Career Development: May 2011

Jobs Search Tips Revealed - Showing How to Get More Responses & Interviews Quicker Than Ever Before

No Response Syndrome has taken over Internet Job Searching and Internet Recruiting. Both job seekers and employers are infected!!

Millions of job seekers are applying to jobs and 'Never getting a Response!' from the employers. Meanwhile employers are being deluged with Non-qualified Applicants, keeping them busy trying keep up with the constantly changing technology, while adequately filtering through stack of candidates to find the qualified candidates.

The No Response Syndrome seems to spread from job seeker to employer and vice versa.

The cause of No Response Syndrome is unclear.

There are over 40,000 antidotes available, but these are seldom used, by employer and job seekers, alike.

Known causes seem to be related to the following statistics:

    Recent US stats, suggest there are approximately 5,000,000 job openings listed online, yet the 3 Biggest job boards in the US, list approximately only 2,000,000 of those openings (40%).
    Meanwhile, 80% of job seekers are searching and applying to the same job listings that everyone else is finding and applying for.
    Employers are not responding to candidates who apply for the positions, whether the candidates are qualified or not.
    The job boards have a vested interest in making the process of applying to multiple job postings very easy for job seekers. Thus creating an environment, where job seekers can apply to hundreds of job postings, whether they are qualified or not.
    Because of the Response from the employers to the job seekers, the syndrome continues to multiply because candidates continue to apply to an increasing number of jobs, for which they are less and less qualified for, therefore increasing the number of non-qualified candidates employers must filter through.

The Good News is this, there is an antidote! In fact there are over 40,000 antidotes. These Antidotes are commonly referred to as Niche job boards.

While they have been around since the first days of the Internet, their adoption by job seekers and employers has been slow.

There are several types of Niche job boards;

Industry specific sites

Local and national professional associations

Regionally specific job boards

Local newspaper sites

Blogs

Community based sites.

These niche job boards solve most, if not all, of the No Response Syndrome causes.

The Top 5 Reasons to use niche job boards:

5. Niche job boards are by definition, marketed to and created for a smaller niche segment of the job market. As a result, there not only fewer job seekers, but also fewer off-topic job postings. This means there are more Relevant and Qualified Job seekers, per job posting. This also makes it easier for job seekers to find On topic and relevant positions, faster.

4. Niche boards have fewer job seekers. This is actually a good-thing for employers, as long as the visitors who are applying to the jobs actually meet the criteria of the niche market. Fewer, but more Qualified Candidates, is exactly the antidote the employers are looking for.

3. Niche boards also tend to have a closer relationship to their core job seeker users, providing more targeted job openings, more relevant employer information, and more job search related content and articles that engage their specific audiences better than the one-size fits all sites.

2. Employers are usually willing to offer more contact information, including phone numbers, names, and even direct email addresses, etc, on a niche job boards. Conversely, most employers will include limited contact information on the major job boards, because they cannot handle the influx of phone calls and emails that would occur.

And the Number 1 reason to use Niche Job boards to solve the No Response Syndrome.

1. Niche job boards can provide a 10 times increase in response per application, compared to the big boards.

How is this possible:

The average response rate for a job posting on a Big job board can be as much as 100+ response per job.

The average response rate per job, from a niche job board is around 7-10 responses.

Using simple math, the odds of getting a response from either of the boards is as follows:

Big board: 1 in 100 applicants = 1% chance of being seen.

Niche board: 1 in 10 applicants = 10% chance of being seen.

Therefore, if employers want fewer, more qualified responses, instead of sifting through hundreds on non-qualified candidates, they should be posting to the top niche job boards in their industry and field.

Meanwhile, if a job seekers wants to increase their responses by up to 10 times, they are better off finding and applying to jobs posted on Niche job boards.

By Jonathan Duarte

Career Choices - Discover How To Make The Best Decision On A Career Choice

Many times college students, and individuals with years of working experience, decide on careers without critically examining their own impressions and understandings of a particular career. To often they rely on someone else's attitude toward a specific career without finding out what is true and what is not.

Career planning and their choices to often is made with limited and many times inaccurate information. Rare is the person who takes the time for self analysis and gathers information to develop viable career options. If your view is limited you may be overlooking a hidden but ideal career situation.

Career myths are everywhere and the key is to test assumptions, and critically examine the information you know about a job or industry. There is considerable risk in allowing assumptions to be the basis of a career choice. The consequences can lead to a career where you have little interest and lukewarm passion. A recipe for disaster.

