that will get you the job. So, being well prepared for whatever an interviewer throws at you is crucial. Here’s how you can effectively handle the interview process:

1. Conduct Research.
2. Practice Interviewing
3. Dress Professionally
4. Make a Positive First Impression
5. Go Beyond the Canned Response demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and abilities by giving specific examples from past work experiences.
6. Ask Questions.
7. Follow Up
8. Be Prepared

Must-have qualities of successful entrepreneurs

They are:

You Must have a vision 
Great Communication Skills    
Keep and make Deadlines
There are no Little People
Be Rigorous not ruthless 
Well-Rounded
See through the Noise
Get Connectors
                                                                                  

        

                                                                                                

Gain Energy & Release Potential

Topic                 
Choose Attitude     
How to do it
Make your day a great day
Topic
Choose to Play      
How to do it
Make where you are fun; it builds energy
TopicEngage Others        
How to do it
Include others in the fun
TopicBe Present             
How to do it
Pay Attention and Be Attentive

3 Things Every Worker Should Know

1. Your interests.
Give careful consideration to what you love most about your job before you pursue any changes.

2. Your strengths and weaknesses.
Conduct an honest assessment of your professional assets and any liabilities that could be standing in your way.

3. Your options.

Use the information gathered from your assessment to focus your career.

Never Give Up

When the shoe fits, we forget about the feet.

-The Wisdom of the Taoists

Many of us look at life as work. We approach it and try to handle it like a job. We complain about it. We blame others when it is not working. We hold someone else responsible when it does not give us what we want.

Some of us give up on life.

We move from day to day, with no plan, no goals and ultimately no rewards.

We fail to understand that if life is work, the better we do it, the better it will pay us.

When we perform our tasks to the very best of our ability we receive just rewards for what we do.  When we are thorough in our work and put our best into it, we become better at it. When we become too good for where we are, we will be advanced to our rightful place.

The thing we must realize about life is; it can’t be better until we are better. We can’t get more until we are more.

The only thing that can stop our advancement in life is our not being ready to move. If life is work, run it like a multimillion-dollar corporation and elect yourself chief executive officer.

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  It's important to be a go-getter. But it's even more important to know what it is you want to go and get. -Gary Kallback

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How Stressed are you

Maybe you've been taking on the work (and expectations) of two people since a co-worker quit. Or maybe your company is undergoing a merger, leaving your job security in limbo.

Many workers say they work under a great deal of stress, and 77 percent say they feel burnout on the job, according to a nationwide survey by CareerBuilder.com.

While office stress is common, it can also have dangerous consequences. Are you experiencing the warning signs of workplace stress? Take this quiz to find out. Select all that apply:

0-5 -- Low Stress:  No work environment is entirely stress-free, but you appear to be managing your tension well. Still, be sure to take time for yourself to avoid burnout.

6-10 -- Low-to-Moderate Stress:  The stress is beginning to catch up with you, but there is still hope. Try relieving some of your tension by taking a relaxing vacation, talking to friends and family or just taking some time to yourself each day.

11-15 -- Moderate-to-High Stress:  You're experiencing significant stress levels, and it might be time for a change. Talk to your employer to see if any adjustments can be made in your job or work/life balance that can ease the strain.

16-20 -- High Stress:  High stress levels are harmful both physically and psychologically, so it's important for you to take steps to reduce your workplace tension. Vacations, lifestyle changes or seeking a new position could do the trick, but it may be wise to also speak to a professional who can pinpoint the cause of your stress and identify ways to help you relax.

Your job no longer challenges you.
You have little or no autonomy in your day-to-day tasks.
Apathy has replaced enthusiasm.
You feel overwhelmed by deadline pressure, workload or other expectations.
You frequently arrive late to work and leave early as often as possible.
You consistently put off projects until the last minute.
You're unhappy with your work/life balance.
You have a toxic relationship with your boss.
You're worried about your job security and/or performance.
Your co-workers are walking on eggshells around you.
Your work schedule is interfering with your marriage or other personal relationships.
You're beginning to withdraw from friends and family members.
You're having trouble sleeping.
You're smoking, drinking or relying on caffeine more than ever before.
You're feeling paranoid.
You've been overreacting to minor problems.
You're getting headaches or colds more often.
You're physically exhausted most of the time.
You've developed an ulcer.
You've been diagnosed with a heart condition

Habits to Highly Effective People

• Be Proactive
• Begin with the end in mind
• Put First things First
• Think Win-Win
• First Understand then make sure you are Understood
• Define Problem and Share Ideas
• Present your best