Archive for January, 2011
10 ways to use Body Language for better Communication
Jan 31st
Communication involves the process of conveying across a message which can be your thought, opinion, view or feeling. But sending across the right message with the right attitude is termed as effective communication. Most of the times, lack of proper communication skills will tend to send cross the wrong message resulting in bad communication.
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Communication can be of many types with the five major types defined as Written, Oral, Verbal, Electronic and Non-Verbal, termed in short as WOVEN. The last type of communication and more specifically body language is our topic of importance here.
Body language is a form of non-verbal communication which comprises of the body movements, postures, expressions, facial reactions, gestures and eye movements. This form of non-verbal communication uses the subconscious mind and visual perception to convey and receive messages. It is a very popular notion that only 7% of our communication depends on the words we use, the rest 93% depends on the language the body speaks. By visualising the body language the listener can determine the mood of the sender and can analyze the seriousness of the message.
Body language is a subtle reaction that is sent by the body based on the information that needs to be conveyed. Though most of the times body language convey positive information, it also conveys negative tones at times. You can convey to the sender either you are interested in his conversation or that you are utterly bored based on your body language. The below are ten tips to improve your body language so as to send a positive message through it.
1. Fiddling - This is one major habit that many people exhibit. Some people tend to get impatient at times and would start playing with their watch or pen or mobile. If fiddling is a habit that is deep rooted in you, find out ways to put an end to this habit. Try to focus and concentrate on the message communicated and keep your hands clear off things.
2. Tapping – Just like fiddling, tapping or moving your hands and/or legs continuously can cause the sender to become distracted and irritated. Whether you are a sender or a receiver of information, it is not advisable to display actions like twitching, scratching, drumming or tapping on the floor or the table as this will also tend to distract the sender. Hence, keep your hands and legs in a formal position and project a straight posture when you listen to someone.
3. Clock Watching – In between a lecture when you look at the clock, it would make the sender assume that you are not interested in his talk. So avoid looking at the clock and pay complete attention to the sender.
4. Eye Contact – Look at the person’s eye when you talk to an individual. Such kind of an action will instill genuineness in your communicated opinions.
5. Staring – Knowing how to stare or blink is equally important as establishing an eye contact. Once you have established eye contact, make sure that you blink occasionally and do not stare continuously as it would indicate that you are bored of the conversation.
6. Body Position - An effective communication requires special attention on body position. Stand straight and tall when you say something, it improves your confidence levels.
7. Smile - Introduce a smile on your face when you are in a conversation. When you talk with a smile on the face, it improves voice clarity and also makes you feel relaxed and peaceful.
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8. Arms crossed – Arm position also forms a part of body language. When your arms are crossed, it is one of the negative responses your body can provide indicating that you are on a defensive mode. Thus keep your arms open and be in a relaxed position to inform the listener that you are open for discussion.
9. Touching your face – Do not touch your facial parts with your hands when in a discussion. Such a kind of practice will show that you are timid and are not confident on what you are hearing or saying. So keep your hands off your face. Your hands are better kept along the sides of your body.
10. Hiding your hands – People who hide their hands are believed to be hiding secrets in a discussion. Such people lose the trust of the other person. Thus keep your hands along the sides of your body and keep them open.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GeekLearn/~3/gYwI3ZmfJkM/body-language-for-better-communication.html
Tips On Writing A Cover Letter That Stands Out
Jan 31st
Cover letters are important when you are presenting yourself to a company. It should be written carefully and knowledgeably just like when you are writing your resume. According to some studies, you have a better chance of being interviewed if you have a well written cover letter. This is your first impression for the company you are applying to, not your resume.
Here are some tips on how to write a great cover letter.
The first thing you should focus on when writing your letter is to make it interesting. Do not just mention that you are submitting your resume and you are applying for the vacant position. That says nothing about who you are and what you can accomplish. You should write something about yourself that will excite the reader. Encourage them to get to know you better by reading your resume or by scheduling an interview.
Write something short and straight to the point. This is one of the main tips on writing a great cover letter. Do not waste the time of the reader by beating around the bush. Point out only relevant information about you and about what you can contribute to the company. Do not just state your skills but tell them how your skills can be used to benefit the company.
Another important tip is to have a call for action. The last thing you should state in your letter is a request for them to interview you. Be bold and state what days and what time you are available so you can talk about the job opportunity. Let your potential employers know that you are eager and ready to move forward with the application. This will be a big plus on your end.
