The interview is the most stressful and important part of job hunting. This is where the employers make a decision based on his or her impression of whether to hire you for their job. You will want to do your best in this part because here lays the culmination of all your job hunting efforts. Flub it here and all your efforts from application to examinations will go down the drain.

1. Make a Great Impression
Always dress in your best attire for the interview. Your attire should be appropriate.  No matter what the company may require for their employees, the first impression for applicants should be conservative business attire.

2. Do a Little Research
One of the best ways to make a good impression on your interviewer is to do a little research on the company you are applying for. This will equip you with material to answer many of the questions the interviewer will ask. One of the main points of the questions you will be asked is how your skills can benefit the company. If you know a thing or two about the company, you will find it a lot easier to answer this question. Plus, dropping a few meaty tidbits about how much you know about the company will go a long way in impressing the interviewer.

3. Watch Your Body Language
Many of the interviewers are well versed in body language, and you will find that, throughout the interview, they will be looking for hints about your personality from the way you act, talk, and move. It would be abnormal to assume a different set of body language during the interview. What you should do is to take note of your body language so that at least it communicates openness and honesty.

Avoid telling lies or embellishing your answers. Experienced interviewers will notice this in an instant. Always keep your palms open and avoid crossing your legs or your arms together. Do not be afraid to make eye contact while speaking; just make sure that you do not come across as intimidating.

4. Confidence
Walk in with a purpose. Answer with a purpose. Try not to be too self-conscious. Make sure you are confident in what you say. If you hit a snag and find yourself in a compromising situation, make sure you handle the situation confidently – even when saying that you do not know an answer to a question.
Confidence reflects competence. Employers always look for competent people to fill their ranks.

You can’t really evaluate a position unless you do the research.  From a recent survey in the U.S., graduate degree holders earn an average of 35 to 50 percent more than just bachelor’s degree holders.  This is a reason why more and more are taking their Masters.  There could be an offer or two, all you have to do is make a concrete decision to ensure the right job for you in the present job market.

Know what you want

Knowing what kind of personality you have and your interests gives you an idea how you would like to spend your day on a job.  The activities you’d like to get involved in plays a great role in keeping you motivated.  You could make a list of the kinds of people you would like to be working with.  Say, people who like being told what to do or authoritative types; how about loud people or quiet types; and would you like a place where people love socializing or not?  There are different sizes of companies as well, there are small, medium, large, overseas, local, and regional.

The Internet is a valuable tool that assists online job seekers in looking for a job they could fit in.  Trim down the choices depending on your needs and wants to get the more possible pool of companies you can try submitting resumes.

Below are the common job search techniques:

Percentage of
Job hunters                  Search Technique                             Effectiveness

66.0%                                Direct application                                 47.71%
50.8                                Referral from friends’ work                   22.1
41.8                                Asking friends from other places     11.9
28.4                                Asking family about the company
they work for                                 19.3
27.3                                Asking relatives about jobs from
other places                                   7.4
45.9                                Newspaper posts                                  23.9
21.0                                Career centers                                  24.2
12.5                                School organizations/clubs                    21.4
15.3                                Civil Service Exams                    12.5
10.4                                Referrals from mentors                    12.1
1.6                                Local ads                                  12.9
6.0                                Cooperative programs                    22.2

*Percentage results obtained from dividing the technique by the total number of job hunters who tried to use the method, successful or not.

Your major strengths and weaknesses will help indicate how well you will perform in the work you have chosen.  Your progress dictates your maturity and enthusiasm at work.  Finding the best job for you is a full time job itself.  It requires time and passion to get positive results.  No matter what you choose, it should always be a place where you can identify yourself and remain happy.

Starting from scratch, one has no choice but to start from the bottom in an entry-level position then in time move to the top. The challenge most grads face in applying for a job is the competition. Aside from those who just graduated, there are also those who have left the previous job and are looking for a new one.

According to hiring and compensation experts, there is not that much room to negotiate when one is just a fresh grad. This is because that person does not have substantial work experience as basis to negotiate for a higher wage compared to those who have already worked before.