Some abandon work aspirations based on misconceptions about the career. They don't look into the career because they were told there was, "no money in it." Listening to others without challenging their inaccurate beliefs can cause you to rule out a possible dream job.

Career choices or changes should be approached in a critical and unbiased way. Here are four guidelines to follow to help you make the best informed choice:

Test all your assumptions: You may only have a fraction of the right information along with comments from family and friends. Examine everything and do comprehensive research to learn as much as possible about the career. Also, remain flexible as your research will undoubtedly uncover other promising leads.

Get your career information from a variety of sources: If currently in school discuss the career with a counselor or your professors. Look in the internet for relevant information. Find someone who is currently working in the prospective career and phone them to schedule a short interview. Attend job fairs and discuss the career with recruiters.

Follow-up on resources that you uncover in your basic research. Go back to your sources as you put together additional questions.

Critically analyze all your career information. Be a critical thinker in analyzing your research. Carefully put some thought into the sources of information, are there contradictions? Maybe some more research is in order. Think carefully about your sources of information on careers. Who can give you a better sense of what it's like to be a CPA: a couple of CPA's working in the accounting field every day or your uncle who got audited by the IRS 15 years ago due to his CPA's misjudgment?

Try out your career ideas: If still in school consider applying for internships in your chosen field. If possible, a part-time job in the industry will give you a better feel for both the job and industry. If you still have concerns about a career continue your research. If the proposed career looks less than exciting, your continued study will point you in the right direction.

Above all don't chose a career based only on anecdotal evidence or hearsay information. When you do make your career choice based on solid information, you'll go much farther in the career, enjoy it more and be happy you spent the time doing proper career research and analysis.

By John Groth

Career Development - Discover the Best Tool for Career Development!

In many organizations that have a ladder of promotion steps, career development is a very visible path that leads to success. But have you also thought of career development in the context of the individual job and career? Is development of an individuals career necessary if they stay in the same position for multiple years?

The answer to the last question is a resounding yes. The best tool to build the development of a career is through mentoring. A mentor is normally an experienced co-worker who is in a position of influence and who is interested in furthering the career development of an employee. In many ways the employee becomes the mentor's protege.

Mentors come in many sizes, they share their knowledge about the organization that may take years to acquire. Their organizational knowledge may include unwritten company practices, managerial quirks, polices that safely may be ignored and other rules that must be obeyed to the letter.
Mentors act as sponsors and widen the exposure of their proteges.

This networking process can be inviting them to lunch with managers in other departments, being asked to work on special committees or other projects where they can display their talents. Mentors are there to support and they have a sense of personal concern for their proteges and feel responsible in assisting them.

A good mentors listens actively, provides empathic support, and encourages proteges to develop problem-solving skills. They also comment on innovative ideas that proteges are reluctant to propose through official channels.
When mentors work in the same area as their proteges, they can observe the protege's attitude, their work with others and other interpersonal skills.

This provides opportunities for constructive criticism. Some mentors play the role of devil's advocate, confronting and challenging their proteges. The latter are receptive to this type of coaching because they know their mentors are really on their side.
For a mentor to be effective, however, they must be respected for certain attributes. Proteges consciously or subconsciously emulate the behavior and attitudes of their mentors.

For your mentor to be effective you should start by asking for advice and always show your appreciation. Be enthusiastic about the help you receive from your mentor but don't expect perfection. Never put your mentor on the spot be pitting them against your immediate supervisor. A mentor can assist but don't become overly dependent on your mentor. Learn to make decision on your own.

If you become a mentor, be honest on what you can and cannot do. If you become uncomfortable in the role the right thing to do is quit or redefines your role.
The mentor can help you greatly in developing your career regardless if the future involves a possible series of promotions or your need for positive horizontal career development. In either case an interested and motivated mentor can be a valuable asset in you career development.

By John Groth

Easy, Effective, Efficient - 5 Steps For Improving Your Presentation Skills

Public speaking is only as difficult as you allow it to be. Unfortunately, many people make it more difficult than it is because their fear or their nervousness is in control. If such is the case with you, then you should consider changing your approach so that you have the upper hand over your nervousness.

Personally, I love nervousness. That adrenaline rush helps me be more dynamic and allows for my passion and enthusiasm to be seen and heard. And, because I am in control of it, my audiences have no idea that I am nervous. They neither see it nor do they hear it in my voice.