Tips for Resume Making
Jan 31st
When it comes to resumes, it is a very important asset for all those who are heading for job interviews. It won’t be wrong to say that a resume is the gateway to a perfect and appropriate job. If you don’t have a resume in hand then make sure you get one made immediately, for without one it is hard to get a job.
If you thinking of going in with a professional for resume making, then the thought is good as long as you are ready to pay the price. Resume making is no hard task, if you are aware of the right things to be included in it and in the right manner, that’s all you need to get a perfect resume for yourself. What many forget is that a resume is made to define about the applicant’s strong points, and when you write about yourself, the final turnout is much better because you know yourself better than anyone else.
There are certain things that you need to keep in mind while making a resume. To start off with, it is very important that your resume is eye catching. A plain resume need not be boring, it is alright to stick to the point sometimes, but the manner in which you present the details shouldn’t be too plain, it would be like tasting a bland dish. Hence, you should pay special importance making your resume stand out in comparison to that of the other available ones. Make sure you bold the areas that best define you, use more of points so that the information is short and well divided. At the same time, not too many paragraphs will help; it is a resume not a short story, so stick to the general pattern followed worldwide.
The other thing that you should remember while making a resume is to use certain words in right manner and distribute them properly. When it comes to big companies and the executives in there are so busy that they don’t have the time to read the resumes of every single candidate in depth. With the thousands in their mail box, the only way they brush through a few is by glancing over it, not even reading. Hence, if you wish to highlight on your internship or educational qualification, use such words like bachelors, intern and bold them so that they eyes catch such words instantly.
Last, but not the least, use action verbs in your resume. These verbs give an edge and certainly may attract attention. There are no hard and fast rules that you need to follow in order to get the best of resumes. The only thing that you need to do is pick the best from different portals and prepare your resume accordingly. If you wish to have the needed confidence, the examples of resumes from the experts are available online, using which you get all the help you need and for no cost at all, which is far better than paying someone to do such a simple job.
5 Critical Areas of Weakness With Your Resume
Jan 31st
Each week, I critique a new resume on-air over at jobtalkamerica, and over the past couple of months I’ve started to notice some of what I like to call “terrible resume trends.” They’re common mistakes that everyday job seekers are making-and they have no idea that they’re making them! (How can you fix what’s wrong if you don’t even know what that is!) Well, I’m here to open your eyes and (hopefully) start getting you some interviews. Below is a list of weaknesses (the five most common) that people tend to overlook on their resumes.
THE FONT
You may not think the font you choose for your resume is very important, but it communicates more than you think. Use a font that’s too small, and the documents will be too hard to read-and the hiring manager won’t even invest any time in it. Use one that’s too large and you’ll seem inexperienced and juvenile. Use Times New Roman and you’ll send a subliminal message that you’re boring-a mediocre lemming-that you’re just like everyone else. Just as the outfit you wear to the interview provides a first impression for the hiring manager, so do the font and design on your resume.
SUBPAR SUBTITLES
Using the terms “SUMMARY”, “PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE”, and “WORK HISTORY” are becoming sorely overused. Not to mention they waste space and don’t tell the hiring manager ANYTHING about what you’ve really accomplished. Instead, use very specific subtitles. At the top of your resume, instead of using the term “CAREER SUMMARY”, use your target job title. That way, every time you apply for a job, it’s customized to that particular position. Do the same with “PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE”. If you are in IT and work as a project manager, change the title to “PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE”. One more thing: If you’re an executive, do not use the header “PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE” on your resume. This is a HUGE mistake. You’re sending a mixed message; in one portion of the resume you’re stating you’re an executive, but in another you are stating you’re professional. Be consistent throughout the resume.
POWERFUL PERSONAL BRANDING
If the world realized how powerful a personally branded resume was, everybody would use one. But the majority of the population is clueless. So here’s your insider tip: GET A CLUE! Underneath that shiny new job target/title that you’ll be putting at the top of your resume, include a brief one-liner about why you’re the best (insert job title here) there is (or ever was)! Use the opportunity to briefly highlight why you’re the perfect fit for their opening.