The range of the salary fresh grads get are based on the course one has finished in college. To those who volunteered to be surveyed, it was found that people who graduated from the sciences were able to get a higher salary compared to those who graduated from the liberal arts.

A tip that may help a little in the negotiation process is knowing your potential and not easily giving in or selling yourself short. In the course of an interview, it will boil down to the how much you will be getting. Most fresh grads accept what is given immediately and reply “ok” ending it there.

It is best to only talk about the salary when an offer has been made. If the interviewer is good, it can wait. During that time, one can try asking how much the company will give for someone in that position then be able to negotiate about that further later on regardless of the figure that was given.

The applicant can then ask questions such as job responsibilities and mention that the contribution one can give to the company is more important than the salary you will be receiving showing the recruiter you are a team player.

Applicants can negotiate more by doing research on how much other companies are offering for the same job before giving an immediate answer. By knowing that information, it is possible for you to negotiate the salary offered for a little more.

Getting a job is not only about a salary. This includes other things that the company offers to its employees and by thoroughly checking out the other benefits and perks, it can also help in deciding whether the applicant should accept the job or not.

Using a Professional Resume Writer

A professional resume writer is familiar with the job application process, and knows how to present your information in the best possible way. A professionally written resume can definitely help your resume stand apart from the crowd.

Writing a resume is a difficult and daunting task for many people, including those who have been in the workforce a number of years. For a college student with little or no work experience, the idea of writing a resume may seem like trying to do the impossible.

A professional resume writer knows the types of questions to ask to learn more about your background, education, skills, and experience, and then put this information into a cohesive marketing document called a resume. Additionally, a professional resume writer has typically written hundreds or even thousands of resumes, including many for new graduates and college students. Whereas you may be unsure which information to include, a professional can determine the most appropriate information to include and how to best present it. The result? A resume that stands out!

How Does it Work?

Depending on the service you choose, your writer will obtain as much information as possible from you regarding your background. You will need to provide information for your college resume including work history, education, volunteer work, professional memberships, skills, abilities, and anything else that may help your resume rise to the top. Most professionals will provide you with a questionnaire to fill out, will ask you a variety of questions, or both. Some resume writers work through the Internet, some by phone, some in person, and some using a combination of these communication methods.

Choosing a Professional Resume Writer

When choosing a resume writer or service, look for one that uses resume writers certified in the industry or who have degrees or other, legitimate credentials in the careers field. A number of organizations certify resume writers. Some of the more respected certifications include Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Master Resume Writer (MRW), and Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW).

Many career counselors and career coaches provide resume writing and additional services, such as assessments, interviewing skills, and job search strategies. Which service you choose will depend on your needs, budget, and comfort level with the organization, and method of communication. Some people enjoy the convenience of working online and through email, while others prefer the immediacy of face-to-face contact.

If you want your resume to rise to the top and obtain those coveted interviews, consider using a resume writing professional. Your future is at stake!

So you have distributed your resume to prospective employers and you have determined the correct job to apply for. The next step is to schedule the job interview.

You can make the acquaintance of the assistant or the receptionist when you schedule for the interview, either by phone or personally. Be friendly and polite, as these people might provide information that can be essential to getting that job or, even just give you a background of the company or your prospective boss.

Finally, you show up for the interview.

The basic traits of being prompt, how you speak and carry yourself and even how you dress are all factors that contribute in making a lasting impression that will eventually get you hired.

Here are 7 easy steps on how you can improve your interviewing skills:

1.) Prepare for the interview.

First, dress appropriately. Once the interviewer walks into the room, or once you walk into the room to be interviewed, your appearance will be the first thing to make the impact. Dress appropriately, check your grooming and mind your posture.

Second, practice basic courtesy. Know where the interview will be held and be there with ample time to prepare yourself before the scheduled interview. Turn your phone off to avoid unnecessary distractions.

2.) Research.

Use all your resources to make sure that you know the basics about the company. You would not want to be caught unprepared when asked about how you heard or what you know about the company that you are applying for.