By implement the following 5 steps into your presentation, you will discover that you are able to focus on your delivery and not on your fear:

Treat your audience as if you were having a conversation in your living room. Imagine your speech or presentation as being one side of the conversation and your audience's reaction to you, the other. If you can visualize yourself standing at the lectern, at the head of the conference table, or in the front of the room in this manner, you will feel much more confident.
Speak to your audience with express, not only in the tonal variety of your voice but also your facial expression and your body language. Standing perfectly still with no physical or aural expression is a quick means of putting your audience to sleep.
Know your material inside and out. This means practicing it out loud several days (if not weeks) in advance of your scheduled date. Reading it over in your mind is not practice. Only fools treat their material in that manner.
Breathe with the support of your diaphragm. It is the best means of controlling nervousness you have. It is free; it is healthy; and, it will put an end to your breathlessness.
Believe in yourself. If you approach your audience believing that you cannot do it, how successful do you think you will be? Do not aim for perfection. Strive to do the best job that you can do by incorporating the above 4 methods into your delivery. If you can accomplish that, then you will succeed.

Public speaking does not have to be your greatest fear. If you want to take control of your nervousness and actually allow it to work for you, I guarantee that these social, emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual components are all that you need to deliver a dynamic speech or presentation.

By Nancy Daniels

Job Interview Know How - 7 Quick Steps to Ace Your Face to Face and Get a Job Offer in 30 Days

Did you think you did well on your last job interview only to never receive a call back or job offer? Are you thinking about what you said and how you looked during your last face to face job interview and wish you had a second chance to make a great impression? Here are 7 quick suggestions to help you put your best foot forward and step way ahead of your competition for the job you want:

1. Research the company you will interview with. There is no longer a need to go into a job interview 'cold'. The internet is a vast resource of company information. From how the company started and who is the current head of the company to their latest products and company slogan, this information and more is just a click away. Doing your homework will make you feel more comfortable about your first "company meeting" because the company and its representative will not feel like total strangers.

2. Practice your answers to common and not so common job interview questions. From "Why did you leave your last job?" and "Why should we hire you for this position?"to "How many gas stations are there in the US" and "What if I told you this interview is not going very well?", your response will tell the interviewer how well you think on your feet and how you handle pressure. Ask a friend to help you practice and to honestly let you know how you are doing. You will feel calmer when you mentally prepare yourself for almost any job interview question.

3. Practice your entire job interview presentation. Beyond practice answers to questions, it is just as important to be aware of your voice and body language. Are you speaking clearly? Are your arms folded? Do you appear interested and eager or bored or afraid? Your body language could be betraying you. Again ask a friend to help you practice. Or use free mock job interview video clips to get honest feedback about your entire job interview presentation skills. It's best to identify, make and correct your mistakes before you're your next face to face job interview.

4. Plan your job interview attire. It is recommended that men wear a conservative suit and women wear a conservative suit with minimal jewelry, makeup and accessories. Make sure clothing is in good condition, clean and pressed. Even if your research shows the work environment is pretty casual, at the very least, dress one step above the level of the job you are interviewing for.

5. Bring only necessary take alongs to the job interview. Make sure you have specific directions about the location of the job interview. Ask for the name, title and a contact telephone number for the person who will conduct your job interview. Bring extra resumes with you. Also, bring questions you have about the company, and the job you are applying for. Note: Your job interview is not the time to ask questions about compensation, flex time and vacation days.

6. Display good manners before, during and after your job interview. Your job interview begins the moment you arrive on the company's property. Be on time. In fact, arrive 15 minutes early. Greet and address the receptionist or the person that welcomes you with respect. Do not answer your cell phone or use a similar device while waiting, or during the interview. Just turn it off. If your culture allows, firmly shake the hand of the interviewer before the job interview begins and after the job interview ends. Thank the receptionist on your way out.

7. Send a thank you letter. Use technology to send a hand written note. By using email, you'll be able to see that it was received by the person or persons you intended. Not only will the note make a great impression, but it will make a lasting impression long after the conclusion of your face to face interview.

By RL Polhill

What Do You Do in a Job Interview - 5 Winning Job Interview Strategies For Getting the Job You Want

What do you do in a job interview? Especially if you want to maximize your chances at getting the job. No matter what the job, if you want it, your task at hand is to convince your interviewers that you are THE perfect candidate.
Sound intimidating? Read on to discover how you can maximize your chances of being the one.

Here's the deal. You wouldn't be having that job interview if the interviewers didn't already think you were a good candidate for the job. Remember: They've pre-qualified you through your resume and any preliminary screenings. Once you're at the interview, you have the chance to convince them that they've chosen well, and that you are the one they want.

And how do you do that? Follow these steps:

Put yourself in the shoes of your interviewers

WII-FM -- I know, it's old, but it's the truth. They need to know what's in it for them or they'll never hire you. So keep that in mind.