GENERIC COVER LETTERS
What a waste of space and time! Do you want to bore the hiring manager? Or engage him and give him a reason to read your resume? Your cover letter should NOT be a reproduction of your resume. Spend some time researching the company to which you’re applying, find out what their needs are-then specify in the cover letter how you can help them meet their needs. It will certainly set you apart from all the other candidates. While you’re at it, don’t start your cover letter with the predictable “Please accept this… ” “In response to… ” You’re not a mainstream candidate; you don’t run WITH the crowd-you STAND OUT! So… show the hiring manager!
REFUSING TO THANK
How many people miss the boat on this one! Take the time to thank the hiring manager for his time and to reiterate why you are excited about (and the best fit for) the opening. I can tell you right now, most people don’t send a thank you letter. In fact, in more than 10 years of working as an HR manager and recruiter, I can count on one hand the number of thank you cards or letters I’ve received. Make your mark; be memorable, be polite, seal the deal-write and send the thank you letter.
Take a more strategic approach to your job search and start thinking about what sets you apart-instead of just doing what you’ve always done-or what everyone else is doing.
Why Some People Choose a Professional CV Service
Jan 31st
Creating a cv is often a long term process. This is a required and meticulous procedure. This can be a struggle no matter your level of knowledge about the task. It’s a means of self-discovery in lots of ways. Writing a resume is just one single step along the way of obtaining a job, internship or getting into graduate school.
Job hunting and professional employment advancement are frequently overlooked all through most employees’ professions right up until that once in a life-time prospect occurs. Use some creativity when coming to a decision to write a cv. Cleaning automobiles, babysitting lawn-mowing, leaf raking, shoveling snow, property cleanup, and delivering newspapers are always resume or cv material if written up properly.
Writing a cv can be daunting, specifically for a university senior or recent graduate. It might appear like an impossible personal undertaking. It is extremely comparable to composing a term paper. This can be a genuine challenge. Producing a cv is definitely a craft that will need large amount of thought and takes considerable time.
Writing a cv is best accomplished one step at a time. It truly is more than simply itemizing a collection of qualifications or special skills. In addition to the cv a cover letter must be produced. Too many job seekers make the crucial miscalculation of overlooking the value of a well-crafted cover letter. Writing the ideal cv for yourself is challenging enough without including items that are going to alarm an prospective employer. Composing a cv may well seem like a overwhelming undertaking and many people decide to pay another person to do it for them.
Professional cv, cover letter, and biography producing providers for new as well as seasoned professionals. Specialized cv writing services like Quality-Resumes and Career Perfect can help anybody come up with a high-quality, specialized cv ina matter of days. so before you stress out over creating your own CV, look at what a professional can do.
Writing a CV When You Have No Qualifications
Jan 31st
If it’s the first time you are applying for a job, it’s possible you can’t think of any qualifications to mention in your resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Whether you are in high school, or changing your career track, this post guides you about writing a CV when you have no qualifications.
Most times, prospective employers are willing to overlook the absence of qualifications in your CV, provided you are still in high school. If you’re in high school and looking to land your first job, you should take inspiration from your school work and personal interests to list out your qualifications.
For instance, your ability to submit projects on time and receive good grades can translate into something like “meet deadlines effectively.” Try to avoid “works well under pressure.”
Comparatively, figuring out qualifications to list out in your CV when you are changing your career goals is difficult. If you’ve spent the last few years in banking, but somewhere along the line you felt you’re more suitable in customer service, and hence are now changing your career goals, good resume writing skills are essential to land you the job you want.
Resume writing involves translating your existing qualifications to go along with the job position you’re applying for. Going back to the banking vs. customer service example, let’s say you’ve done your share of interactions with people in banking, which will help you in this new job. This experience can translate into something like “Dealt with XYZ people on ABC project, and achieved 53% increase in conversion” - relate to a real-life example to showcase your achievement. Try to avoid “works well with all levels of staff.”
How to Sculpt a Great Science Resume/CV
Jan 31st
In order to secure a job the science industry (or any industry for the matter) it’s crucial to know how to write a professional, scientific resume that captures the hiring manager’s attention and therefore gets you noticed. Before I start explaining the basic framework of a scientific resume, I’d like to explain the actual purpose of the resume and what it’s supposed to do.
When you apply to a job posting, you normally submit a cover letter and resume along with your application. The application “packet” is then usually piled together with potentially hundreds of other applications vying for the same position you are. Now lets start with what normally happens with the application:
The cover letter is usually the first point of contact the application will have with the recruiter/hiring manager (and therefore one that is very important). The purpose of the cover letter is to get your resume looked at by the hiring manager granted he/she is impressed with your cover letter.