Learn about your potential employer. In your mind, develop a clear picture of the company profile.

Make sure that you prepared answers to a few basic questions, but do not sound scripted. This happens when you rehearse what you will be saying word for word. It is enough that you have an overview of what you will impart to the interviewer, and it is better to be spontaneous.

3.) Be cool.

Step forward so that you are now seated and the interview is about to begin. Make a great first impression by maintaining eye contact, giving the interviewer a firm handshake, a friendly smile and a polite greeting. Sit only when you are asked to do so and do not forget to thank the interviewer for taking time off of his or her busy schedule to interview you.

Make sure to start on a positive note and set the proper expectations.

4.) Do not sell yourself short.

In the course of the interview, answer the questions briefly and accurately. The key is to be honest.

Make sure that as a prospective employee, you impart to your future employer what you really are and what you can do for the company, not the other way around. Stay positive and do not give a bad impression about your previous employer.

If you are applying for your first job, do not let your lack of experience hinder you from gaining the advantage against more experienced applicants. What you lack in experience, make up for in confidence and eagerness to learn.

You may also put yourself in the employer’s shoes. Ask yourself, if I were on the other side of this desk, what qualities should I look for in a potential employee? Would I profit if he works for me and can he contribute to the development of the company?

Do not be afraid to sell yourself but do not be overconfident. Just project an air that you are sure of yourself and your capabilities.

5.) Ask questions.

Should you encounter a difficult interviewer, do not be intimidated. One who does not let you put in a word edgewise should be lightly reminded that you should do most of the talking since he is the one who needs to learn more about you.

6.) Wrap it up.

As you near the end of the interview, make sure that all bases are covered. Now is not the time to discuss or even ask about the salary and the benefits that you will receive once employed. There is ample time for that once you do get the position and you are discussing the job offer.

Wrap things up by summarizing your strengths and pointing out your positive traits. Finally, as you end the interview, make sure to thank the interviewer again for his or her time, thus leaving a lasting impression.

7.) Follow up.

Send that all-important thank you note after the interview. Thank the interviewer for the time that he took with you and for giving you that opportunity. Make sure that you know who to contact for follow-up of the results.

A lot of research has been made about the interviewing process. Here is a brief run-through:

First, you make a schedule for the interview.
Then, you are there in the office and you are seen by the interviewee.
The interview itself then transpires.
Next is the closing, then you follow-up with a thank-you-note.
You eventually get accepted and you discuss, negotiate for and sign-up the job offer.
You may notice that the interviewing takes up a great deal of the getting-hired process, so you might as well polish up your interviewing skills on your way to getting that dream job.

You may be asking yourself, “What exactly is behavioral interviewing and why do I care?”  Behavioral style interviewing is a standard method of eliciting information from a candidate about his or her relevant past behavior and performance.  The key word is “relevant”, meaning, how you performed in job situations in the past where these same situations might be in the job you are applying for.  The thought process is that your past behaviors are the best indicator of future behavior.  A good job interviewer will have assembled all the necessary skills required for the job and prepared a list of behavioral style questions surrounding those traits.  For example, for each question, you may be asked about a situation, what you did and what the outcome was.

As an example, you may be asked “Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.”  Compare to “Tell me how you would prioritize your tasks if you had too much to do.”  Do you see the difference?  In one situation you are asked very specifically what you did in a certain situation where as the other question merely asked you to describe what you might do.  We all have the best intentions, so what you say you might do is not necessarily what you might actually do.

Now that we know what this style is, how do we prepare for this type of interview?

Like for any interview, you must prepare.  You still need to go through the normal preparation such as understanding the company, financial information, products, culture, etc.  You can get most of this from the company’s web site or 10-k filings.  Since you now have the name of the hiring manger, do an internet search on himher.  Has this person been in any businesstrade journals?  Sometimes you can learn a lot about the person you will be interviewing with.  By the way, the hiring manager can do the same thing on you.  You may want to do a search on yourself.  If your name is John Smith, you probably do not have anything to worry about.  But if you have a very unique name, it is very easy to find out information about you.