Know why you want this particular job at this particular company

They want somebody who is right for them, and they don't want to go through the whole search process all over again anytime soon. The better the match and your interest in their specific job and company, the more likely it is that you'll stick around if they hire you.

Know a lot about the company and the position

This would be the result of having done your research. You should know as much as possible about the company, the job, and the people who will be interviewing you. It will help you with all the other steps.

Know the right questions to ask

Yes, you get to ask questions too, and they better be good ones. What are good questions? Questions that ask about their expectations of you and that show that you have their interest in mind. Avoid questions about pay, vacation days, and so on.

Be friendly and show enthusiasm

And make sure it's real. They can tell a fake smile from a mile away. Just keep this thought in mind: The people you meet at the interview may well be your future colleagues, and you're so excited at the prospect of working with them. What you do in the job interview is the preview. Play your cards right, and you'll get invited back for the main act.

By Elisabeth Kuhn

Changing Careers - Which Career Path Should You Take - Consultant Or Corporate Executive?

Every time the economy expands or dips, executives who are tired, bored, displaced, or in search of above-market earnings come out of the barn in droves looking for "greener pastures". They frequently assume that their experiences running a "real" company qualify them to provide insight and expertise as a consultant to other companies.

Meanwhile, consultants looking for financial stability have thoughts of going corporate. Consultants are often confident of their abilities to lead organizations. Who could be better qualified than them to run a company from the inside? After all, they have been the guiding hand for many companies strategic, financial and technology direction. They have been trusted counsel for their top executives.
Unfortunately, grazing in the other "greener" pasture is more complicated that it seems on the surface.

What Life as a Consultant is Like
The defining characteristics of the consulting environment are remarkably similar from firm to firm, regardless of whether it is a large global firm or a small local firm. First and foremost, at a senior level, success is based on the generation of sales revenue.

Dollars equal power.
As a consultant, engagements are driven by thought leadership and strategy. Your clients typically have a list of problems that need to be solved -- and the list changes frequently. Corporate decision-makers assure that consultants have special access to people and resources. After all, they have already or will shortly write a very large check for their services.
From a delivery perspective, work is often standardized and methodology-based. Engagements have a beginning, an end, and a defined scope. Often little or no responsibility for implementation or outcomes is specified.

But, there are some exceptions. Certain contractual arrangements have shared responsibility for results and that is reflected in the fee. Secondly, the consultant handles implementation of a system or process. However, once it is "done," the consultant still leaves and doesn't have to live with the consequences. Supervision and personnel responsibility is usually limited to performance on the project by the team members.

Should You Be a Consultant?
* Are you energized by smart people doing interesting work?
* Do you enjoy a continuously shifting landscape of new problems to solve?
* Are you easily bored?
* Do you like providing "advice and counsel" with little responsibility for operational activities or outcomes?
* Is selling fun? Do you like the thrill of the chase?
* Do you enjoy socializing and building a network of contacts?

What Life as a Corporate Executive is Like
In corporations, whether public or private, profitability and shareholder value are the bottom line. For most executives, success is based on contribution to operating results.
Organizational leadership, from vision to planning through execution, drives performance. Decision-making and risk taking, with accountability for choices, is fundamental. Outcomes are everything. Activities are heavily implementation and results driven.

Few projects are intellectually stimulating.
Most of the work of the organization is continuous and predominantly operational. Much is policy and procedurally based. There is a broad distribution of people in a corporation, with a tendency to gather around the mean in intelligence, motivation and interest in their work. Comprehensive personnel management is required by line and most staff executives to maximize the contribution of all employees in the company.

Should You Become a Corporate Executive?
* Do you like being on the front lines, directing others, making choices?
* Do you like to see things through to the end?
* Do you gain personal satisfaction from positive, measurable results that you had a significant role in delivering?
* Can you keep focus on the long-term while dealing with tactical and operational concerns?
* Are you willing to stand behind your decisions and be accountable for and part of outcomes with continuing consequences?
* As an insider, can you gain the respect of others for your business acumen?
* Are you energized by motivating and leading groups of people to successful achievement of common goals?
* Do others follow you and support you?

How to Align Yourself with the Career Choice You Make
If you are a consultant and still think you are a candidate for a change to a corporation, consider whether you are most suited for a consulting-like role or for an operating leadership position. Your business acumen, facilitation ability, and communication skills are key skills that will be valuable in a corporate role.
If you are an executive and still want to try your hand at consulting, consider whether you are most suited for a partner (translate that sales) role or for delivery management (translate that project or multiple projects).