If you pass the cover letter screening (which is a huge accomplishment) the hiring manager will then take a look at your resume/cv. The purpose of the resume/cv is to land you an interview.
Finally, the purpose of the interview is to land you a job!
All of these key steps in the hiring process are crucial however in this article I will be focusing on how to craft a great science-based resume which will then lead to more interview calls hopefully!
There are 6 main sections of a science resume each with very important features that highlight your qualifications for the position:
1. OBJECTIVE: This is the first section of your resume and provides the recruiter with an idea of what you’re looking for career-wise. Be as brief as possible writing no more than one or two sentences to convey your idea.
ex: “To secure a position as [job position title] and gain experience in the [name of industry] by utilizing my educational background and industry experience”
2. TECHNICAL SKILLS/CERTIFICATIONS: Many people believe that your educational background needs to come immediately after your objective but that’s not necessarily true. This second section gives you an opportunity to provide the recruiter with an idea of what skills you have and how they’re relevant to the job you’re applying to. This section can be bullet-pointed; no full sentences are necessary.
3. RELEVANT COURSEWORK: This section is really only relevant to those who are recent graduates (those without some professional experience). Again, you may want to simply bullet-point this section and list coursework you completed in college that will support qualifications for the job.
4. WORK EXPERIENCE: This will most likely be the largest part of your resume. List off your experience in the scientific industry you’re involved in (feel free to include internships and part-time jobs as well!). Here you’ll want to list your job title, company name and how long you were employed. Below that, explain your job duties and main points of accomplishment. You’ll want to include leadership roles as well, being that many companies have a penchant towards hiring those with leadership roles, so if you’ve got it, show it off!
5. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH: Many (although not all) universities require some sort of senior project/research to graduate from undergraduate programs, so this section only applies if you have done any academic or freelance research in your field. Describe the nature of your research, what objectives you completed and what the purpose was. If you don’t have any independent research, don’t sweat it, simply compensate by elaborating more in your work experience section. The information in this section shows that you are able to put your knowledge to good use independently.
6. EDUCATION: This is the last section of your resume. List all universities you are either currently attending or have graduated from (starting with the most recent university at the top, then working downward chronologically). State what degree you were awarded (ex: Bachelor of Science, B.S., etc) and what major you graduated in. Include the dates of attendance and be sure to also include any distinguishing highlights (club president, summa cum laude, GPA, etc.).
There you have it! This template will provide you with a great and professional way to show off your talents and qualifications for a science job opening. It’s up to you to creatively fill in each section and tailor it to your own qualification.
If you like what you’ve just read and are looking for more valuable science career information, I suggest you check out my website http://www.scienceresume.net which provides quality career information for the science professional.
Five Tips to Write an Amazing Accounting Resume to Get the Job You Want
Jan 31st
If you are on the hunt for a job in the accounting profession then having a well written and professional resume will be a necessary component of a successful job search. The resume is a first chance at a sales pitch of yourself and your skills to a potential employer and must make an impression or risk being thrown in the trash or dismissed at the first screening.
The five tips below will be helpful when writing a resume and will go a long way to making your resume stand out from the crowd.
Objective Statement - Conventional resume wisdom says to put an objective statement on the top of your resume. This is an approach where the conventional wisdom should be ignored. The current thinking is that a resume should be a maximum of two pages, and one if there is limited experience. Why would you want to use valuable resume space saying something that the potential employer already knows, which is something like “To obtain a challenging job that will help me advance my career”? In place of an objective statement, include a skills summary instead listing some key skills or accomplishments to grab the reader’s attention early and keep them interested in what you can bring to the company.
Resume Review - Have a trusted friend, and preferably a fellow professional read and review your resume before sending it out. If possible, have someone who has been a hiring manager read it and make recommendations. Someone who has actually been in a position of evaluating resumes can provide invaluable input into your resume that will help in obtaining an interview.
Excel and Computer Skills - Be detailed and accurate about your experience with computers. For accountants, knowledge of the Microsoft Office programs and Excel specifically will be most important. Give a true representation of your experience level, and if you are an intermediate and advanced user, then show that by using the terminology of what you are able to do in those programs so the hiring manager doesn’t have to guess at the level of expertise.