Moving right along, the things mentioned above you must do no matter the style of interview. Now, for the behavioral style, you need to think hard.  You need to come up with solid examples of your experience and how they relate to the job you are about to interview for.  Think again of the three items I mentioned above, the situation, what you did and outcome.  Most behavioral style questions are the same questions that have been used for years but with the wording slightly modified to elicit very specific responses from you of actual past behavioral.  Go to any search engine and type in interview questions and you have your list to practice from.  Remember, the interviewer is thinking that past behavioral is an indicator of future behavioral.  When answering questions, do not ramble on.  Be specific and to the point.  There is a fine line though between being to brief and not giving enough detail to being full of hot air.

Good Luck!

If that individual is you, what would you do? What would you do when a recruiter calls and briefly outlines an opportunity with an unnamed company? Obviously if you’re unhappy where you are and the opportunity sounds interesting, you’re going to bite.

But I’m not talking about that scenario. I’m talking about the response when you ARE happy where you are. Because there’s a smart way to respond and a not-so-smart way to respond. And either choice impacts your career far more than you’d think it does!

So there you are, sitting at your desk working on an important project, when the phone rings. And you pick it up. It’s a recruiter, who introduces himself, his firm, and asks if you have a minute. What do you say? “Thanks for calling, but I’m happy where I am.” And hang up the phone? WRONG ANSWER!!!!

Why? Because you just cut yourself off from knowing what’s moving and shaking in your industry, which means you just cut yourself off from hearing about unadvertised opportunities that could potentially leverage your career.

You’ve just made the decision to limit your options. And if you don’t have access to information, you can’t make an informed decision, can you?

What should you do instead? No matter how happy you are with your current company, listen to what the recruiter has to say. You have a far better chance of leveraging your career when a recruiter calls you rather than when (and if) you contact a recruiter.

There are people who are truly happy with their current position and not interested in currently making a change, regardless of the opportunity presented to them at that moment. But you listen anyway, not to change, but to develop a relationship and keep yourself informed and in control for you when you do need to change.

A friend of mine went with a company that had statewide offices. She began in their corporate office right out of college. Over the years, she obtained her MBA and continued to rise through the ranks. For TWENTY-FIVE years she was with this company…..until she was laid off a few months ago. She hadn’t seen it coming. And she freaked out.

If YOU aren’t in control of your career, then your company IS. Corporate restructuring, layoffs and downsizing are taking place with alarming frequency as companies tighten their belts and look hard at who is contributing and who isn’t.

Sometimes it isn’t even a matter of contribution. In those plushy carpeted, window offices, the top executives and board members comfortably decide whose heads will roll and for what reason. Sometimes it’s simply eliminating an entire department - and it has nothing to do with YOU, individually, at all. For instance, it’s not uncommon for a new manager or president to come in and bring his own people with him.

But it can happen that quickly, and it can happen to you.

Will you have a network to fall back on if it does? Will you have relationships developed with recruiters that you can tap into on a moment’s notice? Develop it before you need it. The time to take control of your career is exactly when you think it isn’t necessary: when you are happy and successful where you are.

SHAKE HANDS THE PROPER WAY

One of the first things you’ll probably do in an interview is shake hands with your interviewer. The handshake is a simple symbol of introduction. But it can also be an unspoken gauge of personality. Hiring managers say that while a limp or unenthusiastic handshake won’t destroy an interview, it can cause one to start off on a bad note. The same goes for a sweaty palm. To alleviate the latter problem, be sure to keep your hands open, not balled into fists, prior to your interview. This will reduce perspiration. Put a handkerchief or a few tissues in your pocket, just in case. Also remember that while a limp handshake is bad, a bone-breaking handshake isn’t much better. Clasp your interviewer’s hand firmly and confidently, but don’t overdo.

MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT

A lack of eye contact during an interview can lead your interviewer to think that you’re shy, disinterested, or dishonest. Likewise, shifting your eyes to and from the interviewer’s face can also send the wrong message. It’s no wonder “shifty-eyed” is a term used to describe a character who is deceitful or insincere. While you don’t want to stare at your interviewer to the point making him uncomfortable, do maintain eye contact as much as seems appropriate. If you are speaking to more than one interviewer, you can shift your gaze, but be sure to look each interviewer in the eye for at least a couple of seconds.

WATCH YOUR BODY LANGUAGE

The term “body language” includes just about any manner, gesture, or posture that conveys meaning to the observer. Body language is especially meaningful in an interview as your interviewer will be paying attention to nonverbal cues as much as to what you have to say Body language to avoid in an interview includes repeatedly crossing and uncrossing your legs or arms, fiddling with your hair or clothes, touching your face, scratching your head, or playing with a button or pen. Constant or bold gesturing is also to be avoided. Some of these mannerisms may be triggered by nervousness. Interview preparation and rehearsal may help you to feel more relaxed. Body language that might give your interview a boost includes leaning forward slightly to show your enthusiasm and nodding whenever is appropriate, particularly when your interviewer is making an important point.

SMILE WHEN YOU MEAN IT

Smiling, the universal sign of happiness, is a great way to convince your interviewer that you’re genuinely pleased to be there. On the other hand, an oversized or artificial grin used too often during the interview will lead to the opposite result. Your interviewer will know you’re forcing yourself to act a certain way.

According to Discover Magazine, when a person is sincerely amused, a part of the brain called the basal ganglia is activated, leading to the unconscious contracting of certain facial muscles. A forced smile, however, uses a different group of muscles, which is why it’s generally easy to spot a person who is legitimately pleased from one who is only pretending to be.

During an interview, be sure to smile-but only when you mean it. It’s infinitely better to smile occasionally but earnestly than to smirk constantly for no reason at all.

BE MINDFUL OF PERSONAL SPACE

Individual cultures and even individual people have different interpretations of what constitutes an appropriate amount of personal space. While one person might feel at ease speaking only inches from someone’s face, another person might need several feet of separation. When facing your interviewer, be mindful of how close you stand or sit. Try to maintain a distance of about three feet. Communicating at a closer range may cause your interviewer to feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, sitting or standing too far away is also impolite.

Come to the test prepared and feeling confident that you know the material. Make sure that you are not very hungry or very full and that you are well-rested. Avoid eating sugary or processed foods before the test. Avoid items such as candy, carbonated soft drinks, junk foods, and fried foods. Snack on fresh fruit or veggies immediately before to get your mind off the test and give you some sustenance.

Breathe. Relax. Imagine yourself acing the test. It is amazing what a little positive imagery can do for you.

Read ALL of the directions carefully. Reread them again once you have finished. Look through the test to see what types of questions are asked, how many questions, if there are any major essays, if you have choices about questions that you can answer, etc. Make sure you know how much each section is worth so you can budget your time.

If the test involves specific equations, conversions, dates or anything else that you must memorize, write it on the top or margin of the test paper as soon as the test is handed out. Remembering complicated equations and dates before you have answered any questions is a lot easier than trying to remember them after you have answered half of the test questions and you brain is starting to get tired.

Answer all easy questions first. This will help you get into the test taking mood and build confidence. Circle the numbers of the questions that you really have no idea about. You can come back to these later. Often times questions you answer later in the test might trigger something and help you answer a question that you were previously stuck on.

Narrow multiple choice answers down to the two you believe might be correct by crossing off the ones you positively know are not correct. This will improve your chances of guessing the right one.

True-False questions are often a favorite of some teachers and can be quite complicated at times. Keep in mind that every part of a true-false statement must be true in order to answer it as true. If any part is false, mark the entire statement false. You may want to underline the portion of the statement that you believe is false. If there are negatives in the statement such as “no or not”, and you are still not sure whether to mark it true or false, try re-reading the question without the “no or not”. Decide if this statement is true or false then answer the opposite on your test. Words indicating absoluteness (never, always, entirely, every, only, none) often tend to be used in false statements.