Your experience of making things work in the real world and your ability to negotiate complex organizations will be helpful in a consulting role.
Remember, both consulting and executive roles have challenges and rewards. Neither is as easy as it looks from the outside, looking in. As long as you find the one that works for you, you will be where the grass is greenest.

By Paula Asinof

5 Career Booster Tips to Get Your Ideal Job

Are you searching for a career booster? If yes, you're in luck. Technology advancement has made it easier and speedier to locate your dream job. Just like you, there are plenty of people searching for jobs. They may even be contesting for the same jobs that you are looking at. To deal with the inflow of job applicants, many employers have started to look for job applicants on job search websites, at employment agencies and by taking into consideration of prospects recommended by word of mouth.

Adopt Targeted Words
Numerous job applicants have commenced on utilizing the internet to locate their dream job rapidly. When you apply for jobs via the online channel, though, you are required to adopt targeted words (keywords or phrases) in your cover letter and resume. The documents that you post will be examined and filtered by a computer before they ever make it to the desk of the person in-charge. If you're not adopting targeted words, you may be filtered off before getting a chance to be noticed. Always adopt keywords that relate to your particular industry. If you're unsure on what words to use, go through similar employment ads to find out what words recruiters are using.

Employment Agencies and Job Fairs
Employment agencies are a fabulous career booster. Send your resume to several employment agents and state what type of job position you are interested in. Remember; agencies accept many applicants daily. Check in with the agency at least one time per week so that you will have access to up-to-date job postings.
Look out for job fairs organized in your area. Make plan to go for as many as possible and always carry a stack of resumes with you. You might get lucky; your dream job might just be round the corner at the fair.

Get Others Around You Involved
If you are searching for a job, everyone around you should be informed. Tell your trusted colleagues, close pals and family members that you are actively searching for a job. They may happen to know about job openings that you haven't heard about. They may even be able to refer you for a job within their own company. It is a fact that companies prefer to recruit job candidates that are referred to the company by existing employees.

Cold Job Search
Research website job openings that pertain to your particular niche. Forward your resume even if there aren't any job openings listed. They may retain your resume on file and consider you when a position available.

Stay Determined
If you have completed several applications without any replies from the companies, follow-up with emails to remind them that you are still interested. The greatest career booster is your ability to stay upbeat and determined.

By CK Tan

Job Interview Techniques - 3 Super Tips When Preparing For A Job Interview

Many people get anxious when they're preparing for a job interview. But there's nothing to be nervous about if you're confident in your abilities. As long as you apply the 3 job interview techniques and tips below, securing your dream job can be as easy as pie.

Job Interview Technique # 1 - Look Smart and Trustworthy.
First impression counts the most. No matter how smart or efficient you are for the job, you will never get it if you look or dress inappropriately. That's because the job interviewer will have a negative impression of you right from the start and may reject your application outright.

You may wear something slightly better than the usual outfit of the company. For example, if the usual dress code of the company is plain shirt and pants, you can wear semi-casual clothing during the job interview.

Job Interview Technique # 2 - Bring All The Important Stuffs.
When you're preparing for a job interview, make sure you list down all the things to bring along. The most important stuffs would include your resume, an extra pen, a notebook, a roadmap in case you're not familiar with the route, and such other documents that the company may require like your birth certificate and police clearance.

Job Interview Technique # 3 - Prepare Impressive Answers For Any Possible Job Interview Questions They Might Ask.
Aside from the things to bring, get ready to answer any possible job interview questions that may be asked.
The interviewer would probably be most concerned about what you can contribute or how you can add value to their establishment. So get ready to astound them with your list of accomplishments, attainments and experiences. If possible, bring along any certificates, licenses, or documents to show proof.

Research the company and your job position, so you won't get dumbfounded when they ask something related to their firm. This also shows your enthusiasm to join their work force. You can do your research online, through brochures or books from the library, and by asking friends who might know anything about the company. If you're lucky, your friends may know someone already working in the company who can give you valuable pointers.

Know your strengths and weaknesses. Think of how your skills or personality can benefit the company, and disclose them when you get the chance. This is one of the keys to success when preparing for a job interview.
If you've worked for a previous establishment and have accomplished something worthwhile, include them as well. Just be aware they might ask you the reason for leaving your past company, so think of a suitable answer in advance.

Aside from preparing the answers, you should also prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer. This will show that you're really interested to work with them.
Apply these 3 job interview techniques when preparing for a job interview and you'll have a much higher chance of attaining your ideal job.