Be Industry Specific - Tailor the resume to the industry being applied for to the greatest extent possible. If applying for a public accounting job then experience in tax and audit would want to be emphasized to a greater extent than when applying for a private company job that focuses on financial reporting. If there are actual industry specific rules such as in the oil and gas industry, then be sure to indicate the knowledge about those rules in the resume as well. This will help you to standout over someone with a more generic resume.
Check Your Staffing Agency - If using a staffing agency, recruiter, or head hunter make sure that they are sending your resume as you have provided it, or are reviewing any changes with you prior to sending it out. Some agencies have taken the data from their client’s resumes and placed it into their standard template with their firm letterhead and in the process have made formatting errors appear that make the resume appear less than professional. This would be the last thing that you would want to have happen when using someone to assist in a job search.
These five tips should help to improve an accountant’s resume writing ability and make for a better end product if followed. Remember that your resume is your first and maybe only chance to sell the employer on you and why they should grant an interview. Use that chance wisely.
Cover Letters
Jan 31st
Before an employer decides to take a look at your résumé or application, they will first read your cover letter. If your cover letter doesn’t possess the ability to catch the employers attention upon reading the first line, he/she may not look at your résumé either. Your cover letter needs to answer the question as to why the employer should consider you for the position. Remembering that cover letters should never be lengthy, always aim to deliver in short catchy sentences. Be sure to use your thesaurus for collecting words with strong meanings behind them. Expand your vocabulary.
In the first paragraph, explain why you’re writing, the position you’re applying for, how you heard about the position, and use research to show why being apart of the company is of interest to you. Avoid using meaningless sweeping statements. Flattery and sucking up does not get you anywhere. The second paragraph should include your experience and qualities related to the position. Use strong examples from previous jobs to back up your qualities and experience. Also, provide information about accomplishments or rewards that were received behind those experiences.
In your final paragraph, which should only be a few sentences, you should request an interview with the employer, and give them a specific time or date for when you will contact them to follow-up on your résumé. After doing this, be sure to thank the employer for their time. It’s just that simple. Some things you want to avoid including in your cover letter are the use of contractions and writing in a passive voice. Be sure to research the company before applying for a position, and keep it short and simple.
Thoroughly check punctuation, spelling, and grammar. It’s important to show employers that you have strong writing skills, because mistakes of this sort will not be tolerated. Use quality paper that looks professional, sign your papers, and it can help a great deal to have a career specialist go over your finished cover letter. They can provide awesome feedback that can help you improve on your writing skills as well as land the job.
Construction Resumes: Resume Tips From an Industry Expert and Career Professional Resume Writer
Jan 31st
Construction Resumes: Resume Tips from an Industry Expert
A Professional Resume is your best chance at success for any market. With the way the construction industry is today, there is a major influx of highly qualified individuals all vying for the same few positions. How can you compete? EASY - You need a great resume. As a Nationally Certified Resume Writer with extensive experience in Construction, I can assure you that this is no easy feat.
Don’t be fooled by a Catchy name: There are many professional resume services out there that try to fool you into believing they have the requisite experience, when they do not have any construction resume experience at all. Do your research. Selecting the wrong resume service is equivalent to ordering a bad dinner - You can’t return it, and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I recommend researching the individual writers listed on the web page to ensure that you can research about the writer, learn about his or her credentials, and feel confident in your selection.
Pricing: Do you really want to trust your resume to a company that only charges you $59 or $79 for a resume. Look, I understand that when times are tough, you do not want to start spending money on needless items, but a resume is important. It is the MAIN weapon in you career search arsenal. Also, PLEASE!@!! Do NOT be fooled by an service that GUARANTEES they can get you a job - because they can not guarantee you any such thing. For these scam services, be SURE to read the fine print because the hurdles you have to jump through to try to get your refund is ridiculous.
Use Certified Writers: Yes, it will cost you more money (A resume and cover letter should cost around $250 - $500 dollars). BUT, this is all inclusive. It should include you being assigned to a Certified Professional Resume Writer (preferably with the PARW), provide you unlimited revisions for 30-60 days, counseling with the writer, and career guidance. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE RESUME is prepared by a CERTIFIED WRITER. I know for a fact that several of these major companies advertise that their staff graduated from top Universities - so what? If they are not certified resume writers, they are not worth the price.
Good Luck!