Try to construct concise answers that target the question and prove to the teacher that you know the material. Get right to the point in the first sentence or two of your answer. The rest of the answer should contain proof that you know what you are talking about. Give enough evidence to support your thoughts but don’t over-answer the question. Writing a lot of fluff will usually leave the teacher thinking that you are writing for the sake of filling the space and that you really don’t have a good handle on the correct answer.

Before you begin writing an essay, make sure you know exactly what the question is asking. Try to restate the question in your own words. If you can’t do this with confidence, make a quick visit to the teacher and have him or her clarify it for you. Once confident in what the question is asking, take a few moments to get your thoughts together and write some notes in the margin or even create an outline on scrap paper if you have time.

If you find that you are running short on time and still have some open-ended questions left to answer, write something rather than leaving the space blank. Create a brief outline to show the teacher that you do know the answer, but you didn’t have enough time to write an entire essay. You maybe able to get say more in an outline form than you can if you were only able to write a few opening sentences of your essay. Partial credit is better than no credit at all.

Once you believe you are finished with the test, reread everything again to be sure that you answered every question fully and completely. If you have time, cover up your answers with your hand or another sheet of paper and ask yourself what answer you would give if you had to answer the question again. Compare this answer with what you have already written down. Only change the original answer if you find that you made a silly mistake or originally misinterpreted the question. It is usually best to go with your original instinct when you are truly unsure of an answer.

Be neat. The last thing a teacher wants to do while correcting mounds of tests is to spend time deciphering what a student has illegibly written.

Go to http:www.live-etutor.com for to learn more about online tutoring and schedule a tutoring session for your child. All tutors are screened and qualified.

In the changing job market you must both anticipate changes as well as prepare in an organized yet flexible manner.

Flexibility , training , education  and  most important preparation with all of these factors  as well as psychological preparation  of yourself and your mindset .

What are these changes that are occurring for you to constantly observe and anticipate in your ongoing preparation in this ever changing  employment market ?

1)  Technology will continue to advance and will affect how, when and where business is done; the pace of work: and how people communicate.

2)   The global economy will continue to result in some jobs being outsourced to other countries and will lead to more mergers, and management changes.  Resourcefulness, adaptability, and efficiency will be essential for workers to succeed.

3)      International time differences will demand flexible hours and possibly extra hours to communicate to conduct business.

4)      A complex and diverse workforce will require workers to be flexible, respect differences, and work together to increase productivity.

5)   Workers can expect to change jobs about ten times during their working career.
Managing one’s career is a must.

6)      Small businesses will prosper, and home based businesses and services will multiply.  Entrepreneurial skills and attitudes will be important.

7)  The fastest growing occupations are computers , preventive health care , and other health and human services  , such as registered nursing , social work , police work and after September 12 security .

Most of the fastest-growing occupations will require specific post-secondary education, on-the-job training, or a bachelor’s degree. Education and training will be especially critical.-

To gain a competitive edge, today’s job seekers must know about changes like these and demonstrate a positive attitude that shows that they are ready, willing, and able to take on these challenges.

There are nine success strategies to follow to help you achieve your full career potential.  These success strategies profoundly affect career success at every step

1)   Positive thinking and behavior
2 )  Visualizations
3 )  Positive self talk
4)   Affirmation self-talk
5)   Dynamic goal setting
6 )   Positive action
7)   Assertive behavior
8)   Self-esteem builders
9)   Proactive habits

These nine success strategies and behaviors are major career enhancers that help transform goals into realizations.  Pay close attention to any that are new ideas for you. They provide wide-ranging benefits; you can use them to

-    Create and sustain your inner drive
-     Increase your confidence
-    generate mental and physical energy
-    Guide you toward your goals
-    Improve your performance

It is shocking but true:  The most qualified person is not always the one who gets the job or promotion.
The person hired is the one whom the employer perceives to be the most qualified. Your experience, skills, resumes, and more - your entire job search package – are greatly enhanced when you practice these key job search success strategies.

The employment scene is changing worldwide in a major ongoing way.

Prepare for your employment career with both analytical skills as well as psychological prepeartion  thoroughly .