By Michael Lee

Mid Career Change Advice - 5 Easy Steps To Get A Perfect Career

So, you are considering a career change and you want career change advice. Good for you. It is important that you gain satisfaction and fulfillment from your job or career.

However, some people in your life may not see it that way. You may hear that you shouldn't be changing careers "at your age" and that "it's a job, you aren't supposed to like it." But both of these are very false. It is important, though, to thoroughly assess your situation and find a career that is right for you. When you do that, you will have all the ammunition that you need to combat those nay sayers who want you to stay where you are.

1. Is your current job satisfying?

This is the most basic question to ask and one that is often overlooked. Do you actually like your job? Do you have to drag yourself to the office or store or whatever each day? Do you dread returning to work after a day off? Keep a log of how you react to various job issues. Jot down various thoughts that you have about your job throughout the day - those that are positive as well as negative. Don't just focus on the tasks; also think about the company culture, your co workers and other factors. For instance, do you work for a corporation but you are more idealistic in nature?

2. Assess your skills, interests and personal values.
There are lots of free skills assessments and interest assessments that you can take on the internet. Think about things you have done in the past that you enjoyed including volunteer work, activities you did in college or school and jobs that you really liked. Take a hard look at your skills and values. Is your current career addressing them? There are some really good websites out there that can give you some solid career change advice and point you in the right direction.

3. Know the difference between changing jobs and changing careers.
When you change jobs you are typically making a lateral move. A career change is usually not even on the same scale and often requires different or additional skills. When you are deciding on a move, take a moment to think about it. Are you making a lateral move? Or are you making a move into a job that challenges you more and asks more of you than your current job?

4. Do your homework.
Select several career choices and read up on them. Read about the requirements as well as any additional education or skills that are needed. Changing careers is not something that you want to walk into blindly.

5. Talk to those who are already there.
Talk to some professionals who are already in the career of your choice. They can be great sources to give you career change advice. Ask if you can shadow them for a few hours or a few days so that you can get a feel for what the career entails. Ask questions and learn about the education and skills that they needed to get to the place that they are.

By Paul Sarwanawadya

Changing Careers - 4 Steps to Making Your Career Change Just Like Going on Vacation

Did you realise that changing career can be just like going on holiday? And you don't get hung up about that, do you?!

So what do I mean? How is taking a vacation connected with something as big as a career change?

Well, much of the thinking and planning that goes into a holiday, is similar to the process you need to go through when you are making a change of career direction. Read on to see what I mean.

What is your holiday (career) destination?
When spending a big chunk of your hard earned cash on a two week vacation, you take your time to think carefully about where you will go. You start by considering what you like to do, what kind of activities you enjoy, what you are interested in.

Then you use this knowledge to identify suitable places where you will find things to do that match your interests. If you enjoy lying on a beach, you won't be going to a cultural capital where the main offer is museums and theatre.

The key points here are knowing yourself and researching what your destination has to offer. A successful career change will start with this too.

How will you get there?
If your holiday destination is a long way off, you accept that the journey will take some time. You know there will be several stages - taxi, train, plane, hire car and so on. You also know that if you are driving, you will need a good map so that you don't get lost. It is all down to careful planning again.

You need to do the homework and ask the advice of travellers who have been that way before. Then you stand a better chance of getting directly to your destination, even if the journey takes some time.

It's the same with career change. You might decide to retrain to become, say, an IT programmer or developer. Once you are sure this matches your interests, you explore which courses you need to take to gain new skills and ask people which ones they recommend. You plan a timetable for the training according to when courses are available with an aim of being qualified by a certain date.

Can you afford it?
You save up for a holiday, so why not save up for a career change? You think nothing of putting money aside so you can enjoy your two weeks in the Caribbean, so it makes sense to apply the same mindset to a career change which will have a much bigger impact on your life in the long run.

If it is a big adventure holiday on the other side of the world you have in mind, you just take longer to save up.

Yes, there are financial implications to making a career change, but don't let them freeze you into inactivity. Sit down and work out the sums, consider where you can cut corners and do without little luxuries - and start saving!

Who will be your companions?
Vacations aren't so much fun on your own, so most times you will take someone else along. Someone you trust, someone whose company you enjoy, someone who will share the adventure with you. They can help you with the planning and research into what you will do when you get there.

Bits of the journey may be boring or stressful, so it is great to have a friend to chat to. Once you get there, you need someone to share your excitement and enthusiasm about your destination.

Don't attempt a career change journey on your own either. You need a companion who can be a supporter and encourager along the way. They may be travelling a parallel path of their own, or they may just pick you up when you are weary and think the journey is too long. Whatever the case, they can help keep your spirits up so that you do indeed reach your destination.

So are you already thinking about your vacation for 2009? You quite possibly are. You don't hesitate with that bit of life planning, do you? So why not think a bit bigger? Why not use the same strategies to get your career change off the starting blocks instead?

By Cherry Douglas

15 Ways To Sell Yourself Effectively In A Job Interview

1) Firm Handshake

At the very beginning, whenever you meet your interviewer, you need to make sure that you greet them effectively. You've heard that first impressions count. Well, the handshake is an integral part of first impressions. The key is to be firm without being forceful. However, be particularly careful when your interviewer has a particularly weak handshake. You should also be able to adapt and 'mirror' alternative handshake styles. If you're particularly nervous about the interview then it's worthwhile rehearsing your handshake with a friend beforehand.

2) Good Eye Contact

One of the most common reasons for the interviewer leaving the interview with a negative candidate impression is lack of eye contact during the interview from the candidate. In a typical example of such a case, the candidate may leave the interview thinking that they have performed well. This is probably because they have answered the questions well, but looked away from the interviewer to concentrate on the answer to each question.

Making sure that you keep an eye on your interviewer will not only help you both have a better conversation, it will make your responses seem a lot less regimented, and a lot more believable. One trick that you could use if you're struggling to use enough eye contact is to look in-between your interviewers' eyes. They won't be able to tell that you aren't looking directly into their eyes and you may find it easier to focus on the answer to the question.

3) Good Initial Impression

A good initial impression is intangible, yet very important. You need to smile at the right time, ask the right questions, wear the right clothes, have the right hairdo, use the correct terminology - however if you can't 'relate' to your interviewer then getting everything else right could be in vain. The key is being able to react to how they present themselves without loosing your own personality. Only practice makes perfect when it comes to making a good initial impression.

4) Noticing Your Surroundings

Noticing your surroundings is a great way of breaking the ice at interview. If you're able to say things like 'This is a great new building - has it recently been built?' not only are you initiating a conversation to ease the interview process, you're demonstrating your ability to influence and bond with people - a set of very important traits in most job roles.

5) Put Your Interviewer At Ease

Putting your interviewer at ease is one of the most important aspects of selling yourself effectively at a job interview. No matter how experienced the interviewer is, there will be interviews that he or she enjoys more than others. It is your job to make sure that your interviewer really enjoys the experience of interview, while still demonstrating your professional experience. A good starting point is being pleased to see them and discussing a topical issue.

Making sure that you keep an eye on your interviewer will not only help you both have a better conversation, it will make your responses seem a lot less regimented, and a lot more believable. One trick that you could use if you're struggling to use enough eye contact is to look in-between your interviewers' eyes. They won't be able to tell that you aren't looking directly into their eyes and you may find it easier to focus on the answer to the question.

3) Good Initial Impression

A good initial impression is intangible, yet very important. You need to smile at the right time, ask the right questions, wear the right clothes, have the right hairdo, use the correct terminology - however if you can't 'relate' to your interviewer then getting everything else right could be in vain. The key is being able to react to how they present themselves without loosing your own personality. Only practice makes perfect when it comes to making a good initial impression.

4) Noticing Your Surroundings

Noticing your surroundings is a great way of breaking the ice at interview. If you're able to say things like 'This is a great new building - has it recently been built?' not only are you initiating a conversation to ease the interview process, you're demonstrating your ability to influence and bond with people - a set of very important traits in most job roles.

5) Put Your Interviewer At Ease

Putting your interviewer at ease is one of the most important aspects of selling yourself effectively at a job interview. No matter how experienced the interviewer is, there will be interviews that he or she enjoys more than others. It is your job to make sure that your interviewer really enjoys the experience of interview, while still demonstrating your professional experience. A good starting point is being pleased to see them and discussing a topical issue.

By David Bain

Effective Interview Skills - Use the 3 P's Approach For Interview Success

Worried about interviews? Do you want to develop more effective interview skills? The best way to do this is to follow the simple 3Ps approach.
What on earth is the 3Ps approach, I hear you ask. Simple!
Preparation, Presentation and Practice
Preparation
One of the most common mistakes made by interview candidates is that they fail to do enough preparation. And believe me, it really shows!
There are two kind of preparation that are essential. Firstly, find out as much as you can about the job, the company, the field of work. Read through the job description in detail and work out exactly what they are looking for. You should also research the company and the sector - the internet makes that really easy these days. Then when they ask what you know about them, you will have some interesting facts at your fingertips.

Secondly, you must prepare yourself. This means reviewing what related experience you have had and planning specific examples to show when you have used the skills they are looking for. You also need to prepare your attitude. If you go in assuming you will fail, you put yourself at a real disadvantage. Remember, they will not waste time interviewing you if they do not think you are a good match for their needs. They already believe in you, so you can too!
Presentation
Much of the impact you make at a job interview comes from the way you present yourself. If you let your nerves show, give one word answers and spend the whole interview looking at your hands, you will not make the best impression. Practise shaking hands confidently, look the interviewer in the eye as you respond and remember to smile!
Put your preparation to good use by giving clear responses to the questions asked, using the evidence you have planned in advance. And remember, you want this job, don't you? Then let your interest and enthusiasm shine through. A bit of energy in the way you present yourself will make all the difference to the outcome of your interview.
Practice
You are maybe thinking that you are just no good at interviews. Well if you haven't had many, don't necessarily expect to be perfect first time round. I bet you fell of your bicycle a few times before you got the trick of balancing!
Make sure you practise answering some typical interview questions before you go in to the interview. Get a friend to help, or just rehearse your answers in front of a mirror to see how you come across. Watch out for funny mannerisms like fiddling with your tie or jewellery!
Remember that you really will improve at interviews with practice, so if you have an unhappy experience, don't blot it from your memory. Think it through afterwards and work out where you got stuck. Then you can learn from your experience and perform better next time.
So when you have an interview coming up, remember the 3Ps approach. Apply this formula and you will be well on your way to interview success.

By Cherry Douglas

Career Success Strategies - Interview With Your First Impression in Mind

"A statesman who keeps his ear permanently glued to the ground will have neither elegance of posture nor flexibility of movement." -- Abba Eban (1915-2002)

It takes less than 6 seconds to leave a first impression. It is said not to judge a book by its cover, but come on, isn't it the color, the design, the layout and title that draws us to pick up a book that may be of interest to us? When perusing magazines or CDs we are attracted to the cover. Notice what you make up about a person when you are first introduced to her/him? What are you making up about that person? Spend some time people watching and notice the assumptions you make. Is most of what you hear yourself saying negative or positive?

Something that most of us don't take notice to is how we stand or walk. The military requires soldiers to have the best postures. Why do you suppose the military trains its soldiers to march straight and tall? What possible difference can standing tall make?

Let's say you are going for a job interview or you are networking at an event to build your business. Within seconds you have already said a lot about yourself by the way you walk. The unseen that surrounds you is the energy you are expending which comes from your attitude and self-esteem. The seen part is your body language.

How you stand and walk says volumes about you before you even say a word. The majority of us walk around everyday without paying any attention to what we are saying even though we are not uttering a word. There is a lot that can be said about body language from the clothes you wear to gestures.

I took notice of this topic recently as I recalled something about changing my posture to improve my level of confidence. I was about to venture on a new project, which would take me out of my comfort zone. My gremlins were having a field day with me uttering all kinds of reasons why I couldn't do a good job with this new opportunity. I tucked in my tummy, put my shoulders back, held my head high, and took a walk. Soon thereafter, I felt so much better.
I approached the project with new zest and possibility.
Wow what a difference! Try it.

Practice standing with tummy tucked in, shoulder blades reaching to touch each other, chin up and looking straight ahead. This exercise is quite effective regardless of body size. For those of you looking to lose weight, standing more erect gives the impression you have lost 5-15 lbs, depending on your current weight. Since pulling in my tummy and walking straighter, my friends are asking me if I lost weight. It's magic! It's so simple! It is also healthier. Walking tall may even give you the momentum to start exercising and eating more moderately if you so wish.

The ability to capture your audience when you walk into a room is sure to start you off on the right foot when going on an interview or making a presentation to prospective clients. Non-verbal signals have five times the impact of verbal signals. So you can count on losing your audience when you walk in with head down dragging your feet regardless how much you try to change it. This is a small step in making a big impression in your non-verbal communication.
Questions hold the answers:

What can be improved in the way you stand and walk?
When you stand and walk erect what do you notice?
When you slouch what does it feel like compared to standing erect?
What is your assessment of someone who slouches?
What is the posture of the leaders you admire?
What benefits would "standing tall" have when going on an interview?

Tips:

Correct posture can actually help you be calmer and more relaxed, which is the way you want to be on an interview or making a presentation. This can actually be put to the test. Check out the above website to see how.
Listen to your body and feel the power as you individualize your "standing tall".
Do you know that it is impossible to be depressed with correct posture and chin up? Try it!

Remember to stand tall and anything is possible!

By Theresa-Maria Napa